different handsystems, but how to use them

I suppose that the system of Krogman is a scientific categorization of handshapes, and doesn' t convey any meaning to palmistry.

Is there a connection between the original 7-hand system and the elemental hand system? And if the handshape corresponds to one in the old system, for example spatulate, don't we better use the old system?

Your diagram is an almost complete answer to my question. It shows how the systems relate to each other.

It strikes me that Carus simplifies d'Arpentigny to four by bringing elementary, square and spatulate, philosophic under the names elementary and motoric respectively. Then, one century later, Wolfe returns to the 6-fold system of d'Arpentigny just by some little adjustments, and giving the handshapes different names. Twenty years later, Gettings returns again to Carus, being more specific about the palmshape of the sensitive and psychic hand, and ofcourse giving different names. And then, 20 years later, Duke duplicates Getting exactly, only abstracting to the extreme by referring the hands to the four elements.

The fourfold system is a simplification of the sixfold system. Isn' t it preferable in the case of spotting an earth or air hand, to split them again up in order to get a more detailed picture?

PS In chinese philosophy there is the heaven (preheaven) diagram (passive) and the earth (postheaven) diagram (active), the one categorized by the four elements, and the other by the five elements, or rather transformations. Therefore it seems justified to me not to relate the one to the other.

nuttyprofessor wrote: Is there a connection between the original 7-hand system and the elemental hand system? And if the handshape corresponds to one in the old system, for example spatulate, don't we better use the old system?

In the elemental system, to identify handshape we look at the shape of the palm (square or rectangular) and the length of the fingers (short or long) in relation to the palm.
D'Arpentigny's system is really difficult to interpret - those pictures are not clear, he seems to mix handshape with finger shape. In any case he devised that system only for the hands of men, not women. Most hands in that system come under the 7th category of 'mixed', (for example a square hand with spatulate fingers)
With the elemental system once you have ascertained the hand shape you can then go on to look at finger shape. Indeed some will be spatulate (ruled by fire element), some will be conic or pointed (water element) etc.

re  

Isn' t it preferable in the case of spotting an earth or air hand, to split them again up in order to get a more detailed picture?

Yes, that's exactly what we do in the 5 element system I was taught (based on Dukes' method) where all aspects of the hand are 'ruled' by an element. As I mentioned above, for example earth handshape with fire fingertips, then of course you would look at skin texture, dermatoglyphics etc etc.

Lynn,

I am a beginner.
Does earth element rule square fingers? What finger shape is ruled by Air element?

Sgm123 wrote:Lynn,
I am a beginner.
Does earth element rule square fingers? What finger shape is ruled by Air element?

hi Sgm123
Yes square fingertips = earth, rounded = air

Lynn wrote:

Sgm123 wrote:Lynn,
I am a beginner.
Does earth element rule square fingers? What finger shape is ruled by Air element?

hi Sgm123
Yes square fingertips = earth, rounded = air

Thank you Lynn for the information.

Yes, that's exactly what we do in the 5 element system I was taught (based on Dukes' method) where all aspects of the hand are 'ruled' by an element. As I mentioned above, for example earth handshape with fire fingertips, then of course you would look at skin texture, dermatoglyphics etc etc.

Yes, after a break of two years I am rereading Johnny Fincham and he knows how to put things splendidly.