origin of gassho rei

[Kaenzig]

I don't know if this was discussed before but what is the origin of gassho rei?
Is it japanese, chinese or even indian?
Is it used outside of shorinji kempo?

[Josh Reyer]

I don't know if this was discussed before but what is the origin of gassho rei?
Is it japanese, chinese or even indian?

It is a Buddhist gesture that goes back to India.

Is it used outside of shorinji kempo?

Very much so. It's a known gesture in all places in Southern Asia where Buddhism spread.

[sean dixie]

I've spent a lot of time in Thailand over the years and the gesture is very common there, I think used more as an act of humility/asking for forgiveness than how it is used in Shorinji.

[Kaenzig]

thank you for the answers. I'm feeling less stupid now.

[Anders Pettersson]

Wikipedia give som explanation from a non-kenshi perspective.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gassho#G

/Anders

[Steve Williams]

Definately buddhist.....
Check this picture from our site, when some of my kenshi visied a chinese state circus which had a shaolin monks demo...

[JL.]

Gassho!

[…]Check this picture […]

No one in this picture is doing proper Gassho rei!

Kesshu,
______ Jan.

[Rob Gassin]

In most cultures, the equivalent of gassho rei is performed with the elbows down against the sides of the chest and the hands under chin level.

My understanding is that Kaiso chose this greeting as a combination of the Indian sign of peaceful salutation (Namaste) and the fact that there is no bowing, symbolising that we are all equals and the hands in front of the face having a defensive purpose.

[Steve Malton]

A while back I helped a young Japanese lady carry her suitcase down the stairs at Paddington station. When we got to the bottom she said thank you and did gassho rei. I always wondered if she was a kenshi...

[sean dixie]

Steve! You'll do anything for a date!

[Ewok]

A while back I helped a young Japanese lady carry her suitcase down the stairs at Paddington station. When we got to the bottom she said thank you and did gassho rei. I always wondered if she was a kenshi...

I'd think she would have to be - only monks/priests and kenshi do that in Japan - I've done gassho rei out of reflex when saying thank you to a Japanese colleague at work and he thought I was going crazy...

[Indar]

I always wondered if she was a kenshi...

......more importantly.......how did she know that you are a kenshi?

[judepeel]

Are you sure she was Japanese? - for instance Nepalese gassho rei all the time (though it's called Namaste)

[Steve Malton]

......more importantly.......how did she know that you are a kenshi?

Because I was in London yet being nice to a stranger? Seriously, probably she didn't, but like Leon, a lot of kenshi rei reflexively, maybe she did too?

Are you sure she was Japanese? - for instance Nepalese gassho rei all the time (though it's called Namaste)

Pretty sure - my ear for foreign language is a bit shoddy but I think she said Arigato.

[Ronnie Smart]

Maybe it's possible the use of Gassho Rei as a greeting and farewell salute between kenshi is also connected to the fist raised under the palm in Pre-Modern China? This seems to emphasise respect and loyalty, though I don't know much about this - not my specific area of study.

Gassho,
Ronnie.