A person of exceptional character beams their inner beauty through their facial expression and body language. External appearance is the embodiment of inner virtue.
Is facial reading the only thing worth mentioning in physiognomy? Not at all. Chinese physiognomists also look at the way a person behaves. Since ancient times, there have been countless amazing fortunetellers who were able to analyze people just with physiognomy. Observing a person walking, standing, sitting, and lying down can reveal key information about them to the skilled physiognomist.
Famous Physiognomy Stories
Throughout Chinese history, stories abound of physiognomists delivering incredible insights into a person’s character and destiny. One of them is the story of Zeng Guofan, a famous minister of the late Qing dynasty. It was said that politician Li Hongzhang brought three men to meet with Zeng, in the hope that the latter would accept all three of them as his assistants. After dinner, Li ordered the three men to wait outside as Zeng went out and took a walk of 3,000 steps. After his walk, Zeng returned home and Li was ready to present him with the three men. Zeng refused to meet them and said there was no need to do so, as he already knew of their character and potential. The first guy kept his head down; he was too blunt and had low ambition. The second guy acted like he revered Zeng but once he saw Zeng’s back, he could not stop looking around. As such, Zeng judged him to be a “possible backstabber.” The last guy kept his head up and his gaze straight ahead when Zeng walked by; he was judged by Zeng to be a future great achiever. In the end, Zeng’s predictions turned out to be accurate.
Guan Lu, a famous fortuneteller in the Three Kingdoms period, was also very skilled in physiognomy. According to Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guan once warned two officials, He Yan and Deng Zuo, to be particularly disciplined and virtuous after reading their fortunes. The two officials were insulted by Guan’s words. At home, Guan told his uncle about the incident. Guan’s uncle reprimanded him. “Why did you speak to those officials like that?”
Guan replied, “What’s there to be afraid of? I’m honest in my fortunetelling. Deng could not walk or stand straight. It was like his bones couldn’t support him anymore. When he talked, it was as if his soul had left his body. His face was pale as ash and his expression was dry like dead wood. These two officials will not live long.” This turned out to be true, as both men were killed during a wave of political unrest. That was when Guan’s uncle believed his nephew had shown keen insight.
While physiognomy might seem like a mysterious field of study, it is a practical application of profound research on the phenomena of life and the Laws of Nature. From the physiognomic point of view, a person’s behavior is like a mirror which reflects all sorts of information about his or her life.
The Nobility in Walking, Standing, Sitting, Sleeping
In physiognomy, analysis of the manner of walking, standing, sitting, and lying down is used to judge a person’s “nobility.” People of the ancient world believed that it was very important to “sit and stand with the correct postures.” More specifically, this means to “walk briskly like the wind; sit firmly like a large temple bell; stand strongly like a tree; and sleep properly in the shape of a bow.” What are the characteristics of walking, standing, sitting, and sleeping that show a person’s nobility?
- Walking：Smooth like natural, flowing water
- Smooth steps, eyes front, brisk pace like flowing water. Walking with short but steady and fast steps shows one’s nobility.
- Standing：Straight and upright
- One should always stand with his or her head and neck positioned naturally upright. An upright figure will appear strong, elegant and full of energy. People who stand as such are usually remarkable individuals.
- Sitting：Firm, stable and straight like a mountain
- Sit calmly and steadily; no leaning slanted against the back of the chair and no shaking of the feet and ankles. People who sit as such are disciplined and responsible.
- Sleeping：Quiet and still with even breathing
- People who sleep without tossing and turning are the blessed ones. “Noble sleeping” is sleeping while lying still and breathing evenly, without grinding teeth or sleep talking.
People who walk, stand, sit, and sleep with nobility convey their virtuous character to the world and attract auspicious people and circumstances. For those who are single, judging someone’s personality and character based on the aforementioned body language is also a wise component of picking a good partner.
The Nobility Factors
Why is it that some people always behave in a dignified and elegant manner while others behave in a way that makes others feel uncomfortable? This is due to the three following aspects：
- Vital Energy
External physical behaviors are the expression of one’s vital energy. People who act in a composed, dignified manner and with generosity show that they are full of powerful lifeforce energy. On the other hand, people with insufficient vital energy tend to lean against doors, walls or other objects when standing; they shake their legs and feet when sitting and are unable to sit for long; when walking, they drag their heels and sway side to side. Their lack of energy makes them appear fidgety and unstable. Such people are often in poor physical condition, lazy, listless, and have no sense of responsibility. They should not be entrusted with important tasks.
2.Good Deeds Accumulated in Previous Lifetimes: “Inherited Genes” for Nobility
In physiognomy, a person’s nobility is closely related to one’s deeds committed in previous lifetimes. There is alignment with the concept of causality. As the saying “You reap what you sow” goes, our blessings of merits depend on how many good deeds we’ve accumulated and inherited. This is akin to the concept of “karma” in Buddhism.
According to Chinese physiognomy, “Those who shake their bodies frequently have fewer fortunes; just like how trees are left with fewer leaves after moving.” This physical manifestation of a lack of fortune is believed to stem from a dearth of past-life merits.
3.Inner Virtues
External behaviors are the embodiment of inner virtues. Nobility, elegance, modesty, and politeness are the results of having an abundance of virtues. In other words, a kind person acts with elegance, while a person who lacks virtues behaves inappropriately. The outer world is a manifestation of the inner world.
Become Noble to Transform Your Fate
Try the following methods if you see yourself lacking nobility in your behaviors.
- Practice Meditation for a Quick Boost in Vital Energy
Meditation practices help us attune to a state of inner purity, which allows us to connect with the energy of the Universe. Sufficient vital energy is the first step to ensuring the elegance of our physical posture. Bodhi Meditation has many good ways to replenish vital energy which are practiced by multitudes of meditation enthusiasts. Among Bodhi Meditation’s methods are The Meditation of Greater Illumination, which is effective at improving physical and mental health, and Energy Bagua, which rapidly replenishes vitality. Practicing prostration is a powerful way to clear blockages in meridians.
- Do More Good Deeds
Doing good deeds is a good way to transform physical imperfections. Lending a helping hand is easy and can take any number of forms. Those with financial means can consider donating money or goods to the poor. If you are unable to donate money, you can offer your time and skills. In addition, giving to others in the form of a compliment, a sincere blessing or a sweet smile from your heart can be transformative for both you and the recipient.
- Practice Compassion
Compassion can create unlimited possibilities in life. When a person is filled with compassion, they are calm and peaceful, which is reflected in the nobility in their daily behaviors. According to Grandmaster JinBodhi, practicing compassion allows us to transform the flaws in our facial features, character, personality, and even our genes. It allows us to get closer to perfection and achieve a better, happier life.
Inner Beauty Is Outer Success
“Judge a man’s virtues first before his appearance.” Our fate lies in what we do. To become a person of nobility and auspiciousness, we need to have a heart of compassion. A person with great virtues behaves with elegance and nobility, which in turn brings benefit to their health, wisdom, wealth, career, marriage, and all other aspects of life. Cultivate inner beauty to enjoy success in the outer world.
