TL;DR: The nose, or Thẩm Biện quan, is one of the Ngũ Quan, located at the center of the face and belonging to the middle court in the Tam đình division, associated with the middle age period. In nhân tướng học, nose physiognomy is assessed through shape, height, nostrils, bridge, and khí sắc, and is said to reflect wealth, career, and willpower, but this is only a reference concept, has no scientific basis, and does not determine destiny.
The Nose (Thẩm Biện quan) in the Five Officials - Eastern physiognomy
What are the Five Officials and Thẩm Biện quan?
In Eastern physiognomy, the human face is divided into the Five Officials, corresponding to the five senses and five main parts: the ears (Thái Thính quan), the eyebrows (Bảo Thọ quan), the eyes (Giám Sát quan), the nose (Thẩm Biện quan) and the mouth (Xuất Nạp quan). Each official carries its own symbolic meaning, reflecting different aspects of a person's destiny, character and life. Among them, the nose, or Thẩm Biện quan, is considered the most important for judging wealth, career and social standing.
Summary table of the meanings of the parts of the nose in physiognomy according to the article.
| Part | Other name | Physiognomy meaning | Good feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge of the nose | Sơn Căn, Niên Thượng, Thế Thượng | Career, reputation, relations with superiors, respiratory and digestive health | Sơn Căn high and full |
| Tip of the nose | Chuẩn Đầu | Wealth luck, riches, self-respect, pride | Round, full, fleshy, rosy in colour |
| Nostril wings | Both sides of the nostril wings | Money management, spending, saving, stability in relationships and work | Wide, thick, full, balanced |
| Nostrils | An open or reserved, cautious character |
What is the position and role of the nose in physiognomy?
The nose sits at the centre of the face, likened to the "mountain" of the countenance, and belongs to the Earth element in the five elements. In physiognomy, the nose represents the Tài Bạch palace, that is the palace of wealth and property. The ancients held that a nose that is high, straight and full is a noble feature, bringing prosperity and abundance. Conversely, a nose that is low, crooked or flawed is usually seen as a poor feature, prone to financial difficulties.
The nose is also closely linked to health, especially the respiratory and digestive systems. A person with a fine nose who breathes evenly is generally thought to enjoy good health and a stable spirit. In addition, the nose reflects willpower, self-respect and leadership ability. People with a high, straight nasal bridge are usually decisive, strong and hold their own views.
Placing the nose within the division into the Three Courts, the nose lies in the middle court, the section from the eyebrows to the tip of the nose, and this is also the area that physiognomy books use to judge middle age. In other words, the position of the nose is both the focal point of the face and the marker of a stage of a person's life. The full division into three parts together with the meaning of each part is presented in the article What is face reading? The main positions in physiognomy.
What do the component parts of the nose mean in physiognomy?
To read the nose in detail, people divide it into several smaller parts, each carrying its own meaning.
Bridge of the nose (Sơn Căn and Niên Thượng, Thế Thượng)
The bridge of the nose begins at the point between the inner ends of the eyebrows, called Sơn Căn, and extends down to the end of the nasal bridge. Sơn Căn symbolises career, reputation and relations with superiors. A high, full Sơn Căn shows a person with a favourable start, supported by benefactors. If Sơn Căn is low or sunken, one easily meets obstacles in career and finds it hard to be promoted.
The middle section of the nasal bridge, called Niên Thượng and Thế Thượng, relates to health, especially illnesses of the respiratory and digestive tracts. If this area has a mole, a scar or an unusual colour, that person should pay attention to their health.
Tip of the nose (Chuẩn Đầu)
The tip of the nose, or Chuẩn Đầu, is regarded as the place where wealth gathers, representing wealth luck and riches. A tip of the nose that is round, full, fleshy and rosy in colour is a good feature, showing a person able to accumulate property and spend sensibly. Conversely, a tip of the nose that is pointed, gaunt or crooked usually belongs to someone who finds it hard to keep money, with unstable finances.
The tip of the nose also expresses self-respect and pride. People with a large, round tip of the nose are usually practical, value material things and are somewhat self-important. People with a small, pointed tip of the nose are usually sensitive and easily wounded in their self-respect.
Nostril wings (Both sides of the nostril wings)
The nostril wings, located on both sides of the tip of the nose, symbolise the ability to manage money, spend and save. Nostril wings that are wide, thick and full are a good feature, showing a person who knows how to earn money and keep it, and usually enjoys an abundant life. Nostril wings that are thin, narrow and pinched usually belong to someone who struggles to manage money, easily overspends, or lacks opportunities to grow rich.
In addition, two balanced, not crooked, nostril wings also express stability in relationships and work.
Nostrils
The nostrils are rarely mentioned but also carry a certain meaning. Large, wide nostrils are usually thought to belong to an open, generous person who readily takes in others' opinions. Small, narrow nostrils usually belong to a reserved, cautious person, sometimes stingy and hard to please.
What does the complexion of the nose mean in physiognomy?
Besides shape, the complexion of the nose is also examined carefully. A nose that is rosy, bright and moist is a good feature, showing that wealth luck is flowing well and health is abundant. A nose that is dark, grey, dry or sallow is a sign of poor fortune, and one may meet difficulties with finances or health. According to physiognomy, when the nose takes on a black or bluish-grey colour, that person should be cautious in important decisions and avoid large investments.
The complexion of the nose can change over time, reflecting the current course of fortune. Therefore, face readers usually observe the complexion at the moment of reading, combining it with the static shape to make their judgement.
How does the nose correlate with other parts?
In physiognomy, one cannot read the nose in isolation but must place it in relation to the other parts of the face.
Correlation with the ấn đường
The ấn đường lies between the two eyebrows, right above Sơn Căn. If the ấn đường is wide, bright and flat, combined with a high, straight nose, this is a greatly noble feature, a person of wisdom and a brilliant career. Conversely, if the ấn đường is narrow, lined, and the nose is crooked and low, one easily meets many obstacles.
Correlation with the eyes and mouth
The eyes symbolise the soul and wisdom; the mouth symbolises the ability to speak and communicate. The nose lies between them, connecting these two elements. A person with a fine nose but poor eyes (dull, lacking spirit) may find that wealth luck does not last. A person with a good nose, a wide mouth and a bright smile is usually someone who communicates well and earns money through social relationships.
Correlation with the chin and jaw
The chin and jaw symbolise later life, stability in one's final years. If the nose is high and fine but the chin is pointed and receding, wealth luck may be enjoyed in midlife but decline in later life. Conversely, a round, full chin and a broad jaw combined with a fine nose is the feature of wealth and nobility, prosperity for a whole lifetime.
Some characteristic nose features and their interpretations
According to folk experience, a number of typical nose shapes are often mentioned.
What does a coconut-leaf nose mean?
A coconut-leaf nose is a nose that is high and straight, with a full nasal bridge, a round tip and flared nostril wings. This is the finest nose feature, believed to bring prosperity, power and career advancement. People who possess this nose are usually intelligent, decisive and capable of leadership.
Triangular nose (pointed nose)
A triangular nose is a nose with a pointed tip, a narrow nasal bridge and small nostril wings. This nose feature is usually associated with a person who is sharp and quick-witted in business but easily selfish and hard to approach. They may earn money but find it hard to keep it long, and easily meet gossip and trouble.
Upturned nose
An upturned nose is a nose whose tip points upward, with the nostrils clearly visible when seen from the front. People with an upturned nose are usually thought to find it hard to keep money, to spend wastefully and to lack patience. They may also lack subtlety in communication and easily offend others.
Crooked nose
A crooked nose is a nose that is bent, not straight, leaning to one side. This feature shows a person with an unstable character, easily changed, meeting many ups and downs in career and love. They need to work harder to achieve success.
Broken nasal bridge, with a notch in the middle
In physiognomy, a nasal bridge that is broken or has a notch in the middle is assigned a career path with many turning points, rarely smooth from beginning to end. People with this nose shape are also usually thought to meet frequent obstacles in communication and to be prone to wavering under pressure.
Hooked nose (curved nose)
In physiognomy, a hooked nose with the tip pointing downward is assigned a calculating nature, fond of weighing profit and loss in everything. This nose shape is also seen as prone to the habit of criticising and finding fault with others, making cooperative relationships difficult.
What does science say about nose features?
There is no scientific evidence that the shape of the nose determines a person's character or destiny. At the end of the 19th century, Cesare Lombroso put the hooked nose and high cheekbones into the list of traits of the "born criminal" theory, claiming that one could recognise a person prone to crime by their features. Later studies refuted this theory as lacking basis and heavily biased.
Physiognomy is a field based on experience, not an absolutely exact science. Reading the nose is only for reference, helping each person understand themselves better and orient their development. One should not believe too much in physiognomy and so limit oneself or judge others one-sidedly.
In reality, a person's destiny can change through effort, self-cultivation and living environment. A person with a poor nose feature can still succeed if they strive, train their skills and keep a clear mind. Conversely, a person with a fine nose feature who is lazy and lacking in morals will also find it hard to keep prosperity.
Therefore, when learning about nose features, each person should keep an objective view, treating it as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth, not as a prophecy that decides fate.
Overview article on the topic: What is face reading? The main positions in physiognomy
