The thumb holds a significant position in palmistry, being the foremost among the five fingers. The three phalanges of the thumb symbolize different aspects: the first phalanx (the one bearing the nail) represents willpower; the second phalanx stands for reason; and the third phalanx (also known as the Venus Mount—the area encompassed by the life line) signifies emotion.
Willpower and reason are essential traits shaping one’s character and approach to life. Therefore, it is self-evident that the analysis of the thumb occupies a crucial role in palmistry. In my view, when my master was taught palmistry, he emphasized that the most important line in palmistry is the head line (wisdom line), while the next most important feature to observe is the thumb. This is because the wisdom line reflects a person's thinking ability, comprehension, action capacity, and logical reasoning—essentially a microcosm of their entire behavioral pattern. A well-developed wisdom line indicates calmness and a step-by-step approach to tasks. Hence, there is no doubt that the wisdom line is the most critical element in palmistry. Similarly, if one possesses a strong logical mindset and proper conduct, combined with unwavering determination and rational judgment of practical circumstances, success in career and endeavors becomes highly attainable. Thus, the thumb can be considered the second most important feature in palmistry.
I once met a senior student whose left thumb had an extra digit present from birth. Since this additional digit lacked nerves, it functioned like a piece of excess flesh, serving no real purpose. When I first saw the extra finger on his left hand, I recalled a saying from Chinese Liu Zhuang palmistry: "Six fingers indicate harm to one’s father, and one will never achieve honor or distinction throughout life." In traditional Chinese palmistry, the thumb symbolizes both father and mother. Given that this extra digit appeared beside his left thumb, it clearly suggests a negative influence on his father—specifically concerning the father’s fortune and health. It also implies a weaker emotional bond between him and his father, making it easy for them to drift apart due to studies, work, or other worldly matters. When he learned I could read palms, he asked me to interpret this anomaly. At the time, I only explained the part about "never achieving honor or distinction" and advised him to consider surgically removing the extra digit. Otherwise, he might struggle to achieve results in his future career or fail to maintain what he gains. I did not elaborate further on its implications regarding harm to his father.
Traditionally, China has focused more on facial features (face reading) rather than palmistry. Palmistry was merely a subsection within the broader study of physiognomy. As a result, research and literature on palmistry remain limited. Most surviving texts consist of mere fragments scattered throughout larger works on face reading. Consequently, my collection of Chinese palmistry books amounts to only about four or five volumes—unlike Westerners, who have shown great enthusiasm for palmistry. My collection of Western palmistry books numbers nearly a hundred.
The thumb also symbolizes self-esteem. A strong sense of self-worth corresponds with a well-formed thumb. Generally speaking, a good thumb appears aesthetically pleasing. Short or small thumbs often indicate impatience, poor patience, low stress tolerance, and weak resilience. Individuals whose second phalanx is slightly concave (slightly inward-curving on both sides) tend to act quickly and decisively—typical of people with quick tempers—and they usually possess strong verbal skills as well.
In Chinese palmistry, the thumb also represents one’s early life fortunes from ages one to ten, complementing the ear—which represents early life from ages one to fourteen. Therefore, individuals with poorly shaped or short thumbs often experience difficulties during their formative years, whether academically or physically. This general principle is remarkably accurate.
