The ancients' skill of knowing people: 'Straight nose and square mouth, he is designated as Zishou Lang', what does it mean? Does it make sense?

In traditional culture, colloquial culture is the closest to our life. Common sayings are a kind of oral culture created by working people. Folk sayings are often easy to understand, simple and vivid, so sayings can become one of the popular folk customs and cultures!

There are many folk proverbs, which relate to all aspects of our lives. There are many folk proverbs about seasons, such as frost does not pick cotton, frost does not complain; there are also proverbs about occupation, such as business is not as good as craftsmanship, and craftsmanship is not as good as God; there are also proverbs about life, such as white tigers cover green dragons, generations of poor people; Customs about marriage, such as a man getting married, a woman getting married, and so on.

In addition, there are many proverbs about knowing people in ancient times, such as a person with a straight nose and mouth, who is designated as a man with purple ribbons. So what does this sentence mean?

In fact, this sentence is also very simple, that is to say, if you have the characteristics of a straight nose, you will definitely become Zisilang. So, what is the difference between Nazhifang and Zishoulang here ?

Straight nose in this sentence means that the nose is high and straight. A straight nose is easy to understand, so what does a square mouth mean? Why can the mouth be square? In fact, the so-called square mouth does not mean that the mouth is square, but that the lips are thick and ribbed.

In "Water Margin", when describing Lu Zhishen's appearance, he used big round ears and a straight nose; when describing Jinbao Yanglin, he also used big round ears and a straight nose. It can be seen that in the eyes of the ancients, such an appearance is more positive and luckier!

So, what does Zishoulang in the following sentence mean?

In ancient traditional society, the ancients would express their dignity and humbleness through colors. For example, only the emperor can use yellow, purple represents the nobility among the nobility, and so on. In "Tokyo Menghualu", it is recorded that scholars, farmers, businessmen, and all walks of life have their own colors in their clothes, and they dare not go outside. That is to say, no one can go outside with what kind of clothes they wear.

Before the Sui Dynasty, people used the color and texture of silk to express official rank and status. Purple silk is generally given to those noble princesses and princes and generals. Later, people no longer used silk to express official rank and status. But the word purple silk has become a symbol of wealth.

Li Bai once wrote a poem "Empty talk about the king's strategy, and the purple ribbon is not worn", and Li Shangyin also wrote a poem "According to Qiongzhixiu at the table, the purple ribbon was glorious in those days". It can be seen that although the purple ribbon is no longer a representative of high-ranking officials and rich salary, it is still a symbol of high-ranking officials and rich salary in later generations.

This saying of the ancestors is just a drop in the ocean of ancient knowledge of people, although a saying like this may not be accurate and scientific. And with the changes of the times, there are great differences in aesthetics and cognition in different eras, so the ancient art of knowing people is not necessarily accurate now.

For example, the ancients believed that if the proportions of "five short figures" are coordinated and look harmonious, they can also be called good looks. But now, people don't think so. A man who is 1.8 meters tall is a handsome guy, but a man who is 1.78 meters is not good!

Therefore, changes in lifestyle and aesthetics will cause changes in ancient folk culture. And the ancient saying "Straight nose and straight mouth, so he must be Zishou Lang" may not be so accurate now!