Opening the chapter
Loading the text. Please wait.
Mayi Shenxiang · The Mayi Art of Physiognomy
Palm Lines
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
On Palm Lines
Lines in a hand image grain in wood. Wood with beautiful grain is called long-lasting timber; a hand with beautiful lines is of ranked substance. Hands therefore should not lack lines: having them is a superior form, lacking them an inferior one. Deep, fine lines are favorable; coarse, shallow lines lowly.
Of the palm's three lines, the upper stroke responds to Heaven, images ruler and father, and determines rank or low station. The middle responds to Human, images worth or folly, and distinguishes poverty and wealth. The lower responds to Earth, images minister and mother, and governs short or long life. Three bright, clean lines without breaks are signs of fortune and stipend. Many longitudinal patterns mean a disordered nature and disasters; transverse patterns scattering out through finger gaps ruin all affairs. Fine lines like mixed silk mean intelligence and beauty. Lines with the source's occupation-word, like gravel, mean foolish dullness, poverty and low station. Mixed, crossed lines mean lifelong poverty and cold; scattered-chaff lines lifelong happiness.
Thread-Piercing Lines mean pursuing resources. Upright-Tablet and Inserted-Tablet Lines mean civil officials ranked at court. Spiral shells on all ten fingers mean glory and rank overflowing around them; basket-side forms ruin and dispersal. Three transverse grooves on all ten fingers mean rank and employing servants; one transverse hook means low station and being driven by others. Tortoise Lines mean general or chief minister; Fish Lines a Star Officer. Reclining-Moon and Wheel Lines mean auspicious celebrations; Yin-and-Yang and Life-Extending Lines fortune and longevity; Seal Lines rank; Field Lines wealth; Well Lines blessings; Cross Lines stipend. Jade-Slip Lines threading the fingers mean a name illuminating myriad lands. Pressing-Seal Lines like an authoritative seal mean commanding armies throughout the seas.
There are also Knotted-Pass Lines, meaning adverse rebellion and harm; Yaksha Lines, meaning low station, theft and poverty. In general, even good lines that are crossed and broken are forms of deficiency and failure.
Text note: These are the supplied traditional pattern names, not reconstructed diagrams or modern diagnoses. The line/occupation phrase is irregular. All character, status and fate claims belong to the historical source.
Four Seasons Lines
The heading says to infer the four seasons and determine good or ill through punitive restraint and harm.
Verse:
Spring blue-green, summer scarlet, autumn should be white;
Among the four seasons, black favors winter.
Autumn scarlet, winter yellow, and white is welcome;
Black in summer's gaps is altogether adverse.
Note: The differing seasonal color assignments remain as supplied.
Seal-Carrying Lines
The heading predicts great rank and personal glory: carrying a seal means Grand Preceptor.
Verse:
Palm lines shaped like carrying a seal
Should give accomplishment along the future road.
Do not say wealth and rank are not my wish:
A pure name naturally makes one a high minister.
Golden Flower Seal Lines
The heading predicts great rank: a man invested as marquis, a woman as titled lady.
Verse:
Lines carrying a Golden Flower Seal establish one's standing;
This body has wealth and rank, with no worry of poverty.
A man soon has the form for investiture as marquis;
A woman in future years is invested as a titled lady.
Paired Fish Lines
The heading gives position among the Three Excellencies.
Verse:
Paired Fish reside in the School Hall;
Literary accomplishment crowns the age and glorifies ancestors.
Lines passing Heavenly Court, further red and moist,
Surely bring an official to the Three Excellencies.
Chief Minister Appointment Lines
The heading predicts great rank. It says the lines resemble a qin and were possessed by Zhang Liang of the Han.
Verse:
Seek Chief Minister Appointment Lines at Qian's position;
They resemble a jade-waisted qin.
A substantial disposition, written with an irregular guo graph, and unusual literary skill
Constantly receive deep favor from king or emperor.
Military Tally Lines
The heading gives the first grade, going out as general and entering as chief minister. It says Chen Ping of the Han possessed them.
Verse:
Military Tally Lines appear in the palm's center;
Examination success young, an official road extending long.
Striking the battle-axe establishes a powerful, important post;
Shaking the frontier forces, surrounded by banners.
Wild-Geese Formation Lines
The heading says these resemble geese in file and are also named Court Attendance Lines.
Verse:
Court Attendance Lines resemble geese arranged in ranks;
One day accomplishment makes the surname known.
Entering and leaving the imperial capital as general or chief minister,
Returning with fragrance of the Imperial Ruins in this copy's wording.
Note: The last line writes ruins, not an emended incense-burner term.
Six Flowers Lines
The heading links Six Flowers with attendants and an irregular following/ministry/kang phrase, predicting great rank in later years.
Verse:
If a person has these Six Flowers Lines,
Another day they receive the favor of rain and dew.
Holding office and also governing in early years,
Yet later life has always shone upon vermilion gates.
Note: The heading's damaged office phrase is not converted into a guessed title.
Hanging Fish Lines
The heading predicts establishing oneself through literary accomplishment and passing examinations.
Verse:
Hanging Fish Lines, close to the School Hall, are complete;
Wealth and rank arrive precisely in youth.
At one attempt, heading the Dragon-and-Tiger examination list,
Treading a dragon as horse, with jade as the whip.
Solitary Court Lines
The heading describes a Bureau Director's form; Boots and Tablet Lines in addition predict rank.
Verse:
Solitary Court Lines appear with a Bureau-Director/estimating phrase;
Meeting Boots and Tablet brings still more intelligence.
The next office/doing-well/difficulty-in-harmonizing-affairs line is damaged;
Certainly, in middle age, stipend and position rise.
Note: The irregular middle clauses remain qualified.
Precious Halo Lines
The heading predicts investiture as marquis, wealth and rank.
Verse:
Precious Halo Lines have an unusual form;
Upright like a lunar halo in the palm's center.
This ring is certainly a form for investiture as marquis;
Coin-like shapes require much mixture with gold, in this wording.
Golden Tortoise Lines
The heading locates these in Life Palace, predicting wealth and rank, and says occurrence at Residence is also favorable.
Verse:
Dui Palace, the Western Peak, rises high;
Lines like a Golden Tortoise have a mighty form.
The supplied lifespan phrase must pass a hundred years;
At home, gold and treasures bring still more ease.
Additional supplied verse:
Jade Pillar Lines go straight from the Hall;
Courage and insight must be intelligent.
If the School Hall further manifests literary light,
Surely in middle age one becomes a chief minister.
Note: The Jade Pillar verse is retained within this same supplied record; no separate source record is invented.
Brush Formation Lines
The heading predicts examination success.
Verse:
Brush Formation patterns arise in many ranks;
Literary accomplishment and virtue surpass Zou Ke.
Purpose fulfilled in middle age, examinations passed;
Boundless fortune and longevity end with repeated ornamental wording.
Four Straight Lines
The heading predicts wealth and rank in middle age.
Verse:
With Four Straight Lines, accomplishment can be sought oneself;
Wishes fulfilled in middle age, no need for worry.
Still more fitting is fresh, brilliant, red and moist color;
One day invested as marquis of ten thousand households.
Heavenly Seal Lines
The heading places them at Qian and Zhen, with an irregular attendant-or-following-form phrase.
Verse:
Heavenly Seal Lines arise upon Qian's position;
Literary talent naturally brings glory.
An official steps smoothly along the Heavenly Street;
A commoner heaps gold until the home is full.
Three Suns Lines
The heading predicts a name foremost among Confucian scholars.
Verse:
Three Suns, fine and shining, are seen in the palm's center;
Literary skill in youth crowns the scholarly world.
Know of climbing high to the pillar in Moon Palace;
Fame through the Four Seas is worth ten thousand in gold.
High Support Lines
The heading says red, moist coloring brings wealth and rank.
Verse:
High Support Lines emerge at the ring finger;
Courage and qi are so strong they are hard to match.
Red, moist hands mean many abilities;
Naturally attracting wealth and rank throughout life.
Three Wonders Lines
The heading says an additional School Hall brings examination success and degree honors.
Verse:
Three Wonders Lines appear at the ring finger;
One gate branches into three line-paths.
One lies in Distant Palace and within the Hall;
Receiving title at Golden Gate, a chief minister's service.
Note: Distant Palace follows the supplied name without inventing a chart position.
Establishing Standing Lines
The heading says these carry Hand Seal Lines in the upper/middle wording of this copy.
Verse:
Establishing Standing Lines carry a hand seal above;
A dignified form and bearing, qi like a rainbow.
Future advancement must be glorious and ranked;
Ultimately becoming a chief minister at court.
Jade Well Lines
The heading predicts assisting the ordering of court government.
Verse:
Jade Well Lines mark a person of fortune and virtue;
Two or three superimposed wells are named Jade Ladder.
Such a person must attain pure distinction;
Entering and leaving court to assist the sage and enlightened ruler.
Fine Stipend Lines
The heading predicts lifelong peace and happiness.
Verse:
Fine Stipend Lines resemble triangles;
Especially fitting are triangles arising somewhat to one side.
Clothing and stipend naturally remain ample;
Wherever one follows and keeps company, affection is present.
School Hall Lines · The Thumb
The heading says fine lines mean rank.
Verse:
From the thumb's root discuss the School Hall;
Joints like Buddha's eyes indicate literary accomplishment.
Selection at Golden Gate requires examination rank;
An honored, pure and lofty name spreads far.
Abundant Blessings Lines
The heading predicts wealth and joy.
Verse:
Abundant Blessings Lines arise within the palm;
Throughout life neither misfortune nor disaster.
Pitying the poor and giving alms accumulate hidden virtue;
Certainly long years and also wealth.
Lesser Rank Lines
The heading predicts ample clothing and food.
Verse:
Unusual Lesser Rank Lines mean a minor official of rank;
Even without official stipend, money is measured by the dou.
All the more if red and moist, warm and soft;
Buddhists and Daoists still control important authority.
River-Character Lines
The heading predicts long life.
Verse:
All five fingers have lines like the character for river;
Each person increases longevity and extends the years.
A man may be compared with the elders of Shangshan;
A woman with the immortal Queen Mother.
Three Peaks Lines
The heading predicts wealth and rank.
Verse:
Three fine peaks rise, with an irregular differing/Li/Kun phrase;
Flesh full and high, like a round bundle in the damaged wording.
Radiance is further joined by red, moist color;
At home are gold, jade and good fields.
Note: The first two lines are irregular and are not converted into an invented palm diagram.
Wheel Lines
The heading predicts great rank.
Verse:
These lines are complete and round, named Wheel;
Surely a person of the imperial court's halls and offices.
Another complete pattern is named Staff Drum;
Invested as a feudal lord, minister over a hundred li.
Note: Staff Drum follows this copy's pattern name; the historical distance is unconverted.
School Hall Lines · Skills
The heading describes many talents and abilities.
Verse:
School Hall Lines small and well suited;
Within pure distinction there are wealth and blessings.
Opening broadly, they indicate arts and skills;
Great affairs or small, all can be handled deftly.
Unusual Learning Lines
The heading predicts becoming a Buddhist or Daoist.
Verse:
Unusual Learning Lines must attract unusual conduct;
Fame always earns ranked persons' admiration.
As Buddhist or Daoist, special titles are added;
In secular life, there must still be a million in silver.
Heavenly Joy Lines
The heading predicts abundant fortune and stipend.
Verse:
One's established standing always carries joy;
Lifelong blessings are many.
Glory and prosperity enjoy their peace;
Every affair is complete in duty.
Cassia-Plucking Lines
The heading predicts glory and distinction.
Verse:
Cassia-Plucking Lines signify great ability;
A Confucian scholar passes examinations and draws a high place.
Chang'e in the moon repeatedly makes an appointment;
One day ascending the clouds to pluck cassia.
Three Powers Lines
The heading predicts lifelong glorious flourishing.
Verse:
Three Powers Lines are clearly distinguished;
Fortune throughout life can be level and peaceful.
Governing life and increasing wealth both have qi;
One line crossing and breaking them becomes unfeeling.
Li Trigram Lines
The heading predicts glory and rank.
Verse:
Li Lines crossed and broken mean much labor;
If Kan's position is full, it suits later years.
The Eight Trigrams' form is followed by a solitary/lowly clause;
Three Mountains should be substantial, indicating glorious office.
Note: The third line is irregular; its adverse wording is retained beside the favorable heading.
Silver River Lines
The heading gives the incomplete prediction establishing or standing.
Verse:
Silver River breaks into fragments upon the Heaven Line;
It must harm the wife, followed by marrying another woman.
Disordered lines at Zhen and Kan cross, break and restrain;
The damaged closing line joins unsuitability, mutual affairs and blessings.
Note: The heading lacks its object, and the final clause is not silently reconstructed.
Kan Fish Lines
The heading predicts wealth and rank.
Verse:
Fish-like lines lie hidden at Kan's position;
A well-provided wife and mutual receiving mean rich estates.
Why do sons receive official rank and titles?
Because Qian Palace has Well-Character Lines.
Wisdom Lines
The heading predicts a compassionate heart.
Verse:
The named Wisdom Lines bring far-reaching reputation;
Straight lines resemble long spears.
Throughout life actions are always considered;
Benevolence and compassion, with no unexpected calamities.
Mountain-Dwelling Lines
The heading predicts a Buddhist or Daoist vocation.
Verse:
Standing-body slanting lines are Mountain Dwelling;
Fond of secluded quiet, yet also greedy for power.
In old age, living in the world, the heart still stirs;
Regretting still that mandarin-duck debts remain unpaid.
Thousand Gold Lines
The heading predicts both wealth and rank complete.
Verse:
If one asks about life's glory and rank,
Thousand Gold added straight upward is the sign.
All the more when obtained by someone young:
Future wealth and rank earn others' praise.
Zhen Trigram Lines
The heading says a School Hall without lines is unsuitable.
Verse:
Zhen full, color moist, means sons;
Yet fine lines mean descendants are few.
If something within further carries baleful influence,
It is suitable only to take another child.
Note: The first two supplied fertility readings remain distinct.
Canopy Lines
The heading calls these auspicious and predicts a wife's wealth.
Verse:
Canopy, Blue-Green Dragon, yin and yang together:
These lines are favorable, excellent in hidden merit.
If adverse lines are added to the palm,
Obtaining this as rescue prevents adversity.
Canopy at Wife Palace further faces the wife;
Attracting a subsequent wife's wealth, which follows afterward.
All this is Five Phases and palm physiognomy;
In future years a son is further promised.
Hidden Virtue Lines
The heading predicts fortune and longevity.
Verse:
Hidden Virtue Lines arise from the palm's position;
Always cherishing one's virtue, joined with intelligence.
Danger and adversity do not assail, the heart without poison;
Fond of goodness, compassion and reciting scriptures.
Mountain Light Lines
The heading says these suit Buddhist and Daoist practitioners.
Verse:
Mountain Light Lines appearing mean fondness for pure leisure;
Whether right or wrong, interfering in neither.
This form most suits Buddhists and Daoists;
For an ordinary idler, mostly solitude and widowerhood.
Hidden Mountain Lines
The heading predicts leisure and quiet.
Verse:
Hidden Mountain Lines appear at the palm's center;
A good, compassionate nature favors auspicious flourishing.
Loving secluded leisure is followed here by adding bustle;
In the final years, trusting the Way and traveling in all directions.
Note: Adding bustle is retained despite the quiet heading and preceding phrase.
Free Countryside Lines
The heading describes fondness for secluded leisure.
Verse:
Seek Free Countryside Lines within the named Life area;
Two layers planted straight in the palm's center.
By nature fond of leisure, with many favored arts;
Throughout life disliking noise and fearing intrusion.
Scattered Flowers Lines
The heading describes greedy pursuit of flowers.
Verse:
Arising beside the body and facing inward are Scattered Flowers;
The lifelong inborn nature is extravagant.
Often reaching to pluck idle flowers and wild willows,
Loving only beauties, not the home.
Flowers and Wine Lines
The heading describes fondness for wine and sexual pleasure.
Verse:
Flowers and Wine Lines arise within the palm;
Lifelong intoxication, drunk among flowers.
The supplied sulfur/wildness wording joins lavish spending without stores;
Only because of infatuation with a sixteen-year-old's appearance.
Note: The wildness phrase has an irregular sulfur graph. Two eights is translated as the supplied historical age expression, not a modern recommendation.
Flowers and Willows Lines
The heading describes love and desire.
Verse:
Flowers and Willows Lines arise without worry;
Throughout life mostly fond of amorous pleasures.
Among embroidered attachments, greedy for enjoyment;
Only when the red sun is three poles high is the head raised.
Flower Hairpin Lines
The heading describes strong attachment to sexual beauty.
Verse:
Flower Hairpin Lines appearing mean secret pleasure;
Only the person knows the lanes and Phoenix Flowers of this wording.
Everywhere receiving others' tenderness and affection,
At greedy enjoyment surpassing Xi Shi.
Note: Phoenix Flowers follows the supplied irregular graph rather than a substituted flower term.
Flower-Stealing Lines
The heading describes fondness for flowers and wine.
Verse:
Flower-Stealing Lines appearing mean many wrongs;
Amorous elsewhere, attached to secret appointments.
One's own fine flower does not please the heart;
Intent is wholly fixed upon another's wife.
Sexual Desire Lines
The heading describes fondness for sexual beauty.
Verse:
Sexual Desire Lines resemble disordered grass;
Throughout life there is fondness for amorous feeling.
Infatuation with clouds and rain never lets the heart rest;
At ninety the heart is still like a youth's.
Desire and Exhaustion Lines
The heading describes fondness for desire.
Verse:
Lines like willow leaves pierce the River;
In lanes and streets, wind and flowers pass the years.
Evening rain and morning clouds please the heart;
Because of this, a grave chronic illness arises in middle age.
Note: River is retained as the named line region. The health claim is the historical source's.
Peach Blossom Lines
The heading describes fondness for amorous pleasures and predicts sexual disorder.
Verse:
Peach Blossom Lines appearing mean love of extravagance;
Fond only of cups and also of flowers.
Lifelong desire is led astray through this;
In middle age the household certainly does not come to fruition.
Peach Blossom Lines appearing mean wayward affection;
Willow lanes and street flowers become the home.
Precisely in middle age this limit arrives;
Dreaming and dying, still attached to one branch of flowers.
Note: Both supplied Peach Blossom verses remain separate.
Mandarin-Duck Lines
The heading describes attachment to sexual license.
Verse:
Mandarin-Duck Lines appearing indicate much sexual license;
Fond of beauty and greedy for cups without pause.
Evening rain and morning clouds are loved in youth;
In old age youthful feelings still remain.
Fish Lines
The heading predicts pure integrity.
Verse:
At Wife's position, lines form a fish;
How else is pure distinction known?
A wife can maintain fidelity;
If crossed and broken, the source instead alleges sexual license and folly.
Servant Lines
The heading accuses the wife of sexual misconduct.
Verse:
Servant Lines face inward toward Wife;
The source declares a servant will have sexual relations with her.
The wife's heart is called improper, the servant's heart overturned;
This form is said to mean such conduct in your household.
Note: These accusations are the historical source's claims, not established facts inferred from a hand.
Wife and Concubine Lines
The heading accuses the wife of sexual misconduct.
Verse:
Wife Lines arise and enter Servant Palace;
The source says a wife wishes to engage in secret relations.
Father-Restraining Lines
The heading predicts punitive restraint and harm.
Verse:
Heaven Line splits like a cord toward the middle finger;
This is Metal Star, the affair called joyful here.
Further between the centers of two fingers,
In youth it harms the father, leaving no support.
Note: The favorable joyful phrase remains beside the adverse father prediction.
Passing-to-the-Mother Lines
The heading predicts following the mother.
Verse:
The supplied palm-ruling/method-pattern phrase is passing and following;
Early years have an irregular no-withering/no-grief clause.
Who knew there would instead be following the mother in marriage,
Paying homage to another person as a qi-child in this copy's wording?
Note: The opening, grief and child terms are damaged; an exact adoption history is not invented.
Moon Corner Lines
The heading predicts attracting yin wealth.
Verse:
Moon Corner's yin lines come from Dui;
Throughout life obtaining wealth particularly from women.
Even in favorable affairs, always observe warnings;
Do not let sexual beauty stir official disputes.
Heaven-Facing Lines
The heading accuses the wife of sexual misconduct.
Verse:
Wife Lines face inward toward Heaven Line;
The source says the wife's lustful heart regrets lost dignity.
Joining brings the affair of clouds and rain;
Improper human relations disorder the household.
Branch-Growing Lines
The heading describes a deceitful wife.
Verse:
At Wife's position, lines grow branches;
The text calls this a naturally cunning wife.
The husband can reflect upon half;
Asking about sons relies upon action in the irregular closing phrase.
Note: The last two lines are unclear and are not expanded into a specific family outcome.
Three Baleful Lines
The heading gives a hand-form harming the wife.
Verse:
Three Baleful Lines invade wife and children's positions;
Harm to wife and sons leaves only hanging tears.
The next damaged seeing-guests/afterward-lightening clause suggests mitigation;
To avoid sleeping alone in middle age.
Note: The mitigation clause does not clearly identify an action; no remedy is invented.
Mother-Restraining Lines
The heading predicts restraint and stripping away.
Verse:
If Greater Yin has lines crossing and breaking it,
The birth mother must encounter it, in this wording.
Passing to another household alone may be permissible;
The birth mother must otherwise see Lord Yan.
Note: The source's death prediction is retained as a historical claim.
Greedy Heart Lines
The heading describes a heart difficult to settle.
Verse:
Heaven Line scattering and running means a greedy heart;
Loving only advantage, with mechanisms not yet deep.
Face to face, body and heart are unsettled and doubtful;
Others' things and affairs are joined with a mutual-deception phrase.
Note: The closing wording is irregular.
Spirit Lines
The heading describes lack of trust and duty.
Verse:
Transverse and straight lines in the hand are called Death Spirit;
Ruining household wealth and harming the Six Kin.
Everywhere among people, the household-or-discontent phrase remains unsatisfied;
Further harm to life, danger leaving the body in this copy's wording.
Note: Spirit in the heading and Death Spirit in the verse remain distinct. The final two clauses are damaged.
Robbery Baleful Lines
The heading predicts harm to close kin.
Verse:
Robbery Baleful Metal Lines scatter, disorder and cross;
Many successes and failures, and many adversities.
The early-and-middle-period burning phrase says there is no punitive harm;
At the final-or-Wei limit, one meets strong fulfillment.
Note: The last two lines are irregular; their favorable wording is not silently made adverse to match the heading.
Vermilion Bird Lines
The heading predicts official punishment.
Verse:
Vermilion Bird Lines arise toward the palm;
Throughout life, the wording points to official disputes.
If favorable lines come, it may be acceptable;
Most feared are mouths opening again at both ends.
Single Layer Lines
The heading predicts solitude.
Verse:
Wife Palace has only one layer of lines;
There is no wife, servant or brother.
If there are two lines together with four strokes,
Future continuation through children and grandchildren is promised.
Wine and Food Lines
The heading predicts wine stipend.
Verse:
What resemble Wine and Food Lines coming crosswise?
Uneven upon the palm, they enter a different palace.
Like three swallows flying on the slant,
Whenever cross and straight meet, there is ranked association.
Use ← / → or swipe left or right to change chapters