Mai Yi Xiang Fa: Shen Yi Fu with Liu Heng's Commentary on Observing People's Complexion and Spirit

The "Four Pillars of Destiny," also known as BaZi, is a predictive science that uses the year, day, month, and hour as coordinates to assess one's fate. It combines the major luck cycles, which provide the temporal and spatial environment, with configurations of the Ten Gods to represent various life aspects. Annual cycles reflect the gains and losses related to the Ten Gods. In the BaZi system, the Heavenly Stems symbolize the heavens and indicate qualities, while the Earthly Branches represent the earth and signify changes, with the Ten Gods symbolizing humans to define all matters. The art of physiognomy interprets facial features: the forehead indicates life direction, the nose reflects aspirations, the cheekbones relate to social responsibilities, and the jawline corresponds to actions. Among many texts on physiognomy, the Ma Yi tradition is fundamental, with Ma Yi's "Shen Yi Fu" offering deep insights. These have been summarized and annotated by Master Liu Heng.

Original Text of "Shen Yi Fu"

• Those with bones like mountains and forests will ultimately become immortals; those with bones like golden cities will rise to power.
• Wealth and status may be evident, but the limits of fate are elusive.
• To determine life and death timelines, first consider form and spirit. To discern auspicious or inauspicious signs, pay attention to complexion.
• Eyes like fish eyes suggest a swift death; a complexion like smoke and clouds foretells impending disaster.
• A form like a clay idol predicts unavoidable fate; if the heavenly pillar tilts, the illusionary body will soon depart.
• A face like iron coins suggests a change in fortune; a complexion like Zen clouds indicates a smooth future.

Liu Heng's Annotations

• Immortals are those who are ethereal and detached from worldly concerns; here they refer to individuals who are noble and proud. According to Liu Heng, 'mountain' refers to the brow bone, and 'forest' to the eyebrows. Those with pronounced brow bones often have a rebellious nature and may face injustices in life. 'Golden city bones,' as defined by Liu Heng, refer to the cheekbones, symbolizing a person in power when the cheekbones are full and balanced.
• (Limits of fate: specific timing of events) Facial bone structure determines wealth and status, while the eyes reflect social position, easily identified in physiognomy. The complexion, indicating the limits of life and death, is challenging to interpret in detail.
• In a person's life, spirit is paramount while appearance is secondary. A combination of both leads to longevity; if spirit isn't attached to form, life will have limits. Physiognomy methods are intricate, with spirit being crucial. If preserved, spirit can flourish; if lost, complexion will lack vitality. Close observation reveals auspiciousness or inauspiciousness.
• ('Fish eyes' refer to round and exposed.) Eyes that are round and exposed resemble fish eyes; such individuals lack brilliance and longevity. Complexion should be bright, not dark—a smoky, dusty appearance signals a predisposition to disaster.
• A dry, clay-like face, indistinguishable from the earth, suggests imminent illness. The heavenly pillar refers to the neck; if tilted and unable to rise, the illusionary body will soon perish.
• A grey-black complexion like iron coins signifies spirit and form separating, indicating an inescapable fate. If complexion is bright and moist, like auspicious clouds, the future will be prosperous and peaceful, free from disaster.

Original Text of "Shen Yi Fu"

• Achievements and wealth come when all three palaces shine with a yellow glow.
• Stagnation in literature and difficulty in writing when each eyebrow emits a green aura.
• A scant yellow aura and heavy stagnation mean fame and fortune may or may not come.
• A little green aura but much joy means wealth and nobility may or may not come.
• Brightness within stagnation turns worry into joy; stagnation within brightness turns auspiciousness into inauspiciousness.
• A red light on the face indicates all wishes will be fulfilled; a joyful aura at the forehead's center ensures all plans succeed.
• When year and longevity are bright and clear, peace prevails throughout the years.
• The golden treasury shines, bringing all auspiciousness.

Liu Heng's Annotations

• The three palaces refer to the two temples and the forehead (the two cheekbones and the forehead). A normal skin tone with a lustrous color in this area indicates successful achievement of fame and wealth.
• A scholar is identified by their eyebrows, while a candidate by their eyes. Eyebrows emitting a green aura or appearing dull symbolize the literary palace. If dull or disordered, literary pursuits will experience delays, preventing one from reaching desired heights.
• A scarce normal skin tone and a heavy green-black aura—even with well-proportioned facial features—foretell challenges and setbacks before fame and fortune, which may be delayed or fail to appear.
• Liu Heng defines a green aura as a pale and weak complexion, indicating a violent temperament; excessive liver energy leads to disaster. Those with little malice and much kindness will attract good fortune.
• Though the complexion may be dark, full facial features and kind eyes suggest a current lack of fortune, akin to a dragon trapped in shallow water, but eventual success. Bright complexion with flawed features leads to temporary wealth and nobility, ultimately resulting in decline.
• The front refers to the harmonious combination of form and spirit; the red light represents a normal complexion. A kind heart fosters happiness, and the red light signifies current prosperity, leading to successful plans. The center of the forehead, linked to decisiveness, indicates smooth fortune when bright and expansive.
• Year and longevity refer to age and lifespan; the year is associated with the bridge of the nose, while longevity ties to the sides. Located beneath the nose root, considered the palace of illness in physiognomy, brightness without stagnation indicates a peaceful nature and safe years.
• The 'golden treasury' refers to the wings of the nose, associated with one's capacity to amass resources. Full and strong nasal wings signify restraint and attract all auspiciousness.