The ancients used brooms in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, which originated from "sweeping dust". The custom of sweeping dust originated in the Yao and Shun period and evolved from a religious ceremony to eliminate diseases and epidemics in ancient times. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the wind of "sweeping the year" prevailed, and people began to use brooms in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

Broom is a tool for sweeping the floor and removing dust. It is made of bamboo branches and is larger than broom. It originated in China. As early as 4,000 years ago in the Xia Dynasty, a man named Shao Kang happened to see an injured pheasant dragging its body forward, and the dust there was much less. He thought that this must be the function of chicken feathers, so he caught some pheasants and plucked their feathers to make the first broom. This is also the origin of feather dusters. Because the chicken feathers used are too soft and wear-resistant, Shao Kang changed bamboo strips and grass into a durable broom.