Nine prostrations, nine bows
By Koichi Isoda Rōshi
It is said that “the “Soto School is a Prostrations religion”. In the Soto School we do prostrations in many kinds of ceremonies actually. For example, in the Jukai ceremony, we do prostrations a few dozen times during the Danjo-rai (Worship on the platform) and Bussorai (Worship of the Buddha and Ancestors).
We do Nine Prostrations in the Three Buddha’s memorial ceremony and in the Kaisanki (Founding Abbot’s) memorial ceremony. These prostrations are considered to be an important and necessary way to show the highest reverence.
In further examples, Nine Prostrations are made on the occasion of salutations (formal congratulations) on New Year's morning, for Summer and Winter Ango opening and closing ceremonies, and for the Shuso's monastery-entering ceremony.
These Nine Prostrations are called Ryo-ten sanrai (Spreading the zagu twice, paying respects thrice).
The strictly proper formalities are:
Fully spread the zagu in Daiten and make three bows.
Spread the zagu in Tenzagu and make three bows
Fold the zagu in Sokurei and make three abbreviated bows
The words "Nine Bows" are most commonly used when we send or give a formal envelope or gift. We even use "Nine Bows" on greeting cards, letters and e-mails nowadays. Why do we use the words “Nine Bows” in these circumstances? Of course it is to show reverence.
When we visit other monasteries and offer gifts, making Nine Prostrations is the proper procedure between giver and recipient.
To begin with, on respectfully visiting a monastery:
The visitor first makes Three Prostrations (in Oke sa with zagu) in front of the main altar in the Hat- to and offers a stick of incense.
The Abbot leads the host to the reception room or Abbot’s room. The visitor places the formal envelope (gifts) on the tray in front of the Toko- noma alcove and makes Three Prostrations from the guest place toward the Tokonoma.
The Abbot advances, takes the gift and senses it, then reads the greeting card to understand its purport. The Abbot then replaces the gift in the Tokonoma alcove. The Abbot and guest make Three Prostrations simultaneously.
An older style of this Nine Prostrations ceremony was held only in the guest room.
The guest makes Three Prostrations (zagu in Daiten).
The guest then makes a courteous announcement of the purport of the visit (standing in shashu teizu - with folded hands and lowered head) and then makes Three Prostrations.
The guest places the gift on the tray in front of the Tokonoma alcove and makes Three Prostrations. The Abbot makes One Prostration in reply.
We would like to remember the deep meaning of such proper procedures and the reverence expressed by ancestors of our school whenever using (or writing) the words “Nine Bows”.
Koichi Isoda
Tōshōji Shika