Yuebo dongzhong ji 月波洞中記

Yuebo dongzhong ji 月波洞中記 "Records from Moon-Waves Cave" is a book on prognostication of fate by physiognomy written by an anonymous person perhaps as early as during the Tang period 唐 (618-907). It is first mentioned in Zheng Qiao's 鄭樵 bibliography Tongzhi yiwen lüe 通志·藝文略 where it is said that Laozi 老子 (Lao Jun 老君) once compiled the book on Mt. Changbai 太白山 in the Yuebo Cave 月波洞. The book catalogue Junzhai dushu zhi 郡齋讀書志 adds the information that the scripture was detected on the wall by Ren Xiaoyao 任逍遙 during the Tang period. The preface of the transmitted version, allegedly written by Zhongli Quan 鍾離權 and Lü Dongbin 呂洞賓, specifies the place as the Qixing Nankan 七星南龕 niche, and holds that the book was written by Zhang Zhongyuan 張仲遠 during the Chiwu reign-period 赤烏 (238-250) of the empire of Wu 吳 (222/229-280).

The text survived in an arrangement of 2 juan in the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) encyclopaedia Yongle dadian 永樂大典, from where it found entrance into the imperial series Siku quanshu 四庫全書. While the preface is definitely a forgery, the original text with nine chapters seems to have a pre-Song origin, but was assembled or published by Pan Shisong 潘時竦. The first fascicle of the book speaks about "Immortal Aid" (xianji 仙濟), Profound Mysteries of the Nine Heavens (jiutian xuanwei 九天玄微), True Measure (zhendu 真度), Spiritual Peaks (lingyue 靈岳), Hidden Depths (youyin 幽隱), Rivers and Summits (Heyue 河岳), the Heart's Concealment (xinyin 心隱), Unified Virtue (guande 貫德), and Jade Pillow (yuzhen 玉枕).

Each section discusses various aspects such as temperament, skull shape, overall body structure, complexion, hair, facial features, the four facial channels, mouth and eyes, facial coloration, and the "Jade Pillow" (i.e., the bone at the back of the head). Following this are analyses of specific facial features: ear limits, forehead limits, eyebrow limits, eye limits, nose limits, upper and lower lip limits, and chin limits, each detailing the methods of facial analysis. The second fascicle discusses the Eight Limits (baxian 八限) and includes various analyses of the "Imprint Hall" (yintang 印堂, i.e., the area between the eyebrows), neck, waist, and feet. It discusses the determining of success and rank, wealth and nobility, calamity and violence, death and misfortune, illness, and premature death. The first nine sections of the book emphasize bone structure and temperament while also considering the overall coordination of all body parts, resulting in a coherent system that is clearly articulated. The book is, therefore, highly regarded among practitioners of physiognomy.

The text can be found in the series Siku quanshu, Hanhai 函海, Shugu congchao 述古叢鈔, Cangxiutang congshu 藏修堂叢書, Cuilangganguan congshu 翠琅玕館叢書 and Yuyuan congshu 芋園叢書.