The ancient officials and people, as long as they were individuals, all bowed down except the emperor's parents? why

Bowing down is one of the most important rituals in ancient China, also known as kowtow and kowtow. In the ancient traditional culture of China, the etiquette of the younger generation/people with low social status to the elders/people with high social status. Not only in ancient China, but also in most Asian countries. According to the habits of modern people, few people are willing to bow their heads unless on special occasions. Bowing ceremony is inconvenient and psychologically unacceptable for people today. If we understand the origin of bow-down ceremony in ancient society, we will find that bow-down ceremony is the most convenient and simple way of etiquette under the living habits at that time. However, after the lifestyle was completely changed, the inequality and humiliation of the worship ceremony were completely exposed, which became a feudal habit that needed to be changed urgently but was still deeply rooted.

Bowing ceremony is divided into kowtowing, nodding and empty worship, which is called "formal worship". When worshipping, worshippers must kneel on the ground, press their left hands on their right hands and support them on the ground. Then, he slowly kowtowed to the ground and stayed for a long time, putting his hands in front of his knees and his head behind his hands. This is the most important etiquette in "Nine Worship". It is generally used for courtiers to visit the king and worship their ancestors. (Later, it was used for monks to raise a hand to salute people, also known as "kowtowing". )