People & Culture
Explainer | Chopstick mystery: unlucky if utensil placed upright in bowl, what number 7 means
- Respect and food are among most important aspects of Chinese culture, the humble chopstick covers both
Fran Luin Beijing
Mastering the physical art of using chopsticks is not easy.
But there is more to this particular culinary skill than manual dexterity.
For example, it is considered bad luck to place chopsticks upright in a bowl, or put them on the table without aligning them properly.
Here, the Post walks you through chopstick etiquette and the superstitions that surround it.
History and taboos
The use of chopsticks as a table utensil dates back to the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC).
Since ancient times, when people visit their ancestors’ tombs and make food sacrifices, such as a bowl of rice, they usually jam a pair of chopsticks upright in the rice, to make them look like incense sticks.
Whatever you do when using chopsticks, do not, under any circumstances, do the above.
Photo: Shutterstock
Some people believe that only by placing the chopsticks in this manner can the dead be able to “eat” the rice.
However, people also hold the superstitious belief that those who eat rice with chopsticks placed upright in the dish will fall ill.
It is also considered disrespectful to place one chopstick upright in the food. A modern explanation for it is that it looks like you are showing your middle finger.
Another taboo is not aligning the chopsticks when you place them on the table.
Before cremation was promoted in China, people were buried in coffins. It is thought that unaligned chopsticks resemble coffins which were made from a number of wooden planks.
In Chinese dining there are many rules to follow to avoid trespassing into the nether world. One is ordering seven dishes at an ordinary meal.
Prevalent in southern China’s Guangdong province, as well as Hong Kong and Macau, the rule was established because people there would only order seven dishes for the meals right after the funeral rites.
This number of dishes is believed to comfort them and help them shake off the “bad stuff” they might get from funerals.
Traditionally, the number 7 was seen as an unlucky number.
Food and respect are at the very heart of Chinese culture, and often numbers are important.
Photo: Shutterstock
A popular explanation is that the seventh hexagram in I Ching, a 3,000-year-old Chinese divination book, suggests a turbulent situation out of people’s control.
Etiquette
Some dos and don’ts related to chopsticks are less about fortune and more about showing respect to others.
It is considered bad manners to knock your chopsticks on the edge of your bowl or plate, as it not only produces an unwanted din, but also reminds people of beggars, who traditionally knock on their bowls to ask for money.
When dining with people senior or superior to you, it is also wise to wait until they pick up their chopsticks before you do so. Respecting seniors is seen as a great virtue in China.
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