The　design　arts　and　status　of　hand　exoskeletons　are　analyzed　and　reviewed　from　the　perspective　of　human-robot　kinematic　compatibility.　Firstly,　the　main　existing　hand　kinematic　models　are　introduced　on　the　basis　of　the　analyses　of　the　hand　anatomical　structure　and　hand　joint　kinematics.　Secondly,　according　to　the　design　methods　to　realize　the　human-robot　kinematic　compatibility,　the　hand　exoskeletons　are　divided　into　three　classifies　including　the　joint　axis-alignment　hand　exoskeletons,　the　joint　axis　self-adaptive　hand　exoskeletons,　and　the　compliance　glove　hand　exoskeletons.　Moreover,　the　design　characteristics　of　the　typical　hand　exoskeletons　are　also　briefly　analyzed.　Finally,　the　influences　of　the　kinematic　difference　between　human　and　robot　joints,　the　individual　difference　and　wearing　offset　on　the　human-robot　kinematic　compatibility　are　analyzed,　on　which　the　main　issues　in　the　design　of　hand　exoskeletons　and　the　future　research　are　discussed　and　prospected.　©　2018,　Shanghai　Jiao　Tong　University　Press.　All　right　reserved.