Jin Zizai on Physiognomy: Understanding Cognitive Biases in Face Reading (Part Four)
Ten Principles of Eyebrow Tattooing
Before we talk about eyebrow tattooing, let’s start with the eyebrows themselves. Traditionally, eyebrows are linked to wisdom, affection, sibling bonds, and even longevity. Across different schools of physiognomy, they carry considerable weight.
Thick eyebrows are said to be unlucky; thin eyebrows are unlucky; sparse eyebrows are unlucky; yellowish eyebrows are unlucky; crossed eyebrows are unlucky; overlapping eyebrows are unlucky, and so on. A mole in the brow is often said to signal intelligence, but that’s just a saying. In practice, having a mole in the eyebrow is believed to hinder both career and marriage and to affect health—men supposedly suffering injuries to the upper limbs, women to the lower.
From color and shape to the presence of moles, every aspect is read for signs of luck or misfortune.
Tattooed eyebrows are likewise thought to influence luck. An old text says: “A black mole in the center of the eyebrow harms the husband; three lines in the eyebrow indicate remarriage.” The first refers to a black mole at the middle of the brow, considered harmful to the husband. The second refers to three vertical breaks in the eyebrow, suggesting divorce. The gist is that such features are unfavorable for marriage. Here, “three lines” means vertical lines that interrupt the brow, not modern cosmetic enhancement.
By that logic, if a natural mark that disrupts the brow already signals harm—milder cases pointing to remarriage and more serious ones to harm to the husband—then deliberately using needles to break the skin around your eyebrows would seem to invite trouble.
A senior practitioner in Xi’an once said that women who tattoo their eyebrows often divorce within three years. I have also verified many cases of women with tattooed brows who later divorced, though the tattoos are not necessarily the cause. What is certain is that if a marriage is troubled, the relationship will be unsatisfactory.
Logically, if your eyebrows are naturally clear and long, you wouldn’t feel the need to tattoo them—you’re already beautiful without extra embellishment. It’s usually those with sparse, thin, or yellowish brows who seek tattoos. Unfortunately, that can be adding insult to injury: it may fail to improve your marriage and could upset your luck, leading to frequent conflicts and difficulties in both relationships and career. I suggest that women unhappy with their eyebrow shape cultivate calm, avoid impatience, and be more considerate; handling matters with composure is far better than relying on cosmetic procedures.
Eleven: Masculine Traits in Women, Feminine Traits in Men.
An ancient saying puts it bluntly: “Men with feminine features do not live long; women with masculine features lead hard lives.” The wording is harsh, but the meaning stands. It suggests that if a man looks or behaves in a distinctly feminine way, he may face an early demise; if a woman shows pronounced masculine traits, she may struggle to manage household affairs. The reason for discussing this is that, in physiognomy, yin and yang are a topic of their own.
First, facial features are categorized as yin or yang. For example, a prominent nose is yang, while a flat nose is yin; a raised or full mouth is yang, while a downturned mouth is yin. Because yin and yang exist, there is also fortune and misfortune: prominence is favorable, flatness is not; a raised mouth is favorable, a drooping mouth is not. Second, feminine traits correspond to yin and masculine traits to yang. Because of these differences, the same facial feature can point to entirely different outcomes.
According to physiognomy, a man’s face should read as elevated, while a woman’s should read as gentle. Elevation represents yang; gentleness represents yin. This conclusion follows classical teachings on yin and yang. Men should be assertive and vigorous, showing decisiveness and energy in their actions. Women should be soft-spoken and graceful, handling matters delicately without jealousy or competition. This describes the natural balance of yin and yang; on its own it doesn’t sound like fortune or misfortune. But when the polarity reverses, luck—good or bad—comes into play.
A woman whose face reads as elevated embodies masculine qualities—competitive and driven. However, this is said to bring risks: harming her husband, clashing with in-laws, and neglecting filial piety. If the cheekbones are high, there may even be a tendency toward domestic aggression. Conversely, a man whose face reads as gentle embodies feminine qualities—soft and meticulous—yet this may lead to passivity, indecision, pessimism, and emotionality, often showing up as cold, indirect forms of conflict.
In short, within physiognomy the same features can signal different outcomes depending on yin and yang. The same traits also read differently across genders, so learners should be cautious in their interpretations.
Twelve: Observing People by Their Energy
Observing people by their energy does not mean literally seeing an aura or cloud above someone’s head that reveals good or bad fortune. If such abilities exist, they are rare. We’ll focus on simpler, practical methods.
The Water Mirror states: The principles of physiognomy are like a feng shui master assessing land. The best dwelling is where the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—converge to create a supportive environment. The same applies to reading people: look for the gathering of positive energy to identify good character. Because people come in countless forms, it’s impossible to list them all. So instead of judging strictly by the five elements, trust your first impression. If you see someone you’ve never met and feel joyful, or hear someone speak for the first time and feel happy, that person likely brings warmth and delight, much like a favorable dwelling. Conversely, if you’ve never quarreled with someone yet feel anger on seeing them, or feel disgust on first hearing them speak, that points to negative energy.
I believe this passage captures the essence of physiognomy.
Feng shui also discusses the observation of energy. In Three Essentials of the Yang House, there’s a dedicated section on energy fields. In practice, it’s simple to sense: the energy around temples is often clear, while the energy near markets tends to be gloomy. Some buildings make you feel joyful as soon as you enter, like Shanghai Hang Lung Plaza, while others, such as Shanghai’s 1933 Old Millfun, can feel heavy and oppressive. Those who are attentive to life and sensitive to their surroundings will have a keener feel for energy.
Human energy and dwelling energy follow similar principles. It’s well understood that appearance reflects the inner state: the heart is internal, but what’s expressed outwardly is energy. Words and actions can be masked; spirit cannot. This aligns with the teachings of the Huangdi Neijing, which holds that what’s within will inevitably manifest outwardly.
A person with good energy is approachable and friendly. A person with deceitful energy feels intimidating. A person with righteous energy commands respect. A person with malicious energy sets off alarms. Those with good energy tend to have positive outcomes, while those with bad energy face consequences. The deceitful ultimately ensnare themselves. Strictly speaking, this goes beyond facial features; it all stems from the heart, which gradually shapes one’s energy, then one’s appearance and character, leading to fortune or misfortune.
Therefore, since we understand that appearance arises from the heart, we should focus on calming the mind, reflecting daily, and being cautious in our words and actions.