Study on the Collation and Research of Dunhuang Manuscript on Face Reading

Author: Zheng Binglin / Wang Jingbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Physiognomy is a part of the ancient culture, originating from the ancient people's dreams and practices to understand the mysteries of life and grasp their destiny. Chinese physiognomy has a long history; during the Spring and Autumn Period, the art of "physiognomy" (judging one's future fate by observing the body, appearance, voice, and complexion) had already become popular. After the Warring States Period, physiognomy books began to appear. During the Han Dynasty, the physiognomist Xu Fu read palms for many famous figures, leaving behind numerous legends. Later physiognomists, admiring his reputation, wrote books under his name to spread them widely. Due to many popular folk physiognomy books not being recorded in historical chronicles, almost all of them were lost over the long course of history. Fortunately, in the Dunhuang manuscripts, we have discovered more than ten fragments of Tang Dynasty and pre-Tang physiognomy books, providing the only surviving materials for modern people to understand the original appearance of ancient Chinese physiognomy books before the Tang and Song Dynasties, making them extremely precious. According to the currently published information, the Dunhuang manuscripts preserve 12 volumes of physiognomy books, which are collected in institutions such as the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris and the British Library. This book comprehensively collects and organizes these manuscript physiognomy books and conducts further research and discussion based on the achievements of renowned scholars at home and abroad. Some of the content and viewpoints in this book have already been published in domestic and international journals or presented at international academic exchanges, attracting widespread attention.