Kneeling is a basic human position where one or both knees touch the ground. According to Merriam-Webster, kneeling is defined as "to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor". Kneeling with only one knee, and not both, is called genuflection.
Kneeling is also a primate behavior used to convey deference by making the figure that is kneeling appear smaller than the other. Primates themselves establish a dominance hierarchy (or "pecking order") which is important to the survival and behavior of the group. Chimpanzees, for example, have a complex social group that involves a dominant male and a corresponding female, to whom the other males and the juvenile chimps are submissive. Males who threaten the hierarchy are often severely injured or killed; in some instances, the use of submissive behavior is necessary to ensure survival.
Religion
Humans have inherited the custom of entering a submissive frame of mind, and kneeling has become prevalent in religious practices. It has been used as a form of prayer and a way to worship God or revere deities and supernatural entities. Kneeling has taken on many different forms and styles as different cultures and institutions have adopted it.
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. Kneeling in Judaism is saved for specific kneeling stones which have become obsolete. Both faiths also perform a type of kneeling prostration that involves the entire body including the head, Qidah in Hebrew, and Sajdah in Arabic. 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 (sujud) is usually performed on a dedicated prayer rug which is treated with especial care. Though common for Islam, there is also a prayer rug in Judaism in conjunction with the holiday of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This holiday is one of the few times in Judaism in which it is customary to pray while kneeling on the rug.
Christianity
The history of kneeling and prostration have always been a sign of prayer and worship in Christianity.Russell, Claire; Russell, W.M.S. (1989). "Cultural Evolution of Behaviour". Netherlands Journal of Zoology. 40 (4): 745–62. doi:10.1163/156854290X00190 It is mentioned in the New Testament that "whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues".Matthew 6: 5. (2006). In The HarperCollins STUDY BIBLE. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publisher. The origin of this practice is within Sacred Scripture, which states: "Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (NRSV). Some Christian churches, particularly those of the Roman Catholic and Evangelical-Lutheran traditions, have pews with kneelers. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Evangelical-Lutheran churches have a chancel rail at which the faithful kneel to receive Holy Communion. Certain parts of the church, such as where there is a votive candle rack, may have an individual kneeler known as a prie-dieu; the homes of Christians may have a prie-dieu as well for Bible reading and praying the breviary daily. In Christian churches of the Methodist and Baptist traditions, it is common for believers to kneel in their pews during a prayer led by the pastor (or a congregant) after prayer requests, praise reports and testimonies are shared. During altar calls in the Methodist tradition, congregants are invited to kneel at the chancel rails or mourner's bench to seek the New Birth (first work of grace), entire sanctification (second work of grace), or repent from backsliding.
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 genuflecting, holding an engagement ring up to the person being proposed to. Kneeling in a public space in front of an apparent significant other often suggests a forthcoming proposal, and kneeling is indeed typically the expected position when proposing publicly.Hoplock, Lisa. (2016). "Will she say yes? A content analysis of accepted and rejected marriage proposals". University of Victoria. Retrieved May 10, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/1828/7406.
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. Medieval imagery sometimes depicted a knight kneeling before a lady in an act of courtly love, suggesting kneeling as a form of romantic expression was similar to the submission given to lords. Kneeling during a marriage proposal has been suggested as a similar form of submission.
Christian wedding ceremonies
In Christian wedding ceremonies, especially those of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican denominations, it is customary for the couple to kneel before the altar, following the Lord's Prayer. Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican wedding ceremonies are often conducted within a Mass, and as such the couple and wedding guests alike kneel at several points throughout the ceremony as the liturgy calls for it. Couples are sometimes given kneelers to rest on at the altar.
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.
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.Comfort, Alex; Quilliam, Susan. (2008). "The Joy of Sex". Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1-84533-429-1.
BDSM BDSM, referring to bondage/discipline, dominance/submission and sadism/masochism, encompasses a complex variety of practices involving interpersonal relationships, typically of a sexual nature, centered around the creation of an unbalanced power dynamic. Consent is considered of the utmost importance within a BDSM relationship. Kneeling is commonplace in BDSM practices as a way to show or enforce submission to or by the dominant partner. The role of the dominant or the submissive is not exclusively gendered, though gender may influence the dynamics of a D/s relationship. Some men who serve as submissives to dominant women, for example, find comfort in the action of kneeling submissively for a woman.
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 There are two forms of kneeling or prostration in Japanese culture: Dogeza and Seiza.
Dogeza is a traditional form of respectful bowing to acknowledge superiors. This practice is two steps: kneeling down onto the ground, then bending over to touch the ground with the head. It can also be to express apology or attempt to bless someone with your good favor. This practice is mainly a form of formal and deeply emotional apology to someone of a higher rank than you within society. This is more of an older form of reverence, though, that has fallen out of practice.
Seiza is another Japanese kneeling position that refers to the traditional way of sitting down in Japan."正座は日本の文化，でも明治の文化。". blog.livedoor.jp. "IroMegane: Is Seiza really the traditional way to sit for Japanese people?". iromegane.com. This is a formal way of sitting down which was adopted by Japan after the Edo period."正座は日本の文化，でも明治の文化。". blog.livedoor.jp. "IroMegane: Is Seiza really the traditional way to sit for Japanese people?". iromegane.com. Since then, it has now become the traditional way of sitting down within the household and for certain cultural events. Many of the culturally significant and traditional events in Japanese society involve sitting positions such as funerals or tea parties. This form of sitting however is uncomfortable to those who have not practiced it for a long time; therefore people in Japan usually start practicing this posture at quite a young age.
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.Kipnis, Andrew B. (1997). "Kowtowing". Producing Guanxi: Sentiment, Self, and Subculture in a North China Village. Duke University Press. pp. 75–83. ISBN 978-0-8223-1873-6. 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.
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.Zhao, Weili. (2013). “Reinstating bodily kneeling-bowing rites sets education in pain and shame in modern China? Voluntary servitude as a new form of governing". Education et sociétés 31, no. 1. pp. 65–79
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. 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