As it is impossible to use chopsticks

You know how to eat with chopsticks? Well done! And you know how you can not use chopsticks? If you go to a Japanese restaurant and votknetsya sticks in a cup of rice, the Japanese have come to dread. In Japan, the gesture is associated with death. Do not be trapped help this visual art.

The first chopsticks appeared in China before our era. But gradually spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other countries.

In Japan sticks called "chopsticks". First they were made of bamboo and were integral: thin bamboo stem cleaved, across half evolved, resulting in "tweezers". Later the wands have become separated.

Today, chopsticks are everywhere. Their spread, largely contributed to the popularity of Japanese cuisine. We learned how to hold the sticks, happy to eat miso and sushi, but few know the etiquette hashi.

O-hashi!

In Japan, chopsticks - not just cutlery. Sticks - part of the culture. Therefore, the Japanese respectfully called them "o-hashi."

According to one legend, he invented chopsticks guru tea ceremony Sen no Rikyu, who went to the forest for firewood and cleaned out a couple of twigs, to enjoy the smell of fresh wood.

Therefore made chopsticks are traditionally made of wood: pine, cypress, plum, maple, sandalwood. But there are also plastic and metal rods, sticks made of bone.

hashi length intended for food - 25 cm. Longer, 35-cm, are used for cooking (beating eggs, mixing sauces and so forth).

Chopsticks and different in shape: rods may be round or square section with conical or pyramidal tip.

When chopsticks just appeared, they were considered a luxury item. Chopsticks enjoyed privileged strata of society - commoners ate hands. Since then I went tradition decorating chopsticks - varnish, paint, inlay pearl and gold.

Beautiful chopsticks in Japan - an expensive and meaningful gift. They are given to newlyweds that they were inseparable, like a pair of chopsticks. It is believed that the chopsticks to bring good luck, so they often give registered sticks and family suites.

When a child is 100 days in a Japanese family it is a ceremony called "The first sticks" - the first time the parents give the baby rice using chopsticks.

The Japanese are trying to teach children how to eat with chopsticks as early as possible. It is believed that the chopsticks develop fine motor skills and contribute to the education of the child.

etiquette hashi

Eating in Japan it is traditionally preceded by the bow and the phrase "Itadakimasu" ( "I accept with gratitude"). At the same time, in some regions of the country bow is made with chopsticks in hand, holding wand vertically, parallel to itself.

The restaurants tend to use disposable chopsticks - "varibasi". They are served in a special cover - hasibukuro, decoration of which is often also a work of art.

Pulling, disposable chopsticks need to break. After that wooden chopsticks should be good to ride against each other, so as not to put a thorn.

During breaks in the dinner sticks placed on a special stand - "hasioki". Khasi put sharp ends on the stand so that they looked to the left. If not on the table hasioki, sticks can be put on the table or lean against them to the cup. But do not put them across the plate.

In Japanese culture, with chopsticks linked to many taboos.

As it is impossible to use chopsticks

For clarity, we have drawn the basic rules. You can print out and take with you on a journey.

rule 1

rule 2

rule 3

rule 4

rule 5

rule 6

rule 7

rule 8

rule 9

rule 10

After the meal, again followed by a nod, and the phrase "Gochisosama" - "Thank you for your hospitality."