The Wai
• The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol.
• Raising both hands, palms joined with the fingers pointing upwards as if in prayer, lightly touching the body somewhere between the chest and the forehead, is the standard form.
• The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and courtesy are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how low the head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands.
• The wai may be made while sitting, walking, or standing.
• The person who is junior in age or status is the first one to offer the wai.
• The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to somewhere around their chest.
• If a junior person is standing and wants to wai a senior person who is seated, the junior person will stoop or bow their head while making the wai.
• If there is a great social distance between two people, the wai will not be returned.