Chopsticks, also called kuaizi in Chinese and Zhu in ancient times, are small tapered sticks used in pairs of equal length while eating. They are usually 9 to 10 inches long and rectangular with a blunt end. It has a long history in China which can date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC – 1100 BC).

Chopsticks are made of a variety of materials, such as bamboo, plastic, metal, bone, ivory, etc. Chopsticks made of bamboo are the most popular ones as they are inexpensive, readily available and easy to split. It was believed that silver chopsticks could detect poisons in food because silver would turn black if they came into contact with poisoned food.

Originally, chopsticks were a substitute for knives at the table. Confucius believed that knives signified the acts of aggression, so chopsticks were used at the table. Later, the use of chopsticks spread from China to present-day Vietnam, Korea, Japan, etc.