From where did distinctive Chinese facial features originate from?

This question is actually really interesting, so I had a look around, and found this in answerbag.com:

Top Answer out of 8

by VioletaSaren1

on May 1, 2008 at 4:43 pm Permalink

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Geography and history plays a big role. I literally wrote on essay on here earlier but it wouldn't post, so I am a little disappointed right now.

SO here are the straightforward points that probably won't make sense, so I recommend looking it up on a search engine.

One's environment affects one's physical features in order for one to survive in such conditions. People living in higher elevation are most likely have shorter legs and larger lungs than the average man. People living in an area on the equator are most likely to have darker skin. A fair person from a colder region will just suffer in a tropical area from sunburn. They need time to adjust and to adapt to the area. Thank the geniuses for inventing sunblock.

As for the Pacific Islanders, Malaysians, and Filipinos, they are from an Austronesian (look it up) descent. The more indigenous ones are more darker with big eyes, rounder face, so on and so forth.

When we get into depth about history then you will have a better understanding of how most people get their features. Many of the Filipinos have a more Caucasoid/Austronesian feature because of Spanish intermarriages.

Cambodians have the features of the Tai Kadais (Southern Chinese)/Austronesian look. However their looks may very, even the most indigenous ones because of Chinese and East Indian influence many centuries ago. Thus, their features can vary from looking pale with a yellow tint, slanted eyes, dark hair to dark skin, wavy hair, and almond shaped eyes.

So there are many factors to an Asian physical feature. You just have to do the research.

I would go on, but I am too exhausted from using all my time to write my first response. It's just so heart-breaking that it won't let me post it (my PC was slow). I went into depth about the history on the other one. Oh well. =/

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/83082

VioletaSaren1 gave a really good answer! She gave the best answer ...

Hope it helped with what you were looking for ...

Traits don't just happen - when they occur they are either selected for/against/ignored.

Now for a trait that is so obvious it was more likely selected for due to either beneficiary roles in the environment - more attractive, better adapted to particular environment etc

I am not sure that these are newer traits than say a more European look - so maybe your question should be "how did the distinctive European facial features develop?"

Just a thought....

Isn't it to do with evolution and to do with the enviromental conditions in which these people have lived in historically ie eskimos have narrow eyes and this I heard was to do with protecting the eyes from cold icy weather, snow storms etc must be something to do with how their bodys have needed to evolve to their habitat!?!

Modern European people's features did not exist any longer than 20,000 years ago.

As time passes, changes occur. Mankind changes with everything. Everything affects everything. The climate, pollution, etc...

they didnt 'arise'...thats how it was historically, if fact they have probably been watered down and become less prominent over time

MAYBE YOU SHOULD PUT THIS QUESTION TO A MORE LEARNED IN CULTURE GROUP