1890s
The Fine Art of the Japanese Bow

Artist	Unknown
Publisher	Unknown
Medium	Albumen Print
Period	Meiji
Location	Studio
Image No.	80129-0038
Purchase	Digital File
Author	Kjeld Duits

This dramatized studio photograph shows two Japanese women greeting each other while seated on zabuton (座布団) cushions. Can you take a bow the Japanese way? Read on to learn how.

The two women perform a senrei (浅礼) bow by placing their hands on the floor in front of them. This bow usually involves a 30° bow. Usually, the gaze is directed at the floor, but the photographer may have wanted to show the models’ faces.

Notice the present in between the two women.

Bowing probably entered Japan with the ‘official’ introduction of Buddhism sometime during the Asuka (538 to 710) and Nara periods (710–794). At that time, bowing was a reflection of status. But over the centuries it became an integral part of daily life, expressing respect, appreciation or apologies.

There are sitting and standing bows, and different bows for different occasions. Basically, the standing bows shown below can also be performed while sitting on the floor in a traditional Japanese manner. However, never while sitting on a chair.

71205-0010 - Customer Arriving at a Japanese Ryokan, 1890s — Personnel welcomes an arriving customer at a Ryokan (Japanese inn) by sitting on the floor and bowing deeply, ca. 1890s.

Types of bows

There are four main bows, ranging from 15 degrees to the nose almost touching the floor:

Eshaku (会釈) – 15°

A bow performed with people of equal business or social rank.

Two women bowing to each other, 1890s. — Two women wearing kimono, geta and traditional hairstyles bow to each other at a set in a studio, ca. 1890s.

Keirei (敬礼) – 30~45°

Used with higher-ranking people, or people you must give extra respect, like in-laws or teachers. Also known as futsuurei (普通礼).

Children and a teacher bow to each other, 1960 — Children and a teacher bow to each other as class begins at an elementary school near Tokyo, 1960 (Showa 35). Photo by IJsbrand Rogge.

Saikeirei (最敬礼) – 45~70°

This bow shows especially deep respect or regret. During the Edo Period (1603~1868), servants would perform this bow for their feudal daimyou lords.

120824-0003 - Greeting on the street, 1904. Art by Georges Bigot. — People greeting on the street during New Year, 1904 (Meiji 37). Art by French artist Georges Ferdinand Bigot (1860-1927).

Dogeza (土下座)

This is the deepest bow. It is a seated bow with the forehead virtually (or actually) on the floor. This is especially performed when the person has done something deeply disgraceful. These days you see this bow mainly in movies and TV series.

It is occasionally also performed by company directors or government officials when faulty products or negligence have resulted in deaths or disease, or by people asking for extremely special favors.

Old photos suggest this bow was also often used as a regular greeting.

70613-0002 - Two women in kimono bow deeply — Two women greeting each other with an extremely deep bow. Unattributed, hand-colored albumen print, ca. 1890s.

Notes

¹ Illustrations courtesy of Irasutoya

Published September 24, 2018
Updated December 20, 2021 9:41 PM

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Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.

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Kjeld Duits

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Reference for Citations

Duits, Kjeld (December 20, 2021). 1890s: The Fine Art of the Japanese Bow, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on June 12, 2025 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/714/two-japanese-women-greeting

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1890sThe Fine Art of the Japanese Bow