Ketou and Qing An
2 min readKetou is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to touch the head to the ground.Ke means”bump”or”knock”and tou means“head.”Traditionally，the formal Chinese ketou included three kneelings and nine prostrations.
Traditional Chinese etiquette contained situations in which ketou was performed. According to imperial Chinese protocol，ketou was performed before the emperor.
During the Spring Festival，younger family members would ketou to members of each generation above them.At a wedding ceremony，the bride and bridegroom had to ketou to everyone from the eldest down to their parents in order.During ancestor worship services and the Bright and Clear Festival，ketou was also often performed.People lit incense，and the eldest male led the ancestor worship.People then did ketou or bowed.Afterwards，they gave food and wine to the ancestors，and burnt paper money.
In Buddhist or Daoist mona-steries，ketou is often performed before Buddhist or Daoist statues.
What are the features of Qing An Etiquette？
Qing An means”wishing somebody good health.”It is said that this etiquette started as a military salute in the Ming Dynasty.At that time，as a soldier or an officer of lower ranks met with an officer of higher ranks，he would show respect by bending one of his knees.This behavior was called“One-Knee-Bent Etiquette.
In the Qing Dynasty this tradition continued.The Qing Eight Banner-men followed the etiquette in Eight Banner families and some Han-nationality families of Qinggovernment officials.Within the family，the junior members to the elders，children to parents，wife to husband，servants to the family host or hostess usually performed this etiquette.By this time，this etiquette was called“qing an，”which meant“wishing somebody good health.”The following is the movement of the one-knee bent etiquette.
Stand naturally upright.Step forward with the left leg and then bend the leftknee with the left hand placed on the left knee.Meanwhile，kneel down with the right knee，with the right hand hanging downward.Eyes look straight ahead；shoulders are relaxed；don’t bend one’s back.
