According to experts, the beauty trend of applying two red dots at the corners of the mouth of concubines not only enhances their beauty and allure but also conceals a secret related to intimacy.
In Tang Dynasty period dramas, we often see concubines with red dots on both cheeks, near the corners of their mouths. This makeup style is known as “Dian Ya”. Besides making women look more beautiful, it serves as a mysterious signal between emperors and their concubines, playing a significant role in intimate matters.
The two circular dots at the corners of the mouth were a popular makeup trend among women during the Tang Dynasty. (Illustrative image).
Research indicates that the makeup steps for women in the Tang Dynasty can be roughly divided into several key stages: applying lead powder, dusting with face powder, shaping the eyebrows, painting flowers on the forehead, marking the corners of the mouth, decorating the temples, and finally applying lipstick.
Typically, women of the Tang Dynasty used lipstick to create the dots at the corners of their mouths. The shape of these dots varied considerably over time; during the earlier Tang period, they were often small, round dots resembling soybeans. After the peak of the Tang Dynasty, the dots became larger and more varied in shape, such as coin-shaped or almond-shaped.
Moreover, these dots were often adorned with various floral decorations and jewelry, commonly referred to as “Hua Ya” (Flower Dots).
In reality, this makeup style mimicked the appearance of dimples. Ancient people believed that dimples on a woman’s face made her look more vibrant and charming. Therefore, the addition of two red dots to imitate dimples helped women appear graceful and captivating.
The makeup steps for women during the Tang Dynasty were quite elaborate.
However, this makeup style served another special function at that time, acting as a “signal” between the emperor and the concubines. According to palace regulations, concubines were prohibited from serving the emperor during their menstrual period, as it could affect the nation’s fate. If a concubine violated this rule, she would face severe punishment. Thus, when a concubine was on her period, she cleverly used the two red dots at the corners of her mouth.
The female attendants responsible for this would avoid naming any concubine with dot markings in the list for the emperor’s nightly visits. This way, without uttering a word, the concubine could discreetly communicate her inability to attend to the emperor, maintaining decorum and respect.
Later, this makeup trend spread beyond the palace and surprisingly became a favored style among young women, gradually evolving into a symbol of contemporary beauty.
The practice of applying two red dots at the corners of the mouth subtly declined the emperor’s advances.
In addition to drawing two red dots at the corners of the mouth to subtly decline the emperor’s advances, some concubines came up with various other methods. For instance, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, concubines often hung red lanterns outside their quarters or wore red strings on their wrists to discreetly signal their menstrual periods and avoid intimacy with the emperor.
Another method used by women in the Tang court when “on their period” was wearing a gold ring on their hand. This ring also conveyed the message that they were unable to “serve the emperor”. Upon seeing this ring, the emperor would understand that the woman was menstruating. In fact, some emperors even inquired about the women’s health and permitted them to rest that night.
During certain periods, concubines also chose garments with red trims as a way to convey their status discreetly. Each dynasty had its unique means for women in the court to subtly indicate that they were menstruating; these signals were always very nuanced and tactful.
