In Appearance Politics, Lex Lu argues that crafting an appealing and powerful outward image has long been a critical political tool in China. This strategy is evident in historical records, imperial portraits, physiognomic assessments, photographs, posters, statues, and digital images. Using rare archival materials from Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, Lu explores how political figures designed their images and examines the shifting standards of male beauty that shaped their choices.
The book analyzes five case studies: Ming Prince Zhu Di's usurpation; the rise of Manchu masculinity and blended Han-Manchu beauty standards under Emperor Yongzheng; modern photography and Western beauty ideals in the early twentieth century; Sun Yat-sen's crafted image as the Republican founding father; and Mao Zedong's iconic visual legacy.
Through this empirical, nuanced study, Appearance Politics challenges stereotypical portrayals of Chinese male leadership in Western media and scholarship, offering a richer understanding of appearance as a deliberate political strategy.
By:
Lex Lu
Imprint: Cornell University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781501787447
ISBN 10: 1501787446
Pages: 324
Publication Date: 15 May 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Introduction: Why Physical Appearance Matters to Chinese Political History Part 1: APPEARANCE POLITICS IN IMPERIAL CHINA 1. Physiognomy and Political Appearance in the Early Ming: Legitimizing Zhu Di's Rise to Power (1380–1424) 2. Curating a Manchu Masculine Image: AppearancePolitics at the Qing Court Part 2: POLITICAL IMAGE AND REVOLUTION 3. Instrument Upgrade: The Rise of Photography in Appearance Politics (1850–1910) 4. Building the Line of Legitimacy: Crafting Sun Yat-sen Political Imagery in Republican China 5. Print, Power, and Masculinity: Images of Mao and the Communist Leadership in the Early People's Republic of China Conclusion: A Brave New World of Appearance Politics
Lex Lu is Associate Professor in History at Clark University. His research focuses on conceptualization of masculinity, as well as changing male beauty standards, as they pertain to Chinese politics, society, and culture.
Reviews for Appearance Politics: Legitimacy Building in Late Imperial and Modern China
""[A] lively and well-researched book. Recommended."" - Choice
