The only feature that shapes expression without saying a word.
Eyebrows are the Bosugwan (保壽官, Office of Guardianship) among the Five Offices — the seat that reads the strength to protect and endure. In the Twelve Palaces they also take on the Siblings Palace, where the texture of your long-standing, close relationships was read too.
There's one reason eyebrows are special among facial features: the one feature that shapes expression without a single word. They rise in surprise, draw together when troubled, and relax once you understand something. That's why their resting angle was read as close to the expression someone typically meets the world with.
Here's a trick for picking. Look at just two points — where the brow starts and where it ends. If the line between them is straight, that's straight; if it curves gently, that's arched; if it peaks in the middle, that's angular. If the tail sits lower than the head, that's downturned; higher, that's upturned.
What you pick gets saved, and we'll bring it all together in the final Overview chapter. You can always change it later.
This region was traditionally read as the place that shows whether your energy holds together or slips away. So alongside shape, thickness and length were read just as closely.
Even without filling them in, the color is deep and the hairs are dense enough to stand out clearly from a distance.
This was traditionally read as a face whose energy projects outward. The type tends to suit positions leading a group from the front, and was said to take relationships seriously, with a real sense of responsibility.
The hairs are sparse and pale, so unless they're groomed or filled in, the brow barely stands out.
This was traditionally read as a face with a delicate sensibility. The type tends to read the other person's mood quickly and adjust smoothly, a natural mediator.
The tail extends past the outer corner of the eye, stretching across almost the whole eye.
This was traditionally read as a face with wide-reaching ties to people. The type tends to keep relationships going for a long time, with the staying power to steadily explore a single subject in depth.
The tail ends before it reaches the outer corner of the eye, so the brow looks shorter than the eye itself.
This was traditionally read as a face that carves its own path. Rather than stepping into the spotlight, the type tends to handle the substantial work from behind the scenes — and though they may look tough on the surface, they were said to be warm-hearted underneath.
One last note — this is the one to watch most. Eyebrows are the feature people alter the most: people groom them, draw them in, even tattoo them. What gwansang actually reads is the original shape before any grooming. So when you're picking, try to recall what it looks like left untouched. If your memory's fuzzy, an old photo helps.
You could also flip this around, since eyebrows are a feature you can change. Even the old masters said gwansang isn't a fixed verdict. Deciding what impression you want to give and adjusting your brow angle to match is actually closer to a way of actually putting to use the very principle behind gwansang.
For reference and entertainment, based on traditional physiognomy. It doesn't rank appearances or reveal a fixed fate.