Why Chopsticks?
 

I am not trying to make fun or anything but why do Japanese, Koreans and others use chopsticks? isn't it much easier to just take a spoon or fork and eat their food? I know this may sound a bit stupid :p but i am just curious why.

I just heard before that eating using chopsticks improves your concentration power, is that true? and are there any other benefits of using chopsticks?

It may be easier for you, but not them.

:/

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There's a story that Confucius started the idea, because he thought the knives and forks of then were too violent...

I think it´s just tradition for them to use chopsticks and japan is a very traditional country^^ but for the reasen that using chopsticks increasing your concentration i´ve never heared, but it could be possible cause to use a knife and a fork is much easier and if u use chopsticks u have to have a good reaction :D

Why do other places use spoons and forks? Isn`t it a lot easier to actually have some control over the thing you`re eating than to just stab it or try to scoop it up?

I think it's mainely becouse their food is different. Japanese food for example is very easy to eat, I mean you don't need a knife to eat japanese food becouse (in most cases) you don't even need to cut it. Also from what I know they don't like to cut or pierce food as they believe it ruins the taste (like with sushi for example, I can't imagine eating it with fork).

I'm a finger food type person.....but I've tried the chopsticks I still haven't mastered it yet......but it does take a hell of a lot more effort than I thought.....but I'm almost there.....I can actually hold my food in 'em without dropping it.......but that's only cuz it's the bigger sized food....my next goal is smaller foods....^_^ like they say
if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. ^_^

cuz asians are raised from childhool to use chopsticks. its like a customary thing now. and secondly..WHY DO YOU CAREEE?

They use chopsticks because that is what their ancestors used to eat with. Also, it is easier to some foods with chopsticks intead of using a spoon or fork.

No offense, but why do you care if she cares??

Its not stupid its ok to be curious. :mtongue:

cuz it just seems like a unlikely question to ask..

Because its their culture.

I think this is more a question of why would the Japanese drop centuries of tradition just to be more like westerners...?

This is a very fair question.

Chopsticks fit with Japanese culture perfectly. In Japan food is art, and food is appreciated, and food is loved. You will find people say that in Japanese cuisine presentation is just as important as flavor. It must stimulate more than one of the senses. It should please the eye, the nose, the mouth, even touch and sound are important. Sensory peace, tranquility and balance are valuble. In the west these ideas are largely ignored.

So with that in mind, think about chopsticks, and think about western utensils. Chopsticks can stir, mix, move and carry. The soft piece of tofu, bite of rice or slice of sashimi makes its path from the small plate to your mouth delicately carried by two long, pliable pieces of wood. The food remains in the same form until the moment it hits your tongue.

This is eating food properly in Japan. What better time to be harmonious with nature and with your self than at mealtime?

Do you still wonder why they don't use violent metal weapons to stab, slice, butcher, and cut up their food?

I'm sure tradition has a lot to do with choosing to use chopsticks in modern times and I think that is great. A lot of people don't understand how much thought goes into traditionally eating with a pair of chopsticks. You aren't supposed to just eat with chopsticks in the Japanese culture, but you are also suppose to be very mindful of proper Etiquette while eating. Take a look at this web site to learn more about eating with chopsticks properly, Chopsticks. From what I understand there is supposed to be more than this.

Welll.... I don't really know that much about chop stick even though i am asian, but from my um... analyze the structure of chopstick i can give u the answer of "Why chopsticks?"

1: Chopstick is just esasy to make, very simple shape unlike fork or spoon!!! can be made by various material => cheap. This leave me the the next reason

2:Type of food they cook is most apporiate to eat with chopstick, altho fork will do fine but remeber the Western and the Asian culture develop without any interference with each other unltil these very last centuries, so the only eating equipment at the time is chopstick.

3: Because it is cheap, affordable, and easesy to made that why the chopstick is so popular in the old times, as poor people can also access to these chopsticks easely. Unlike fork, with usssually used only for the royal and rich people (lol i think so).

Of course they're not hard to use for you Mr."I use them everyday". What if that person is a novice, hmmm.....you can't say it's easy. Someone who hasn't done it in a lifetime can't pick up a pair and just use them automatically. There's a technique for it and it takes practice before you use them correctly.

I should know.....I use them as often as I can and I still haven't perfected it. The first time I tried, I accidently flung a shrimp at someone:D But now I can hold it without loosing my food.

Like everything in life you have to learn how to first before it becomes easy.

Please please, thoroughly read my post. I was only speaking about Japanese customs for utilizing chopsticks. I also made sure to elaborate on "TRADITIONAL JAPANESE USAGE." If one is actually mindful of the proper usage of chopsticks in Japanese culture then it is not a simple case of just eating one's food and being done with it. I want to reiterate, I was only speaking of traditional usage of chopsticks in the Japanese culture. Look at the link and you will understand a little of what I was talking about. Furthermore, I did grow up using chopsticks and I happen to be half Japanese. When I was younger I was scolded for improper usage of chopsticks by family members.

Link: Chopsticks

I use chopsticks when I eat Asian food, and I use knife and fork when I eat Western food. Simple as that. And they use it for no reason? Easier to eat Asian food with them and because it's part of their heritage? I guess.

I live in china
 

So funny when we go out with chinese and westerns here in china. IF its a nice restaurant... All the chinese will use the knife and fork... and the "westerners" will be the one using chop sticks

Sorry but I don't "shovel" my food.....pigs do that....and for your 411 I'm not white.:mtongue:

No....I'm a person......and you are a shovenist pig. :ywave:

Well first time I used the chopsticks I ended up having to stab the shrimp that I was trying to eat and Slykaz1 is right no one is expected to change from forks and knives to chopstick and be able to eat their food like nothing changed, its takes practice to be able to hadle chopsticks MR. I use them everyday, and I've been using chopstick for a year now and I still have probelms keeping the food from slipping and falling back to the plate/bowl or whatever it is that I have my food in

:D :D PMSL.......:cool: :cool:

Tenchu your one idiotic-mean-S.O.B

So then that supports every detail I thought about you.......Thank you for clearing my "want to think he's a good person" judgement about you. And for the spelling go back through everything you've ever written, the way you spell most of your words makes me think you haven't written in english for too long....:mtongue: It's funny how you view us women when you actually came from a woman.....Hmmm......what goes around comes around you'll pay your dues soon enough :p

Awwww.....you called me sweetheart....look I was brought up to respect people's comments whatever you want to call it.....And you step.....no squish all over "women's" comment's, that makes you against what we have to say.....and frankly that makes me feel words beyond mentioning at you. I want you to respect those of us, just as you want us to respect you. If you can't handle that then don't comment us. Since I've read most of your comments you sound like you have something against us.....I don't respect people who start off with insults before explanations to me you are hostile.

HAHAHAHAHA, just kidding. i made that up!

hahaha........I'm actually rolling all over the floor with laughter.......not

You were rude to my friend in one of those "terrorist" thing I believe and to me too, come to think of it now.....Look all I want is that when you're gonna be loud against comments......don't go trigger happy typing away.....I know you have some good views on some things.....but most of the time you end up insulting others......either on purpose or without thought.....I'd like to see less of that and more of the ideals you have to say.....Though I already know what I say will only go in one ear and out the other. So, whether you "grovel" or not. It's not gonna change the fact of whom I now think you are.

Tell you what, the next time you make a comment towards me, I will ignore it......for some reason you hype me up to be rude back and I like to stay positive. :mtongue:

I'm not taking any sides, but you two "Slykaz1 and Eiri" have been far ruder to Tenchu than he has been to you!! And the reason is probably that tenchu upset you in a previous thread and you've held a grudge against him ever since.... all of you need to relax a little! you guys don't even know eachother personally so there is no need to insult eachother about personality disorders and whatnot...

Take a chill pill......... show some love!!!!!

im pretty sure this was about chopsticks...

Well, It helps with hand writing i guess i use them everyday when I eat and I'm used to using chopsticks than a fork or spoon

CAn I just say something?



Chopsticks FTW!!!!!!! :D:D:D

What does "FTW" mean??

for the win.
Why Chopsticks?
because i said so.

This is a very fair question.

Chopsticks fit with Japanese culture perfectly. In Japan food is art, and food is appreciated, and food is loved. You will find people say that in Japanese cuisine presentation is just as important as flavor. It must stimulate more than one of the senses. It should please the eye, the nose, the mouth, even touch and sound are important. Sensory peace, tranquility and balance are valuble. In the west these ideas are largely ignored.

So with that in mind, think about chopsticks, and think about western utensils. Chopsticks can stir, mix, move and carry. The soft piece of tofu, bite of rice or slice of sashimi makes its path from the small plate to your mouth delicately carried by two long, pliable pieces of wood. The food remains in the same form until the moment it hits your tongue.

This is eating food properly in Japan. What better time to be harmonious with nature and with your self than at mealtime?

Do you still wonder why they don't use violent metal weapons to stab, slice, butcher, and cut up their food?

Really? I thought it was a pretty good post, actually. And at least it was on topic and tried to address the inquiry of the original poster.

MMM, i have to agree a little with what tenchu said... your explanation is a bit tooo "poetic"... i think if japanese people read this, they'd be confused. Most of them wouldn't even realise that they use chopsticks for this reason. They would just say, this is what we are used to and this is easier to use than a FKS.

And as for the thing about not wanting to stab and cut your food etc, that was a chinese myth to why they used chopsticks. its hardly accepted by anyone, even chinese people! They used to say that it was inhumain to cut up your food or to let the guest work by cutting up their food to eat!!! Fair enough it sounds logical and all, but i doubt thats the real reason since back in the day, most people ate food like pigs anyway!!!

Also, that part about food being appealing for all the senses is actually a western thing.. It was westerners that started all that stuff about how food has to be beautiful looking, lovely smelling etc.... i won't add delicious. because i think everyone that cooks hopes to make something delicious!


The bottom line is, people use chopsticks because, its easier for their food, and its what they have grown up with...

ps. my theory is that poor people invented chopsticks (from twigs from trees), and that it was easier and cheaper to make than a fork and knife!!:D hehehehehehehehehe