The paperboard Chinese takeout box, also known as the oyster pail, was not actually invented in China. It was invented in the United States. The exact origin and inventor of the paperboard Chinese takeout box are not clear, but it is believed to have emerged around the late 19th or early 20th century in the United States. The box was designed to provide a convenient and portable way to package Chinese food for takeout or delivery. Over time, it became associated with Chinese cuisine, but its invention and initial use were not in China.