Bowing avoid bumping heads. The kowtow is the highest sign of reverence in Han Chinese culture, but its use has become extremely rare since the collapse of Imperial China. In many situations, the standing bow has replaced the kowtow. However, in modern Chinese societies, bowing is not as formalized as in Japan, South Korea and North Korea. Bowing is normally reserved for occasions such as marriage ceremonies and as a gesture of respect for the deceased, although it still sometimes used for more formal greetings. In China, three bows are customarily executed at funerals including state funerals, ancestral worship, and at
Yamato people "behaviorally 'submissive' or physically 'short'." The first "submissive; obedient" explanation began with the (121 CE) "Shuowen Jiezi" dictionary. It defines 倭 as "shùnmào" 順皃 "obedient/submissive/docile appearance", graphically explains the "person; human' radical with a "wěi" 委 "bent" phonetic, and quotes the above "Shi Jing" poem. "Conceivably, when Chinese first met Japanese," Carr suggests "they transcribed Wa as *ʼWâ 'bent back' signifying 'compliant' bowing/obeisance. Bowing is noted in early historical references to Japan." Examples include "Respect is shown by squatting", and "they either squat or kneel, with both hands on the ground. This is the way they show respect." Koji Nakayama