1873年外国使臣以鞠躬或作揖礼觐见同治帝的事实,如同一个强有力的楔子,严重动摇了传统跪拜礼仪的权威与根基;
The fact that foreign ministers bowed to Emperor Tong Zhi in the court in 1873 shook the basis and authority of the traditional proprieties of worship on bended knees severely .