One is none the less a woman for being a Chinese woman. Woman is the same everywhere. It is she who charms us—not to say who rules us. And no matter in what part of the globe, it is she who is always the great attraction of life.
They all know it; and without any need of a general understanding amongst themselves, all the sisters of the universe do the best they each can to render themselves more beautiful, or prettier, or merely more agreeable. They need for that no other master that that instinctive desire to please, which is a special feature of the female nature. Albeit our women know neither how to grow fat or thin, or how to dye their hair, or how to make use of a thousand other tricks, which beauty uses to repair the irreparable ravages of time; they know how to paint themselves, and how to adorn their persons. They are very skilful in the use of red paint for the lips, of black for the eyebrows, and of white for the face. The particular taste of each race modifies the forms of coquetry. In Europe, you prefer large eyes and a Grecian nose; in China, small eyes and a thin and delicate nose are considered the most beautiful. On the other hand, we agree with you in admiring fine white teeth, and little wrists and ankles.
It is said, in China, that a woman’s eyebrows should be elongated and thin, like the silhouette of distant mountains; that the eyes should be limpid, as water is in autumn; and the lips red, like dawn of day. Dimples are greatly admired in China. We call them the “wine hollows.”
The flush of the cheeks is called “the colour of drunkenness.”
From Nature, let us pass on to Art.
Formerly, women used to dress their hair high up on their heads, the coiffure being built up on a framework of iron wire. Little by little this style was modified, and to-day the greatest simplicity is the rule. Our ladies dress their hair almost in the Greek style, with this difference, that the hair always remains smooth, curls never having been in fashion in China. I may add, that natural curls are quite unknown at home. A gold or silver pin, shaped like a double spatula, and bent in the middle, is fixed in the centre of the chignon, so as to keep the hair in place. Sprigs of flowers are fixed round this pin. Sometimes, in the spring, a little wreath of scented flowers is put on the back of the head. These simple ornaments are so much appreciated, that many ladies have a standing arrangement with a gardener to bring them fresh flowers every morning.
A poet has said about this custom:
“After having finished dressing her hair she casts another glance in her mirror,
To see what kind of flowers will best suit her hair.