Physiognomy of Rulers in Italian and Chinese History and Biography

The aim of this dissertation is to analyze the representations of rulers, in Italian and Chinese history and biography, in the light of antique physiognomic theories. The description of rulers, with the reference of physiognomy, is used as one of the methods of propaganda or persuasion of the legitimacy or power of the ruler. The physiognomy of ruler may be considered from two perspectives. One is the ruler’s body, that is, what physical appearances of the rulers are described, sometimes at the expense of likeness, both in Italian and Chinese history and biography, and how these features are similar and thus might make the rulers in one type. The other is the body of ruler, that is, what kind of physical features makes the particular person ruler and how these features are exclusively established as templates and help to legitimate the heaven-given or god-given power. In the same framework, through the comparison of the Chinese and Italian physiognomy of rulers, figuring out their similarities and differences, analyzing possible causes of such description, we demonstrated the cultural and political diversities as well.