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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Eating with Chopsticks

Eating with Chopsticks ...
Chopsticks are short, frequently tapered sticks used in pairs of equal length, which are used as the traditional eating utensils of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Originated in ancient China, they can also be found in some areas of Tibet and Nepal as well as areas of Thailand, Laos and Burma.
Chopsticks are most commonly made of wood, bamboo or plastic, but in the United States, most are made out of wood. Chopsticks are held in the dominant hand, between the thumb and fingers, and used to pick up pieces of food.
In Japanese, chopsticks are called hashi . They are also known as Otemoto. The Japanese word for chopsticks; hashi, means "bridge".
Chopsticks originated in ancient China as early as the Shang dynasty, replacing the fork. The earliest evidence of a pair of chopsticks, made of bronze, was excavated from the Ruins of Yin.
China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam have had chopsticks as part of their traditional eating utensils for thousands of years.
How to use chopsticks?
To use chopsticks, the lower chopstick is stationary, and rests at the base of the thumb, and between the ring finger and middle finger.
The second chopstick is held like a pencil, using the tips of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger, and it is moved while eating, to pull food into the grasp of the chopsticks.
Chopsticks, when not in use, are placed either to the right or below one's plate in a Chinese table setting.
It is considered poor etiquette to point rested chopsticks towards others seated at the table.
Anything too difficult to be handled with chopsticks is traditionally eaten with a spoon.
It is poor etiquette to tap chopsticks on the edge of one's bowl; beggars make this sort of noise to attract attention.
Resting chopsticks at the top of the bowl means "I've finished". Resting chopsticks on the side of one's bowl or on a chopstick stand signifies one is merely taking a break from eating.
One should not 'dig' or 'search' through one's food for something in particular. This is sometimes known as "digging one's grave" or "grave-digging".
Mayoi means "dithering" and considered bad manners to wave your chopsticks around aimlessly over the food.
Lastly never eat with a broken or mismatched pair of chopsticks.
DID U KNOW?
If the chopstick is very long, and large then usually about 30 or 40 centimeters, are used for cooking, especially for deep frying foods. In Japan they are called ryoribashi. When used for cooking and to transfer cooked food to the dishes it will be served in.
Japanese style Chopsticks are usually tapered, either bluntly (Chinese style) or pointedly. Chinese style chopsticks are longer than other styles even thicker, with squared or rounded sides and ending in either wide, blunt, flat tips or tapered pointed tips.
If Chopsticks made from Bamboo and wood they are relatively inexpensive. Even Plastic chopsticks are relatively inexpensive, but
not as effective as wood and bamboo for picking up food.
The Silver is still common among wealthy families, as are silver-tipped wooden or bone chopsticks.
Try n try until you succeed because with a little practice, you will be able to use chopsticks with ease.

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