Which people were the first to use bamboo sticks? Chinese chopsticks: rules of etiquette

“You are what you eat,” we repeat after philosophers, thinking about the need proper nutrition. Three thousand years ago, the Chinese understood both what there is and what it is. As a result, the philosophy of the people was formed

The Chinese consider the process of eating to be calming. Cutlery also contributes to peace - two thin sticks, which have been called kuaizi for several centuries. Residents of the Middle Kingdom associate forks and knives with aggression. Confucius believed that knives on the table reminded eaters of the slaughterhouse and prevented them from enjoying the meal. In China, people who use knives are believed to be rude with food, while chopsticks indicate a careful and grateful attitude towards food.

“Wands correspond to the peace-loving nature of a person. They're much friendlier than a knife and fork- speaks Chinese Cheng Hao, working at the Ancient China restaurant in the center of Moscow. - Kuaizi- something more than cutlery. Hidden in their form special meaning- grace and respect for nature. Square top part each stick and the round bottom one are related like the earth and the sky. According to Taoism, the sky is a circle, that is, a moving element, symbolizing change and cyclicality. And the earth is a square, it is stable and calm. In addition, the shape of the sticks is simply convenient and rational. The square top end prevents the stick from rolling off the table. And the flat-cut bottom eliminates the risk of injuring the tongue or lips.”

Piece of art

Historically, chopsticks were made from different materials, but it was bamboo - lightweight and non-slip on the plate - that stood the test of time. During the reign of the Shang dynasty (XVII-XI centuries BC), imperial cutlery was made from the most expensive material of that time - ivory. During the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th–8th centuries BC), bronze sticks were considered a sign of status. Later, the rulers of the Celestial Empire began to use silver ones - for safety reasons: it was assumed that the silver should turn black if arsenic or potassium cyanide was added to food.

“I have been studying sticks for 36 years. All of them can be divided into five types: wooden (bamboo), metal, bone, jade and plastic,- speaks 84-year-old Lan Xiang, owner of China's first and only chopstick museum. - During the “cultural revolution” in China (1966–1976), many valuable sticks were destroyed by the Red Guards. Like temples, monasteries, books and paintings. Red Guards broke into houses, destroyed family heirlooms and everything that had historical value. After such cleaning, only primitive furniture and kitchen utensils remained in the house. So I decided to keep ours national heritage and after those sad events opened free museum chopsticks At that time there were only 200 pairs in my collection. I began traveling around the country in search of new exhibits and today I have collected about 2000 kuaizi. Among them are 600 ancient ones belonging to the Tang (618–907), Song (960–1279), Yuan (1271–1368), Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) eras - the last dynasty of China. I don't have imperial chopsticks, as they are in National Museum China. My favorites are rare sticks in sheaths that were worn on a belt. The Mongols, who conquered China in the 13th century, and the Manchus, who conquered it in the 17th century, stopped eating with their hands, recognizing this method as barbaric, and began to carry chopsticks along with a knife. More often they were made of bamboo, less often of silver or ivory.”

Lan Xiang, holder of the titles "Defender of Chopstick Culture" and "First Collector of Chopsticks", turned his Shanghai home into a museum in 1988, and today he is writing his second book on traditional Chinese cutlery. “In the past, during the reign of emperors, stick makers created works of art with intricate plots,- speaks Lan Xiang. “Now it’s not like that; the kuaizi may have a design on it that doesn’t have any meaning.”

Fast bamboo

Legend has it that chopsticks appeared thanks to an emperor named Yu the Great, who supposedly lived in the 23rd-22nd centuries BC. e. and is considered the founder of the Xia Dynasty. He was engaged in strengthening river banks, so he often had to eat in “field conditions.” One day, not wanting to wait for the meat in the cauldron to cool, Yu plucked two strong branches and used them to take his lunch out of the boiling water.

When chopsticks actually appeared, no one knows for sure. Perhaps their prototypes existed back in the Neolithic era. Historians suggest that the ancient Chinese squeezed hot stones with two sticks, like tongs, and threw them into water to heat it. The most ancient -copper -sticks that have survived to this day date back to the 5th century BC. e. (Eastern Zhou Dynasty era). They were found during archaeological excavations. However, the book Li Ji (“Treatise on the Rules of Conduct”), written in the 4th–1st centuries BC. e., contains information about the existence of sticks back in the Shang era (XVII-XI centuries BC).

For many centuries, Chinese cutlery was called not kuaizi, but zhu ( zhu), which meant "bamboo" and "to help". But during the reign of the Ming dynasty (XIV-XVII centuries), superstitious fishermen from Zhejiang province decided that it was consonant with words meaning “stop” and “ship worms,” and with this you won’t go far. The word “quickly” seemed much better. So chopsticks began to be designated by the hieroglyph “kuaizi”, consisting of two parts: "kuai" And "tzu", where "zi" is an untranslatable noun suffix. The upper element of the hieroglyph “kuai” means “bamboo” - the material from which the chopsticks are made, and the lower element translates as “quickly”.

For a long time, sticks “served” only high-ranking persons. Ordinary Chinese began to use kuaizi as cutlery only in the years 700–800. Before that, they ate with their hands, but used chopsticks as kitchen tools, for example for stirring food while frying. In the 11th century, the Chinese experience was adopted by Japan, Korea and Vietnam, where before that they also ate with their hands.

The cutlery we are familiar with reached China with European missionaries in the 17th century, but local residents They didn't accept knives and forks. So today, in the era of all-consuming globalization, the Chinese, who build skyscrapers and copy almost everything that is created in the West, remain true to themselves - they eat exclusively with chopsticks.

Most Chinese choose bamboo. Food service establishments serve plastic or disposable wooden ones that are not completely split and must be separated before use. Such kuaizi are produced, in particular, by a Japanese company Nanchang Sanyou Industrial Co , operating in the Chinese city of Nanchang, in Jiangxi province. “We use bamboo to make sticks,- says company representative Dude Wun. - First, the plant is cut into pieces, after which sticks are cut out of them on machines. On average, one three to five year old bamboo produces five to six thousand pairs. Every month we produce about 50 containers (volume 33 m 3) of sticks, sending them to Japan, the USA and Europe.”

For daily use, the Chinese buy chopsticks in markets and supermarkets for 1–2 yuan, and for more sophisticated utensils they go to specialized stores. “Richer people pay attention to what furniture surrounds them and what devices are on their table,- says Dr. Li Xinmin, leading physician at the Qing Dao Center for Chinese Medicine in Moscow. - Wealthy Chinese prefer chopsticks self made. Some people collect ancient specimens. Not to eat them, of course. The sticks that were used by people who played important role in the history of China. People like Mao Zedong. What ordinary modern Chinese eat doesn’t cost anything, but we try to choose brightly colored cutlery with a pattern. Here, as in clothing, appearance is important. Some people buy kuaizi for reasons of beauty, while others buy it as a tribute to the history of China. For example, from my sticks you can find out how our artists used to depict women or what ancient hieroglyphs looked like. As for the material, we prefer bamboo kuaizi: they are durable and smell good.”

Ecology
Costs of tradition

According to statistics, about 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks end up in Chinese trash bins every year, that is, 130 million pairs per day. The export market is about 180 billion pairs per year. According to estimates Greenpeace To meet these needs, 40.5 hectares of trees must be cut down per day - this is one and a half square meters of the Moscow Kremlin, or 16–25 million trees per year.

Employee Greenpeace East Asia Peng Wenqing comments on the situation: “We cannot afford to be wasteful with natural resources. Our country's per capita forest cover is less than a quarter of the global average. Recycling is not developed in China, and appliances cannot be reused and wood is wasted. I don't think the Chinese can be weaned off chopsticks, it's deeply ingrained in our culture. But people need to be weaned off disposable kuaizi, for example by encouraging them to carry personal devices with them.”.

Eat slowly

Chopsticks are perfect for Chinese cuisine. They are useful for picking up pieces of food that form the basis of local dishes, taking sticky rice and catching noodles in soup. However the debate about what came first - chopped food or chopsticks - is as pointless as the chicken and the egg.

IN traditional families It is customary to cook, admire food and eat together. During lunch, all dishes with common appetizers are placed in the middle of the table or on a rotating circle, and the participants of the meal have time to enjoy the beauty and smell of the dishes before they raise their chopsticks to them.

The Chinese wish for “bon appetit” sounds like “eat slowly.”. Which is what the Chinese do, if time permits. After all, according to Eastern ethics, the slower you eat, the better you evaluate the taste of food.

“When we have the opportunity, we try to comply main principles of Chinese cuisine. This se (color), xiang(smell) And wei(taste), - explains Dr. Li Xinmin. - First we evaluate color combination ingredients, then the aroma of the dish and its taste. If a person eats quickly, this indicates his bad manners.”

Even during lavish ceremonial feasts, the Chinese do not eat to their fullest. After all, kuaizi captures much less food at one time than a spoon or fork. The meal stretches out over time, and satiation occurs with less food eaten. Evidence of this is the slender figures of the Chinese, who... young nails understand food culture.

Together for life

Teaching the younger generation to eat with chopsticks is an important mission of every parent. Typically, a child learns the basics of using kuai chi at 3–4 years old, before entering kindergarten. Children's sticks are shorter than usual, you can often see special ones - united at the base. To arouse the child's interest, manufacturers decorate the sticks with bright attachments, for example in the form of cartoon characters. And special holes for fingers help you quickly get used to the device.

“We have been using sticks since childhood also because they train the joints and muscles of the hand. When a person reaches for a dish, picks up a piece of food and brings it to his mouth with chopsticks, his fingertips, wrist, hand and shoulder are working. It develops motor skills and affects mental abilities,- sure Dr. Li Xinmin. - It is considered than earlier child learns to use chopsticks, the more successful he will be in his studies. Doctors believe that when eating with chopsticks, more than 30 joints and 50 muscles are used, which develops brain activity. Not by chance the highest manifestation Shaolin monks consider dexterity and skill to be able to grab a fly in flight with chopsticks.”

There are special Chinese traditions associated with kuaizi. The sticks are “buried” with the owner so that the person has something to eat in the afterlife. They are given as a wedding gift to newlyweds so that they can be together and help each other, like a pair of sticks.

“The word “kuaizi” can be understood as a wish to have children soon, because the part of the character “kuai” means “quickly”, and “zi” is consonant with the word “son”,- speaks 22 year old teacher Chinese language Shimin An from Xi'an. - Wedding kuaizi most often depict a dragon and a phoenix, bringing happiness. A simple silver set can cost about 300 yuan, while a similar one with a porcelain rim can cost 700 yuan. But a wedding is a special day, and you can spend money. In addition, in China it is believed that everything should always be in pairs: a boy and a girl, chopsticks and even toothpicks - they are sold two in a set.”

According to the rules of good manners, during the New Year's meal, guests are given new set chopsticks In some traditional families, everyone New Year change cutlery. It is believed that then the family will prosper, and all its members will be healthy and happy.

Kuaizi presented as a gift is always symbolic. They are given to old people, wishing them a long life, like sticks. For a child - so that he grows tall. Friends - so that the friendship lasts. The guy gives it to the girl, expressing his desire to be together. Inseparable. Like the Chinese with kuaizi.

Experience exchange
Theme with variations

Chopsticks in different countries East Asians are different from each other

1 Chinese - kuaizi- have a square top and a rounded bottom, the ends are cut off and flat. Length - 25 cm. Material - wood (poplar, birch), bamboo, less often plastic.

2 Japanese - Khasi- they have a square top, the sticks taper downward, and the ends are sharp - this makes it easier to remove bones from fish, which forms the basis of the Japanese diet. Length - 20–23 cm. Material - plastic, wood and bamboo, often varnished.

3 Korean - chokkarak- flat with a rectangular cut top and a narrowed bottom, the top is often decorated. Used in tandem with a spoon. Length - 23 cm. Material - metal, which is why Korean sticks are the heaviest. This way - flat and heavy - is more convenient for squeezing pieces of food (and Koreans eat soup and rice with a spoon).

4 Vietnamese - dua- have a rounded top, narrowed towards the base, and the ends are flat. Length - 25–27 cm. Material - varnished wood and bamboo.

Photo: Age Fotostock / Russian Look, Diomedia, Getty Images / Fotobank.com (x2), Reuters / Vostock Photo (x2), Alamy / Legion-Media (x2), Shutterstock (x4), Alamy, Image Broker / Legion Media, AFP/EAST NEWS

Today, two billion people on the planet use chopsticks: residents of China, Japan, South-East Asia. Why do they only eat with chopsticks here, and how did this tradition originate? Let's figure it out together and in order.

There is a legend that chopsticks were invented by the Chinese Emperor Yu when he wanted to get hot meat out of a pot. But seriously, the history of chopsticks goes back several thousand years. Scientists believe that they were first used in China before our era. According to one version, this happened during the reign of the Shang-Yin dynasty (approximately 1764 - 1027 BC). But the historical notes of Sima Qian, written during the Han Dynasty, say that Emperor Zhou used ivory chopsticks about 4,000 years ago.

Nowadays, 20 million trees are used annually to make Chinese chopsticks. It turns out 4 thousand sticks from one trunk. In total, about 80 billion sticks are produced per year!!!

The tradition of eating with chopsticks from the Chinese was adopted by the Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other peoples of the East, but this happened only in the 12th century. In each of these countries, sticks look different and have their own nuances of their use and special traditions.

In China, the first chopsticks were made from bamboo. The bamboo trunk was split in two, and its halves were folded. As a result, the sticks resembled tweezers. The separate shape of the sticks was acquired much later, and remained in this form until our times.

Today, Chinese chopsticks are made of plastic, bone, metal (also gold and silver). But most often wood is used as a material different breeds(pine, cedar, cypress, sandalwood, etc.) Chopsticks can be disposable, such as those served in Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese restaurants, or reusable, which are kept at home for constant use. Such homemade sticks can be a real work of art: they are painted and varnished, decorated with ornaments, inlaid with metal and mother-of-pearl. The appearance of chopsticks is also varied: pyramidal in shape, with thick or thin ends, flat. Their cross-section can be round, oval, square, with rounded corners.

In Japan, the culinary tradition differs not only from European, but also from neighboring Asian, for example, Chinese. First of all, she shows the deepest respect for the pristine appearance products that certainly - High Quality. The process of eating food itself should be slow and thoughtful. The same applies to cutlery and Japanese chopsticks. They are called Khasi here. Modern hashi are made mainly from bone, wood and plastic with a round or square cross-section and a conical or pyramidal point. In the kitchen, they usually use long (up to 30 cm) sticks, which are used to stir in deep pots or turn over in frying pans. The sticks are wetted every time so that nothing sticks to them.

There are several types of Japanese chopsticks, which are made for different dishes. Made from cryptomeria, in which only one end is pointed, from cedar, in which both ends are sharp, so that they can be used to eat both meat and fish dishes, and made from simple trees. The latter are not completely split and are broken immediately before eating. These are disposable hashi.

For the Japanese, chopsticks are an everyday personal item; they are not usually shared with other people. Also, Japanese chopsticks are a kind of sacred symbol. According to ancient legend, they bring good luck to their owner and long life. By the way, perhaps this is why the Khasi are considered a wonderful gift. For example, hashi is presented to newlyweds as a symbol of their inseparability, so that they will always be together, like a pair of chopsticks. Khasi is given to a baby on the 100th day of birth. A special “First Chopsticks” ceremony is held, in which adults give the baby a taste of rice using chopsticks for the first time.

In Japan, there are even special courses for children, where they are taught to eat with chopsticks “according to all the rules.” This is what one Japanese friend of mine told me about these courses: “I remember, at the age of six, I was reprimanded in the house of my mother’s parents. They scolded me for not using chopsticks skillfully. I had to take courses. Now I eat according to all the rules. At work, I sometimes look at employees who don’t know how to use chopsticks correctly, and I feel uncomfortable. Nobody says anything about this, but such adults who do not know how to use chopsticks are always looked at. Everyone thinks to themselves that this is wrong, that this is a shame, but this topic is not discussed out loud.”

There are special stands for chopsticks in Japan: hasioki. This name is formed by adding the verbal noun “oki” from the verb “oku” - “put, leave.” The chopsticks are placed on hasioki with their thin ends so that they point to the left. Hasioki appeared in ancient japan, when during ritual sacrifices, sticks intended for the gods were laid out on special stands so as not to desecrate them.

Hasioki are made from ceramic, wood and bamboo and often represent artistic value. Japanese chopstick holders are even collected in the West. Hashi is served in a special paper case (hashi bukuro), which also often turns out to be a real masterpiece and a collector's item.

In Korea, people eat mostly with long and very thin metal chopsticks. It is an exclusively Korean feature to make chopsticks from metal. Previously, chopsticks here were made mainly of brass, but now they are made of stainless steel. In the old days, the richest houses loved silver sticks, as it was believed that silver darkened when it came into contact with poison. So, by the way, you could find out if they were trying to poison you or not. There is one more feature in Korea: Koreans often use a spoon. Koreans are the only one asian people who eats rice with a spoon. But that is another story…

By the way, nutritional scientists have proven that until a person feels completely full, he eats with chopsticks. less food than when using a fork. So, eat with chopsticks and become slimmer! Surprisingly, you can eat almost any dish with chopsticks; the Chinese even manage to eat soup without using a spoon: to do this, they remove all the solid ingredients from the soup with chopsticks, and drink the broth. And eating traditional Chinese noodles with chopsticks is much more convenient than with a fork. Therefore, if you want to lose weight or get a little involved in oriental culture- hurry to the store for chopsticks!!!

This tradition has spread in Asian countries, east of Thailand, especially in China. In order to find out why the Chinese eat with chopsticks and not spoons, you will have to go back several thousand years.

Archaeologists found the first, very vague, mentions of sticks in excavations whose history goes back about 5,000 years. More specifically, they are described in the Shin era, 3,000 years ago.

In those days, the Chinese, like the rest of humanity, ate with their hands, and chopsticks were first used for cooking. This happened at the suggestion of a pioneer unknown to history, who realized that it was much more convenient and safer to take ingredients out of a boiling broth for testing with chopsticks than with your hands.

• Do not miss:

At first these were almost half-meter long bamboo sticks, which were later shortened to 25 cm and began to be used for eating. They were made from different materials; archaeologists have come across sticks made of bronze, silver, and ivory. However, wooden ones still remain the most popular, and there are reasons for that.

Philosophical aspect

A huge contribution to the popularization of chopsticks was made by the thinker Confucius, respected by all Chinese, who lived in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. With his input, ordinary cutlery became part of the Zen philosophy, professing vegetarianism and a peaceful way of life.

Following Chinese philosophy, knife and fork, which later began to be used by other peoples, are symbols of violence, war and greed. Many people in the Middle Kingdom still consider all sharp metal objects to be weapons. And weapons have no place next to food, which, after many centuries of poverty and hunger, is sacred to the country.

Nowadays

Modern Chinese, although in to a lesser extent, but continue to honor traditions. Many people in everyday life have begun to use spoons, forks and knives that are more familiar to us, but on holidays, when the whole family gathers, they always eat with chopsticks. And they do this not only due to historical habit.

• Read also:

Pay attention to Chinese National dishes. You won't find baked turkey or huge juicy steaks among them. Basically, these are pieces of meat, mushrooms or vegetables finely chopped during cooking, and, of course, rice as a side dish. Such pieces are very convenient to eat with chopsticks, and the Chinese prefer rice that is not crumbly, but slightly sticky, which risks turning into porridge when using a spoon.

Do the Chinese also eat soups with chopsticks? Imagine, yes. Traditional liquid dishes are served in tall bowls, from which they are fished out with chopsticks. large pieces, and just drink the liquid. Spoons, if served, are made of wood or porcelain. Many Asian peoples are of the opinion that putting metal in your mouth is not entirely good for your teeth. It's hard to argue...

Would you say it would be faster with a spoon? Maybe. But for the Chinese, food is a ritual that cannot be rushed. This is partly the reason for the slender figures of Asian women and the lack of paunch in men. As you know, the signal of satiety reaches the brain with a delay of 10-15 minutes. Can you imagine how many “extra” spoons and forks we manage to throw into ourselves during this time?

Thus, the reason why the Chinese eat with chopsticks is due to historical traditions and simply because it is convenient and healthy. This method of eating engages many vital points on the hand and stimulates the development of fine motor skills, which has a positive effect on intelligence. So, next time you go to a Chinese restaurant, don't rush to ask for a fork. Master the science of eating with chopsticks, it will be very helpful when traveling in Asia.

Food with chopsticks is a traditional way of eating food in East Asia. This cutlery is mainly used in Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Used to make sticks traditional materials: wood, ivory, metal, plastic. It is known that at the imperial court in Ancient China silver sticks were used to detect the possible presence of poison in food, namely arsenic. Tradition of food with chopsticks originated in China about 3 thousand years ago. It is believed that this method was used by a resourceful emperor named Yu the Great, who in this way took meat out of a hot cauldron. They were common in China different materials, the poor ate cheap wooden with chopsticks Low quality, which could introduce a splinter. This is where the tradition came from, when splitting sticks, to rub them against each other. From China, chopsticks came to Japan, where they began to be made from bamboo, and these were not two separate sticks, but a kind of tongs; later they were separated. Only representatives of the aristocracy ate with chopsticks, simple people spruce.Metal chopsticks are used only in Korea; they are mainly made of stainless steel.According to Easterners, food with chopsticks not only convenient, but also beneficial for the body. Firstly, the muscles and glands of the palm, which are connected by nerve endings to the digestive organs, work. Constantly training them helps speed up the process of digesting food and improves the health of the body. Secondly, eating technique with chopsticks develop fine motor skills, so it is taught with . The Japanese believe that children who start eating using this device as early as possible are ahead of their peers who use traditional European devices in mental and physical development. Like everything in life oriental man, sticks have a sacred meaning, it is peculiar. For example, there is a tradition of giving a couple of chopsticks to newlyweds. This gift is their inseparability and spiritual closeness. There is also "First Sticks", which is held on the 100th birthday anniversary. A special ceremony is held with the participation of relatives, at which the baby is allowed to taste rice using chopsticks. Not only solid food is eaten with the help of chopsticks, but even soups and noodles, which are especially common in Thailand. There is a special etiquette for using chopsticks, observing which, you can not only eat correctly hold the device, but also express certain intentions or thoughts. For example, it is considered bad manners to knock with chopsticks on the table, “draw” on the table or on a plate, sort through pieces of food in search of the best, stick food on sticks, lick them. The biggest insult is to stick your chopsticks into your food, since it is among the representatives eastern peoples associated with wakes due to comparison with with chopsticks incense that is placed by relatives. In addition, you should not clench your chopsticks in your fist, as this gesture is aggressive and can be interpreted as a threat.Food with chopsticks constantly finds adherents in other regions of the planet. Thus, there is an opportunity not only to become familiar with Eastern culture and taste exotic food, but also to be imbued with true Eastern patience and tranquility. After all, in order to learn how to hold the device correctly, an unaccustomed European needs to spend a lot of effort.

Today, chopsticks are used all over the world due to the popularity of Asian cuisine. This cutlery has existed in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam for thousands of years. Tied with chopsticks different legends And folk customs. /website/

According to one legend, chopsticks were invented by a mythical Chinese emperor in an era when the country was threatened by flooding.

Yu was busy building dams to hold back the water, so he did not have enough time to eat dinner with his wife and children.

One day he participated in construction work on the island. He cooked the meat in a pot. Yu wanted to eat quickly and get back to work, so he decided not to wait for the meat to cool down. He cut off several twigs and stabbed meat directly from the boiling water onto them. His associates followed his example. This is how chopsticks were born.

The first sticks date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). They were made of metal and found at the excavation site of the Yin Ruins.

Gradually, sticks spread throughout Asia. Cutting food before cooking saved wood (small pieces cooked faster) and eliminated the need for table knives, which the Chinese considered barbaric tools.

Confucius, who lived in VI BC. believed that well-mannered people “don’t keep knives on the table.”

Symbolic meaning

Chopsticks illustrate ideas in Chinese philosophy, especially the theory of yin and yang. The sticks are used in pairs - one of them is in a fixed position, and the second is movable. This reflects the idea of ​​both passive and active beginnings, which form a single whole.

Typically, sticks have a round shape and square ends, symbolizing the sky (circle) and the earth (square). This idea originates in the eight trigrams. The fingers located in the center symbolize humanity, which is supported by heaven and earth. Since the sticks symbolize the union between heaven and earth, they are believed to bring good luck. That's why they are included in wedding gifts.

The standard length of sticks is 7 cun (1 cun equals approximately 2.5 centimeters) and six fen (approximately a centimeter). This reflects the concept of the seven passions and six desires described in Buddhist theology.

When the chopsticks are held correctly, the thumb and index finger naturally end up on top, and the little finger and ring finger- at the bottom. Middle finger located between the sticks. This symbolizes the traditional Chinese concept of the connection between heaven, earth and humanity.

The ring finger and little finger supporting the chopsticks from below signify the Tao of the earth or the interaction of people living in the mortal world. Index and thumb represents flexibility and stability or heavenly laws. The middle finger is associated with the difficult but honorable position of the monarch, who in China was called the son of heaven.

The ancient Chinese believed that there was a connection between heaven and humanity. This idea permeated every aspect of life and culture, from the religious rituals performed at the emperor's court to the customs passed down from generation to generation among the people.