Terminology The word Kowtow is derived from / (). An alternative Chinese term is / (); however, the meaning is somewhat altered: has the general meaning of knock, whereas has the general meaning of "touch upon (a surface)", / meaning head. The date of this custom's origin is probably sometime during the Spring and Autumn period or the Warring States period of China's history (771–221 BC), because it was a custom by the time of the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC).
Terminology The word Kowtow is derived from / (). An alternative Chinese term is / (); however, the meaning is somewhat altered: has the general meaning of knock, whereas has the general meaning of "touch upon (a surface)", / meaning head. The date of this custom's origin is probably sometime during the Spring and Autumn period or the Warring States period of China's history (771–221 BC), because it was a custom by the time of the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC).