The legend about kowtow

There was no formal chair or bench before the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) in China. People usually sat on mats made of reeds or bamboo strips at dinnertime, during discussions or reading. Guests were usually invited to sit on an extra mat to show respect. Even top leaders would sit on a mat, which was usually of a higher quality.

Therefore, the connotation of the words "to sit" in ancient times was completely different from what we understand today. "Sitting" is generally known as kowtow today: Both knees bent down on the mat, with the buttocks resting on the heels. When meeting a guest, the host usually had to stretch the upper part of the body to show respect. Gradually, the custom of kowtow became a part of daily life.

To show enough respect, one had to perform Kowtow in ancient times, especially to seniors and higher officials. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a set of strict rules about kowtow, which played a very important role in maintaining authority and reverence towards emperors and, in turn, consolidating the feudal system. Emperors, therefore, were all willing to follow the tradition. In the Han Dynasty, chairs and benches gradually appeared, which altered the original sitting gesture greatly. But the tradition of kowtow survived, and became a symbol of different classes.