Jin Zizai’s Fortune-Telling: Auspicious Signs for Wealth and Prosperity

In physiognomy, auspicious traits are generally grouped into signs of wealth, nobility, longevity, kind-heartedness, and those said to bring prosperity to husbands and to superiors. Drawing on the wisdom of our predecessors, I have compiled and summarized the following for everyone’s reference.

Wealth Features

Wealth refers specifically to material riches; a wealthy person is not necessarily noble, and a noble person is not necessarily wealthy. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

Ears are rosy and set close to the head; earlobes are thick and turn toward the mouth; the nose is full and tubular; the nasal complexion is moist and lustrous;

The face is darker while the body is fair; the features are full and prominent; the voice rings like a bell; the skin is coarse while the frame is slender;

The face shape resembles the Chinese character '由'; the features are harmonious; the neck is thick and the chin is full; the eyebrows are lush and the eyes are bright;

The skin is smooth with a bit of flesh at the abdomen; the palms are moist and rosy; the nose is fleshy and the cheekbones are prominent; the base of the nose is full and well-formed;

Teeth are white like pomegranate seeds; signs of wealth emphasize the nose, ears, chin, and physique, all of which should be full and substantial.

Nobility Features

Nobility refers to social standing or one’s profession; in ancient times, officials were often called noble. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

The body has a natural fragrance, and the skin is smooth and dewy; the nose is full and well-proportioned; the eyes are beautiful with arched brows; the three sections of the face are balanced and harmonious;

Ears are fair and lustrous; eyes are as black as lacquer; the torso is long while the lower body is short; the lips are thick and the mouth is wide;

The forehead is high and dome-like; the chin is wide, the mouth is large, and the eyebrows are level; the eyebrows are straight, the eyes are round, and the mouth is well-formed; the voice is clear and bright;

Shoulders are rounded, the back is thick, and the chest is broad; hands and feet are fair and lustrous like jade; the nose is round and prominent; the lips are red and the teeth are white, with a clear voice;

The head is round, the eyes are clear, and the nose is high-bridged; the eyebrows are set high, the ears are set high, and the nose is straight;

Signs of nobility emphasize the forehead, nose shape, eyes, and lips, all of which should be clear and well-defined.

Longevity Features

Longevity does not necessarily imply wealth or nobility; there are also wealthy and noble people who live long lives. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

The five 'mountains' are full, and the facial lines are clear; the skin is thick; the eyebrows have long hairs; the forehead shows horizontal bone structure;

The eyes are spirited; the neck has excess skin; the teeth are strong and long; the voice is loud and sustained; both the ears and nose are long;

The chest is broad; the teeth are even and dense; the ears are long with hairs; the features resemble a crane or a turtle; the cheekbones extend toward the ears;

Features that Bring Prosperity to Husbands

'Prosperity to husbands' does not mean the woman herself is wealthy or noble, nor that her husband is already wealthy or noble, but that after marriage her husband achieves great success in his career and the family thrives. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

The voice is clear, soft, and resonant; teeth are white like pomegranate seeds and the lips are rosy;

The build is well-fleshed and the skin is smooth; the face is round like a full moon with a fleshy chin;

The features are even, dignified, and gentle; the nose tip is rounded and the space between the brows is wide;

The eyes are clear, the nose bridge is straight and prominent; the back is thick and the navel is deep;

The base of the nose is prominent, the eyebrows are beautiful and arched; the cheekbones are fleshy and the palms are rosy.

Features that Bring Prosperity to Masters

'Prosperity to masters' refers to subordinates whose features are said to bring good fortune to their superiors. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

The face is radiant with a healthy glow; the forehead is high, wide, full, and smooth;

Both ears are round, thick, and set close to the head; the bridge of the nose is full, the tip is round and bright;

The mouth is large with a well-defined jaw; the cheekbones are fleshy and prominent beside the nose.

The nose is small, the eyes are large, the eyebrows are clear, and the ears are fair; the space between the brows is wide and the voice is soft and gentle.

Features of Wealthy and Noble Women

'Features of wealthy and noble women' refers to women who are wealthy themselves or whose husbands are wealthy; whether they themselves are wealthy or their husbands are, they are destined to be close to wealth throughout their lives. Meeting any one of the following is considered a sign; meeting two strengthens the case.

The face is plump, the back is thick, and the shoulders are rounded; the eyes are piercing and the hands are slender like bamboo;

The forehead is round and wide, the hair is smooth; the features are distinct and the philtrum is deep;

The eyebrows are clear, the eyes are beautiful, and the nose tip is round; the skin has a pleasant fragrance, the flesh is supple, and the ears are thick and fair.

The five 'mountains' are well-defined, and the nose is finely shaped; the shoulders are narrow, the neck is long, and the voice is harmonious.

Thirty-Six Kind-Hearted Features

In physiognomy, from facial features to body shape, from demeanor to complexion, the highest consideration is kind-hearted traits. The ancients regarded these as most important, saying: 'With a kind heart, features are secondary; features follow the heart.' If one has favorable features without a kind heart, those features fade as the heart does. Tradition lists thirty-six kind-hearted traits; if a person’s thoughts and actions align with five, great wealth may be achieved, and if they align with ten or more, one may attain official rank.

Acting with balanced firmness and gentleness; keeping company with the virtuous; sharing good food with others; shunning wrongdoing and avoiding petty people;

Always making things easier for others; able to manage a household from a young age; self-reflecting in the face of setbacks; not growing weary of social dealings;

Acting for others’ benefit while exercising self-restraint; never abetting evil or indulging in killing; staying composed at sudden news; keeping promises made to others;

Not changing one’s aspirations or character; not falling asleep easily at night; not looking back while riding; not harboring resentment at night;

Not hiding one’s own sins or concealing evil; being thorough in one’s dealings; not forgetting kindness received; having a generous heart from a young age;

Not destroying what is good or harming the innocent; showing compassion to the needy; never aiding the strong to bully the weak; not forgetting the bonds of old friendship;

Being useful to others; not speaking recklessly; feeling humbled by what one receives; having a harmonious, well-modulated voice;

Not interrupting others when they speak; often speaking of others' good deeds; not despising plain clothing or simple food; being adaptable to circumstances;

Being tireless in hearing about good deeds; caring about others' hunger and hardship; not holding grudges over past grievances; striving to help old friends in difficulty.