Chiyang Daoren, Eastern Taoism
The face-reading method of “complexion and the Five Phases” combines a person's facial complexion with the qualities of the body's “Five Phases” (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) and with the laws by which the Five Phases generate and overcome one another, in order to judge a person's constitution, character, fortune, and health tendencies.
Here readers should note that when “the Five Phases” come up, ordinary Chinese people will usually blurt out “jin mu shui huo tu” (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). In fact, this is a folk speech habit that arose because of the combination of tones—jin in the first tone, mu in the fourth, and shui, huo, and tu in the third—whose rise and fall is gentle overall and whose rhythm is steady, making it suitable for everyday repetition. The orthodox order of the Five Phases, however, follows the chain of “generating” and is arranged by the spatial directions east, south, center, west, and north, so it must be adjusted to Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. In face reading, the relationship between complexion and the Five Phases is a method of knowing people. Its core logic is that “the Five Phases correspond to areas of the face and to complexion”: people of different Five Phase body types differ in how their facial complexion appears, in the areas of fortune it corresponds to, and in the direction of adjustment they need. The correspondence between the Five Phases and areas of the face is as follows:
1. The Parts of the Face Corresponding to the “Five Phases” and the “Five Features”
1. Wood: the east is where the sun rises, and in spring yang qi begins to rise and all things sprout, which matches Wood's quality of “sprouting and growing”; hence Wood belongs to the east. Wood corresponds to the forehead, also called the Tianting (“Heavenly Court”), which governs career, study, and fortune in early life.
2. Fire: the south has the strongest sunshine, and summer is hot, which matches Fire's qualities of “heat and abundance”; hence Fire belongs to the south. Fire corresponds to the eyes, also called the Supervising Palace, which govern health, mental state, and social charm.
3. Earth: the center is where the four directions meet, and late summer—the transitional season between summer and autumn—is hot and humid, when all things grow and ripen, which fits Earth's qualities of “bearing and transforming and nurturing”; hence Earth belongs to the center. Earth corresponds to the nose, also called the Wealth Palace, which governs finances, the accumulation of wealth, and willpower.
4. Metal: the west is where the sun sets, and in autumn the climate is dry and plants wither; the gathering-in and austere, killing quality of metal and minerals echoes the mood of autumn; hence Metal belongs to the west. Metal corresponds to the cheekbones, also called the Power Palace, which govern power, competition, and the ability to carry things out.
5. Water: the north is cold, and in winter all things close up and store away and rivers freeze, which matches Water's qualities of coldness and storing; hence Water belongs to the north. Water corresponds to the chin, also called the Dige (“Earthly Pavilion”), which governs fortune in old age, family, real estate, and wisdom.
Traditional Eastern physiognomy not only matches “Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water” to the spatial directions “east, south, center, west, and north,” but also to the succession of the seasons: spring, summer, the transition from summer to autumn (late summer), autumn, and winter. This is in fact a cultural system that the ancients gradually formed on the basis of observing natural phenomena, summing up the laws of time and space, and reasoning philosophically (from the waxing and waning of yin and yang to the cycles of generating and overcoming).
2. The “Five Phases” and Their Corresponding Body Types
Next, what are a person's “Five Phase body types”? In face reading, “Five Phase body types” is a method of knowing people by observing their build, facial contours, and bearing to determine which of the five types—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water—they belong to, and then analyzing their character, fortune, and health tendencies.
The specific logic of judgment is to judge comprehensively on three levels—build (height and weight, fine or heavy frame), face (contours and the shape of the features), and bearing (character and patterns of behavior)—to avoid misjudging from a single trait. The characteristics of each Five Phase body type are as follows:
1. Wood-type people (the Wood of the east, governing growth and enterprise). Build: tall and slender, with a fine frame, long limbs, and an upright back and shoulders; the overall lines are flowing, like a “bamboo pole,” and the weight is on the light side. Face: a broad, full forehead (Wood corresponds to the Heavenly Court), soft facial contours, fine features, long eyebrows, and a pointed, narrow chin. Bearing and character: frank and ambitious, with a strong sense of purpose and skill in planning the future, but prone to impatience and stubbornness, with considerable mood swings; they value spiritual pursuits and have a natural interest in art and culture. Health tendencies: prone to diseases of the liver and gallbladder and of the nervous system (such as insomnia and anxiety); they should take care to let their emotions flow.
2. Fire-type people (the Fire of the south, governing passion and bursts of energy). Build: medium or on the thin side, with a moderate frame, firm muscles, and quick movements, full of vitality like a “flame,” and the weight is on the light side. Face: large, bright eyes (Fire corresponds to the Supervising Palace), a square forehead, well-defined facial contours, fairly high cheekbones, thin lips, and a reddish or tanned complexion. Bearing and character: warm, cheerful, outgoing, and lively, with strong social skills and an extremely strong drive to act, but prone to impulsiveness and impatience, with emotions worn on the sleeve; they value honor and recognition. Health tendencies: prone to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (such as high blood pressure and pharyngitis); they should balance work and rest.
3. Earth-type people (the Earth of the center, governing steadiness and tolerance). Build: burly or on the heavy side, with a broad frame, full muscles, and a solid physique, as weighty as “a mountain,” and the weight is on the heavy side. Face: a broad nose (Earth corresponds to the Wealth Palace), regular features, thick lips, a square forehead, rounded facial contours, and a yellowish or waxy complexion. Bearing and character: steady and down-to-earth, very tolerant, with a strong sense of responsibility and an orderly way of working, but prone to stubbornness and conservatism and lacking flexibility; they value family and tradition. Health tendencies: prone to diseases of the spleen and stomach and of the digestive system (such as gastritis and obesity); they should take care to eat in moderation.
4. Metal-type people (the Metal of the west, governing firmness and decisiveness). Build: medium or on the thin side, with a square frame, firm muscles, and broad shoulders and a thick back, sturdy like “metal,” and moderate weight. Face: prominent cheekbones (Metal corresponds to the Power Palace), a square forehead, angular facial contours, sharp eyes, a straight nose, thin lips, and a fair or pale complexion. Bearing and character: firm and decisive with strong execution, valuing rules and order, but prone to severity and a lack of warmth, emotionally reserved; they value career and achievement. Health tendencies: prone to diseases of the respiratory and skeletal systems (such as asthma and arthritis); they should take care to keep warm and to exercise.
5. Water-type people (the Water of the north, governing wisdom and flow). Build: short or on the thin side, with a fine frame, soft muscles, and a supple physique, nimble like “flowing water,” and the weight is on the light side. Face: deep-set eyes (Water corresponds to the Supervising Palace), small, delicate features, thin lips, a rounded forehead, soft facial contours, and a dark or tanned complexion. Bearing and character: intelligent and flexible, highly adaptable and good at improvising, but prone to suspicion and changeability, with large mood swings; they value freedom and change and have a natural interest in the occult and philosophy. Health tendencies: prone to diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (such as nephritis and stones); they should keep regular hours.
3. The “Five Phases” and Facial Complexion
People of different Five Phase body types differ in the “ideal state” and the “abnormal signs” of their facial complexion, and so its effects on their fortune and health also differ. Specifically:
1. Wood-type people (led by the forehead). The ideal complexion is a blue-green forehead (like a tender sprout), bright, moist, and lustrous, governing many career opportunities and an active mind, with ready breakthroughs in study and at work. The main abnormal complexions: a bluish-black, gloomy forehead governs obstacles in one's career and a tendency to be framed by petty, scheming people; one must beware of bad decisions. A withered, sallow forehead without luster governs a stalled career and lack of drive; one needs to adjust one's attitude or change direction.
2. Fire-type people (led by the eyes). The ideal complexion is a red area around the eyes like the morning clouds, bright and spirited, governing abundant energy, strong social charm, and ready help from benefactors. The main abnormal complexions: reddish whites of the eyes and dullness around the eyes govern physical weakness and a tendency to tire easily; one should pay attention to sleep and diet. Bluish-black around the eyes governs long-term stress and a tendency toward cardiovascular disease; one should adjust one's daily routine.
3. Earth-type people (led by the nose). The ideal complexion is a nose as yellow as gold, full and lustrous, governing flourishing finances, rapid accumulation of wealth, and a stable career. The main abnormal complexions: a gray, dull, lusterless nose governs low finances and a tendency to lose money; one should manage money conservatively. A nose flushed with an unhealthy redness governs fluctuating finances, with possible unexpected income or expenses; one should make rational decisions.
4. Metal-type people (led by the cheekbones). The ideal complexion is cheekbones as white as white jade, with well-defined contours, governing strong execution, good fortune with power, and a ready advantage in competition. The main abnormal complexions: bluish-purple, dull cheekbones govern many conflicts with others and a tendency to quarrel over power and interests; one should rein in one's sharpness. Pale cheekbones without vitality govern a lack of competitiveness and a tendency to be marginalized; one needs to raise one's own abilities.
5. Water-type people (led by the chin). The ideal complexion is a chin as black as black jade, full and lustrous, governing steady fortune in old age, a harmonious family, and deep wisdom. The main abnormal complexions: a bluish-black, gloomy chin governs a tendency toward health or financial problems in old age; one should plan ahead. A yellowish-white, greasy chin governs stalled family fortune and a tendency to quarrel with relatives over trifles; one should strengthen communication.
Note here that the so-called “Five Phase body types” and “corresponding complexions” are in essence a classified observation of the blood circulation and metabolic state of different parts of the body. For example, a good complexion on the forehead (Wood) reflects an ample supply of oxygen to the brain and an active mind; a good complexion on the nose (Earth) reflects normal spleen and stomach function and vigorous metabolism; and a good complexion on the chin (Water) reflects healthy kidneys and endocrine system and a good constitution in old age, and so on.
However, in observing and judging a person's complexion, one must also consider that complexion is very easily affected by environment, emotion, and the like. For example, when the area around the eyes turns bluish or dark after long periods of staying up late, this is perfectly normal and recovers once one adjusts one's routine. Moreover, people can, through their own efforts, make their fate develop in a better direction. In such cases, as the saying goes, “when good things happen, one's spirits are refreshed,” and the complexion is sure to grow better and better. So the link between complexion and the Five Phases is merely one theoretical system within face reading.
In real life, if one ties complexion absolutely and directly to “Five Phase fortune,” one may well fall into “Five Phase superstition.”
