How to Bow at a Korean Temple: Hapjang, Half & Full Bow

Hapjang (合掌), pressing the palms together in front of the chest, is the basic Buddhist greeting; a half bow (banbae) is bowing from the waist with palms together, and a full bow (keunjeol) brings both knees, both elbows and the forehead to the floor. At Korean temples people usually give a half bow when they meet a monk or another visitor, and a full bow before the Buddha in the hall. In the browser-based online temple Hapjang (합장), the same gestures are under [Greet] at the bottom of the screen.

Palms together / half bow: A few seconds, anywhere on the temple grounds
One full bow: About 10 seconds when done slowly
Where to do full bows: At a cushion in the Main Buddha Hall
Monks: Bow back when you give a half bow, and sometimes bow to you first
What you need: Nothing

What does hapjang (palms together) mean?

Hapjang is a greeting that came from India. It is often explained as gathering a scattered mind into one, and as showing respect to the other person. Fingertips point upward at chest height, with the elbows neither pressed against the body nor spread too wide. Whether the palms touch fully or leave a small gap is taught a little differently from temple to temple.

When do you give a half bow or a full bow?

Half bow: in front of gates such as the One-Pillar Gate or the Heavenly Kings Gate, when entering or leaving a hall, and when you pass a monk or another visitor.
Full bow: when paying respects to the Buddha in a hall. Three in a row is commonly called three bows (sambae).
When you walk past a pagoda or a Buddha statue, simply pausing for one half bow is enough.

Not rushing matters most

Many first-timers worry about getting the hand position or the order of the feet wrong, but at a mountain temple a slow, unhurried lowering of the body is valued more than a perfect movement. You don't need to be Buddhist to bow as a gesture of respect, and choosing not to bow isn't rude either.

How to do a half bow and a full bow

Palms together Stand up straight and bring your palms together in front of your chest, fingertips pointing up.
Half bow Keeping your palms together, slowly bend forward from the waist about 45 degrees, then straighten up. That's a half bow.
Kneel For a full bow, keep your palms together, bend your knees down to the floor, and place both hands on the floor in front of your knees.
Lower yourself Flatten your feet, cross one foot over the other, sit back on your heels, and bring your elbows and forehead to the floor.
Raise your palms With your forehead down, turn both palms up and lift them slightly to about ear height, then lower them. Some temples include this movement and some leave it out.
Stand up Push off with your hands to raise your upper body, tuck your toes under, stand up and put your palms together again.

Try it in Hapjang

Tap [Greet] at the bottom of the screen to choose palms together, half bow, full bow or three bows. Palms together and the half bow work anywhere on the temple grounds; for full bows and three bows, walk up to an empty cushion in the Main Buddha Hall and you'll step onto it to bow. Give a half bow near a monk and the monk bows back, and sometimes a monk will bow to you first. A half bow or palms together in front of the One-Pillar Gate or Heavenly Kings Gate adds the 門 stamp to your notebook.

Enter the temple

Frequently asked questions

How do I greet a monk at a Korean temple?

Stop walking, put your palms together and give a half bow. A quiet half bow is the usual etiquette, rather than starting a conversation or offering a handshake.

Where should my hands be for palms together?

Press your palms together at chest height with your fingertips pointing up. Just keep your hands from drifting up toward your face or down toward your stomach.

Can I bow at a temple if I'm not Buddhist?

Yes. Bowing at a temple can be simply a gesture of respect, and many temple stay guests learn it regardless of faith. If you'd rather not, that's fine too.

Last updated 2026-11-07