Ear picking
Ear hygiene practice
Ear picking, also known as ear scooping (Chinese: simplified Chinese: 采耳; traditional Chinese: 採耳; pinyin: Cǎi ěr), is a type of traditional ear hygiene and leisure activity common in Asia. It involves the process of removing earwax using various tools. Ear picking service in China for leisure and pleasure dates back to the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE).
01Varieties
In China
The earliest records of ear-picking originated in the Han dynasty (202 BC-220 CE), and such leisure enjoyment was limited to the noble class until Tang dynasty (681-907 CE).
Ear-picking as a service originated in the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE) as part of the leisure options offered by tea house or public bathhouse. The Chinese-style ear-picking process involves specialized tools, massages, sound, and techniques that emphasize cleaning and stress relief. Aside from ear picks, ear-picking tools include cloud knives, ear spoons, ticklers made of goose feather, tuning forks, and peacock feathers for massages. The job requires extensive training in hand accuracy and steadiness.
Ear-picking services are especially common in the city of Chengdu, where they can be found in salons, public parks, roadsides, and tourist attractions. The Chengdu ear-picking custom was reportedly popularized during Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE).
In Japan
Ear picking, known as mimi souji (耳そうじ, 耳掃除) in Japan, is a traditional leisure and ear hygiene activity in the country.
In Vietnam
Ear picking service in Vietnam is offered in barbershops along with massages. It’s commonly used by local people for ear cleaning, refreshment and stress relief.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ear picking”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Chengdu travel 039 (36190586045).jpg by JianEn Yu, CC BY 2.0
- Mimikaki Ear pick 8jo WATANABE Hachijo.jpg by 8joKeaton, CC BY-SA 4.0
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