AA ATTITUDE TOWARD HEIGHT
(Updated to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, how important is height in your assessment of a person's attractiveness?
It's a key element of attractiveness. | 20%
It's one of many factors I consider. | 44%
It's less important than other personal qualities. | 28%
I am not attracted to tall people. | 8%

Assuming you are an Asian American, which best matches your feelings toward your own height?
I'd like to be 3 inches taller. | 43%
I'd like to be an inch taller. | 27%
I'm happy with my height. | 26%
I'd like to be an inch shorter. | 4%
Another link on Taiwanese genes (Minnan/Hoklo and Hakka) is

http://www.hoklo.org/YuetCulture/Articles?item=1

However, I would like to add, despite the fact that the pre-1949 Taiwanese (the majority of Taiwan's population) are closer genetically to Southern East Asians, they don't necessarily look Vietnamese (some may) and in general, are taller and lighter skin.
Taiwanese Genes & Height    Thursday, November 08, 2001 at 08:43:27 (PST)
I know this topic is on heights of Asians. Quite often people are writing that Northern Asians are taller than Southern Asian. Then, people are writing about the genetics of the Taiwanese. For an interesting study by a physician and blood genetist on the pre-1949 Taiwanese population (Hoklo/Minnan/Fujianese and Hakka) go to
http://www.wufi.org.tw/eng/linmalie.htm
Taiwanese Genes & Height    Thursday, November 08, 2001 at 08:35:42 (PST)
Believe it or not, I am only 4'11 and a half. Yes, yes, I know that's dang short. I used to have a complex about my height when I was in my early to mid teens, but now I'm quite happy the way I am.
You'd think that most guys wouldn't find me attractive because of my child-like size, but in fact, I've never had any trouble getting guys. I have a pretty face, a slim body, and a pleasant disposition, so maybe guys overlook my height.
Also, I know several other girls who are around my height who work out to keep themselves fit. They, too, have no trouble attracting guys (tall guys, even).
So, for all of you petite girls out there: Make the most of what you have and be proud of your height!
Chinese Cutie    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 23:53:24 (PST)
Tang Dynasty,

Both the Cantonese and Hakka are descended from the northern Han people who left to resettle in south China between the fall of the Tang and fall of the Song dynasties. And the Fukien people too. They are the original descendants of the Tang and Han, but it is obvious that they mixed with the Thai, Malay and Viet aborigines of southern China on their trek south from northwest China. The original Han Chinese people of northwest China are also descended from some Turkish tribes (i.e. Huns) who assimilated into the Chinese during the Tang, when the emperors conquered and deported them south of the Great Wall. This is confirmable because only the northwest and southern coastal parts of China have large numbers of Thalassemia disease, which is a hereditary blood disease spread only through marriage and genes. It is very rampant in the Middle East. So, both the Cantonese and Hakkas are not foreigners who adopted into the Chinese Tang culture, but they were just like the ancient Han people of northwest China with a lot of Turkic and Persian admixture. During the Song, the Jurchen, Tibetans and Khitans laid waste to many parts of the north. So, many northern Chinese fled south. Many died along the journey, so only the strong survived. That is why many modern Cantonese, Hakka and Fukien people have these strong survival instincts to make a new living and prosper even in faraway and sometimes hostile lands. It is in their genes and traditions.

And, anyways, about height: in the USA, many 2nd and 3rd generation Cantonese Americans (usually of Toisan Cantonese descent) are quite tall. Some as tall as northern Chinese. Many of China's past national volleyball teams comprised mostly of athletes from Toisan city. And, I have seen photos of them and they were not small men.

Japanese are not Tang. Not racially nor mentally. They are a mix of Koreans, Chinese and Malays. The Malay gene is very dominant in the southern parts. The people of Tokyo and Kyoto look very Korean but not as stocky. The Tang, unlike the Japanese, had high respect for women. It was the only Chinese dynasty to produce a strong empress who ruled very capably and flourished under her rule. Perhaps, it was the infusion of West Asian blood and ideas that caused this. Turkic and Persian women were often married into the Tang Chinese aristocracy and merchant classes. They influenced native Chinese women to be more strong willed. Even today, I see Chinese women have more say in the home than do Korean or Japanese women. Tang was also more inclined to Daoism rather than Confucianism. Japan is more Confucianist than China always. I think even Confucius himself shake his head and agree.
George    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 22:22:49 (PST)
Fujian ren,

Yes, Okinawans and the Fujian Chinese share many similarities in culture and genetics. In the old days, Okinawa was a independant kingdom originally called Ryukyu Kingdom. Ryukyu people were primarily sailors and traders and some say pirates as well. They traded with the Fujian Chinese and other Chinese coastal cities for centuries adopting some cultural elements like Kung-Fu (Karate in Okinawan language), textile manufacture an, and customs. There was alot of immigration to-from China in those days to the extent that Ryukyu people's ways were almost foreign to Northern Japanese. Later, Northern Japanese (Shimazu Clan) annexed the Ryukyu kingdom and was incorporated into the main Japan. To this day, Okinawans still maintain their distinctiveness as a people and culture. I have been to Okinawa and people there are very joyous and beautiful. They have large oval eyes and their skin is tan due to the tropical sun weather. They are short but have strong bodies. I have not been to Fujian Province in China but from pictures, they look Okinawan to me.
Miyagi    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 20:16:08 (PST)
I do notice that there are quite a few tall Hakkas.

Lee Teng Hui, former President of Taiwan is part Hakka and he's fairly tall.

Ever watch the movie "Corky Romano" starring Chris Kattan? In it is a former high school buddy of mine named Roger Fan- he place the Asian-American FBI agent. He's Taiwanese-American and Hakka in origin and stands about 6'2", while his dad is only 5'4".
Hakka Height    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 17:48:35 (PST)
Asians have shorter extremities (legs and arms) and longer torsos (compared to black Africans and Caucasians)- be it you are Corean, Northern Chinese, Southern Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. It also seems to apply whether Asians are 6'4" or 5'7".

I'm only about 5'8" and I have to get pants that measure about 27 to 27.5 inches in length. You can do the math (shorter legs, longer torso)- typical of most Asians
Asians Have Shorter Legs & Longer Torsos    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 17:43:31 (PST)
Taiwanse on average (whether post 1949 from various parts of China) and the pre-1949 (descendants of Southern Chinese-Fujianese, Hakkas and plains aborigines) though more related to Southern Asian groups as Cantonese, Vietnamese, do not look Vietnamese. They are also taller and lighter skin, on average than Vietnamese and Southeast Asians.

I just want to point out that, though the Hoklo Taiwanese (pre 1949, while the Hakka- there is much debate on whether they are northern or southern or a mixture) are more related to Southeast Asians, they don't necessarily look Vietnamese and they are also taller in stature. The way many people are writing gives people the false impression that the Hoklo Taiwanese are as short and dark as the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian. I want to shatter that false image.
Taiwanese Don't Look Vietnamese    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 17:39:08 (PST)
Whoever said Asians have shorter limbs and longer torsos has never been to Asia or seen the members of my family.

I have long legs, long arms and a well-proportioned torso. My overall frame is much better proportioned than many whites. I think the myth of Asian proportions was the result of judging us by the descendants of the short, stocky peasants who originally came to America in the early part of the lastt century. The average people in Asia may be a bit shorter than the average in Europe, but they are prorbably proportioned about the same. Take a look at the Chinese or Corean gymnastics or, on the other end, basketball teams. They are proportioned no differently than the U.S. teams.
Long-legged AM    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 12:19:38 (PST)

thanks for the input. It was very infomative, esp., your observation that Cantonese are not barbarians like Viets cuz you're all Chinese. According to your scrolls, we might not be the most civilized or the tallest, but at least, people can tell when us barbarians are blinking.
vietnamese female
george    Wednesday, November 07, 2001 at 12:01:27 (PST)

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