US president donald Trumps oddly uncomfortable 14-second handshake with Chinese president Xi Jinping last week.
Louise Pryke
Last week, United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shook hands outside China’s Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, for 14 seconds. Almost immediately, we saw various pundits trying to interpret the meaning of the interaction.
A brief look at the history of the handshake, however, reveals the complexity of this gesture’s symbolism.
Handshakes can be traced back to ancient societies, but the exact origins are somewhat mysterious. It is often said – although difficult to prove – that the gesture developed as a symbol of good faith, with the participants showing their hands to be empty of weapons.
