What was the historical background of the emergence of ancient Chinese physiognomy?

Physiognomy is the art of predicting fortune, status, and longevity based on a person's appearance, facial features, bone structure, complexion, body shape, and palm lines. Like any cultural phenomenon, the emergence of physiognomy has a certain historical background. In ancient times, the level of social productivity was extremely low and people's understanding of natural and social phenomena was extremely limited, so people lived in groups. Later, with the further development of productivity, tools appeared, which was a huge change in productivity at that time.

The emergence of predictive science has had a significant impact on people's lives. In the eyes of the ancients, it is a magic weapon to master life and survive better. Under the extremely harsh natural environment at that time, in order to better control production tools with different performances and overcome nature, people gradually began to predict the good and bad fortune in production and life through the analysis of the appearance of animals such as horses and cows, which is the emergence of horse and cow fortune-telling. The later art of physiognomy was developed on this basis.

We cannot find detailed records in historical materials about the exact time when physiognomy was created. But what is certain is that as early as the Yellow Emperor era, the idea that saints have saintly appearances already existed in society. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the art of physiognomy began to emerge. It can be seen in many historical books of the time, and even some famous physiognomists appeared. To some extent, it can be said that physiognomy originated during this period.

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