Although there are many theories that explain the roots of this word, an interesting explanation is the one that relates to "bridge". Bridge in Japanese is "HASHI", the same pronounciation but different intonation. The Kanji character differs as well, but the sound came first from ancient Japanese, and the Kanji was applied later on.
Chopsticks is a tool to carry food to your mouth.
Food is life. It used to be life of an animal or plant.
We eat to maintain our life.
So HASHI (chopsticks) is a HASHI (bridge) that connects a life to our life.
When you think about HASHI like this, it makes us think twice about eating too much, or leaving leftovers, or even about throwing away disposable chopsticks. People of the old days burned and placed their chopsticks in shrines after using it out.
Another interesting custom for SHOGATSU related to HASHI is the picture below.
Instead of normal HASHI with one side thinner than the other to make it easier to grip, HASHI for New Years are symmetry on both sides. This is said to be because one side is for ourselves, and the other side is for the God (or Gods, since Japanese tradition is a vague paganism).
2 comments:
God, I didn't know that chopsticks can be that complicated ;)
But it's interesting thing, thanks!
Kisses
Thank you for the comment. I know, we are so good at making things complicated :)
Regards!
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