Ear picking
{{Short description|Ear hygiene practice}}
File:Chengdu travel 039 (36190586045).jpg, China]]
Ear picking, also known as ear scooping (Chinese: {{Zh|s=采耳|t=採耳|p=Cǎi ěr}}), is a type of traditional ear hygiene and leisure activity common in Asia.{{Cite news |last=Hua |first=Vanessa |date=2021-06-22 |title=The Best Way to Clean Your Ears: With a Spoon |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/magazine/ear-wax-removal-ear-pick.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |issn=0362-4331}} It involves the process of removing earwax using various tools. Ear picking service in China for leisure and pleasure dates back to Song dynasty (960-1279 CE).{{Cite book |last=Margo DeMello |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQsVEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22ear+picking%22&pg=PA76 |title=On the Job: An Encyclopedia of Unique Occupations Around the World |date=2021 |publisher=ABC-CLIO, LLC |isbn=9781440863516 |page=76}}{{Cite book |last=潘伟 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i59-EAAAQBAJ&dq=%E9%87%87%E8%80%B3&pg=PT242 |title=百工记 |date=2021 |publisher=广西师范大学出版社 |isbn=9787559841391}}{{Cite web |last=Hoy |first=Hilda |title=In China, Chengdu's peculiar ear-cleaning custom |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20181029-in-china-chengdus-peculiar-ear-cleaning-custom |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}
Varieties
= 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).{{cite web|url= https://sd.sina.cn/news/2021-03-17/detail-ikkntiam3903655.d.html |title= 采耳风靡济南 采耳师高时月收入可达一万五 |website=Sina News |date=17 March 2023 }}
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. {{cite web|author=Awen|url=https://www.viewofchina.com/ancient-chinese-bath-culture/ |title=Ancient Chinese Bath Culture |website=View of China |date=30 April 2019}} 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.{{Cite web |title=存档副本 |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukchina/trad/vert-tra-46582807 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112225856/https://www.bbc.com/ukchina/trad/vert-tra-46582807 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |access-date=2020-07-06}}{{Cite web |last=Staab |first=Wayne |date=2017-10-24 |title=Ear-Picking - What is it? |url=https://hearinghealthmatters.org/waynesworld/2017/ear-picking/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Hearing Health & Technology Matters |language=en-US}}
Ear-picking service is especially common in Chengdu region, where services can be found in salons, public parks, roadsides, and tourist attractions.{{Cite web |last=Hoy |first=Hilda |title=In China, Chengdu's peculiar ear-cleaning custom |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20181029-in-china-chengdus-peculiar-ear-cleaning-custom |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}} The Chengdu ear-picking custom was reportedly popularized during Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE).{{cite web|url= https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/The-400-year-old-art-of-the-ear-canal-rub-down |title= The 400-year-old art of the ear canal rub down |date=27 November 2016 |website=Nikkei Asia |first= Shunsuke |last=Tabeta }}
= 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.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-05 |title=Japan's lap-pillow ear-cleaning salons aren't just for pervy guys, we find out |url=https://soranews24.com/2021/07/05/japans-lap-pillow-ear-cleaning-salons-arent-just-for-pervy-guys-we-find-out/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=SoraNews24 -Japan News- |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rich |date=2014-07-17 |title=Mimikaki: Ear Cleaning and Romance in Japan |url=https://www.tofugu.com/japan/mimikaki/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Tofugu |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2017-10-02 |title=Mimikaki, l'art de prendre son pied grâce au nettoyage d'oreilles |url=https://www.slate.fr/story/151901/mimikaki-japon-oreilles |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Slate.fr |language=fr-FR}}
=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/vietnamese-clients-wax-poetic-over-ear-picking/ |title=Vietnamese clients wax poetic over ear picking |website=The Seattle Times |date=27 January 2011 |first=John |last=Boudreau }}