Adding to the stereotype over here in the Wild West of us Chinese people being mystical, kungfu wielding, unfathomably slitty eyed, and well, kooky creatures* – are fortune cookies. I’ve been amused by – as what Wikipedia aptly describes the advice on the tiny strips of paper to be – ‘faux wisdom or vague prophecy’: “Wear yellow today. Bring you good luck.” Oh no! I don’t have a single piece of yellow in my wardrobe! Must. Buy. Yellow. Something.
So – who thought up of these nifty fortune cookie thingys? According to the all-wise Encyclopedia for the lazy who do not bother to research past the first search result like yours truly:
As far back as the 19th century, a cookie very similar in appearance to the American Fortune cookie was made in Kyoto, Japan, and there is a Japanese temple tradition of random fortunes, called omikuji. The Japanese version of the cookie differs in several ways: they are a little bit larger; are made of darker dough; and their batter contains sesame and miso rather than vanilla and butter. They contain a fortune; however, the small slip of paper was wedged into the bend of the cookie rather than placed inside the hollow portion.
In one prevalent theory, in the aftermath of World War II with the internment of 100,000 Japanese American people, including those who had produced Fortune cookies, Chinese people took over the production of this wise little confectionery en masse (go, enterprising Chinese people!).
Still, the title of the original inventor of the cookie is still up for grabs – several Chinese and Japanese people have contested for this. Whoever did invent it must have been one shrewd businessman – how did he tap on to this strange American yen for little nuggets of wisdom to go with their Chinese takeout?
Anyways, fortune cookies before the early 20th century were all made by hand. Soon of course, machines were invented to facilitate the cookie making process churning them out by the dozens, leaving people all over America with a little tidbit to chew on both literally and figuratively after yummy dinners of Chow Mein and Mushu Chicken.
Incidentally, while in San Fran, I chanced upon the famous Golden Gate bakery on Ross Street where they are still made by hand:
Her cheeks are red from the open flame nearby - it takes nimble fingers to fold the cookie while it's still pliable and hot. My aunt still makes loveletters in a similar way - hot and tideous work.
Ross St, btw, is where Karate Kid was filmed (and a remake of Karate Kid will be hitting your theatres soon!). I love Mr. Miyagi. He was my first impression ever of what a Japanese man speaking English should sound like.
I’ll be looking forward to what my next fortune says, though I’m still troubled by my previous one. (”What do you mean – adventure is within?! You mean I came all the way to the States for nuthin’?!”)
*Alright, I exaggerated a little. They don’t think of us that way – not since the days of Karate Kid at least I hope. (Some people thought Mr Miyagi was supposed to be Chinese. D’oh.) Though I do hope the stereoptype of Chinese people being smart and just a teeny bit unfathomable should hold true for a while…we all need our competitive advantage, you know.
It‘s quiet in here! Why not leave a response?