Bowing in Japan

Bowing in Japan (お辞儀, Ojigi) is the act of lowering one's head or the upper part of the torso, commonly used as a sign of salutation, reverence, apology or gratitude in social or religious situations.

From everyday greetings to business meetings to funerals, ojigi is ubiquitous in Japanese society and the ability to bow correctly and elegantly is widely considered to be one of the defining qualities of adulthood.

Different sub-categories of ojigi vary mainly in the angles of inclination of one's body and the positions of one's hands, which are determined both by the status of the person one is bowing to and the scenario or context of gesture.

[8] In the Kamakura period (1185–1333), with the appearance of the first feudal military government, the warrior class, or samurai, started playing a more prominent role in Japanese history.

However, the advancement of warrior etiquette came to a halt in the later years of the Muromachi period, which was characterized by social turmoil and unrelenting warfare, popularly known as the Sengoku Era (Age of Warring States; 1467–1600).

[10][11] The establishment of the third and final feudal military government in the Edo period (1603–1868) brought peace and prosperity back to the islands, resulting in the second blooming of samurai etiquette in Japan.

[2][11] Moreover, proliferation in arts gave birth to many cultural treasures, such as the tea ceremony, which gradually became a byword for refinement in the Edo period.

Schools for tea ceremony then acted as another important source for promoting social etiquette to the commoners in Japan, such as zarei (bowing while kneeling).

Therefore, many industries in Japan will offer new recruits extensive training on correct ways to perform ojigi and other important business etiquette.

Additionally, as saikeirei is used only in grave situations, one is expected to stay still at the bowing position for a relatively long time to show one's respect and sincerity.

[16] Zarei is a bowing etiquette unique to East Asia, which involves bending one's upper body at kneeling, or seiza, position on traditional Japanese style tatami floors.

For saikeirei, like the standing version, it is important to allow an adequate amount of time in the bowing position before returning to the original seiza posture, in order to show the uttermost sincerity and respect.

In the meantime, one's hands should move in a similar fashion as saikeirei, again forming a triangle directly under one's face in the final bowing position.

Senrei (浅礼, the sō style) is the most casual type of zarei in everyday life, used mainly as greetings in informal situations.

[22][23] First of all, kendo practitioners bow to the dojo whenever they enter and leave the building, as it is considered a sacred space in martial arts practice.

Conventionally, a formal ojigi such as keirei or saikeirei is necessary when addressing people of higher positions, while a more casual bow of about 15° is typical between the opponents.

First of all, upon arrival at the shrine, it is proper for worshipers to perform a slight eshaku towards the main temple building as they cross the torii, which is believed to be the sacred gateway between the mundane world and the realm of the gods.

In the main praying process, worshipers should first perform two deep bows of up to 90° to pay tribute to the Shinto kami, followed by loudly clapping twice in front of the chest.

Finally, after making wishes to the kami with both palms held together in the clapping position, the worshiper should put the hands down and perform another deep bow to finish the praying ceremony.

[14][24] In a traditional Buddhist funeral in Japan, it is customary for the guests to mourn the deceased by burning powdered incense (お焼香, O-shōkō), once during the wake (通夜, Tsuya) and later again during the farewell ceremony (告別式, Kokubetsu-shiki).

[25][26] First of all, immediate relatives of the deceased will perform a formal bow to the Buddhist monks, who are hired to chant the religious sutra, and all the other guests to thank them for their attendance.

Every single element of the experience, from the calligraphy on the walls to the decorations of the utensils, is carefully tailored according to the aesthetic concepts of the host to match the season and theme of the gathering.

Upon entering, prior to the official start of the ceremony, the guests can take their time to admire the ornaments in the tokonoma and the utensils of the tea preparation station (点前座, Temae-za), which are all carefully selected to match the theme of the event.

[30] Ojigi in Japanese tea ceremony is mainly done in the zarei fashion, which can be similarly classified into three types based on the degree of formality of the gesture: shin, gyō, and sō (真行草).

Details of the etiquette may vary depending on which school of tea ceremony one subscribes to, so it is always a good idea to check the manners of the host and the guest of honor for guidelines of proper decorum.

Additionally, in a tea ceremony, guests often bring with them a traditional Japanese fan (お扇子, O-sensu), which they will place horizontally on the floor in front of them before performing the formal and semi-formal zarei gestures.