Zeng Guofan on Physiognomy: Assessing Character Through the Eyes and Nose, Revealing Truth Through the Lips
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Throughout Chinese history, few individuals have been considered to have achieved perfect success, and Zeng Guofan is among them. His skill in selecting talented individuals is seen as a cornerstone of his success. Zeng Guofan believed that "to accomplish tasks, one must employ people, and to employ people, one must first understand them." This emphasizes the need for a deep comprehension of individuals' true nature to make informed personnel choices.
Zeng Guofan's approach to identifying talent is often regarded as a form of "physiognomy." The well-known eight maxims for assessing people are viewed as his summary of this art, extending beyond traditional physiognomy to include innovative methods of observation and evaluation.
1. Assess Morality through Eyes and Nose
In Chinese culture, loyalty and treachery are primary measures of a person's worth. Zeng Guofan's first maxim declares, "Assess morality through eyes and nose." If the eyes and nose are not aligned—often described as "crooked eyes and a crooked nose"—Zeng suspected that the person likely had hidden motives.
Similar to how facial makeup in Peking opera reveals a character's role, physiognomy suggests that when observing someone, the initial focus should be on their eyes and nose. These features are fundamental in evaluating character.
The "Great Treatise on Human Relations" states, "To perceive the extraordinary, one must first observe the eyes." Eyes reveal intelligence, status, skill, courage, and morality. Mencius noted, "When the heart is righteous, the eyes will shine." Valued eye shapes include long and deep ones, followed by eyes with slightly upturned corners, and then those that conceal their spirit. "Eyes that conceal spirit lead to wealth and high status; upturned corners lead to high positions." Conversely, slanted eyes are linked to cunning. Pupils should be as dark as lacquer, with clear distinctions between black and white. Different eyes suggest different personalities: bright eyes indicate intelligence, yellowish eyes suggest longevity, bulging eyes suggest a volatile temperament, and cloudy eyes suggest a short life span. Zeng documented numerous observations of people via their eyes, advocating for "a steady gaze" and warning that "wandering eyes are deceitful" and "gazing foolishly harms oneself." The nose is seen as the central mountain among the five peaks, emphasizing its importance in character judgment.
2. Assess Truthfulness through Lips
The mouth is the conduit of communication, and its size is irrelevant. Truthful speech and deceit are contrasting virtues. A "good" mouth is described as square, broad, and thick. There's a saying, "the opening should be large, while the closing should be small." Well-matched lips indicate good character; if the upper lip fails to cover the lower, men are deemed deceitful, and women may bring misfortune to their husbands. A mouth resembling a bird's beak suggests difficulty in dealing with that person. After helping King Goujian of Yue succeed, Fan Li parted ways, having observed the king’s long-necked, bird-like mouth—indicating he couldn't share peace. Historical accounts mention that an elderly woman, Xu Fu, predicted General Zhou Yafu's impending starvation based on the lines in his mouth, illustrating the belief that deep horizontal lines indicate impending starvation.
3. Assess Achievements through Demeanor
To determine whether someone is accomplished, Zeng Guofan suggested observing their demeanor. Some individuals have an aura that captivates others, akin to love at first sight—a charisma that instills admiration. In the fourth year of the Xianfeng era, a letter from Governor Hu Linyi lauded General Wu Wenrong's accomplishments and lamented the loss of Jiang Zhongyuan. Zeng praised Hu's talents, which led Hu to become Zeng's subordinate. Hu ascended to a prominent role, "carefully serving Wen Zheng," and was heralded as a key figure in national revival. After Hu's demise, Zeng privately regarded him as a hero. In 1860, Hu noted that Shao Quan's potential and talent were substantial, suggesting that a capable leader would significantly aid Zeng's success. Both Zeng and Hu evaluated Li Hongzhang, recognizing traits indicating great wealth and status, branding him a fortunate general.
4. Assess Wealth through Spirit
Here, "spirit" refers to vitality and energy. Zeng Guofan noted that some, despite cultivation, may not achieve lasting wealth, rendering efforts futile. In talks with Zhao Liewen, he lamented Hu Linyi's misfortune—despite his heroism, Hu's lack of vitality spelled a short-lived promise. It's often said that energy sustains life; those with abundant energy tend to live longer, while those with depleted reserves have shorter lives. This energy is the essence of vitality. Essence is tangible, whereas energy and spirit, though intangible, depend on essence and apply to both men and women. Essence derives from the kidneys; failing kidneys lead to diminished energy. In his later years, Emperor Kangxi expressed that his dedication to the Qing Empire exhausted his heart and spirit. Zeng thus emphasized assessing wealth through spirit.
5. Assess Intent through Fingernails
Zeng Guofan asserted that intent is best gauged by observing fingernails. Thick, soft hands are favored, with long fingers representing intelligence and decisiveness, while short ones suggest folly. "Clear and shallow palm lines" indicate a calm, focused heart, unshaken by adversity. "Chaotic palm lines" reflect unrest and distraction.
6. Assess Turmoil through Tendons
The feet are the foundation of a journey—"a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step." Physiognomy posits that feet support and mobilize the body. Ideal feet are flat, thick, straight, and long. Similar to selecting good horses for war efforts in the Qing Dynasty, solid feet are essential for one's life's journey. Aging often starts with the feet, thus the adage "assess turmoil through tendons." Some ascend to high positions without life's storms, while others endure hardship before success, marking them as those who endure turmoil.
7. To Assess Order, Look to Language
These lines aren't about physiognomy but about observing people. Zeng emphasized orderliness as one of the top four aspects of employing individuals. He stated that language reveals orderliness. This includes both written and spoken language; the clarity of reports and documents is crucial throughout life. He emphasized spoken language, citing an adage on attentively listening to words. The ability to articulate clearly and answer succinctly in conversation reflects orderliness.
Simply remembering these seven maxims isn't enough. In the authorized biography "Zeng Guofan" by Tang Haoming, a story recounts Zeng teaching his student Li Hongzhang the secrets of physiognomy, which greatly benefited Li, who became a pillar of the late Qing dynasty.
"Master, people say you're adept at evaluating people. Could you share methods for identifying capable soldiers? I aim to select promising officials and troops upon my return."
"Assessing people is profound and complex, not easily explained in a few words," Zeng responded. "Some insights can't be verbally conveyed but must be intuitively grasped. Experience is key. Let me share some maxims," Zeng smiled, "Assess morality through eyes and nose, truthfulness through lips, achievements through demeanor, wealth through spirit, intent through fingernails, turmoil through tendons, and assess order through language."
Li Hongzhang recited them, noting, "These maxims are succinct but somewhat vague. When assessing truthfulness through lips, what kind of lips are true, and what are false?"
Zeng laughed warmly, saying, "That's difficult to define. These insights are understood intuitively rather than explicitly communicated. As Dongpo said, many nuances in life are understood in the heart and can't be articulated. This is especially true for assessing people. However, assessing soldiers' capability is simpler, so let me clarify further."
Zeng stroked his graying beard and explained earnestly, "First, observe facial features: ideal candidates have focused eyes, a straight nose, and thick lips. Second, consider skin: rough, darker skin, and calloused hands are ideal. Third, evaluate speech; being reserved and taciturn is best. These are the primary criteria; other factors are secondary."
Zeng's criteria for assessing soldiers greatly inspired Li Hongzhang. Grateful, he replied, "I will follow the master's teachings and select 5,000 strong troops for the Huai Army."