Why You Need to ไหว้ wai and How
Reasons for giving a wai
There are 4 main reasons to wai, although you do not
always have to wai:
- Greeting
- Showing respect
- Making an apology
- Thanking someone
Types of wai
When considering the wai, there are basically 3 different types:
- Giving a wai to Buddha or a Buddha image wai pra
- Giving a wai to someone of higher status wai poo yai
- Receiving a wai rab wai
| Examples of wai Types |
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| How to wai a Buddha image. |
Left: the lower status person wais to a higher status person,
Right: a higher status person receiving a wai. |
วิธีไหว้ : How to wai
The different types differ mainly by the hand height:
- ไหว้พระ: นิ้วโป้งอยู่ที่คิ้ว wai pra - fingertips at eyebrowse height
- ไหว้ผู้ใหญ่: นิ้วโป้งอยู่ที่จมูก wai poo yai - fingertips at nose height
- รับไหว้: ไหว้ผู้ที่อ่อนกว่าเวลาเค้าไหว้เรา มืออยู่ที่อก rab wai - hands chest height
You should keep your elbows tucked in and fingertips level with each other.
You wai the Buddha image 3 times in the wat in order to wai พระรัตนไตร :
- พระพุทธ - the Buddha
- พระธรรม - the Buddha's teachings
- พระสงฆ์ - the Monks
