Chinese Chopsticks 筷子(箸 )

By: Jenny Grade 10

Origin

In ancient times, Chinese liked to steam or boil food. It was difficult for them to use spoons to scoop vegetables out of soups, thus they decided to invent new utensils: chopsticks

Even though chopsticks were foremost developed in the early Xia dynasty, it became the chopsticks like these days during the Shang Dynasty. (1766-1122 BC)FYI: In the late Shang Dynasty, the so called “tyrannical” King Zhou, had ordered his craftsmen to make chopsticks out of Elephants’ teeth, as it was seen as being luxurious. The first chopsticks were said to be used for cooking, stirring the fire, etc. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that they became of common utensils.

Materials

The materials that are commonly used in the crafting of chopsticks are: wood, bamboo, chestnut, persimmon, pine, etc. The elaborate ones could be made of ivory, jade,etc.

Etiquette- You shouldn’t tap your chopsticks on your

bowel, as it’s commonly associated with beggars asking for attention by doing so.

- It’s impolite to spear your food with your chopsticks

- It’s poor etiquette to point your rested chopsticks towards others seated on the table.

- Chopsticks should not be stuck vertically into a bowel of rice, because it resembles the ritual of incense- burning that symbolizes “feeding” the dead.

More on etiquettes

- Holding chopsticks badly will reflect on a child’s parents, who have the responsibility of teaching their children.

- When seated for a meal, it is a common custom to allow elders to take up their chopsticks before anyone else.

- You should not dig through your food. ( Grave – digging)

- It’s a sign of respect to pass food to the elderly first before the dinner starts.

- When eating rice from a bowl, it is normal to hold the rice bowl up to one's mouth and use chopsticks to push or shovel the rice directly into the mouth.