Page 156 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 149
close to the other fingers which are clenched, this means one. Two is indicated
by stretching out index and middle finger, while the thumb is placed against the fourth
and little fingers. Three is made by stretching out middle, fourth and little fingers,
with the thumb and the index finger forming a ring. The other numbers are formed as
follows: four: four fingers stretched out, the thumb kept down; five: all five
fingers stretched out; six: thumb and little finger stretched out, the others closed;
seven: thumb, index and middle finger stretched out, the other two closed; eight:
thumb and index finger stretched out, in imitation of the Chinese written sign for
eight; nine: this too looks like the written sign – the index finger is curved, the thumb
is placed close to the other fingers which are clenched; ten: again, like the written
sign: the index finger of the left hand is placed across the index finger of the right.

Polite conversation: a scene from the popular
novel ‘The Robbers of Liangshan Moor’

The hands can be used to express all sorts of actions, happenings, intentions, etc.
Here we have room for only a few examples. Bringing the two fists together twice or
thrice is a sign that you are about to attack someone: but this is only a sign for the benefit
of third parties, not for the object of your anger. To him you signal your intention, as in
the West, by rolling up your sleeves. If the stomach is stroked by the right hand held
horizontally with the fingers stretched out and close together, this means, ‘I’ve had
enough to eat.’ The right index finger poked into the lightly clenched left hand
symbolises sexual intercourse. Rubbing the two open hands against each other means
‘bankruptcy’. To signal that you cannot hear, you hold your two hands behind your ears
with the flat of the hand turned sideways. To tell someone to ‘get lost!’ you hold the right