Editing Digging stick (section)

===Asia-Pacific===
====China====
The Chinese call the digging stick "lei"(耒), which is said to have been invented by Shennong.<ref>《易經·繫辭下》：包犧氏沒，神農氏作，斲木為耜，揉木為耒，耒耨之利，以教天下，蓋取諸益。[https://ctext.org/book-of-changes/xi-ci-xia/zh]</ref> The most primitive lei had only one prong, while improved versions often had two prongs. "lei" is often mentioned together with "si" (耜，[[Hoe_(tool)|push hoe]]) as the most primitive agricultural tool in China.
====Australia====
<!---Yam sticks redirect targets this section--->
Digging sticks are used by many of the [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal peoples of Australia]], for digging up roots and tubers<ref>{{cite web | title=Taungurung Tools & Technology | website=Deadly Story  | url=https://www.deadlystory.com/page/aboriginal-country-map/Aboriginal_Country_In_Development/taungurung/cultural-artefacts/ | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Bush foods and tools | website=[[Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park]]| publisher=[[Parks Australia]] | url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/discover/culture/bush-foods-and-tools/ | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref> and for [[Aboriginal ceremony|ceremonial use]].<ref name=wam>{{cite web | title=Yalangbara: art of the Djang'kawu|first1=Banduk| last1=Marika |last2=West |first2=Margie | website=[[Western Australian Museum]] | date=7 December 2010 | url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/yalangbara/background-essay | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

The [[Gunditjmara]] people of western [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] used digging sticks, also known as "yam sticks", for digging [[murnong|yams]], [[goanna]]s, ants and other foods out of the ground, as well as for defence, for settling disputes and for punishment purposes as part of [[Indigenous Australian customary law| customary law]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Bissland | first=Emily | title=Gunditjmara stone tools found in University collection sparks art exhibition and hopes of repatriation  | website=ABC News |publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=23 January 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-23/gunditjmara-tools-leonhard-adam-collection-sparks-exhibition/100659198 | access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

==== New Guinea ====
The Kuman people east-central [[New Guinea]] were [[horticulturist]]s who used basic tools such as the digging stick, wooden hoe, and wooden spade in their daily lives. Eventually they started to use more sophisticated tools such as iron spades and pick-axes.<ref name="Nilles">Nilles, John. "The Kuman people: A study of cultural change in a [[Urgesellschaft|primitive society]] in the Central Highlands of New Guinea." Oceania (1953): 1-27.</ref>

Two main types of digging sticks both shared a similar shape but differed in size:

* A larger and heavier digging stick with a diameter of about {{cvt|4|cm}} and {{cvt|2|m}} in length, used for the purpose of turning over the soil surface for new gardens; and
* A smaller and lighter digging stick with a diameter of about {{cvt|2|cm|in}} and {{cvt|1|m}} (or less) in length, mainly used for basic horticulture tasks.<ref name="Nilles"/>

====New Zealand====
[[File:Digging sticks, Rotorua Museum.jpg|alt=|thumb|A [[Māori people|Māori]] digging stick|upright=0.4]]
The [[Māori people]] traditionally use digging sticks, known as a ''kō'' {{cvt|2|m|adj=on}} to {{cvt|3|m|adj=on}}long pole was made of strong and long-lasting wood, with a footrest tied to the shaft and one end fashioned into a narrow blade. They were used for tilling soil ready for planting [[tuber]]s,<ref>{{cite web | title= Gardens - Māori gardens: Kō for digging | website=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand |first= Maggy |last=Wassilieff |date= 24 Nov 2008 | url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/18856/ko-for-digging | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=ko; spade; digging-stick | website=[[The British Museum]] | url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Oc1895-421-a-b | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>  as well as for digging for roots or tubers, and in ceremonial use.<ref>{{cite web | title=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa | website=[[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa ]] | url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/category/323186 | access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>