Women’s Makeup Culture during Joseon and Edo Periods

Abstract

Concerning the characteristics of women’s makeup culture which is the origin of aesthetic consciousness during the Edo and Joseon periods, contemporary sensibility and culture were reflected and expressed. Unlike the modern times when trend-following popular characteristics are observed, the image of beauty reflecting contemporaneity and differences in social status and the standard of beauty for ideal women differed. In addition, some similarities were found depending on cultural differences, custom/value and social structure. During a critical time of transition to modernization after the long war, however, the unique makeup culture of the Edo era was formed through social and cultural exchanges with the Western world and active international trade and diplomacy. While these heterogeneous expression methods and descriptions had some distance with the reality, such unusual makeup techniques were also taking center stage in the formation of culture. It is anticipated that the study results would be available as important basic data in investigating women’s contemporary makeup culture between the Republic of Korea and Japan. It is also expected that there would be further studies on change patterns through the collection of more diverse data.