Cultural Significance of Chopsticks' Secular Desire

Cultural Significance of Chopsticks As a "patent" of China, chopsticks embody some unique China cultures. China culture advocates "harmony between man and nature" and pays attention to learning from nature. If you look at chopsticks carefully, you can see that one end is square and the other end is round. The square end represents the earth, and the round end represents the sky, symbolizing the philosophy of ancient China where the sky is round. Secondly, judging from the material of chopsticks, they all come from nature, which also reflects a kind of ideological view of harmony between man and nature. The use of chopsticks expresses the traditional culture of "harmony is the most important thing" in China. Compared with cutting food with tools such as knives and forks in the west, people feel a kind of tyranny and arrogance. Then it is more restrained and subtle for orientals to gently pick up food with chopsticks.

The ancient people were also very particular about the design of chopsticks. Its standard length was seven inches and six minutes, which is about 23 centimeters per unit now. The reason why the ancients unified the length of chopsticks into seven inches and six minutes is also meaningful, because it represents worldly desires. The concept of the ancients is that people are higher animals with feelings and desires, and the length of chopsticks reminds us to know how to control our desires. However, what is said here is the standard length of chopsticks, such as some disposable chopsticks, which are not included here! Besides, chopsticks are long and short, and naturally there are some deviations!

Anyone who has used chopsticks must know that one end of chopsticks is round and the other end is square. And why this design, there must be a lot of people will answer, so as to prevent chopsticks from rolling. This is also reasonable, but it was not the original intention of the ancients. Chopsticks are round at one end and square at the other end, which actually represent "the sky is round" and "the place" respectively. In ancient times, it was generally believed that the sky was round and the earth was square. However, the design of chopsticks in this way is a fusion of the world outlook of the three talents of the ancients and reflects the simple understanding of people and everything.

People are also concerned about the use of chopsticks. In fact, this is not only a behavior habit, but also an important embodiment of a person's upbringing. For example, when we were young, our parents taught us not to knock on the bowl with chopsticks. This is a beggar's behavior. Moreover, when holding chopsticks, don't hold them in the first half or too far back. It is best to put them in two-thirds position, otherwise there will be poor samples. You can't put chopsticks in your rice, which will be regarded as disrespect. Because according to the traditional custom in China, it is only done when the deceased is given incense. In addition, when you can't eat, it's impolite to point at people with chopsticks and rummage through the dishes with chopsticks.

Chopsticks are small and look like two sticks, but they carry the culture of China for thousands of years, and they show the personality and self-cultivation of China people.