Chinese spoon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chinese spoon
Chinese porcelain spoon
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	調羹
Simplified Chinese	调羹
Literal meaning	for adjusting seasoning of geng
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Tongyong Pinyin tiao geng
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	湯匙
Simplified Chinese	汤匙
Literal meaning	soup spoon
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Tongyong Pinyin tāngchí
Second alternative Chinese name
Chinese	勺子
Literal meaning	ladle
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Tongyong Pinyin shao zi
Japanese name
Kanji	散蓮華
Transcriptions Revised Hepburn chirirenge (lit. lotus spoon)

A Chinese spoon is a special type of spoon often used in Chinese cooking and eating. It has a short, strong handle and a deep, flat bowl. You'll often see these spoons used for eating soups or other liquid foods. Most Chinese spoons are made from ceramics, which is a type of pottery.

While people usually use them for eating, bigger Chinese spoons can also be used as ladles to serve food. They are designed so you can stack them up easily, which saves space. Spoons like these have been used in China for a very long time, even before chopsticks became popular.

Chinese spoons are usually deeper than the soup spoons you might use in Western countries. This means they can hold more liquid. These types of spoons are popular all over Asia.

History of Chinese Spoons

Ancient Spoons

Spoons have been around in China since the Shang Dynasty, which was over 3,000 years ago! The very first spoons found were made from bone. Later, people also made them from bronze. Some of these early bronze spoons had sharp points, which suggests they might have been used for cutting food too. Some were even more than a foot long!

Around the Spring and Autumn period, spoons started to look more round. Later, during the Han dynasty, spoons made from lacquer (a type of natural varnish) became very popular.

Spoons vs. Chopsticks

For a long time in ancient China, spoons were more common than chopsticks for eating. Chopsticks were mostly used for cooking back then. This was because the main food in North China was millet, which was often cooked into a soft, soupy dish called congee. Spoons were perfect for eating this kind of food neatly.

However, things started to change around the 1st century A.D., during the Han dynasty. Farmers began to grow more wheat, and people learned how to grind it into flour. This meant they could make new foods like noodles and dumplings. These foods were much easier to pick up with chopsticks.

By the Song Dynasty, around the 10th century, chopsticks had become the main eating tool. Also, a new type of rice that cooked into sticky clumps was brought from Vietnam. This rice was also easier to eat with chopsticks.

Spoons and Compasses

Did you know that the first compasses were invented in China? They were created during or soon after the Han dynasty. These early compasses used a special spoon-shaped stone called a lodestone. This stone would spin on a bronze plate and point to the south, helping people find their way!

In the 18th century, a very important Chinese dictionary called the Kangxi Dictionary was made. In this dictionary, the "spoon" was even given its own special category, known as "Radical 21."

Spoons Through Time

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  A flat spoon from the Han dynasty, made of bronze.

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  A model of a Han dynasty spoon compass.

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  Silver chopsticks, a cup, and a spoon from the Song dynasty.

Modern Chinese Spoons

Today, Chinese spoons are still widely used. They come in many different materials and styles.

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  Modern Stainless steel Chinese spoons.

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  Beautiful Porcelain Chinese spoons.

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  A Chinese spoon resting on a spoon rest.

See also

In Spanish: Cuchara china para niños