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    Chopsticks: A Bridge Between The Past and The Present

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    Namita Ghatge
    Chopsticks have been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries. Originally brought to Japan from China in the 7th century, chopsticks were once considered sacred objects that connected humans to the gods. Even today, chopsticks remain synonymous with Japanese life - they are used in every household and children are taught proper chopstick etiquette from a young age. Though originally made of bamboo, chopsticks have evolved over time and are now crafted from various materials like wood and plastic, ensuring their continued importance in modern Japanese cuisine.

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    Chopsticks: A Bridge Between The Past and The Present

    Uploaded by

    Namita Ghatge
    108 views2 pages
    Chopsticks have been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries. Originally brought to Japan from China in the 7th century, chopsticks were once considered sacred objects that connected humans to the gods. Even today, chopsticks remain synonymous with Japanese life - they are used in every household and children are taught proper chopstick etiquette from a young age. Though originally made of bamboo, chopsticks have evolved over time and are now crafted from various materials like wood and plastic, ensuring their continued importance in modern Japanese cuisine.

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    Chopsticks have been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries. Originally brought to Japan from China in the 7th century, chopsticks were once considered sacred objects that connected humans to the gods. Even today, chopsticks remain synonymous with Japanese life - they are used in every household and children are taught proper chopstick etiquette from a young age. Though originally made of bamboo, chopsticks have evolved over time and are now crafted from various materials like wood and plastic, ensuring their continued importance in modern Japanese cuisine.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    108 views2 pages

    Chopsticks: A Bridge Between The Past and The Present

    Uploaded by

    Namita Ghatge
    Chopsticks have been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries. Originally brought to Japan from China in the 7th century, chopsticks were once considered sacred objects that connected humans to the gods. Even today, chopsticks remain synonymous with Japanese life - they are used in every household and children are taught proper chopstick etiquette from a young age. Though originally made of bamboo, chopsticks have evolved over time and are now crafted from various materials like wood and plastic, ensuring their continued importance in modern Japanese cuisine.

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    Chopsticks

    A bridge between the past and the present…

    Chopsticks are synonymous with Japanese culture. They can be found in every kitchen
    in every household. In Japan, there is a belief that " The life of the Japanese begins
    and ends with chopsticks." When new-borns reach 100 days,
    they are fed using chopsticks for the first time in a ceremony
    to wish for their healty growth. This ceremony is called
    "Okuizome" in Japanese, meaning " the first time to eat using
    chopsticks". Chopsticks are surely part of our modern lives.

    ●In the ancient times…


    The Japanese word for "chopsticks" is "hashi" which also means "bridge".
    In Japan's early history, people thought of chopsticks as one of the ways
    in which humans were linked with the gods, and considered them sacred.
    They thought that one stick was for humans, and the other for the gods.
    When eating, the tips meet creating a bridge between the two.
    At that time they shared food with the gods.

    ●Let's use chopsticks!


    Generally Japanese children are taught proper etiquette for holding chopsticks from as
    early as two or three years old. Parents have traditionally made them practice until their
    form is correct. However, these days, proper form seems to be becoming less and less
    important for more and more parents.

    When you start your meal, you hold your chopsticks in one hand and your dish in the other.
    You can cut, whisk, stir, wrap, or roll your food. Then you can pick it up and
    place it gently in your mouth. Unlike in the west where most meals require
    a knife, a fork, and a spoon, chopsticks can be used in a myriad of ways.

    If you want to hold your chopsticks properly, follow this basic instruction.

    First, you should place one chopstick in the webbing of your thumb, and rest the tip on
    your ring finger. ⇒　Then grip the second chopstick with your thumb, index finger, and
    Chopsticks-2

    middle finger, similar to holding a pencil. ⇒Then line up the tips so that they are touching.
    When you eat, only the upper chopstick should be moved.

    ●Where are they from? Are they originally from Japan?

    In the very beginning of Japan's history, chopsticks were made from


    a single piece of bamboo that was joined at the top like tweezers
    and were called "Orihashi". And they were only used by an Emperor.

    It was around the early 7th century when two separate type of chopsticks appeared
    in Japan . They were brought from China by a group of Prince Shotoku's delegates.
    That was the time when the custom to use chopsticks at mealtimes started in Japan.

    Also, initially, they were generally made of bamboo.


    That's why the Chinese character “hashi” includes
    the character for"Bamboo" on its top-like this 箸。

    In the 18th century, people used chopsticks made of various types of wood such as cedar,
    pine, sandalwood, teak etc.
    Today, stores offer chopsticks elaborately crafted from lacquered wood,
    and at the other end of the spectrum, those made of plastic and disposable wood.
    Now in our high-tech society, many aspects of Japanese culture may be
    disappearing, however, chopsticks are not only
    surviving, but thriving!

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