bowing

Bowing is a gesture that involves bending at the waist and is used as a form of greeting, respect, apology, or submission. It is common in many cultures and social contexts, and the depth, duration, and accompanying posture communicate different levels of deference. The term also denotes the technique used to produce sound on bowed string instruments, where a flexible stick is drawn across strings to initiate vibration.

In East Asia, bowing is a customary social act. The basic motion is a forward bend from the hips, performed whether standing or seated. The depth and timing reflect factors such as age, status, and relationship. Japan has a long tradition of formal bows, with terms like eshaku, keirei, and saikeirei describing progressively deeper bows. Similar practices appear in China, Korea, and other East Asian cultures, though local forms and etiquette vary.

In the performing arts, bowing refers to how string players use the bow. The bow moves across the strings to produce sound; players execute down-bow and up-bow strokes, and combine them with techniques such as detaché, legato, spiccato, or sostenuto to shape phrasing and tonal color. Bowing is foundational to instruments such as violin, viola, cello, and double bass, and also used on some traditional bowed instruments.

In ceremonial or religious contexts, bows can appear as acts of reverence before rulers, at ceremonies, or in ritual prayer. In modern Western etiquette, a bow is less common than a handshake or nod, but it remains a symbolic gesture at state occasions, performances, and cultural events.