Ancient Techniques for Identifying Good and Evil through the Eyes, Truth and Lies through the Lips

Throughout history, we have continually had many opportunities to interact with others. How to quickly get to know someone and understand their characteristics to determine the potential closeness of future relationships has been a popular topic across cultures and eras.

In Western cultures, extensive psychological discussions have developed, using body language and behavior to assess a person. In China, various theories have existed since ancient times, such as the saying "the face reflects the heart," which is widely accepted and considered quite accurate.

Truly, our appearance often conceals our character.

Zeng Guofan summarized the art of recognizing people in his work "Bing Jian" as follows: "To discern good from evil, observe the eyes; to discern truth from falsehood, observe the lips." While some may dismiss this statement, it does not target those born with physical limitations; rather, it reflects the accumulated experiences and wisdom of ancient people. Even today, Zeng Guofan's concise words remain highly effective for understanding others.

Observing the Eyes for Good and Evil

The eyes are the windows to the soul. To see a person's true nature, observing their eyes is often enough. While everyone is born with two eyes, the expression in one's eyes can reveal the distinction between good and evil. How, then, did Zeng Guofan teach future generations to discern good and evil through the eyes?

In "Bing Jian," he wrote:

“To discern good from evil, first observe the stillness and movement.

Stillness like holding pearls, movement like a wooden puppet;

Stillness as if no one is present, movement as if rushing forward, reflects clarity at its core.

Stillness like fireflies, movement like flowing water, sharp and indulgent;

Stillness like half-asleep, movement like a startled deer, deep in thought about others.

One is a broken vessel, the other a hidden current, both manifesting clarity and should not be overlooked.”

The essence of this passage is that to assess a person's character, one should observe their eyes in both still and moving states. A person of integrity typically has clear, steady eyes; a narrow-minded and jealous person often has hesitant and wandering eyes. A heart that is bright and upright naturally reflects in clear and bright eyes, whereas someone who frequently appears uncertain may harbor ulterior motives.

There is no better way to observe a person than by looking into their eyes. The eyes can reveal both clarity and darkness, incapable of hiding one's true nature; instead, they disclose the goodness or evil within.

Observing the Lips for Truth and Falsehood

As the saying goes, "A good horse is known by its legs, a good person by their words." From this, we can see that the "mouth" plays a crucial role in a person’s character. Among the five senses, the mouth is the most important medium for expressing thoughts and feelings. The truthfulness of a person's emotions displayed on their face can be discerned from their lips.

Ancient wisdom holds that the mouth is a gatekeeper, and "trouble comes from the mouth" is an unchanging truth. Understanding this principle, Zeng Guofan made significant efforts to avoid "idle talk." He even deliberately distanced himself from friends, earning a reputation for being "bland and uninteresting, cold and unpleasant."

However, Zeng Guofan did not mind and simply wrote:

“Clever words please others but disturb oneself; idle chatter wastes time and disrupts your spirit.

Understanding others without boasting, those who boast do not truly understand; hearsay leads to wisdom's laughter and foolishness's dread.

The frightened will eventually understand, claiming you have deceived them. Those who laugh disdain you, even if they still hesitate.

Regret comes from entanglement, engraved as self-critique; engraving and repeating leads to lamenting one’s old age.”

The essence of this passage is that if one cannot control their speech, it will ultimately disturb their own mind; using flowery language to please others will only bring trouble upon oneself.

Some people may speak slowly and avoid grandiose or empty words, yet when they act, they are particularly quick and efficient. Such individuals, even if they do not speak much, exude a sense of calm and reliability. Being cautious with one's words can also help avoid the pitfalls of being overly trusting. Therefore, not speaking lightly or carelessly is a hallmark of a steady and grounded person.

Zeng Guofan's method of recognizing people is straightforward. Have you ever applied similar principles? How accurate were they? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts with other readers.