Applause along the generations

[Dom Tuk]

The clapping of hands seems to be dominant form of applause all over the world. Are there any cultures/countries that do not clap their hands to show appreciation. When did this method of applause originate and where. Is it energy efficient?

[smorodina]

I don't know about applause, but there are some surprising variations in what you might feel are natural gestures. For example, in Bulgaria, the nod of the head means 'no' and the shake means 'yes'.

[jno]

Zen monks clap with one hand to acknowledge an especially cute koan.

[Artful]

I am sorry, jno, but I don't understand or are you talking zen? What is a koan and how in heaven do you clap with one hand??

[jno]

Hello Artful - a koan is a sort of proposition, often apparently irrational, that students of zen are told to ponder as a way to enlightenment - here is a Wikipedia article. One of the best known is 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?'

And no... I don't know the answer, so I guess it'll be another lifetime or two before I reach enlightenment.

[spudqueen]

I think it is in Russia where a slow hand clap, used in this country to show displeasure, is used to show great pleasure.

[Peter Pedant]

erm deaf people put their hands above their heads and shake them to show laughter

special case i suppose.

another koan is what is the sound of a tree falling in a forest when there is no-one to hear it?

by the way - anyone who lives on Cos is a Coan.