Abstract: We investigated 87 physical characteristics and calculated 20 physical indices of 402 adults (197 males and 205 females) of the Liangshan Yi nationality in Sichuan Province. The results showed the following details. The main features of head-face characteristics of the Liangshan Yi nationality were brachycephaly, mesorrhiny and leptoprosopy. Body traits indicated a medium trunk type and medium pelvic type. Heights of Yi men were sub-medium in contrast to women who were in the middle range. A comparison of the Yi nationality in Sichuan to those found in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces showed values of head breadth, minimum frontal breadth, and morphological face length were the highest. In this comparison, values of head length, mouth breadth and nasal breadth values were in the medium range, and face breadth values are similar among the three groups. Nasal types were all mesorrhiny. The height of Yi males in Sichuan was similar to Yi males in Yunnan but higher than Yi males in Guangxi (P<0.01). The height of Yi females in Sichuan was significantly higher than Yi females in Yunnan and Guangxi (P<0.01). In conclusion, the physical characteristics of the Liangshan Yi nationality in Sichuan were similar to the Sichuan Han nationality, Achang, Gelao and other southern groups of China.

Key words: Liangshan; Yi; Physical traits; Somatoscopy