Constitutional shapes are common
By David Lee, L.Ac.
There is an objective way to diagnose the Sasang four constitutions. In the fashion world, the west had also discovered them as apple, hourglass, triangle, and pear. These are innate shapes. The east had discovered acupuncture, herbs, and foods for these constitutions. Dr. ManHoi Huh 허만회in 1970s identified the torso landmarks to measure using a ruler. Using Ren14 point location (line #3) as a midline, we can determine the upper body as either a Greater Yin (Dry) or Greater Yang (Damp). Furthermore, lower body is either a Lesser Yin (Cold) or Lesser Yang (Hot).
Apple shape of a Greater Yin person:
The umbilical fourth line is wider than the shoulder first line, the stomach third, and ilium fifth lines, indicating a Greater Yin sub-constitution. The ilium fifth line is shorter than both the stomach third and umbilical fourth lines, indicating a Lesser Yang sub-constitution.
Triangle shape of a Lesser Yang person:
The fifth line is shorter than the third line, indicating a Lesser Yang sub-constitution. A fourth line that is shorter than the third line indicates a Greater Yang sub-constitution. A first line that is longer than the fifth line also indicates a Greater Yang.
Hourglass shape of a Lesser Yin person:
The fifth line is wider than both the third and umbilical fourth lines, indicating a Lesser Yin sub-constitution. A major indicator of a Greater Yang sub-constitution is that the fourth line is shorter than the third line. A first line that is longer than the fifth line also indicates a Greater Yang.
Pear shape of a Lesser Yin person:
A fifth line that is wider than the third line indicates a Lesser Yin sub-constitution. A Greater Yin sub-constitution has a fourth line that is wider than both the third and fifth lines. Another indicator of a Greater Yin is that a fifth line is wider than a first line by more than three centimeters.
For Lesser Yin males, the line five being one centimeter or higher than line three strongly points toward the person being a Lesser Yin. However, many Lesser Yin males can have shorter line five than line three, making a confident interpretation from measurement difficult. So, the comparison between line three and line five should be associated with females only.
The best way to master in identifying these shapes is by measuring with a caliper of these five lines on more than 100 people. A majority in population has the profile shapes of Sasang four constitutions, making this diagnostic tool useful.
