The size and shape of a subject's mouth denote a great deal about his personality and future prosperity. As with the eyebrows, the mouth can show a vast range of emotions from joy to misery, courage to cowardice, and affection to coolness.
In the art of Chinese face reading, the age ranges of the lips correspond to the early fifties—upper right to fifty-one and upper left to fifty-two. The lower lip corresponds to fifty three on the right and fifty-four on the left, while the midpoint of the lower lip corresponds to the late fifties generally and specifically the fifty-ninth year.
Ideally, the lips should be in proportion to the rest of the subject's face, being full and prominent without being too large or too small. Chinese tradition considers it better for a subject to have a large mouth in relation to the overall size of the face rather than a small mouth—as this is said to indicate bad luck.
The size of the mouth and lips should be in proportion, with both upper and lower lips being equal in size. The color is also important, so the lips should ideally be a light red, as this suggests that the subject is honest and well balanced.
The left- and right-hand sides of the mouth should mirror each other, and when the mouth and lips are closed, there should be no gap between the lips. The lips should also be slightly moistened, and if the subject is female, they should be soft without being flabby. A male should have lips that are firm without being too hard.
Age positions of the mouth
A perfect mouth
A subject with a perfect mouth is said to be loving, honest, kind, and well respected. A well-formed mouth is said to denote success and good fortune in life, starting in the subject's forties and continuing through the mid-fifties and beyond.
Lips that are full, well balanced, and bright suggest a robust and healthy character with a strong stomach. (The Chinese believed that intelligence resided in the stomach. It was therefore very important, as it was linked to reason and the power of thought.) A subject with this feature will live life to the fullest but may be prone to greed.
A person with full lips and a wide mouth is more fortunate than one whose mouth and lips are smaller. This person will be popular and the center of attention in any social gathering, although in some cases, this positive characteristic can lead to a boastful person who is prone to exaggeration. He may also be too happy-go-lucky for his own good, lacking any real direction in life. This sort of character also tends to attract the wrong sort of company, much to the disapproval of his family and true friends. It appears that the negative sides of this mouth style are more evident with large-mouthed males than with large-mouthed females. Females with a wide mouth tend to be more fortunate, possessing a very good head for business. Women with this feature may also find success in the entertainment industry.
The edges of the mouth are called sea corners. These can indicate a happy, light-hearted personality when they turn upward and a practical, materialist personality when they turn downward.
A downward turn indicates personal insecurities and anxieties. A subject with a large mouth and sea corners that are unequal or uneven will leap before he looks. This person will never think things through and will always blame others for his own mistakes. The subject may also find that he is always in need of money and that he has a sharp-tongued, bitter attitude because, in his eyes, nothing that goes wrong will ever be his fault.
A subject with a small mouth is said to lack confidence and continually seek approval from others. A small mouth can also indicate a suspicious nature and a certain meanness of character. Thin lips suggest that the subject will have few close relationships and will often be lonely during middle age.
In Chinese face reading, the way the lips meet is extremely important. If the lips meet in a straight line, then the subject is orderly, logical, and unemotional. This can sometimes have a negative effect on personal relationships.
A fairly straight lip with a downward-pointing deviation at the upper midpoint suggests a person who is conventional, stable, and normal. Yet there may be a boiling passion hidden beneath the surface of this average-looking individual.
Lips that purse together when the mouth is closed indicate that the subject is inclined to worry about everything. It can also reveal that the subject has an uncertain temper due to unrealistic expectations of himself and of others.
Lips that gently meet with a slight upward curve at the sea corners show an individual who is open and friendly, with a strong sense of personal identity. If the lips are also full, the person will have organizational and leadership qualities. When the lips are thick and reddish, the subject will be flirtatious, sensuous, and prone to finding himself involved in risky personal relationships.
Lips that meet with a wavering and slight upward curve reveal a personality that is persuasive, eloquent, and creative. This may point to a secretive and scheming nature that is also extremely seductive. This plausible and charming subject never reveals anything truly personal .
Lips that mirror each other yet meet in an uneven line suggest that the subject will wander off the path of the straight and narrow. This person is isolated and misunderstood. Although successful in sexual relationships, he may find it difficult to form a lasting relationship because his wandering nature continually leads him astray. The more full the lips, the stronger the sexual desire will be.
Lips that meet while leaving a slight gap denote wit, but this feature can also indicate misfortune in the subject's early fifties. The Chinese philosopher Confucius (Kung Fu Tse) famously had this feature in addition to buckteeth. He lost his favorite son in his fifth decade.
In common with other facial features in the ancient art of Chinese face reading, there are various symbolic and unflattering names for the different mouth shapes.
The square mouth has an angular shape and reddish thick lips. A person with this type of mouth is a very lucky individual who finds success and happiness in all areas of life. He is honest, level-headed, and respected.
The creative mouth has lips that turn slightly upward at the sea corners, giving a smiling appearance. The lips should be thick, reddish in color, slightly moist, and well formed. These traits signal an artistic nature and a good sense of humor, coupled with a clever and straightforward personality. This is a likable and generous individual.
As the name suggests, an individual with this shape of mouth may appear to have a permanent smile. This individual will be able to get his point across quite eloquently, with considerable persuasive force. He may also be artistic and be able to concentrate and focus deeply.
This mouth has pursed lips, downturned corners, and a noticeable downward deviation at the upper midpoint. The upper front teeth may protrude slightly and the lips may be rather thin. A subject with this feature will be an individual and a loner. He may have trouble developing long-lasting friendships. Traumatic events in early life may have emotionally scarred him, leaving him feeling resentful and rejected. However, the outlook is not completely negative, because the subject will eventually find soul mates who will contribute emotional security and who will build his confidence.
This type of mouth has dry, dull-colored lips with sharply downward-sloping sea corners and a generally irregular appearance. The subject will stand out from the crowd. He may be unique, which may lead to problems in finding his place in his personal life and career. This could conceivably lead to continual problems with finances, but this unique individual has a patient and determined attitude that will see him through any difficulties. He will also find it difficult to develop trust in others.
As the name suggests, this type of mouth is quite literally fish-shaped, with noticeably downward-slanting sea corners and thin lips. A subject with this feature will be reliant on others for financial support due to an unconventional lifestyle or prolonged periods of higher education. The subject may spend years seeking a suitable career, but when he finds one, success is sure to follow.
A subject with this feature will have thin, dullcolored lips and a long, slightly downward-curving mouth. This very private person finds it difficult to admit his own faults or even to communicate properly with others. This person may also be a gossip who finds it much easier to talk about other people rather than talking to them.
One of the sea corners slopes upward and the other slopes downward, giving the subject's mouth a lopsided appearance. This person has a wagging tongue, but he is also an entertaining and witty individual who embellishes his tall tales. Although this person is outgoing, he is rather insecure, and he uses a barrage of verbal dexterity to disguise this. This mouth is a fortunate feature when it comes to money, but it also suggests that this person tends to live beyond his means.
This is the most auspicious type of mouth, with upward sloping and rounded sea corners, and full, red lips that hide small, white, perfectly meeting teeth (also known as “pomegranate teeth”). This person is intelligent, insightful, and wise beyond his years. He will be helpful, offering useful advice to friends and colleagues. This individual will find himself in influential company and will prove to be very influential in his own right.
The groove that runs from the middle of the upper lip and connects with the nose is called the philtrum in English and jen chung, or “middle man,” in Chinese. In the ancient Chinese art of face reading, it has a unique importance, as it indicates the longevity and fertility of a subject. Where the cheekbones were called the guardsmen, the jen chung is considered the messenger or minister of the emperor. The jen chung is called the channel directing the will of the emperor of the face (the nose) to the mouth. This feature is linked to the age of fifty.
If a male subject has hair growth within the jen chung, this good omen brings popularity and the ability to make friends. If there is no hair within the philtrum, the opposite is the case, and the subject will make many enemies due to an offensive nature. This will be especially true when the subject reaches his fifties.
The long, straight, deep, and broad philtrum is the best type. The subject will have a long, fertile, and fortunate life, and he will see considerable advances in personal status in his fiftieth year; this will continue throughout his fifties.
A subject with a philtrum that is wider at the base and narrower at the top is destined to have many offspring. Some sources suggest that the subject may have children in later life and a disproportionate number of them will be girls. According to the views of the founders of Chinese philosophy, this was not a welcome eventuality.
In days gone by, sons and their wives lived with the son's parents and took care of them when they got old, while daughters lived with, worked for, and took care of the parents of their husbands. Although the Chinese preference for sons seems sexist to us, from a practical point of view, sons were a blessing. Daughters were costly to feed, clothe, and accommodate while they were young and of no financial value to their parents in later life. Indeed, if a couple had several daughters and no sons, when they became old, they had to either throw themselves on the mercy of other relatives or starve.
If the jen chung is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, the Chinese say that “the emperor's message is lost.” The physical energy is constricted and the subject will suffer from ill health and low fertility. There will be few offspring, and those that there are will almost certainly be daughters. Yet again, from the ancient Chinese point of view, this is not a fortunate feature.
If the widest point of the philtrum is in the midsection, the energy of the emperor's message is constricted; it stagnates and forms a lake. This will reflect on the subject's fiftieth year, indicating depression, illness, and loss.
The subject with this feature has a noticeably small gap between the upper lip and the nose. Though not conducive to a long life, it does indicate that the subject will have a number of remarkable successes in the time that he has. Alexander the Great had a notably short jen chung, and although he attained much fame and success in conquering most of the known world, he died before his thirty-third year.
This feature describes a philtrum that descends from the nose and fades before reaching the mouth. It is considered extremely unfortunate. Illness, loss, and an early death are indicated, but this becomes less apparent for the subject if the philtrum is noticeably long. A longer philtrum will serve to increase longevity but not happiness, because feelings of isolation and trouble with one's offspring are indicated during later life.
A jen chung that inclines to the left or right not only affects the balance of the entire face but also is a bad omen for the subject's life. This feature indicates failure, frustration, and loss of direction, and this may suggest financial problems and depression. It can also indicate that the subject will remain childless.
If the subject has wrinkles or creases on his philtrum (horizontal or vertical), these are considered a bad sign. If the creases are horizontal, the subject will suffer from business and family problems in his fiftieth year, with the possibility of discontentment in middle age. If on the other hand the creases are vertical, the outlook is better. However, the person may only have children later in life, and men in particular will only father children once they are over fifty. If the subject is female, then she will conceive around the age of forty, and this will be a worrying development. Overall, this type of philtrum is a sign of discontent, discomfort, and worry.
To the ancient Chinese, the chin was thought to resemble the shell of a turtle, and so it was known as the “Mountain of the Black Tortoise.” It is also the last of the five “mountains of the face,” the others being the nose, the forehead, and the two cheekbones.
The chin is the foremost indicator of a person's willpower. In our modern world, we often use descriptions such as “chinless” or “slack-jawed.” We think of the chin and jawline as strong or weak. So even without studying face reading, we make instinctive assumptions about a person based on the shape of his jaw. The jaw can also indicate whether a person is easily tempted. It is linked to a person's sixties and seventies, and so the positive or negative effects of the jaw shape might not show until late in life.
The best shape for the chin is full and fairly broad, but the chin should not stick out as a particularly noticeable facial feature. The chin is a reflection of the jawbone as a whole. For example, a wide, square chin will have a broad jawline. A pointed, narrow chin is normally accompanied by a narrow jawline.
The chin and jaw, like the other features of the face, can be divided into various types for face reading. The main thing to remember is that a broad jawline denotes a determined and strong character.
A rounded chin is believed to indicate a warm, openhearted, and emotional nature. It also indicates a person who is able to make the best of any situation, who is at ease with himself and the world around him, and who has a charming personality. A longer, more prominent chin belongs to an individual who uses charm to his own advantage—quite literally-winning friends and influencing people.
This is the chin shape of a hardworking person, indicating considerable self-will and high achievement. This type of chin describes someone who is honorable, trustworthy, and steadfast in any form of partnership. All dealings will be honest and straightforward. Though the subject may have deep, strong feelings, he might lack charm. If you can accept this, you will find him to be a good person.
Another version of this chin is the dimpled or cleft chin. This person remains youthful even in old age, but he needs to be loved. The famous Hollywood star Kirk Douglas is a classic example, which is not surprising, as this type of chin is also often found on artists and performers.
Though similar in meaning to the square chin, this shape of chin extends the qualities of honor and inner strength. Negative qualities of this kind of chin suggest that the subject is a pushy, charismatic flirt and an attractive charmer who is likely to be an unfaithful partner.
An individual with a pointed or narrow chin is considered weak-minded and a less attractive character. Depression, lack of willpower, and unfulfilled dreams will often plague a subject that possesses this type of chin. If this isn't bad enough, the ancient Chinese also believed that a person with a pointed, narrow chin would face troubles in old age. This feature indicates loneliness, betrayal, and a possible short life.
Look at the profile of the jaw. This rarely changes the interpretations found above, but it is important to consider the distance between the bottom of the ear and the jaw. The most important factor to recognize is the angle and width of the jaw.
An angular, low jaw stretches away from the ear in shape and at a distinctive angle. A person with this type of jaw is normally very decisive and has strong self-will. If the jaw is also quite broad, then the subject will be a natural leader and will be very commanding, and not take no for an answer. An angular, high jaw is noticeably closer to the ear. Though the subject will still be determined and strong-minded, there is a tendency to be swayed by powerful opinions and to try to please everyone.
Receding chin
This is the most common jaw shape, and the interpretation of the character type is dependent on the shape of the jaw. If the subject has a receding chin, he lacks self-will and determination. If, on the other hand, he has a stronger, more prominent chin, the determination increases, but with either chin shape, the subject will tend to go with the flow of other people's opinions.
The shape and pattern of beard growth also depicts characteristics. Direction, denseness, and color are the main factors to note here. The main areas associated with beard growth are those of the philtrum, the chin, and along the jawline and above. As has already been mentioned, these areas of the face are linked to specific times of life from the early fifties to the mid-nineties, and the interpretation of the beard is linked to these areas.
The ideal beard is one that is dark in color, with soft, fine, and shiny hair. It should not be too close to the edges of the mouth, and it should leave a narrow line of skin around the lips. A subject with this type of beard is said to be hardworking and honest, with a generous nature. This can also suggest that the subject will be youthful and energetic well into his later years.
A beard that is thick, wiry, and coarse, with dull, rough hair, can counteract the interpretation of the chin. This belongs on the face of a moody, mean-spirited person, whose uncaring attitude and quick temper are easily provoked. If this type of beard grows close to the edges of the mouth, then the subject may suffer a violent serious injury in middle age.
If a beard is patchy or has thin, weak hairs, it suggests that the subject is weak and indecisive. It is similar in interpretation to the receding chin, but not quite as bad. The ancient Chinese considered this type of beard an indicator of ill health that gets worse as the subject ages. If there is a bald patch on the philtrum, the subject will be the subject of slander and criticism. Once again, this situation will worsen as age increases.
