The Culture and Meaning of Chinese People Using Chopsticks

The culture of chopsticks has a long history, and the seemingly plain chopsticks have rich cultural connotations. Chinese people have always had the custom of making a good fortune, chopsticks have the good intention of giving birth to a noble son, happy, five sons, etc. Ten pairs of chopsticks together also have the meaning of ten perfect. Ten pairs of chopsticks together also have the meaning of ten perfect chopsticks. Chinese people in the way of eating is the poly food system, poly food system of long-term circulation is China's emphasis on blood kinship and family family concepts in the way of eating reflected in a pair of hands, the use of free, that is, simple and economical, but also very convenient. Many Europeans and Americans are amazed by the use of chopsticks in the Orient and praise it as a kind of artistic creation. In fact, the use of chopsticks in the East is mostly from China. The invention of chopsticks by Chinese ancestors is indeed a great contribution to human civilization. In addition, in our new house in Jiangnan, will throw the chopsticks through the window, a chopstick fell to the ground, wow a sound, everyone will say "chopsticks chopsticks, fast birth" with this saying.

There are many taboos against the use of chopsticks by Chinese people during meals, such as: don't knock bowls or pots during meals. It is more common to say that some people think that this etiquette norm is related to the taboo of begging. That is, only beggars use chopsticks to knock on bowls and pots when begging for food. In normal life, if you stick your chopsticks vertically on the bowl or basin, you are considered to have violated the taboo. This is because chopsticks are only inserted vertically on top of bowls and basins for offerings. Chopsticks can be said to have become a kind of craft gift, some of which are inlaid with gold and silver, while others are carved with dragons and phoenixes. Chopsticks are equal to the extension of two human fingers, which in turn has the principle of mechanics. Have you ever thought about it? A simple pair of chopsticks has such a rich cultural connotation?

China is the birthplace of chopsticks and has a long history of eating with chopsticks. Ancient texts, such as Han Fei Zi (韩非子, Han Fei Zi - Yu Lao), state: "In the past, Zhou made chopsticks for the elephant and Min Zi was horrified. Sima Qian, in his "Records of the Grand Historian - Zong Weizi's Family", also said, "Zhou made chopsticks for elephants, and Kezi sighed and said, "If he makes chopsticks for elephants, he will make a jade cup; if he makes a jade cup, he will think of something precious and strange from afar and then he will enjoy it. The gradual increase of the carriage and the palace started from this point onwards, and could not be revitalized. Although this is a statement about the fear of the courtiers caused by King Zhou's extravagant lifestyle, it provides us with the most valuable historical information about the birth and development of chopsticks from the court events caused by the ivory chopsticks. Zhou was the monarch of the last dynasty of the Shang Dynasty, which is projected to be after 1144 BC in China, that is to say, refined ivory chopsticks have appeared in our country more than three thousand one hundred years ago.