Chopsticks are a staple in Asian culture, history and dinner tables. Chopsticks are smooth and tapered pairs of sticks commonly made from bamboo, plastic wood and steel, less commonly from porcelain, silver, ivory or jade. These pairs of sticks are used commonly in many parts of Asia as the standard utensil to use for meals, and occasionally for cooking. Chopsticks originate from Ancient China, approximately in the Shang Dynasty, before spreading to other countries such as Japan and Korea. Chopsticks vary in shape and design in different countries, such as Japanese chopsticks being usually shorter with a finely pointed end while Chinese chopsticks are more longer and thicker than others with a squared or rounded sides and ending in either wide, blunt, flat tips or tapered pointed tips.
The different countries and cultures often have differing etiquette and mannerisms concerning the use of the chopsticks, such as it being improper to transfer food between chopstick in Japan, as it how bones are passed as a part of Japanese funeral rites. But there are also similarities in the different etiquette, such as it being unacceptable to stick your chopsticks vertically into your food or rice, as it resembles the ritual of incense-burning that symbolizes "feeding" the dead and death in general.
Nowadays, beyond its use as tableware they are often use for other things, such as a gift or occasionally as accessories as many craftsmen incorporate beautiful designs and sceneries making them like fine artworks, in which people collect rather than just use as utensils.
Chopsticks are now commonly used worldwide and adored by many, but unless you plan on going to Chinese or Japanese restaurants and use chopsticks often, you probably should just stick to using the more efficient and easier to use spoon and fork.
References:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/cuisine_drink/cuisine/chopsticks.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2039.html
http://www.chinatownconnection.com/how-to-use-chopsticks.htm
