Introduction / 引言
Mian Xiang (面相), or Chinese Face Reading, is a venerable art within the Chinese Metaphysical Five Arts (五術), specifically falling under the category of "Observation" (相 - Xiang). Its core premise is that an individual's external features, particularly the face, serve as a mirror reflecting their inner character, health, and destined life path. Rooted in ancient philosophical theories such as Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, Mian Xiang posits that "Human destiny is endowed by Heaven, thus there are external signs on the body" (人命稟於天，則有表候於體), meaning every physical attribute carries a unique blueprint of fate.
面相學，或稱中國面相術，是中國玄學五術中一門古老的藝術，屬於「相」（相 - Xiang）的範疇。其核心前提是，一個人的外在特徵，特別是臉部，是反映其內在性格、健康和注定人生軌跡的一面鏡子。面相學根植於陰陽五行等古代哲學理論，認為「人命稟於天，則有表候於體」，即每個身體特徵都蘊含著獨特的命運藍圖。
Ancient Origins and Early Development / 古老起源與早期發展
- Spring and Autumn Period (771-476 BCE): Early forms of physiognomy are recorded as being popular among the upper echelons of society. Historical texts mention individuals who could discern character and predict future events based on facial characteristics.
- Theoretical Foundations: The development of Mian Xiang gained theoretical support from various philosophical streams, including the concept of the Heavenly Way (天道觀), Confucian ethics, Yin-Yang and Five Elements theories, and the Han Dynasty ideas of "Heaven-Human Correspondence" (天人感應) and prognostications (讖緯). These frameworks provided the intellectual backbone for interpreting facial signs.
- Early Simplistic Methods: Initially, physiognomy was relatively simple. For instance, the Han Dynasty's renowned female physiognomist Xu Fu (許負), in her work Xiang Fa Shi Liu Pian (相法十六篇), based her judgments on only fourteen body parts, gait, and voice, rather than intricate facial maps.
- Systematic Evolution: Over time, Mian Xiang evolved through continuous observation and categorization. Practitioners meticulously divided the face into over a hundred distinct areas, each with specific interpretative meanings, forming the highly detailed and rich system known today.
- 春秋時期（公元前771-476年）：面相學的早期形式在社會上層階級中已很流行。史書記載了一些能根據面部特徵判斷性格和預測未來事件的人物。
- 理論基礎：面相學的發展得到了天道觀、儒家倫理、陰陽五行學說，以及漢代天人感應和讖緯等思想形態的理論支持。這些框架為解釋面部徵象提供了思想支撐。
- 早期簡樸方法：最初的面相術相對簡樸。例如，漢代著名女相士許負在其著作《相法十六篇》中，僅以人體十四個部位特徵和行、聲兩項作為評判依據。
- 系統化演變：隨著時間的推移，面相學透過不斷的觀察和歸納分類而演變。相士們將面部細分為一百多個不同的區域，每個區域都有特定的解釋意義，從而形成了如今高度詳細而豐富的體系。
Renowned Physiognomists and Philosophers / 著名面相家與哲學家
Throughout Chinese history, influential figures contributed to the theory and practice of Mian Xiang, leaving a lasting legacy:
- Shu Fu (叔服): A Zhou Dynasty official, credited as one of the earliest recorded figures to apply physiognomic principles to analyze individuals.
- Xu Fu (許負): The celebrated female physiognomist of the Han Dynasty. Her accurate predictions, such as the rise and fall of the famous general Zhou Yafu, earned her imperial recognition. Her work Xiang Fa Shi Liu Pian is an early foundational text.
- Xun Zi (荀子): A prominent Confucian philosopher during the Warring States period, Xun Zi criticized the popular practice of physiognomy in his essay Fei Xiang (非相 - Against Physiognomy). However, his profound statement, "Judging form is not as good as judging heart" (相形不如論心), was ironically later adopted by many physiognomists to emphasize the importance of inner character.
- Wang Chong (王充): A Han Dynasty philosopher, who, in his influential work Lun Heng (論衡·骨相篇 - Discourses Weighed, Chapter on Bone Physiognomy), provided philosophical arguments supporting the validity of physiognomy, particularly the concept of bone reading (骨相).
- Chen Tuan (陳摶): The legendary Song Dynasty Daoist master, also credited with founding Zi Wei Dou Shu, is associated with Mian Xiang through his authorship of Shen Xiang Quan Bian (神相全编 - Complete Compendium of Divine Physiognomy).
- Yuan Liuzhuang (袁柳庄): A Ming Dynasty physiognomist whose work Liu Zhuang Xiang Fa (柳庄相法) remains an influential text in the field.
- Zeng Guofan (曾國藩): A highly influential Qing Dynasty official, general, and scholar. Zeng Guofan was a keen observer of human nature and skilled in Mian Xiang. His personal diaries and writings contain numerous insightful maxims and observations on face reading, often used for assessing potential candidates for official positions. His work Bing Jian (冰鉴 - Mirror of Ice) is a classic on character assessment.
在中國歷史上，許多有影響力的人物為面相學的理論和實踐做出了貢獻，留下了深遠的遺產：
- 叔服：周朝官員，被認為是最早記載應用面相原理分析個人的人物之一。
- 許負：漢代著名的女相士。她對名將周亞夫的興衰所做的準確預言，使她獲得了皇室的認可。她的著作《相法十六篇》是早期的奠基文本。
- 荀子：戰國時期著名的儒家哲學家，荀子在他的論文《非相》中批評了當時流行的相術。然而，他那句深刻的「相形不如論心」後來被許多相士引用，以強調內在品格的重要性。
- 王充：漢代哲學家，在他的重要著作《論衡·骨相篇》中，為相術，特別是骨相學，提供了哲學論證。
- 陳摶：傳奇的宋代道家大師，也被認為是紫微斗數的創始人，他因著作《神相全編》而與面相學相關聯。
- 袁柳庄：明代面相家，其著作《柳庄相法》至今仍是該領域的重要文本。
- 曾國藩：清代極具影響力的官員、將領和學者。曾國藩是人類本性的敏銳觀察者，精通面相學。他的個人日記和著作中包含了許多關於面相的深刻格言和觀察，常用於評估官員候選人。他的著作《冰鑑》是關於人物評鑑的經典。
Foundational Classical Texts / 奠基經典著作
The rich tradition of Mian Xiang is documented in a wealth of classical texts, which have guided practitioners for centuries:
- Ma Yi Xiang Fa (麻衣相法): Considered one of the most fundamental and influential texts in Chinese physiognomy. Attributed to the legendary Daoist master Ma Yi, it provides comprehensive guidelines for interpreting facial features and is still widely studied today.
- Shen Xiang Quan Bian (神相全编 - Complete Compendium of Divine Physiognomy): Associated with Chen Tuan, this text offers a systematic framework for face reading, detailing various facial features and their prognostications.
- Liu Zhuang Xiang Fa (柳庄相法): Authored by Yuan Liuzhuang, this work is another cornerstone of classical Mian Xiang, known for its practical insights and detailed interpretations.
- Bing Jian (冰鉴 - Mirror of Ice): While often attributed to Zeng Guofan, this text is a profound treatise on character assessment through observing facial features and demeanor, reflecting his deep understanding of human nature.
- Early References: Scattered early records can be found in ancient texts such as Li Ji (禮記) for observations of facial expressions, and Shi Ji (史記·绛侯周勃世家) which documents Xu Fu's predictions. Wang Chong's Lun Heng (論衡·骨相篇) also provides philosophical discussions on the subject.
面相學的豐富傳統在大量的經典著作中得到了記載，這些著作幾個世紀以來一直指導著實踐者：
- 《麻衣相法》：被認為是中國面相學中最基礎和最具影響力的文本之一。歸於傳奇道家大師麻衣，它提供了面部特徵解讀的全面指南，至今仍被廣泛研究。
- 《神相全編》：與陳摶相關聯，這部文本提供了面相的系統框架，詳細闡述了各種面部特徵及其預測。
- 《柳庄相法》：由袁柳莊撰寫，這部作品是古典面相學的另一塊基石，以其實用見解和詳細解釋而聞名。
- 《冰鑑》：雖然常歸於曾國藩，但這部文本是一部通過觀察面部特徵和舉止來評估人物的深刻論著，反映了他對人性的深刻理解。
- 早期參考：早期的零散記載可在《禮記》等古籍中找到，用於觀察面部表情；《史記·绛侯周勃世家》則記載了許負的預言。王充的《論衡·骨相篇》也提供了關於該主題的哲學討論。