palm-fist greeting

A traditional Chinese greeting where the fist of one hand is pressed against the palm of the other.

There are two types: Gongshou Li and Baoquan Li. In Gongshou Li, the fingers cup the fist, and in Baoquan Li, the fingers are held straight out.

Gongshou Li (拱手礼), also know as Fist and palm salute, is a formal greeting etiquette in ancient China. It is commonly used in daily occasions (meeting and parting, when offering thanks or apologies). This greeting consists of a half-fist held in the palm of the other hand at stomach level, while bowing slightly to deeply depending on how much respect they want to convey.

Note that for males, the right-hand makes the fist and the left hand is on top. For females, it's the opposite. At a funeral, the greeting is done on the other way around: right-hand on top for men and left-hand on top for women.

Baoquan Li (抱拳礼) also know as Kung Fu Salute, Hold palm salute or Hold fist salute, is a common etiquette derived from (but not exclusive to) Chinese martial arts. It shows the humility and often widely used among the kung fu masters and students. This salute is generally characterized by an open left hand placed next to a closed right fist. The importance is that the fingers on the left hand should stay extended and not flexed to cover the right fist.

Examples

Gongshou Li

Baoquan Li

See also

• clenched hand
• cracking knuckles
• palm-fist tap
• own hands together
• Tag Group:Gestures

External links

• Chinese Customs, Manners and Etiquette
• Chinese Etiquette: Fist and palm salute (and the difference between Gongshou Li and Baoquan Li)
• Origins and Meaning of the Kung Fu Salute by Shuai Zheng (2012)