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📝 Description: Chopsticks
Chopsticks have become a quintessential part of the Japanese, Chinese and Korean culinary experience across the globe, with more than one fifth of the world's population using them daily to eat. In this vibrant, highly original account of the history of chopsticks, Q. Edward Wang charts their evolution from a simple eating implement in ancient times to their status as a much more complex, cultural symbol today. Opening in the Neolithic Age, at the first recorded use of chopsticks, the book surveys their practice through Chinese history, before exploring their transmission in the fifth century to other parts of Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Mongolia. Calling upon a striking selection of artwork, the author illustrates how chopstick use has influenced Asian cuisine, and how, in turn the cuisine continues to influence chopstick use, both in Asia and across the globe.
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The starting rating comes from the team Eatbook Family —
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4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Eatbook Family editorial team
Q. Edward Wang offers a fascinating, well-structured exploration of an everyday utensil that carries profound historical and cultural weight. By tracing how chopstick use spread and evolved across East Asia and into the broader global landscape, the text succeeds in turning a simple eating implement into a lens for broader societal changes. However, readers looking for practical recipes, cooking techniques, or a hands-on culinary guide will find this academic examination entirely unsuited to their needs. It is strictly a work of cultural history rather than a cookbook or kitchen manual, best appreciated by serious enthusiasts of historical food studies.
