Astrological Indicators of Marital Quality
According to ancient Chinese writings on sexual health, an ideal sexual partner should meet four criteria: clear eyebrows, beautiful eyes, red lips, and white teeth.
In antiquity, eyebrows were said to embody charm. Well-shaped brows can create a favorable impression, evoke affection, and communicate romantic interest. Modern research shows that eyebrow growth, like other body hair, is influenced by androgens—the hormones that play a key role in determining libido. Thus, thick eyebrows may suggest higher androgen levels, which can correlate with stronger sexual desire. Ancient descriptions claim that people with arched, bushy brows enjoy the interplay of yin and yang, perform well in bed, and can leave their partners entranced—what fortune tellers call "clear eyebrows." By contrast, thin, straight brows—thought to lack yang energy—were associated with poorer sexual skills. A unibrow was linked to anxiety and tension, believed to reduce sexual stamina and increase the risk of premature ejaculation and impotence.
The eye is largely composed of water. When a woman is aroused, rising estrogen levels can markedly increase ocular moisture. At such times, her eyes may resemble "autumn waters," radiating an irresistible allure—what fortune tellers describe as "seductive eyes." Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also holds that women are closely linked to blood, which is stored in the liver and manifests in the eyes; in this framework, eye moisture is said to reflect fluctuations in estrogen. Generally, the more lustrous and watery a woman's eyes appear, the higher her presumed estrogen levels and the stronger her desire for love and to be loved.
Sexual activity requires both emotional and physical investment. The energy expenditure involved can be akin to a fierce battle—hence the Western phrase "war of roses." To wage a high-quality "war of roses," the cardiovascular system is as essential as the sexual organs. Lip color can reflect cardiovascular function. If someone's lips are dark purple, suggesting a weak heart and poor oxygenation, how can they sustain a satisfying sex life? Thus, "red lips" symbolize vitality and good health, signaling the capacity to maintain a normal sexual life.
Why did ancient scholars include "white teeth" among the four criteria for choosing a partner? TCM holds that the teeth are an extension of the bones and that the kidneys govern the bones; dental problems can therefore indicate kidney issues. People with weak kidney energy and insufficient essence and blood may experience lower back pain, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, impotence, and infertility, along with loose teeth, irregular alignment, and darkened tooth color. Those with dark, loose teeth were seen as frail and unwell, making excessive sexual indulgence inadvisable; both frequency and intensity of sexual activity were thought to require moderation.
Historical medical texts also emphasized examining a woman's pubic and underarm hair. If the hair was soft, lustrous, thick, and dense, she was considered high quality. Women without pubic hair were sometimes called "white tigers"—a symbol of coldness and femininity in traditional Chinese culture. Because men are associated with yang (masculinity), encountering a "white tiger" was thought to expose them to excessive yin, potentially harming health and longevity. Another saying held that "those who are highly sensual have no hair on the vulva," implying such women were especially sensual; ancient people feared that excessive sensuality could deplete a man's essence and affect his health. As a result, women without pubic hair were often viewed as ill omens for husbands and were harder to marry off.
From a modern medical perspective, very sparse or absent pubic hair in some women can indeed be a sign of disease. For instance, Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder involving sex chromosome abnormalities, typically presents with gonadal dysfunction, short stature, underdeveloped breasts, immature external genitalia, very little pubic hair, amenorrhea, and infertility. Women with hypothyroidism may also have sparse pubic and underarm hair along with reduced libido. Postpartum hemorrhage can lead to pituitary ischemia (Sheehan’s syndrome), resulting in pituitary dysfunction—amenorrhea, weight loss, fatigue, reduced libido, and hair loss, including pubic hair. Men may likewise have sparse or absent pubic hair, often accompanied by a less prominent Adam’s apple, a high-pitched voice, and azoospermia, typically due to congenital testicular underdevelopment or conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome.
While abundant body hair reflects higher androgen levels, which can help maintain sexual desire, excessive body hair can also signal medical issues. For example, women with eosinophilic or basophilic pituitary adenomas may have excessive pubic hair, along with enlarged fingers, thickened gums, an enlarged tongue, and hormonal imbalances. Women with adrenal hyperplasia or tumors may experience excessive pubic hair and clitoral enlargement due to excess androgen secretion. Polycystic ovary syndrome can also cause hirsutism—especially when accompanied by amenorrhea, infrequent menstruation, obesity, and infertility—leading to noticeable increases in pubic and body hair.
Therefore, assessing physical traits before marriage was seen as a way to prevent future troubles, support mutual happiness, foster a harmonious sex life, and safeguard reproductive health.