Why are Japanese people so polite when they meet? Do they bow? Is the origin of the bow related to history?

Japan has always been a country of etiquette. In the final analysis, it is the influence of historical evolution and educational background, coupled with the strict class hierarchy and seemingly innate humility and inferiority in ancient Japan, which has created the etiquette norms respected by the Japanese.

Japanese people usually bow when they meet. It is advisable for familiar people to bow to each other for two or three seconds when they meet; If you meet a good friend, you will bend over a little longer; When you meet people with higher social status and elders, you have to wait for the other person to look up, and sometimes even bow a few times.

Every specific angle of the Japanese bow has its own meaning:

1, instantly (slightly nodding) tilt 15 degrees-say hello to work, go in and out, pass by superiors or guests, etc.

2. Chinese gifts (generally, the tilt angle of the bow is 30 degrees)-a common bow when welcoming guests and visiting customers.

3, salute (solemnly bow) 45 degrees tilt-used for adult ceremony, wedding and funeral celebrations, as well as expressing gratitude and apology.

Extended data:

Bowing is a traditional greeting in Japan, which has been gradually replaced by shaking hands. When traveling in Japan, if the host reaches out, shake hands. If the host bows, it is best to bow back, with his hands hanging down and his body bent to waist level.

If the Japanese go home, they usually bow first when they open the door and then when they come back. In Japan, there are obvious differences between men and women. Generally speaking, women bow to men first.

Baidu encyclopedia-Japanese etiquette

Baidu Encyclopedia-Japanese Bow