How did ancient China read faces?

How did ancient China read faces?

In ancient China, physiognomy was popular. It could help one understand a person's bodily functions and destiny by observing him. It is said in ancient times that "if you want to look at a person, first look at his head." Because "the head is the master of the five internal organs and the ancestor of all the body parts." The Taiqing Shenjian also said: "The head is the most important part of the body, the leader of all the bones, the place where all the yang gathers, and the hometown of the five elements." "So when reading a person's face, one must start with the "head". The head is on top of the human body and symbolizes the "sky". The sky is high and round. "High" means the top of the head is towering and steep, like a mountain peak, and it should not tilt or shake; "round" means full, the entire head looks very thick, without any defects or sunken areas. This is a good face. In ancient China, there were mainly the following points when reading a person's face.

1. Bone

Physiognomy believes that "Heaven and man are a perfect match" and that the human body is actually a microcosm of the external natural universe: the head is round like the sky, the feet are square like the earth, the eyes are like the sun and the moon, the voice is like thunder, the blood vessels are like rivers, the joints are like gold and stone, the nose and forehead are like mountains, and the hair is like grass and trees. Bones are the backbone of the human body. "A person's temperament, conception, wisdom or stupidity, nobility or humbleness, length, good or bad fortune are all determined by them." Bones are the foundation of a person's fate, so bone reading comes before physiognomy. Some people even simply infer a person's fate based solely on bone reading. The bones are under the flesh, and the relationship between bones and flesh is crucial. Just like the relationship between yang and yin, and between ruler and minister, bones are yang, like the sky, like the ruler, and are strong. Meat is Yin, like the earth, like a minister, and dominates Yin. When yin and yang are in harmony, all things come to life. When the ruler and his subjects obtain their proper positions, fame, wealth and honor can be achieved. Therefore, the flesh should be plump but not cumbersome; the bones should be strong and thin but not thin. When the flesh is greater than the bones, it is like yin overcoming yang; when the flesh is weaker than the bones, it is like yang overcoming yin. These are all "biases" that are not favorable to one's fortune. Although some people think that face reading is pure nonsense, the fact that China's 5,000-year-old culture has preserved it must have its outstanding features.

2. Face reading

Observe the facial texture to predict fortune and longevity. Physiognomy believes that the way, shape, and location of facial lines are closely related to a person's fortune, so physiognomists throughout the ages have attached great importance to facial lines. There are two similar records in "Records of the Grand Historian". According to the Biography of Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo, Zhou Bo was the governor of Henan Province. According to the Biographies of Favorites, Deng Tong was a flatterer who was quite favored by Emperor Wen of Han. However, both of them had bad facial lines and "distorted population", so they were predicted by fortune tellers that they would "die of poverty and starvation". Later, their predictions came true. There are also similar descriptions in ancient literary works. For example, in the 29th chapter of "Jin Ping Mei", it says: "If you walk like a swaying willow, you will hurt your wife. If you have many wrinkles on your face, you will have to work hard in the end." The quality of facial textures mainly depends on the location and shape of the textures. Generally speaking, those that do not interfere with each other, are well-organized, and have bright colors are good, and they indicate good luck. Those that are criss-crossed, have a bleak color, and have black air rushing out are unlucky and a bad omen. The Volume 12 "Facial Marks" of "Complete Collection of Divination" has a specific discussion on the relationship between the quality of facial marks and destiny. He said: "If there is a horizontal line on the forehead like the word 'chuan', the person will live long. If there are curved and slanted lines on the corners, the person will be punished. If there are horizontal lines on the nose, the person will have no children. If there are straight lines on the forehead, the person will be disfigured. If there are horizontal lines under the cheeks, the person will die a violent death. If there are lines on the neck, the person will have a long life. If there are no messy lines under the chin, the person will be lucky. If there are many lines on the nose, the person will be vicious. If there are slanted lines under the eyes, the person will be punished. If there are two lines on the sides of the nose that extend down to the lips, the person will starve to death. If there are many horizontal lines in the palm, the person will be stupid. If the philtrum is disordered, it will be difficult for the person to have children. If the tongue has vertical and horizontal lines, the person will be noble. If the palm is warm and red, the person will have long-lasting blessings. If the chin is disordered, the person will be promiscuous. If the fishtail is long and thin, the person will never die."

3. Forehead

There is a saying in "Tai Qing Shen Jian": "A small forehead and a broad face means you are superior to others." This is a little different from what we usually say, that a small forehead is not good. In fact, physiognomy is the same as other things. It is not absolute and must be combined with reality. For example, someone has a small forehead and a broad face, which is still a good physiognomy. The key is to match it with other things. This requires the physiognomist not to be too rigid. It is generally believed that the forehead should be bright and shiny, which is unanimously recognized by all physiognomists.

4. Eyebrow matching

Eyebrows are charming. They are the green cover of the eyes and the appearance of the face. They are the essence of wood and the main difference between the wise and the foolish. Therefore, if the eyebrows are sparse and thin, flat and wide, and long, they are smart. If they are fine and thick, rebellious and chaotic, short and frowned, they are fierce and stubborn. Eyebrows should be thin, long, sparse, flat, and bright. During the Three Kingdoms period, Ma Liang had white eyebrows, which meant he was an outstanding talent and could be trusted. Eyebrows with white hairs indicate longevity; eyebrows must have straight lines to indicate nobility. Eyebrows do not need to be white, but long hairs are called longevity hairs. However, it is not advisable to have them early. The physiognomy book says: 20 hairs for life, 30 for death, 30 for death, 40 for death, 40 for longevity.

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