The Custom of Kowtow

In historical operas and films, one can often see Chinese people performing kowtow on festivals or other traditional sites- a traditional custom for worship on bended knees, on festivals or other traditional sites. It is said that the history of kowtow can be traced back as early as the legendary Emperor Xuan Yuan. How this custom originated and how it survived throughout history has a lot to do with the living standards and customs of ancient Chinese people.
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. For instance, in the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221 BC) on the occasion of meeting the monarch, the matting of the emperor was five-colored, with screens set beside it.
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. The custom was widely adopted in officialdom. For instance, the custom of kowtow was applied when officials met the emperor; when officials of lower rank met those from a higher rank; when minors met masters, etc. The custom not only prevailed on official occasions but also among the common people. During sacrifices and birthday celebrations for the elders, kowtow was also passed on from generation to generation. Later, the custom of zuoyi (a bow with hands folded in front) and jugong (a bow) were also added. With the abolishment of the feudal system in 1911, kowtow also ended gradually.