Should the japanese style bow replace the handshake in western culture?
479310
If all we did was bow, then how do we know that they won't pull their sword out on us?  Besides, how would men be able to prove their manliness without being able to prove how strong they are with a "friendly" hand shake.  And would the men stop kissing my hand when they meet me?  Would they start to kiss the top of my head as I bowed?  I can't help but to think of the three stooges when they would bow and boink their heads together.  Can you imagine the increase in emergency room visits by people with cracked skulls?  \n\n*hugs* ~:)
683951
Traditional etiquette requires the woman to offer her hand first in this scenario.  However, the times are changing.  I still like etiquette, and you asked.
44585
Unfortunately, the origins are lost in the mists of time. The Romans referred to the middle finger as the digitus impudicus (Indecent digit) and writings suggest that flipping the middle finger was offensive. But it is also culture based. You might see in some British comedies characters forming a V and giving a raspberry (a "phthbt" noise with the tongue and lips) which is apparently a very rude gesture in England.
1139352
Yes, it is a cultural thing...and a religious thing...and a personal choice thing...\nMost of those that are of Judeo/Christian thought wear our rings on the left hand...to some cultures the left hand is the "dirty" hand, to others the left hand is the "evil" hand...\nSo it just depends on who you are, where you are, and what you believe.
880371
To me it represents confidence and authority. I hate a weak handshake, in a man or a woman. I don't trust people with wimpy handshakes. They seem sneaky and distrustful.
1147062
The handshake has an interesting history.  The military salute is part of that history.  A handshake was a show of the empty hand, in other words no weapon, and the clasping of hands a show of equality.  I measure a man's personality and worth by his handshake.  As a rule of thumb, a strong hand shows strength of character, and a limp fish shake is a wimp.  This usually proves to be true.  And I never shake hands with a lady.  I will take her hand if she offers, but merely hold it, not shake it.
27682
traditional something. but not necessarily the "normal" one. mine was traditional scottish in america to a japanese wife. in a church, with bagpipes, kilt and 9 foot dress for my wife. then a normal one in japan, ie, not traditional (you need to live in japan to realize that few modern couples have traditional japanese weddings) - i would have prefered the traditional japanese to the "western style" that they did.
611473
Many Americans (or Westerners in general, for that matter) have no experience with the 'proper' table manners of other nations.  I was raised in a British family, so I have distinctly European table manners that seem very strange to Americans, who eat with their forks in their right hand.\n\nMany of us have never seen a Chinese family eating with correct table manners, so we have no way to learn.  \n\nThe worst example I've found is during one of my trips to America; a family was using chopsticks for the first time, and had never seen such food or utensils before.  They did not know what to do with large pieces of food, so they did the best they could to force enormous chunks of meat into their mouths, chewing with their mouths wide open.\n\nI was fortunate enough to have a Chinese aunt, who taught me the etiquette of eating with chopsticks, but we have to consider that there are people that do not know anyone that has ever been taught proper manners with them.  Nothing about seeing a pair of chopsticks suggests to a new diner that food should be passed with the thick end of them!  \n\nHow could they know if no one ever taught them?
1080110
Indians are very animate people and depend a lot on gestures while speaking, I think it comes from a different view of life, probably the Eastern thought influence as opposed to Western formalism, plus head movement is a nntable feature when answering yes/no questions. I would shake my head up and down to mean a "yes" and shake it from left to right to mean "no".
767982
it's depends on your culture baby.. the western culture put the wedding ring on the left hand... but in most of the eastern culture, they put it on the right hand...
535393
I doubt it. Culture might account for differences but as Asian cultures continue adopting western influences any disparity in maturity behaviour will even out. In a few generations the entire world will be a mass of babbling idiots.
43500
To honor one's dead relatives in known to be the tradition of the Eastern world in many countries.\n\nBuddhism in its inner most essence, has no ground for such practices.\n\nAlso, in most Eastern traditions, people would ask certain special people to help with the ceremony or praying. In ancient China, it was the taoist, but then certain Buddhist monks began to do the same as well.\n\nSimilarly in Japan, there were people who specialized in such practices... and apparently the Buddhist monks in Japan learned to began to practice it as well.\n\nThings are bundled together... but monks engaging in such practice is not taught by the Buddha.
658076
Actually, the main gesture you are referring to is called "bowing and scraping" a low, respectful bow in European courts.  \n\n(from wikipedia)\n"Scraping" refers to the drawing back of the right leg as one bows, such that the right foot scrapes the floor or earth. Typically, while executing such a bow, the man's left hand is pressed horizontally across the abdomen while the right is held out from the body.\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing_(social)\n\n(In fact, though it's not as technically precise, you could simply refer to it as a "courtly bow" and people would probably get the picture.  "Bowing and scraping" means nothing to most people, except in its derived sense of "groveling"... overdoing the courtesy... as perhaps a salesman might do.)\n\nAs for removing the cap.  Note the mention of the right hand's motion away from the body.  If one was, at the time, wearing a cap, the "bow and scrape" could be combined with another common gesture of respect --doffing the cap.  (Another gesture with a long history and many variants.  For example, the military salute with the hand to the forehead is probably derived from such a gesture.)\n\n-----------\n\nSide note: the background of all this is clear in some of the terms used.  Note that the words "curts(e)y" and "courtesy" derive from "court", that is they refer to "courtly" behavior -- how you act in the presence of a monarch
826889
The same as in older human society.  The 10 comandmets were given because the people could not figure out a basic simple idea--Treat others the way you would want to be treated--\nBecause they could not figure this out it was S P E L L E D  out for them. Lew and rules gives a guideline for behavior.\nThe hand shake evolved in the old west a way of saying "HI I DON'T HAVE A GUN"  Laws are meeded to keep each and everyone of us from acting as if we were the only ones that mattered.
1121931
Yes I'm afraid that society as a whole is getting rudder in all cultures.  I find the more polite I am with people the better the response i get from them....so if this is the case then the polite people like you and i have the advantage.
886292
The Haka has become world famous through its use by the 'All Blacks' prior to each of their international rugby matches. However, there are many types of Haka used for many different reasons. While the Haka is indeed an integral part of Maori culture, there is no cultural prohibition on it being performed by non-Maoris. The key is to understand the heritage and meaning behind the Haka and to treat it with the cultural respect it deserves. Non-Maoris who perform the Haka without understanding the background and without showing due respect would cause deep offence.\n\nYou also need to understand that in the past performing a Haka was not a 'one-sided' event. It was common for there to be a responding Haka. Clearly, given the cultural nature of the Haka, responding Hakas would be performed by other Polynesian/Maori groups, but it would not be considered offensive for any group to respond to the Haka by performing their own form of 'challenge'. As I said before, the issue is not the race or culture of the people performing the Haka or the responding Haka but the level of respect being shown for the process. \n\nThere are two links below. One will take you through the history and explain the importance of the Haka to Maori and New Zealanders in general. When you get to the linked webpage, click on the 'Launch the Haka Feature' icon.\n\nThe other will show you that the Haka can be responded to without offence.\n\nBy the way the word is MAORI; there is no 'w'.
262671
I think nowadays it's just good manners to do so.\n\nDragging up from the deepest corners of my memory, I have a feeling that the origin of the handshake was that it showed your enemy you were unarmed....most people being right handed....\n\nI much prefer a person with a firm handshake than one whose handshake can be likened to a limp fish....not nice at all.