Palm reading in Chinese tradition — known as shǒuxiàng or palm physiognomy — is part of the same metaphysical system as face reading, operating on the assumption that the body maps character, health, and fortune in ways that a trained practitioner can interpret. While Western palmistry tends to focus primarily on the lines of the hand, Chinese palm reading gives equal or greater weight to the overall shape of the hand, the quality and condition of the skin, the relative lengths of the fingers, the mounts (fleshy pads on the palm), and the color and vitality of the hand as a whole. The shape of the hand is the first consideration: a square palm with short fingers is associated with practical, grounded, materially oriented people; a rectangular palm with long fingers suggests intellectual and artistic tendencies; a wide, thick hand indicates physical vitality and stamina. The overall color of the palm matters too — a healthy pink indicates good circulation and vital qi; a yellow or gray tinge may indicate health concerns or depleted energy. The three major lines — the life line, the wisdom line, and the heart line — are present in both Eastern and Western palmistry, though their interpretation differs. In Chinese tradition, the life line does not indicate the literal length of your life (a misunderstanding that has caused unnecessary anxiety in both traditions), but rather the quality and vitality of your life energy and the stability of your health.

The wisdom line in Chinese palmistry is particularly important — a long, clear wisdom line extending across the palm is associated with broad thinking, good judgment, and mental flexibility. A forked end to the wisdom line is considered auspicious, suggesting the ability to think across multiple domains and pursue diverse interests successfully. The heart line is read in the context of emotional life: a deep, clear line indicates emotional stability and the capacity for sincere commitment; a broken or chained heart line may suggest emotional volatility or a tendency toward complicated relationships. Chinese palmistry also pays significant attention to the thumb — the thumb is considered in this tradition to reveal the fundamental quality of a person's will and capability. A thick, firm thumb with a well-defined tip indicates strong will and the ability to see projects through to completion. A flexible thumb that bends easily backward suggests adaptability and generosity, sometimes to the point of difficulty maintaining firm personal boundaries. The mounts of the hand — the fleshy areas under each finger and along the edge of the palm — are each associated with specific planetary and elemental energies in a framework that blends Chinese Five Element theory with the palm's topography. Mazu, protector of those at sea and guardian of the vulnerable, is sometimes invoked by practitioners who read hands in the context of navigating uncertainty — the palm as a map for finding one's way through difficult waters.