Short paper on food in the Chinese Diaspora - Chopsticks

Short paper on food in the Chinese Diaspora

Chopsticks

When studying a culture, it is imperative to look through the lens of all aspects that govern the way of life to get a full grasp of the cultural practices. Many studies have been done on religion, government, societal relationships, however food has often been neglected. K.C. Chang, in his introduction to Food and Chinese Culture states, “…sometimes we fail to realize that food is more than just vital. The only other activity that we engage in that is of comparable importance to our lives and life of our species is sex”(3). To say that the study of food and its traditions through a culture is vital to understanding a society is an understatement. Throughout this semester, we have been looking at the historical transformations of the Chinese through their food habits and the role that food plays in their cultural roles. In this short paper, I will be looking at the use of chopsticks in the same light. Just as food can be seen as practical, artistic and in line with Chinese beliefs, I agree the chopsticks popularity in the Chinese culture are also in line with these same characteristics. Through their flexibility in material, their aesthetic value, and adherence to Confucius beliefs, chopsticks can also be analyzed to better understand the culture of the Chinese.

Chopsticks are a central piece to the Chinese culture. Their popularity and widespread use across China have a long and rich history, developing the chopstick into an important Chinese icon. It is believed that the first chopsticks were developed over 5000 years ago in China. The enduring popularity of chopsticks is most definitely linked to the Chinese cooking methods, which have not significantly changed since early time. It has been said that early Asian man would retrieve his food from the fire using long sticks or branches broken from trees. As the population grew and resources became scarce, fuel became a lacking commodity. Because of the lack of material to burn for fire, cooking had to be done as quickly as possible. The food, especially the meat, was cut into very small pieces in order for them to cook faster. This eliminated the need for knives when eating at a table since the food was small enough to put directly into the mouth. Using the sticks that had been used to cook, the early Asian man could pick up the small pieces of food to eat. These “sticks” eventually evolved into the chopsticks we know today.

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The use of natural resources, these sticks, as utensils for eating food, highlights a common thread in much of Chinese culture. The Chinese are known for their, “notable flexibility and adaptability”(Chang 8). Most chopsticks today are made out of Bamboo, a material that is very readily available and resistant to high heat, but can also be made out of wood, bone and precious materials. The Chinese would literally use whatever resource was available. This can be attributed to their beliefs on frugality and conservation, but also lends itself to the fact that the Chinese are constantly faced with famine and have a dire need to be frugal. However, not all chopsticks are made of the common stick we find on the ground. Just like food, chopsticks can also be used in an artistic manner. Chopsticks have been made of precious metals, like gold and silver, and were not uncommon among the wealthy. With the commoner, jade and lacquered wood chopsticks were only brought out in certain times of celebration. In the royal courts in ancient times the emperor would only eat with silver chopsticks. It was believed that the silver would turn black when it came into contact with poison and thus help protect the emperor’s health (www.asianculture/chopsticks/46.html). Although with the obvious practical use, chopsticks have also been subject to elegant craftsmanship and elaborate carvings. The chopsticks can be quite artistic and contain Chinese calligraphy with meanings attributed to them.

The onset of Confucianism is also believed to have further cemented the use of chopsticks as the primary Chinese eating utensil. Confucius was a vegetarian and believed strongly in all forms of non-violent behavior. Confucius taught, “The honorable and upright man keeps well away from both the slaughterhouse and the kitchen. And he allows no knives on his table”(www.asianculture/chopsticks/46.html) Confucius believed that they knife symbolized war and death and that a refined and educated man would not associate with these things. Confucius disdain for the presence of knives at the kitchen table, coupled with the popularity of his teachings no doubt contributed to the expanding use of chopsticks among the population.

Another way to observe the importance of chopsticks is to look at the key division that encompasses how the Chinese view the world. They believe the world is separated in a, “division of the cosmos, [a] traditional Chinese thought, between the yang and yin”(Anderson 81). This dualism permeates the whole of Chinese civilization. They have a strong adherence to the idea of harmony and balance and with two utensils in the hand at once, this creates stability when consuming food.

Along with the practicality, artistic, and holistic values of the chopstick one can also look to the benefits from using them. As we have discussed in class, the Chinese are known for there low percentage of obesity in their country, theorized to have something to do with the use of chopsticks. It is decidedly more difficult to eat using chopsticks and makes one work a bit harder for their food. It is a common belief among the Chinese that this picking of food, rather than shoveling and scooping of the West, forces one to realize exactly how much they are eating. It has also been a universal Chinese thought that by using chopsticks it improves memory, increases finger dexterity and can be useful in learning and improving skills such as Chinese character printing and brush painting. Many Chinese superstitions revolve around chopsticks as well. For example, if you find an uneven pair at your table seating it is believed that you will miss the next train, boat or plane you are trying to catch. Also, dropping your chopsticks is a sign of bad luck to come. And with adherence to strict Chinese etiquette, chopsticks have their own set of rules that one must follow. Among these is to never rest your chopsticks by sticking them point-first into your bowl of rice. This is reminiscent of ancestral offerings and can be seen as disrespectful. One is not to point with chopsticks, click them, suck on them, or stab the food with them. Chopsticks are also almost always held in the right hand. This spans back to an ancient practice that believed the left hand was the hand used for unclean work. ().

The popularity of chopsticks coincides directly with many of the popular ways of thinking and cultural beliefs. The Chinese have a strong observance of balance and etiquette, conservativeness and the artistic pleasures, all which can be encompassed in the chopstick. In looking at the chopstick, one can glance into a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture and in some ways shed some new light into their ways and practices of life.