As you explore the vast Wuxia world of Where Winds Meet, you’ll eventually encounter puzzles and hidden interactions that require your character to perform a “bow.” These opportunities often appear as cryptic hints in scrolls or ancient tomes, promising substantial rewards for those who can decipher the clue.
The problem? Many players search through the emote menu looking for a bow or kowtow action, only to find nothing that fits. Some assume it’s a story-unlocked emote they haven’t reached yet. Others hunt for a keybind, expecting it to work like the appearance customization system. Both assumptions are wrong.
The truth is refreshingly simple once you know the secret—but the game doesn’t exactly spell it out for you. Let me explain how bowing actually works and where you need to look.
Check our full Where Winds Meet Walkthrough, Weapons, Quest and Skill Guide
The Key to Bowing: Finding Grass Mats
Here’s the crucial detail that clears up all confusion: You can only bow on grass mats in Where Winds Meet.
These mats are called Liangxi in Chinese culture (similar to Japanese Tatami mats), and they’re the physical objects you need to interact with to perform the bow action. There’s no emote menu option, no hidden keybind—just a contextual interaction that appears when you approach these specific mats.
What this means practically: Any puzzle or exploration challenge requiring you to bow will have a grass mat placed somewhere nearby. If you’re reading a clue about bowing but don’t see the option, you’re probably not standing in the right spot.For more general gameplay tips and puzzle solving strategies, see our tips and tricks beginners guide.
Step-by-Step: How to Perform the Bow
The actual process is straightforward once you’ve located the grass mat:
- Find the grass mat near the puzzle or interaction point
- Walk onto the mat until you see the contextual prompt appear
- Look for the “Bow” prompt on your screen (it appears when positioned correctly)
- Press the interact key:
- PC: F key
- PlayStation: R2 button
- Wait for the progress bar to complete the bow animation
The progress bar indicates how long the bow action takes. Don’t move or cancel the animation—let it complete fully for the interaction to register.
Visual Cue to Look For
The grass mat has a distinctive appearance—a woven, rectangular mat with a natural fiber texture. Once you know what to look for, they’re fairly easy to spot near shrines, statues, and other ceremonial locations throughout the game world.
When you’re standing in the correct position on the mat, the “Bow” prompt will clearly appear on screen, removing any guesswork about whether you’re in the right place.
Example: Echoes in the Shrine Exploration Quest
One of the early encounters with the bow mechanic occurs during the Echoes in the Shrine exploration quest. This quest demonstrates an important detail about how bowing works in certain puzzles.
The setup:
- Large statue blocking your path
- Grass mat positioned in front of the statue
- Clues suggesting you need to “pay respects” or “bow”
The solution: You need to perform the bow action three times on the grass mat to move the statue.
Important detail: Each bow counts as one completion. After the first progress bar finishes, you’ll need to:
- Step off the mat briefly
- Return to trigger the bow prompt again
- Complete the second bow
- Repeat for the third bow
Once all three bows are completed, the statue automatically moves aside, revealing the path forward. The game doesn’t always tell you how many bows are required, so if one doesn’t work, try performing it multiple times.
Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
“I don’t see the bow prompt”
- You’re not standing on the grass mat
- Look around the immediate area for a woven mat near shrines, statues, or ceremonial spaces
- The mat might be facing a specific direction—try different angles
“The bow completed but nothing happened”
- Some puzzles require multiple bows (like the Echoes in the Shrine example)check our complete Echoes in Shrine dungeon guide for detailed walkthrough
- Try bowing 2-3 more times to see if that triggers the solution
- Make sure you’re facing the correct direction (usually toward whatever you’re “paying respects” to)
“I found a mat but there’s no prompt”
- Not all grass mats are interactive—some are purely decorative
- If a puzzle requires bowing, the interactive mat will be very close to the puzzle location
- Check nearby scrolls or environmental clues to confirm you’re in the right spot
Where You’ll Encounter Bow Puzzles
While I won’t spoil specific locations, bow interactions typically appear in these contexts:
Religious and ceremonial sites:
- Shrines and temples
- Ancient statues
- Sacred grounds
- Memorial locations
Hidden treasure puzzles:
- Cryptic scrolls mentioning “paying respects”
- Ancient tomes with cultural references
- Environmental storytelling near significant landmarks
Story-related interactions:
- Certain quest objectives requiring cultural customs
- NPC-related sequences involving respect or ritual
The game uses bowing as a way to integrate cultural authenticity into its Wuxia setting. These moments often feel meaningful rather than arbitrary, connecting you to the world’s traditions.
Cultural Context: Why Bowing Matters in Wuxia
The bow mechanic isn’t just a puzzle gimmick—it reflects genuine cultural practices in martial arts traditions and Chinese culture more broadly.
Traditional significance:
- Respect for masters and elders – Martial arts disciples bow to their teachers
- Reverence at sacred sites – Showing respect at temples and shrines
- Honoring the deceased – Paying respects at memorials
- Formal greetings – Traditional courtesy between martial artists
Where Winds Meet incorporates these cultural elements to create authenticity in its Wuxia world. When you bow in the game, you’re participating in a practice with real historical and cultural weight, not just solving an arbitrary puzzle.
This attention to cultural detail extends throughout the game, from your choice of starting martial arts weapons to the purely cosmetic gacha system that respects player progression.
Tips for Exploration
Since bowing is tied to exploration puzzles, here are some general tips for finding these interactions:For more details about maximizing your exploration rewards, check our exploration points guide.
Pay attention to environmental storytelling:
- Scrolls and books often contain subtle hints
- Unusual statue placements usually indicate something interactive
- Grass mats near significant objects are rarely decorative
Explore thoroughly around shrines and temples:
- These locations frequently house bow-related puzzles
- Check all sides of large statues or monuments
- Look for subtle environmental cues like incense, offerings, or ceremonial objects
Don’t rush past cultural moments:
- The game rewards players who engage with its world authentically
- If something feels ceremonial or significant, there’s probably an interaction
- Many puzzles are optional but offer worthwhile rewards
Keep notes of unsolved puzzles:
- If you find a clue about bowing but can’t locate the mat, mark it for later
- Some puzzles might require story progression or specific conditions
- Returning with fresh eyes often reveals missed details
Related Gameplay Systems
Understanding the bow mechanic connects to broader gameplay elements:
- Exploration rewards often rival what you’d find through combat progression
- Cultural interactions add depth beyond the combat-focused martial arts system
- Environmental puzzles complement your weapon choices and combat style
- Cosmetic customization lets you style your character for these ceremonial moments
Where Winds Meet balances action RPG combat with thoughtful exploration mechanics, and the bow system represents that commitment to variety.
External Resources
For more information about Where Winds Meet:
- Official website: Where Winds Meet Game
- Steam page: Where Winds Meet on Steam
- PlayStation: Where Winds Meet on PS Store
- Game information: Where Winds Meet – Wikipedia
Final Thoughts
The bow mechanic in Where Winds Meet initially confuses many players precisely because it’s so simple—we expect emote menus or complex keybinds when the answer is just “walk on the mat and press interact.” Once you understand the system, it becomes second nature.
What I appreciate about this design is how it forces players to engage with the physical environment rather than abstract menu systems. You’re not selecting “Bow Emote #7” from a list—you’re actually walking to a ceremonial mat and performing a culturally significant gesture. It’s a small detail that reinforces the game’s commitment to its Wuxia setting.
Next time you encounter a puzzle mentioning bows, paying respects, or showing reverence, start looking for grass mats near the relevant landmark. Stand on the mat, wait for the prompt, press interact, and let the progress bar complete. If nothing happens after one bow, try it two or three more times.
The solution is simpler than you think—and that’s exactly why so many players miss it at first.
