Typical Taiwanese Customs associated with Eating.

Typical Customs Associated with Eating

Taiwanese consider eating as one of the essential parts of life. There is a Taiwanese saying, " Eating is as important as the Emperor. " Although there is no emperor anymore, this saying shows how important eating is to the Taiwanese. In order to suit the importance of eating, the Taiwanese have a set of longstanding, complicated dining etiquette, meal patterns, table settings, dining utensils, etc. Among Taiwanese dining customs, chopsticks are perhaps the most abstruse part. It can be almost said that Taiwanese cannot eat without using chopsticks. The way of holding chopsticks may be complicated to foreigners; following is the method of holding chopsticks:

1.Put one chopstick between the palm and the base of the thumb,

2.Use the ring finger (the third finger) to support the lower part of the stick.

3. With the thumb, squeeze the stick down while the ring finger pushes it up.

Will eat for food

The Faro Caudill [family] eating dinner in their d...

From top to bottom: Plastic chopsticks from Taiwan...

The stick should be stationary and very stable.

4.Use the tips of the thumb, the index and middle finger to hold the other stick like an ink pen.

5.Make sure the tips of the two sticks line up.

6.Pivot the upper stick up and down towards the stationary lower stick.

7.With enough practice, the two sticks function like a pair of pincers.

8.For easier handling in the beginning, hold the sticks at the midpoint as a child would do. With proficiency, hold the sticks at the upper ends for a farther reach and a more mature look.

There are also many rules about chopsticks. For instance, it would be considered extremely rude using chopsticks to make noise by banging on the bowl, and Never rest your chopsticks by sticking them point-first into...