From "Zhu" to "Kuai": The origin and taboos of using chopsticks in China
从“箸”到“筷”：中国筷子的起源与使用禁忌

摘要

筷子是现代的说法，在古时又被称为箸、筯、櫡、梜等，是中国饮食文化中贯穿数千年的核心器物，筷子的出现并非偶然，而是顺应古代烹饪方式演进的必然结果。自古以来，筷子被赋予了不同是文化意义，从“箸”到“筷”的称呼方式的改变也与文化意义有关。随着社会的发展，筷子文化的传承，一系列用筷禁忌也随之出现，融入我们的日常生活。本文简单介绍筷子的起源、文化象征和使用禁忌。

Abstract

Chopsticks are the modern term; in ancient times, they were also called "zhu," "zhu," "zhu," and "zhu," among other names. They are a core utensil in Chinese culinary culture that has permeated thousands of years. The emergence of chopsticks was not accidental, but rather an inevitable result of the evolution of ancient cooking methods. Since ancient times, chopsticks have been endowed with different cultural meanings, and the change in terminology from "zhu" to "kuai" is also related to these cultural meanings. With social development and the inheritance of chopstick culture, a series of taboos regarding the use of chopsticks have also emerged and become integrated into our daily lives. This article briefly introduces the origin, cultural symbolism, and taboos of using chopsticks.