9 Lines on the Yintang in Chinese Physiognomy

What Is the Yintang in Chinese Physiognomy?

In physiognomy, the glabella, also known as the “Palace of Destiny,” is the core point of the face. From a physiognomic perspective, the glabella is the most important part of a person’s appearance; we can judge a person’s fortune, luck, and misfortune based on its width, color, and luster. Many people develop wrinkles on their glabella. So, are wrinkles on the glabella good or bad? The Zhouyi Physiognomy Research Institute analyzes nine common wrinkles on the glabella:

Yintang Line Patterns and What They Mean

The Hanging Needle Line

A vertical line running down the center of the glabella, also known as a hanging needle or broken needle, is considered an ominous sign.

People with this type of marking are destined to suffer from neurasthenia, have extreme personalities, and will do whatever they want, using any means necessary, ruthless and vicious, forging ahead without regard for the feelings or thoughts of others. They are strong-willed and unafraid of failure. However, they are unlikely to enjoy the benefits of their family’s wealth, will struggle with little success, face many dangers and hardships, and suffer from excessive worry. The Yintang is only one area in the wider Mian Xiang system, which reads the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth and ears together rather than judging by a single feature.

Men with this fate will be lonely in old age. They have strong personalities, are domineering, and possessive. Business partnerships with such people often end in failure. Women with this fate will have a broken seal (a vertical line between the eyebrows), which indicates they will bring misfortune to their husbands and children (same meaning as a broken palm line).

The Double Sparrow Lines

If there are auspicious lines in the area between the eyebrows, then the double sparrow lines are one of the few truly auspicious lines. These are two symmetrical straight lines located at the inner corners of the eyebrows. People with this feature have well-developed brain tissue, are thoughtful and far-sighted, possess a strong sense of justice, act decisively, and are destined for success.

People with double sparrow patterns are highly career-oriented, conservative yet meticulous in their thinking, methodical in their dealings with others, and incredibly resilient. Regardless of gender, they can achieve enviable success. Men with this pattern tend to be inflexible and unyielding, often unintentionally offending others. Women with this pattern frequently experience conflicts with their husbands, leading to less than ideal marital relationships.

The Harm Line, or Prison Line

A single line appears above the eyebrow. If it’s on the left eyebrow, it’s called the “harm line,” indicating the person is prone to attacks or suffers from chronic rheumatic diseases. If it’s on the right eyebrow, it’s called the “prison line,” indicating the person will experience imprisonment at least once in their life (detention also counts). Chinese medicine reads the face for physical health in a different way, and how the face is read for health explains how complexion and specific facial areas are linked to the organs.

The Hanging Needle With Feet

When a branching pattern appears beneath the hanging needle line, it’s called “hanging needle with feet,” a pattern that reduces the harmfulness of the hanging needle line. Although one may still lack support from family and friends, they possess strong ancestral virtue and often turn misfortune into good fortune and danger into safety. This pattern is suitable for those pursuing success through unconventional means.

The Eight-Character (八) Lines

Two diagonal lines appear at the inner corner of the eyebrow, resembling the character “八” (eight). Such a person will rarely experience moments of triumph, leading a life of toil and hardship. Around age 40, they are prone to legal troubles and gossip. Women with this feature are prone to jealousy and marital difficulties.

When two lines are of equal length, the misfortune is minor; when two lines are of unequal length, it may harm others. If the right line is longer than the left, it will bring misfortune to the bearer and may lead to imprisonment. Therefore, we also call this type of line the “prison line.” If the prison line has a branch at the end, it can turn misfortune into good fortune.

More Patterns Between the Brows: River, Sickle, Hook and Messy

The River (川) Pattern

Three straight lines running parallel and vertically between the eyebrows form the “川” (river) character pattern. If a person with this pattern extends directly to the upper forehead and has prominent “Border-City/Post-Horse” (a specific bone structure resembling a horse or post station), they are destined for high status and power, becoming a pillar of society. If the lines don’t extend directly to the upper forehead, the person will experience many ups and downs in life, building their fortune from scratch. Marital discord and infrequent living together are common; regardless of gender, the marriage will face problems. Men are prone to causing harm to their wives, while women often lack tolerance, frequently leading to divorce.

The Sickle Pattern

Two sickle-shaped lines appear on one side of the eyebrows, between the eyebrows. Such a person is inherently foolish and lacks intelligence; regardless of gender, they often complain and blame others, experiencing many hardships with little success.

The Hook Pattern

A straight line on the glabella with a hook at the top is a typical ominous sign. Such a person will inevitably bring misfortune upon themselves and their parents, and will fail in their career. Furthermore, their most prominent characteristic is an eccentric and extreme personality, which will inevitably lead to disaster and physical harm.

Messy Lines

The lines on the glabella are irregular and scattered. Regardless of gender, this indicates inevitable conflict with family members, a life of hard work with little reward, and the squandering of ancestral property. If one does not cultivate virtue and good fortune, a major disaster will surely occur before the age of thirty.

Other Yintang Patterns

Ancient texts record that people with a cross-shaped or “heaven” character pattern on their forehead (between the eyebrows) wield great power of life and death. However, there are few actual cases to support this claim; it is for reference only. The space between the brows is also read on its own, and the guide to 28 eyebrow types covers spacing along with eyebrow shape, thickness and length.