So, why exactly should one’s engagement / wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger? There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese:
- Your thumb represents your Parents
- Your index (second) finger represents your Siblings
- Your middle finger represents Yourself
- Your ring (fourth) finger represents your Life Partner
- And your pinky (little finger) represents your Children
Now, try this:
Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together – back to back as in the image above. Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb – tip to tip.
Now, try to separate your thumbs; they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you life-long, and have to leave you sooner or later.
Please join your thumbs as before and separate your index fingers; they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.
Now join your index fingers and separate your pinkies; and they will open too, because your offspring also will leave you one day and settle down on their own.
Finally, join your pinkies, and try to separate your ring fingers. Surprised? Unless your joints are extremely flexible, you can’t, because spouses are meant to remain together all their lives – through thick and thin!!
So there’s a theory, on why we wear our engagement and wedding rings on our fourth fingers. :)