Here in the U.S., we love our sushi rolls, ramen, and carryout Chinese. This means, of course, that we’re pretty familiar with chopsticks—if not totally adept at using them. But beyond the knack they have for grasping just the right bite of tofu, or the satisfying “snap” a fresh wooden pair makes when pulled apart, how much can any of us really say about these ancient Asian implements? Read on, and you’ll have plenty to tell your friends over your next plate of dumplings.

According to Rowan University professor Q. Edward Wang, a Chinese historian and author of the book Chopsticks: A Cultural and Culinary History, spoons once played a bigger role than chopsticks at the Japanese table. “In ancient