Do you know how to wield chopsticks like a real Japanese or feel fear every time you have to pick them up? Fortunately or unfortunately, you will definitely have to use them at least once if you go to Japan.
Some restaurants may offer you a fork or spoon as an alternative, but it's best to be prepared for the fact that everything is eaten with chopsticks in Japan: from traditional dishes such as noodles and rice to European ones, such as pizza or pasta. Even if you know how to hold chopsticks, it is desirable to know certain rules about how to do it correctly.This article provides a guide in a few simple steps that will help you understand how to use chopsticks. In addition, we will talk about the history of their appearance, the difference between Japanese, Korean and Chinese chopsticks.
How to use
The standard method is to hold the chopsticks between thumb and forefinger and move the top chopstick like a lever. This way you can grab a piece so that it still gets into your mouth. The first time you use sticks, you may need to tweak them a little to feel more comfortable. And remember that without practice, you won't be able to eat quickly with chopsticks without wasting all your food, so before you travel to Japan, practice at home picking up small items, such as nuts or beans.
How not to hold chopsticks
Although the rules for using chopsticks are not as strict as they used to be, there are still guidelines that should be followed to this day. Ignorance of the rules of etiquette can bring inconvenience not only to you, but also to the people around you, so there is nothing left but to perfect your skills and be ready to apply them both at a formal dinner and at home. Learning the basic rules for using chopsticks is not so difficult, but remembering what you can’t do is much more difficult. Once you master the rules, trust me, you will be admired by your Japanese friends and colleagues.
What not to do:
1. You can't stick chopsticks into the food you want to take;
2. Don't hold your chopsticks like you're eating with a spoon or fork;
3. Do not cut food into smaller pieces with chopsticks;
4. Don't lick your sticks.
History of sticks
Chopsticks originated in China about 5,000 years ago and may have evolved from the practice of using sticks and twigs to get food out of hot pots. By 500 AD, the custom had spread throughout Asia, including Japan.
The earliest mention of chopsticks was found in texts from 712 AD, but they most likely appeared much earlier. Initially, chopsticks were used for ceremonial purposes, such as when people offered food to deities. But in the end, the tradition carried over into everyday life.
Currently, chopsticks are common throughout Japan. You can find handmade chopsticks made of ebony and decorated with gold or decorative patterns, and disposable ones that are given out in stores or inexpensive restaurants.
There are even special sets of sticks. For example, めおとばし meotobashi This is a gift set for husband and wife. 祝い箸 iwaibashi- Christmas sticks, which are presented in special envelopes.りきゅうばし rikyu:bashi- chopsticks used during kaiseki (traditional Japanese lunch with a change of dishes), 菜箸 saibashi- chopsticks, which are used during cooking.
A key feature of chopstick culture in Japan is 箸置. hasioki is a chopstick holder to keep your chopsticks clean if you decide to interrupt your meal. Such coasters can be made of porcelain, wood, metal, glass or precious stones and come in a variety of shapes.
The difference between Japanese, Korean and Chinese chopsticks.
Although sticks are used for the same purposes, there are still slight differences. They can be traced by comparing Japanese, Chinese and Korean chopsticks.
Japanese sticks are most often made of wood and have a rounded shape. If you compare the length, they are shorter than Chinese and Korean.
Chinese sticks are the longest of all. The reason for this is the Chinese practice of serving, during which dishes are placed in the center of the table on a rotating stand. In this scenario, it is much more convenient to use long chopsticks, because with their help it is easier to reach for food.
Chinese chopsticks are usually made from bamboo, plastic or porcelain. They can be decorated with patterns or inscriptions. They are usually rectangular in shape with a slightly rounded end.
Korean sticks are between Japanese and Chinese in length. They are made of stainless steel. They have a slightly roughened end to make it easier to hold onto food. It is said that for the royal family, chopsticks were made of silver. So, if someone tried to poison his majesty, the sticks would change color from contact with a poisonous substance.
A Japanese themed celebration is about to begin. Tables are bursting with exquisite oriental dishes. But instead of traditional forks, the table is served with wonderful chopsticks. This is an essential oriental eating utensil, which the Japanese call hashi, and the Chinese call it kuaizi.
Its centuries-old history, delicate etiquette and amazing design require certain skills to use. To feel comfortable in Japanese restaurants or visiting friends who are fond of sushi, you should learn how to use this cutlery correctly.
Khashi: history and traditions
Historical records and archaeological research have established that China is considered the birthplace of chopsticks. According to legend, such a cutlery appeared during the reign of Shang about 3 millennia ago. This way of eating was invented by the historical ancestor Yu, who showed considerable ingenuity and pulled a piece of meat from a boiling cauldron with two broken branches. Since this prevented him from scalding his fingers with boiling water, his experience was quickly passed on to other people.
Hashi entered Japanese culture during the Bronze Age. At first, they were used only at the imperial court, but over the centuries, hasi became available to the lower strata of society. They are so rooted in the Japanese mentality that over time they turned from cutlery into a sacred symbol.
What are sushi sticks?
Sushi sticks in their original form were made of wood and looked like a split bamboo trunk, which, on the one hand, had two points, and on the other, remained solid. The cross section of the hashi could be round or square, and the sharp end could be conical or pyramidal.
In the field of catering, disposable chopsticks (waribashi) are mainly used. They resemble an incompletely sawn cylindrical piece of wood or plastic that needs to be broken before a meal. This is considered a sign that no one has eaten with chopsticks yet. They are served in restaurants and are packaged in a sterile package with the establishment's logo.
The modern variety of reusable sticks (nuribashi) allows you to choose sticks for every taste and color. They are made in different shapes and sizes, with colorful drawings or hieroglyphs, and sometimes they are even encrusted with precious stones. Such a device is served on a hasioki stand.
Chopsticks are made from the following materials:
- Wood species (bamboo, maple, sandalwood, cypress, plum).
- Precious metals (silver, gold, steel).
- Exotic raw materials (ivory, antlers, crystal).
- Plastic.
How should sushi chopsticks be held?
To learn how to deftly manipulate sushi chopsticks, you need to properly hold them between your fingers:
- It is necessary to make a basis for fixing the sticks. To do this, press the little finger and ring finger and bend them to the middle of the palm. The middle finger paired with the index finger should lean forward a little.
- The thick end of the lower hashi should be placed in the hole between the thumb and forefinger. The point of the hashi should rest on the nail phalanx of the middle finger.
- Now the thick end of the upper hishi must be laid on the index finger, and its position should be fixed with a bundle of the thumb. The pencil is about the same.
During the meal, the lower chopstick must remain fixed, and all manipulations must be carried out with the upper chopstick. To grab food, you need to straighten your little finger and ring finger, spread the chopsticks, grab a piece of food, and then bend your fingers again and bring the food to your mouth.
Advice! In the case of using special sticks with a holder (children's or clothespins), you need to manipulate them like tweezers, adjusting the clamping process with your middle finger.
It will take some time to achieve positive results, so you can practice a little at home catching small objects with chopsticks, such as beans or corn. Over time, the fingers will become dexterous, and the process of controlling the hashi will become automatic.
A few rules of etiquette
For a couple of millennia, the ritual of eating with chopsticks has acquired many traditions, rules and prohibitions. Of course, different nationalities have their own ethnic customs, but in general they have many similarities.
The main principle of using hashi is unquestioning respect for this sacred device.
Chopsticks are only allowed to take, impose or mix food, and all other manipulations are considered notes of bad tone. Therefore, if you plan to visit eastern countries or often visit elite Japanese restaurants, you need to know some of the features of the culture of using hashi sticks:
- It is forbidden to prick food on the tip of chopsticks or stick them into a plate with a dish.
- It is unacceptable to swarm with chopsticks in the dishes in search of a more appetizing piece.
- To attract the attention of the attendants, it is forbidden to knock with chopsticks on the dishes.
- If you took a portioned piece with chopsticks, it must definitely get into your mouth. Putting food back on the plate is indecent.
- Don't wave your hashi, lick them, or point them in someone's direction.
- Do not place sticks in a vertical position. This is reminiscent of the ritual of setting scented candles for the dead.
- The most strict taboo is shifting food from one plate to another with chopsticks. In Japan, there is a ritual of shifting the bones of a cremated body with chopsticks into a burial urn.
- A hashi clenched in a fist is considered a threat signal.
- One third of the population uses chopsticks as their main cutlery, another third prefers forks and spoons, and the rest eat with their hands.
- In Japan, hashi is considered the best gift for any celebration. They are given to newlyweds as a symbol of longevity, health and good luck.
- Babies on the hundredth day after birth are presented with his first sticks, with which he begins to eat from the age of one.
- Chopsticks are considered a purely personal item, so no one who respects traditions, the Japanese will not allow himself to eat with other people's chopsticks.
- The unique mental abilities of the Japanese and Chinese are attributed to highly developed hand motor skills, which are improved through the use of hashi from an early age.
- For eating, only sushi sticks are used in four countries of the world: in China, Japan, as well as in Korea and Vietnam.
- The Chinese use about 40 billion pairs of varibashi every year.
- In the 17th century, silver sticks were made to detect poison in food. At that time, arsenic was used as a poison, upon contact with which silver changed color.
- In Korea, they use metal chopsticks for sushi.
Even if you are not a fan of sushi, learning how to eat with sushi chopsticks will still not be superfluous. It's pretty easy to do, it just takes a little practice. After all, you can be invited at any time for a Japanese-style dinner. In addition, in the process of learning a new culture, you will learn a lot of interesting things and have fun.
The theme of etiquette in the Land of the Rising Sun is one of the most important points of Japanese culture, which has not changed for centuries. Asians do not part with their traditions, and willingly introduce them to the world community, where the ritual of eating and chopsticks is of particular importance. At first glance, only a magician can master this cutlery, but everything is not so difficult if you familiarize yourself with all the rules of Japanese nutrition.
Sticks are an important everyday element in the life of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun. They are chosen individually for each person, and special attention is paid to their storage. So for these cutlery, special coasters and artfully decorated cases are bought. Most Japanese even in cafes and restaurants prefer to use personal chopsticks.
History and geography
In general, the ancestors of this amazing kitchen attribute are the Chinese.
It was in China that 3,000 years ago, in the Shang era, a certain Yu used for the first time two wooden sticks to pull a piece of meat out of boiling oil. Subsequently, these cutlery was dubbed kuaytsami, which means "dexterous item."
After some time, Chinese bamboo kuaizi, which looked like tongs, came to Japan, where they were called hashi - “chopsticks” and were used in religious rituals.
By the 7th century AD, all the nobility and the imperial family of the country of the rising sun were deftly wielding such devices at the table.
In general, chopsticks are mainly used in 4 countries: in China and Korea, Japan and Vietnam, however, in Thailand, these devices also have a place in serving, for example, for eating noodles and stew.
From what and for what ...
There are an incredible variety of hashi. Some go for desserts, others for noodles and soups, others for culinary products.
These serving items also differ in material. Most sticks are made from willow or bamboo wood, but the most popular are still ivory, which eventually acquire an amber color.
Often such individual devices are covered with a skillful pattern or carving. For celebrations, varnished pointed hashis are used, the food from which strives to slip away. Yes, this is the whole charm of oriental cuisine with all its traditions and subtleties.
Today, plastic chopsticks have also become common, which are often offered in espresso cafes and sushi bars, but metal ones are increasingly used in cooking.
By the way, with regards to silver, sticks made of this noble metal were the main serving item on the imperial tables of China, because it was with the help of them that it was possible to determine the presence of poison in food.
The Art of Hashi
The skills of using chopsticks in food can be safely considered a real art that goes hand in hand with a whole list of rules of Japanese etiquette. However, we will postpone the rules for later, and now we will master the lesson on how to properly hold chopsticks, which we will also support with a visual video instruction.
How to hold chopsticks correctly
Japanese etiquette rules
In addition to the skillful possession of hashi, the Japanese meal has many prescriptions, if they are not observed, it is easy to pass for ignoramus among the inhabitants of the land of the rising sun. Here we will give a set of prohibitions, that is, what you should not do in a Japanese restaurant.
- Waving hashi in the air;
- Poking around in a bowl of soup, sorting through food in a plate, looking for pieces of delicious food;
- Put chopsticks on the table. For this, a special stand is provided - hasioki;
- Driving chopsticks on the table is considered bad manners;
- Licking hashi and keeping them in your mouth;
- Move, push dishes using chopsticks;
- Sticking hashi into food, such as rice or noodles;
- Pass food with chopsticks from one eater to another;
- Allow sauce to drip from a piece of food in chopsticks;
- Drop food from chopsticks.
In addition to the taboo among the Japanese, the ceremony of eating has some prescriptions. For example, they are extremely annoyed when the eater, wielding chopsticks in his right hand, leaves his left indifferent. Many tourists themselves, without realizing it, caused anger and indignation among Asian culinary specialists. According to the rules of etiquette, the left hand should hold the bowl during libations.
One more point. If you ordered soup with noodles, then first of all you should eat the thick, presenting the bowl higher to your mouth, and only then we drink the broth.
There are in the etiquette of the Japanese and such rules that the Europeans would cause a flurry of indignation. Slurping while eating certain dishes is considered by the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun to be something like praise to the cook. If the client does not make smacking lips, loud suction and other similar sounds during the meal, then such “silent” behavior may offend the master culinary specialist.
Also in the menu of Japanese cafes and restaurants there is a dish - sushi, which is more appropriate to eat with your hands than using chopsticks for this. It is neither forbidden nor condemned
Japanese cuisine is a true art, which lies not only in amazing dishes, but also in observing all the nuances of food culture.
Well-known Chinese sticks are used not only in China but also in many other countries of the East. And today they are very often used when eating in the West. A very large number of sushi bars open in our country and in other countries of the world, which serve delicious exotic Chinese food, and in order to get maximum satisfaction from eating, you need to eat with Chinese chopsticks. But many who first decided to try Chinese cuisine do not know how to use their cutlery, and in order not to look stupid, they begin to look for ways quickly learn how to hold chopsticks.
Learning how to use them is very simple, first you need to understand how to hold them in your hands, and then how to hold food with them.
How to hold Chinese chopsticks
- To begin with, completely relax the hand in which you hold the chopsticks, otherwise you will never learn how to use them. Next, straighten your index and middle fingers, then slightly bend your little finger and ring finger.
- The sticks should be parallel to each other in your hand. One stick is up and the other is down.
- Place the lower stick between your thumb and ring finger. The thin edge of the stick should rest against the ring finger. It must be fixed in this position and be motionless.
- As for the upper stick, everything is the other way around, it should be movable. It is with it that you capture all the food. Place the top stick parallel to the bottom stick and grip it the way you would hold a pencil or pen. It should lie between the thumb and forefinger.
- Further, with small bends of the index finger, you can bring the chopsticks together and pinch them with the food that you so desire.
Every resident of China knows from school about the “four great inventions” that were invented by the Chinese. Among them: paper, gunpowder, compass, typography. Unofficially, the fifth in a row are chopsticks. Chinese people know exactly how to properly hold Chinese chopsticks, they consider this device more civilized than other cutlery, since when using chopsticks, several dozen muscles and more than 30 joints work.
According to archaeological research in China, chopsticks, called “weisheng kuaizi” (in Chinese), were invented about 3,000 years ago by the legendary ancestor Yu, who took out hot meat. This ancestor knew exactly how to properly hold chopsticks.
Chopsticks in the past were indicators of the social position of the owner. Ordinary people ate with bamboo sticks. Richer people ate with sandalwood sticks. The nobility and merchants had ivory sticks. And the emperor and his deputies had silver sticks. Silver, in contact with poison, darkens, so the sticks will warn the owner at a dangerous moment.
Currently, for the manufacture of sticks, materials such as wood, metal, ivory, and plastic are used.
Kuaizi is made about 25 cm long and square at the base so that they do not roll on the surface of the table. Chopsticks are made from bamboo one and a half times longer.
In Japan
Chopsticks are called "hashi" in Japan. At first, only noble aristocrats used hashi, the rest of the people ate with their hands. For the Japanese, sticks are a sacred symbol, it is believed that hashi bring long life and good luck.
Modern hashi are made of ivory or plastic. Bamboo, pine, cypress, plum, maple, black or purple sandalwood are also used for this purpose. Khashi can be decorated with various patterns, with a square or round section, and the point is cone-shaped or pyramidal.
Disposable wooden hashi are served in a special paper case, which often ends up in the collector's piggy bank, as it is a true decoration. It can have both a fancy pattern and a restaurant logo.
Korea is the only country in the Far East that uses chopsticks and makes them from metal. Previously it was brass, now they are made of stainless steel.
Application methods
Upon arrival in China or Japan, visiting travelers will first learn how to properly use Chinese chopsticks.
1) One stick is placed in the right hand, using the index and thumb, at a distance of two-thirds from the lower thin end. Hold it with the ring and thumb. In this case, the thumb, middle and index fingers should form a circle.
2) Another stick is placed parallel to the first. When straightening the middle finger, the sticks move apart.
3) When bending the index finger, the sticks are brought together, while grabbing a piece of food. It is very important how to hold Chinese chopsticks correctly.
The connection of centuries and peoples
The most important thing to know when coming to China or Japan is how to eat properly with Chinese chopsticks. The process of eating with Chinese chopsticks is most often meditative, as they can only take small pieces of food. Therefore, with any degree of hunger, a person will eat less with chopsticks. In the East, food is always associated with the energy that exists in it. It is believed that when eating with sticks made of natural materials, the energy of a person mixes with the energy of food, preparing it for use by this particular person. At the same time, food, as an energy supplier for humans, is absorbed much better, increasing the efficiency of the product.
Exactly the same functions are inherent in Russian wooden spoons. According to the historical version of the shape of a wooden spoon, there is a cone-shaped ledge between the handle of the spoon and the scoop itself. It is known from Russian legends that the energy of a person, flowing down the handle of a spoon, accumulates in this cone, gathering as much as possible, pours into a spoon and covers the food.
Modern souvenir spoons are most often made without this cone. These spoons do not play the role of a conductor of energy during meals. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the shape of the spoon, especially for people who are on a diet, watching their weight. It will be useful for these people to learn how to properly hold Chinese chopsticks.
