Each nation is a unique fusion of traditions dating back to ancient times. If Europeans are used to using forks, spoons and knives, then Asians since childhood have been cleverly guided by chopsticks. Any tradition has its origins, we will look for the reason why Asian people use such original cutlery.
Why exactly them?
Initially, all people ate with their hands, but gradually, with the awareness of the rules of hygiene and convenience, this custom was gone. It is believed that at first the chopsticks served as assistants in the preparation of food: it is very convenient for them to pull out large pieces of boiling water or hot oil, evaluating the readiness of food.
Locals in China call the Kuizi chopsticks, and they first appeared in noble houses. Ordinary people began to use them around the fifth century AD.
Gradually, the sticks firmly entered into everyday life, acquiring a modern form: from one end, the kaizi square, in order to firmly lie on the surface of the table. TO to the opposite end, they gradually taper and round. Most often there are wooden sticks, which, according to tradition, must be rubbed one against the other before use. This custom came from the past when the poor had poorly crafted kaizi and there was a risk of a splinter. In this way, grinding removed the roughness.
The Chinese teach children to use chopsticks from about one year old. They actively develop fine motor skills of the hands, which in the future has a positive effect on intellectual and physical development.
Large companies engaged in high-tech production, have introduced a test for hiring related to small parts - employees must deftly own chopsticks!
What are they made of
It should be noted that the chopsticks are divided into those that are needed for cooking - they are long, about 40 centimeters, and are made of bamboo and kuizi for a meal, they are shorter - only 25 centimeters.Asians, especially Japanese, do not like to use metal, rightly believing that it harms teeth. Most often for Asian cutlery use:
- tree;
- brass;
- plastic;
- bronze;
- silver;
- bamboo;
- stainless steel (but this is only in Korea);
- bone.
In the first place there will always be wood, as an affordable and easy to process material. Some of the most beautiful cutlery are obtained from expensive ivory, being almost a work of art that adequately decorates a rich house.
And where is the knife?
It is believed that the case was not without the great philosopher Confucius.He preached peace, and believed that the knife had a place in the war, and not in the house. It was with his filing that all sharp metal objects became strongly associated with aggression and violence.
An interesting fact has been preserved in the annals of history: she ate only with silver chopsticks, because silver blackens in contact with poisons. True, unfortunately, not with everyone!
In a poor country, every meal was tantamount to a holiday.Long periods of hunger made food sacred, so the knife, as a symbol of war, should not be on the table. A little later, this same prejudice spread to the plug, this device also has sharp edges, which, if desired, can greatly harm a person.
As a result, both the knife and the fork were expelled from serving the Asian table for a long time. Although now there is a tendency towards Europeanization, and many modern Asians use forks and spoons, while about a third calmly eat with their hands.
The popularity of Asian food appliances is justified in terms of dietetics. We often overeat with a fork and a spoon, because the signal to the brain about saturation arrives late in about 15 minutes! Therefore, it is more beneficial to eat slowly and thoughtfully, as Asian culture suggests.
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