Physiognomy: The Physiognomy Classic "Records of Yuebo Cave"

The author of the physiognomy book "Yue Bo Dong Zhong Ji" is unknown. There is a preface at the beginning of the book, which talks about how it was first circulated in the stone chamber of Zhong and Lu in Taibai Mountain. There was a hermit named Chen Zhongwen who passed it on to Zhang Zhongyuan in Sanxiang. Since I obtained it, I dared not hide it, so I passed it on to the world. This is truly a miraculous skill. It is also said that the Nine Chapters of Physiognomy were inscribed by Laojun on the stone wall of the southern niche of the Seven Stars in the Yuebo Cave on Hongling Creek in Taibai Mountain. If a person with ambition can memorize these nine chapters, he will be proficient in their meanings and widely worship the Taoism. The preface was written on July 23, the 20th year of Chiwu. Chiwu was the reign title of Sun Quan, the Emperor of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. The mention of Lü Dongbin in the preface revealed a flaw, because it was impossible for people in the Three Kingdoms period to know about Lü Dongbin of the Tang Dynasty. Moreover, the Chiwu reign title lasted only thirteen years, but there were seven more years in the preface. For some reason, the author of the preface got the historical knowledge of Jimu wrong. It is puzzling that it is both a forgery and obviously exposed.

"Records of Yuebo Cave" was probably written in the Song Dynasty or before, because it was first recorded in Zheng Qiao's "General History of Arts and Literature" and Huang Gongwu's "County Study Records". Its name was also recorded in "Records of Arts and Literature in the History of the Song Dynasty" compiled by the Yuan Dynasty, and its book was included in "Yongle Encyclopedia" compiled by the Ming Dynasty. "New Edition of Collection of Books" is titled as the biography of Wu Zhang Zhongyuan and published by Pan Shisong in the Song Dynasty.

There is no chapter list for "Records in Yuebo Cave", but the content is very structured, in order: Xianji observes people by observing their aspirations and interests; Jiutian Yuanzheng observes people by observing their nature. The head is the master of the five internal organs and the ancestor of all the organs; the Mingdu observes the bones and spirit; the Lingyue observes the spirit, complexion, intelligence and bone structure; the Youyin observes the qi, blood and hair; the Heyue observes the face; the Xinyin observes the heart's nature; the Guande observes the spirit; the Yuzhen observes the back of the head; the ear limit is fifteen years, observe the ears; the eyebrow limit is four years, observe the eyebrows; the eye limit is six years, observe the eyes; the upper and lower lips observe the lips; the Lunba limit observes the relationship between the eyebrows, ears, forehead and nose, and so on.

"Records from Yuebo Cave" also specifically discusses the criteria for passing the imperial examination, such as a strong face, round beads on the ears, a smooth forehead, bright eyes, passing the imperial examination in early years, passing the imperial examination in middle age, passing the imperial examination in old age, and official ranks after passing the imperial examination. We know that the imperial examination system originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and since "Records in Yuebo Cave" records the imperial examination system, it could not have been written in the Three Kingdoms period.

"Notes from Yuebo Cave" discusses the relationship between form and spirit, saying that form is beautiful in bones and face, and spirit resides in the heart. Form is the master of form, and form is the vessel of the heart. The spirit controls the heart, and the heart controls the form. The body is well-proportioned and the soul is complete. The limbs are flexed and stretched, and the spirit is not distracted. This emphasizes the primacy of matter and has a simple materialistic color.

"Notes from Yuebo Cave" emphasizes the comprehensive observation method, and advocates the establishment of nine techniques for observation, namely, one is spirit, two is soul, three is appearance, four is complexion, five is movement and stillness, six is ​​hiding and moving, seven is looking ahead, eight is talent and wisdom, and nine is virtue. When observing a person's face, one must observe the Five Mountains and Four Rivers. The so-called Five Mountains are the chin as Hengyue, the forehead as Hengyue, the nose as Songyue, the left forehead as Taiyue, and the right forehead as Huayue. The so-called four rivers are the eyes for the Huai River, the ears for the Jiang River, the mouth for the He River, and the nose for the Ji River. A high place is called a mountain, a deep place is called a dam.

"Notes from Yuebo Cave" advocates psychological observation: If you want to see someone, you must first try to get along with him in nature and behavior, only then can you get the truth. If you want to know his nature and behavior, just observe it with your eyes and test it with your mouth, and you will see it. The heart is the residence of the spirit, and the eyes are its core. His spirit is focused within, while his appearance is bright and clear, so by observing his eyes, you can know his heart. Physiognomy should have a place in ancient Chinese psychology. Modern psychologists ignore the psychological aspects of physiognomy because it has a strong superstitious color. This is probably biased.

"Notes from Yuebo Cave" also believes that facial features are related to physical condition. If there is black air in the diastolic region, the person will choke and die; if there is black air in the chin, it means that the food and drink are poisonous. It is also believed that the navel is related to fortune and longevity. The navel is the place where the body's meridians gather, so it should be deep and big. Those who are profound and broad-minded are blessed and long-lived, while those who are shallow and narrow-minded are extremely stupid. What kind of information relationship the navel has with the human internal organs remains to be explored.

The above is all the content of physiognomy: the physiognomy classic "Records of Yuebo Cave". I hope it will be helpful to everyone. I also hope that everyone will support the Dream Interpreter website.