Folklore of the Everyday 🥢

Dear Reader,

Folklore can encompass epic myths and legends—like the Labours of Hercules or the battle between the gods of fire and water! But they can also be about the mundane, everyday things in our lives. And these are no less beautiful.

This month, we explore the folklore that surrounds a dining utensil that graces every Taiwanese—indeed, every East Asian—dining table: the chopsticks!

Additionally, we highlight a couple more stories from our archives down below, celebrating aspects of Taiwanese life and landscape!

Enjoy!

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Chopsticks are ubiquitous on the dining tables of East Asia. In Mandarin, they are called kuàizi (筷子) and, in Taiwanese, they are known as tī (箸). These utensils aren’t just essential to Taiwanese dining, they are steeped in stories and traditions! Below is a quick rundown of Taiwanese chopstick folklore!

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Island Folklore: Taiwanese Tales & Traditions, an online repository of Taiwan's folktales, history, legends, myths and traditions, is published and managed by the Island Folklore Club.

Our mission:

• To collect and preserve Taiwanese folk traditions for future generations.
• To explore and showcase Taiwan's diverse and unique blend of cultures.
• To educate and enable Taiwanese communities worldwide to take pride in the shared Taiwanese heritage.