Refers to a beautiful woman whose delicate or pained expression, especially when feeling unwell, can surprisingly enhance her charm and allure, making her appear even more graceful.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Xi Shi, a renowned beauty from the State of Yue, was slender, with red lips and white teeth, exceptionally beautiful. She suffered from heart pain, and whenever the illness struck, she would often press her hand to her chest and frown, which surprisingly made her look even more alluring and charming.
Her neighbor, an unattractive woman named Dong Shi, saw this and imitated her actions. However, people who saw Dong Shi doing so found her even uglier and more repulsive, and they all avoided her.