| Although today the term is used as a general way of describing an act of submission or humility, the kowtow was a tradition in use for centuries in Asia to show respect and loyalty and defference to superiors. This included everyone from parents and in-laws, to whom one kowtowed at the wedding ceremony all the way up to the Son of Heaven. The word comes from the Chinese for bowing until your head bumps the ground. The formal Chinese kowtow included three kneelings and nine prostrations. The Vietnamese usually kowtowed five times such as at the enthronement of a new emperor. This was sometimes called the five "lays". The Emperor also had to kowtow to his ancestors who had died before him just as any other family man. Emperor Bao Dai abolished the kowtow in his efforts to modernize Vietnam. After that time respect was shown by a clasping of the hands over the chest. |
