釋門歸敬儀 2.19

2.19

Second, explaining bowing the head to the ground (jisou): In ancient script it was written 稽 (ji), but now it is written 稽. It is commonly practiced in secular custom and does not necessarily follow the ancient form. The Baihu Tong says: "Ji means to reach; sou means the head." It means bowing down in front with the head reaching the ground. The Shuowen Jiezi says: "Lowering the head is called ji." The Sancang says: "Bowing the head to the ground is kowtowing (dunsou)"; that is, placing the head down to the ground. However, in current practice, kowtow is lighter, meaning standing tall and nodding the head in empty air. Therefore, when Shi Huiyuan of the Jin wrote letters to secular gentlemen, he only wrote "kowtow" and did not make a cupped-hand bow (yi), meaning he did not bend his body but merely stood. Thus, making a deep cupped-hand bow to the Minister of Works does not necessarily require bending the body. However, kowtow (dunsou) and pressing the forehead (dunsang) are standard practices in secular custom; sou is the general name for the head, and sang is the specific name for the forehead. In ancient rites, there were "bowing the head to the ground, bowing the head to the ground" and "pressing the forehead, pressing the forehead," which expressed profound solemnity in venerating the Son of Heaven, hence repeated twice. According to this, pressing the forehead is bowing with the forehead touching the ground.