Jin Zizai on Face Reading: Facial Features Women Should Avoid (Part 2)
Six Avoidances of Chicken Chest
The term "chicken chest" describes a condition similar to pigeon chest, often caused by rickets in childhood. Its hallmark is a sternum that protrudes forward while the ribs on both sides tilt downward and inward, giving the chest a birdlike shape—hence the name.
In ancient times, people greatly feared "chicken chest and dog belly," believing these signs foretold a low destiny—poverty or early death. With limited medical knowledge and no effective ways to prevent or treat infections, many such patients did indeed die young.
Moreover, in traditional society, few people were educated; those who did not study typically farmed. This physique was considered ill-suited to heavy farm work, so individuals often learned a trade to get by—occupations commonly viewed as lower status—reinforcing the idea of a low destiny.
From today’s perspective, if someone has a skill and their overall health is not affected, they can still succeed. In the early Hong Kong film industry, there was a prominent figure with a chicken chest who thrived in the field of feng shui for decades. Times change, and we should not view everything through an outdated lens.
Returning to women’s appearance, people in the past likely considered fertility—such as the ability to bear children and possible hereditary factors. After all, traditional belief held that leaving no descendants was the gravest failure of filial duty.
Seven Avoidances of Reversed Eyebrows
Reversed eyebrows refer to an undesirable eyebrow shape or growth direction. Ideally, eyebrows should be smooth and gently arched; when they deviate from this, they are called “reversed,” suggesting diminished vitality. Eyebrow tails that droop like a hanging ghost are seen as negative, while tails that extend outward, like those of Wang Xifeng, are considered positive. Mismatched brows and eyes—such as thick brows with small eyes—also indicate a loss of vitality. Upright eyebrows, arrow-like brows, and thick, muddled brows likewise suggest depleted energy.
In physiognomy, eyebrows represent the palace of friendships and intelligence. Thick, bushy eyebrows are thought to signal stalled fortune and a hasty temperament. For men, marrying someone with such brows may lead to conflict.
Eight Avoidances of a Boisterous Voice
A boisterous voice refers to a woman speaking in a manner similar to a man. In traditional thought, facial features were considered external, while voice reflected the inner self. Voices were categorized into the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Metal voices are clear and smooth, water voices are rounded and urgent, fire voices are intense, earth voices are deep, and wood voices are high-pitched.
Voices were then correlated with the body’s five elements. For example, a wood-type person with an intense (fire) voice indicates a harmonious relationship and is considered auspicious. Conversely, a wood-type person with a smooth (metal) voice suggests conflict and is seen as inauspicious.
In practice, this rigid five-element classification is hard to apply in real-world physiognomy. However, a boisterous voice is not necessarily a bad thing. In domestic life, such a woman may be more capable than men and able to take the lead. In the past, this ran counter to social norms. In today’s context, a woman with a boisterous voice can be seen as more resilient and competitive than men.
Nine Avoidances of Hairy Lips
Hairy lips refer to women with noticeable facial hair, commonly called “hairy beauties” today.
Physiognomists believe such women display excessive yang energy and depleted yin energy. Since men embody yang and women embody yin, if a woman cannot retain her yin, it is said to leak. This produces an ambiguous gender expression, leading to more masculine traits in women. The simplest interpretation offered is a lack of female hormones.
In ancient times, the belief was that women represented yin and men represented yang. Women were expected to be gentle, and men strong. A woman who displayed masculine traits was thought to be detrimental to her husband. A poor temperament would also likely lead to conflict with in-laws. A lack of feminine hormones was believed to negatively affect fertility.
In today’s society, a woman with a bit of facial hair—while perhaps suggesting a more masculine personality—does not carry any inherently negative connotation.
Ten Avoidances of High Buttocks
High buttocks refers to a prominent backside. In traditional Chinese opera, when a divine general appears, both the shoulders and buttocks are often padded to create a more imposing presence—for example, in portrayals of Zhong Kui. Physically, this trait is neither inherently good nor bad. However, individuals with high buttocks are said to have flamboyant, arrogant personalities and to display aggression. From a modern perspective, prominent buttocks are considered attractive, and there are even beauty services dedicated to enhancing this feature. As for a woman’s arrogant personality, beauty is subjective, and if men appreciate it, that is what matters. (End)