This study randomly selected 518 She ethnic adults aged 18 years and above (293 males and 225 females) from Fu’an and Fuding cities in Fujian Province. Twenty-two craniofacial characteristics were measured, and twelve indexes of craniofacial exponent characteristics were calculated. The results showed that the She ethnic group has a medium head type, high head type, and narrow head type; a narrow face; and a medium nose type. There were significant gender differences in the craniofacial characteristics and indexes of the She ethnic group in Fujian, except for the intraocular angular width and zygomatic frontal index. There were significant age differences in head width, face width, intraocular width, lip - related indicators (upper lip height, lip height, lip thickness, mouth breadth), ear length, vertical cephalo - facial index, and oral index. Facial features are mainly determined by genetic factors.
When comparing the craniofacial characteristics of the She ethnic group in Fujian with those of the She ethnic group 28 years ago, the results showed that the craniofacial characteristics of the She ethnic group in this study had changed significantly compared to those 28 years ago. The reasons were related to urban - rural differences, environmental and dietary changes, and an increase in intermarriage with the Han and other ethnic groups.
Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were conducted on the head - face data of the She, Han, and other ethnic minority populations. It was found that the She people, as an independent group, were between the northern ethnic minorities, southern ethnic minorities, and the Han. Furthermore, the craniofacial characteristics of the She in Fujian were closer to those of the Han in South China, the Miao, the Yao, the Shui, and the Wa, and had significant differences from other southern ethnic minorities in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and northern ethnic groups.
The She ethnic group has long lived in the border areas of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi in South China. Therefore, compared to the Han and minority ethnic groups in North China, the Han and minority ethnic groups in South China have more similar physical characteristics to the She ethnic group. The migration and integration of ethnic groups is an important historical process in the formation of ethnic groups in history. The genetic and cultural blending between ethnic groups has influenced their physical characteristics. This paper, together with evidence from Ethnology, Molecular Anthropology, and Linguistics, shows that the She ethnic group had intricate connections with minority ethnic groups such as the Miao - Yao, Min, Yue, as well as the Han ethnic group in the past. People with different physical characteristics participated in this process and ultimately formed the modern She ethnic group’s “diverse and integrated” physical characteristics.