Clapping

[spiff]

Why do we clap to show gratitude/hapiness/appreciation? Is it a universal gesture?

[bernardo]

It's to break up the rhythm of the music, so that we don't still have the beat rattling around in our heads interfering with the rhythm of the next piece of music.

[tartanwiz]

Ah, but what is the sound of one hand clapping?

[Cetti]

This is for TW who's obviously into Zen! Please excuse the cross posting spiff.

"I've been asking people lately if the phrase 'one hand clapping' means anything to them. Some immediately identify its Zen origin, but most are far less sure where they might have heard it. It echoes in their head a bit, but they don't know why. Still others are completely unfamiliar with it, but are immediately engaged by this odd phrase. Its possibilities intrigue them. Of course, that's what makes it a Zen Koan. It evokes thoughtfulness, and, hopefully, enlightenment".

[tartanwiz]

Didn't mean to be facecious, spiff. Making a noise has always been a way of cheering, and I suppose clapping is more 'civilised' than whooping and shouting. Incidentally, in Russia it is the custom, if an audience applauds you, to clap back (this is not to applaud yourself but to return your appreciation). Cetti - thanks for that bit of enlightenment. Om Cetti!

[Cetti]

A bit more info for you spiff. There doesn't seem to be a conclusive answer as it's thought to be partially instinctive. Babies do it when they first learn to respond to sight and sound. It's not thought that hand-clapping as applause is universal, though in some cultures, stomping feet is the proper practice to symbolize approval after a performance. In fact, you can see this with musicians in orchestras, who will stomp their feet on the stage in lieu of clapping. Clapping is also an effective way to keep a beat when all other instruments (such as drums) are unavailable. The action of clapping after a performance is something we learned somewhere along the way. Since it is not universal, it may simply be something that we learn from our parents or other human beings as being the proper way to show approval.

[spiff]

Cheers guys! don't worry about the cross posting..very enlightening!! There was an episode of the simpsons in which lisa asked bart "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" to which he replied "this" and then tapped his fingers on the base of his thumb!!

[IndieSinger]

At the end of lectures in Heidelberg uni, instead of clapping, we knock on the table rapidly. I don't know if this is a Heidelberg thing, a Southern German thing, a German thing or what.