To attend a funeral, do you kneel on your left knee or your right knee?Do you understand the etiquette of three kneels and nine bows?
In traditional Chinese culture, funeral rites are one of the important rituals to mourn and commemorate the deceased. Among them, kneeling is one of the basic elements of funeral rites, which has profound historical and cultural connotations. However, many people have this confusion: should you kneel on your left leg or your right leg first when you bow down?Let's lead you to this question and analyze the rules and meaning of nine kneeling.
Step on the left leg or the right leg first.
In Chinese history, there have been some changes in the rule of respecting the left and the right. In the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Spring and Autumn Warring States periods, the civil ministers respected the left, and the military generals respected the right;In the Qin Dynasty, it was the opposite, respecting the left;In the Han Dynasty, it was returned to the right;During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the rule that civil servants respected the left and military generals respected the right was reversedDuring the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, Wenchen respected the left and the military generals respected the right. Although the rules for honoring the left and the right have changed, it has always been the right in military ceremonies and funerals. Therefore, at the funeral, the right leg is first kneeled.
The meaning of three kneels and nine knocks.
Funeral etiquette is a traditional custom of the Chinese nation, with a long history and rich cultural connotation. Among them, kneeling, as one of the important parts of funeral etiquette, has certain norms and rules. Three kneeling and nine bowing is the highest level of kneeling in funeral rites. Three kneeling and nine knocking means kneeling on the ground three times, and nine bowing is bowing nine times to the ground. This prostration expresses deep mourning and eternal remembrance for the deceased, and is also a way to show respect for the deceased.
Steps and actions of Sajida.
The ritual of three prostrations and nine prostrations requires certain steps and movements. Stand in the starting position with your feet parallel to shoulder-width apart, eyes ahead, ready to start. Take eight steps with your right leg, take three steps, then get up and do three knee bends. Next, kneel on your right knee and then your left knee to create a kneeling position.
When kneeling, bend once so that your head and hands touch the ground at the same time. When kneeling, keep your arms shoulder-width apart and align your head three times in a row. After making three bows, stand up and start the next round of bows again.
The meaning of three kneeling and nine bowing and obedience.
The three kneeling and nine bowing are the highest levels of prostration in the funeral rites, expressing respect and mourning for the deceased through specific movements and ceremonial procedures. This solemn ceremony embodies people's thoughts and deep feelings for the deceased, and embodies the Chinese culture tradition of respecting life and respecting ancestors. Through prescribed rituals, people express their grief for the deceased at funerals, and at the same time express the importance of ceremonial order in traditional Chinese culture.
Three kneels and nine bows are one of the basic etiquettes of traditional Chinese funeral etiquette, which has rich cultural connotations. This ritual has been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times and continues to this day. Participating in the three kneeling and nine knocking is not only a remembrance of the deceased, but also the inheritance of the cultural traditions of the Chinese nation.
At the time of the funeral, the first thing to do is to kneel on the ground with your right leg. Three kneeling and nine prostrations is the highest level of funeral kneeling, which expresses respect and mourning for the deceased through solemn gestures and ritual procedures. This ritual embodies people's thoughts and deep feelings for the deceased, and embodies the cultural tradition of respecting life and revering ancestors. In fact, this ritual promotes good values and respect and reverence for the deceased.