Chopstick Etiquette?

[GuyInTaiwan]

I'm not sure where this should go (it seems like it could go in several fora), but figured if anyone will know, it's the people here.

In another thread, I asked if anyone knew if there is some sort of etiquette/correct form for holding chopsticks. I have asked several Taiwanese this, and no one has been able to tell me. There also seems to be considerable variation in how people hold chopsticks here.

[Steviebike]

????? Wasn't this joshuaintaiwan thread ?????

[Incubus]

It's like knife and fork etiquette in the West, no one observes it anymore. Hold them however you like.

But there is the superstitious belief that the higher up you hold the chopsticks, the longer you life will be.

[StuartCa]

I think Wikipedia answers your questions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopsticks#Chinese_etiquette

and here shows how to hold them correctly:
http://www.chopsticketiquette.com/

[milkalex]

the shorter you hold them as closer your future wife is

[Steviebike]

The reason people don't stick chopsticks straight into their rice/noodles is because it looks like incense burning to honour the dead/ancestors.

The reason you shouldn't tap with you chopsticks is because this is what beggars used to do to get rice.

There are many connotations to holding the chopsticks near the top. But, that has nothing to do with etiquette, the first two do and should be followed strictly.

[Belgian Pie]

Chopsticks can be used in many ways:

eating
picking nose or ears
drumming
smashing flies
hair pin

so the way you hold it doesn't really matter, I've seen people using the ones to brake apart without braking them ... this way they flex back to hold to food, like a spring ...

[GuyInTaiwan]

Interesting. Thanks.