稽首、顿首、稽颡考辨

:“稽首”是先跪而拱手下到膝前地上 ,手仍不分散 ,再缓缓伸头到手前地上 ;稽首之“稽”并非“稽留”而是“至”。“顿首”是先跪而后拱手到地 ,头急遽伸下 ,以额头叩地。“稽首”与“顿首”的区别是前者头到地是舒缓的 ,后者则是快速叩地。“顿首”与“稽颡”不是两种跪拜礼 ,实则为一。顿首 (稽颡 )表示哀恸之至和特别崇敬之意 ,用于凶丧非常之事 ,后来演变为请罪之拜。

Texttual Research and Discrimination of QISHOU DUNSHOU and QISANG

QISHOU means that one kneels down with the hands curved to the floor, unseparated, and then the head stretches out to the hands slowly; Here QI does not mean staying but reaching. DUNSHOU means a man kneels down, curving the hands to the floor and stretching his head out swiftly and kowtow by the forehead. The discrimination between QISHOU and DUNSHOU is that the former is knocking down the forehead to the floor slowly while the latter is done swiftly. DUNSHOU and QISang are not two different types of etiquette of kowtow, in fact they are the same one. DUNSHOU (QISANG) expresses the meaning of deep grief or high respect, and is usually performed for unlucky matters. Later on kowtow is for performed apology or punishment.