Chopsticks in Thai life

(Baonghean) - Since ancient times, the farming practices of the Thai people have been a mix of wet rice cultivation and slash-and-burn agriculture. After harvesting the upland rice and milling it into white rice, the Thai people steam it in a pot, storing the steamed rice in "ép khàu" containers. The "ép khàu" has a special structure consisting of two separate compartments of nearly equal size, allowing the two compartments to fit together tightly like a lid when filled with a moderate amount of rice. Each compartment is woven with two separate layers of rattan, creating an air gap to prevent heat loss, keeping the rice warm for longer, and allowing steam to circulate so the rice doesn't become soggy. When eating the steamed rice, it is molded into balls and dipped in "chẻo" - a special sesame salt condiment made by the Thai people themselves, with many different variations of "chẻo".

However, this did not make the use of chopsticks unfamiliar to the Thai people. In Vietnamese proverbs and folk songs, one can find sayings about chopsticks: "Gathering a whole bunch of chopsticks," "Mossy chopsticks trying to reach a golden plate," "Comparing a bundle of chopsticks to choose a flagpole," etc. For the Thai people, chopsticks are not simply utensils for eating; they also represent a spiritual aspect in their daily lives and in the cultural beliefs of their community.

Today, the Thai people have undergone many changes in their house architecture, clothing, and even... the chopsticks used in meals. While stilt houses are still considered a traditional cultural feature and they strive to preserve them, they are only suitable for those with sufficient economic means. Industrially manufactured clothing is more convenient and durable than dresses made from cotton that they grow and weave themselves. As for chopsticks used in meals, most are machine-made; however, those handcrafted by elderly people and sold at the market still sell well. Nowadays, the Thai people cultivate and consume rice year-round, just like the Kinh people; their meals always include soups and stir-fried dishes, and the use of chopsticks has become commonplace.

The idiom "Mossy chopsticks on a gilded tray" illustrates the disparity and incongruity in marital relationships between men and women – the image of (moldy) chopsticks being criticized as unsuitable for a beautiful tray. However, in the love songs of Thai men, chopsticks are used to compare and glorify the beauty of their partners. Listen to their songs during the "Quam púc xáo" (awakening the lover) courtship night: "Your skin is like a peeled egg / Like the petals of a Muong Thanh pomelo / Your figure is like ivory chopsticks / Inlaid with gold and silver, sparkling…"

The shaman is performing a ritual.

In ancestral worship ceremonies during holidays and festivals, in wrist-tying rituals (hang van), or even in "xang khan" or "xen ban, xen muong" ceremonies, the shamans or priests performing the rituals must never omit the following prayers that honor the precious chopsticks chosen for the offering: "Mi tang thu may hia may hang pong bang/ Thu may hoc may xang pong nen pong xu". (Rough translation: These chopsticks are carved from beautiful bamboo stalks,/ Carved from straight and slender bamboo stalks (belonging to the bamboo family)."

Specifically, with the offering tray tied with a string around a specific person's wrist, the chopsticks are placed on the offering tray by a relative such as a parent, spouse, sibling, etc., who randomly grabs the chopsticks from the tube (only once). If the number of chopsticks is not odd, the ceremony can proceed; otherwise, another relative must choose, and so on until a matching pair is found. Choosing a number of chopsticks that is not odd is considered a "mysterious message" from the spirit, indicating that the spirit of the person being honored is ready to participate in the ceremony.

In fairy tales, there are always stories about sorcerers with magic wands or magic sticks... Thai shamans, when performing rituals, also have at least a dozen pairs of "magic wands." In reality, these are their "magic wands." These wands are smaller and longer than ordinary wands, made of ebony, horn, or other important materials (some of which sometimes possess mysterious properties and can ward off evil spirits). Shamans use these wands to "decipher" information related to their rituals, and never use them for eating. When performing a ritual, at the stage where they need to grasp the will of the spirits, the shaman shakes the wand holder, randomly selects a portion of them, and holds a pair between their fingers. After repeating this process several times, according to their own method of calculation, the shaman will know the deity's will or the outcome of the ritual. If it is not yet complete, they must recite the prayer, add any missing offerings, increase the number of existing offerings, and so on, until the ritual is considered complete, only then will the shaman deliver their pronouncement.

In funerals, the bowl of rice offered to the deceased is placed directly at the head of the coffin, with a single pair of chopsticks stuck upright in the middle. A separate offering tray for the deceased, but not yet formally placed in the ancestral hall, also uses only one pair of chopsticks. Therefore, in a Thai family, when serving food to anyone, even if only one person is eating, at least two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks must be placed on the tray to avoid any superstitions...

Upon reflection, the simple use of chopsticks in a family setting, along with their symbolic meaning in courtship songs, rituals, and spiritual practices of the Thai people, reflects a unique worldview and cosmology of the community. This cultural aspect is continuously passed down and remains present in the daily lives of the Thai people. These unique aspects of the "knowledge base" regarding the customs of a community (including the Thai people) will help us find the best ways to integrate with them, promote positive aspects, eliminate negative ones, and contribute to a peaceful and prosperous life for the people in their villages and hamlets!

Sam Van Binh

(Yen Luom, Chau Quang, Quy Hop)