Chopsticks- Manners and Meanings

CHOPSTICK MANNERS

Chopsticks are the Japan’s favourite means of eating food.

Japan has a penchant of turning simple requirements look exquisitely creative. Any Japanese food from complex kaiseki to simplest of snacks are partaken with Chopsticks, mostly.

Before speaking about the manners, here is a very brief history of the Chopsticks.

BRIEF HISTORY OF CHOPSTICKS

Chopsticks have been around in China from 1200 BC. By the year 500 AD, Chopsticks had reached the Asian countries of Vietnam and Japan.

In the beginning the chopsticks were long and used for cooking. They could be used to mix food by reaching depths of vessels.

In AD 400, over population in China led to scarcity of resources and hence the cooks started cutting large pieces of food into small bite-sized pieces to save cooking fuel. These pieces of food were perfectly suitable for eating with tweezer-like Chopsticks.

Confucius also had a role in giving a compassionate angle to the use of Chopsticks, as he was vegetarian. He discouraged sharp objects on dining table as they bring to mind the slaughterhouses. This would create a kind of violent milieu in minds of eaters, whereas eating should be happy act. Chinese chopsticks at that time, were blunt rather than sharp.

Chopsticks in other Asian countries varied greatly. In Japan the Chopsticks are 8 cm long for men and 7 cms long for Women. Japan brought out the Bamboo chopsticks. There is the jade, agate, coral, brass versions of Chopsticks in Japan. The more affluent folks use the silver Chopsticks.

CHOPSTICK MANNERS

Chopstick manners are numerous. Each Manner has a unique descriptive name which talks about the manners it requires.

Here are 10 of the manners which are often talked about.

If you learn to use the Chopsticks with just these points in mind, you will be able to feel at ease dining with the Japanese.

1.?????? Yosebashi 寄せ箸　よせばし

?This refers to pulling the bowl of food using the Chopsticks. It is a WRONG act!!!

You are expected to first rest the Chopsticks on the Chopstick cushion and then move the bowl with both hands.

?2.?????? Kasanebashi　重ね箸　かさねばし

?Eating the same type of food during a meal. This practice is WRONG!!

You are expected to eat each of the dishes, thereby getting a balanced nutrition.

?3.?????? Neburibashi ねぶり箸　ねぶりばし

?Neburibashi means to lick your Chopsticks. NO, WRONG!

It is disgusting to those eating with you.

4.?????? Utsuribashi うつり箸　うつりばし

You take one dish and move or hover the chopsticks around another one and pick it with the same chopstick. This is WRONG!!

First eat what you picked and then pick the next dish.

5.?????? Sashibashi 刺し箸　さしばし

Sashibashi is an act of stabbing your food with a chopstick. This is WRONG!!

It shows immaturity in using the Chopstick. Looks kiddish!

6.?????? Mogibashi もぎ箸　もぎばし

　Using the chopstick to remove dirt or stuck food in your mouth. TABOO!!

It gives an impression of sloppiness.

7.?????? Furiagebashi　振り上げ箸　ふりあげばし

Pointing things or people with chopsticks by raising your chopstick to the level of your head. WRONG!!

It gives a bad impression to the person you are speaking to. Be careful about such bad impressions.

8.?????? Watashibashi 渡し箸　わたしばし

When you want to rest your chopsticks, you rest them on the rim of the bowl. WRONG!!

You will place the chopstick on the Chopstick Cushion or inside the chopstick cover and fold it shut.

9.?????? Namidabashi 涙箸　なみだばし

　 Messy eating of the food with its soup dripping out which ends up dirtying the table top or the dress you wear. WRONG!!

Lift your bowl or take food in the small saucer meant for receiving shared food.

?10.?? Piercing food with a Chopstick and keeping it standing on the food.

WRONG!!

This resembles offering food at the altar of Buddha. It is also an act of picking bones of the deceased after cremation.

Avoid this practice completely

?11.?? Oshikomibashi 押し込み箸　おしこみばし

You put food into your mouth with your Chopstick. Then you push it in with the chopstick. おしこみ　 means to push in. WRONG!!

It gives an impression of greed for food. So, you should eat with calm and grace.

12.?? Mayoibashi 迷い箸　まよいばし

To move the chopsticks from bowl-to-bowl wondering which one to eat. WRONG!!

?Eat with decisiveness and grace. Think what you wish to have and use your chopsticks decisively.

13.?? Saguribashi 探り箸　さぐりばし

You are served a bowl heaped with vegetables or fruits. You use chopsticks to pick the lowermost item by inserting chopstick deep down. This is kind of a breach of grace. WRONG!!

Eat gracefully picking food on the top and go down to the bottom. Be aware of politeness as you eat.

14.?? Hiroibashi 拾い箸　ひろいばし

　Passing food to other person or taking food passed from others is not a polite way of eating.? WRONG!!

Use the small saucers provided for receiving or sharing food with others. Never use the Chopsticks for that purpose.

15.?? Kakikomibashi かき込み箸　かきこみばし

　 As per the name, kakikomu means to gulp food using the Chopsticks. WRONG!!

Gives an impression of a greedy eater. So be careful.

Finally,

I was very clumsy with Chopsticks. But one huge learning from my clumsiness was that I got curious to know the mochikata or the manner of holding the chopsticks. If that is done perfectly, following the above rules would be a breeze.

Chopsticks have a great sanctity in Japanese dining. And so, one should not assume that it can be held as per one's wishes ,at random!