Physiognomy Reading Women

Contents

The head — 8 The shape of the face — 15 The ears — 24 The eyes — 37 The mouth — 48 The tongue — 55 The hair-whorl (khwan) — 65 The laugh — 67 The cheeks — 72 The shoulders — 77 The torso — 81

The hair — 12 The forehead — 21 The eyebrows — 30 The nose — 44 The teeth — 52 The voice — 60 The smile — 66 The chin — 68 The neck — 74 The back — 79 The figure — 85

[note: the contents are set in two columns; read across the pair, the page numbers run in order. ลักษณะ, which opens every line, is the standing word for "the characteristics of" and is not repeated in the English.]

The chest — 88 The bust — 93 The backs of the hands — 102 The fingernails — 108 The lines of the palm — 117 The waist — 120 The body hair — 122 The skin — 135 The manner of sitting — 142 The manner of lying down — 154 The manner of walking — 162 The manner of speaking — 172 The upper thigh — 181 The shin — 189 The calf — 195 The ankle-bone — 202

The breasts — 92 The arms — 99 The fingers — 104 The palms — 113 The belly — 118 The hips — 121 The body scent — 128 The breathing — 138 The manner of standing — 148 The navel — 158 The manner of eating — 168 The lower abdomen — 178 The inner thigh — 186 The knees — 193 The ankles — 199 The shape of the feet — 206

[note: contents continued. Read across the two columns the page numbers run in order, which is what confirms ลักษณะหน้าแข้ง as ๑๘๙ (189) and not 198 — at the 150 dpi working render ๙ and ๘ are hard to separate; checked against a 400 dpi render of the same page.]

# Characteristics of the Head

Any woman whose... head is thui (sloping/tapered at the back)

or, as it is commonly called, a protruding forehead. If the protrusion in front and the protrusion behind answer to each other on both sides, that is all the better. It is a sign showing that she is a person of mindfulness and intelligence, clever and quick-witted. Even if it does not protrude on both sides — if it protrudes only at the back alone, that is still good enough.

Any woman whose... head is shaped like an elephant's head

or is ridged in undulations like a palmyra fruit It is a sign showing that she will have prosperity and flourishing in the future; she is a person of wasana (merit-destiny), and will become great and eminent in days to come.

Any woman whose... head is pom (short and rounded/stout)

It is a sign of a person given to rambling reverie, who likes to dream along with her moods, who cannot be taken seriously in anything; she is a chatterer, a braggart, and given to showing off. But if she makes her living in the way of trade, she has enough of a path to prosper by.

Any woman whose... head is paen (flattened)

It is a sign of a person who has wiles and tricks for taking advantage of her friends. She will be able to keep herself alive, but not in prosperity; at best only at a middling level, or sometimes up and down, not to be counted upon for certain.

Any woman whose... head is long

It is a sign of a person whose wits are not quick enough for others, slow — but who has honesty and loyal devotion toward those who have been good to her. If the head is long but large, she will prosper and flourish in the future. If it is long and small as well, there will be only days of hardship; she will not make a living as well as other people do.

Any woman whose... head is short and stubby

It is a sign of a person of quick wits, clever, sharp, who sees through her friends — but who will find it very hard to help herself rise to prosperity. She is one who loves fun, jesting, boisterous, cheerful, and broad-hearted; she is liked and cared for by friends and companions, and is desired by the men who come to associate with her.

Any woman whose... head is triangular in shape

It is a sign of a person who is diligent and vigorous, persevering and enduring at every kind of work. Whether life turns out good or bad lies with herself, in the manner of the saying that one is one's own refuge. To hope to borrow another person's nose to breathe with will come to nothing.

Any woman whose... head is square

It is a sign of a clever person, whose wits are as quick as other people's; she is her own counsellor in the conduct of her life — that is, if she chooses the right road, the future will meet with nothing but happiness and prosperity, but if she chooses the wrong road she will fall into hardship and misery. This refers to every kind of work, and also to the choosing of a spouse.

Any woman whose... head is round

It is a sign of a person who is honest and upright; her circumstances in life will be of a middling degree.

Any woman whose... crown of the head is high

or, as it is commonly called, a high "palace-peak" (chom prasat sung) It is a sign of a person full of ideas, clever and steadfast; she is a person of merit and wasana (destiny), and will have prosperity in the future.

Any woman whose... head juts out at the back of the skull like a hook

It is a sign of a restless person, who likes to romp about after her own nature. In the matter of occupation, she is usually fond of the various crafts, such as sewing, embroidery and needlework, or other handiwork.

Any woman whose... head has a bulging lump of flesh at the back

It is a sign of a person of boisterous nature, fond of children, and fond of play; she likes to do outlandish things, always eccentric and unlike others; she is a person who does not fret about the future, living along from one day to the next, in the way people call "whatever will do".

Any woman whose... sides of the head have bulging flesh

It is a sign of a person who tends to be in trouble in matters of money constantly. Even if she has a place to dwell, it will not be hers by right, or she will not have full right in that place.

Any woman whose... head is large

It is a sign showing that she is a person lofty in thought and in mindful intelligence, knowing as much as other people. She herself will rise high and prosper and flourish, because of her subtle thinking, having reasons of her own; she is a person who can help herself, in the matter of money or of livelihood, and even love will proceed for her in a reasoned way.

Any woman whose... head is small

It is a sign of a person of little mindful intelligence, lacking cleverness, usually always at a disadvantage, whether in the matter of work, of money, or of love. She is usually a person who believes others easily, and will have to meet with hardship because of believing people.

Any woman whose... head is long and lim (long and tapering to a point)

It is a sign of a person straitened in her thinking, in trouble over making a living. For the most part her life is beset with hardship, straitened in the matter of money and of dwelling; she looks upon the future as darkness, until at times she loses heart, without any spirit left to undertake any enterprise at all. Only if someone gives her encouragement will she muster perseverance again. For the greater part of her life she must depend upon a husband.

Characteristics of the Hair

Any woman... whose hair is black and fine

with smooth, clear skin, wide eyes, sweet speech, and a figure befitting a woman — this is a sign that she is a person who prospers in worldly wealth; whatever man takes her as his wife, his future will flourish and prosper.

Any woman... whose hair is burnt-brown in colour, and is oiled and lustrous

— this is a sign that she is long-lived, and strict in matters of custom and tradition; easy to instruct, easy to teach.

Any woman... whose hair is burnt-brown in colour

but is not oiled and not lustrous — this is a sign of a person who is long-lived, of full and strong body, bold of speech in matters that have reason, ardent in love, and excessive in sexual passion; not inclined toward study and the seeking of knowledge, ruthless of heart, lacking in loving-kindness and compassion.

Any woman... who has a pointed tuft of hair at the front

or what is commonly called a "turtle's tail" — this is a sign of a person whose father will die before her mother, or else that the two will be parted from each other.

Any woman... whose hair is fine and thin

— this is a sign of a person without moral virtue, lacking in mercy and kindness; whomever she associates with, she thinks only of taking advantage of them. Even with hair of this same character, if it is frizzy and fuzzy (frizzy by nature) it is worse still than that: such a person absolutely cannot be associated with.

Any woman... whose hair is black and oily, and frizzy and unruly

(frizzy and unruly by nature) — this is a sign of a person hot-tempered, cunning in her cleverness, lacking in fairness, and violent in sexual passion; a self-seeking person who takes advantage of people in general.

Any woman... whose hair is black and oily

and has straight strands standing bristly, soft and fine — this is a sign of a person with a compassionate heart, fair, honest and loyal, who does not do harm to anyone first; she will be steadfast to her husband, constant from beginning to end.

Any woman... whose hair is brown in colour, both coarse and stiff

— this is a sign of a person who is hard to raise, having little uprightness, given to acting rashly in wrongful ways. Even with hair of this same character, if it is frizzy (frizzy from birth) she will be a person who is weak, devoid of quick wit.

Any woman... whose hair is coarse, straight and stiff

— this is a sign of a person excessive in sexual passion, lacking in mindfulness and in any thought of caring for her own good name. However much property she has, she spends it without restraint, without a thought for the days ahead; her future will meet with nothing but hardship and trouble.

Any woman... whose hair is fine and soft, brown in colour, both abundant and thick

— this is a sign of a person generous of heart but often hot-tempered, like a child without judgement, impolite in manner; she will attain happiness by relying on the strength of others.

Any woman... whose hair is red, thick and lustrous

— this is a sign of a person of intelligence, sharp and keen-witted, endowed with moral virtue; but in whatever she undertakes she tends to aim at her own benefit beyond what is proper. Even with hair of this same character, if it is frizzy and unruly (frizzy and unruly by nature) the result will be the very opposite: keeping company with her is absolutely forbidden.

Any woman... whose hairline stands very far from the ears

— this is a sign of a person carrying the fruit of past deeds committed in a former age; her life will meet with misfortune and with hardship and bitter difficulty. However much she toils and wearies herself, she cannot prosper; there will be nothing but being oppressed and slandered by others, and she will be short-lived.

Any woman... whose hairline lies very close to the ears

— this is a sign that she is a person of quick wit, clever, of good intelligence, and diligent and vigorous, good at taking up work; a person of merit and fortune whose future will flourish and prosper, and who will be long-lived — at the least not below 80 years and upward.

Characteristics of the Shape of the Face

Any woman... whose face is shaped like the face of the sky

— this is a sign that she is a person of gentle disposition, loving peace, fond of dressing showily, and fond of associating with people without choosing by rank; yet she has a compassionate spirit and does not like to take unfair advantage, does not envy those better off than herself; she is generally beloved by those who meet her. Even if she falls into hardship there will be people to support her. In matters of sexual passion things proceed in a plain and even way, without extravagance.

Any woman... whose face is shaped like the face of a monkey

— this is a sign that she is a person of coarse disposition, fond of doing odd and freakish things contrary to ordinary human beings, fierce of heart, without mercy, her manners not within the standards of well-bred people. A woman of this character, if she takes a husband, tends to bring shame and loss of face upon her husband repeatedly, because of her disposition to conduct herself unlike everyone else, and she has a promiscuous sexual passion, in which no constancy can be found.

Any woman... whose face resembles a pig's face

It is a sign showing that she is a person of wavering disposition; whatever she undertakes she does not think through carefully, and only once the mistake has been made does she come to regret it. Her character appears to be that of a person of guile and cunning stratagems with her friends and companions; she is fond of showing off and of talking herself up while putting others down. Whatever she undertakes seldom succeeds.

Any woman... whose face resembles a bear's face

It is a sign showing that she is clever and well-informed, but at times cruel-hearted; once angered at someone she binds herself in vengefulness. She respects her own opinions and does not readily listen to anyone's advice or admonition. Whatever she undertakes she usually aims to carry through to success; if it does not succeed she does not abandon her intention.

Any woman... whose face resembles a gibbon's face

It is a sign showing that she is a person who loves justice and loves peace. Her nature is quiet and demure, to the point that she looks like a person given to sorrow. She likes to think and to dream far off. She has honesty and dislikes taking advantage of others. Her sustaining of life is uncertain — one moment having, one moment poor. But if any man gets her as a wife, she will be steadfast, loyal and devoted to her husband forever.

Any woman... whose face resembles a goat's face

It is a sign showing that she is clever, of high intelligence and mindfulness, and loves peace. Her future holds nothing but a path of prosperity, and she will attain the good by her own self. In the early stages she will usually receive help from elders, but in the end she relies on herself and advances by her own self.

Any woman... whose face resembles a lion

It is a sign showing that she is resolute and brave of heart, acting by her own decision; even if the matter is fraught with danger she does not flinch — she will even give her own life in exchange.

Any woman... with a thin face

This means the skin of the face, the eyebrows, the ears, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, and even the hair are thin. It is a sign showing that she is a person who loves peace, is modest and unassuming, does not like a life of high aspiration or of exuberant, craving ambition, and is frugal and meticulous in keeping and safeguarding property. Whatever man gets her as a wife will prosper in wealth.

Any woman... with a narrow facial contour

It is a sign showing that she is a person lacking in cleverness, lazy, and apt to display her own foolishness for others to see. She has a craving, high-aspiring nature, without regard for her own station in life. Her living will be rather hard and impoverished.

Any woman... with a tapering face

It is a sign showing that she is a person possessed of circumspection, sharp-witted and quick. Whatever she undertakes she usually sets her mind to do in real earnest, and it usually succeeds with fine and comely neatness. She has a nature that loves work of the handicraft kind, or other work of invention. She is honest, loyal and devoted to her husband.

Any woman... with an upturned face

or, called by another name, a face tilted back It is a sign showing that she is a person circumspect in her own affairs. Whatever she undertakes she usually applies thought and deliberation first; only when she sees that it is good does she set to work, diligent and vigorous, persevering and enduring, with cleverness habitual in her character. The future ahead holds nothing but smoothness. If she obtains a husband, the husband will love her as his own heart.

Any woman... with a downturned face

It is a sign showing that she is a person who does not go in for friends and company; she likes to live alone in contented solitude. She does things simply, without ceremony or fuss; she is not high-aspiring nor extravagant, and is not a spendthrift. When she is to decide upon undertaking anything, even in matters of love, she usually consults the elders whom she respects. In the early period her life is not very smooth; only in the later period does it gradually improve.

Any woman... with a large round facial contour

It is a sign showing that she is a person who holds her own reasoning supreme, likes to behave in a childish way, does things without deliberating carefully, following only her own whim. She is frivolous, does nothing in earnest, and likes to put herself forward, volunteering to do work for other people.

Any woman... with a long face

It is a sign showing that she is a person who does not like to take advantage of others, and does not like people who are grasping over small and petty things. She is generous and open-handed toward those in hardship; she is a person of moral virtue. She will be merry at times, but she has composure and gentleness constantly. If she has a husband, she will be beloved of her husband and esteemed by people generally.

Any woman... with a flat face

It is a sign showing that she is a person of quick-witted, clever thought, cool-headed and steady, but who usually does not deliberate carefully before acting. Only once she has done wrong does she realise it afterwards — falling into the saying that runs, "the ox is lost, and only then is the pen fenced in." But she is a person with charm about her, rather flirtatious, and easy in making acquaintances. In the latter part of life she must feed herself by her own shanks.

Any woman... with a short face

It is a sign showing that she is a person with an envious heart, bold of mouth, who likes to do things in a boastful way with ทิษฐิ [thitthi — conceited stubbornness of opinion; so spelled on the page, for ทิฐิ]. She holds herself supreme, takes advantage of other people, but will not let go of what is her own. She is a person whose friendships do not last: at first all is well, but once others come to know her character, they break off with her.

Any woman... whose face is always smiling

or, as it is called, having constant cheerfulness It is a sign showing that she is a person of bright spirits; her future will be complete and fruitful in wealth, and she will be beloved of her husband. But if she has a dimple in the cheek, she is usually one who causes her husband vexation of mind on account of her own flirtatiousness, her disposition being unsteady, and she gets acquainted with people easily. Her way of life in the future, at the best, is only enough to get by; riches she will not find.