Silk
Aaric T.
Aaric T.
The Beginning of Silk
Silk roughly originated during 2700 BCE. There is no one dynasty that I thought was to have made silk before the rest. Many historians and researchers think that it was discovered by many dynasties around the same time. A very popular legend is that a queen named Leizu (嫘祖), the wife of the Yellow Emperor, was sitting under a tree. Then a silkworm cocoon fell into her hot tea which made it unravel into strings that would then be weaved together to make a fabric. This fabric was very valuable and cherished in many civilizations which helped the economical state of China.
How Silk is Made
The making of silk is formally called Sericulture. There are multiple steps involved in making silk. The first step is cultivating mulberry plants. In this step the farmers have to have mulberry plants in fertile, well drained climate and a warm climate. This improves the quality of the leaves which in return greatly enhance the quality of the silk. The second step is the incubation of eggs. In this step the silkworm eggs are kept under controlled humidity and temperature to hatch in larva. The third step is taking care of the silkworms. This step contains feeding and growing the silkworms to enable them to be harvested. The fourth step is harvesting them. The silkworms turn into moths and break the silk fibers. Finally the silk is processed and made into fabric which can be used for many different items.
Silk Impacts and Importance
Silk was impactful in ancient China with the creation of trade routes and its advancements in agriculture
Map of the silk road stretching from China to Europe.
The silk road is a very important and popular trade route that connected China to the Middle East and Europe. Many merchants and immigrants would travel this road to trade or look for a better future. Many religions were transferred on this route which changed the course of plenty of civilizations.
Silk making and producing added a lot of room for advancements in tools. For many hundred years people would weave the silk into a fabric which took time and a lot of effort. The loom is a tool that would make fabric faster and add consistency. The loom was made in the Han Dynasty and spread all across ancient China. Techniques were also advancing quickly with the production of silk. Farmers would find ways to make the silk faster and with better quality because of its value. The people of ancient China also would use dyes to make it desirable.
A classic loom that is weaving string into a fabric and used in ancient China.
Image 2
Video gives a representation of how silk is made and the arts that is put into it.
Extra Information
Silk in Antiquity shows the importance and the upbringing of silk in ancient China.
The Role of Silk in the Economy of Ancient China helps show the Impacts and Importance of the Silk Road.
The Silk Secret: How Ancient China Perfected Silk Production has information on why silk was so impactful and the way it grew in culture.