Chopsticks as a Cultural Symbol in China

Abstract

Food is the soul of health. On such occasions as birthday, food becomes a cultural show in today's society. When food from one country becomes in another, it leads a kind of cultural exchange. China has a rich tradition of food culture which has spread around the world. As a society develops, food culture too evolves resulting in variety. Each geographical location makes its own food with unique taste and flavor. Sour, sweet, bitter and hot are the tastes of various food items. Apart from being food, they tell us about the people who make it, their culture and nation. The tools which people use to eat are not only tools, but also symbols, tokens of that culture. The practice of using chopsticks has existed from ancient times among the East Asians, especially the Chinese. Made of different materials like gold, silver, copper, wood and bamboo, the chopsticks also express the artistic and aesthetic sensibility of the Chinese people. History tells us that the different colors, sizes and materials of chopsticks have specific meanings. They may stand for position, treasure, luck and so on. This paper attempts to study the importance of chopsticks as a dominant cultural symbol in China. It brings out their representative values. The role played by chopsticks in customs, rituals and ceremonies in China is also highlighted. As a cultural symbol the chopsticks stand in importance next only to the dragon.