During the Shun period, floods had a great impact on people's production and life, so Yu was ordered to control floods. In order to get rid of the flood, Yu San stayed outside for fear of delaying a minute. On one occasion, Yu was on an island in cook the meat. After the meat is cooked, it is too hot in boiling water to grasp the food with your hands.

I am particularly anxious. He had to do a lot of work before the flood peak came. He can't waste time waiting for the meat and water in the pot to get cold. Suddenly, he had a brainwave, cut off two branches, took out the meat and ate it twice.

From then on, in order to save time, Yu always ate with two chopped branches. Over time, he became more and more skilled in using these two branches. Seeing that Yu's eating is neither too hot nor too cold, and his hands are not greasy, others began to imitate his methods, and gradually formed the habit of using chopsticks today.

Legend 2: da ji invented chopsticks.

In Shang Dynasty, Zhou Wang was tyrannical and indulgent, and he was particularly picky. He always said that this dish was too cold and the meat was too hot, which killed many chefs. Although da ji is Zhou Wang's favorite, Zhou Wang is still a little scared when he is angry, so he always tries to eat something in Zhou Wang before eating.

On one occasion, da ji thought the food was a little spicy, but Zhou Wang used his quick wits to eat it without delay. He took the Hosta from his head, picked it up and let it cool, and then sent it to Zhou Wang's mouth. Zhou Wang was overjoyed and thought it was a kind of enjoyment, so he asked a craftsman to make two long jade chopsticks, which da ji fed him every day. Later, this way of eating spread to the people and became popular.

There is a record of "there was a turn at the beginning" in the Shizi family, but according to archaeological research, the steel turn found in the tomb of Yin Shang at Houjiazhuang 1005 in Anyang was earlier than the time.

Legend 3: Jiang Ziya invented chopsticks.

Jiang Ziya fishes with a straight hook. He can do nothing but fish with a straight hook. He lives in poverty, and his wife has evil thoughts and wants to kill him and marry someone else. How to catch fish with a straight hook?

One day, Jiang Ziya returned empty-handed as usual, but his wife was gentler than before: "Are you hungry? I made you meat, so eat it while it's hot. " Jiang Ziya reached for the meat and couldn't wait. Suddenly a bird flew out of the window and pecked him. He let out a cry of pain, got up and drove the bird away, and then went to get meat to eat. The bird flew over and pecked at the back of his hand.

Jiang Ziya thought: Why does this bird peck me when it sees me taking meat? Won't you let me eat meat? So he tentatively picked up the meat again, and the birds flew to peck him. Jiang Ziya knew that this was a god bird, so he pretended to chase the bird and ran out with the god bird. The bird landed on a silk bamboo on a deserted hillside, and sang in a human voice, "Jiang Ziya, Jiang Ziya, don't grab the meat with your hands, the meat is under my feet ~ ~" Jiang Ziya listened, thought about it, and took off two silk bamboos to go home.

When he got home, his wife came to urge him to eat meat again. Jiang Ziya was holding two silk bamboos with meat in his hand when he suddenly saw a puff of smoke hissing from the silk bamboos. Jiang Ziya asked, "Why does this meat smoke? Is it poisonous? " As he spoke, he picked up a piece of meat and sent it to his wife's mouth. The wife ran out of the door in fright. Jiang Ziya knew that this bamboo was sent by the Bird of God, so he used two silk bamboos for every meal. After the news spread, neighbors began to learn to eat with silk and bamboo, and chopsticks were passed down from generation to generation.

Extended data

Chopsticks used in our daily meals are also different in length and shape-the standard length of chopsticks is seven inches and six minutes, and it is in the front and back. The reason for doing this is also full of profound meaning: seven inches and six minutes long, representing "secular desire", an emotional animal different from ordinary animals; Therefore, when eating, people are always reminded to control improper desires.

Chopsticks are round at one end and square at the other. The circle symbolizes heaven and square, which means "the sky is round and the place is round". This is the basic principle for China people to understand the world. In addition, when holding chopsticks, the thumb index finger is up, the ring finger little finger is down, and the middle finger is in the middle. This is the image of "heaven and earth" and a simple understanding of the relationship between man and the world.

Finally, chopsticks appear in pairs, which is also in line with the concept of Tai Chi Yin and Yang observed by China people: Tai Chi is one, and Yin and Yang are two. Divided into two, which means that everything is composed of two opposites; The combination of yin and yang also means a perfect result.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Chopsticks (China Traditional Tableware)