Why do Japanese people say ITADAKIMASU?

Lately, Japanese doesn’t say ITADAKIMASU when eating in a restaurant but they know the meaning of ITADAKIMASU.

It has two meanings.
- being thankful (for the people who made and cooked the food)
- giving penance (for the living things who gave its life to be food)
However, I checked 頂く(ITADAKU) in Chinese character (Kanji). It has no meaning of being thankful and giving penance.

Why do Japanese people say ITADAKIMASU before eating something?

ITADAKIMASU

頂（ITADAKI) - means top of the mountain or top of the head.
ます(MASU) = polite phrase.

For long ago, People has offered food and drink to God everyday. Then They received it. At those time, they act like putting food on their head.

After that, the meaning changed gradually.
People now say 頂く(ITADAKU) when receiving something.
Then the word (MASU) was added to make it polite.

For example:
They say ITADAKIMASU when receiving items from great people, because it is considered that great people are in high places.

There are many countries who pray before eating.
That is mainly thanks to God.
Japanese people appreciate everything related to meals - living things and God. It is because life is precious. It was given by God.

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