If we want to talk about chopsticks culture in East Asia, we can't help but mention our Asian chopsticks culture. With chopsticks? Three groups: China, Japan and South Korea. . .
First of all, we must solemnly declare that chopsticks were undoubtedly invented by China people. Chopsticks were invented by the ancestors of the East Asian continent and gradually spread to the surrounding areas. In the end, chopsticks formed a sphere of influence centered on China, including the Korean Peninsula, Japan and Southeast Asia. Although they all use chopsticks, there are considerable differences in chopsticks among China, Japan and South Korea.
Chopsticks originated in China and are widely used between Korean and Japanese, but their shapes have taken a different development path. Generally speaking, China has the longest chopsticks, followed by South Korea and finally Japan. The Japanese advocate separate meals. They don't have the habit of picking dishes for others, so they don't have to pick dishes at the Eight Immortals table from a distance like China people. Next time I go to the AFC, I can identify which country bought chopsticks ~
I. China
The history of chopsticks in China can be traced back to more than 4000 years ago! Chopsticks were called "chopsticks" in ancient times. Our Han ancestors took down the branches in the forest for the convenience of fishing for cooked vegetables in clay pots, and tried to fish while fishing. In this process, the prototype of chopsticks today has gradually emerged. . . (I can't help feeling the creativity of eating goods. . . )
According to the ancient book Everything is done wrong? The record in Yu Lao? In the past, people were like chopsticks, but Ji Zi was afraid? In other words, Shang Zhouwang eats with elephant chopsticks, which makes his uncle Ji Zi very worried. He thinks that eating with elephant chopsticks can't be accompanied by pottery, but must be? Rhino jade cup? Food must be ",? Like leopard tires? Do you have to wear clothes? Jin Yi Jiu Chong? , housing is? Takata Hiroshi? . . . Use this? See what you know? . According to historical records, there were precious ivory chopsticks in the Shang Dynasty.
However, ivory chopsticks are rare on the dining table in China today. . . In China, more people use bamboo chopsticks. Solid Indocalamus macrophylla, Ilex pubescens, Mume, Pterocarya cristata and Suanzao are all commonly used materials for chopsticks. The shape and usage of chopsticks are also quite profound and exquisite. The chopsticks used by China are long and straight, and the ends are blunt. Most of them are in the shape of a round chopstick head and a square chopstick tail, symbolizing the round sky and the round place. Hill? It means to climb high and look to the future. Compared with chopsticks from other countries, China's chopsticks are slightly longer, which is more in line with the food culture of eating at big tables in China.
Chopsticks actually play an important role in cultural etiquette activities in China. Legend has it that inserting chopsticks directly into rice can spread fireworks, so? Put chopsticks in the sky to worship the gods and feed the ancestors? They are all sacrificial activities centered on chopsticks.
At the same time, we also have many taboos when using chopsticks. For example, the custom handed down from our ancestors taught us not to put chopsticks in our mouths, not to point them at others, not to put chopsticks in our meals, and not to knock on bowls with chopsticks. Knock on bowls and chopsticks all your life? What does this mean? Poverty? .
Gradually, chopsticks have become a symbol of Chinese civilization from an indispensable daily food tool, which is closely related to the vast folk culture of China. It can be said that China people cannot do without chopsticks. . .
I remember that when US President Nixon and Secretary of State Kissinger visited China for the first time, they showed the action of holding food with chopsticks while cooking wine and discussing heroes with the President and Prime Minister. Although blunt, his heart and sincerity won applause, and both sides were very happy and special? A chopstick to bury hatred? Implement the agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Now, many foreign tourists come to China to experience the traditional culture of our country, starting with chopsticks. Eat with chopsticks, do as the Romans do, and the host and guest are happy. Even in Germany, you will find that many ordinary foreigners can use chopsticks!
Second, Japan.
Similar to China, Japan also has its own unique chopsticks culture. According to legend, during the Qin and Han dynasties, envoys traveled eastward, spreading Chinese civilization to neighboring countries in the east, and chopsticks culture was also brought over. However, due to the differences in eating habits and the development of localization, the use of chopsticks in Japan is gradually different from that in China. . .
In today's Japan, people often use fast food chopsticks when eating in restaurants. Because the Japanese believe that disposable fast food chopsticks are more convenient and hygienic, which is also a historical tradition in Japan. From the Edo era, the Japanese began to use "cutting chopsticks".
Priests in the shrine often use disposable chopsticks in some sacrificial ceremonies, and the action of breaking disposable chopsticks has also been given? New world, new things? This cultural connotation.
However, Japanese people's awareness of environmental protection is actually very strong. Most of the wood of chopsticks is not from the mainland, but mostly imported from foreign countries. Now, in some restaurants, if you bring your own chopsticks (they call them マィ), you can enjoy some discounts, which also encourages people to live environmentally.
Japanese chopsticks are also different from China chopsticks in shape. Chopsticks used for eating at home are mostly made of wood, with short tips and thick tails. Most Japanese eat alone? Order? Therefore, chopsticks don't need to be too long, the body of chopsticks is from thick to thin, and the ends of chopsticks become sharp. This is because, in the past, Japanese cuisine often focused on marine fish, and pointed chopsticks were actually used to take meat from fish bones more conveniently.
The taboo of using chopsticks in Japanese chopsticks culture is no less than that in China. For example, you can't rummage through your favorite food with chopsticks, you can't pass food with chopsticks, you can't put chopsticks in a bowl, you can't hold chopsticks into fists, and so on.
How to use chopsticks can often reflect a person's manners and family education. . . Therefore, pay more attention to your chopsticks habits when eating with Japanese friends.
Third, South Korea.
Metal flat-headed chopsticks, Korean chopsticks culture has a long history. On the Korean peninsula, kings, ministers and rich people used gold and silver chopsticks in the past, while ordinary people could only use iron chopsticks. . . In modern times, beautiful stainless steel chopsticks have become the mainstream. Maybe it's because Koreans love barbecue (it's not? Greed? Because of it. . . ), Korea uses metal tableware more. . .
The reason why Koreans throw bamboo and abandon wood is said to be because of peninsula cuisine. Red? I am good at using wooden chopsticks or bamboo chopsticks for a long time, which will make the chopsticks head red and be abandoned. Moreover, Korean real estate is insufficient, chopsticks made of wood and bamboo are easy to wear, and steel chopsticks are easy to wash, which can save water resources.
In addition, the chopsticks used in Korea are not cylinders in China, nor thin ones in Japan, but flat cuboids. When you use chopsticks for the first time, it easily falls out of your hand. In fact, flat chopsticks are no easier to hold food than round chopsticks. . . In order to exercise national harmony, early Koreans passed on their brain development and hand strength. Therefore, chopsticks are mostly flat with medium length made of metal, and some places have semicircles, squares and ellipses.
Korean food is different from China and Japan. At the dinner table, people never eat with bowls, but pick up a bowl of lunch with chopsticks, because Koreans think? Holding a bowl? what's up Begging for food? Meaning. But if you and your Korean friends go to their house for dinner, you don't? Someone specializes in making chopsticks? Restrict. Like China, family members are humble to each other, and a meal must be full of enthusiasm.
Besides China, Japan and South Korea, other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia, also have the habit of using chopsticks. Most of them are influenced by Confucian culture or China culture, but most of these countries are a combination of chopsticks and spoons.
In any case, chopsticks play an important role in food culture. From a pair of chopsticks, we can also find so many hidden details, secrets and cultural differences.