by
wensum24
@ 19/12/2005 - 11:17:20
The history of chopsticks is a great and rich one, dating back some 5000 years to ancient China.
They have since become synonymous with Asia; China, Korea and Japan especially...though their shape and size varies, from golden chopsticks engraved with calligraphy often seen in Taiwan, metal-style sticks of Korea, (which I find tricky but interesting!), and disposable bamboo wari-bashi frequently seen in restaurants, and on long flights.
However, in all cases, they now take the shape as an important icon of Asian culture.
Early Asian humans, retrieved food through the use of sticks or branches broken off trees, and in time necessity required food be cut into smaller pieces to save precious fuel, as it cooked faster, and thus eliminating the need for knives, with chopsticks finding their place as a utensil of the people accordingly.
Confucianism solidified chopsticks place through the teaching, "The honourable and upright man keeps away from both the slaughterhouse and the kitchen. And he allows no knives on his table."
Indeed, Confucius looked upon knives at the kitchen table with disdain, and the following of his teachings was such that the use of chopsticks increased greatly at this time.
By 500 A.D., chopsticks begun to be incorporated into the kitchens of Korea, Vietnam and Japan, though in the latter country chopsticks use was initially reserved only for religious ceremonies, they did attain more general usage thereafter, as it did over almost the whole of Asia.
The varying forms of chopsticks can be seen usually in bamboo form - the most popular material, as it's readily available in this part of the world - which is easy to split and heat-resistant.
However, other materials have and are used; wood and bone, precious metals for the wealthy, and at one time silver chopsticks were thought to turn black upon contact with poisoned food, though in time, this belief has been disproved.
Kuai-Zi is the Chinese name given to chopsticks, which means "quick little fellows" and are usually of the length, 9-10 inches long with blunt ends. However, Japanese chopsticks, called hashi, are more like tweezers made of bamboo and initially joined together at the end, though by the 10th century they became seperate pieces. Japanese chopsticks are usually shorter than their Chinese counterparts, often 7-8 inches long, rounded and tapering to their end point. (These are very good for eating the fine and intricate Japanese dishes). Other Japanese chopstick types include, eggshell-patterned "Wakasa", the gold patterned "Wajima," the "Tsugaru," the "Aizu," and the "Hidehira".
Thai chopsticks show the beautiful craftsmanship of Thailand, coming in many designs; made from mango, coconut, palm and other exotic woods, they are however, ecologically friendly, since the wood used is farmed in the south of Thailand, and none produced from endangered woods.
These Thai chopsticks are very carefully and beautifully crafted, and should not, under any circumstance, be left in water to soak, as it'll ruin them. (I have over 30 different Thai chopsticks myself!)
Another fine point to add, is that chopstick use improves memory, increases finger dexterity and is a great aid in the improvement of Chinese character printing and brush painting as the hand and fingers become accustomed to stroke movement.
Of course, many superstitions evolved in Asia surrounding these utensils, such as finding an uneven pair at your table will signify your missing a train/boat/plane later. While the dropping of your own chopsticks is an omen of impending bad luck.
Also;
("Fussing about how chopsticks are picked up and put down,"
A reference to nagging about trivial and irrelevant things.
"Even stumbling chopsticks are funny"
is a reference to young women who may giggle nervously or hysterically about anything.
"It can't be picked up with chopsticks or hung on a pole"
A frequent reference to difficult people who refuse to listen to advice from others, etc.
"He hasn't ever picked up anything heavier than chopsticks"
refers to being from a well-off family. Not only does the object of the expression never pull their weight or get their hands dirty, but has everything done for them by others.
There can be compared to the similar English expression "He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth." The reverse situation is described with the expression "He was born with a wooden spoon...")
In Japan, the tableware make a distinction between the sexes, which I believe is unique in the world.
The length from the tip of the index finger to the thumb when they are fully-opened to a 90-degree angle is called the "ata" in Japanese, and there can be found a term "one and a half ata-length chopsticks" for an age-old wisdom that the most highly suitable length for chopsticks is 1.5 times the length of open finger "ata."
by lauren6
