The Traits of Noble, Middle Noble, and Great Noble in Physiognomy
Physiognomy Traits of Nobility:
The traits associated with nobility include: “A dark face with a fair complexion, a coarse face with a slender body, short legs with long hands, a small body with a loud voice, a dragon swallowing a tiger, a short face with long eyes, not foul but fragrant, and few fleshly protrusions. All of these are noble features. If a person possesses these traits, those seeking fame will reach high positions, and those pursuing wealth will become extremely rich.”
In simpler terms: the skin should be fair while the facial complexion is slightly darker. The face should be broad, and the body should be slender. The legs should not be overly long, but the hands should be. The voice should be powerful, and the middle finger should be longer than the palm (the fingers represent the dragon, and the palm represents the tiger). The face should be short with long eyes, and the body should naturally emit a pleasant fragrance. These traits indicate that one can hold an official position and attain wealth.
Traits of Great Nobility in Physiognomy:
The characteristics of great nobility include: “A tiger's head with a swallow's jaw, the corners of the forehead raised like the sun and moon, a prominent nose resembling a rhinoceros horn, steady eyes, a phoenix tower reaching the sky, hands that hang to the knees, a mouth wide enough to hold a fist, a tongue that reaches the tip of the nose, and walking like a dragon or tiger; these are features of great nobility.”
To possess great nobility, one must have the above traits, which means: the head should be large, the jaw broad, and the corners of the forehead should stand out like the sun and moon. The nose should have a prominent rhinoceros bone that reaches the hairline. The eyes should be steady and shaped like phoenix eyes. Hands should hang close to the knees. The mouth should be large enough to hold a fist, the tongue should curl up to touch the tip of the nose, and one's walk should be steady and deliberate like a dragon or tiger. These are all signs of great nobility.
Traits of Medium Nobility in Physiognomy:
Characteristics of medium nobility include: “A beard like a straight line, ears whiter than the face, eyes like dots of lacquer, longer above and shorter below, a mouth like the character '四', thirty-six teeth, a dragon swallowing a tiger's kiss; these are features of medium nobility.”
To achieve medium nobility, one must have these traits, which signify: a fine and not coarse beard, ears that are white and extend beyond the eyebrows, pupils as black as lacquer, the upper half of the head longer than the lower half, a mouth with defined and even edges like the character '四', with thirty-six teeth, and the middle finger longer than the palm, among other features; these are the signs of medium nobility.
Traits of Minor Nobility in Physiognomy:
Characteristics of minor nobility include: “A high and full forehead, a square and rounded chin, urination like pearls, defecation fine and long, teeth white and large, sparse eyebrows and delicate eyes, a mouth like a bow, and lips like red petals; these are features of minor nobility.”
To achieve minor nobility, one must have these traits, which entail: a high and full forehead, a chin that is both square and rounded, urine that resembles a string of pearls, defecation that is fine and long, teeth that are white and large, eyebrows that are long and sparse, eyes that are slender and delicate, an upper lip that resembles a bow, a lower lip with clear edges, and lips with a red hue; these are signs of minor nobility.