Physiognomy tutorial: human body shape and human appearance

Physiognomy tutorial: human body shape and human appearance

(I) Zeng Guofan’s discussion on the key points of judging appearance

Original text: The length of a person's appearance should be seven feet, and his looks should be in accordance with the two principles. The chest, abdomen, hands and feet are actually connected to the five elements; the ears, eyes, mouth and nose are all connected to the four qi. If they look after each other and get along well with each other, then happiness will arise; if they are back to back and get close together, then there will be so many things that it is not worth discussing.

Plain language: When observing a person's appearance, one should use the seven-foot body as the limit for judging his figure, and the two eyes as the limit for judging his face. The human chest, abdomen, hands and feet have a corresponding relationship with the five elements (gold, wood, water, fire and earth), and have certain attributes and characteristics of them; the human ears, eyes, mouth and nose are all interconnected with the qi of the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), and also have certain attributes and characteristics of them. If the various parts of the human body take care of each other, match each other, are symmetrical and coordinated, then they will bring blessings to people; but if they deviate from each other or crowd each other, making the appearance look messy and fragmented, then its fate is not worth mentioning.

(II) Zeng Guofan on observing people’s body posture

Original text: Appearance is valued for its neatness, but neatness does not mean being tidy. It is not short like a pig squatting, nor long like a thatch standing, nor fat like a bear eating, nor thin like a magpie sitting in the cold. This is what is called perfect. The back should be round and thick, the belly should be flat and protruding, the hands should be warm and soft, curved like a bow, the feet should be plump, and the bottom should be able to hide the eggs. This is what is called complete. Five short ones are more expensive, two big ones are not famous, carrying heavy loads for high officials, acting like rats and loving profit, this is the fixed frame. If his hands are longer than his body, and his body is larger than his figure, and he has good bones, he will definitely be granted a title of nobility; if his body is covered with ribs, and he has fine bones in his chest, and he has a wonderful spirit, he will be the top of the imperial court if he does not become a prime minister.

Plain language: The value of human appearance lies in its integrity. This integrity does not mean uniformity, but that all parts of the body should be balanced and symmetrical so as to form an organic and perfect whole.

In terms of body shape, a person can be short, but not as short as a squatting pig; a person can be tall, but not stand like a lonely thatch. In terms of body shape, you can be fat, but not as fat as a gluttonous bear; it’s okay to be thin, but not as thin as a jackdaw. These are what this section refers to as whole.

Looking at various parts of the body, the back should be round and thick, the abdomen should be protruding and flat, the hands should be warm and soft, and the palms should be curved like a bow. The instep should be thick and full, and the sole should be hollow, preferably empty enough to hold an egg. This is also called whole. Although people with short bodies may seem insignificant, most of them have noble status; people with excessively long legs often have bad luck.

If a person walks as if he is carrying a heavy object, then he will surely become a high-ranking official; if he walks like a mouse with quick and small steps, and looks left and right with a flickering gaze, then he must be a greedy and profit-seeking person. These are fixed patterns that have been tried and tested.

There are other patterns: if the hands are longer than the upper body (preferably over the knees), the upper body is longer than the lower body, and there is a good bone structure, then there will definitely be a title of duke or marquis. For example, if the skin is delicate and smooth, as if silk is covering the whole body, and the bones of the chest are not visible, and if there is an extraordinary expression, then one will definitely have great ambitions in the future.

(III) Zeng Guofan on Judging People’s Appearance

Original text: There are three types of appearance: clear, ancient, strange and beautiful. In short, you have to focus on the star of academic success and the Yin Xi pattern. The star of success in academic studies can be seen at any time between the ages of thirteen and thirty-nine; the Yin Xi pattern can be seen at any time between the ages of nineteen and forty-six. If you have both, it is a great thing; if you have one, it is also precious. The Ke Ming star appears in the eyebrows of the forehead, sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, sometimes like a steel needle, sometimes like a small pill, sometimes with a glow, and is easily seen after drinking or when angry. Yin Xi lines appear at the corners of the eyes and are visible when it is cloudy or rainy. They are shaped like a trident and are most easily seen when dozing off. Those who have the star of academic success will prosper early, while those who have the Yin Xi pattern will prosper late. If you have neither, there is no future. Yin Xi lines appearing between the throat indicate the birth of a noble son. There is no other road on this path.

Colloquial language: A person's facial features can be delicate, simple, magnificent, or elegant. These four types of appearance are mainly distinguished by the star for success in academic achievement and the Yin Xi lines. The star for success in academic achievement can be seen at any time between the ages of thirteen to thirty-nine, and the Yin Xi lines can be seen at any time between the ages of nineteen to forty-six. If one has both the Yin Xi Wen and the Ke Ming Xing, he will become a great man in the future. If one can get one of them, he will also be rich. The star of academic achievement appears between the forehead and the eyebrows. Sometimes it appears and sometimes it is hidden. Its shape is sometimes like a steel needle and sometimes like a small ball. It is a red light and purple gas. It is easy to see after drinking and when angry. Yin Xi lines appear at the corners of the eyes and can be seen on cloudy or rainy days. They look like a three-pronged fork and are most easily seen when people are about to fall asleep.

Those who have the star of scientific success will become prosperous and glorious in their youth, while those who have the lines of yin and yang will become successful later. If you don't have either, don't even think about your future. In addition, if the Yin Xi lines appear in the throat area, the owner will have a son. If the Yin Xi lines appear in other parts of the body, it cannot be concluded that you will not necessarily have a son.

The above is all the content of the physiognomy tutorial on appearance: human body shape and human appearance. For more information, please follow the Face Reading Tutorial Channel of Dream Interpreter!