Chopsticks of Silver

In Eastern Asia, chopsticks have been used as eating utensils since the Shang Dynasty in China. Composed of two tapered sticks of equal length, chopsticks can be made from a variety of materials including plastic, wood, bamboo, ivory, bone, jade, stone, bronze, gold, or silver. Today, it's estimated that 30% of the world population use chopsticks, especially in countries like China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. 

While there are cheap disposable wooden chopsticks that cost less than a dime, there are also exquisite chopsticks costing significantly more. The more expensive chopsticks are made of higher grade materials such as ivory, jade, gold or silver. For folks who love to eat in style, there are chopsticks with engravings of wise sayings or intricate designs. In some cases, a pair of chopsticks is not just a pair of chopsticks. It can also be a matter of life and death.

In times past, a pair of silver chopsticks carried more meaning than just being a symbol of status or a work of art. Shiny in all its brilliance, silver chopsticks were used to detect poison in foods. From the Imperial Courts of China to the dining halls of Korean aristocrats, silver chopsticks were indispensable weapons of survival. Indeed, those were dangerous times to be extremely rich and powerful. Distrust and suspicion were the axioms of those days. When you had so much to lose, putting your life in a pair of silver chopsticks was almost logical. It made perfect sense. If silver comes into contact with sulfur, it turns black. Thus, a pair of blackened silver chopsticks would create a lot of commotion and unrest, most likely resulting in capital punishment for those who were responsible, or irresponsible.

Here's a bizarre tale about the possible origins of chopsticks. One day, a wife attempted to kill her husband by feeding him poisoned soup. Taking in the aroma of the soup, the husband was thinking what a fortunate fellow he was. Strangely, before he could take the first sip, a bird flew out of nowhere and pecked him on his right hand. Shouting out in pain or shock, suddenly, he found a pair of bamboo sticks in his hand. When he dipped the sticks into the bowl of soup to pick up a piece of meat, the sticks erupted into flames, indicating the presence of poison. This story signifies the function of silver chopsticks in ancient China.

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