According to historical research, the aesthetic orientation of the Tang Dynasty is richness and beauty. Throughout the surviving statues and pictures of beautiful women, although the technology is different, the age is different from that of girls and young women, but most of them are full moon, full cheeks, fine eyes, round waist and muddy body, and bare and bold dresses. Even the "Cup-holding Maid", praised by modern people as the first beauty in ancient China, is characterized by "fullness, beauty and gentle posture" in addition to the graceful posture of holding cups.

According to historical research, the aesthetic orientation of the Tang Dynasty is richness and beauty. Throughout the surviving statues and pictures of beautiful women, although the technology is different, the age is different from that of girls and young women, but most of them are full moon, full cheeks, fine eyes, round waist and muddy body, and bare and bold dresses. Even the "Cup-holding Maid", praised by modern people as the first beauty in ancient China, is characterized by "fullness, beauty and gentle posture" in addition to the graceful posture of holding cups.

Empress Wu Zetian and imperial concubine Yang Yuhuan, who stood out in the real life of the Tang Dynasty, can be called "rich and beautiful, gentle and pleasant" models. Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China history, stepped into the peak of power with her beauty, wisdom and courage. Although there was no camera or painting to record her true face at that time, from the description of "square forehead, wide eyes and phoenix neck" in the history books, we can draw the conclusion that she won the status of "obsequious mother" with her broad forehead, plump cheeks, round overlapping neck and rich image, thus laying the foundation for her to be closer to the power center. Yang Yuhuan, one of the four beauties in ancient China, is a well-known and eternal model of fat beauty. However, she has the same regret as Wu Zetian. We can only imagine the beauty of her "as long as she turns her head and smiles, there will be a hundred spells, and the powder and paint in the sixth palace will disappear" according to the records and descriptions in the poem, and infer her charming demeanor in the poem "Emperor, give up his early hearing from now on". "Being fat and being thin" summarized different aesthetic standards in Han and Tang Dynasties, and also fixed the beautiful form of "wealth and beauty" in Yang Yuhuan.

Obviously, both works of art and real life clearly reflect that the Tang people really advocate "fat beauty and gentleness". This is different from the implicit and restrained aesthetics of my fair lady in Han Dynasty and most other ancient times, and formed an "alternative" aesthetic vision in Tang Dynasty. And this kind of "otherness" and charm contrary to the traditional plump beauty are not only inferior to the traditional slimness and skinny feeling, but also more vital and energetic. In fact, after a little analysis, we will find that the "alternative" aesthetics of the Tang people is an inevitable feature of that heyday.