Swallowing pieces of silk, eating cacti or just 1 meal a day – all in pursuit of thinness in ancient China
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In ancient China, a desire for thinness existed long before modern dieting trends. While the Tang dynasty is often associated with fuller figures, historical accounts reveal that a slender physique was generally preferred. During the Eastern Zhou period (770–256 BC), King Ling of Chu favored thin waists, leading his court to restrict their diets to maintain favor. Officials sometimes ate only one meal a day to avoid weight gain. Beyond dietary restrictions, some women resorted to extreme measures like swallowing silk or cacti in pursuit of the perceived ideal body shape. The pursuit of slimness was driven by societal pressures and the desire to maintain favor with rulers.
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AI-ExtractedDuring the Eastern Zhou period (770–256 BC), King Ling of Chu prized thin waists.
Women in ancient China were under intense pressure to stay slim.
In most historical accounts, the preferred look in ancient China was fair-skinned, tall and slender.
Officials ate only one meal a day because they feared gaining weight and losing the ruler’s favour.
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