Why some cultures count the spaces between their fingers

Art · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most of us count on our fingers, leading to a base-10 system. But what if you counted the spaces between them? In some cultures, this physical reality creates a base-8 system, making octal a natural human arithmetic rather than a mathematical invention.

While the decimal system is often viewed as a universal standard, it is largely a product of our anatomy—specifically, having ten digits. In contrast, octal systems can emerge from different physical observations. California's Yuki language employs an octal base since individuals tally the gaps between fingers instead of the digits themselves. Similarly, speakers of Pamean languages in Mexico count the knuckles of a closed fist (excluding the thumb), which equates to eight per hand.

Historically, thinkers have argued that octal is actually more 'natural' than decimal. In 1716, Emanuel Swedenborg proposed a base-8 system to King Charles XII of Sweden, arguing that base-10 was too complex for those with less intelligence. Later, in 1753, Hugh Jones championed 'Natural Arithmetic,' claiming that 8 is a more 'complete and commodious' number because it is divisible into halves, quarters, and half-quarters without fractions—subdivisions that the number ten cannot achieve.

Beyond human biology and philosophy, octal has deep roots in logic and technology. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz connected the eight trigrams of the I Ching to binary numbers as early as 1703. In the mid-20th century, octal became a staple of computing because it served as a concise abbreviation for binary. Since one octal digit represents exactly three binary digits, it allowed early machines like the PDP-8 to display complex data on simple hardware like Nixie tubes or seven-segment displays without the need for complex conversion hardware.

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