Mai Yi Xiang Fa: Liu Heng's Commentary on 'Shen Yi Fu' - Evaluating Women's Wealth and Social Status

“Timing is not as important as location, and location is not as important as harmony among people.” In this context, "timing, location, and harmony" refers to timing as the opportunity for success, location as one's abilities and cultural conditions, and harmony as the application of wisdom and knowledge. In essence, it suggests using our wisdom and knowledge to guide our actions and outcomes, with timing only influencing the speed of success or failure. Teacher Liu Heng has summarized and annotated the "Shen Yi Fu" from the Ma Yi physiognomy, collaborating with fellow scholars in the study of the I Ching.

Original Text of "Shen Yi Fu"

• A woman with malicious eyes will bring misfortune to her husband; her voice is harsh and her face unkind, resulting in solitary nights in her boudoir.
• A woman with a pointed forehead and protruding ears may marry three times but will not find peace; her prominent cheekbones and strong voice will lead to the loss of seven husbands.
• If her jawline is visible behind her ears, she is cunning and greedy; with malicious eyes and a hooked nose, her heart is treacherous and toxic.

Annotations by Liu Heng

• A woman is fortunate if her eyes are gentle and dignified; if her gaze is vicious and her eyes are large and protruding, she will bring calamity to her husband. A woman with a masculine voice or harsh tone will find it challenging to maintain a lasting marriage. Prominent cheekbones indicate a tendency to be alone in her chamber.
• A narrow and pointed forehead with a low hairline and thin ears suggests that even if she marries three times, she will not find stability. A woman with prominent and sharp cheekbones and a deep, coarse voice may marry seven times but will never find peace.
• A jawline visible behind the ears indicates a person with a treacherous and greedy heart, who is vengeful and likely to repay kindness with malice. Beware of such individuals. If they have malicious eyes and a large hooked nose, they are calculating and dangerous.

Original Text of "Shen Yi Fu"

• An uneven forehead indicates a person who is inwardly promiscuous while appearing outwardly innocent. Unsteady steps reveal a heart filled with malice.
• If the heels do not touch the ground, they will sell their land and wander to distant places.
• If the nostrils are exposed and raised, they will encounter external disasters and die far from home.

Annotations by Liu Heng

• The forehead is the crown of all yang energies and the focal point of all meridians; it should not be uneven. If it is, the person tends to be frivolous and unstable, often leading to betrayal. Unsteady steps and sidelong glances indicate a person who is fickle and treacherous, likely to face a short life.
• A steady gait indicates wealth and skill, while a person who walks lightly and bounces like a bird is likely to be a wanderer, losing wealth in the process.
• The nostrils relate to the bladder meridian; if they are exposed, it indicates a leakage of energy. A prominent Adam's apple suggests weak heart and lung energy, leading to a life of wandering and possibly dying away from home.

Original Text of "Shen Yi Fu"

• If the lips do not cover the teeth, they will attract suspicion; a lack of facial hair indicates a lack of strength.
• A too-narrow space between the eyebrows leads to late marriage and children; a dimly lit space indicates family ruin.
• A visible throat and teeth indicate separation from family; coarse bones and thin skin suggest a short lifespan.

Annotations by Liu Heng

• A large mouth with thin lips is prone to gossip; if the gums are often exposed without smiling, they tend to talk about others and are often at odds with people. The text states: "Lips and teeth not in harmony, thin lips lead to much talk." A shallow philtrum indicates weak kidney energy, and a lack of facial hair suggests a life of toil and poverty.
• A too-narrow space between the eyebrows, or eyebrows encroaching on this area, indicates a lack of decisiveness in actions. Teacher Liu Heng notes that if the eyebrows are connected, it is challenging to find a suitable partner. Late marriage and children are common. A dimly lit space indicates potential misfortune in middle age.
• A prominent Adam's apple in women indicates excessive masculinity, while in men, it suggests weak heart energy. If the gums are exposed while speaking, it indicates weak kidney energy and poor digestive health, leading to separation from children or family. Women with overly prominent bones indicate a life of hardship, while men with tight, drum-like faces suggest a short lifespan due to depleted liver energy.