Story and Philosophy of Chinese Chopsticks

Since at least the Shang dynasty, chopsticks have been used as eating utensils by generations of Chinese who, in turn, passed their culinary culture onto other Asian countries. Our Host James Chau speaks with author Ian Huen.

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Regarding 1:51, Ian Huen explains that the round tip on the Chinese chopstick represents Heaven whereas the square end at the handle of the Chinese chopstick represents the Earth. The round and the square shapes are also represented on the Cong 琮 which is a ritual object symbolizing Heaven & Earth.

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The square and round thing of the chopsticks actually representing the Chinese philosophy of the world we live in "The sky above us is round, and the earth we stand on is square ----tian yuan di fang 天圆地方", same meaning as the old coins the Chinese used up until the Qing dynasty.