New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
PALMISTRY IN CHINA.
Centuries Ago They Used Finger
Prints to Identify.

with the Chinese. palmistry is a branch Of an
ancient art which includes physiognomy phrenolosy
and general inspection Of the human body. 1ts
origin has been assigned to prehistoric times-the
third millennium before Christ says Herbert A
Giles. in THE Nineteenth Century"
1.-The object of this art Is twofold to ascertain
the mental and moral characteristics OF persons,
and to foreteu happiness misfortune success
or failure disease and death. An instance Is
given of a young woman of the tenth century
A D. who had brothers and was obliged TO
perform some OF the mourning ceremonies before
the image Of her dead father. While thus occupied
she was observed by a visitor who had come to
condole. did not see her face. he said but
when she grasped the incense burner noticed that
her hands gave promise OF a high position Later
this visitor married the young woman. and rose
to be Minister of State.
Restricting the inquiry to palmistry only. an
attempt will be made to show what the Chinese
people have to say on a subject which has been
much to the front Of late years, and especially In
the last few weeks One writer says; 49, b
compared with the grain of wood If the grain Of
wood is beautiful that wood becomes known as eN-
beautiful that hand is obviously well constituted.
Therefore HAND cannot but have lines lines on mt, ~.
than those which have none Fine and deep lines inc
ure ttn OF the three lines on the palm the upper
most answers to heaven: it connotes sovereign or
line answers to man: it connotes wisdom or folly,
and determines poverty or wealth. The lowest line
and determines length of days II these three lines
are wen dened 9 ana Xtica lines in xcess
mean rebellious nature and calamity; horizontal
cess. a vertical line running up the finger means
that all plans will turn out well: random lines.
they will fail, Lines which are fine and resemble
He the s1 ara of the ser%b Sa mean Stupidity
and low estate. Lines like scattered filings mean
fs Ritts5 Of i6s lines like 'prinkl'd rice hu'kS
1.-THE hand says the author of The Divine
Artt tfc for taxi ing hnl and inc
to appear on It II these lines are long the nature
graspng. A man whose hand reaches below his
knees will top his generation; but one whose hand
iowiy A small body and a large hand portend
happiness and emolument; large body and a
small hand. purity and poverty.
The Chinese, however. do not conine their In
fully the lines on the back Of the hand thus MAX
ing 'cheiromancy better term than palmistry
Nor s do @ 5Rgy 9t tae nails each variety of which
''Tapering nails mean brains: hard and thick
nails mean old age; coarse, stumpy nails mean
dulness Of wit; broken and sloughing nails mean
high rank to come; dark thin nails mean obscurity
bright greenish nails mean loyalty and goodness
like sheet copper mean pomp and glory; nails OF
nails like copper tiles skill in arts and crafts
nails like the end OF plank mean stanch sim
ness and refinement and nails which are rough
like stone mean profound stupidity.
justice to the Chinese. that the wonderful system
the modern burglar to Garry on his trade in EIoVes
was in force In China many centuries before it
legal instruments are often found TO bear in
addition TO signatures. the finger prints of the
parties concerned: sometimes. indeed the imprint
of the whole hand.
in a small volume entitled Omissions from
History, published in the twelfth century we have
the following story: "A favorite concubine OF the
Emperor Ming Huang a. D.. 1880 having
several times dreamed that she was invited by a
man to take wine with him the sly spoke ahout
it TO the Emperor This is the work of a magician
said his Majesty next time you 60. take care TO
she had the same dream; and accordingly She
seized an opportunity of putting her hand on an
Ink slab and then pressing IL a screen When
she awoke she described what had happened. and
secret investigation being made the jmnrinr
of her hand was actually found in the Dawn in the
East Pavilion outside the palace. The magician
however, nowhere TO be found -