In the course of my Chinese lessons with a student of mine, Jiang Wei Li, we stumbled onto the subject of traditional language used to display humility and a sense of hierarchy in society.
Traditionally, Emperors in China were believed to be the sons of Heaven, ruling with a divine right. Common citizens were not permitted to see the Emperor, and even high officials allowed in his presence were not allowed to look the Emperor in the eye. (Incidentally, this traditional mentality could still be seen in the modern Communist era, as evidenced by the singular authority that leaders like Mao, Deng Xiao Ping and Jiang Ze Min held.*)
This gave rise to these ways of addressing people:
- 草民 (cao min) = grass people, meaning the common rabble.
- 陛下 (bi xia) = Implies that you are looking at the steps to the Imperial Palace, equivalent to 'Your Majesty'.
- 阁下 (ge xia) = Implies that you are looking on the palace itself.
- 殿下 (dian xia) = Implies that you are inside the palace.
- 足下 (zu xia) = Literally 'under the feet', implies that you are looking at the feet of the Emperor.
- 在下 (zai xia) = Literally 'here, under', implying that you are beneath the person you face.
In most cases involving the Emperor, people would address him as 陛下 (bi xia), but throughout daily life in traditional times, these names would be used to indicate status or relative social positions. My student/teacher Jiang explained that he would only use these now as a form of joke with friends. In modern parlance, the word 您 (nin) is sufficient to politely address another person.
This kind of language is not practical in modern life, but it's quite evocative of historical China and how people's status was reflected in their physical closeness to the Emperor's palace, chambers or person.
*As an interesting contrast, early American politics sought to reduce the power of the individual President after perceived monarchical abuses of power by George II and III in England, and other monarchs in Europe. The president's influence was counter-balanced with the weight of the courts and two houses. It could be argued that the status of the modern President owes itself to the exceptional example of presidents like Theodore Roosevelt or FDR. I've been reading a book about American history....sorry!