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| '''Bishōnen''' (美少年. literally, "beautiful boy") is a specific ] aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. The prefix bi- (美) specifically refers to feminine beauty (''bijin'', lit. "beautiful person", refers to a beautiful woman.) | '''Bishōnen''' (美少年. literally, "beautiful boy") is a specific ] aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. The prefix bi- (美) specifically refers to feminine beauty (''bijin'', lit. "beautiful person", refers to a beautiful woman.) The bishōnen is typically quite slender and not very muscular, with a tapered chin, stylish hair, and an overall effeminate or ] appearance. The aesthetic of the bishōnen began as an ideal of a young ] lover. It is perpetuated today in ] and ], especially ] (girl) anime, ], and ]. | ||
| Some western anime and manga fans use the term (incorrectly) to refer to any handsome male character regardless of age, rather than teenage or younger, often shortening it to 'bishie.' It is occasionally even used to describe some androgynous female characters (such as ] in ]) | |||
| The bishōnen is typically quite slender and not very muscular, with a tapered chin, stylish hair, and an overall effeminate or ] appearance. | |||
| The aesthetic of the bishōnen began as an ideal of a young ] lover. It is perpetuated today in ] and ], especially ] (girl) anime, ], and ]. | |||
| Some western anime and manga fans use the term bishōnen (or more playfully 'bishy') to refer to any handsome male character, although this is technically incorrect. Bishōnen who are old enough to be considered men are properly 'biseinen.' | |||
| ] has even been used by Americans fandom to describe some androgynous women, espeically ] (crossdressers) in anime and manga. This is mainly due to lack of common positive slang in America for an attractive woman who seems more handsome than beautiful. ] from ] (Brother Dear Brother) would be considered the Bish Girl archetype. Another term is ''bifauxnen'', suggesting a woman who is androgynously handsome enough to be a ''faux'' bishōnen. | |||
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| Alternative spellings are ''bishonen'' and ''bishounen''. | Alternative spellings are ''bishonen'' and ''bishounen''. | ||
Revision as of 08:46, 17 October 2004
Bishōnen (美少年. literally, "beautiful boy") is a specific Japanese aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. The prefix bi- (美) specifically refers to feminine beauty (bijin, lit. "beautiful person", refers to a beautiful woman.) The bishōnen is typically quite slender and not very muscular, with a tapered chin, stylish hair, and an overall effeminate or androgynous appearance. The aesthetic of the bishōnen began as an ideal of a young homosexual lover. It is perpetuated today in anime and manga, especially shojo (girl) anime, shonen-ai, and yaoi.
Some western anime and manga fans use the term (incorrectly) to refer to any handsome male character regardless of age, rather than teenage or younger, often shortening it to 'bishie.' It is occasionally even used to describe some androgynous female characters (such as Lady Oscar in Oniisama E)
Alternative spellings are bishonen and bishounen.
- Bishonen is a Hong Kong film about a gay romance. See: Bishonen (movie)
- "Bishonen" is also the name of a song by Momus (musician).
- Bishonen is also a brand of sake.
- Utukki: Babylonian Mythology Was Never So Bishounen is a manga web comic based on the myth of the Utukki.