Kowtow to the elders during the New Year. What is the saying about kowtow to the elders during the New Year?

Introduction: How many times do you kowtow to your elders during the Chinese New Year? What is the saying about kowtowing to elders during the Chinese New Year? In some places in the north, it is customary for younger people to kowtow to their elders during the New Year. Whether or not they should kneel down and kowtow to their elders during the New Year has become a hotly debated topic among modern young people. During the New Year, kowtow to the elders several times.

The customs in each place are different. Some netizens said that their local custom is that three elders who have died and one for the other living elders are enough. However, many places have now abandoned this custom, and almost no one kowtows. But if you go to a place with such customs and need to kowtow, it is recommended to consult others in advance, otherwise it will be a joke or cause conflicts.

Recently, a netizen posted a post claiming to be a new daughter-in-law from the south who wants to go back to her hometown with her northerner husband to celebrate the New Year. Before she even moved, she already knew that she had to kneel down to receive the red envelope from her close relatives and elders. Even the other elders in the family had to kneel down in the first year after the new daughter-in-law arrived. The woman has never had this tradition personally or in her family, and even thinks that this way of paying New Year greetings is "very feudal and a bit insulting." However, the man believes that the woman should follow the local customs and feels that the woman's resistance is "unreasonable and disrespectful to him." In the debate among netizens, the majority of people believe that kneeling down should not be compromised with the "bad habit". What is the saying about kowtowing to the elders during the New Year?

The origin of kowtow

According to legend, in ancient times there was a monster called "Nian" with a sharp horn on its head and it was extremely ferocious. "Nian" has been living deep in the seabed. On New Year's Eve, it will climb ashore to devour livestock and harm people. Therefore, every New Year's Eve, everyone takes the old and the young and flees to the mountains to avoid the harm of the "year".

Until one New Year's Eve, when everyone fled the village as usual, an old man with white hair stayed behind. When "Nian" was about to break into the village and wreak havoc, there was a sudden burst of firecrackers. "Nian" trembled all over and dared not enter the village again. Then the white-haired old man appeared in front of "Nian" wearing a robe, and "Nian" ran away in panic.

It turns out that "Nian" is most afraid of the color red, fire and explosions. From then on, every New Year's Eve, every household posted red couplets, set off firecrackers, and brightly lit the lights to wait for the new year. Eventually it turned into the most solemn traditional festival in China: the New Year. The kowtow ceremony is to express our gratitude to our elders for protecting us. Over time, during the Chinese New Year, we will salute to our elders and our ancestors.

Etiquette forms of kowtow

Simple kowtow (single kowtow) is a common courtesy for children to their elders. Generally, when children meet their elders with their parents, the parents say: "I came here to see XX (elder) and kowtow to XX." The child should first say: "Kowtow to XX." Then he bends his knees, kneels down, and holds his hands. The ground and head touch the ground, complete the kowtow action, and then stand up and stand sideways. After the elders accept the kowtow from their children, they must do two things. First, they should say in time: "Okay, get up." Second, they should give the children some "rewards", such as gadgets, candies, etc., or give them some change. The "head" cannot be suffered in vain! In the old days, many people would promptly say, "No need," when their children were about to kowtow before they knelt down, and would prevent their children from kowtowing to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to bring out gifts.

Bowing and kowtowing is a common ritual for adults to meet their elders. Generally, when you are visiting or when an elder comes to visit, you should take the initiative to say: "I (my name, seniority, identity) kowtow to XX." You can also say a blessing, and then face the elder, bow your hands, and then kneel down. Kneel and kowtow. If the elders accept this "head", they must also express something, usually by giving money, and saying something like "Let me drink a pot of tea (or drink a pot of wine) for you", or "Let me buy a pair of shoes to wear". words. Otherwise (such as to show modesty or not wanting to spend money), after the junior bows, he should promptly say "no need to kowtow", "no need to kowtow", etc. It is best to reach out to support the other person's body at the same time to prevent him from continuing to kowtow, because as long as " If you knock your head, you will have to pay.

Bowing three times is a solemn etiquette. It is mostly used on the following occasions: meeting elders for the first time, meeting ancestral elders, paying homage to people with high moral standing or high status, paying homage to a teacher, paying New Year greetings, and paying birthday greetings. Thank you and other occasions. The ritual is to first bow the hands and bow, then kneel down. After kowtowing the first head, keep the kneeling position and straighten the upper body, then kowtow the second head, kowtow the third head again, and finally stand up. Don't be like "pounding garlic" and touch your head to the ground three times in a row without straightening your upper body. That is rude (young children are allowed).

The saying about kowtow

1. Generally, kowtow is given to elders, preferably grandparents. Do not kowtow too much, as it will shorten your lifespan.

2. When kowtowing, the palms of the hands touch the ground. It does not need to be reversed. The head must touch the ground to show respect. Generally, when kowtowing to gods and Buddhas, your hands need to be moved up and down to show innocence.

Nowadays, the rules are no longer so strict, and kowtow is mostly just a formality. After kowtowing, they leave. Many old people also stop their children from kowtowing, saying that when a person arrives, he or she is the first to bow. However, after all, the New Year must be worshipped, and the things of the ancestors must continue to be passed down. This is not only a sense of filial piety, but also a flowing culture.