“弹指”本是印度风俗习惯,随佛教传入中国后,为汉民族表情达意增添了一种新的手势语。在佛教典籍和中土文献中,“弹指”有表示赞叹、惊嗟、警告、许诺、觉悟、招唤、敬礼、祝咒等含义。随着佛教的中国化,“弹指”这种手势语的功用也逐渐缩小,乃至今天主要表达“招唤”等少数几个含义。 “Bouncer” was originally a custom in India. When Buddhism was introduced to China, it added a new sign language to the Han nationality. In Buddhism classics and Middle-earth literature, “bounced fingers” have the meanings of praise, surprise, warning, promises, enlightenment, calling, saluting, and wishing. With the sinicization of Buddhism, the function of the sign language such as the “fingering” gradually narrows down, and even today it mainly expresses a few meanings such as “summon”.