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Chinese Chopsticks - Legends, How to Use Them, and Taboos

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Chinese Chopsticks - Legends, How to Use Them, and Taboos

Written by Mike HoUpdated Jan. 17, 2024

The earliest chopsticks were used in the Shang Dynasty, around 1200 BC. They were made of bronze and were used primarily for cooking. After the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), chopsticks were used for eating, and their usage spread to other Asian countries including Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand. Nowadays, chopsticks are made of many different materials, and they have become more and more popular all over the world.

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History of Chopsticks

A Legend about Chopsticks

Chopstick Materials

Different Styles of Chopsticks

How to Use Chopsticks

Chopsticks Etiquette and Taboos

Chopsticks as a Gift Meanings

Chinese chopsticks

The History of Chopsticks

According to the historian Sima Qian (~145–~86 BC) in the Han Dynasty era, Chopsticks were used before the Shang Dynasty, about 4,000 years ago. Archeological analysis of six bronze chopsticks, excavated from the ruins of Yin near Anyang, Henan Province (a Shang city established around 1400 BC) concludes the earliest extant chopsticks were used as cooking tools. Before the Han Dynasty, people in the north of China used spoons to eat millet porridge, which was the main food of that time.

During the Han Dynasty, rice became the staple food, and chopsticks were used as utensils to eat rice and other foods. Spoons were also used alongside chopsticks at that time. Until the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), chopsticks were the main eating utensils in all parts of China.

An Interesting Legend about Chopsticks

There is an interesting legend about how chopsticks were invented. It is said that Jiang Ziya (1128–1015), who was a famous military sage who assisted emperors of the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BC) against the Shang Dynasty, invented chopsticks…

One day, Jiang Ziya's wife cooked some meat for him. When Jiang Ziya was about to grab the meat to eat it, a bird came flew in through the window and pecked him. He didn't eat the meat and hurried off to catch the bird. Jiang Ziya knew it was a divine bird, so he pretended to drive the bird and chased it out to a deserted hillside. The divine bird perched on a bamboo twig, and whispered, "Jiang Ziya, you should pick up the meat with bamboo fiber sticks."

Jiang Ziya listened to the guidance of the divine bird and hurriedly picked two bamboo fiber sticks and returned home.

When his wife urged him to eat the meat again, Jiang Ziya put the two bamboo fiber sticks into the bowl to hold the meat. Suddenly, he saw the silk bamboo sticks hissing out a stream of green smoke. Jiang Ziya pretended not to know about the poisoning and said to his wife, "How can the meat smoke? Is it poisonous?" As he said it, Jiang Ziya picked up the meat and offered it to his wife's mouth. His wife's face turned white and she hurried out of the door.

Jiang Ziya knew that these bamboo fiber sticks were a gift sent by the divine bird, as poison could be detected by the bamboo sticks. From then on, he used two bamboo fiber sticks for every meal.

After the story was told, not only did his wife dare not poison him again, but also the neighbors learned to eat with bamboo sticks. Later, more and more people ate with chopsticks, and the custom was passed down from generation to generation.

Chopstick Materials

Bamboo

Bamboo has long been the most popular material used for chopsticks because it is inexpensive, readily available, easy to split, resistant to heat, and has no perceptible odor or taste.

Wooden Chopsticks

Wood

Cedar, sandalwood, teak, and pine have also been used to make wooden chopsticks. Like bamboo chopsticks, wooden ones are light, functional, and easy to make… with the right wood. Some wood may rot, split, splinter, taint the food, etc. with long-term use and so is not suitable.

Metal

Metal chopsticks are easy to clean and much more durable than other ones. Most metal chopsticks are made of stainless steel, which is as cheap in price as bamboo ones (considering their durability). Some are made from titanium and silver, which are more expensive than other chopsticks.

During dynastic times, it was thought that silver chopsticks would turn black if they met poisoned food. It is now known that silver has no reaction to arsenic or cyanide, but if rotten eggs, onion, or garlic are used, the hydrogen sulfide they release might cause silver chopsticks to change color.

Plastic

Plastic chopsticks are inexpensive nowadays. But they are not popular in China as they are very slippery and not easy to pick up food with.

Jade and Other Materials

The wealthy, however, often had chopsticks made from jade, gold, bronze, brass, agate, coral, ivory, and silver. In ancient times, they were used by royal families or wealthy families. Nowadays, jade or gold chopsticks are kept as souvenirs or as art collections.

Different Styles of Chopsticks

In China

Chinese chopsticks are round or square in cross-section with tapered eating ends. They are much longer than other styles. Most Chinese chopsticks are about 25–30 centimeters (10–12") long. In Chinese restaurants, melamine, steel, or plastic chopsticks are often provided, because they are inexpensive and durable. Bamboo and wood chopsticks are commonly seen in individual households or with takeaways. There has been a drive to reduce one-use chopsticks in China.

Japan

Japanese chopsticks are shorter and sharper than Chinese ones. It is common for women to use shorter chopsticks. There are also small-sized chopsticks designed for children. Many Japanese chopsticks have some round grooves at the eating end, which keeps the food from slipping.

Japanese chopsticks

Korea

Different from other Asian countries, metal chopsticks are much more popular than other materials in Korea. Most of them are made of stainless steel. Rich or wealthy families use silver or bronze chopsticks. To get around metal's slippery nature, most Korean chopsticks have a flat side for better grip.

Vietnam

Vietnamese chopsticks are much longer than other styles in Asian countries. They are often thicker and bigger than other ones. The ends for eating are smaller. Most Vietnamese chopsticks are made of bamboo or wood, with bamboo being most popular in villages of Vietnam.

Thailand

Compared with other Asian countries, knives, forks, and spoons are much more popular than chopsticks in Thailand, as Western cuisines are more popular there. Since Chinese immigrants introduced the use of chopsticks, many Thai restaurants today offer chopsticks for Asian cuisines.

How to Use Chopsticks

There is not just one right way to use chopsticks. Here's a standard way to hold and use chopsticks:

How to use chopsticks

1. Pick up two chopsticks with one hand's fingers and thumb, holding them like a couple of pencils about two thirds of the way up from the tapered eating end.

2. Then hold the upper (movable) chopstick in the same way you would hold a pen to write (though with most of the chopstick sticking out), and let the lower (stationary) chopstick rest on your ring finger.

3. Pick up food by moving the upper chopstick and holding the lower chopstick still with your thumb and middle fingers.

4. To separate a piece of food into two pieces, exert controlled pressure on the chopsticks while moving them apart from each other. This needs a lot of practice.

Chopstick Etiquette and Taboos

When using chopsticks to eat in China, people need to pay attention to some taboos and common conventions:

Chopsticks taboos

1. Don't point your chopsticks (or index finger) at others. This is seen as a sign of disrespect. Likewise, don't wave your chopsticks around in the air or play with them while eating.

2. Don't knock on tableware with chopsticks: this is seen as a sign of begging.

3. Don't stir food with your chopsticks to find what you want. This is very rude (and unhygienic).

4. Don't invert your chopsticks, i.e., use them the wrong way round (to avoid losing face).

5. Never stick chopsticks into your food, especially not into rice. Only at funerals are chopsticks stuck into rice on an altar, where they look like joss sticks, also burnt on the altar for the dead.

6. Don't suck your chopsticks. It is regarded as rude behavior.

7. Never overlap or cross your chopsticks. It is not polite to cross chopsticks when eating with others. It is seen as unwelcoming or a sign of displeasure if chopsticks are left crossed.

8. Don't drop your chopsticks intentionally. It is rude behavior to drop your chopsticks, especially when eating with elders.

9. Don't use chopsticks of unequal length. In Chinese culture, unequal length chopsticks remind people of funeral matters, which is deemed inauspicious.

Chopsticks as a Gift: Meanings

For new couples:

Sending chopsticks to a new couple (as a wedding present) means they are a perfect match for marriage (as two chopsticks are perfectly match for one another) and it expresses hopes they will soon give birth to a son (the Chinese for chopsticks is kuaizi, which sounds like kuai zi meaning 'quickly a son').

For lovers:

Sending chopsticks between lovers means wishes for a forever love and that they will never break up or be separated.

For friends:

Between friends, chopsticks mean equality, deep friendship, and harmony.

For teachers:

Giving chopsticks to a teacher speaks of honesty and integrity, as well as great rewards.

For elders:

Chopsticks mean eternal happiness and longevity when given to seniors.

For children:

Chopsticks given to youngsters are to wish them fast and healthy growth. The pronunciation of chopsticks (kuai /kwhy/) in Chinese is the same as the word 'fast'.

For foreign friends:

Chopsticks can mean the keeping a long international friendship with friends.

For business partners:

Chopstick gifts mean long-term cooperation between business partners.

For friends moving into new house:

When given to new movers, chopsticks mean making a fortune in the new house quickly and living happily (kuai also sounds like the Chinese word for 'happy').

If you want to learn how to use chopsticks during your China tour, your tour guide will teach you how to pick up food with chopsticks and enjoy your meal. See our recommended tours below for inspiration:

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chopsticks_百度百科

sticks_百度百科网页新闻贴吧知道网盘图片视频地图文库资讯采购百科百度首页登录注册进入词条全站搜索帮助首页秒懂百科特色百科知识专题加入百科百科团队权威合作下载百科APP个人中心chopsticks播报讨论上传视频英语单词收藏查看我的收藏0有用+10chopsticks是一个英文单词，名词，作名词时意为“筷子”。中文名筷子外文名chopsticks词性名词目录1单词发音2短语搭配3双语例句单词发音播报编辑英['tʃɒpstɪks]美['tʃɑp,stɪks] [1]短语搭配播报编辑throwaway chopsticks一次性筷子disposable chopsticks一次性筷子 ; 首先准备一些免洗筷 ; 免洗筷 ; 卫生筷silver chopsticks银筷 ; 银筷子Chopsticks Day日本筷子节 ; 筷子节 ; 日My chopsticks我的筷子Chopsticks Set筷子礼盒 ; 餐具组合融入中国文化的灵动韵律Chopsticks Hill筷子山Red Chopsticks红筷子面馆 [1]双语例句播报编辑Put it on your chopsticks.把它放在你的筷子上。If so, why do we not abandon the production of disposable chopsticks?既然这样，我们为什么不放弃一次性筷子的生产呢？We eat with chopsticks.我们用筷子来吃。 [1]新手上路成长任务编辑入门编辑规则本人编辑我有疑问内容质疑在线客服官方贴吧意见反馈投诉建议举报不良信息未通过词条申诉投诉侵权信息封禁查询与解封©2024 Baidu 使用百度前必读 | 百科协议 | 隐私政策 | 百度百科合作平台 | 京ICP证030173号京公网安备110000020000

Chinese Chopsticks: History, Usage, Taboos, Etiquette

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Chinese Chopsticks

Our Guests Using Chopsticks In ancient times, chopsticks were called 'Zhu'. At that time, Chinese ancestors liked to steam or boil food. It was difficult for them to use spoons to dip vegetables in the soup. So they cleverly invented 'Zhu' to nip food, thus it has become the most convenient tableware in their lives. Development of chopstick has experienced a long history. Early in Xia Dynasty (21st - 16th century BC), the shape was still in development. Chopsticks only became two sticks of the same length in the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC). In the late Shang Dynasty, the tyrannical King Zhou ordered his craftsmen to make chopsticks from elephants' teeth, which was seen to be the most luxurious in the early history of Chinese food culture.The appearance of chopsticks said goodbye to those days when our Chinese ancestors had to use their hands to eat, so they featured the coming of civilization to food culture. The invention has many scientific theories. The lever principle of mechanics was applied into practice. The point where two sticks crossed is the pivot of the lever.Chinese people are familiar with the use of chopsticks. Many foreigners are interested in but also puzzled about how to use it with facility. Here are some notes you'd better remember when to use it. First, you must hold the upper part and don't cross it. Second, hold it with your thumb, index finger, middle finger and third finger. One stick is against your third finger and the other leans on your middle finger. Third, when you pick vegetable or meat in the dishes, use your index finger and middle finger to control the sticks. Practice a lot and then you will find it is an easy job.The use of chopsticks has been a part of Chinese food culture. There are some taboos that you must pay great attention to, or you may make mistakes and be laughed at. First, don't use it to hit the side of your bowl or plate to make a lot of noise, because Chinese people think only beggars would do this to beg for meals. Second, when you use it, don't stretch out your index finger, which would be regarded as a kind of accusation to others. Never use it to point at others. Third, it is thought to be an impolite behavior when you suck the end of a chopstick. People will think you lack family education. Fourth, don't use it to poke at every dish without knowing what your want. And last, don't insert it vertically into the bowls or dishes. Chinese people do this only when they burn incense to sacrifice the dead.Nowadays, chopsticks serve many new functions besides tableware. For example, you can buy a pair as a gift to your friends and relatives. In Chinese, it reads 'Kuaizi', which means to have sons soon, so a newly-married couple will be very happy to accept it as their wedding gift. Skillful craftsmen painted beautiful sceneries on chopsticks to make them like fine artworks. Many people love to collect them as their treasure.Chopsticks are small but they are adored by many people in the world. An interesting experiment shows that many joints and muscles are being exercised when you use it. They certainly make you cleverer, don't they?

- Last updated on Mar. 27, 2023 -

Q & A Search: Questions & Answers on Chinese ChopsticksAsked by bob from AUSTRALIA | Apr. 24, 2019 17:27Replywho invented the chopsticks and when was the first set of chopsticks invented?who invented the chopsticks i am doing an assignment about chopsticks can someone help me get answers that would be great and can someone give me a link to some good websites.Answers (1)Answered by Molly from HUNGARY | Apr. 24, 2019 21:0100Reply Hi, there are several sayings. It is said that the chopsticks are invented in Xia and Shang Dynasties. Asked by Ana from USA | Nov. 06, 2016 19:51ReplyHow much can I expect to pay for chopsticks (for souvenirs) in Beijing? Answers (2)Answered by Anthony from POLAND | Nov. 07, 2016 20:4041Reply The price various quite widely based on their material and craft. Generally, the price for two pairs of common wooden chopstick souvenirs is around CNY30~50.Answered by phoebe | Mar. 27, 2023 07:4000Reply As far as i am concerned, the chopsticks that made of wood and bamboo are the cheapest. And the materials of sliver/golden and ivory are act as souvenir for the prices between CNY50~300 or over it.More Questions & AnswersAsk a QuestionQuestion Summary (100 characters)Details (optional) (2,000 characters)NameCountryEmail

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8 things to know about Chinese chopsticks 关于中国筷子的8件事 - Chinadaily.com.cn

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8 things to know about Chinese chopsticks 关于中国筷子的8件事

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2024-01-15 17:05

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Chopsticks are a pair of sticks to be used when eating (筷子是一对用来吃饭的细长条棍, kuài zi shì yī duì yòng lái chī fàn de xì cháng tiáo gùn). They were first used in China (最初在中国使用, zuì chū zài zhōng guó shǐ yòng) and then introduced to other areas in the world (后传至世界其他地区, hòu chuán zhì shì jiè qí tā dì qū). Chopsticks is considered as the quintessence of Chinese culture (中国国粹, zhōng guó guó cuì) and has the reputation of "Oriental Civilization (东方文明, dōng fāng wén míng)". Below are 8 things to know about Chinese Chopsticks.

1. When chopsticks were invented? (筷子是什么时候发明的, kuài zi shì shén me shí hou fā míng de)

In fact, before the invention of chopsticks, Chinese ancestors actually used hands to eat, but how did they eat soup and porridge? They had to use sticks to eat them. Chinese started to use chopsticks about 3,000 years ago in Shang dynasty (从大约3000年前的商朝开始，中国人开始使用筷子 cóng dà yuē sān qiān nián qián de shāng cháo kāi shǐ , zhōng guó rén kāi shǐ shǐ yòng kuài zi). According to "Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》, shǐ jì)", King of Zhou, the last king of Shang dynasty already used ivory chopsticks (象牙筷子, )". On this basis, China has at least three thousand years of history. During Pre-Qin period (先秦时期, xiān qín shí qī) chopsticks was called "Jia", and in Qin and during Qin and Han dynasties it was called "Zhu" (筷子在先秦时代称为“梜”，汉代时已称“箸”，明代开始称“筷” kuài zi zài xiān qín shí dài chēng wéi "jiā", hàn dài shí yǐ chēng "zhù", míng dài kāi shǐ chēng "kuài"). Because "Zhu" shares the same sound with "stop" in Chinese, which is an unlucky word, so people began to call it "Kuai", meaning "fast" in Chinese. This is the origin of today's name of Chinese chopsticks.

2. Who invented chopsticks? (谁发明了筷子, shuí fā míng le kuài zi)

A mural painted on a brick from the tomb cluster. The murals, painted on bricks, were found in a tomb of the Wei and Jin dynasties (AD 220-419) in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu province. It is said to be the world's largest underground gallery. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The records of using chopsticks has been found in many written books but lacks physical evidence. However there are many folklore about the invention of chopsticks. One says that Jiang Ziya (姜子牙, ), an ancient Chinese military strategist (中国古代军事家、韬略家, zhōng guó gǔ dài jūn shì jiā、tāo lüè jiā) created chopsticks inspired by a mythical bird. Another one goes that, Daji (妲己, dá jǐ), the favorite consort of King of Zhou, invented chopsticks in order to please the king, there is another saying that. Yu the Great (大禹, dà yǔ), a legendary ruler in ancient China, used sticks to pick hot food in order to save time for controlling floods (为节约时间治水以树枝捞取热食, wèi jié yuē shí jiān zhì shuǐ yǐ shù zhī lāo qǔ rè shí). But there is no exact history record (史无记载, shǐ wú jì zǎi) about who invented chopsticks, we can only say that smart ancient Chinese invented chopsticks.

3. What are chopsticks made of? (筷子由什么材料制成, kuài zi yóu shén me cái liào zhì chéng)

Chopsticks are made from many different materials such as bamboo, wood, plastic, porcelain, silver, bronze, ivory, jade, bone and stone (竹子、木头、塑料、瓷器、银、青铜、象牙、玉石、骨头和石头 zhú zi、mù tou、sù liào、cí qì、yín、qīng tóng、xiàng yá、yù shí、gǔ tou hé shí tou). Bamboo chopsticks (竹筷, zhú kuài) are most frequently used in Chinese daily life.

4. How to use Chinese chopsticks. (如何使用中国筷子, rú hé shǐ yòng zhōng guó kuài zi)

Using two slim sticks to pick up food is actually not difficult. You can do it as long as you practice it for some time. Actually many foreigners in China have a masterly command of chopsticks like Chinese. The key of using chopsticks is keeping one chopstick in position while pivoting the other one to pick up food. It will be boring and difficult to understand how to use it in words. You can will know how to eat with chopsticks very soon, but be patient, that comes with practice.

5. Chopsticks Etiquette (筷子礼仪, kuài zi lǐ yí)

Chopsticks are usually held in the right hand, left-handed chopstick use is considered as improper etiquette in China. Playing with chopsticks is thought to be a bad manner. It is considered to be polite and thoughtful to pick up food for the elderly and children. When eating with the elders, Chinese usually let the elders take up chopsticks before anyone else (和长辈一起吃饭时，中国人通常会等长辈先动筷子, hé zhǎng bèi yī qǐ chī fàn shí , zhōng guó rén tōng cháng huì děng zhǎng bèi xiān dòng kuài zi). Often, the caring host will transfer a piece of food ((e.g. a chicken leg) from the plate to a visitor's plate. It is impolite to tap chopsticks on the edge of one's bowl, because in ancient China beggars often used it to attract attention (吃饭的时候用筷子敲碗是不礼貌的，因为用筷子敲碗是过去乞丐在乞讨的时候引起人注意时所用的方法 chī fàn de shí hou yòng kuài zi qiāo wǎn shì bù lǐ mào de , yīn wèi yòng kuài zi qiāo wǎn shì guò qù qǐ gài zài qǐ tǎo de shí hou yǐn qǐ rén zhù yì shí suǒ yòng de fāng fǎ).

6. The Philosophy of Chinese Chopsticks (中国筷子哲学, zhōng guó kuài zi zhé xué)

Chinese philosopher Confucius (中国古代思想家孔子, zhōng guó gǔ dài sī xiǎng jiā kǒng zǐ) (551-479BC) advised people to use chopsticks instead of knives (刀, dāo) because the metal knives remind people of cold weapons (冷兵器, lěng bīng qì), which mean killing and violence (杀戮和暴力, shā lù hé bào lì). So he suggested to ban knives on the dinning table and use wooden chopsticks.

7. When Chopsticks were introduced to other countries? (筷子何时传到其他国家, kuài zi hé shí chuán dào qí tā guó jiā)

Chopsticks was introduced to many other neighbor countries due to its lightness and convenience. Chopsticks was introduced into Korean peninsula from China in the Han Dynasty (筷子在汉朝从中国传入朝鲜半岛, kuài zi zài hàn cháo cóng zhōng guó chuán rù cháo xiǎn bàn dǎo), it expanded to the entire peninsula at about 600 AD. Japanese chopsticks was brought in by Buddhist monk named Konghai from China's Tang dynasty (筷子由日本佛教僧侣空海和尚在唐朝时期带回日本, kuài zi yóu rì běn fó jiào sēng lǚ kōng hǎi hé shàng zài táng cháo shí qī dài huí rì běn). Konghai once said during his missionary work "Those using chopsticks will be saved", just use chopsticks, the people can be saved after death, so chopsticks spread in Japan soon this way. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, chopsticks were gradually brought to Malaysia, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries (明清以后，筷子逐渐传入马来西亚、新加坡等东南亚国家, míng qīng yǐ hòu , kuài zi zhú jiàn chuán rù mǎ lái xī yà、xīn jiā pō děng dōng nán yà guó jiā).

8. A chopsticks-themed museum can be found in Shanghai (上海筷子主题博物馆, shàng hǎi kuài zi zhǔ tí bó wù guǎn)

If you are truly interested in chopsticks, you can pay a visit to the Shanghai Chopsticks Museum (上海民间民俗筷箸馆, shàng hǎi mín jiān mín sú kuài zhù guǎn). The museum gathered more than 1,200 pairs of chopsticks from China, Korea, Japan and Thailand. The oldest one was from the Tang Dynasty.

Address: No 191 Duolun Road, Hongkou Distric, ShanghaiEntrance fee: FreeOpening Hours: open daily 9am-6pmTel: 021-56717528Transport: Take subway line 3 and line 8 to Hongkou football stadium station; bus No 21, 597, 939, 854, 962 , 47.

来源：ChinaWhisper编辑：万月英

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Chinese Chopsticks, History, Legend, Use, Taboo, etc

3630 Words/15 Minutes, By Nora Zheng, Updated January 13, 2023

The Chinese character “箸” is translated as chopsticks, which are a unique eating utensil invented by the ancient Chinese. During the Neolithic Age in 7,000 BC to 6,000 BC, ancient chopsticks were primarily made of animal bones. Today, among the various eating utensils available, chopsticks best embody Chinese cultural characteristics, becoming an important symbol of Chinese tradition.

1. The origin and development of Chinese character “箸”(Chopsticks)

Chopsticks were pronounced “Zhu” in ancient China, while it is known today as “Kuaizi.”

It was written in Shuo Wen Jie Zi - the radical “bamboo”( 竹 ), which is theChinese dictionary of words and expressions. The Chinese character “箸” means an eating utensil with “竹” as the meaning element and “者”as the sound element. It was noted in Cihai Dictionary that chopsticks were a flexible tool in ancient China. Thus, the original meaning of “箸” was defined as a tool for picking up food.

Can you pick up peanuts with chopsticks?

“箸”(chopsticks) was also named “jia”, “ti”, among others. It had various other Chinese characters like “筯” and “櫡”, etc. Originating in the Ming Dynasty, it is generally called “kuaizi.” The Beans Garden Notes written by Lu Rong recorded that everywhere had taboos in its folk customs, especially when people spoke. Thus, many avoid saying “zhu” (English: prevent) and “fan” (English: capsize) when ships are proceeding, so the Chinese character for “chopsticks” was “zhu” (箸) in ancient China, but was replaced by the pronunciation for the character “kuai”(快)，meaning quick and the Chinese character for leaning cloth pronounced “fanbu” (幡布), but finally replaced by the pronunciation “mobu”(抹布). The Chinese character “箸” first appeared in the Curse on Chu in the early Qing Dynasty.

2. The characteristics of Chinese chopstick culture

Can you use chopsticks flexibly?

Chopsticks are composed of two pieces of sticks with the same shape, size and material, created with integrity, tenacity and honesty. The two chopsticks have no mechanical linkage, but they can coordinate well with one another through the operation of fingers, which is the materialization of what China considers character.

The primary component of Chinese chopstick culture:

Popularity: 1.3 billion people in China and Chinese people that are abroad know how to use chopsticks from an early age (3 on average). In terms of necessary appliances, its popularity is second to none.

Diversification: the chopsticks are made of a wide range of materials including bamboo, wood, animal bone(horn), ivory, beautiful stone ( bowler, crystal, jade and Shoushan stone），mental（gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead, alloy and stainless, etc.), rare materials(dragon horn, rhinoceros horn, turtle, and the bone of peacock) and others (fish bone, coral and plastic, etc.), combining as more than 200 types of chopsticks. The chopsticks are designed with engravings in various colors, from short lines, and spiral lines to poems and couplets from ancient times, paintings and pyrograph.

Inheritance: Chopsticks are representative of Chinese culture. Whenever and wherever Chinese people are they find it difficult to have a meal without chopsticks. In addition, chopsticks can be presented as a gift or function as a unique handcraft for people to distribute and express their feelings.

Global Presence: According to the statistics, over 1.8 billion people use chopsticks. Chopstick culture has great significance around the world having become a common cultural marker of “the circle of Chinese food culture” which includes many other Asian countries, such as “Chopsticks Day” in Japan, “Golden Chopsticks Award” in France and the trend of “for your health, please pick up your chopsticks” in western countries.

3. The use of chopsticks:The correct use of chopsticks can be described as follows: the right hand hold the chopsticks with thumb and forefinger pinching the upper end of the chopsticks and other three fingers naturally holding up the chopsticks, and both ends of chopsticks must remain aligned. Before a meal, the chopsticks are neatly placed to the right of the bowl and after the meal in the middle of the bowl in a vertical direction.

4. Chopstick Taboos:

Unexpected misfortune:Putting chopsticks uneven in length on the table is regarded as a sign of misfortune.

Immortal guiding:The chopsticks are pinched by thumb, middle finger, ring finger and little finger while index finger reaches out, which refers to blame.

Sucking chopsticks with a sound:

Having one end of chopsticks in the mouth and sucking it repeatedly with a sound is an impolite behavior.

Striking the cup:Striking plates and bowls is considered disrespectful and is despised by others.

Holding chopsticks around the table:

Using chopsticks to select food in the plates over and over again indicates a lack of self-cultivation and defiance, resulting in disgust.

Stirring for choices:Taking chopsticks to “search” through foods on the plates is poor form as that is often known as “grave-digging.”

Dripping food:Do not Drop soup into other dishes or on the table when picking up food with chopsticks, as it is deemed disrespectful.

Heaven and earth upside down:

When seated for a meal, using chopsticks upside down means that you are a beggar and a beggar cannot be a chooser.

Key stand:

Using a chopstick to stick foods on the plates is perceived as humiliating to others at the table.

Burning incense in public:

Chopsticks should not be left vertically ina bowl of rice, because it resembles the ritual of incense-burning that symbolizes “feeding” the dead.

Cross:During the meal, chopsticks should not be crossed on a table as it is perceived negatively. This is seen as the same when students make mistakes on their homework and are given a cross by teacher, the accused sign a cross to confess their crime.

Falling chopsticks disturbing the immortal:

At a meal, it is discourteous if chopsticks accidentally fall to the ground, because falling chopsticks stand for a disturbance of buried ancestors.

5. Chopstick Culture

Chopsticks originated from China. Though simple and little, they are a great invention in the history of mankind. “Chopsticks, although only two pieces of wood, represent the Leverage Theory in physics,” Dr. Li Zhengdao stated. He is a famous Chinese physicist in China. According to modern science, a long-standing use of chopsticks makes fingers flexible, which is beneficial for physical and mental health. Thus, among the various eating utensils available today, chopsticks with have a special charm stand and are popular for people.

Chopstick culture can be seen around the world. In Japan, people set August 4th each year as Chopsticks Day. In South Korea there are chopsticks lesson in primary schools. How to use chopsticks correctly is a part of the curriculum. In 1974, American President Nixon visited China where he talked immensely about China’s miraculous chopsticks. According to statistics, there are now over 1.5 billion people using chopsticks on a day-to-day basis worldwide. Thus, it can be seen that the chopsticks that were invented in China have become one of the most popular and important eating utensil in the world. Through the distribution of chopsticks around the world people have been able to learn more about China.

Chopsticks symbolize the age-old Chinese civilization and epitomize the 5,000 years of history China has had. Whether a Chinese person is living in China or abroad they cherish their bond with chopsticks.

“A chopstick can be broken easily; ten pairs of chopsticks hold each other tightly.” People are familiar with this fine and enlightened song by Fu Disheng, a well-known singer in China. Indeed, a chopstick is so useless and delicate that it can be broken readily. However, ten pairs of chopsticks possess strength, which is indestructible under any circumstance. All Chinese people draw on this unity and spirit, with which they boast perseverance and power. It will always influence, inspire and encourage people.

There is a poem by Cheng Lianggui, a famous writer during the Song Dynasty, who praises the selfless dedication to using chopsticks. For thousands of years, the reason people embrace chopsticks is not only because of their function but the spirit of the chopsticks.

In a word, chopsticks are a part of China’s catering culture that has a long history.

6. Chopstick FactsOne major characteristic of the culinary custom of China involves the use of chopsticks. Chopsticks, also called “zhu”(箸）in ancient times, have a long history in China. “One can’t have a meal without chopsticks,” which was stated in the Book of Rites. We know that chopsticks were used as early as the Sang Dynasty.

6.1: ChopsticksLan Xiang, the curator of folk chopsticks pavilion, said that historical records date ivory chopsticks back to 3,100 years ago. As written in the records, “Zhou” (the emperor in late Sang Dynasty) used the ivory chopsticks while Ji Zi, Zhou’s uncle raised concern,” because it was too luxurious. After the emperor killed the elephant to show his wealth as an emperor he sawed the ivory for making chopsticks which is known as the first chopsticks in history. Historically, it was not the first chopsticks but the first ones made of ivory in China.

The existence of Chinese chopsticks traces back to almost 1,000 earlier than ivory chopsticks. The earliest chopsticks were made out of bamboo because China’s ancestors lived in primitive forests. They broke down branches to get cooked food out a pot. It was impossible to grab food by hand because it was so hot. Thus, they came up with a way of using branches to pick up food. Alternatively, people took food by hand when it cools down. If people want to eat the hot food, they had to use branches as chopsticks. We can assume that ancient chopsticks differed in length and size in contrast to chopsticks that are used today. Ancient people in China transitioned from eating food with branches to chopsticks.

Since the Sang Dynasty, chopsticks with the same length and size have been popular. They have about 4,000-years of history from the time they appeared in primitive times.

In ancient times, chopsticks were made of local materials such as branches, sticks, animal bones and horns. Chopsticks were mainly made of wood and bamboo in primitive society. Ivory chopsticks and jade chopsticks emerged in the Xiang and Sang dynasties, while copper and iron chopsticks during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States (from 770BC to 221BC), flamboyant lacquer chopsticks, delicate silver and golden chopsticks in Han-Wei and six Dynasties (the kingdom of Wu, Jing, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen). Today, there are chopsticks made of various materials including, ivory, rhinoceros horn, gilded ebony and assorted jades.

6.2: Legend of ChopsticksChopsticks, two sticks, have various functions that include selecting and taking food. They are cost effective and convenient to use. People who have used chopsticks, including Chinese people and foreigners admire the inventor, but many don’t know who he is. When and where were the first chopsticks invented? No one is able to answer this question. There’s no specific data to record this invention which has made significant contributions to human civilization. Some believe that increased illiteracy among other reasons has created the lack of information linking the creation of chopsticks to a specific timeframe. There are, however, circumstantial evidence materials to study chopstick culture. Below is a summary of the three legends of many that center on the origin of the chopstick.

A. Jiang Ziya and ChopsticksThe legend was spread in areas such as Sichuan province. It was said that Jiang Ziya was capable of nothing but fishing. So poor he was that his wife couldn’t bear to live with him and planned to murder him to marry another man.

One day Jiang went back home after fishing, empty-handed. His wife said, “You must be hungry. I cooked meat for you. Come eat!” He was hungry so he stretched his hands to get the meat. Suddenly, a bird from the window pecked at his hand. The pain caused him to yell. Even in pain Jiang tried to drive the bird out of the window but the bird pecked him a second time. Jiang was so confused; he didn’t understand why the bird kept pecking him. To figure it out he tried to get the meat again but the same thing happened. He realized it was because the bird was a divine bird and went after it to send it to a hill so no one could see it. Standing on a branch of bamboo, the divine bird was singing, “Jiang Ziya, don’t eat the meat with your bare hands, use what’s beneath my feet.” On hearing this, Jiang took two small sticks from the bamboo tree and went home. However, his wife urged him to try eating meat again. So, he took the meat with two sticks. After he did that smoke came out of the bamboo. Jiang pretended to be unconscious of the poison that had been released, stating to his wife, “What’s going on with the smoke? Could it be toxic?” He picked up the meat for his wife who hurried outside with her face turning pale with fear.

Jiang Ziya knew that the magical bamboo given by the divine bird could detect poison. Thus, he ate every meal with them. After the incident, his wife dared not to poison his food anymore and his neighbors learned to eat with a bamboo branch. Later, more and more people followed, so the custom of eating with chopsticks has been passed down through generations.

The legend was an outcome of Jiang Ziya worship, which is inconsistent to historical records. Ivory chopsticks emerged during King Zhou in the later period of the Shang Dynasty where Jiang lived. King Zhou had ivory chopsticks and Jiang Ziya’s bamboo branch chopsticks were not invented simultaneously so the dates are inconsistent. But it is true that chopsticks were made of bamboo in that period of the Shang Dynasty.

B. Da Ji (the wife of Zhou emperor in Sang dynasty) and chopsticks

The legend was spread throughout Jiangsu province. The emperor of the Sang Dynasty was unpredictable, when he had a meal, either complaining that the fish was not fresh enough or the chicken soup was too hot or too cool to eat. As a result, many chefs were killed by him because of his disapproval. Da Ji, a new chef, and his wife knew it was difficult to serve him. Thus, she would taste the dishes before the meal, to ensure that the emperor was not disappointed. On one occasion, it was too late to change the hot dish as the emperor approached the table so she took down her emerald hairpin to pick up the food blowing on the food before putting it in his mouth. As he enjoyed the service offered by Da Ji, his wife was required to do this every day. After, Da Ji asked a craftsman to create a pair of emerald hairpins to pick up food for the emperor. Thus, this was the first type of chopsticks.

This legend is not full of myths like the first one, while it is similar to historical accounts there are some elements that are inconsistent. The steel chopsticks excavated by archaeologists in graves from the Sang Dynasty in Anyang, Henan province is proved to be earlier than the late Sang Dynasty (the times of Zhou emperor) in textual accounts. Obviously, chopsticks were not invented by Zhou emperor, or Da Ji, but the product of an earlier dynasty.

C. Da Yu and Chopsticks

This legend was spread throughout northeastern China. It is said during Yao and Shun times, Shun ordered Yu to control the flood. After receiving the order, Yu swore to eliminate the flood disaster. He tried his best to fight against the flood day and night, even to the point of not eating and sleeping, let alone rest.

Yu went to an island by boat because he was so hungry that he used an earth pot to cook meat. After the meat was well-done in boiled water, he was unable to take the meat by hand and didn’t want to waste time to wait for it to cool so he took two branches to pick up the meat from the soup. After, to save time, he always took small branches and bamboos to take out food from the hot pot so that he could save time. For a long time, he was skilled at picking up food with small sticks, which was imitated by his subordinates who believed this way of eating could allow them to not touch hot and greasy food by hands. Thus, the first types of chopsticks were born.

Although the legend isn’t historically inaccurate, it showed people’s way of thinking in the past. Compared with the first two legends, people were more convinced by the accidental process of discovering chopsticks in the third legend, because it was simple and realistic.

The main reason chopsticks were invented because of the hot temperature of the food. In ancient times, due to the lack of utensils and animal bones being short, flimsy and difficult to process, Chinese ancestors used fine branches or bamboos to eat. Furthermore, people lived in the wilderness where branches and bamboos were the most convenient materials to use. Through research on the shape of chopsticks, people can find chopsticks today that still have primitive characteristics. Even with over 4,000 years of development, the original features remain.

There is no doubt that a legend is formed with people’s selection, omission, fiction, exaggeration and even illusion, and Da Yu’s invention of chopsticks is no exception. Da Yu’s legend was no more than the integration of chopsticks into one character, Da Yu. The creation of chopsticks could be ascribed to time and how humans have evolved to use utensils to eat. However, it is also possible that chopsticks stemmed from the time where emperor Yu used it to eat in the Sang Dynasty.

7. The composition of chopsticks

Chopsticks seem simple and flexible, but they vary in types and composition. There are over 100 types in Chinese history, of which the most common are made out of wood, bamboo and melamine. Lan Xiang divided China’s chopsticks into five types according to his collection and research. They are as follows: bamboo chopsticks, metal chopsticks, ivory and bone chopsticks, jade chopsticks and chemical chopsticks.

The first and most primitive, wood and bamboo chopsticks remain popular today. Among wood and bamboo chopsticks, bamboo chopsticks are made out of different types of bamboos including, nandina bamboo, mottled bamboo as well as phyllostachys pubescens, among others. Out of the many types of wood chopsticks, the most renowned are those made of nanmu, arbor and mahogany, and the most popular are ebony chopsticks in the Qing Dynasty. In the book, A Dream of Red Mansions the grandmother, Liu, went to the Prospect Garden, where Wang Xifeng gave her a gilded ivory chopstick during a meal. While grandmother Liu was not accustomed to it, it was similar to ebony chopsticks that were the most universal chopsticks with silver on the top, middle and bottom.

The materials that metal chopsticks were made of include bronze, gold, silver, iron into stainless steel present-day.

Ivory and bone chopsticks refer to chopsticks made of ivory and bone of animals like cow, camel and elephant, etc. Camel bones are often used in northern China.

The fourth type of chopstick is jade. The materials vary from the use of white marble, white jade, emerald used by Empress Dowager Ci XI of Qing Dynasty, as well as gilded emerald. Another type is the youngest chemical chopsticks made of melamine and plastic, etc. Many uncommonly used chopsticks today include those made of bamboo palm, silver ivory, ebony inlaid with silver, and gilded walrus ivory chopsticks.

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Distinctive China: Chopsticks show Chinese living philosophy and value - CGTN

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23:03, 12-Nov-2020

Distinctive China: Chopsticks show Chinese living philosophy and value

By Wu Yan

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As unique tableware in China and Asian cultural circles, chopsticks carry the function of eating food and reveal Chinese living philosophy and values.Why chopsticks created: The tool for cookingGrabbing food with fingers was originally a common way of eating for humans, but then East Asia and Western Europe developed different tableware to meet social and cultural etiquette. Why did the Chinese invent and use chopsticks instead of knives and forks like the Westerners?The reason is probably related to Chinese living habits. Compared with other regions' food culture, Chinese cuisine prefers thoroughly cooked vegetables, meat, and grains. In ancient times, there are roughly two methods of cooking food: roasting and boiling.Since China had advanced pottery culture, it was natural that boiling became the traditional and fundamental cooking method. Boiling food in a pottery container requires much water, and the cooking process often needs small wood sticks to stir.From the perspective of etymology, chopsticks' original name in Chinese is "Zhu," which has the same origin as "boiling." It also suggests that chopsticks are the tool for cooking at very first.Since the Chinese are accustomed to use pottery and prefer boiled food, and China has abundant bamboo and wood, these factors together constitute the basic conditions for the invention of chopsticks.

A person picks up a piece of meat with a pair of chopsticks. /CFP

Chopsticks evolve into tablewareThe earliest known chopsticks are copper chopsticks from the late Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC). But as bamboo and wooden chopsticks are easy to rot, it is believed that the chopsticks existed early.Chinese philosopher Han Fei of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) wrote that the King Zhou of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) had already used ivory chopsticks. But according to the speculation of some contemporary scholars, the Chinese may have used small sticks as chopsticks in cooking in the Neolithic Age.Although chopsticks have a long history, cooking and eating are two things. How did chopsticks evolve into tableware?Chopsticks first appeared on the table to pick up dishes. Before 221 BC, the common food for common people was millet porridge, which is hard to use chopsticks to eat. Just as Confucius classic "Book of Rites" recorded, "Eating porridge and dishes with chopsticks. If there is no dish, no chopsticks are needed." In other words, eating porridge with a spoon.According to historical documents, until the Tang Dynasty(618-907), people seem to have used both spoons and chopsticks to eat porridge and dishes.One of the reasons why chopsticks can take root in Chinese society instead of spoons and knives may be that, as contemporary scholars pointed out, only chopsticks can allow people to eat from the same plate. With a knife, fork, or spoon, people can only eat separately.

People use chopsticks to pick up food from the same pot. /CFP

The material of chopsticks shows Chinese value social equalityChopsticks are mostly made of bamboo and wood rather than metal. The primary reason is that chopsticks were originally used as cooking tools. During the cooking process, it needs to stir food in the cooker from time to time. The thermal conductivity of bamboo and wood chopsticks is much weak than that of metal ones, so bamboo and wood are better materials in this sense.Also, bamboo and wood chopsticks are cheap and easy to get than metal tableware. In the 17th century, forks were still a luxury for the upper class in the West. They were usually made of gold and silver so that few common people could own it.For the Chinese, civilization is not a process in which the public gradually accepts upper-level etiquette as what we saw in the West, but more of general education. Chopsticks are the best symbol of this universal civilized life: they are cheap and affordable for everyone; they are versatile and can satisfy basic life. A pair of chopsticks reflects the fundamental characteristics of Chinese culture and civilization.

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Culture Insider

Culture Insider: Chopsticks do's and don'ts

chinadaily.com.cn |

Updated: 2018-11-22 11:29

[Photo/SIPA]

Chopsticks, or kuaizi in Chinese, are a pair of small equal-length tapered sticks, usually made of wood, used for eating Asian food. It is believed the first chopsticks were developed over 5,000 years ago in China. The earliest evidence of a pair of chopsticks made out of bronze was excavated from the Ruins of Yin near Anyang, Henan province, dating back to roughly 1,200 BC.

Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture. Chinese chopsticks are usually 9 to 10 inches long and rectangular with a blunt end. They are round on the eating end which symbolizes heaven, and the other end is square which symbolizes earth. This is because maintaining an adequate food supply is the greatest concern between heaven and earth.

There is an old Chinese custom making chopsticks part of a girl's dowry, since the pronunciation of kuaizi is similar to the words for "quick" and "son".

Chopsticks are so frequently used in daily life they have become more than a kind of tableware and have fostered a set of etiquette and customs of their own.

A lesson in Chinese dining etiquette and the use of chopsticks in Chongqing municipality. [Photo provided to China Daily]

How to use chopsticks

1. Pick up the first chopstick with your middle finger and thumb. Stiffen your hand for a firm grip. Have the broad end of the chopstick lay on the part where your thumb and index finger connect. Rest the narrow end on the tip of your ring finger, and hold it in place with the tip of your middle finger. (Hint: try holding it the way you hold a pen to write. It might rest on your ring finger or your middle finger, held in place by your index finger. Hold the first chopstick behind your thumb, and then lift your index finger so it can hold the second chopstick.)

2. Grip the second chopstick with your index finger. Place your thumb over the second chopstick. Adjust your grip whatever position is most comfortable for you. Make sure the narrow tips of the chopsticks are even with each other to help prevent them from crossing or being unable to "pinch" the food.

3. Hold it steady. This chopstick should not move when you attempt to pick up food. Alternatively, hold the first chopstick steady and move the second by moving the tip of your index finger up and down while the thumb remains relatively steady, acting like a pivot point. The top chopstick should remain pressed to the index finger from the tip through the first joint. The movement should come from flexing the joint closest to the knuckle. Straightening your index finger opens the chopsticks and bending it closes them, with perhaps a slight flexing of the thumb to keep the chopsticks lined up with each other. (Note: this method is different from the photos on how the top chopstick is held. The movement comes from the top chopstick, not the bottom one, so the top chopstick is held so that it can be moved easily. Use the style that is most comfortable for you.)

4. Practice opening and closing the chopsticks. Make sure the broad ends of the chopsticks do not make an "X", as this will make it difficult to pick up food.

5. Pick up food at a good angle (try roughly 45 degrees from the plate), and gently lift up. If it feels unstable, put it down and try again.

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Updated on January 23, 2020

Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture. Chopsticks are called "Kuaizi" in Chinese and were called "Zhu" in ancient times (see the characters above). Chinese people have been using kuaizi as one of the main tableware for more than 3,000 years.

History of Chopsticks

It was recorded in Liji (The Book of Rites) that chopsticks were used in the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC to 1100 BC). It was mentioned in Shiji (the Chinese history book) by Sima Qian (about 145 BC) that Zhou, the last king of the Shang Dynasty (around 1100 BC), used ivory chopsticks. Experts believe the history of wood or bamboo chopsticks can be dated to about 1,000 years earlier than ivory chopsticks. Bronze chopsticks were invented in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100 BC to 771 BC). Lacquer chopsticks from the Western Han (206 BC to 24 AD) were discovered in Mawangdui, China. Gold and silver chopsticks became popular in the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). It was believed that silver chopsticks could detect poisons in food.

Materials to Make Them

Chopsticks can be classified into five groups based on the materials used to make them, i.e., wood, metal, bone, stone, and compound chopsticks. Bamboo and wood chopsticks are the most popular ones used in Chinese homes.

How Not to Use Your Chopsticks

There are a few things to avoid when using chopsticks. Chinese people usually don't beat their bowls while eating, since the behavior used to be practiced by beggars. Don't insert chopsticks in a bowl upright because it is a custom exclusively used in sacrifice.

If you are really interested in chopsticks, you may want to visit the Kuaizi Museum in Shanghai. The museum collected over 1,000 pairs of chopsticks. The oldest one was from the Tang Dynasty.

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Custer, Charles. "Chinese Chopsticks." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/chinese-chopsticks-info-4080680.

Custer, Charles. (2021, February 16). Chinese Chopsticks. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-chopsticks-info-4080680

Custer, Charles. "Chinese Chopsticks." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-chopsticks-info-4080680 (accessed March 9, 2024).

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Chinese Chopsticks - Legends, How to Use Them, and Taboos

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8 things to know about Chinese chopsticks 关于中国筷子的8件事 - Chinadaily.com.cn

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