Recorded in Song-dynasty scholar Wei Liaoweng's
魏了翁 《江陵州丛兰精舍记》, originally as
卑躬屈膝 'bow body, bend knees' to criticize officials groveling before the powerful. Both
卑躬屈节 and
卑躬屈膝 are still used;
节 'integrity/principle' makes the moral judgment sharper.
