Every resident of China from school is aware of the “four great inventions” that were invented by the Chinese. Among them: paper, gunpowder, compass, typography. Unofficially, the fifth in a row are chopsticks. Residents of China know exactly how to hold Chinese chopsticks correctly , consider this appliance more civilized than other cutlery, as several dozen muscles and more than 30 joints work when using chopsticks.
In China
According to archaeological research in China, chopsticks, called “Weisheng Kuizi” (in Chinese), were invented about 3 thousand years ago by the legendary ancestor Yu, who got hot meat. This ancestor knew exactly how to hold Chinese sticks.
Chopsticks in the past were indicators of the owner’s social status. Simple people ate bamboo chopsticks. Richer people ate sandalwood chopsticks. Nobles and merchants had ivory sticks. And the emperor and his governors had silver sticks. Silver, in contact with the poison, darkens, so the sticks at a dangerous moment will warn the owner.
Currently, for the manufacture of sticks use materials such as: wood, metal, ivory, plastic.
They make Kuizi about 25 cm long and square at the base so that they do not roll on the surface of the table. Kitchen sticks are made from bamboo and a half times longer.
In Japan
Chopsticks in Japan are called "hashi." At first, only noble aristocrats used the Hashi, the rest of the people ate with their hands. For the Japanese, sticks are a sacred symbol; it is believed that the Hashi bring long life and good luck.
Modern hashi are made of ivory or plastic. Also for this purpose use bamboo, pine, cypress, plum, maple, black or purple sandalwood. Hashi can be decorated with various patterns, with a square or round cross-section, and the point - conical or pyramidal.
Disposable wooden hasi are served in a special paper case, which often falls into 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 where they use chopsticks, it produces them from metal. It used to be brass, now they are made of stainless steel.
Application methods
Upon arrival in China or Japan, visiting travelers will first learn how to 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 her with the ring and thumbs. In this case, the thumb, middle and forefinger should form a circle.
2) Another wand is placed parallel to the first. When the middle finger is straightened, the sticks move apart.
3) When bending the index finger, the sticks are brought together, while capturing a piece of food. It is very important how to hold Chinese sticks.
The connection of centuries and peoples
The most important thing to know when coming to China or Japan is how to eat with Chinese chopsticks. The process of eating with Chinese chopsticks is most often meditative, as they can take only small pieces of food. Therefore, at 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 the help of chopsticks made from natural materials, human energy is mixed with the energy of food, preparing it for use by this particular person. At the same time, food, as a supplier of energy for humans, is absorbed much better, increasing the efficiency of the product.
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 protrusion between the handle of the spoon and the scoop itself. From Russian legends it is known that the energy of a person, flowing down the handle of a spoon, accumulates in this cone, collecting as much as possible, spills into a spoon and covers 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 people on a diet, watching their weight. It will be useful for these people to learn how to hold Chinese sticks correctly.