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Meaning and Context
The Three Sections (San Ting, 三停) divides the face into three horizontal zones for systematic analysis. This framework is one of the most fundamental concepts in Chinese physiognomy.
Each section is associated with specific life domains, time periods, and character qualities, allowing readers to understand different aspects of a person through facial proportions.
- Upper Section (上停): From hairline to eyebrows—intellect, early life (youth)
- Middle Section (中停): From eyebrows to nose tip—emotion, career, middle years
- Lower Section (下停): From nose tip to chin—will, material fortune, later life
Important boundary
The Three Sections indicate tendencies and potentials, not fixed fates. Proportions suggest areas of strength or focus, but life outcomes depend on choices and circumstances.
Classical Roots
The Three Sections framework appears in classical physiognomy texts:
From Shenxiang Quanbian
「三停平等，一生衣禄无亏。」
Plain translation
"When the three sections are equal and balanced, one's livelihood throughout life will not be lacking." This emphasizes the importance of facial proportion.
From Mayi Xiangshu
「上停长者主贵，中停长者主寿，下停长者主富。」
Plain translation
"A long upper section indicates nobility, a long middle section indicates longevity, a long lower section indicates wealth." Each section has distinct associations.
The Three Zones
Each section governs specific life aspects:
- Upper Section (上停): Represents intellect, planning ability, and early life fortune (ages 15-30). A full, clear forehead suggests good education, family support, and intellectual capacity.
- Middle Section (中停): Represents emotional life, career development, and middle years (ages 31-50). Balanced features here suggest stable career and relationships.
- Lower Section (下停): Represents willpower, material fortune, and later life (ages 51-70+). A well-formed lower face suggests material stability and good support in old age.
Ideally, all three sections should be roughly equal in length and well-proportioned, indicating overall life balance.
How to Read
When analyzing the Three Sections:
- Measure proportions: Are the three sections roughly equal? Which is longest or shortest?
- Assess quality: Look at skin texture, fullness, and clarity in each zone
- Note features: Each section contains specific features (forehead, nose, chin) to examine
- Consider overall harmony: How do the sections relate to each other?
- Check for balance: Extreme disproportion may indicate life imbalances
Reading tip
Perfect equality is rare. Most faces have some variation. Focus on significant disproportions and how the sections complement each other rather than seeking ideal ratios.
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's face reading tool:
- Section analysis: AI measures and analyzes the three facial zones
- Proportion assessment: Relative lengths are compared and interpreted
- Life stage mapping: Each section linked to corresponding life periods
- Balanced interpretation: Context provided for any variations
Common Misconceptions
The Three Sections concept is often misunderstood:
- Believing exact equality is required for good fortune (some variation is normal)
- Over-focusing on one section while ignoring overall harmony
- Treating the framework as deterministic prediction rather than tendency analysis
- Ignoring that features within each section matter as much as proportions
- Forgetting that appearance can change over time
Sources and Quotes
References include classical Chinese physiognomy texts. Different traditions may divide the face slightly differently or emphasize different aspects.
FAQ
What if my three sections are unequal?
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Most faces have some variation in the three sections—perfect equality is rare. Traditional interpretation sees different proportions as indicating different strengths:
- A longer upper section may suggest intellectual focus or early life advantages
- A longer middle section may indicate career focus or emotional depth
- A longer lower section may suggest material focus or late-life stability
The key is overall harmony rather than perfect equality.
Do the three sections predict specific life events?
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No. The Three Sections framework indicates tendencies and areas of focus, not specific events. A well-proportioned face suggests overall balance, while variations suggest where a person may have particular strengths or challenges.
Traditional physiognomy uses this as one of many frameworks and always considers the whole picture.