The sticks used when eating food such as sushi are already familiar even to a child. Now, perhaps a lazy or completely uninterested person in Japanese cuisine has not tried to use them. However, few people know what the sushi sticks are called and that they have a fairly rich history. This article is devoted to just these interesting devices for eating.
Sushi sticks have now spread throughout the world, but their original homeland is Asia. And before they looked a little different than we know them now. Let's plunge into the history of these products, which is quite interesting.
Historians report that the very first chopsticks to be used for eating appeared in China about 3,000 years ago. Then the Shang dynasty was in power. They were invented by Emperor Yu, who one day decided to get a hot piece of meat and used just sticks for this. The length of the first products varied within 37-38 cm. For a long time they were used as kitchen utensils, and only after a certain period of time they began to eat with chopsticks - then their length became smaller (about 25 cm).
The very first sticks were made from ordinary bamboo - it split into a couple of pieces. One part folded in half and turned out to be a kind of long tongs with which you could pick up pieces of food.
From China, products gradually migrated to Japan (approximately in the 12th century, when the Yayoi period lasted), where a whole culture appeared in relation to them. They came here in the same form in which they were in China, but in the Asuka period, sticks appeared, similar to modern ones, that is, separated. It is interesting that only aristocrats ate them, the poor used their hands, but in the Nara period they began to eat everything.
On a note! Beautiful sticks could be a wonderful gift for someone. For example, newlyweds in Japan have always received them with wishes of eternal love. Sticks were made of expensive materials, varnished, beautiful patterns were applied to them.
Modernity
Nowadays, not a single feast in Asian countries is complete without chopsticks. They are mainly used in China, Korea, Japan. It is interesting that they were used for a long time in the land of smiles - Thailand, but then the king of the Thai kingdom Rama V decided to use devices for eating food from Europe, and sticks were used less often - usually only for eating sushi or noodles. Usually they are made according to the tradition from bamboo, maple, plum or cypress wood. And they can be either square or round in cross section.
Despite the fact that sticks are actively used now in many countries of the world, in Japan, eating with them is still a real ritual... And all the dishes that are eaten with chopsticks are prepared so that they do not have to be additionally cut up on the plate with your hands (for example, there are no bones in the fish).
Japanese children begin to master the use of chopsticks practically from the cradle - it is believed that these devices can give a good workout for hands and fingers, develop fine motor skills. Some children are able to use them for food already in a year and are ahead of children who take food from a spoon in development.
Interestingly, this food item is male and female and is generally individual for each person. Nobody will give their sticks to anyone else. Sticks are practically a sacred symbol and must be treated with respect.
Interesting! When applying for a job with small parts, the Japanese may be asked to quickly collect the scattered beads using sticks as a test. And in some cases, they can be weapons - a properly thrown stick is capable of piercing through a solid object.
Today, sticks are practically a sacred symbol. Chopsticks, which are used only once, are usually served in cafes and restaurants, packed in individual paper bags. They can be made of plastic or wood. Moreover, from above, the ends of the sticks will be sealed or not split, so that it is clear that no one has used them before.
There is an interesting belief - if, breaking the sticks, a person received "uneven" breaks, that is, there is more wood on one stick than on the other, then he should expect trouble in life.
So what are they called?
There are several names - it all depends on the country in which you ask the question about the name. So, in China they are called "Kuayzi", In Korea - "Chokkarak", in Japan - "Hasi", but there are other names as well. Also, sticks, depending on the country in which they are used, may differ somewhat in appearance.
Chinese kuayzi are 25 cm long, square at the base - this shape is created so that they do not roll on the surface of the table. Those that are used during the creation of culinary masterpieces will be 1.5 times longer than the dining rooms. In China, they are made from both wood and bone, plastic, metal. Disposable wood products are called here weisheng kuayzi... They are cheap and not of good quality, and before using them you need to rub them against each other in order to remove defects and not be pricked by possible splinters.
Chokkarak from Korea are made of metal, very thin. By the way, only in Korea are sticks made of metal. Usually stainless steel is used, although previously the chopsticks were brass.
In Japan, these devices are called hasi or o-hasi... The latest variation is a tribute to this mascot symbol. The Japanese are very sensitive to sticks, and therefore, even just talking about them, they use the respectful form of the name. As mentioned above, each family member has their own hasi. There are also various sticks that are used on certain days - for example, for the New Year or for the tea ceremony.
Hasi - sticks for all occasions On a note! There are hashi that were invented by Sen no Rikyu, the tea master. There are also simple wooden sticks - varibashi. This is a one-off variation.
Reusable products can be called nuribashi. So they just can resemble a real masterpiece, they are decorated in every possible way and can be presented as a gift.
There is also a special stand ...
In order not to put hashi on the table, the Japanese came up with a special stand for them. It is called "Hasioki"... The word was formed from the word "oku" - to put. The stand is used as follows: the hasi are placed on it with thin ends, moreover, they should be oriented to the left.
On a note! If there is no stand on the table, then the hasi is allowed to be placed directly on the surface of the table itself or on the very edge of the plate. You do not need to put them across it, since, according to etiquette, this gesture means that a person no longer wants to eat.
There is another interesting term that applies to sticks. it hasibukuro, but this is not the name of the sticks themselves, but the case in which they are packed.
It seems to many that mastering the skills of using hasi is extremely difficult. But with proper practice and constant training, as well as understanding the principle of action, they can be used easily and naturally.
Step 1. The first step is to take one of the sticks in your right hand.
Step 2. The thickened end of the stick is required to be placed on the skin between the index and thumb. A correctly laid stick should protrude 3 cm beyond the edge of the hand.
Step 3. The opposite end of the hasi should be placed on the ring finger.
Step 4. The fingers should be free-bent - there should be no tension in the hand.
Step 5. The stick laid in this way will be considered the bottom one. And the success in the application of hasi in general will largely depend on how clearly it is recorded. Make sure the bottom stick is loose but firmly attached with your fingers. This stick will not move while eating.
Step 6. Use your thumb to press the lower stick to the ring stick.
Step 7. You can check if the bottom stick is holding correctly. If it is laid down properly, then the index and middle fingers will also move freely, and the stick will remain in place.
Step 8. Now you need to take the second stick and clamp it between the adjacent fingers - thumb and forefinger. Pinch with your fingertips. The stick can be resting against the lateral surface of the middle finger.
Step 9. To take a piece of food, you just need to grab it with the ends of the products and fix it in them.
Video - How to use sushi chopsticks
Video - How to make expensive and beautiful sticks?
Rules of etiquette
Sticks must be treated with respect and be sure to remember all the rules of etiquette associated with them. It is especially important to study this if you are going to travel to Japan or another Asian country. Breaking the rules can seriously offend people who use hashi with all due respect.
- Sticks can only be used for placing food on a plate or serving to the mouth. They can no longer be used in any way. It is also forbidden to break or poke at food with the hasi.
- They cannot be knocked on either the plate or the table.
- If a person touches a piece of food with a stick, then he must eat it.
- You cannot shake the sticks, especially with a piece of food between them.
- It is forbidden to lick and suck on them. Also, they cannot be waved.
- When using hasi, you cannot turn your hand with your wrist up - this is uncivilized.
- You cannot give your sticks to anyone.
- In no case should you grip them tightly in your fist - the people of Japan regard this gesture as a threat.
Hasi and the ecological situation
Whatever one may say, but the use of hasi for food has a significant impact on the ecological situation in the regions where they are actively used.
Table. Figures and data.
On a note! Since 2006, a special tax on sticks has been introduced in the PRC. Approximately 5% of the sales of these devices are paid to the treasury. And some hotels have completely abandoned their use.
Thus, despite the fact that sushi sticks are a very interesting and irreplaceable device for eating this dish, it is best to have reusable chopsticks at home and take care of nature. Fortunately, you can now buy them in almost any store, and in some places very beautiful sets for the whole family are sold. As for the name, now everyone who has read this material knows how the sushi sticks are called correctly, and may well start using Japanese terminology.
5 /5 (6 )
Experienced eaters of Japanese delicacies will only laugh: "What else did you think of, surprise with chopsticks! Yes, we didn’t have these chopsticks ... unless we ate the dog." Meanwhile, design minds are known for their ability to transform the familiar and the familiar into the new and amazing. We've already written about these Asian cutlery, but the topic is seemingly inexhaustible, take our first one. So if you think that you already know everything about these very sticks, then this additional review will probably bring a couple of surprises.
1. Bushido in action
And we will start the review with sticks that really reflect the warlike Japanese spirit: they are made in the form of long samurai daito swords. Anyone who has mastered the Japanese fencing science (ken-jutsu) will be able to outstrip any clumsy European armed with a spoon with these sticks. The only chance for us is to learn to wield.
2. Simplicity is better than craftsmanship
But what about those who have not found themselves in the Japanese art of fencing? Even if your chopsticks are falling out of your hands, this modification will please even clumsy Europeans: made of a flexible metal strip with a "shape memory" cutlery is very easy to use. No harder than conventional tweezers. There is only one minus: it does not look too much like sticks. Inventor Marcello B. from Münster, apparently, preferred notorious innovation to tradition.
And here are the sticks-pins called Tukaani can help ward off the evil eye. You can also sip molasses with them - it will turn out no worse than an awl. Other reasonable applications somehow do not come to mind - well, but original. In order not to accidentally gouge out your eyes, you can wear it.
4. Pencil sticks.
But these sticks are useful, and very large. With their help, you can successfully pretend to be a fool or crazy in the eyes of amazed visitors of a Japanese restaurant. They don't know that the sticks are only painted to look like pencils!
Now we are talking about a really useful invention, no kidding. Chopsticks designed Aïssa Logerot, can turn into a spoon when attached to ceramic scoops. And if you just remove the caps from the tips, then under them you will find sharp little toothpicks.
6. Breakfast of the tourist.
If domestic hikers can eat with knives, axes and folding spoons, why shouldn't Japanese tourists get hold of folding sticks? Folding sushi would also be useful on the hike.
7. Spoon sticks.
Chopsticks can be crossed with a spoon and this way. This 11-inch flexible plastic gadget was awarded the 2006 Chicago Design Award. But if not for the bizarrely curved sticks, the award might not have found a hero: there are no trifles in design.
The first association that most people have when they see chopsticks is, of course, Japan. Although in fact the first of them were made in China back in the XII century from bamboo. According to one of the legends, this discovery belongs to the Japanese sage Sen no Rikyu, known throughout the world as the founder of the tea ceremony. While walking through the morning forest, he collected several pieces of wood and cleaned them in order to enjoy the unsurpassed aroma of fresh wood. In shape, these pieces strongly resembled modern chopsticks.
Used today in the everyday life of a simple Japanese hashi (and this is how chopsticks are correctly called) in those distant times were considered an integral attribute of emperors and gods. As for the appearance of the sticks, today it is customary to subdivide them:
By material:
- Wooden;
- Bone.
Sectional shape:
- Round;
- Square.
By the shape of the tip:
- Conical;
- Pyramidal.
By use:
- Disposable;
- Reusable.
Varibashi - disposable sticks made of plastic are becoming increasingly popular among Japanese restaurateurs, whose main specialization is the preparation and delivery of sushi.
Hasi: cutlery or something more?
If for most people, sticks are an ordinary device for eating, then for the Japanese they are a kind of sacred symbol that promises good luck and longevity. For the same reason, transferring them to someone else's use is a bad omen. Among other things, it is believed that the ability to handle hashi perfectly trains small muscles and contributes to the development of mental abilities. This is why children in Japan are taught from an early age the desire to master chopsticks. Not so long ago, this statement received scientific proof: scientists have proved that children who began to use hasi already at the age of one year outstrip their peers who did not want to part with a spoon in their development.
By the way, mastering the art of using chopsticks will also come in handy for adherents of Japanese culture, who want to learn how to properly stir the sauce, hold food, grind and cut it into small pieces that are convenient to put in your mouth.
Note for connoisseurs
Like all other table setting items, sticks in Japan are usually subdivided into "male" and "female". They are served in a special paper bag called hasi bukuro. These cases can be as simple, decorated with only the logo of the restaurant, or a real work of art, perfect for collecting.
In conclusion about traditions
Traditionally, hasi are considered one of the best gifts for any occasion. Presented as a gift to the newlyweds, they symbolize the desire to remain always inseparable. In addition, special sticks are made for the New Year and the tea ceremony, as well as gift sets for large families. The smallest inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun receive their first hasi already on the hundredth day after their birth during the First Sticks ceremony, when, with the help of adults, they first taste rice.
One of the main features of oriental cuisine is a very unusual piece of tableware - chopsticks.
Why do residents of 4 countries: China, Japan, Vietnam and Korea prefer to use such cutlery? What are their most valuable qualities? Let's try to figure it out ...
A bit of history
Chopsticks have appeared in China for a long time - even before our era. Legend has it that the legendary emperor Yu invented them: wishing to get hot meat from the fire, he used two chopsticks from a tree. Later, with the help of them, ready-made food was taken from the dishes, and then they began to be used when eating. The first sticks were made from wood (bamboo).
In the XII century, the tradition of using such cutlery spread to other eastern countries: Japan, Korea, Vietnam. Chinese sticks are usually 25cm long and square at the base. They are called kuayzi. Koreans use thin metal sticks (earlier they were made of brass, now they are stainless steel). The Japanese call their sticks hasi, they are shorter than the Chinese ones, and with pointed ends.
Modern sticks differ in material: they can be made of wood, plastic, bone or metal. They can be disposable or fairly cheap. Or they can resemble real works of art, being skillfully decorated or inlaid.
What is the secret to the popularity of sticks?
- It is believed that chopsticks can only grab as much food that a person is able to chew. A leisurely meal and thorough chewing improves digestion and satiety. Therefore, sticks are the main fighters against overeating.
- The Japanese believe that sticks are capable of giving their owner a happy life and longevity. Therefore, this cutlery is an expensive and most worthy gift in Japan. They are also presented to newlyweds as a symbol of loyalty (with the wish to be inseparable, like these 2 sticks) and on the hundredth day from the birth of the child, when the parents give the baby a taste of rice for the first time.
- Chinese doctors assure that using sticks, a person is able to massage more than 40 points that are important for health. In order to develop fine motor skills of the hands, which entails the intellectual growth of a child, oriental people are trying to teach their child how to use them as soon as possible.
- The process of eating with chopsticks allows the person to concentrate fully on the food. And the information coming from food will be perceived by a person as much as possible.
- In the East, they believe that sticks are a connecting link between the energy of heaven and earth; with the help of these simple devices, a person contacts the outside world while eating. The people believe that contact with food is contact with the world and through food with oneself.
Features of use
In the East, there are some traditions of using this cutlery. Consider these rules so that you get a good impression, so that you do not offend the owner and do not even name the trouble on yourself:
- you can't bang chopsticks on the table: such a gesture expresses dissatisfaction with poorly prepared food;
- you need to very carefully transfer them, put them down and not throw them abruptly on the table;
- cannot be crossed or put at different ends;
- do not put sticks on the bowl;
- try not to accidentally touch your neighbor's chopsticks during a common meal;
- it is indecent to prick food on sticks or "draw" them on a plate, lick them or point them to an object;
- in Japan there are special coasters, it is necessary to put sticks on them with the sharp ends to the left;
- Eastern people believe you will bring trouble upon yourself if you stick sticks into a bowl of rice;
- sticks clenched in a fist will be perceived with a threatening gesture.
Stick to the rules, respect the traditions of the eastern countries. And then the process of eating will help you achieve harmony with yourself and the whole world around you.
Although the Japanese diet has changed a lot and many Japanese love Western food and use forks and spoons every day, chopsticks are always the go-to choice when it comes to Japanese food. And many Japanese people continue to use chopsticks for everything they eat. Chopsticks are known all over the world today and have a long history and tradition. We invite you to learn more about the culture of using chopsticks in Japan and use Japanese chopsticks for your next meal.
Chopsticks history
Sticks have a very long history. The origins of chopsticks date back to prehistoric times, when people used fire to cook food and needed to use something to get food out of the fire or move hot food into their mouths.
The oldest historical record of chopsticks in Japan is in the Kojiki (the first book on Japanese history written in 712). The oldest facts about chopsticks in the world refer to China. There is information that the emperor asked his servant to make him a set of exclusive ivory sticks, it was 4000 years ago! A set of two pairs of chopsticks came to Japan from China in the 6th century.
Japanese industry and chopsticks
Today, over 85% of Japan's chopsticks are made in Obama, Fukui Prefecture, which is 2 hours north of Kyoto and slightly east (on the Sea of Japan). The best pairs of chopsticks are only made in a few places in Japan. Kyoto is considered by most to be a hub for stick innovation and design.
In the beginning, chopsticks weren't made in Kyoto. Craftsmen in Kyoto believed that chopsticks were too easy and too simple to make. However, since Kyoto is a cultural center for making dishes for the Japanese tea ceremony, which is very popular, they used a special bamboo and sometimes also began to make cedar chopsticks. And eventually, wood and bamboo artisans began to develop their own variations of sticks. Soon a new industry was born in Kyoto, and now there is no place in Japan to make thinner chopsticks.
Today, the number of chopsticks produced in Kyoto is not very high, but the quality and fame of Kyoto made with chopsticks is unmatched.
Ritual supplies for the gods
In early Japanese history, chopsticks were only used as sacred items and were offered to a god or deities. For example, as part of an autumn ritual to thank heaven and earth for a good harvest. All food in such ceremonies and rituals was not processed by hand, but with chopsticks (a human hand should not touch food intended for the gods).
These ritual instruments are still in use today and have a special shape. Both ends of the stick are identical in shape and have almost the same thickness at both ends. One end is for food for the gods and the other for food for humans (or whoever is performing the ceremony). Thus, it can be said that the Japanese gods and the Japanese by sharing the same chopsticks unite through this. Sticks play a very important role in Japanese folk culture as a way to show the power of the deities that ultimately feed them: rain, earth, wind, sun.
Chopsticks selection
Since there are so many different types of chopsticks, it can be difficult to choose which is best for your purpose. The most important thing you should pay attention to when buying - do they fit your decor, where will they be used? Do you want a simple option or a sophisticated and creative one?
Further, the length and thickness of the sticks are the most important parameters. Very thin long chopsticks can be difficult to handle for inexperienced foreigners. The optimal length for a chopstick is 1.5 times the distance between your thumb and forefinger, or about 15% of your height. Therefore, if you are 160 cm tall, then the ideal chopstick length for you is 24 cm. Also, try not to choose chopsticks that are too thin.
