Balance, a factor of Facial beauty

Marcus K
3 min readMar 2, 2016

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Balance awards visual stability and harmony. In Art, balance is an essential element to visual order and unity. A well balance face is considered beautiful face. A well balanced face, is a face with symmetry and well-proportion.

Symmetry is beautiful.

A symmetrical architecture has been appraised beautiful in any period of art history, and has been an important factor of beauty.

Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato also regarded symmetry as a key aspect of beauty in his book <Philebus>

Korean Sculptor Moon Shin also referred symmetry as a vital principle in esthetics.

Sculpture, 1988, Moon Shin(1923~1995)

Symmetry is also implied here in the topic in the beauty of the face. Professor Chou Yong Jin the father of Korean facialogy, insisted not only symmetrically balanced people are more attractive, they are healthier.

Well known celebrities are known to have symmetrical faces. In the aesthetic of face, symmetry is an important factor.

Scientists say that many different animals have preference of symmetry which is a trait of evolution. Symmetry is equated with a strong immune system and healthy gene. Thus, symmetry is a sign which indicates survival of an individual`s offspring. This theory is supprted by research. In the deep part of our brain, which has a desire to survive and to bear, affects aesthetic sense.

Ideal Proportion

Many people tried to figure out ideal proportion of face. Marcus Vitruvius Polio was the one who tried to find ideal proportion of a face. He left his idea in <De Architectura>. His idea led Da Vinci to develop the Vitruvian man, regarded as the guide map for ideal proportion of human body.

Statistically, there are some proportions which are considered to guide in determining ideal facial form.

The width and the height of the face should fall on a scale of 1; 1.3~1.5, while individual and cross-cultural and racial differences do exist.

If we divide the face into a vertical volume of three; top mid and bot, a ratio of 1:1:1 is most desired.

An increased development of the bottom proportion will give a maturing effect, while the same circumstances in the top proportion will help achieve a youthful look.

When the width of one’s eye is assumed as 1, the distance between the eyes, and the distance between the tip of the ears to the eye are also partial to 1. An ideal face will fall in a fraction of five. When the width of one’s eye is assumed as 1, the distance between the eyes, and the distance between the tip of the ears to the eye are also partial to 1. An ideal face will fall in a fraction of five. But asians(especially, Northeastern asians) have smaller eyes than others. So, they have different standard.

Balance is a factor of facial beauty. It consists of symmetry and proportion, which are about facial structure.

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