Three kneels and nine bows are one of the highest etiquettes in traditional Chinese etiquette, expressing deep respect and piety. In ancient times, three kneeling and nine bowing were the highest etiquette performed on major occasions such as the emperor's enthronement, weddings, and funerals. So, what is the worship of three kneels and nine bows?
First of all, the three kneeling and nine bowing are usually the highest rituals performed on specific occasions to the gods of heaven and earth, ancestors, emperors and other honorable objects. This ritual expresses the reverence, gratitude, and piety of the worshipper for the honored object, and is a kind of spiritual baptism and sublimation.
Specifically, when the emperor ascended the throne, the courtiers would bow three times and bow to the emperor to show their respect and loyalty to the new emperor.
At the funeral, filial sons and grandsons will bow three times and nine times to their deceased relatives to express their gratitude and nostalgia for their loved ones.
At the wedding, the bride and groom will bow to the gods and parents to express their reverence for the gods, their gratitude to their parents, and their hopes for a better life in the future.
In addition, in some folk beliefs, believers also bow three times and bow to the gods to express their devotion and respect for the gods.
In general, the three kneeling and nine prostrations is a ritual of reverence and piety, through which the worshipper expresses awe, gratitude, and piety for the objects of honor, heaven and earth, gods, ancestors, etc. This kind of etiquette is not only a formal expression, but also a spiritual baptism and sublimation. In modern society, although the three kneeling and nine bowing prostrations are no longer widely used in modern society, the cultural connotation and spiritual value contained in it are still worthy of our learning and inheritance.