Each I is a finger, V is the thumb and index. X is crossing your index and middle finger.

    • FriendOfDeSoto
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      95 days ago

      Then you haven’t been to China. It’s a shorthand gesture there. The character for ten is 十 so I’m not sure if the gesture informed the character or the other way around. What is noteworthy is just that both cultures ended up with a cross to denote ten.

    • @Trex202@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 days ago

      Possibly an archaic way? They also counted Base 12. XII is 12, fingers crossed plus the other 2 up?

          • Maeve
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            55 days ago

            I believe that’s some sort of religious Jewish blessing. Idk where I got that idea, maybe Lemmy.

            • @Apepollo11@lemmy.world
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              45 days ago

              TIL

              I’ll admit, I thought “I’m sure I’d have heard that before if it was true”, but it appears to be the case! It’s apparently based on a gesture Leonard Nimoy saw during a blessing as a boy.

              I guess it’s like the ICXC hand shape that vicars and priests use in Christianity.

              These religious leaders and their hand gestures…

              • Maeve
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                45 days ago

                Yes, that’s right. I’m glad it prompted you to look for yourself, rather than dismiss out of hand. That shows something special.

                ETA; there are also mudras. These religions are more closely related than it seems at a glance.

        • @Trex202@lemmy.worldOP
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          -45 days ago

          It’s archaic, we just don’t count like this anymore. Probably not since adoption of Arabic Numbers