Dogeza
Encyclopedia
is an element of Japanese manner
s by kneeling directly on the ground and bowing to prostrate oneself as touching one's head to the floor. It is translated into English as "prostration
" or "kowtow
". It is used to show deference to the most highly-revered high-class person, as a deep apology and to express the desire for a favor from said person. The term is used in Japanese politics such as which is translated to "kowtow diplomacy" or "kowtow foreign policy".
(邪馬台国, a country in old Japan), it was mentioned that commoners would, upon meeting noblemen along the road, fall prostrate on the spot, clapping their hands as in prayer (柏手 read: kashiwade), and this is believed to be an old Japanese custom. The haniwa
(埴輪) of the Kofun Period
(古墳時代) can be seen prostrating themselves in dogeza. In addition, common people performing dogeza in modern times when being interviewed by higher-ups was normal. In the early modern period, popularly as the daimyo
's procession passed by, it is believed that it was mandatory for the commoners present to perform dogeza, but that is incorrect.
In the Japanese social consciousness, the act of sitting on the ground and creating a scene (dogeza), is an uncommon deference only used when one is deviating greatly from daily behavior. Seen as an etiquette filled with the meaning of "sorry to trouble you", in the Edo period, by performing dogeza and apologizing to someone, usually the person would have a tendency to forgive.
Even nowadays, as a method of self-protection and apology in which damage to one's image is neglected, the idea of feeling shame while performing dogeza remains firmly rooted. However, generally people willingly performing dogeza in order to show that they come from a lower social standing essentially has almost no meaning.
Culture of Japan
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America...
s by kneeling directly on the ground and bowing to prostrate oneself as touching one's head to the floor. It is translated into English as "prostration
Prostration
Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Major world religions employ prostration either as a means of embodying reverence for a noble person, persons or doctrine, or as an act of submissiveness to a supreme being or beings...
" or "kowtow
Kowtow
Kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. An alternative Chinese term is ketou, however the meaning is somewhat altered: kòu originally meant "knock with reverence", whereas kē has the general meaning of "touch upon ".In Han...
". It is used to show deference to the most highly-revered high-class person, as a deep apology and to express the desire for a favor from said person. The term is used in Japanese politics such as which is translated to "kowtow diplomacy" or "kowtow foreign policy".
Summary
In gishiwajinden (魏志倭人伝, the oldest Chinese record of encounters with the Japanese), as a custom of yamataikokuYamataikoku
or is the Sino-Japanese name of an ancient country in Wa during the late Yayoi period . The Chinese history Sanguo Zhi first recorded Yemetaiguo or Yemayiguo as the domain of shaman Queen Himiko...
(邪馬台国, a country in old Japan), it was mentioned that commoners would, upon meeting noblemen along the road, fall prostrate on the spot, clapping their hands as in prayer (柏手 read: kashiwade), and this is believed to be an old Japanese custom. The haniwa
Haniwa
The are terracotta clay figures which were made for ritual use and buried with the dead as funerary objects during the Kofun period of the history of Japan....
(埴輪) of the Kofun Period
Kofun period
The is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. It follows the Yayoi period. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes referred to collectively as the Yamato period...
(古墳時代) can be seen prostrating themselves in dogeza. In addition, common people performing dogeza in modern times when being interviewed by higher-ups was normal. In the early modern period, popularly as the daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
's procession passed by, it is believed that it was mandatory for the commoners present to perform dogeza, but that is incorrect.
In the Japanese social consciousness, the act of sitting on the ground and creating a scene (dogeza), is an uncommon deference only used when one is deviating greatly from daily behavior. Seen as an etiquette filled with the meaning of "sorry to trouble you", in the Edo period, by performing dogeza and apologizing to someone, usually the person would have a tendency to forgive.
Even nowadays, as a method of self-protection and apology in which damage to one's image is neglected, the idea of feeling shame while performing dogeza remains firmly rooted. However, generally people willingly performing dogeza in order to show that they come from a lower social standing essentially has almost no meaning.