The History of Chinese Chopsticks Explained

September 23, 2020

Introduction

Chopsticks are essential eating and cooking tools in many Asian cultures. Outside of Asia, most people’s experience with chopsticks is most likely the wooden disposable chopsticks that come with Chinese takeout, Japanese sushi and sashimi, Vietnamese bun bo xao, and more. These Chopsticks actually have a longstanding history with its earliest origins dating back to at least 1200 B.C. in China.

In this article, we will dive deeper into the history of chopsticks, including the importance of them, the pronunciation of chopsticks in Chinese and other languages, the pros and cons of them, and its various kinds. Additionally, we will explain proper Chinese chopstick etiquette.

What are Chinese Chopsticks? (and Why Do They Matter)?

blue porcelain beautiful chinese chopsticks

The earliest chopstick usage has been dated to at least 1200 B.C. in China and through Chinese cultural expansion in other Asian countries, chopsticks were used throughout the continent from Vietnam to Japan by A.D. 500. Therefore, making chopsticks Chinese in origin.

Although chopsticks of different Asian countries have evolved in different ways, making them unique in style to their respective cultures.

Chopsticks are used in both Japanese and Chinese cultures. The Chinese and Japanese use chopsticks because they serve as cooking and eating utensils in both cultures. They are important in today’s society because of the mass adoption of chopsticks around the world. You see them in many Asian restaurants and households. They have even evolved in Western society as popular eating utensils to pick up sushi from sushi plates, noodles or rice with.

Chopsticks are used today for a number of reasons. They are better than other eating utensils like forks, spoons, and knives because of their versatility and lightweight design. Many chopsticks are travel friendly for busy people on-the-go who want to be eco-friendly and reduce single use plastic. Chopsticks are also better because of its use in the kitchen–perfect for stir frying, deep frying, separating food, or plating.

The History of Chinese Chopsticks

chinese historical statues and buildings

Chopsticks are important in Chinese culture because they reflect the evolution of its people. Around A.D. 400, China had a population boom and cooks had to maximum their resources and develop cost-saving habits. Food was cut into smaller pieces as they utilized less fuel to cook. And thus, chopsticks were the perfect solution to pick up these smaller food pieces with ease. As the food became smaller and easier to eat, knives at the table became obsolete and was replaced with the growing usage of chopsticks.

That being said, the first chopsticks in the world were used as a cooking utensil as opposed to an eating utensil. It wasn’t until the Han Dynasty that they were being used to eat with and it wasn’t until the Ming dynasty were chopsticks commonly used for both cooking and eating.

Additionally, the existence of chopsticks reflects on Chinese philosophy as well. Confucius, a well known Chinese philosopher, believed that having sharp tools like knives at the table would cause eaters to think of slaughterhouses. Not to mention the sharpness of knives would evoke violence and ruin any good mood that should be had during meals. Chinese influence and Confucianism, which included this philosophy, spread throughout Asia and brought the rise of chopsticks all across Asia.

It is no wonder that with chopsticks’ prevalence in many Asian food cultures that has persisted for centuries do you most likely receive a pair of chopsticks when eating out at your local Asian restaurant.

How to Say Chopsticks in Chinese (& Other Languages)

Chopsticks are prevalent and commonly associated with many East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. So we will cover how chopsticks are written and pronounced in these countries.

In ancient China, chopsticks was written as “箸” and pronounced as zhu. The original meaning was a tool used to pick up food. Starting from the Ming dynasty to modern day, it is most commonly referred to as “筷子” or kuaizi in China and in Taiwan.

Given that historically, Japan was heavily influenced by China, its culture, and its language, it is not surprising that the chopsticks in Japanese are also written as “箸” but pronounced as hashi.

In Vietnamese, chopsticks are known as đũa. One single chopstick is referred to as chiếc đũa and a pair of chopsticks is đôi đũa.

In Korean, they are written as “젓가락” or jeoggarak, which is composed of the term jeo meaning “chopsticks” and garak meaning “stick.”

The use of chopsticks was also spread to South and Southeast Asian countries including, but not limited to, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Readers are highly recommended to look up chopsticks in these respective languages as well!

The Pros and Cons of Using Chinese Chopsticks

Are chopsticks still used in Chinese culture? Yes, many Chinese and other East Asian households use chopsticks on a daily basis to use for cooking and dining. However, with anything, there are pros and cons to the use of chopsticks:

Pros:

Often reusable and eco-friendly
Unlike single use plastic, wooden chopsticks are one of the most reusable eating utensils in the market. Switching from disposable to reusable and eco-friendly Chinese chopsticks can reduce your carbon footprint and alleviate the need for plastic consumption
Lightweight and compact for easy travel
Bringing utensils on the go is troublesome. Chinese chopsticks are lightweight and compact for those on-the-go who need eating utensil that are easy to bring and clean.
Versatile in design
Not only are Chinese chopsticks great for eating noodles with, they’re used commonly in kitchens to cook with from deep frying to stir frying, long wooden chopsticks are leveraged for almost every Chinese meal. Their versatility make it another reason to switch to using Chinese chopsticks
Portion control during food consumption
People tend to overeat because stomachs become full before the brain can release the signal for them to stop eating. Using Chinese chopsticks as opposed to other utensils forces people to portion meals by eating slowly and eating smaller bites of food, which allows your stomach to understand when it is full.
Lowering the glycemic index of food

Physiology & Behavior study shows that eating rice with chopsticks causes a lower glycemic response. This is caused by smaller portions and better chewing of food. However, it is important to understand that this lowering will not make products that cause glycemic spikes significantly less impactful (i.e. eating candy with chopsticks).

Cons:

Single-use or disposable chopsticks are not eco-friendly
Not great for cutting or consuming liquids with
Need to learn and practice how to use chopsticks
Not all Chinese chopsticks are dishwasher friendly. Make sure to read product descriptions from manufacturers for wash instructions.

5 Examples of Chinese Chopsticks

Natural Bamboo Chopsticks Set. Probably the most versatile Chinese chopsticks are the reusable wooden or bamboo chopsticks that are versatile and great for both cooking and eating with.

Double Happiness Chopsticks. Red is a common celebratory color in the Chinese culture and we see that exemplified in these Chinese chopsticks here. “Double Happiness” is a phrase used during weddings to wish the newlywed couple happiness in their marriage. We see that reflected in these beautiful ornate red wedding chopsticks and case – very commonly seen in Chinese weddings and banquets.

Blue China Luxury Chopsticks Set. These Chinese chopsticks are luxury designed and more high end. Unlike its cheaper counterparts, these Chinese chopsticks are made of ceramic for a beautiful lightweight design that’s easy to use and also great for home decor.

100 Years Happiness Chopstick and Holder Luxury Gift Set. Chinese chopsticks are a common gift due to its practicality and affordability. This is a luxury set that also comes with chopsticks rests and a beautiful inscription of “100 Years of Happiness.” It comes with a bold and detailed red box and yellow satin interior.

Ornate Dragon Alloy Chopsticks. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of power and good luck in Chinese culture and is often seen inscribed or depicted on Chinese chopsticks. Dating back to the days of Imperial China, the dragon served as a symbol of power for the emperor and is a common sign for Chinese culture. Made of alloy, these Chinese chopsticks are durable and easy to wash.

Tips and Tricks for Chinese Chopsticks Etiquette

Practicing Chinese chopsticks etiquette is important to honor the culture it came from. Though chopsticks etiquette varies in various East Asian cultures, we’ll cover how Chinese chopsticks are typically used and seen in China. A few tips and tricks:

Pick up food for elders at the table first. It’s common etiquette to serve elders first if they’re present at a dining table and wait for them to pick up their chopsticks first.
Use serving chopsticks, if available. At larger gatherings with non-family members, there is usually a “community” pair of chopsticks to pick up food from the center of the table to your bowl and must not be put in contact with your mouth.
Teach children to hold chopsticks correctly! Passing this knowledge down to future generations is often seen as the parents’ responsibility.
Do not stand chopsticks vertically in rice. This resembles burning incense to honor the dead and is also a common avoidance in Korean and Japanese chopsticks culture as well.
Do not spear food with chopsticks. Instead, hold chopsticks properly and pick food up that way. Alternatively, use a spoon for harder objects like hard boiled eggs.
Avoid tapping the side of the bowl with chopsticks. This behavior is commonly used in China by beggars who are asking for money or food in their bowls.

Resources for Chinese Chopsticks

If you’re looking for more resources on Chinese chopsticks, read our other articles and these additional links for more information:

Recap/Closing

From the inception of chopsticks to their use in Imperial China to modern day use of Chinese chopsticks, we’ve covered a spectrum of information on why Chinese chopsticks are important, where they come from and the etiquette behind them. As a recap, the most important takeaways are to make sure to follow chopsticks etiquette according to a specific Asian culture. Practice makes perfect and make sure to teach future posterity how to use chopsticks correctly. While Chinese chopsticks serve as practical eating utensils, they also come in beautiful luxury designs that are great gifts for newlyweds or friends. Reusable chopsticks are also very beneficial to the environment and can serve a number of purposes!

Support Artisan Chopstick Makers

Whenever possible, support artisan chopstick makers by purchasing from them directly. Chinese chopsticks come from a beautiful history. Beautiful Chopsticks source directly from chopstick makers from around the world and works with them to curate the most diverse collection of chopsticks.

Browse Chinese Chopsticks