Prior to 300 CE, the Ancient Chinese used sticks and bones, and later, knives and forks as tools to cook food. The Chinese began using spoons exclusively for liquid food, such as soups. Chopsticks were not the first dining utensils the Chinese used – fork, spoon and knives came first. The history of chopsticks was said to have gone back well over 5000 years ago in china, when people would break off two pieces of tree branches and use them as utensils.

Then later on it would be decided in order to save on fuel, people would cut food into smaller portion to make it cook faster and that made chopsticks a very important utensil to eat food with since it could pick up small pieces quickly.

Chopsticks began to be used as eating utensils during the Han dynasty, as rice consumption increased. During this period, spoons continued to be used alongside chopsticks as eating utensils at meals. It was not until the Ming dynasty that chopsticks came into exclusive use for both serving and eating. They then acquired the name kuaizi and the present shape.

Why Chinese were Taught to use Chopsticks?

Actually, the Chinese were taught to use chopsticks long before spoons and forks were invented in Europe (the knife is older, not as an instrument for dining but as weapon). Chopsticks were strongly advocated by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479BC). Chinese people, under the cultivation of Confucianism, consider the knife and fork bearing sort of violence, like cold weapons. However, chopsticks reflect gentleness and benevolence, the main moral teaching of Confucianism.

Eating Chinese food would not be as enjoyable if the wrong utensils were used.