Hand-spindle is one of the tremendously important utensils applied in the textile process during ancient China. It is a straight spike that is generally produced from the wood used for spinning and twisting fibers, including yarn, cotton, hemp, flax, wool etc. As according to Joseph Needham, who was a famous biochemist and sinologist for scientific research, especially on Chinese science and technology, discovered hand-spindle was a significance textile tools that commonly used by ethnic in different regions for making daily necessities until the Song dynasty, different ethnic had their distinct characteristics of hand-spindle, however, after the evolution of spindle-wheel and introduction of silk, it was gradually be reduced use. Therefore, hand-spindle carried the history and development of traditional Chinese textile technology as well as the cultural significance of China.

In China, the traditional concept of economy was based on agriculture. Hand spindle spinning was one of the textile events classed as agricultural activities. This economic context generally favored, and sometimes encouraged, inventions and innovations for the benefit of society as a whole. Commercial activities in the silk trade and the production of luxury silk fabrics may have promoted innovations and improvements in textile machinery.

Before Chinese people could wave cloth on a loom, they had to learn about the raw materials from which to obtain textile fibers; they also had to gain experience in the preparation of fibers(splicing, spinning, twisting) to make them durable, strong and suited to the waving process. Only then could the threads of bast fibers be dressed on a primitive loom without running the risk of warp breakages all the time. With social and scientific improvement, Chinese textile technology has also developed.

This section aims to introduce the content of textile technology of Joseph Needham’s book “Science and Civilisation in China” (volume 5; part 9), started from the hand spindle. After visiting our website, you can understand the development of textile technology in China from the historical and archaeological perspective. At the same time, brief information about cross-stitching is included here, and you can watch our video to learn how to do cross-stitching by yourself.