The Five Peaks: The Mountains of the Face
While the three zones divide the face from top to bottom, the five peaks compare the five raised areas of the face to five sacred mountains. Just as tall, solid mountains keep the land stable, a face whose five peaks rise in harmony is said to rest on a strong foundation.
Where are the five peaks?
- Southern peak — the forehead: honor, wisdom and support from elders
- Central peak — the nose: the self, wealth and the core of midlife
- Eastern peak — the left cheekbone: influence and drive
- Western peak — the right cheekbone: relationships and cooperation
- Northern peak — the chin: stability in later life and support from others
The central peak, the nose, represents you, and the four surrounding peaks represent your environment and the people around you. The five peaks are therefore a way to read the relationship between yourself and those who support you.
The center and the four directions
Classic texts called a high nose surrounded by low peaks a "lonely peak": talented, but likely to carry everything alone. When the surrounding peaks are strong but the nose is low, the person has good people around them yet may struggle to assert themselves.
The ideal is five peaks that each rise moderately and support each other. It describes a life in which ability and good relationships grow together.
The cheekbones: east and west
Cheekbones symbolize the power to present yourself in society. Moderately raised cheekbones covered with even flesh suggest someone who speaks up with confidence and has influence. Very prominent, thin cheekbones suggest a strong personality that may clash with others, while soft, low cheekbones suggest a natural coordinator who works best behind the scenes.
Using the five peaks in daily life
Because the five peaks relate to the three-dimensional shape of the face, lighting and expression change how they look. When you smile, your cheekbones lift and your face brightens, which is why a cheerful expression itself was considered a habit that invites good fortune.
If one peak feels weak, strengthen the area it represents. A weaker chin might be balanced by more time with family, and softer cheekbones by practicing speaking up in groups.
Reading the five peaks with the three zones
The five peaks describe the face in three dimensions, while the three zones describe its vertical proportions. Read together, they give a much richer picture. A long middle zone with a high nose suggests rising strongly through your own effort in midlife, and a full lower zone with a firm chin suggests people and resources gathering around you later in life.
See it on your own face. In the Face Fortune app you can get a face reading from a single photo, then add your birth date to receive today's horoscope as well.