2 years, 2 months ago
Where did this particular kind of Chinese bow come from?
I'm not talking about the regular bow, but a bow with a fist and palm. I understand that the handshake (or perhaps the wave, I can't remember) came about in order to prove that the person you are greeting has no hidden weapons, but how did this Chinese custom originate?
http://www.swyi.com/images/bow1.jpg
http://chineseoverlords.com/facts_greetings-traditional-greeting.jpg
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M$4 Answers
Palm Fist Bow
During my studies of Temple Shaolin Kung Fu, my Master and Sifu, taught in near equal amounts the philosophy/history of Shaolin Buddhism/Taoism (from which Shaolin originates) and the martial/meditative movements. There are various significances to the Palm over the fist bow with most if not all having their origin or symbolism being based on the Taoist Yin Yang philosophy and observance.
Yin
http://www.friesian.com/images/hiero/yin.gif
Yang
http://www.friesian.com/images/hiero/yang.gif
The I Ching, one of the first documents to explain Taoism, introduces in written form the Yin and Yang philosophy/observance. Yin Yang therefore can be traced back prior to 1400 BC and the coexisting duality philosophy within Taoism called Yin Yang. The philosophy was one of living in harmony with the natural laws that are governed by a dualistic existence. The palm over fist was a symbol of recognition between those who practiced and observed a life of living in harmony within two opposing forces the Yin and the Yang, the Female and the Male.
Over time many uses of the palm over fist came to be used by various philosophical, martial arts and Shaolin priest/monks. When one looks at the various uses, one can see the dualism each represents. The open palm (Yin) covers the closed fist (Yang).
- Hard force / soft reason
- War / Peace
- Hard contained by Soft
- I greet you in peace (palm) by restraining force
- A greeting that suggests that peace (open palm) can and will if necessary be enforced by force (closed fist), but together they represent a harmony or balance.
- Early symbolism by secret societies included in general the fist representing knowledge (a scroll) being concealed in secrecy the palm.
From this origin in Yin Yang, many ritualistic uses of the palm fist symbolism were incorporated coming to be used as a fist covered by the palm. The Bow form of use became a greeting that had various symbolic meanings for the specific group or groups. In martial arts there are (in Shaolin) to forms of this bow. A student bows with the left palm over the right fist, this represents that the Yin force of peace (a weaker force left hand) controls the Yang force of action, (a stronger force right hand) and contains the significance that one is a student and has yet to master the control of action, peace over force. The little used and little explained is the right palm over the left fist which signifies mastery (enlightenment). This is used by a master of Shaolin and represents that the Yin, peace is in control of the Yang, force. It also signifies the total balance and mastery of the Yin and Yang. Note that this is symbolic in that most people throughout history are and were right handed and so the Right hand was seen as the controlling element, or the major force element.
Getting too long winded, so will leave it at this.
During my studies of Temple Shaolin Kung Fu, my Master and Sifu, taught in near equal amounts the philosophy/history of Shaolin Buddhism/Taoism (from which Shaolin originates) and the martial/meditative movements. There are various significances to the Palm over the fist bow with most if not all having their origin or symbolism being based on the Taoist Yin Yang philosophy and observance.
Yin
Yang
The I Ching, one of the first documents to explain Taoism, introduces in written form the Yin and Yang philosophy/observance. Yin Yang therefore can be traced back prior to 1400 BC and the coexisting duality philosophy within Taoism called Yin Yang. The philosophy was one of living in harmony with the natural laws that are governed by a dualistic existence. The palm over fist was a symbol of recognition between those who practiced and observed a life of living in harmony within two opposing forces the Yin and the Yang, the Female and the Male.
Over time many uses of the palm over fist came to be used by various philosophical, martial arts and Shaolin priest/monks. When one looks at the various uses, one can see the dualism each represents. The open palm (Yin) covers the closed fist (Yang).
- Hard force / soft reason
- War / Peace
- Hard contained by Soft
- I greet you in peace (palm) by restraining force
- A greeting that suggests that peace (open palm) can and will if necessary be enforced by force (closed fist), but together they represent a harmony or balance.
- Early symbolism by secret societies included in general the fist representing knowledge (a scroll) being concealed in secrecy the palm.
From this origin in Yin Yang, many ritualistic uses of the palm fist symbolism were incorporated coming to be used as a fist covered by the palm. The Bow form of use became a greeting that had various symbolic meanings for the specific group or groups. In martial arts there are (in Shaolin) to forms of this bow. A student bows with the left palm over the right fist, this represents that the Yin force of peace (a weaker force left hand) controls the Yang force of action, (a stronger force right hand) and contains the significance that one is a student and has yet to master the control of action, peace over force. The little used and little explained is the right palm over the left fist which signifies mastery (enlightenment). This is used by a master of Shaolin and represents that the Yin, peace is in control of the Yang, force. It also signifies the total balance and mastery of the Yin and Yang. Note that this is symbolic in that most people throughout history are and were right handed and so the Right hand was seen as the controlling element, or the major force element.
Getting too long winded, so will leave it at this.
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M$Report Abuse
Where did this particular kind of Chinese bow come from?
An interesting question.
The exact origin of this Chinese custom salute has not been known. One theory is that it came from Chinese martial arts trainer/mentor. Kung Fu (Chinese martial arts) is a reference to any skill which takes great diligence and work to master. A Chinese martial arts greeting features the right hand in a fist with the left hand open covering it with a slight nod of the head, but its origin is not well documented.
Someone said it came from “Shaolin Salute" although that may have come from all those kung fu movies in the 70's.
Other theory is that: Chinese salute with the right fist covered by the left palm open or closed symbolize and came from Buddist monks in China fighting to restore the Ming Dysnasty (sun and moon symbolism). The most common probably is part of the kenpo saying, here is my weapon (fist) which I cover (closed left hand) because I come in friendship. In the long formal salute, we begin with a closed left hand and end with an open left hand symbolizing warfare.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salute
http://www.ehow.com/how_2331382_perform-bow-stance-iron-palm.html
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5936.html
An interesting question.
The exact origin of this Chinese custom salute has not been known. One theory is that it came from Chinese martial arts trainer/mentor. Kung Fu (Chinese martial arts) is a reference to any skill which takes great diligence and work to master. A Chinese martial arts greeting features the right hand in a fist with the left hand open covering it with a slight nod of the head, but its origin is not well documented.
Someone said it came from “Shaolin Salute" although that may have come from all those kung fu movies in the 70's.
Other theory is that: Chinese salute with the right fist covered by the left palm open or closed symbolize and came from Buddist monks in China fighting to restore the Ming Dysnasty (sun and moon symbolism). The most common probably is part of the kenpo saying, here is my weapon (fist) which I cover (closed left hand) because I come in friendship. In the long formal salute, we begin with a closed left hand and end with an open left hand symbolizing warfare.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salute
http://www.ehow.com/how_2331382_perform-bow-stance-iron-palm.html
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5936.html
images:
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M$
This bow or "salute" is specific to Chinese martial arts. The Kung Fu Salute is a sign of respect and honor usually given by Kung Fu practitioners, where the left palm covers the right fist
images:
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M$
