Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Saying itadakimasu before a meal has been described as both a secular [2] [3] [4] and a religious practice. [2] [5] [6] When saying itadakimasu, both hands are put together in front of the chest or on the lap. The Japanese attach as much importance to the aesthetic arrangement of the food as its actual taste.
The term Itadakimasu can be traced back to ancient Japan's Asuka period when Buddhism was the dominant religion in the region. [1] In contrast to western religions, which have a hierarchy (God > people > animals > etc.), eastern religion, specifically Buddhism, views all on an equal level, and as a result, uses Itadakimasu as a symbolistic phrase to share their respect and honor.
Similar to bon appétit or saying grace, it expresses gratitude for all who played a role in providing the food, including farmers, as well as the living organisms that gave their life to become part of the meal. [7] Saying itadakimasu before a meal has been described as both a secular [7] [8] [9] and a religious practice. [7] [10] [11]
Grace before the Meal, by Fritz von Uhde, 1885. A grace is a short prayer or thankful phrase said before or after eating. [1] The term most commonly refers to Christian traditions. Some traditions hold that grace and thanksgiving imparts a blessing which sanctifies the meal. In English, reciting such a prayer is sometimes referred to as "saying ...
Japanese commonly use proverbs, often citing just the first part of common phrases for brevity. For example, one might say i no naka no kawazu (井の中の蛙, 'a frog in a well') to refer to the proverb i no naka no kawazu, taikai o shirazu (井の中の蛙、大海を知らず, 'a frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean').
The practise of a Confucian teaching that cautioned about eating too much, so as not to over burden the spleen, stomach or heart [11] evolved into a Japanese proverb as: "Hara hachi bun ni yamai nashi, hara juuni bun ni isha tarazu" (腹八分に病なし、腹十二分に医者足らず) or literally "stomach 80% in, no illness, stomach 120% ...
Dango: a Japanese dumpling and sweet made from mochiko (rice flour),[1] [citation not found] related to mochi. Hanabiramochi: a Japanese sweet (wagashi), usually eaten at the beginning of the year. Higashi: a type of wagashi, which is dry and contains very little moisture, and thus keeps relatively longer than other kinds of wagashi.
Ichijū-sansai (Japanese: 一汁三菜) is a traditional Japanese dining format that typically consists of one bowl of rice, one soup, and three side dishes (one main dish and two side dishes). [1] It is a key component of kaiseki cuisine and reflects the aesthetic and nutritional principles of Japanese meals .