Taoist Mien Siang Ancient Practice and Finding
the Wu Xing
Mien Shiang (or Mien Xiang) is an ancient Chinese face reading art that has been in practice since 2700 B.C. during the reign of the Yellow Emperor. The art of face reading was especially significant during that era. In fact, it was deemed to be one of the five integral art forms in China, also known as Wushu. It was and still is compared to other arts and fields of study involving metaphysics such as Feng Shui, which is the study of land, and Bazi, the art of reading one’s destiny.
The word Mien translates to face, and Xiang translates to the study of facial features. Ancient Taoist practitioners believed that a person’s past is clearly apparent on their face, as it was recorded in the past. As such, you could easily tell a person’s story by simply looking at their face. Many people confuse the art of Mien Shiang (which is all about face reading) with interpreting one’s expressions; these two are completely different in practice. Mien Shiang can be conducted on expressionless faces as well. Facial features like the depth of one’s eyes, the prominence of wrinkles and cheekbones, the length of the nose, and marks on the face, can all be read and analyzed to understand a person’s history and even predict their future.
The Principles of Mien Shiang Include
· Three sections of the face – upper, middle, and lower
· Yin/Yang
· Five main organs of the face – eyes, ears, eyebrows, nose, and mouth
· Wrinkles, lines, moles, scars, and speckles
· The shape of the face
· Twelve Houses on a face
· Sheng Shiang – a person’s sound or voice
· Nei Shiang – a person’s chest, waist, shoulders, abdomen, neck, breasts, back, and forearms, among other body parts
· Gu Shiang – the practice of reading bones, including the skull
· Dong Shiang – a person’s basic movement and behavioral pattern such as walking, crying, sleeping, eating, standing, and sitting.
Wu Xing is the art of studying the Five Elements, Five Phases, Five Agents, Five Processes, Five Planets, Five Stages, Five Virtues, Five Poisons, and Five Ways of different disciplines – from a person’s innate energy to the medicinal properties of a plant. In essence, any subject can be studied by categorizing it into five stages of development.
With face reading, Wu Xing can be depicted as the Five Phases or Five Elements, namely wood, fire, metal, earth, and water. These elements are distinguished based on different facial features and represent a specific region of the face, but there is no specific designation; your face can be represented by one or more of these elements at a time.
The History of its Popularity and Skepticism
As time passed, the study of physiognomy evolved and began to be perceived as a scientific approach. By the 18th and 19th centuries, it was considered and used in forensics to identify criminals, but it was not of much use and partly discontinued thereafter. By the advent of the 20th century, physiognomy was discarded and has been relegated to the rank of a mere historical subject ever since.
That said, it was still used in various cultural works such as romantic novels, short stories, and literature dramas. Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray briefly use physiognomy in their plots.
The face reading techniques that are followed and practiced today greatly differ from those employed a few centuries ago. The evolution and changes in ancient face reading techniques are also quite remarkable. You can still come across lengthy scriptures for effective face reading techniques in ancient Chinese classics and notice how these patterns of interpretations evolved.
In the 20th century, a French psychiatrist by the name of Louis Corman coined the term morphopsychology, which contends that the internal workings of people’s bodies and other vital forces join to develop various face shapes. For instance, the expression of instinct is visible through round, full-bodied shapes, whereas self-preservation is expressed through flat or hollow shapes.
Several studies related to physiognomy have been conducted in modern times. Some research in the 1990s has established that honesty, warmth, and power were three personality traits that could be assessed using face reading. Another study on hockey players also revealed the correlation between a player’s penalty minutes and their wide faces. Fast-forwarding to 2010, physiognomy was primarily considered as a part of machine learning to introduce facial recognition in artificial intelligence. Just by looking at a person’s face, researchers could appraise their level of strength and prominent characteristics.
In 2017, yet another study shed light on an algorithm that could supposedly predict or detect a person’s sexual orientation, which
was eventually proven to be dangerous and false. Evidently, it was a topic of heated discussion and controversy.
Due to increased individuality and vulnerability in modern individuals, the practice of physiognomy is often considered discriminatory and insensitive, but this technique has been applied to understand human evolution and people’s emotions in its authentic form.
Because of these scientific and emotional implications, this pseudoscience is still practiced across the world, but with a more practical and prudent approach.
Physiognomy as it is Perceived Today
In today’s world, plastic and cosmetic surgery have become quite popular. Many people might be asking themselves, “Will the face alterations caused by enhancement surgeries impact face reading in any way?” Cosmetic surgery is never the answer when you are unhappy with a certain face feature. To improve your exterior, you must work on the interior. For example, recurring facial acne and spots can be caused by a bad diet or an underlying health issue. By switching to more wholesome foods and treating the condition, you can get rid of these spots and discoloration, which will eventually give you a clear face. In parallel, you should learn to face and handle your insecurities. Working on your mental well-being and thought process is bound to bring subtle yet encouraging improvements in self-image. Other aspects that could alter your facial features could be experiences, behavior, tolerance, and your overall attitude.
As an art, the practice of face reading is relatively easier compared to techniques such as palm reading, since it is not as obvious and can be practiced without the person (or other people) noticing. In fact, whenever you meet someone, you might be reading their face instinctively, by unconscious reflex. You cannot figure out a person’s character and intentions with just one meeting, which is where face reading can prove helpful. This is particularly beneficial in formal meetings or high-stress situations. For example, suppose you are meeting a potential business partner. There, you can determine whether they will be loyal, trustworthy, or capable of running a business and driving it to success.
Similarly, you can assess a person’s character based on a date (birthdate) and ascertain whether they are fit to be your permanent partner. It applies in almost every setting.
A major issue, which was also prevalent in the past, is the way of living. Regardless of a person’s nationality, culture, ethnicity, and social standing, everyone is expected to conform and live a certain pre-established way. The attributes a person is born with are conditioned by their elders, society, religion, and the media’s expectations. Most of us are stuck in this loop, trying to live differently and detach ourselves from the environment we were born
into. You either get a reward for behaving in an “acceptable” way or are punished and ostracized if you do not fit in. While certain behaviors are expected for the sake of morality and tradition, many individuals simply decide to change their outlook on life entirely.
As a result, most of us do not feel like “ourselves”; a part of us is missing. There comes a time in everyone’s life when we feel lost and grow unkind towards our own selves. The expression of self-love gets lost along the way. Since your face is an open book to your soul, past, and destiny, you get to learn who you truly are and what you are destined to become. You get to know why you are this way and acquire the ability and power to change yourself for the better. At the same time, you also come to understand the people around you and why they show a certain behavior towards you. Ultimately, this helps you become the best version of yourself and empowers you with feelings of empathy and acceptance; you not only accept and love yourself but also let others be who they are and who they want to be. Down the line, you will no longer feel anger or hatred towards others, which will also help balance your mental health and grant you inner peace.
Chapter 2: Face Basics: The Facial Map Now that you have acquired a solid background knowledge, this chapter is all about learning the basics of face reading and exploring the different sections of the face. With this practice knowledge, you can easily grasp a person’s traits simply by looking at the shape of their face and studying their individual facial features.
As established, your facial shape can indicate your character, prominent traits, and overall personality. Let’s take a look at the basic face shapes and what they say about your personality.
Square Shape
For starters, square-faced individuals are usually driven and have good leadership qualities. They often dream about becoming CEOs or leading a company. If you meet a person with a square-shaped face and a broad forehead, it is likely that the person is dominant, unethical, and aggressive. Whenever you converse, they will be polite to you, but any form of crude or condescending comment can make them aggressive. They are also blessed with agile decision-making skills, which explains their leadership skills and entrepreneurial minds. They are highly driven and go to great lengths to make things happen, hence being stellar leaders. In parallel, they are also fit for the wrestling ring due to their combative behavior. A square-shaped face is often referred to as an “earth face” in traditional Chinese face reading.
Common Attributes of a Square Face
· Pragmatism: These people always have a practical approach to life. Whether it is in business, their studies, or their personal life, they will always take practical, thought-out decisions instead of considering their emotions. They often take a methodical approach in their work, which helps them excel in their endeavors.
· Down to Earth: They are grounded and humble and are hardly ever seen boasting about their achievements, wealth, or lifestyle.
· Safe Players: These people prefer to play it safe, as they fear taking risks. Whether it’s their personal relationships or career, they would rather keep away from danger by sticking to conventions and norms.
· Quiet and Reliable: Should you give them any task, they will fulfill it and produce satisfying results, making them highly reliable. They are quiet, reserved, and would rather stay in their own zone.