Bowing (social)

This article is about bowing as a human action. For other uses of the word bow, go to bow (disambiguation)

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Bowing is the act of lowering the head, or sometimes the entire upper body from the waist, as a social gesture.

Related Topics:
Head - Social

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Bowing exists now and has existed in various cultures at various periods in history. Different cultures have placed varying degrees of importance on bowing, and have used bowing in a variety of ways.

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In European cultures, bowing is an exclusively male practice - females perform a related gesture called a "courtsey" or "curtsy." As in Japan, the depth of the bow expresses degree of respect or gratitude, and, in courtly circles, males were expected to "bow and scrape." "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 left hand is pressed horizontally across the abdomen while the right is held out from the body.

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Bowing probably originated as a gesture of subordination, as lowering the head leaves the bower vulnerable. This was particularly the case in the samurai era in Japan. Samurai were at the top of a highly stratified society; they had the right to kill anyone who did not show them the proper respect.

Related Topics:
Samurai - Japan

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