Swallowing pieces of silk, eating cacti or just 1 meal a day – all in pursuit of thinness in ancient China

2026.03.19 10:20 The pursuit of thinness has influenced women’s culture throughout history, with extreme measures dating back to ancient China. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote Long before calorie counting and healthy diets, women in ancient China were already under intense pressure to stay slim, even swallowing cacti or silk in pursuit of what was perceived as perfection. Many assume ancient Chinese women prized fuller figures, but the reality was more nuanced. The woman above shows how, at one point in history, tightening the waistline was performed to achieve slimness. Photo: Handout The Tang dynasty (618–907) is often cited as the classic example, thanks in part to figures such as the female sovereign Wu Zetian and the consort Yang Yuhuan. Yet plumpness was never the sole ideal. In most historical accounts, the preferred look in ancient China was still chang bai: fair-skinned, tall and slender. During the Eastern Zhou period (770–256 BC), King Ling of Chu prized thin waists and his court quickly followed suit, cutting back on food to stay slim regardless of gender. Historical records show that officials ate only one meal a day because they feared gaining weight and losing the ruler’s favour. The consumption of herbs such as those above was also seen as a way of achieving the desired body shape. Photo: Handout Each morning, they held their breath, tightened their belts and steadied themselves against a wall before setting off for court. Some court women even swallowed cloth or silk to curb their appetite. However, extreme dieting left many weak and emaciated, and some consorts and ministers died as a result. During the Wei and Jin periods (220-420), the literary elite took a liking to Five Mineral Powder, a mix of ground minerals such as stalactite, brimstone and quartz. Drinking tea was also seen as part of the latter-day weight management regime. Photo: Handout Valued for its intoxicating effects and supposed slimming properties, it also proved highly dangerous. H

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