Why did ancient men regard masculinity as beauty, but the painting styles in Wei and Jin Dynasties were quite different?

Because of the social unrest at that time, the literati in Wei and Jin dynasties advocated eating, drinking, and being arty, and pursuing female aesthetics to release their inner pressure. Most men in ancient times really took masculinity as their aesthetic standard. But there are also some periods when men also pursue female aesthetics. For example, during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were many handsome men whose beauty tended to be feminine. And these handsome guys were also famous figures at that time. They represented an aesthetic standard at that time.

Wei and Jin Dynasties was a turbulent period in the Central Plains. During this period, it experienced the demise of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms Rebellion, and then there was chaos, and all parts of the Central Plains were carved up. Under such circumstances, the desire of those literati to serve the country cannot be realized at all, and one of the effects of social unrest is people's disappointment and frustration that their values cannot be realized. Therefore, many literati no longer cling to politics, but begin to pursue art. Beauty originally described women, so many men began to admire women's beauty. At that time, men's aesthetics gradually feminized, and men began to pay attention to their own image.

People at that time also paid great attention to the evaluation of people. But this evaluation is no longer based on morality, but on appearance, and then this beauty of appearance has developed into a trend. Men's pursuit of women's aesthetics is not only the beginning of making up and using incense, but also some people learn from women in their behavior, and some people live directly as women. Scholars in Wei and Jin dynasties developed this aesthetic into a spiritual force, and they paid more attention to individuality to pay attention to their own values.

These literati paid attention to the pursuit of beauty, thus forming the Wei and Jin demeanor. Of course, the reason why such men in Wei and Jin dynasties regard women's femininity as beauty is, in the final analysis, because of the times. When the literati who aim at governing the country find themselves worthless in this era, they will pursue other values.