The Nose, the Mouth and the Lines of Authority

The so-called Lion Nose, with a rounded and fleshy tip over firm nostrils, is traditionally read as the Palace of Wealth — an instinctive talent for retaining resources and building stable assets. In contrast, a thin and sharp nose like a blade is associated with rigidity and difficulty in showing human warmth.

Nostrils visible from the front suggest, symbolically, uncontrolled generosity with one's own money; nostrils hidden under fleshy wings refer to the discretion of those who accumulate assets in silence. And a bony protrusion in the middle of the nasal bridge — the hump — is read as a sign of rebellion that usually erupts around the ages of 44 and 45, requiring planning so that the breaking of patterns does not compromise financial structures.

A gentle vertical cleft in the tip of the nose is read as the Double Heart — the coexistence of business pragmatism and artistic sensitivity. A permanent reddish coloration at the nasal tip is associated, in the tradition, with inflammation of the digestive meridian and financial losses linked to impulsivity. A broad and continuous nasal root, the raised Shan Gen, is read as iron-clad vitality that traverses one's forties with exuberant health.

The grooves that start from the wings of the nose and contour the mouth — the Fa Ling lines — are named the Lines of the Law: when long and symmetrical, surpassing the lips, they symbolize moral authority and longevity. And when these same lines curve into the mouth, the tradition associates them with late-life digestive difficulties and a complaining posture that calls for the cultivation of gratitude.

Perfectly smooth skin around the mouth after fifty is read, symbolically, as the refusal to assume the burden of formal authority — a youthful charm that coexists with the difficulty of offering support to those who depend on this person. Pointed cheekbones without flesh coverage refer to the archetype of the despot, who demands obedience through fear.

A square and wide jaw is associated with the tenacity of those who resist long sieges without giving up; while the triangular and narrow jaw points to the mental speed of thinkers, who need partners attentive to their bodies and the need for rest. And a chin that recedes toward the throat is read as a fragility in the final anchoring of the will — the habit of abandoning a project exactly before its conclusion.

In Mian Xiang, the flesh accumulated under the chin in maturity is revered as the Bag of Earthly Goods — a sufficient reserve for a comfortable and generous old age with family. Ears whose top tip exceeds the height of the eyebrows are associated with intellectual prodigies who mature quickly; lower ears point to a pragmatic realism that values concrete results.

A thin helix without a cushioned curve is read as a record of childhood privations, calling for reconciliation with the inner child. And a deep, protected ear conch is associated with great listeners — psychoanalysts, judges, and symbolic confessors who guard secrets without passing on gossip.

Ears whose top ends in a subtle point are associated with sharp reflexes and the ability to sniff out traps before others. Ears that project outward, like sails in the wind, refer to the archetype of the inventor who does not respect traditions without real justification. The tragus — the small protrusion in front of the ear canal — when thick and firm, is read as unwavering determination, a symbolic shield against the despair of others.

Hairs that sprout at the entrance of the ear after the age of fifty are revered in Chinese medicine as a sign of lasting renal vitality. And an ear that is pale in relation to the rest of the face is associated with fatigue of renal energy, calling for rest and foods that nourish the Water element.