Abstract: Objective To compare the traits on the head and face constitution between males and females of Miao Nationality in Xishui, and to identify the kinship and difference between the above group and the other 5 minority groups living in southern China and other groups living in Guizhou nationalities. Methods An assessment of the somatoscopy and anthropometry traits on the head and face (fourteen observations and nineteen measurements) of 357 Miao nationality adults aged from 20 to 59 years old (173 males and 184 females) living in Liangcun township of Xishui city in Guizhou was carried out and the statistical software was used to process data and cluster analysis. Results Of Xishui Miao facial features, there were significant sex differences on the nose breadth, nose height, nasal tip height and auricular height (0.01< EM>P /EM><0.05 ), but no differences on the head length, min frontal, interocular broad, nose length, mouth breadth, lip height, total height of head, and morphological facial height ( EM>P/EM> >0.05 ). The head breadth, intertragiar breadth, face breadth, extrinsic biocular breadth, physiognomic facial width and maximum circumference of the head extremely were significant difference ( EM> P/EM> <0.01 ). Most males and females were lissotrichous and black and the forehead hair was straight. Most of males and females were tint skin color and eye color were pitchy. In terms of eye slit direction，external angles were mostly higher and greater compared to the internal angles in direction of eyeslits, most of their palpebra superior had wrinkles, and eyelashes were short. Most males were convex type and most females were straight contour of nasal bridge, the nasal tip was upturned and nostril was orbicular-ovate. The upper lip was protruding and went beyond the lower lip. The total thickness of the lips were middling, the lobe types were mostly triangle. Most of the male heads were characterized by being hyperbrachycephaly and females were brachycephaly. The face forms were mainly featured by Euryprosopy and their noses were mesorrhine. Conclusion The traits on the head and face constitution between males and females of Miao Nationality in Xishui indicate existence of significant sex difference and the disparity. The males physical characters of the Miao in Liangcun township of Xishui city are most closely related to the Miao nationality of Wangka in Guizhou and the females is most closely related to the Bouyei nation

Key words: Head-face dimension, Somatoscopy, Anthropometry, Miao in Xishui