Why do Chinese eat chopsticks instead of using more convenient forks and spoons

In some Asian countries, as a cutlery, they do not use spoons or forks that are familiar to us, but a couple of chopsticks. Chopsticks eat rice, noodles, meat, vegetable dishes and even soups. Despite the spread of the Western lifestyle among the population of Asian countries, sticks are still very popular.

Wooden sticks are used in Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam and some other regions. According to the researchers, wooden sticks appeared as the first improvised tool with which it was convenient to get food out of a boiling boiler, and this happened about 4,000 - 5,000 years ago. A little later, around 3,000 BC, the Chinese began to use chopsticks while eating, rather than taking food with their hands. According to archaeological data, the ancestors of the wands were precisely the Chinese, who began to use them back in the days of the state of Shang-Yin.

In addition to the convenience of using sticks, there is a deeper meaning in why the Chinese chose them. The fact is that, according to Chinese traditional philosophy, the fork and knife are symbols of war and violence, while the chopsticks are part of the Zen teachings, calling for vegetarianism, peace, and non-violence.

From China, wooden sticks spread to neighboring countries, where they also became popular. In China, sticks are called "kaizi", in Japan "hashi", and in Korea "chokkarak".

Many believe that a spoon is much more convenient and, most importantly, faster. Perhaps this is another reason for the use of sticks - the rate of absorption of food. If you eat with chopsticks, then the process really slows down, but at the same time, the researchers believe, its quality improves. Food enters the stomach slowly, without haste and with pleasure. These are the traditions of the East, because food is a special ritual that does not endure fuss.

In addition, scientists have proven that the use of chopsticks improves the development of mental abilities in children, stimulating fine motor skills of the hands. After all, the ability to use sticks is a whole art that still needs to be learned. For example, in Japan, children are specifically taught to use Hashi when they turn 1 year old. As a result of research, it was proved that Japanese children who successfully mastered chopsticks at an early age are ahead in the development of their peers who use spoons.

Despite the spread of Western culture, spoons and forks do not succeed in crowding out sticks. They are still used in national restaurants and during family celebrations, although in everyday life you can increasingly find spoons on the table of Chinese and Japanese. But the facts show that sticks will not soon become a relic of the past. In Japan alone, every resident of the country uses 200 disposable sticks every year, and after all, there are also reusable sticks that are found in every Japanese’s house.

Watch the video: Chopsticks: Chinese VS. Japanese VS. Korean (March 2024).

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