Why don't Chinese people bow to their elders like Korea and Japan?

为什么中国人不像韩国和日本那样向长辈鞠躬？

以下是Quora网友的评价：

Alice Lee

Following the establishment of the Qing Dynasty by the Manchu as a ruling foreign entity, the concentration of imperial power intensified further. Bowing and kowtowing became not merely daily social etiquette but also a test of servility to express loyalty towards the Manchu nobility. Emperors of the Qing Dynasty appeared more aloof than their predecessors from dynasties like the Han, Tang, and Song, who would return salutations to the scholars as a display of their humility and noble character. Japan and Korea inherited the ancient Chinese civilizational etiquettes from such dynasties as the Han, Tang, Song, and Ming.

随着满族建立清朝，成为一个外来的统治实体，皇权的集中进一步加剧。鞠躬和磕头不但成了日常的社交礼仪，还成了对满族贵族表达忠诚的一种奴性测试。与汉、唐、宋等朝代的皇帝相比（他们会向学者回礼，以彰显他们谦逊和高尚的品格），清朝皇帝更加冷漠。日本和朝鲜从汉、唐、宋、明等王朝传承了中国古代的文明礼仪。

However, the Qing Dynasty is considered the darkest and most despotic period in Chinese history, during which the true essence of Chinese civilization was altered beyond recognition. As a minority, the Manchus, to sustain their dominance and superior status, hindered the technological advancements of the majority Han Chinese, restricted international exchanges, and even banned the traditional Han Chinese attire. Chinese men were forced to wear the Manchu-style queue, which was seen as unattractive, while women were made to wear unflattering clothes resembling lanterns and subjected to the painful practice of foot binding.

清朝被认为是中国历史上最黑暗、最专制的时期，在此期间，中国文明的精髓被改动得面目全非。作为少 数民族，满族为了维持自己的统治地位和优越地位，阻碍了人口大族汉族的技术进步，限制国际交流，甚至取缔汉族的传统服饰。中国男子被迫穿上难看的满族服饰，女子则被要求穿像灯笼一样不讨人喜欢的衣服，并忍受缠足之苦。

The Ming Dynasty saw the closure of numerous schools, and the common people were deprived of their right to education. The three hundred years of Qing rule marked the begng of China's decline on the world stage, similar to the contemporary isolation of North Korea. Prior to the Qing Dynasty, China was a pivotal economic and cultural power globally, with its civilization influencing the entire East Asian region, admired by many countries. During the Qing era, the Chinese, because of their peculiar and unattractive attire and barbarized culture, became the butt of jokes among neighboring countries.

明朝关停了大批学校，普通百姓被剥夺了受教育的权利。清朝统治下的三百年标志着中国在世界舞台上逐步衰落的开始，中国和当代朝鲜一样孤立。在清朝之前，中国是全球举足轻重的经济和文化强国，中华文明影响了整个东亚地区，是许多国家羡慕的对象。清朝时期，中国人由于奇特丑陋的服装和野蛮的文化，成了邻国取笑的对象。

The 1911 inhai Revolution eventually overthrew the Qing rule, transforming societal norms and viewing bowing and kowtowing as shameful remnants of Manchu feudal tradition. Modern Chinese, having embraced the Western values of freedom and equality early on, pursue individuality, not only seeking Western innovation and liberation of thought but also gradually restoring the true face of China prior to the Qing Dynasty. This is exemplified in the revival of Hanfu, and the related development in weddings, tourism, film, animation, and literature.

1911年的辛亥革命最终推番了清朝的统治，中国社会发生了天翻地覆的变化，鞠躬和磕头被视为满族封建残余，受人诟病。现代中国人很早就接受了西方自由平等的价值观，追求个性，不仅向往西方的创新和思想解放，而且逐渐恢复了清朝以前中国的真实面貌。这体现在汉服的复兴，以及中式婚礼、旅游、电影、动画和文学方面的相关发展。

Michael X

Because Chinese people believes it was the social hierarchy caused Qing's dynasty weakness. If people aren't equal, they wouldn't fight well. The nationalist revolution 1911 abandoned all those shit, the co unist revolution amplified it. So people are a lot of more equal than Taiwan/Korea/Japan. South Korea is notorious for this. They can bully younger kids that are only a few years younger than them.

因为中国人认为社会等级制度导致了清朝的衰败。如果人们不能平等，他们就打不好仗。1911年的民族主义革命摒弃了这些糟粕，*主义革命继续发扬光大。所以人们比台湾地区、韩国和日本更平等。韩国在众人平等方面口碑极差。他们可以欺负比自己小几岁的孩子。

Alan Dawson

Yeah gee gosh eh, you racist twit? Go away and try to figure out intelligent questions. And answers.

是啊，天啊，你这个种族主义白痴？滚，想点儿聪明的问题再来。

Rodriguez

Bowings customs can vary significantly between cultures, and while bowing is a common sign of respect in many Asian cultures, it's not universal, and the specific customs can differ. In China, bowing is traditionally not as common as it is in Japan or Korea.

The Chinese culture places a strong emphasis on showing respect to elders and authority figures through other means, such as addressing them with specific honorifics, performing acts of service or kindness, or simply using polite language. These expressions of respect may be more common in Chinese culture than bowing.

在不同文化中，鞠躬的习俗差别很大，虽然鞠躬在许多亚洲文化中都是常见的表示尊重的方式，但这并不是普遍存在的，具体的习俗也有所不同。在中国，传统上的鞠躬也不像日本或韩国那样普遍。

中国文化强调的是通过其他方式表达对长辈和权威人物的尊重，比如用特定的敬语，做一些帮助或友善的事，或者简单地使用礼貌的语言。在中国文化中，这些表达尊重的方式比鞠躬更为常见。

It's important to remember that cultural practices can evolve over time, and there can be variations within a culture as well. In modern China, especially in urban areas, you may find some instances of bowing, especially in formal settings or as influenced by international customs.

Ultimately, cultural practices are shaped by a variety of historical, social, and regional factors, and they can change over time. So, while bowing may not be as common in China as in some other Asian countries, it's essential to appreciate and respect the unique customs and traditions of each culture.

还有重要的一点，是我们要记住，文化习俗会随着时间的推移而演变，文化内部也会出现变化。在现代中国，特别是在城市地区，你可能会看到人们鞠躬致敬，尤其是在正式场合或受到国际习俗的影响。

归根结底，文化习俗是由各种历史、社会和地区因素塑造的，它们会随着时间的推移而变化。因此，虽然鞠躬在中国不像在其他亚洲国家那样普遍，但我们必须欣赏和尊重每种文化独特的习俗和传统。

Zw Zhu

On average, Chinese people are more casual and unruly than Japanese and Koreans.

In order to express our love for our elders, we usually hug our grandma’s face and kiss her hard. But the strange thing is that we rarely do this with our parents.

一般而言，中国人比日本人和韩国人更松弛随意，更不守规矩。

为了表达我们对长辈的爱，我们会抱着奶奶的脸用力地吻她。但奇怪的是，我们很少对父母这样做。

Minghui Wang

Because bowing is too formal, it may make the other person uneasy. But if you really want to show sincere, unlimited respect, you can bend down and bow to him/her.

因为鞠躬太正式了，可能会让对方感到不安。但如果你真的想表达真诚的、无限的尊重，你可以弯下腰向他/她鞠躬。

Paulus Fang

天 地 君 亲 师

Nowadays, we’d like to say 天 地 国 亲 师

天 HEAVEN: this word is not precise enough, should be more like nature, and Dao in Chinese YI book or Fengshui

地 EARTH：raises all species up.

国 COUNTRY AND NATION

亲 PARENT

师 MASTER：definitely different from the concept of teacher

First bow, to heaven

Second bow, to earth

Third bow, to our country

Last bow, to ancestors.

Japanese and Koreans, do they know the meaning of that?

天 地 君 亲 师

现在，我们会改成：天地国亲师

天：这个词不够精确，应该更接近“自然”以及中国易书或风水中的“道”

地：滋养万物。

国：国家与民族

亲：父母

师：宗师，绝非普通老师

一鞠躬，对上天

二鞠躬，对大地

三鞠躬，对祖国

再鞠躬，对祖先。

日本人和韩国人知道这是什么意思吗？

Brig Watch

I can give a different reason.

After the New Culture Movement (around the time of the May 4th Movement in 1919),Chinese people are educated to treat their traditional culture in a,”Discard the dross and take the essence”,way.

Now,the country name often goes by name of the new China，used to distinguish the past old China.

If one overemphasizes the past traditional custom,another may says he lives in the Qing dynasty.

我可以给大家提供一个不同的理由。

新文化运动后(1919年五四运动前后)，中国人接受了以“去其糟粕，取其精华”的方式对待传统文化的教育。

现在，我们通常用新中国这个名字来区分旧中国。

如果一个人过分强调过去的传统习俗，别人可能会说他还生活在大清呢。

The new money in China started to grow up after the reform and opening-up policy.On the contrary,South Korea and Japan don’t go through a revolution of blood and fire to wipe out plutocrat and old and well-known family which often are the major force of maintaining traditional relationship in East Asia.

Of course,there are quite a few clan against modern in the south of China,but compared with the plutocrat in the the other two countries,it’s like “The moon is not seen when the sun shines”.

改革开放后，中国开始出现新贵族。但韩国和日本并没有通过血与火的革命来消灭财阀和名门望族，而财阀和名门望族正是维持东亚传统的主要势力。

当然，中国南方也有不少依然遵循旧习的家族，但与其他两个国家的富豪相比，就是小巫见大巫了。

Lzagddsg

I’m a student in China and I bow to my teachers as the one of school rules.

Well, in China, people don’t like to bow to their elders because people think they’re independent and bow means living in a lower place in Chinese culture. For another reason, chinese don’t enjoy to show their ages to the others, so bowing is being harder.

I don’t know why Koreans and Japanese bow, but I guess that’s because of the rules or the tradition.

我是一名中国学生，学生向老师鞠躬是我们学校的校规之一。

嗯，在中国，人们不喜欢向长辈鞠躬，因为人们认为自己是独立的人，而在中国文化中鞠躬意味着自己地位较低。还有另一个原因是，中国人不喜欢向别人显示自己的年龄，所以鞠躬也比较难。

我不知道为什么韩国人和日本人会鞠躬，但我猜这应该是因为社会规则或传统。

in Cai

Because we went through an egalitarian revolution.

While we still respect our elders, we do not submit to them.

So nowadays we bow only to the dead, which is a perfectly reasonable compromise to me.

Except kids are sometimes asked to bow to the elderly because those little fuckers need to be kept in line.

Cultural practices are rarely coherent.

因为我们经历了一场平等主义革命。

虽然我们仍然尊敬长辈，但我们并不屈从于长辈。

所以现在我们只向死者鞠躬，这对我来说是一个完全合理的妥协。

我们有时候会要求孩子向老人鞠躬，因为那些小混蛋实在需要管教。

不同国家的文化习俗很少会完全相同。

Wdnmd

Because the more a person bows, the cheaper his bowing becomes, just like inflation. Now the Chinese only bow to the heroes of the country.

As for the elders, what they need more is care.

因为一个人鞠躬的次数越多，他的鞠躬就越不值钱，就像通货膨胀一样。现在中国人只会向国家英雄鞠躬。

对于老年人来说，他们更需要的是关爱。

Skye

In China, the older generation may still pay attention to these customs, and the younger generation is basically not so particular anymore

在中国，老一辈人可能仍然会注重这些习俗，但年轻一代基本上已经不那么讲究了。

Harry Wong

china is the most polite country in the world. but now consider bow to their elders is old fashioned.

中国是全世界最有礼貌的国家。但现在人们觉得向长辈鞠躬已经过时了。

Le Bon

It’ was abandoned in 1912.

Chinese people only bow when they apologize seriously, attend a funeral, and worship their dead ancestors.

1912年，人们废弃了鞠躬的礼仪。

中国人只有在认真道歉、参加葬礼、祭拜祖先时才会鞠躬。

inyang Niu

You know what? Chinese culture is hard to assimilate into other cultures. China will always embrace other foreign cultures, and even 'admire' easy civilizations with a 'self-prepared' mentality, so to speak, but China's oversized population as well as its oversized society creates a kind of magical racial gift-letting go of embracing other cultures, and as a result The result was that other cultures disappeared into Chinese culture.

You can also think of Chinese culture as a big ball of white cloth, a very, very big white cloth.

When Chinese culture encounters a mass of blue, we don't talk about "cutting off the blue-stained part", but rather open our arms to embrace it, and eventually it becomes a bigger mass of "very light blue-white".

你知道吗？中国文化很难被其他文化同化。因为中国总是会接受其他外来文化，“欣赏”简单的文明，但中国庞大的人口和庞大的社会造成了一种神奇的种族天赋—不会执着于接纳其他文化，其他文化反倒会逐步消失在中国文化之中。

你也可以把中国文化想象成一个巨大的白布球，一块非常非常大的白布。

当中国文化遇到一团蓝色的时候，我们不会“剪掉染蓝的部分”，而是张开双臂去拥抱它，最终变成一团“很浅的蓝”。

Then we meet red, and we melt it away into a larger mass of a slightly more pronounced light purple.

One by one, the colors poured down, and in the end, there was still a very high degree of certainty that we would be called the "Chinese nation".

Back on topic, the tedious etiquette of bending and bowing when meeting and speaking in honorifics has been discarded as dross.

Isn't the Chinese handshake now more civilized than bowing and kneeling?

当我们遇到红色，我们把它吸收融合成一团浅紫色。

我们遇到的颜色一个接一个，最后，我们大概率还依然是“中华民族”。

言归正传，见面时弯腰鞠躬、言必不敢忘敬语的繁琐礼仪已经被摒弃了。

现在中国人见面握手不是比鞠躬和下跪更文明吗？