容貌辨认是社会管理领域的一项重要内容。晚清以降,由西方传入的照相被运用于司法、寻人、科举、学堂考试和人事管理等领域,由此成为社会管理的手段之一。照相之所以能够如此,在于它反映人的相貌远比中国古代的“画影图形”手段精准,能够忠实地记录、保存人的影像。照相的普遍运用使社会管理更为有效。 Face recognition is an important part of social management. The late Qing Dynasty and the decline of imported from the West were applied to the judiciary, tracing, imperial examination, examinations and personnel management and other fields, thus becoming one of the means of social management. The reason why photography can be so, is that it reflects the person’s appearance is far more accurate than the “painting graphics” in ancient China, can faithfully record and save people’s images. The universal use of photography makes social management more effective.