(236) Reshape the corner of one's mouth for physiognomy?

By Janet Shin

It is reported that quite a number of Koreans have plastic surgery to lift the corner of their mouths for a better facial impression. It is also believed to improve their fortune by changing their mouth shape. It is not a fresh fact considering previous articles reporting that Korea is a Mecca for plastic surgery. There has also been rather ridiculous footage showing how identical the appearances of all participants at beauty pageants here are. It is kind of embarrassing picture.

Leaving people’s obsession with appearance aside, it is pitiful once you know it is done for many people working in the service industry. They have the operation in order to satisfy their customers by showing them a smiling face even with artificial treatment. Clowns put on makeup of exaggerated mouth shapes regardless of their internal emotion. This is a sorrowful contradiction ignoring the clowns true life, who show laughing faces even in times of gloom. Imagine a face of a crying Pierrot wearing a big smiling mouth.

Why do they try such facial expressions. Not only for their customers, but do mouths with lifted corners bring better fortune? Several prevalent views about good face reading may give us answers why. First of all, a broad forehead implies higher status. The length of eyebrows should be longer than that of eyes. A nose bridge shouldn’t be crooked and requires some richness at the tip of the nose and nostrils. Pronounced cheekbones suggest one’s ambition and confidence, because they are accentuated when one smiles. A smile is a typical facial gesture to show satisfaction, happiness and optimism.

The mouth is one of these important indicators to imply prospects of one’s life. It is often compared to a boat on the journey of life. People divided our face into three parts and the lower part with the mouth and jaw was called the sea of life. If the corners of mouth are drooping, it is like a capsized boat. On such a boat, life would be full of turmoil with continuous turbulence.

If we put the above physiognomic viewpoints together, they are actually correlated. They are not metaphysical but rather reasonable. Once our life runs well, we become confident about what we are doing. We feel optimistic and hopeful, which makes us smile more. When we smile, the corners of our mouths are lifted then the cheekbones and nostrils convey positive energy. This series of trigger effects eventually leads to a luckier life.

Nevertheless, we should broaden our horizons in reading modern faces. As social factors got more complicated, we should be able to understand diverse translations of face readings. Above all, we cannot judge them in black and white. In other word, we should be careful in saying it is a good face reading versus a bad.

When it comes to a mouth with its corners drooping, it shouldn’t be read as just ‘bad’. People with this mouth usually have high pressure of responsibility. They are seldom satisfied with something or someone. Their mouth droops as they try to hide their inner emotion and manipulate their facial gesture.

I once read of a famous figure, who became a presidential candidate, and concluded he wouldn’t be elected because of his drooping mouth. He ended up resigning voluntarily. It was partly right, but the opposite is also true as quite a few politicians have this mouth shape. This applies to other parts of our face, such as the eyebrows and eyes too. Traditionally, eyes slanted downwards are believed to give a trustworthy impression, so are said to bring a luckier life. However, if we view the other case, those with eyes slanted upwards have high self esteem, which may lead to more achievement.

Information: Are you interested in learning more about the ancient Chinese teaching about the “Four Pillars of Destiny”? For further information, visit Janet’s website at www.fourpillarskorea.com, contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@hotmail.com.

The writer is the author of “Life’s Secrets.”