1. What is physiognomy?
Physiognomy, also known as face-reading, is a method of fortune-telling linked with astrology. In India, Vedic tradition has prescribe the study of physiognomy as a method to predict the futures and planet influences of an individual via the examining of one’s facial structure.
Similarly in Korean astrology and shamanism, one’s face is seen as an important vision into the future of a person, or their destiny. A physiognomist in Korean is known as, “Saju practioners” or “관상가.” Physiognomy is called “gwansang” in Korean. (관상)
2. Importance of a “face” in fortune-telling
In East Asian cultures, aesthetics are combined with the idea of “Heaven,” “man” and the “ground.” Hence the “Heaven part” or the face itself has similar subdivision. The head is considered the heaven-part and the chin, the “Earth-part.” In appearance aesthetics, the face represent the heaven and hence is the sight for significant mystic energy, or qi. “Qi” in East Asian philosophy is the life-force which flows through an individual at all times. It is known as “Gi” (기) in Korean.
Just like how in the studies of acupressure and acupuncture, the body is divided into 365 “qi” meridians, the face is divided into “24 hour” quadrants.
The word for “face” — “얼굴” in Korean itself has a Hanja root, “얼” which means ‘spirit.’ Hence a physiognomist can predict a person’s personality, fame, money, love life, prosperity, skills, work life, et cetera.
3. Ways a face is read
With supplement to “Yin-Yang Philosophy,” a person who has more pronounced and protruding features has a yang property, whereas someone with soft features has a yin property attached. Yin types are more introverted, soft-spoken and friendly, whereas yang types are ambitious, adventurous and firm.
Although there are multiple ways to read a face, and there’s no standardized method, these are the common sayings regarding which part of the face dictates which destiny. People’s faces are usually compared to the features of certain animals in readings.
- Forehead: fortune, reputation, parents, career, social status
- Third-eye region: overall fate
- Temples: married life
- Eyebrows: interpersonal relations, human relations, siblings
- Eyes: love, marriage, children
- Cheekbones: sociality, ambition, power, energy
- Nose bridge: wealth, stocks, assets, financial flow
- Mouth: aspirations, capacity
- Chin: reality assets, popularity, latter years
- Moles: differing meanings
4. Influence on Korean culture
Although physiognomy reached its peak in the Joseon Dynasty, (1392-1897) it is still extremely popular among aestheticians and beauty influencers alongside the older generation, who consult physiognomists for reading.
As Korea is the plastic surgery haven in the world, people even still consult physiognomists for necessary changes that should be made to their faces for maximum fortune in their future.
By, Shantanu Dayal Sharan,