Was the Beauty of Chosun Dynasty Different from that of Japanese Edo Dynasty or Present Korea?: Anthropometric Analysis of Portraits

Cho, Hyung Jong; Hwang, Kun

Abstract

The aim of this study is to elucidate whether the beauty of Chosun dynasty was different from that of Japanese Edo dynasty or present Korea by anthropometric analysis. We analyzed faces of 6 portraits of beauty of Chosun dynasty and 5 of Japanese Edo dynasty, and 9 photographs of prize-winner in the beauty contest of Korea during resent 3 years. We measured the 20 anthropometric items on each portraits and calculated 17 proportional indices of the face. Portraits of beauty of Chosun dynasty had the greater value on 1 proportion index(ratio of nasal width to intercanthal distance) and less value on 3 proportion index(ratio of horzontal dimension of palpebral fissure to intercanthal distance, Ratio of height of vermilon to transverse width of mouth, eye fissure inclination) than Edo dynasty. Portraits of beauty of Chosun dynasty had the greater value on 1 proportion index(ratio of height of upper eyelid to total facial height) and less value on 3 proportion index(ration of vertical dimension of palpebral fissure to total facial height, ratio of nasal width to intercanthal distance, eye fissure inclination) than nine prize-winner of beauty contest of Korea. In conclusion, beauty of Chosun dynasty has lower eye fissure inclination, wider nasal ala, and thiner lip than one of Edo dynasty. Beauty of Chosun dynasty has oriental eyelid, wider upper eyelid, narrower eye fissure, lower eye fissure inclination, narrower nasal ala than present beauty.