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Xiang'erjing 相兒經 is a book on determining the future of newborn babies allegedly written by Yan Zhu 嚴助 (early 2nd cent. BCE). He was an Ordinary Grand Master (zhong dafu 中大夫) and Administrator (neishi 內史) of the princedom of Guiji 會稽. He was befriended to Prince Liu An 劉安 (179-122, who sponsored the Daoist book Huainanzi 淮南子, and was exectuted when Liu An’s rebellion was put down.
The brief text gives advice on the life expectation of babies by inspecting their overall appearance. It is not listed in ancient bibliographies, but is preserved in the series Shuofu 說郛, Wuchao xiaoshuo 五朝小說 and Wuchao xiaoshuo daguan 五朝小說大觀.
| 兒初生，叫聲連延相屬者，壽。 | If a newborn cries in a continuous and connected manner, it is a sign of longevity. |
| 聲絕而復陽急者，不壽。 | If the cry stops and then resumes suddenly and sharply, it indicates a short life. |
| 啼聲散者，不成人。 | If the crying sound is scattered or disorganized, the child will not reach adulthood. |
| 啼聲深者，不成人。 | If the cry is deep and heavy, the child will not reach adulthood. |
| 臍中無血者，好。 | If there is no blood in the navel, it is a good sign. |
| 臍小者，不壽。 | If the navel is small, it indicates a short life. |
| 通身軟弱，如無骨者，不壽。 | If the whole body is soft and seems boneless, it is a sign of short life. |
| 鮮白長大者，壽。 | If the child is fresh-looking, pale white, and large, it is a sign of longevity. |
| 自開目者，不成人。 | If the newborn opens its eyes by itself, it will not reach adulthood. |