Top 7 Chinese Inventions - Page 4 of 9

Forks and chopsticks

If you thought that the chopsticks are the trademark eating tool of the Chinese, then you should probably know that the forks were invented first. Evidence suggests that the original bone forks – with 2 or 3 prongs – date from approximately 4,200 B.C. In spite of the fact that the actual date of their invention is unknown, these dining tools were discovered in the graves of nobles and seem to be an indicator for the social standings of the person. It is also necessary to point out that the fork was utilized in Europe only 4,000 years later. However, the chopsticks gained more popularity due to their effectiveness in handling most of the traditional Chinese dishes, which are typically sliced in small chunks.