Dear friend,

Thanks for paying attention to Top China Travel. We've noted that you are interested in Chinese silk. You can check information below.

Origins and development of silk
 

China is the first nation on earth to use mulberry silk, thus the ancient name of Seres. Archaeologists have found a 6000-year-old ivory cup with silkworm texture at the Hemudu Site in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, and the oldest surviving silk productions including silk fabric pieces, silk ribbons and silk threads at Qianshanyang Site in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. Therefore, we can see that Chinese silk production began no later than the Neolithic Age. 

On the oracle inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty (1600 -1046 BC) on tortoiseshells or animal bones, there are characters of mulberry, silkworm and silk. Silk industry developed in the Spring and Autumn, and the Warring State Period (770 - 221BC). Several silk centers were established in today’s Shandong Province, Kaifeng,Zhuixian, Hunan Province and Shaoxing. In Han Dynasty (202 - 220BC), the complicated jacquard loom was formed, and today’s Sichuan Province became anther silk production center. When coming to the Tang and Song dynasties (618 - 1279), the silk manufacturing technology was further improved, and the silk fabric production largely increased. Ancient Chinese silk industry reached its highest level in beauty, texturing and workmanship in Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1912), silk fabrics and clothing were not longer exclusive to the nobles. Businessmen and scholars also dressed in silk.

Have a nice day!

Warm regards,

Abby