Which Is More Important: Facial Features or Character Traits?

Beyond the face we present to the world, there is another face that reflects our morals, awareness, self-esteem, and self-discipline—a face that signifies our character.

This is the face most exposed. Even in the freezing winter, when the rest of our body is wrapped up tightly, this face remains exposed to the elements, facing the wind, frost, or snow. When taking photos, particularly portraits that focus mainly on the head, showing the face is crucial. In work, life, study, and social situations, we strive to display our faces as much as possible.

Yet, this is also the face we often try to hide. Fencers must first cover their faces during training and competitions. Thieves and robbers often wear masks, leaving only their eyes visible. When people feel shy or embarrassed, they instinctively raise their hands to cover their faces. There’s a joke about a fire in a bathhouse where a naked guest escapes, and an elderly person exclaims, “Just cover your face…”.

This dual nature of exposure and concealment has led to the saying, “The face that doesn’t freeze in the cold is the one that doesn’t die from heat.” While the buttocks are covered with various types of pants in autumn, winter, and spring, and even in summer with shorts or swimwear, the face doesn’t have this luxury.

However, expressions like “Look at your character,” “Take a look in the mirror,” “People have faces, trees have bark,” and “If a person has no shame, even the devil is afraid” do not refer to this physical face.

It becomes evident that beyond the physical face, there exists another face that reveals our morals, awareness, self-esteem, and self-discipline—a face that defines our character. Thus, we can say that a person has two faces: one is the physical face, and the other is the moral face. The physical face is inherited from our parents and cannot be changed; it is not subject to criticism, which I refer to as physiognomy. The moral face, however, is cultivated personally and can change, subject to moral evaluation and public scrutiny, which I call character. By distinguishing between the physical face and the moral face, it becomes easier to understand the often vague concepts of “saving face” and “losing face.”

Upon closer inspection, we find that people place different levels of importance on these two faces. There are three specific scenarios: first, “equal importance to both physical and moral faces”; second, “physical face first, moral face second”; and third, “sacrificing the moral face for the sake of the physical face,” often referred to as “losing face.” Among adults today, it is prevalent to “value the physical face while neglecting the moral face.”

In my opinion, the first and second scenarios are understandable, while the third, as long as it doesn't harm society or break the law, is not something we can control. However, discussing the tendency to “value the physical face while neglecting the moral face” remains relevant.

There’s a saying that “reading is a deep beauty treatment for women,” which refers to enhancing character and transforming temperament, primarily concerning the moral face. This idea applies not only to women but also to men. Yet, whether in scope or intensity, people often focus more on superficial appearances and pay little attention to “depth.” Just look around—many undergo unnecessary surgeries and spend money on various masks, creams, and treatments for their faces. But if you ask them how much they invest in “deep beauty,” they might blush. Perhaps this is an individual case, but when it comes to superficial beauty, they can talk endlessly, while “deep beauty” leaves them uninspired. They struggle to finish a book in a year, yet this is not an isolated incident.

In reality, the pattern of “valuing the physical face while neglecting the moral face,” or even “having a physical face but no moral face,” occurs often. Don’t be fooled by handsome men and beautiful women in expensive suits and jewelry; they may look polished on the outside, but their actions can be unsightly. They ignore conscience, justice, public ethics, and rules, acting selfishly and opportunistically, neglecting their responsibilities while enjoying privileges. Some “Chinese aunties” display an overwhelming sense of entitlement, taking every opportunity. They may achieve success in their pursuits, but they lose their dignity. Moreover, we often hear about groups causing disturbances or engaging in verbal skirmishes for appearances' sake, gaining face but losing respect—these are manifestations of “valuing the physical face while neglecting the moral face.”

The “Zuo Zhuan” states: “The highest virtue is to establish a moral character, followed by establishing achievements, and then establishing words; those that endure through time are considered immortal.” Later, Cao Pi elaborated in his letter to Wang Lang: “A person has a body of seven feet, and in death, they become a coffin of earth. Only by establishing virtue and gaining a good reputation can one achieve immortality.” This undoubtedly refers to a person’s moral character, particularly the character that remains after death. Today, there's a saying: “Liking someone starts with their looks, is deepened by their talents, and ultimately depends on their character.” This suggests that a person’s appearance draws us in initially, their talents inspire admiration, but ultimately their character determines if we accept them for life. Ancient wisdom and modern sayings align perfectly!