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Introduction
It is believed that chopsticks were developed about
3000 to 5000 years ago in China although the exact date is uncertain.
People probably cooked their food in large pots, using twigs to remove it.
Overtime, as population grew, people began chopping food into small pieces
so it would cook more quickly. Small morsels of food could be eaten without
knifes and so the twigs gradually turned into chopsticks. It took
approximately 7000 years before the advent of the laser engraved,
personalized wedding favor chopstick, finally available to mankind
here.
Some people assert that the Chinese philosopher Confucius who lived as
a vegetarian from roughly 551 to 479 BC had an influence on chopstick
development with his nonviolent
teachings while he lived over 200 years earlier. So instruments such as knives, with
the connection people make with them for war and violence,
were not used at the dinner table.. In modern times,
chopsticks are used in most parts of Asia, including Japan, Malasia, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as China, making
them the one of the world's most popular method of eating.
Chopstick use historically follows the staple foods eaten in the
region.
Some people believe Confucius favored chopsticks compared to
knives, which would remind people of slaughterhouses or violence as
mentioned above..
Tools with a similarity to chopsticks were discovered in Megiddo, Israel at
an
archeological site. The discovery shows the
influence of trade between the Middle East and the Asia in early
recorded history.
Chopsticks are not used universally in Asia. In Thailand, Mongolia, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and parts central Asia residents have
also traditionally eaten with their hands or other eating utensils.
Chopstick design is quite basic; two small, hand sized rods varying from 7
to 11 inches in length. Each rod is tapered so that one end comes to a
point, some more blunt than others depending on the culture. Food is picked
up with the small end of the two chopsticks which are pinched together
around a bite sized piece of food. It actually takes a bit of practice
before westerners can get the hang of using chopsticks. As mentioned, Asian
food is often bite sized (prepared this way deliberately knowing that it
will be eaten with chopsticks). As an example, Asians often eat "sticky
rice" which clumps together conveniently when picked up with a chopstick
set, as opposed to long grain or non sticky rice eaten in the west, which is
better eaten with a fork.
There are four main styles of chopstick in us:
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Chinese have the longer, wood sets that come to a rounded or blunt end.
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Japanese use short, wooden chopsticks that come to a shaper
pointy end.
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Koreans use shorter, metallic, wood or plastic chopsticks that are often
blunt at the end.
-
Vietnamese have longer sticks that also come to a blunted end as in China;
often wooden, but can be made of plastic as well.
Chopstick Materials
Chopsticks can be made of plastic, wood, porcelain, animal bone, ivory,
metal, coral, agate, and jade. They are used for eating but also as decorative
objects and gifts. Especially in Japan, they are made of lacquered wood and
are sometimes elaborately painted and personalized for their owners.
In times long ago, the upper class liked to use silver chopsticks since they
thought that if they contacted poison the chopsticks would change color.
Chopsticks are often mini art in themselves, being covered with various
designs and paintings. In Japan especially, chopsticks are covered with
laquer and often then have additional designs, writing and art applied. In
China, an elaborate pair of
chopsticks might be made of silver or gold and printed with Chinese
calligraphy using one of the 2 metals. It is also possible to mix different
hardwoods together and create unique and pleasing designs. In modern times, the laser engraved, personalized
wedding favor chopstick has become quite fashionable for parties,
anniversaries and weddings.
Chopstick Use in Asia
In a majority of Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China meals are
normally eaten with chopsticks.
For your Wedding Party
Planning a wedding or big party with hundreds of
guests? If so, you probably would like to give them all memento of the
occasion. What better way, than with our affordable personalized chopsticks - the perfect wedding favor or party souvenir!
For More Info:
Chopstick History
Chopstick Use
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