Do Good Looks Alone Guarantee Success?

In movies and TV dramas, scenes like the following are common.

"Master, I see your forehead is full and your jaw is well-defined; you’re sure to become a pillar of the nation one day."

"Sir, I see this person has a full forehead and a well-defined jaw; he’s sure to become a pillar of the nation one day."

"Miss, I see this young man has a full forehead and a well-defined jaw; he’s sure to become a pillar of the nation one day."

“Full forehead and well-defined jaw.” That eight-character line has been trotted out so often it’s almost nauseating. Just like Feng Shui claims, “A door facing a window leads to financial loss.” Just like BaZi says, “When the Officer meets the Injury star, it brings endless trouble.” Anyone can toss around a few terms, brag a bit, and put on a show.

Still, a door facing a window may suggest financial loss, but if your wealth position is intact, what’s there to fear about a window? When the Officer meets the Injury star, disputes may arise, but if the Injury star is weak, how can it truly harm the Officer? Not everything that looks ominous is really bad, and not everything that looks auspicious is truly good.

A full forehead points to one’s younger years; a well-defined jaw points to one’s later years. Having both throughout life is certainly favorable. But set aside uneven eyes, heavy forehead lines, withered ears, bony cheeks, downturned mouth corners, and an ashen, sallow complexion. If you have a sunken, bent, crooked, or short nose—any one of these is enough to break the pattern. Once the pattern is broken, the supposed benefit no longer holds; in other words, your full forehead and well-defined jaw stop counting. Likewise, if the Officer star is damaged in BaZi, don’t even talk about becoming an official: for a woman it points to divorce, and for a man, simply avoiding calamity would already be considered fortunate.

So are those eight characters just empty talk, not worth mentioning? In fact, they capture the most basic essence of physiognomy; later generations simply haven’t taken the time to examine them closely. Since we’re on the topic, let’s spell things out so readers of this piece can broaden their horizons a bit.

The “forehead” refers to the upper third of the face, from the eyebrows to the hairline. A full forehead is slightly prominent and smooth, without dents or blemishes. The ancients said: “A long, full, square, and broad forehead signals nobility.” That’s the standard. If your forehead fits this description, you will achieve success before thirty. In the era of imperial examinations, passing before thirty virtually guaranteed a noble destiny.

The “jaw” refers to the lower third of the face, from the chin across the jawline to the cheeks. A well-defined jaw means the chin is neither pointy nor receding but full and fleshy, with firm, square cheekbones. The ancients said: “A flat, full, solid, and thick jaw signals wealth.” That’s the standard. If your jaw matches it, you can expect at least a prosperous fate after fifty. The ancients valued agriculture; a good jaw meant good fortune in land and property—a worry-free later life.

Having covered the upper and lower parts, we must talk about the middle. The “middle” runs from the eyebrows to the tip of the nose. The ancients said: “A prominent, straight middle—high yet steady—indicates longevity.” The standard here is a full nasal bridge with well-set, balanced cheekbones. The key word is “longevity.”

A brief digression: many people are confused about how to read longevity. Generally, a deep, wide philtrum suggests a long life; large, light-colored ears suggest a long life; bright eyes suggest a long life. All true—but if one is lonely and destitute, what good is longevity? If one is poor and struggling, what good is longevity? Long life is far better when paired with rank and wealth, living in abundance. If the middle meets the standard, congratulations: you’re looking at both prosperity and longevity.

By now, some may wonder what it means if the three parts fail to meet the standards. The answers have long been written.

• Upper part: A narrow, pointy forehead portends frequent calamities, brings harm to one’s parents, and signals a lowly fate.
• Middle part: A short, sunken middle suggests a lack of benevolence and righteousness, limited intelligence, and little support from siblings and spouse, leading to losses in midlife.
• Lower part: A long, narrow, pointy, and thin jaw foretells scant land or property, a life of poverty, and hardship in old age.