Physiognomica
Physiognomica: Aristotle's 4th-century BCE physiognomy work. The first systematic Western physiognomy text, inferring character through animal likenesses.
Termên têkildar
Kıyafetname
Ottoman physiognomy literature. Lokman Çelebi's 16th-century work is the most famous example of this tradition. Defined as the art of reading a person's inner world from their outer appearance.
Firasa (Islamic Tradition)
The face-reading tradition in the cultural history of the Islamic world. This art combines inner intuition with outer observation.
Mian Xiang
The Chinese physiognomy tradition. Systematized by Guiguzi in the 6th century BCE, this art divides the face into 100 regions, each governing a specific life-age period.
Five Elements Face
Face types according to Mian Xiang's element system: Wood (long), Fire (thin and pointed), Earth (broad and full), Metal (square), and Water (round). Each type presents a different character.
Age Mapping
In Mian Xiang, each facial region governs a specific age period. Ears 1-14, forehead 15-30, brows-eyes 31-40, nose 41-50, chin 61+.
Three Treasures
Energies attributed to three facial regions in Taoist physiognomy: Shen (spirit-eyes), Qi (breath-nose), and Jing (essence-chin). Balance of the three treasures reflects vital force.