The main content of “Ma Yi Shen Xiang” is an ancient Chinese physiognomy work that systematically describes the appearance of the human body. The following is a detailed introduction to its main content:

1、 Book Background and Author
Time of Writing: “Ma Yi Shen Xiang” was written earlier. According to the “Ming Shi · Yi Wen Zhi”, it is one of the earliest surviving works on physiognomy that systematically discusses human appearance.
Author: It is said that this book was written by the Ma Yi Taoist or his disciple Chen Tuan. Ma Yi Dao was a famous figure in martial arts during the late Tang and early Song dynasties. It is said that he was Chen Tuan’s teacher and skilled in physiognomy. Chen Tuan, on the other hand, was a famous Taoist scholar during the late Five Dynasties and early Northern Song Dynasty, with profound research on physiognomy.

2、 Content Structure and Characteristics
Comprehensive content: The content of “Ma Yi Shen Xiang” covers various aspects of physiognomy, from facial features to limbs and bones, from complexion to voice, all of which are discussed in detail.
Clear structure: The book adopts a total score structure, starting with the basic theory of physiognomy, followed by the main points of physiognomy, such as facial features, complexion, etc., and then discussing in detail the important judgments in physiognomy practice.
Illustration and text: Some versions may come with illustrations to visually demonstrate the theoretical and practical techniques of physiognomy.

3、 Main theories and viewpoints
Fundamentals of physiognomy: The book elaborates in detail on the basic concepts of physiognomy, such as the “Thirteen Parts”, “Longevity Luck”, “Twelve Palaces”, “Five Stars and Six Auspicious Days”, “Five Sacred Mountains and Four Devils”, etc., providing essential knowledge and theory for learning physiognomy.
Facial features: The book provides detailed descriptions of the facial features such as eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth, such as “those with long, deep, and smooth eyes are of great value, while those with black like paint are clever.
Color and Fate: The book believes that color is an important practical significance in physiognomy, and observing a person’s color can determine their fortune and health status.
Having both form and spirit: The book emphasizes that physiognomy cannot be discussed independently, and every piece of information revealed by every part of the human body can become an object of discussion in physiognomy. To accurately determine a person’s fate, one must possess both form and spirit.

4、 Practical application and impact
Practical application: “Ma Yi Shen Xiang” is not only a theoretical work, but also has strong practical application value. In ancient times, many people would observe and analyze a person’s appearance based on the theories in books, in order to predict their fate and fortune.
Profound influence: “The Divine Appearance of Ma Yi” has had a profound impact on the development of physiognomy in later generations. It combines the great achievements of previous physiognomy books, integrating the basic theories and practical skills involved in physiognomy, and providing important references and inspirations for the compilation of physiognomy books in later generations.

5、 Modern Values and Controversy
Modern Value: In modern society, “The Divine Appearance of Ma Yi” still has certain reference value. It can help people better understand themselves and others by observing and analyzing their appearance to discover potential personality traits and destiny trends.
Controversy and criticism: Of course, “The Goddess in the Hemp Clothes” also faces some controversy and criticism. Some people believe that physiognomy is superstitious and lacks scientific basis; But others believe that although physiognomy has some truth, it cannot be completely relied upon to predict fate. We need to maintain an objective and rational attitude towards these controversies and criticisms, recognizing both the limitations of physiognomy and its potential rationality and value.

Ma Yi Shen Xiang “is a comprehensive and structurally clear physiognomy work that emphasizes both theory and practice. It holds an important position in the fields of ancient Chinese fortune telling and physiognomy, and has had a profound impact on later generations. However, in modern society, we also need to approach physiognomy and fate issues with a scientific attitude.