Traditional Eastern Face Reading: The Method of the Twelve Palaces

Chiyang Daoren, Eastern Taoism

The method of “the Twelve Palaces” in face reading is the core framework by which traditional face reading analyzes the course of a life. Its core idea is to divide the face into twelve key areas, each corresponding to a different dimension of fortune, including career, finances, emotion, marriage, family, and health.

1. The Locations of the “Twelve Palaces” and What They Signify

The whole face can be divided into twelve key areas, which face reading calls “the Twelve Palaces.” An earlier article briefly mentioned the concept of the Twelve Palaces; below, from the point of view of “reading,” we discuss the location of each palace, its core meaning, and the dimension of life to which its overall fortune corresponds.

The Twelve Palaces are not simply divided in isolation. They are laid out with the face as the center, taking the features and the overall contour into account, and they cover the whole face from forehead to chin.

1. The Life Palace

The Life Palace is located in the vertical area from the space between the eyebrows (the Yintang) to the Shangen (the start of the nose bridge)—that is, the stretch from the Yintang to the upper part of the nose bridge. Its core meaning is one's inborn fate. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are the direction of one's fate, the core of one's character, and the pattern of one's life.

2. The Siblings Palace

The Siblings Palace is located in symmetrical areas on both sides of the face: the triangular areas extending from the outer ends of the eyebrows (the brow tails) to the temples (the hollows outside the brow bones), one on each side. Its core meanings are brothers and sisters, friends, and partners. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are support from others and fortune in cooperation.

3. The Spouse Palace

The Spouse Palace is located on both sides of the Shangen (the start of the nose bridge), in the area on the inner side of the cheekbones below the outer corners of the eyes. Its core meanings are marriage and love, the qualities of one's spouse, and romantic fortune. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are whether married life is harmonious and whether one tends to bring harm to one's husband or wife.

4. The Children Palace

The Children Palace is located in the triangular areas below the cheekbones (the raised part of the middle of the cheeks) extending to the outer sides of the mouth corners, one on each side. Its core meanings are one's bond with children and the parent–child relationship. The dimension of life to which its overall fortune corresponds is blessings in old age.

5. The Wealth Palace

The Wealth Palace is located in the triangular areas on the outer side of the cheekbones (the raised part of the middle of the cheeks) extending to below the earlobes, one on each side. Its core meanings are regular wealth, windfall wealth, and skill in managing money. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are the accumulation of wealth and the stability of income.

6. The Health Palace

The Health Palace is located directly below the space between the eyebrows (the Yintang), at the start of the nose bridge (the stretch of the bridge running straight down from the midpoint between the eyebrows to just above the nose tip). Its core meanings are physical health, hidden risks of illness, and fortune in middle age. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are one's inborn constitution and the risk of serious illness.

7. The Travel Palace

The Travel Palace is located in the triangular areas behind the temples (the hollows outside the brow bones) extending to above the earlobes (that is, the temporal region, the sides of the head near the ears), one on each side. Its core meanings are fortune when away from home and developing one's career elsewhere. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are opportunities away from home, fortune in other places, and changeability.

8. The Servants Palace (Friends Palace)

The Servants Palace (Friends Palace) is located in the triangular areas from below the outer sides of the mouth corners to the two sides of the chin (the Dige, or “Earthly Pavilion”)—that is, the lowest part of the cheeks, below the level of the philtrum and above the angles of the jaw—one on each side. Its core meanings are relations with subordinates, one's bond with friends, and support from a team. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are authority at work and the ability to manage a team.

9. The Career Palace (Official Emolument Palace)

The Career Palace (in Chinese, literally the “Official Emolument Palace”) is located in the middle of the forehead above the eyebrows, what is commonly called “the very center of the forehead.” Its upper boundary is the edge of the hairline (the topmost outline of the forehead), and its lower boundary is the inner ends of the eyebrows (the top of the Yintang). Horizontally, it is centered on the midpoint of the forehead (directly above the midpoint between the eyebrows) and extends on both sides to the inner edge of the temples, covering the long strip of the middle forehead from the inner ends of the eyebrows to the hairline. Its core meanings are career, position, and study. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are career advancement, academic achievement, and standing at work.

10. The Property Palace

The Property Palace is centered on the Shangen (the start of the nose bridge) below the eyes and extends horizontally on both sides to the hollows on the inner side of the cheekbones, covering the area from below the outer corners of the eyes to the sides of the nostril wings. Its core meanings are family, real estate, and one's living environment. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are family harmony, fortune with property, and a sense of security.

11. The Fortune and Virtue Palace

The Fortune and Virtue Palace is located above and slightly outside the brow bones (above the corners of the eyebrows, in an area about one centimeter above the eyebrows). Its core meanings are spiritual enjoyment, blessings, and fortune in old age. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are peace of mind and the quality of life in old age.

12. The Appearance Palace

The Appearance Palace is not a separate area but the overall pattern—the overall contour of the face (the proportions of the Three Sections and the combination of the features). Its core meanings are looks, bearing, and social image. The dimensions of life to which its overall fortune corresponds are personal charm and how society judges one.

2. How to Read Each of the “Twelve Palaces”

Now for the core features of the Twelve Palaces and how to interpret them for fortune. The core features of the Twelve Palaces are the form of each palace—full or sunken, smooth or marked with stray lines, bright or dark in color, and so on. These features are divided into auspicious and inauspicious signs, and the auspicious and inauspicious signs correspond directly to fortune in the relevant dimension.

1. The Life Palace

Auspicious signs of the Life Palace: a broad Yintang—wider than 1.5 to 2 centimeters—rosy in color and free of stray lines. People with this auspicious sign in the Life Palace are generally foretold to have smooth inborn fortune, strong help from benefactors, a solid foundation of health, and ready opportunities.

Inauspicious signs of the Life Palace: a narrow Yintang—less than 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide—that is blackish or dark, with horizontal lines, the so-called “broken-brow lines.” People with this inauspicious sign in the Life Palace are generally foretold to have blocked, unfavorable fortune in early life and to meet petty, scheming people easily; in health they are especially prone to problems such as spleen and stomach complaints and nervous exhaustion.

2. The Siblings Palace

Auspicious signs of the Siblings Palace: the skin in the area from the outer corners of the eyes to the tops of the cheekbones is full, without hollows and without obvious wrinkles or spots; the whole area of the Siblings Palace has a clear outline, without random, slanting, horizontal, or vertical lines; its color is rosy and lustrous and the skin smooth and even; the outer corners of the eyes turn naturally upward; and the height of the cheekbones is in harmony with the position of the outer eye corners. People with these auspicious signs in the Siblings Palace are generally foretold to have strong support from their siblings, flourishing fortune in cooperation, excellent popularity, and help from benefactors that extends into their social circle.

Inauspicious signs of the Siblings Palace: the area from the outer corners of the eyes to the tops of the cheekbones is clearly sunken or collapsed, the skin dull and lusterless, sometimes even with bulging blue veins; the area of the Siblings Palace is covered with random lines or has conspicuous spots or ominous moles (black or red moles); the outer eye corners droop; and the cheekbones jut out or are sunken. People with these inauspicious signs in the Siblings Palace are generally foretold to have weak support from their siblings, low fortune in cooperation, a social circle made up mostly of fair-weather drinking companions, and blocked help from benefactors.

3. The Spouse Palace

Auspicious signs of the Spouse Palace: the area of the Spouse Palace is full and fleshy, without hollowness or shriveled look; the left and right Spouse Palaces are symmetrical, without any slant or asymmetry; and there are no blemishes such as horizontal, vertical, or slanting lines, scars, or mole marks. It should be explained that if the Spouse Palace has faint, fine vertical lines (not deep grooves), they instead represent “lines of blessing and longevity.” People with these auspicious signs in the Spouse Palace are generally foretold to have a solid foundation for marriage and a spouse who is gentle and understanding and can give emotional support and family warmth; there is no interference from a “third party” in their relationship, their marriage has few setbacks, and there are no “periodic crises.”

Inauspicious signs of the Spouse Palace: the area of the Spouse Palace is sunken or shriveled; the left and right Spouse Palaces differ in size or height; there are horizontal lines, radiating slanting lines, or broken or interrupted lines; and the complexion of the Spouse Palace is abnormally bluish, black, or a withered white. People with these inauspicious signs in the Spouse Palace are generally foretold to have a spouse who is domineering, cold, or sensitive and suspicious; they are prone to quarrels, and even divorce, over “incompatible personalities,” “financial disputes,” or “who gets the final say”; there are periodic crises and a tendency toward infidelity; and the family easily falls into cold wars, financial crises, and loneliness in old age.

4. The Children Palace

Auspicious signs of the Children Palace: the area of the Children Palace is full and fleshy, without hollowness or shriveled look; the left and right Children Palaces are symmetrical, without any slant or asymmetry; and there are no blemishes such as deep wrinkles, horizontal or slanting lines, scars, or mole marks. It should be explained that if there are faint, fine vertical lines (not deep grooves), they instead represent “lines of blessing and longevity,” meaning one's children will stay with their parents into old age. The color of the Children Palace is even, pale red or a moist yellow. People with these auspicious signs in the Children Palace are generally foretold to have a deep bond with their children, who will be healthy and gentle and able to give their parents emotional support and material care; the parent–child relationship is one of equals, and in old age they readily enjoy their children's company and deep blessings; the parent–child relationship has few setbacks, the children readily become successful, and the family atmosphere is warm.

Inauspicious signs of the Children Palace: the area of the Children Palace is sunken or shriveled; the left and right Children Palaces differ in size or height; the Children Palace has scars, black moles, or red moles; and there are abnormally deep wrinkles, broken lines, or an abnormal complexion. People with these inauspicious signs in the Children Palace are generally foretold to have a thin bond with their children, who may die young, move far away, or be rebellious and unfilial; in old age they easily fall into the plight of being “all alone”; the parent–child relationship is unbalanced, there is much conflict among the children, the children are in poor health, and in old age one easily meets with unfilial descendants.

5. The Wealth Palace

Auspicious signs of the Wealth Palace: a round, fleshy nose tip, a straight nose bridge, and full nostril wings. People with these auspicious signs in the Wealth Palace are generally foretold to have stable regular wealth (wages, investment income), many opportunities for windfall wealth (lawful income such as side businesses and financial management), and strong skill in managing money.

Inauspicious signs of the Wealth Palace: a pointed, thin nose tip, a low, collapsed nose bridge, and damaged nostril wings. People with these inauspicious signs in the Wealth Palace are generally foretold to have finances with large ups and downs that are very unstable, a tendency to lose money through impulsive spending or investment mistakes, and difficulty saving.

6. The Health Palace

Auspicious signs of the Health Palace: the Shangen is high, full, round, and fleshy, with a bright, moist, fresh complexion (a moist yellow is best); the Shangen has no blemishes such as horizontal or vertical lines, mole marks, or breaks; and its color is even, without bluish-black, withered white, or other gloomy tones. People with these auspicious signs in the Health Palace are generally foretold to have a relatively strong inborn constitution, strong resistance, and abundant energy; they are frank and have a sense of justice; their career and marriage are stable in middle age; they rarely meet great calamities, and even when disaster strikes they stay calm in the midst of chaos.

Inauspicious signs of the Health Palace: the Shangen is low and flat, sunken, or crooked, or the nose bridge is as sharp and thin as a knife edge; the Shangen slants to one side; there are deep horizontal lines or broken lines; and the complexion is abnormally gloomy. People with these inauspicious signs in the Health Palace are generally foretold to have a weak inborn constitution, poor immunity, and a tendency toward chronic illness; in middle age they may suffer career setbacks, marital upheaval, and poverty and frustration; they are stubborn and prone to health or career problems caused by impulsiveness; in middle age they are prone to accidental injuries; and their hidden health risks are great.

7. The Travel Palace

Auspicious signs of the Travel Palace: the area of the Travel Palace is full and fleshy, without hollowness or shriveled look; the left and right Travel Palaces are symmetrical, without any slant or asymmetry; the lines are clean, without blemishes such as deep wrinkles, horizontal or slanting lines, scars, or mole marks. It should be explained that faint, fine vertical lines here are “lines of experience,” symbolizing rich experience away from home and the ability to meet challenges in other places calmly. The color of the Travel Palace is even, pale red or a moist yellow, without bluish-black, dull, withered white, or other gloomy tones. People with these auspicious signs in the Travel Palace are generally foretold to develop smoothly away from home, to meet benefactors readily, to have many opportunities for work and business in other places, to be very approachable socially and readily build a wide network, to have balanced dealings with the outside world and a fairly high degree of safety on long journeys, and to win others' trust readily and cooperate smoothly.

Inauspicious signs of the Travel Palace: the area of the Travel Palace is sunken or shriveled; the left and right Travel Palaces differ in size or height; the Travel Palace has scars, black moles, or red moles; and the lines and complexion are abnormal, with deep lines, broken lines, and bluish, black, or withered white coloring. People with these inauspicious signs in the Travel Palace are generally foretold to meet many obstacles away from home, to fail easily in work and business elsewhere, to lack support from benefactors, to have unbalanced dealings with the outside world, possibly to meet with accidents such as traffic accidents or sudden illness on long journeys, to fall easily into isolation with no one to help, and to have difficulty making progress in other places.

8. The Servants Palace (Friends Palace)

Auspicious signs of the Servants Palace (Friends Palace): the area of the Servants Palace is full and fleshy, without hollowness or shriveled look; the left and right Servants Palaces are symmetrical, without any slant or asymmetry; and there are no blemishes such as deep wrinkles, horizontal or slanting lines, scars, or mole marks. It should be explained that faint, fine vertical lines here are “lines of experience,” symbolizing rich social experience and the ability to handle conflicts with others calmly. The color of the Servants Palace is even, pale red or a moist yellow, without bluish-black, dull, withered white, or other gloomy tones. People with these auspicious signs in the Servants Palace are generally foretold to have very loyal friends and subordinates, smooth cooperation at work, and support from younger people or old friends in old age; their social circle is stable and full of positive energy, their relationships are balanced, there is no interference from petty, scheming people, and their leadership is recognized; their teams are cohesive, there are few misunderstandings in their social life, and most of their friends and subordinates are sincere.

Inauspicious signs of the Servants Palace (Friends Palace): at their core, the area of the Servants Palace is low and sunken, its lines are broken and ruined, and its complexion is gloomy. People with these inauspicious signs in the Servants Palace are generally foretold to have friends who are mostly “bad influences” and subordinates who are disloyal, and to fall easily into social difficulties in old age; in their social life they easily meet “ungrateful” people, and they tend to trigger conflicts and crises in relationships by listening to one side and believing it too readily.

9. The Career Palace (Official Emolument Palace)

Auspicious signs of the Career Palace: the area of the Career Palace is raised, level, and full, lustrous, open, and broad, full and bright, with bone rising all the way through the hairline—the so-called “Hidden Rhinoceros Bone piercing the crown,” in which the bone from the forehead to the hairline is clearly raised and joins naturally with the nose bridge and the Shangen (the root of the nose), giving an overall sense of “continuity” from the forehead to the top of the head. People with these auspicious signs in the Career Palace are generally foretold to have a very solid foundation for their career, ready support from the powerful and noble, an extremely high chance of career success, and the possibility of a distinguished social position.

Inauspicious signs of the Career Palace: the area of the Career Palace is collapsed and fleshless, with scars or black moles, horizontal lines cutting across it or hanging slanting lines breaking through it, and a gloomy complexion. People with these inauspicious signs in the Career Palace are generally foretold to lack drive in their career and to meet setbacks and hardship easily; they tend to come into conflict with superiors or elders and to be dragged down by their families; they are stubborn and prone to unexpected disasters; they must guard against getting into lawsuits and pay close attention to health problems.

10. The Property Palace

Auspicious signs of the Property Palace: the skin of the Property Palace is full, without hollows, rosy and lustrous, without obvious wrinkles, spots, or scars; its outline is clear, without random, slanting, horizontal, or vertical lines; the skin is smooth and even, without bulging blue veins; the transition from the Property Palace to the Shangen (the start of the nose bridge) and the cheekbones is natural, without abrupt hollows or bulges; and the lines of the face as a whole flow smoothly. People with these auspicious signs in the Property Palace are generally foretold to have good fortune with property and to accumulate wealth steadily through property investment and family savings; their life in old age is prosperous and carefree, their family relationships are uncomplicated, family and career support each other, their wealth is passed down in good order, and their living environment is excellent.

Inauspicious signs of the Property Palace: the area of the Property Palace is clearly sunken or collapsed, or its skin is dull and lusterless; the area is covered with random lines, or has conspicuous spots or ominous moles; or the transition from the Property Palace to the Shangen (the start of the nose bridge) and the cheekbones is abrupt, clearly lower than the Shangen or clearly higher than the cheekbones. People with these inauspicious signs in the Property Palace are generally foretold to have low fortune with property, difficulty buying a home, and disputes over property rights; the accumulation of their wealth is blocked, endless family entanglements drain their wealth, family and career are out of balance, and their living environment is poor.

11. The Fortune and Virtue Palace

Auspicious signs of the Fortune and Virtue Palace: the area of the Fortune and Virtue Palace has thick flesh and solid bone and is full without hollows, and it is full together with the Tiancang (“Heavenly Granaries,” above the temples) and the Diku (“Earthly Treasuries,” at the chin), forming the look of “heaven and earth facing each other”; its complexion is as rosy as peach blossom or as bright as jade; and it has no horizontal, vertical, or stray lines, or only very fine vertical lines or cross-shaped lines. People with these auspicious signs in the Fortune and Virtue Palace are generally foretold to be broad-minded and optimistic, with few great setbacks in life and harmonious family relationships, able to enjoy themselves in peace in old age; they come closer to having “all five blessings”—longevity, wealth, health and peace, love of virtue, and a good end—and their blessings grow richer in old age; their fortune is fairly good, their energy abundant, their career and finances smooth, and their blessings accumulate naturally; they work in an orderly way, readily achieve their goals, and are mentally stable.

Inauspicious signs of the Fortune and Virtue Palace: the area of the Fortune and Virtue Palace is flat, sunken, or scarred; its complexion is gray, pale, or bluish-black; it has crisscrossing horizontal lines and many slanting and random lines; or there is a mole in it—the so-called “gate of blessings has a gap.” People with these inauspicious signs in the Fortune and Virtue Palace are generally foretold to have shallow blessings and many ups and downs in life, so that even with hard work they tend to give much and get little back; their fortune is low and their mental strain heavy, and they must guard against anxiety and depression; their relationships are complicated and they are easily troubled by petty, scheming people; the blessings of the family easily dissipate, and personal blessings are hard to accumulate.

12. The Appearance Palace

Auspicious signs of the Appearance Palace: the face as a whole is harmonious; in particular, the complexion of the forehead, nose bridge, and chin is as rosy as peach blossom or as bright as jade; the features are regular and well coordinated—a full forehead, a straight nose bridge, a round chin, and bright, spirited eyes; and the proportions of the Three Sections are balanced, with the upper, middle, and lower sections roughly equal. People with these auspicious signs in the Appearance Palace are generally foretold to have good fortune in early life, to be clever and wise, and to receive help from benefactors readily; in middle age their careers go smoothly, their will is firm, and their finances are stable; they are broad-minded and meet basically no great setbacks, and in old age their blessings are rich and their family harmonious; inwardly they are intelligent, with strong judgment, able to seize opportunities, and their relationships are harmonious.

Inauspicious signs of the Appearance Palace: the complexion of the face, especially the forehead, nose bridge, and chin, is gray, pale, or bluish-black; the face as a whole is unbalanced—a sunken forehead, a low, collapsed nose bridge, a pointed, thin chin, and muddy, lifeless eyes; the Upper Section is too long and the middle and lower too short, or the Middle Section too long and the upper and lower too short, or the Lower Section too long and the middle and upper too short. People with these inauspicious signs in the Appearance Palace are generally foretold to have relatively low fortune throughout life and a hard time in early life; though clever, they tend to go unrecognized, suffer heavy mental strain, and fall ill from anxiety; in middle age their career meets many setbacks and their finances swing widely; in old age their blessings are thin, and they must guard against growing distant from their six kin; they are inwardly restless with rather weak judgment and prone to causing conflicts through impulsiveness; or their fortune is too strong in early life, their pressure too great in middle age, and their fortune unstable in old age.

3. Principles of the “Twelve Palaces” Method

Finally, the Twelve Palaces method of face reading cannot “read” the palaces in isolation; one must attend to the following important connections. First, the Life Palace is the guiding principle: its good or ill fortune sets the keynote of overall fortune. If the Life Palace is auspicious, then even if other palaces are slightly inauspicious, one can find opportunities to resolve the trouble; conversely, if the Life Palace is inauspicious, then even if the other palaces are auspicious, one must make a thousand times the effort.

Second, attend to the interplay between the Wealth Palace and the Career Palace. When both the Wealth Palace, which governs wealth, and the Career Palace, which governs career, are auspicious, career drives wealth and wealth in turn boosts career. If the Wealth Palace is auspicious but the Career Palace inauspicious, one may have money but be unable to keep it and may lose it through problems in one's career.

Last, attend to the interplay between the Children Palace and the Friends Palace. Those in whom both the Children Palace, which governs the parent–child relationship, and the Friends Palace, which governs social life, are auspicious have filial children and so few worries about what they leave behind, and they readily widen their opportunities in life through their social circle. If the Children Palace is inauspicious and the Friends Palace auspicious, relations with the children are tense or even rebellious, family life is a mess, and this seriously affects one's normal social life, so that opportunities are easily lost.

Although the Twelve Palaces method is one of the core frameworks by which traditional face reading analyzes the course of a life, it is an expression of traditional culture and empirical philosophy. Its value lies mainly in cultural heritage, reflecting ancient Chinese philosophical reflection on the connection between fate and the face. In terms of self-cultivation, the features of the Twelve Palaces can prompt self-reflection and self-correction in character and patterns of behavior, helping one seek good fortune and avoid harm.