It existed as early as the primitive society, but at that time, people only expressed friendship and respect in the form of bowing, and there was no relationship of honor and inferiority. After entering the class society, the situation is different, especially in the feudal society, "bow down" is the performance of submission, "worship, serve also; I am very impressed. " Even if peers bow down, it means mutual respect. There are various forms of "bowing down", but there are mainly the following: "kowtowing": it is a ceremony for ministers to worship the monarch. Worshippers stay with their heads on the ground; "Nod": kowtow, kowtow. Getting up as soon as the head touches the ground is a more solemn etiquette used by peers. The ancients often wrote the word "nod" at the beginning or end of letters to show their respect; In addition, there are "empty city plans" and "farewell".

2. "concession ceremony".

"Bow" means bow, arch with fists in both hands and lean forward slightly; "Let" means humility. This is a popular etiquette, which is generally used when the host and guests meet, or in casual occasions between peers. Bowing is an introduction and greeting. This kind of etiquette can best reflect the virtue of "humility" of the Chinese nation.

3. "virtual left ceremony".

The ancients generally respected rights, so rights were a relatively lofty position. But when riding a car, it is just the opposite: riding a car takes "left" as the respect. For example, "The New Stealing Symbol Saves Zhao": "The son rides a car, vain, and meets the door to the afterlife." Later, through evolution, "virtual left" means respect for people. "entertain guests" or "leave an official position for someone". Chang Qian called it "waiting for the left." The behavior of "waiting and waiting" has become a courtesy of respecting people.

4. Earth subsidence

"The Book of Rites of Zhou Li Qiu Guan": "Wang Zhaoyi, see the princes of Nanxiang, the local surname is Pu, sometimes the surname is different, and the surname is the same as Yi Tian." Zheng Note: Push the hand down a little, that is, the hand comes out. In ancient times, the gift of meeting each other was given by the son of heaven to a prince with a common surname (a prince with a different surname who is not related by blood). Press: hand out, the next one means "earth", "earth" and "earth"; If it is upward, it is "heaven"; It's time to flatten.

5, kotow

This is the most solemn ceremony. Every minister should worship the monarch once and then kowtow. The ancients respected kowtowing. "kowtow, bow down." Its instrument is to kneel down first, press the right hand with the left hand, pass it to the ground, and then slowly extend your head to the ground, stopping from the head to the ground. Hands in front of your knees, head in front of your hands.

"Book of Rites Jade Algae" says, "You gave it, kowtowed, took it, and sent it everywhere". Zheng Note: "Head on the ground, press your palms, and press your left hand against your right hand." Jia she's explanation for kotow is: "When it comes to kotow, the word kotow means kotow". The head has been on the ground for a long time, and it is also a bow. "

6. Bye bye

More worship. "Rites and Music": "As soon as a gift is given, both the host and the guest worship." Note: "A hundred times is more than enough." Gu Rizhilu, Volume 28, Baibai: "Today, the worship of the ancients is a bow, so both sides worship nearly a hundred in one building. If the ceremony is to worship once and worship again, it means that people are waiting on you and worship again. There are many ceremonies in the last days. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been four worships. What does today's plea call worship?

Extended data:

China is known as "the state of etiquette", known as "the summer with etiquette", the ritual of China. Zhou is the most important etiquette in China, which was widely practiced in ancient China.

In ancient China, there were five rituals: auspicious ceremony, wedding ceremony, guest ceremony, military ceremony and funeral ceremony. According to folklore, etiquette includes four kinds of life etiquette: birth, coronation, wedding and funeral.

Actually, etiquette can be divided into politics and life. Politics includes offering sacrifices to heaven, land, ancestral temples, teachers, kings and sages; Rural drinking, meeting ceremony, military ceremony, etc. Life includes five sacrifices, high sacrifice, Nuo ceremony, birth ceremony, crown ceremony, food etiquette, gift etiquette and so on.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-China Ancient Etiquette