薬指 ("medicine finger", ring finger) is interestingly similar to the Latin term
for ring finger, "digitus medicinalis". Are they etymologically related?
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2016-01-22T20:18:02.067
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2016-01-22T20:41:05.383
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question
etymology
Is 薬指 related to the Latin term "digitus medicinalis"?
Almost certainly not. The likely reason has to do with Buddhist statuary: a
particular buddha called Yakushi has his fourth finger bent in many poses.

More about the finger on the Japanese Wikipedia:

[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/薬指](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%96%AC%E6%8C%87)

More about this particular Buddha on the English Wikipedia:

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru>
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