Wedding Ring Finger - Why is it called so?
@ranjeetkolarkar (1595)
India
May 28, 2007 2:21am CST
There is a solid logic given by ancient chinese for the wedding ring fniger and the reason for wearing wedding ring on the same.
The logic goes as follows.
Join your middle fingers of the two hands- nail to nail... by bending them downwards.
Now join other fingers of your two hands tip to tip.
Now try separating your thumbs without separating other fingers, you can separate them. Thumbs are considered to represent your parents and you are likely to separate from your parents at any point of time of your life.
Now try separating your index fingers without separating other fingers, you will be able to do it. Index fingers represents your siblings and it is also likely that you may get separated from your siblings at any point of time.
Now try separating your small fingers without separating other fingers, you will still be able to do it. Small fingers represents your offsprings and again you are likely to separate from them at any point of time in your life.
Now try separating your wedding ring fingers, without separating other fingers. You will not be able to separate them. These fingers represent your spouse and you are not likely to be separated from your spouse at any point of time in your life.
I think this is a very strong logic.
7 people like this
16 responses
@GardenGerty (157485)
• United States
28 May 07
I like your demonstration. Traditionally in the west we have taken customs from ancient Rome. They used that finger as they believed that the blood vessel in that finger went straight to the heart, and that there were magical powers associated with encircling it with gold. Powers of love and protection. Both explanations make sense. I will have to share your explanation with my husband.
4 people like this
@ranjeetkolarkar (1595)
• India
28 May 07
it cannot be separated, whether you are married or not. Or may be, I have not been lucid enough to explain the whole thing.
But to who ever I have asked to try, it has been successful...
2 people like this
@Phlamingho (7825)
• Denmark
28 May 07
LOL I had no idea that there was any logic behind it... Interesting, thanks for sharing.
3 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
28 May 07
Good morning Ranjeetkolarkar,
I followed along with your directions, and sure enough -- I couldn't separate my ring fingers. Very interesting. I had never heard this before. As others have mentioned, I had always heard that the wedding finger was thus because of the vein that runs directly from the fourth digit, straight to the heart.
Very interesting! I'm going to share this with my husband now. Thanks for the interesting tidbid!
3 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
28 May 07
I like your explaination on this subject. I have been told by many sources that the middle finger of the left hand is very important. There is a vein that goes from it directly to the heart. Ask your doctor about this. Now my doctor explained to me that if you wear a ring on that finger and it is a little too tight, it can cause health issues with your heart. Thus shortening the life of your marriage.
So it is more appropriate to wear your ring on the finger next to the middle finger. Close to this important vein and its symbolism but not so close as to cause physical problems. This way you and your spouse can live a long life together.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
28 May 07
Very interesting and I tried it and you are correct, you cannot separate them. I like this ancient Chinese belief. Thank you for sharing this.
3 people like this
@ranjeetkolarkar (1595)
• India
1 Jun 07
i hope i have not hurt your feelings through my discussion
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
28 May 07
Very interesting story and it has a lot of logic in it. Thanks for sharing that one. Are you wondering how many people actually tried it....lol..:}
2 people like this
@Cherrylaine (28)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
i am a dentistry student and we pretty much talk about nerves and veins that supplies the whole body.. and as we go along our Physiology (Study of the Functions of the Body) class. we came across this one question why the ring finger is called a ring finger.. it right that ancient cultures used this as a symbol of wedding, love, marriage.. but still the question is hanging?? why?? why of all fingers and toes.. why the ring finger??
Medically speaking, it is because based on Sir Thomas Browne's research.. ONLY the ring finger has a vein, vessel, nerve that has a direct cordial realtion to the heart. this is the reason why they named the ring finger, that symbolizes love, marriage, wedding..
@Cherrylaine (28)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
that is no problem.. i would like to know more about the ancient chinese traditions.. the finger to finger thinggy was really cool.. i did it myself and you were right.. that was awesome!
1 person likes this
@Jessezzt (47)
• United States
25 Jul 07
Is it really from ancient Chinese?although i am Chinese,i have heard it for the first time,lol.
i agree with you at some degree,you can't easily separate from your spouse--most of Chinese are traditional,so they look down upon divorce,once you get married,your spouse is as your mate forever.
However,you can have choice before getting married--that means you may change your Girl friend in some situation;what you mentioned is the members of family,like parents,siblings,i think you can't separate from them and let them down,you have no choice about them,your parents are yours since you were born,so do your slibings.So in China,the friendship between relatives are strong.We are a nation of friendship.
@TensionNOT (1)
• Canada
10 Oct 08
You can also see a flash movie for this logic at http://www.tensionnot.com/funnypics/wedding_ring.php
1 person likes this
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
28 May 07
It is very logical and good observation by ancient chinese. But most people today are studying and learning how to break old tradition. So in the future it might not be called a wedding ring finger anymore.
1 person likes this
