Bowing (also called stooping ) is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture in direction to another person or symbol. It is most prominent in Asian cultures but it is also typical of nobility and aristocracy in many European countries. It is also used in religious contexts, as a form of worship or veneration. Sometimes the gesture may be limited to lowering the head such as in Indonesia , and in many cultures several degrees of the lowness of the bow are distinguished and regarded as appropriate for different circumstances. It is especially prominent in Nepal , India , Cambodia , Thailand , Laos , Vietnam , China , Korea , and Japan , where it may be executed standing or kneeling. Some bows are performed equally by two or more people while others are unequal – the person bowed to either does not bow in return or performs a less low bow in response. A nod of the head may be regarded as the minimal form of bow; forms of kneeling , genuflection , or prostration which involves the hands or whole body touching the ground, are the next levels of gesture.
38-450: Bowing is a traditional gesture of respect and gratitude in European cultures. Since the 17th century, bowing has been a primarily male practice. Women instead perform a curtsy , a related gesture that diverged from the bow during the early modern period . However, women may still bow in some religious practices or during stage performances, such as at the curtain call . The depth of the bow
76-655: A bow is also made when the processional cross passes by a communicant in a church procession. Conservative Protestant Christians such as Brethren, Mennonite , and Seventh-day Adventists make a practice of kneeling during community prayer in the church service. Until the mid-1900s this was common practice among many Protestant Christian groups. According to the New Testament writer Paul, everyone on Earth will someday bow to Jesus Christ. He writes in Philippians 2:9-11, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him
114-635: A bow should be used at any particular time. The rules are complicated and are not always carried out in all parishes. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a profound bow, prostration, a slight bow of the head (during the Creed) genuflection, and kneeling are all prescribed in the liturgy at various points. In addition, there are two forms of genuflection, depending on whether or not the Blessed Sacrament
152-581: A curtsy, or rather a half-curtsy, half-neck bow to King Edward's Chair . During the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales the Queen bowed her head in a half-curtsey as the Princess's coffin passed her. Female dancers often curtsy at the end of a performance to show gratitude or to acknowledge applause from the audience. At the end of a ballet class, students will also curtsy or bow to the teacher and pianist to show gratitude. According to Victorian dance etiquette ,
190-521: A faux pas concerning the shooting of former President Chen Shui-bian in 2004. Similarly to East Asia, bowing is the traditional form of greeting in many South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. A gesture known as the Añjali Mudrā is used as a sign of respect and greeting and involves a bow of varying degrees depending on whom one performs it to and hands pressed together generally at chest level. Practised throughout South Asia and Southeast Asia,
228-515: A gesture of respect , with different bows used for apologies and gratitude . The kowtow is the highest sign of reverence in Han Chinese culture, but its use has become extremely rare since the collapse of Imperial China . In many situations, the standing bow has replaced the kowtow. However, in modern Chinese societies, bowing is not as formalized as in Japan, South Korea and North Korea . Bowing
266-531: A name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." KJV. He is here quoting a similar passage regarding bowing from the Old Testament, Isaiah 45:23. In Islam , there are two types of bowing, Sujud and Ruk'u. Sajdah or Sujud
304-488: A root word meaning prostration in Amharic , Aramaic , and Arabic . There is a move among Talmide haRambam , a small modern restorationist group with perspectives on Jewish law similar to that of Dor Daim , to revive prostration as a regular part of daily Jewish worship. Communicants of many Christian denominations bow at the mention of the name of Jesus , while inside of a church and outside of one. The origin of this practice
342-522: A way of showing respect. Sampeah is based on the Indian Añjali Mudrā used in namasté . Pranāma or Namaste , the part of ancient Indian culture and rites has propagated to southeast Asia , which was part of indosphere of greater India , through the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism from India. While performing the sampeah, the person places their palms together in a prayer-like fashion while bowing slightly. The word often spoken with
380-553: A woman curtsies before beginning a dance. Female Scottish highland dancers performing the national dances and the Irish jig also curtsy (at both the beginning and end for the national dances and at the end for the Irish jig). Some female ballroom dancers will curtsy to their partners before beginning the Viennese Waltz . It is also common for female square dancers to curtsy as a method of greeting their male dance partners prior to
418-679: Is a sign of respect, and is done at certain points in Jewish services. By tradition, in the Temple in Jerusalem , kneeling was part of the regular service, but this is not part of a modern Jewish service. Some bows within the current liturgy are simple bows from the waist — others (especially during parts of the Amidah ) involve bending the knees while saying Baruch (Blessed), bowing from the waist at Atah ([are] you) and then straightening up at Adonai ( God ). During
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#1732880906442456-573: Is a slight bow of the head". John Wesley , the founder of the Methodist Churches , also taught the faithful "to bow at the Name of Jesus" and as a result, it is customary for Methodists to bow at the mention of His name, especially during the recitation of the Creed. In Christian liturgy , bowing is a sign of respect or deference. In many Christian denominations, individuals will bow when passing in front of
494-429: Is a traditional gendered gesture of greeting, in which a girl or woman bends her knees while bowing her head. In Western culture it is the feminine equivalent of bowing by males. Miss Manners characterizes its knee bend as deriving from a "traditional gesture of an inferior to a superior." The word "curtsy" is a phonological change from "courtesy" known in linguistics as syncope . According to Desmond Morris ,
532-537: Is exposed on the altar or not. In addition to bowing at the mention of the name of Jesus, in the Anglican Communion, "A reverence in the form of a bow is made to an altar, because it is as it were God's throne, and in a manner represents Him." As with Anglican churches, in Lutheran and Methodist churches, when approaching the chancel , it is customary to bow towards the altar (or altar cross ). In Anglican churches
570-485: Is held during the dip. When the debutante's head nears the floor, she turns her head sideways, averting the risk of soiling her dress with lipstick. It is also acceptable in some cultures for the female to curtsy if wearing trousers or shorts. In many European cultures it is traditional for women to curtsy in front of royalty . It may then be referred to as a court curtsy and is often especially deep and elaborate. During her coronation , Queen Elizabeth II performed
608-590: Is normally reserved for occasions such as marriage ceremonies and as a gesture of respect for the deceased, although it still sometimes used for more formal greetings. In China, three bows are customarily executed at funerals including state funerals, ancestral worship, and at special ceremonies in commemoration of pater patriae Sun Yat-sen . As in Japan and Korea, public figures may bow formally to apologize. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao bowed and offered his condolences to stranded railway passengers; Taiwanese Defense Minister Chen Chao-min bowed in apology following
646-458: Is pressed horizontally across the abdomen while the left is held out from the body. Today, social bowing is all but extinct, except in some very formal settings. However, hand-kissing of women by men, which entails bowing to reach the hand, continues in some cultures. In the British, Australian, and other Commonwealth courts, lawyers and clerks (of both sexes) are expected to perform a cursory bow of
684-772: Is retained in modern Orthodox Judaism, but only on the High Holy Days — once on each day of Rosh Hashanah (when the Aleinu prayer is recited during the Amidah), and four times on Yom Kippur — again, once for Aleinu, and three times during a central portion of the service when the details of the Avodah , the High Priest 's service in the Temple are recited. The Talmudic texts as well as writings of Gaonim and Rishonim indicate that total prostration
722-666: Is to prostrate oneself to God in the direction of the Kaaba at Mecca which is done during daily prayers ( salat ). While in sujud, a Muslim is to praise God and glorify him. The position involves having the forehead, nose, both hands, knees and all toes touching the ground together. Ruku' is bowing down in the standing position during daily prayers ( salat ). The position of ruku' is established by bending over, putting one's hands on one's knees, and remaining in that position while also praising God and glorifying him. Curtsy A curtsy (also spelled curtsey or incorrectly as courtsey )
760-567: Is used as a sign of respect in worship and has its origins in the Indian "Añjali Mudrā". Sikhs only bowed to their Gurus, who were the messengers of god. Their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is seen as the eternal guru after the death of their living gurus, as it has the word of god written by the past living gurus. In a Gurdwara, Sikhs bow to the Guru Granth Sahib and are not permitted to take part in idol worshiping, bowing to anything other than
798-514: Is within Sacred Scripture , which states: "Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (NRSV). This pious custom was mandated in the Second Council of Lyon , which proclaimed "Whenever that glorious name is recalled, especially during the sacred mysteries of
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#1732880906442836-447: The altar , or at certain points in the service (for example, when the name of Jesus Christ is spoken, as mentioned above). It may take the form of a simple bow of the head, or a slight incline of the upper body. A profound bow is a deep bow from the waist, and is often done as a substitution for genuflection . In Eastern Orthodoxy , there are several degrees of bowing, each with a different meaning. Strict rules exist as to which type of
874-565: The Governor-General of Australia, the spouse of the Governor-General and state Governors and Lieutenant-Governors. Bows are the traditional greeting in East Asia , particularly in Japan , Korea , Hong Kong , China and Vietnam . In China and Vietnam, shaking hands or a slight bow have become more popular than a full bow. However, bowing is not reserved only for greetings; it can also be used as
912-530: The Guru Granth Sahib or bowing to any living person. Bows are performed in Shinto settings. Visitors to a Shinto shrine will clap or ring a bell to attract the attention of the enshrined deity , clasp the hands in prayer , and then bow. Bowing is a common feature for worship in Buddhism . Zen Buddhism , for example, has a daily ritual in which practitioners do 1,080 full prostration bows, usually spread throughout
950-581: The Lord JESUS CHRIST, the true eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour of the world, in whom alone all the mercies, graces, and promises of God to mankind for this life, and the life to come, are fully and wholly comprised." Likewise, in the Lutheran Churches , people are "to bow when the name of Jesus is mentioned", and in the Roman Catholic Church "at the mention of the name of Jesus, there
988-758: The Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart which he can do even by a bow of his head." The eighteenth canon of the Church of England , mother Church of the Anglican Communion , made this external obeisance obligatory during the divine service, declaring: "When in time of divine service the Lord JESUS shall be mentioned, due and lowly reverence shall be done by all persons present, as it has been accustomed; testifying by these outward ceremonies and gestures their inward humility, Christian resolution, and due acknowledgement that
1026-587: The Sampeah. When praying to the Buddha (who founded Buddhism in India ), the person places their palms together close to their face and brings their hands toward the ground three times. Just like Indian Añjali Mudrā namasté , it is also important when one Sampeahs to elders. The higher the hands and the lower the bow, the more respect is shown. It is a sign of respect and politeness. This Cambodia -related article
1064-563: The Victorian era, when women wore floor-length, hooped skirts, they curtsied using the plié movement borrowed from second-position in classical ballet in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight. Both feet and knees point out so the torso lowers straight down. This way, the lady lowers herself evenly and not to one side. Traditionally, women and girls curtsy for those of senior social rank just as men and boys bow. Today this practice has become less common. In Victorian courts,
1102-518: The concluding Aleinu section of the services, congregants usually bow when they say "V'anachnu kor'im u'mishtachavim u'modim," meaning "we bend our knees, prostrate, and acknowledge our thanks." Another moment in the service which triggers the bow is during the "Bar'chu". Many bow at the mention of "Adonai" (the Jewish addressing of the Lord) at this and various other parts in the service (most likely if they are to remain standing during that prayer). Kneeling
1140-427: The curtsy was done as a signal for courtship availability, and social status dominance or submissiveness, in order to be successful socially. Further, some female domestic workers curtsy for their employers . The " Texas dip " is an extreme curtsy performed by a Texan debutante . The young woman slowly lowers her forehead towards the floor by crossing her ankles, then bending her knees and sinking. The escort's hand
1178-415: The dance, while her partner bows. This square dancing practice is called "Honor your partner." Female cloggers also sometimes curtsy at the end of their performance. It is customary for female figure skaters to curtsy at the end of their performances at figure skating competitions or shows. Sampeah Sampeah ( Khmer : សំពះ , sâmpeăh [sɑmˈpĕəh] ) is a Cambodian greeting or
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1216-570: The day. More casual practitioners and laypeople typically do 108 bows once a day instead. In the Hindu traditions people show deference by bowing or kneeling down and touching feet of an elder or respected person. Traditionally, a child is expected to bow down to their parents, teachers and elders during certain formal ceremonies and casual settings. In the Jewish setting, bowing, similar to in Christianity,
1254-690: The gesture is most commonly used in India , Sri Lanka , Nepal , Bhutan , Bangladesh , Cambodia , Thailand , Laos , Myanmar and Indonesia . Gestures across the region are known by different names such as the sampeah in Cambodia, wai in Thailand,, sembah in Indonesia , namaste in India and Nepal, and in Sri Lanka the gesture is used as a greeting with the word "Ayubowan" In many Eastern religions bowing
1292-633: The head only to the judge when entering or leaving a law court that is in session. Similar gestures are made to the Speaker of the House of Commons when entering or leaving the chamber of the House of Commons in session, and to the monarch by their staff. Members of the Royal Family of the various Commonwealth Realms are either bowed or curtsied to, depending on the gender of the subject. Australians are expected to bow to
1330-450: The motions involved in the curtsy and the bow were similar until the 17th century, and the sex differentiation between the actions developed afterwards. The earlier, combined version is still performed by Restoration comedy actors. In more formal variants of the curtsy, the girl/woman bends the knees outward (rather than straight ahead), often sweeping one foot behind her. She may also use her hands to hold her skirt out from her body. In
1368-486: The sampeah when greeting somebody is ជម្រាបសួរ chumréab suŏr ( pronounced [cum.riəp suə] ), while ជម្រាបលា chumréab léa ( pronounced [cum.riəp liə] ) is spoken when saying goodbye. Although the Sampeah is a form of greeting, it is also a common way to say thanks or apologize and is an important part of Khmer culture which is heavily influenced by Indian Hindu / Buddhist culture. There are different ways of bowing when performing
1406-610: Was common among many Jewish communities until some point during the Middle Ages. Members of the Karaite denomination practice full prostrations during prayers. Ashkenazi Jews prostrate during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur as did Yemenite Jews during the Tachanun part of regular daily Jewish prayer until somewhat recently. Ethiopian Jews traditionally prostrated during a holiday specific to their community known as Sigd . Sigd comes from
1444-408: Was related to the difference in rank or degree of respect or gratitude. In early modern courtly circles, males were expected to "bow and scrape" (hence the term "bowing and scraping" for what appears to be excessive ceremony). "Scraping" refers to the drawing back of the right leg as one bows, such that the right foot scrapes the floor or earth. Typically, while executing such a bow, the man's right hand
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