The Wisdom of China in Chopsticks: 3000 Years of Culture, Two Small Sticks Holding the Universe!"

Conclusion:

1. Chopsticks are not just everyday utensils for the Chinese; they are a cultural symbol with 3000 years of history, representing the wisdom and philosophy of the Chinese people.

2. From the seven emotions and six desires to the principles of Yin and Yang, the design and use of chopsticks embody profound Chinese cultural connotations, reflecting the harmony between humans and nature.

3. As part of wedding dowries, chopsticks symbolize auspiciousness and happiness, showcasing the inheritance and innovation of Eastern aesthetics and traditional culture in modern life.

Chopsticks are an essential tool for every Chinese person when it comes to eating. More precisely, chopsticks, anciently known as Zhu, are a unique ethnic eating utensil invented by the Han Chinese. China is the birthplace of chopsticks, with a history of using them for meals spanning at least 3,000 years, making it the primary region in the world where chopsticks are used for dining. At first glance, chopsticks appear to be just two simple thin sticks, but they serve multiple functions such as picking, stirring, clamping, mixing, and scooping. They are convenient to use, affordable, and of excellent quality. Chopsticks are also a unique type of tableware in the world today. Wherever there are people, there are Chinese, and wherever there are Chinese, chopsticks are used for eating. This habit has remained unchanged for thousands of years.

These small, simple chopsticks have been used by Chinese people and even Easterners (including those from Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries) for thousands of years. In fact, these seemingly simple chopsticks carry rich and profound cultural connotations. It can be said that chopsticks are a quintessential part of Chinese culture.

Let’s explore how the character for “chopsticks” (筷, kuài) evolved. Chopsticks were anciently called Zhu (箸). The ancient text Han Feizi·Yu Lao records, “In the past, King Zhou used ivory chopsticks, which frightened Jizi.” King Zhou was the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, indicating that as early as the 11th century BCE, China had already seen the use of exquisitely crafted ivory chopsticks. This means that China has a documented history of using chopsticks for at least 3,000 years. Additionally, there are many folk legends about chopsticks: one says that Jiang Ziya was inspired by a divine bird to invent bamboo chopsticks; another claims that Daji, to please King Zhou, invented chopsticks using jade hairpins; and yet another legend tells of Yu the Great inventing chopsticks by using tree branches to scoop hot food to save time during flood control.

The term “chopsticks” (筷子, kuàizi) originated during the Ming Dynasty. The book Shuyuan Zaji by Lu Rong of the Ming Dynasty records, “Folk taboos exist everywhere, but they are particularly strong in the Wu region. For example, when sailing, people avoid words like ‘zhuang’ (庄, meaning ‘to anchor’) and ‘fan’ (翻, meaning ‘to capsize’), and they replace ‘zhu’ (箸, chopsticks) with ‘kuaier’ (快儿, meaning ‘quick’).” Originally, “zhu” (箸) sounded like “zhu” (住, meaning “to stop”), and boatmen feared their ships would stop or anchor, so they changed the term to “kuaier” (快儿), meaning “to move quickly.” Over time, even scholars began to call them “kuaizi” (筷子), forgetting the original term. The Japanese, however, do not have this taboo, so they still refer to chopsticks as “hashi” (箸). Since chopsticks are made of bamboo or wood, over time, people added the bamboo radical (⺮) to “kuai” (快), resulting in the modern character “筷” (kuài).

The standard length of chopsticks is seven inches and six fen (approximately 23 cm), which symbolizes the seven emotions and six desires of humans, distinguishing them from animals. The seven emotions and six desires refer to innate psychological reactions. Different schools of thought, religions, and academic disciplines may interpret these emotions and desires slightly differently, but all agree that they are an inevitable part of human nature. Typically, the seven emotions are joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire, while the six desires are related to the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. The seven emotions are relatively stable and represent human interactions with the external world, guiding how people engage with their surroundings. The six desires refer to innate physiological needs or desires that require no teaching. Later, these were summarized as the desires for sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought. The seven emotions and six desires are fundamental to human physiology and psychology, forming the basis of human nature and the essence of life.

Chopsticks also embody the Chinese belief in the unity of humans and gods, ideals and reality, and the soul and body. Many people today, while holding chopsticks, casually mock themselves and their compatriots for lacking faith, envying Westerners who use knives and forks, believing that such dining etiquette is more refined and sophisticated. They think this is humor, humility, or a higher level of understanding, but in reality, it is ignorance. Only ignorance breeds fearlessness.

In fact, both Chinese and Western civilizations originated from mythology. In the West, gods and humans eventually separated, with science guiding actions and religion guiding morality. China, however, maintained the unity of gods and humans. Chinese deities like He Xiangu, Tieguai Li, Lü Dongbin, Sun Wukong, and Zhu Bajie are also human, living among the masses. Chinese ideals and reality, soul and body, are also unified. The act of using chopsticks daily embodies this belief, with every gesture reflecting a philosophy. This is a form of wisdom and understanding. Thus, Chinese people do not need to go to specific places to cleanse their souls. From a young age, elders teach them how to behave and act, emphasizing that being a good person is essential to doing good deeds—these two cannot be separated. Just as pine trees stand tall and flowers bloom beautifully, Western and Chinese civilizations are like two flowers, each with its unique characteristics. Neither should be favored over the other, nor should one be neglected for the other. As Chinese people, we express our faith differently. We live within our beliefs.

Chopsticks also have functions such as acupressure, massage, and gua sha. In the past, people traveling the world could handle any ailment with just a pair of chopsticks. Even if they forgot to bring chopsticks, they could break off a tree branch or reed, sharpen it on a stone, wash it in water, and use it as chopsticks.

Let us carefully examine the rich cultural connotations of chopsticks, which are rooted in the principles of the I Ching (Book of Changes).

Why are the two sticks we use for eating called a “pair” of chopsticks? This reflects the concepts of Taiji and Yin-Yang. Taiji is one, Yin-Yang is two; one contains two, and two unite as one. This is Chinese philosophy, which Westerners may not understand. When using chopsticks, coordination and harmony are essential. One stick moves while the other remains still, allowing for a stable grip. If both move or neither moves, the food cannot be held. This embodies the Chinese principle of Yin-Yang and the Western principle of leverage. Knives and forks only emerged after the development of metallurgy, which was invented in the 15th century. Before their widespread use in daily life, Westerners ate with their hands. In contrast, the history of chopsticks is much longer. The key is that there are two chopsticks, but the name is a pair. If you call the waiter "take a pair of chopsticks" in the restaurant, it must be Chinese; if you say "take two chopsticks", it must be a foreigner.

Yidao contains all-inclusive, and Taiji yin and yang can be divided infinitely. Its big is outside, and its small is not inside. Yi Li is also human. It is around us, and only "the people use it daily without knowing it". It may be beneficial to talk with chopsticks. Yi divination solves people with food as heaven: two chopsticks, two innate horoscopes as the exchange. 兑, for the mouth, for eating. The chopsticks are straight and long, which is the fortune-telling of Xun. Xun, for wood, for entry. Combined together, it is to eat with chopsticks. What's at the entrance? It's the head of the chopsticks. The head of the chopsticks is round, which is the dry fortune-telling, and the dry is the sky. Isn't it "heaven" to eat like this? Therefore, it is believed that "people regard food as heaven" comes from here.

The chopsticks are straight and long, and two are a pair. Picking vegetables with chopsticks is not two chopsticks moving at the same time, but one is active and one is moving; one is up and one is down. The combination of two chopsticks becomes a Tai Chi. The active one is Yang, and the passive one is Yin; the upper one is Yang, and the lower one is Yin. This is the image of the two rituals. The interaction of yin and yang can be used; the separation of yin and yang does not exist. This is the unity of opposition, and yin and yang are mutually rooted. Two chopsticks can be interchanged. The active one is not always active, and the lower one is not always the lower one. This is yin and yang variable.

Look at the chopsticks, one is square and the other is round. The square symbolizes the earth, and the round symbolizes the sky, which means that chopsticks symbolize the sky and the round place. The square belongs to the Kun horoscope, and the round is the dry horoscope. In this way, the image of the universe appears. Kun horoscope has the meaning of handle like, handle and handle; Qian horoscope symbolizes heaven and the first. Take the chopstick handle in your hand, use the chopsticks head to pick up the vegetables, Kun is above and dry is at the bottom, this is the "earth and heaven" horoscope, and smooth, of course auspicious; hold the chopstick head in your hand, use the chopstick handle to pick up the vegetables, dry on the top and Kun is down, this is the "heaven and earth (pǐ)" divination, no, closed, how can't this usage be funny?

Chopsticks are very simple, just two sticks, which can be seen everywhere. This is simple. Chopsticks are also diverse, including wood and bamboo, gold and silver. The variety of chopsticks is changeable. Although chopsticks change a lot, the chopsticks are straight and long, and the situation of two pairs has never changed, which is the essential attribute of things. Simple, changeable, and not easy are the three principles of the I Ching. For example, a person only needs one name to represent it, which is simple; but his appearance, fate, emotions… are always changing, which is changeable; but he, a man, a man, a woman or a woman, has seven emotions and six desires, and all life, old age, illness and death, which is not easy. It's not like that.

Because it has always been auspicious, in the wise and smooth oriental temperament, chopsticks have always been compatible with the fashionable trend aesthetics and included in the wedding dowry to bless the newlyweds. In traditional Chinese culture, two pairs of chopsticks mean pairs. Eight pairs of chopsticks wish good luck, and ten pairs of chopsticks mean reunion and perfection. Therefore, in people's minds, dragon and phoenix chopsticks are not only a kind of wedding supplies, but also have the beautiful meaning of pearls, pairing, giving birth to a noble son, and happiness.

In Star8s' Chinese Elements series, we have meticulously designed a range of homeware and decorative items inspired by chopsticks. These products are not only functional but also a means of cultural dissemination and expression. We believe that through these products, more people can understand and appreciate the unique charm of Chinese culture.