Kneeling
Kneeling is a basic
Kneeling is a primate behavior used to convey
Religion
Humans have also inherited the custom of submissive behavior. Kneeling has been prevalent in religious behaviour. It has been used as a form of prayer and a way to worship or revere deities and supernatural entities.
Judaism and Islam
Kneeling is one way of praying in both Judaism and Islam, however, the more prevalent way to pray in Judaism is to stand up and perform the Amidah.[6] Kneeling in Judaism is saved for specific kneeling stones which have become obsolete.[7] Both faiths also perform a type of kneeling prostration that involves the entire body including the head, Qidah in Hebrew, and Sajdah in Arabic.[8] This involves getting down on both knees and extending your hands on the ground until your forehead is up against the ground as well. Sometimes the disciples go so far as to lay down completely on the floor instead of just kneeling.
In Islam kneeling or prostrating (
Christianity
The history of kneeling and prostration have always been a sign of worship in Christianity.
Some churches may use a kneeler in frequented areas in order to indicate where to kneel as well as provide some level of comfort during the prayer.
Marriage
Proposals
Kneeling is the position often associated with traditional, Western marriage proposals. This position typically involves the person proposing kneeling with one knee on the ground, a position sometimes referred to as
While kneeling is considered a traditional style of proposing, there is little consensus on its historical origins, and it in fact appears to be a fairly modern custom. Connections have been made to kneeling in European feudal society, in which kneeling before a lord suggested servitude and surrender.
Christian wedding ceremonies
In Christian wedding ceremonies, especially those of the
During the ceremony, the couple may participate in the customary placing of the veil or Lazo, a rope placed around the couple's shoulders, while they are kneeling with both knees on the ground as chosen sponsors place a veil over the head of the bride and the shoulders of the groom, or have the Lazo placed around them, in order to symbolize the binding of the marriage. Following the placement of the Lazo or veil, the couple remains in a kneeling position as the priest conducts the Nuptial Blessing.[19]
Kneeling in sexual intercourse
The kneeling position may be used in various ways in sexual intercourse. A member of a couple may take a kneeling position in front of their partner in order to perform oral sex for the other. Other sexual positions involving kneeling may include the position commonly referred to as “doggy style,” in which one partner is crouched on all fours while the other takes a kneeling position, usually with both knees on the ground, in order to penetrate the crouching partner from behind, or various riding positions, in which one partner is kneeling with both knees down above the other partner and is penetrated from below.[20]
BDSM
Kneeling in different cultural societies
East Asia
There are many forms of kneeling in East Asia presented within their daily lives and daily rituals. This is different from western culture and other religions since these daily rituals are not necessarily tied to their religion but instead more to their society and culture.
Japan
Two forms of kneeling or prostration in
.China
In China, there is a form of prostration involving kneeling called Kowtow. Kowtow is where the participant kneels down then subsequently bows on the ground so that their forehead touches the ground.[30] This was a traditional way of showing respect in China. The literal translation of the mandarin word is “knock head”. This whole process consisted of three kneelings and nine knockings of the head, nine being important since it was a number associated with the Emperor. This practice of kowtowing is not new to the Chinese nor is the concept of kneeling since they sat kneeling down for much of their history as well.[31]
Kneeling in Ancient China
In ancient Chinese society, kowtow, or kneeling-bowing, was common for students to express gratitude to their teachers. Before learning any skills or knowledge, students or apprentices had to kneel down and bow toward their teachers to show appreciation. The students first thank the teacher and then demonstrate their commitment to the apprenticeship. After the ritual, teachers will express their willingness to teach and impart knowledge as well as life wisdoms.[32]
Besides students and teachers, kowtow was common among children and parents as well. The younger generation also performs kowtow toward their parents to show gratitude and appreciation.[33] Although kneeling-bowing used to be seen as the highest expression of Confucianism for the master-apprentice and children-parents relationship, the behavior has caused controversies in the modern world.
Genderization of kneeling in Greek ritual
Kneeling can be a gendered behavior in Greek Ritual. In classical attic votive reliefs, almost all kneeling worshippers are females.[34] The Greek literature also gives similar evidence. No male kneels in Greek tragedy, and in Greek comedy, only do slaves kneel. In those literature, people kneel when they are in a horrible situation, and kneeling is therefore related to supplication for change. In most cases, kneeling is considered a ritual act of last resort that usually takes place in front of a statue of God.[35] It is also seen as a sign of submission for those in victim positions. It turned out that in Greek ritual, kneeling is only appropriate for females or slaves.[36]
Prehistoric Ecuador
Kneeling behaviors occurred in prehistoric Ecuador as well. Prehistoric skeletal samples from Coastal Ecuador suggest behaviors or squatting and kneeling. Bone evidence of
Health aspects of kneeling
In East Asian cultures such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese, postures with high
In the two common styles of kneeling, the
Emotional expression
Grief
People may kneel in grief, for their own losses or for others.
In 1970,
Requests
Kneeling is also used when making emotional requests, such as asking for forgiveness.
Monarchs
European knights in the Middle Ages and now
Kneeling is viewed as a sign of submission when it is done in a royal setting. One of the most common royal settings kneeling takes place is when a person is being knighted. When knighthood began in Europe in the Middle Ages, only men could be knights. When a change to include women was made, the knighted women were made
When a knight kneels before royalty, they are proclaiming with the gesture that they are dedicated to serving and honoring the country or the Church. However, knighting ceremonies are not as rigid and demanding as they once were in the Middle Ages. There have been a few changes to the aspect of kneeling that have made the ceremony accessible to a more diverse number of people. Knighting ceremonies now usually take place with the Investiture, a special day when those that have been awarded with an honor from the Crown receive their award in person at a Royal residence. Those that are present to be knighted are no longer required to take part in all of the expansive sections of the knighthood ceremony from the Middle Ages. One of the sections that has been done away with is the individual kneeling at a chapel altar with a sword placed on it. The individual is still required to kneel before the monarch during the accolade to be dubbed. They do so on an Investiture stool.[44]
While kneeling is seen as a sign of respect and humility in countries where there is a monarch, it is not considered commonplace in countries where there is not a monarch. Because of this cultural difference, kneeling is not required for individuals from these countries when they are knighted. For example, when General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, he didn’t have to kneel when he was knighted, because he is not a British subject.[45] A few other exceptions of not kneeling before a monarch when being knighted is old age, physical inability, or health conditions.[46]
Interacting with royalty
Kneeling is a sign of reverence and submission when done toward royalty upon meeting them. Properly acknowledging the Crown is a nervous time for some individuals that are meeting royalty for the first time or are from a country without a monarch. They want to do what is appropriate.
During the reign of Queen
Sports
Placing a single knee on the ground (taking a knee) may have different meanings in different sports and situations. In many sports, taking a knee is a sign of respect and solidarity when a player from either team, or an official, is injured such that they need or may need assistance to leave the playing area. In these cases, it is considered proper for all other players (but not officials or any player assisting the injured person) to place one knee on the ground until the injured person is off the playing area.
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Baseball catcher kneeling
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Kneeling cricketer
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Kneeling in preparation for a race
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Kneeling to hold a football for the kicker
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Children kneel to play marbles.
American football and Canadian football
In American football and Canadian football, the quarterback kneel may be performed to quickly end a play and use up time on the clock with only a minimal penalty. This is particularly useful when the offensive team is ahead by a few points and does not want to risk a fumble or other turnover.
Also in American football and Canadian football, any player with the ball may take a knee to end a play or to indicate that they do not intend to advance further with the ball.
See also
- Seiza
- Dogeza
- Sitting in salah
- Genuflection
- Kneeler
- Kneeling chair
- Kowtow
- Prayer mat
- Prostration
- Quarterback kneel
- U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present)
References
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