I've heard about them all, but does anyone actually have any genuine paintings of these beautiful women? Were they actual people? Were their stories true, or have they been fabricated? Does anyone know of any other great beauties? I also wonder what would have been the standards of beauty for women in Ancient China?

Hum....how about chubby and small feet?


-Bryan

this is what i found from a website:

Ten Criteria for Beauty in Ancient China

Different periods of history had their own ideals regarding feminine beauty, but 10 specific characteristics are consistent throughout.

1. Black lustrous hair and temples "as thin as cicada wings."

2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to give an appearance of added height.

3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women shaved their eyebrows, and drew them in with pigment.

4. Large, bright expressive eyes.

5. Red lips and white teeth. Besides beauty, this is thought to indicate good health.

6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-shaped hands with slim and soft fingers as well as fair and fleshy arms.

7. Slender waist and fair skin. For most part the willowy figure has been deemed the best throughout history.

8. Tiny feet and a light elegant gait.

9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition.

10. Fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) emanated natural fragrance.

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from what i know, the four beauties Xishi, Yang Yuhuan, Wang ZhaoJun and DiaoChan did exist, among them Xishi was said to be the most beautiful and Yang Yuhuan was slightly plump.

other historical beauties include Zhao Feiyan (wife of Han emperor Chengdi), Daji and Baosi - but these two names invoke aversion rather than admiration.

of cos, how beautiful they really are no one knows.

What does this mean?? Is it referring to the skin covering the temples?

^ I think she means a small forehead....

They were beautiful where as this is seen as historical facts, how ever it's what their beauty can do and can encourage emperors/kings/ministers to do for them that cause their name to be written in the history book.
There’s this little saying and it goes something like this, the first blink of an eye can course a whole city to crush and the second blink would have the power to demolish the whole country. That's how beautiful they are and emperors would do anything for them.

^ hahaha the blink that launched a thousand ships

There is also a little poem which is written about Xishi 's beauty. I'm not sure how to translate it into English, because it's written Chinese and sino-Vietnamese, but I'll try my best.

Stepping foot in the water,
The fishes will drown with desire.
Looking up in the sky,
They birds began to collide
(It sounded much better in Canto)

hehehe i hope so.. it sounds kinda funny in english. Well the part with the fish dying with desire at least.

Do you mean the birds begin to collide?

Yes

And here's some painting of Xishi.






edit:

Yang Yuhuan


Wang ZhaoJun


And here’s a link to DiaoChan’s portraits
http://wuliangzhu.netfirms.com/shinv.htm

^ah yes those are really nice drawings

That's partially true.
But in the ancient times, Chinese believe that "chubby" means wealth and fortunate.
But it is kind of contradictory with the modern standards of "hot women".

wow, nice drawings.

if only chubby still meant wealth. i`d be pretty rich. =P

Diao Chan is a fiction character.

I dont think the chubby thing was putted on women, i think its more about men. Cause those 4 beauties are way too slim to be called chubby, or at least normal.

really? I thought Diao Chan was a real servant of prime minister Wang Yun.