Kotow

If you WILL fling yourself under the wheels, Juggernaut will go over you, depend upon it; and if you and I, my dear friend, had Kotow performed before us every day, — found people whenever we appeared grovelling in slavish adoration, we should drop into the airs of superiority quite naturally, and accept the greatness with which the world insisted upon endowing us.

The Book of Snobs 2006

Kotow; pour our millions into the bottomless purses of spendthrifts; give them our most beautiful women.

The Voice in the Fog Harold MacGrath 1901

If you WILL fling yourself under the wheels, Juggernaut will go over you, depend upon it; and if you and I, my dear friend, had Kotow performed before us every day, -- found people whenever we appeared grovelling in slavish adoration, we should drop into the airs of superiority quite naturally, and accept the greatness with which the world insisted upon endowing us.

The Book of Snobs William Makepeace Thackeray 1837

A Dutch embassy instituted shortly after the failure of that of Lord Macartney, fared no better, although the ambassador submitted with a good grace to the prostration of the Kotow.

Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams. Josiah Quincy 1818

Macartney had performed the Kotow; and Kiaking, the successor of

Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams. Josiah Quincy 1818

Emperor Kienlung, and presented to him his credentials, without performing the prostration of the Kotow -- the Chinese act of homage from the vassal to the sovereign lord.

Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams. Josiah Quincy 1818