The Apothecary Diaries Personality Types: Jinshi
Here's another character where I disagree with the majority opinions on their Enneagram. Many people see Jinshi as 2w3 or 3w2, but I see him differently. Here's why!
Jinshi's Enneagram
Wound: Jinshi was born an heir to the throne and the title of Emperor. He feels overshadowed by the current emperor, who he believes is his brother.
Wounding message: This is the role you must play because of your birth.
Core desire: To live his life on his own terms; to be seen and appreciated for who he really is, and not just the beautiful mask the world sees.
Core fear: Becoming emperor and remaining trapped in the imperial palace.
Defense mechanism: Jinshi uses his charm and appearance to get what he wants.
Strengths: Jinshi is charming, clever, cunning, loyal, sensitive to others' desires, and willing to take his future into his own hands
Challenges: Jinshi is childish, jealous, possessive, needy, takes things personally, has very low self-esteem, and wears a mask except around those he knows best
When healthy: Jinshi drops the mask more and lets his negative feelings (particularly his anger) show
When unhealthy: Jinshi becomes more childish, needy, sulking, etc...
Looking at all of this, here's what connects when I go back to the Enneagram post:
Wound: 1, 2, 3, or 9
Wounding message: 2 or 3
Core desire: 3, 4, or 7
Core fear: 4
Defense mechanism: 4
Strengths: 4 or 6
Challenges: 2, 4, or 7
When healthy: 2, 3, 4, or 7
When unhealthy: 1 or 4
Jinshi is an Enneagram 4.
Much like Peeta, Jinshi presents with a lot of characteristics of 2, but this is because he hasn't done his growth yet (in a character arc sense).
Fours go to Two when stressed, so they act more Two-ish during these times. Twos, on the other hand, go to Eight when stressed. I don't see Jinshi becoming "aggressive, controlling, argumentative, blunt, demanding" really ever.
I also don't see Jinshi worrying that he's not needed or wanted (as is the main concern of Twos). He knows he's wanted, but it bothers him that it's only because of his attractive appearance, and not who he really is deep down. (This is part of why Maomao's reaction to him delights him so much!) He also knows he's needed, or at least expected, to fulfill an important role in the Imperial Court. He worries this will keep him from living the life he truly desires.
Fours live in the Heart center, and tend to overexpress sadness/shame. From Personality Path:
Shame or Sadness is overexpressed by Type 4s. Type 4s are complex characters, which means shame and sadness express very differently in the three Type 4 subtypes. Anger reactions are deeply influenced by the subtype, with the Sexual Type 4 being described as the angriest type in the Enneagram, whereas the Social Type 4 may express anger more mildly. Anger can be triggered by a wide range of things ranging from feeling misunderstood or unseen, to reacting to slights, real or imagined. This personality style can have a pattern of taking things personally. Fear can be triggered by comparisons with others (with themselves chronically falling short), or anxiety that they will not leave a meaningful mark on the world. Subconscious envy is often at the bottom of the core three emotions for Type 4s.
Wing
The Enneagram Institute calls 4w3 "The Aristocrat" and 4w5 "The Bohemian". Jinshi is a 4w3. From Truity:
4w3s tend to be more energetic and driven than other Fours. They seek to make an impact in the world while maintaining a deep sense of self. They are more sociable and image conscious than other Fours.
Yuki Sohma from Fruits Basket and Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games are both 4w3s.
Subtype
I think Jinshi is most likely an SP 4w3. From Enneagram Explained:
Focuses On: The need to be themselves in order to have their physical needs met. SP 4s are the Countertype of type 4 as they react in an opposite way with their vice (envy). They work to get what they feel others have/that they lack (not generally material envy but a more characteristic/wholeness envy). Nicknamed the “happy 4” they tend to keep the sad/hard emotions for behind closed doors. Relationship to Their Vice (envy): SP 4s tend to suppress their envy. Potential Mistypes: SP 4s can often look like type 1s, 3s, or 7s.
Jinshi shares this subtype with Yuki Sohma.
I have felt that Jinshi reminds me of Yuki in many ways - he's admired for a version of himself he feels is false, he's put on a pedestal but is actually deeply unhappy, he's charming and willing to use that charm to get his way despite its effect on his already very low self-esteem, he's very private about his true feelings and self and really much more childish than he seems at first, he's naturally a kind person, and his true self loves to tease those he's closest with.
It's worth noting that, while Yuki is easier to spot as a 4 than Jinshi, I personally think 4w3s and SP 4s are harder to identify as Fours than 4w5s and SO 4s (Yuta Okkotsu is both of these, for example).
It's also worth noting that not only is Jinshi's wing a 3-wing, but his subtype is often mistyped as a Three!
Tritype
With 4 as his Heart type, I think Jinshi's Head type is probably a 7, maybe a 6. I think his Gut type is probably 9, though I can't really rule out 8 or 1.
Looking at the descriptions, I actually think 4-7-8 ("The Messenger") is the best fit.
From Katherine Fauvre's website:
If you are a 478, you are intuitive, innovative, and protective. You want to be original, creative, and straightforward. A cutting-edge tracker of both your internal and external worlds, you are an unconventional, passionate, and self-possessed master of solutions. You seek what is new and innovative with a strong need to share what you learn with others. Outwardly, you come across as confident with a sense of panache, but inwardly, you are emotionally sensitive and shy.
The only other 478 I've analyzed is Mine Kuramae from Fruits Basket.
Jinshi's MBTI
Sticking with my more recent format, here's how I see Jinshi's mental processes:
Information-Gathering:
Everyone uses both iNtuition and Sensing, but one will be more natural to rely on. Everyone will also introvert one of these processes, and extrovert the other.
Someone who introverts iNtuition and extroverts Sensing will be able to cut to the core of understanding something in a state of deep, solitary focus. They will gather sensory information through their experience in the present, preferably with others.
Someone who extroverts iNtuition and introverts Sensing will tend to brainstorm aloud, connecting many possibilities at once, and will rely on comparisons to past sense-memories in order to understand the present.
I suspect Jinshi uses Ni and Se, with a slight preference for Ni. This would make him an -N-J type.
Decision-Making:
Just like with the two information-gathering processes, everyone uses both Thinking and Feeling to some degree, but will use one more naturally. And again, they will introvert one, and extrovert the other.
Someone who introverts Thinking and extroverts Feeling will use their own internal logical framework to come to decisions, and will base their decisions on outcomes for the people around them.
On the other hand, someone who extroverts Thinking and introverts Feeling will use external logic in decision-making, such as rules, laws, procedures, checklists, etc... and will base their decisions on the kind of person they want to be, or the kind of person they see themselves to be.
I think Jinshi uses Ti and Fe, with a preference for Fe.
This would make him an -NFJ type.
I've been going back and forth on this, but I do think it's most likely that he uses Fe as his Dominant process, making him an ENFJ, also called "The Teacher".
Let's look at what Dominant Fe looks like:
Seeks harmony with and between people in the outside world. Interpersonal and cultural values are important. Encouraging and interested in others. Keyword: Harmonizing.
When exaggerated:
unrealistic visions, only accept data that supports their theories, make things overcomplicated
Inferior Se:
insistent they know what is best for everyone, intrusive, ignore problems, force superficial harmony
And the description of ENFJ:
Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
To be honest, I'm not sure whether this is a great description of Jinshi, but I do feel it's the closest I can get for now. Maybe I'll change my mind! I do feel that the description of INFJ sounds more like him, but the processes of INFJ don't sound as much like him, so I don't really know.
Other ENFJs include Tamaki Suoh, from Ouran High School Host Club, Kyoko Honda and Mayuko Shiraki, both from Fruits Basket, and Peeta Mellark again.
Jinshi's Personality Summary
Enneagram: SP 4w3 (The Individualist/The Aristocrat)
Tritype: 4-7-8 (The Messenger)
MBTI: ENFJ (The Teacher)
Jinshi almost has two selves; there's the confident, ethereally beautiful, graceful, mature eunuch he presents to the world, and the immature, needy, emotional teenager with low self-esteem that he only lets a few select people see. He's highly aware of his role in the world, and he desires to rebel against that predetermined future and forge his own path. He cherishes Maomao because she was never fooled by the mask he wears, and because she's authentic in a way he admires.
What do you think? Do you agree with my analysis? Why or why not?
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