It has to do with available material. In Asia, wood has always been at a premium. Likewise, the metal used to make knives.
In Europe, eating utensils consisted of a wooden spoon and metal or stone knife. Asians did not have that luxury. Stone knives were common for most people, as metal was reserved for the wealthier people that could afford it. Why chop sticks? Originally, they were not made of expensive wood, but from animal bones carved to provide the eating instruments. Forks or spoons were too difficult to carve, but chopsticks? A whetstone and a bone at the end of the day would produce a new pair in a short time.
While fingers were made before forks, the reasoning goes to China and the stir fry. Meat, when available, and other vegetables, were all cooked together in a clay pot, or wok. To cook the food quickly since burning wood was costly, the Chinese would cut the ingredients into bite sized morsals, eliminating the need for a knife. These savory stews were often served over rice, but to getvto the morsels, the chop sticks were used. In most settings, the normal form is holding the bowl in one hand and "shoveling" the food into your mouth with the other. Considered undignified in western culture, today's Asian restaurants offer knife, fork, and spoon. I can eat with xhop sticks, but not as fast as someone that was raised using them.
Hope this helps.
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