上海将为筷子文化申遗

Chopsticks have been around in China for 3,000 years and have deeply influenced Chinese life in terms of etiquette, cuisine and even philosophy. And they could be listed as an intangible cultural heritage in Shanghai this year, thanks to the efforts of an enthusiast.

Lan Xiang’s pride and joy is collection of more than 2,000 pairs of chopsticks, ranging from the largest to the smallest kind.

Now in his eighties, Lan has been collecting chopsticks for more than 30 years, and in 1998 he set up a museum, the first of its kind in the country.

It is his way of sharing his passion with others and to preserve and promote the culture of chopsticks.

"Chopsticks have a history of more than 3,000 years in China," Lan said. 

"As something that we use on a daily basis, the chopsticks are not that well preserved in China. I've visited Japan several times, and it struck me how highly they regard the culture of chopsticks. It's not just the organizations that study it; they've also made every August 4 the Chopsticks Festival. So I'm applying to list the chopsticks as an intangible cultural heritage in Shanghai."

Lan's collections includes a wide range of materials. The most common ones fashioned out of bamboo or wood; more pricey ones carved from jade, or even ivory.

Lan says the chopsticks are increasingly appreciated beyond their practical use, as artistic representations of history and culture.

"My biggest passion in life is to collect different chopsticks and to study the history behind them. This one is extremely rare, it was specially made for the Tibetan Lamas during the Qing Dynasty. As you can see, it comprises of a pair of chopsticks and a knife. The Tibetan people like to carry a knife not just for self-defense, but also to cut meat with. So it's an interesting reflection of the culture of that period," Lan said.

There are estimates that chopsticks are used by at least 1.8 billion people worldwide.

Small and seemingly simple, they are more than just dining instruments; they serve as a means to pass on Chinese civilization.

"In a way, we can classify the cultures around the world by what kind of tools they use for eating. Mostly cultures in East Asia use chopsticks, and Western cultures mainly use knives and forks, and some cultures simply use their hands, like the Indians. Some scholars even refer to the East Asia Sphere as the chopsticks cultural sphere. To look at their influences from a new perspective may provide an innovative angle for understanding ourselves," Lan said.