"Eight Bows" is an ancient Chinese ritual that indicates extremely close and friendly relations. It originated in the Song Dynasty and refers to the eight prostrations made by friends on specific occasions to show deep friendship and respect. This kind of etiquette usually occurs when friends are separated or reunited, to express their reluctance and cherishment for each other.
Specifically, the "turn of the eight worships" contains the following meanings:
1.*Worship heaven and earth**: It expresses the awe and gratitude to the gods of heaven and earth, and it is also a commitment and oath to the friendship between friends.
2.*Baigao Tang**: that is, respect and gratitude to both parents, reflecting respect for friends and families.
3.*Mentoring and Mentoring**: Paying tribute to their respective teachers and friends, emphasizing the importance of friendship and mentorship.
4.*Worship Heaven and Earth**: Once again, the reverence for heaven and earth, gods, and parents, and it is also an affirmation of the friendship between friends.
This kind of ritual of "eight bows to the friend" is often mentioned in ancient literary works, such as the Yuan Dynasty Gao Ming's miscellaneous drama "Pipa Ji" has the plot of "eight bows to the friend".
It is important to note that the phrase "eight prostrations" does not mean that all friends have to bow eight times, but rather a symbolic expression used to describe the deep friendship and respect between friends. In modern society, this specific form of etiquette is no longer common, but the deep friendship and respect represented by the "Eight Worships" are still cherished.