On The Development Of Silk Fabrics

Holocene Epoch

Silk technology has been monopolized by China for hundreds of years, because its compilation technology was complex at that time.

At first, China strictly controlled the spread of technology of silk weaving and sericulture, and forbids its flow to foreign countries.

But with the help of Chinese immigrants, Korea successfully achieved a breakthrough in silkworm rearing technology in 200 BC.

In addition, the western region and Hotan River Basin (the first 500 years - the first 300 years) and India (300 years ago) succeeded in silkworm rearing.

However, the Empire of Rome only got silkworm eggs in 550 years and developed silkworm breeding techniques. Legend has it that several monks working for the eastern Rome Imperial Emperor put silkworms in hollow cane and brought them out of China, and then moved to Constantinople.

Although the credibility of the legend is not high, the Byzantine people actually developed silk weaving technology and set up silkworm room and silk reeling machine in the imperial courtyard to serve the emperor.

At that time, most of the Byzantine native silk was enjoyed by royalty, and the remaining materials could be sold to the market at a high price.

Based on archaeological findings, experts speculate that in the middle of the Neolithic age five thousand or six thousand years ago, China began to raise silkworms, take silk and weave silk.

By the Shang Dynasty, silk production had begun to take shape, with high technological level and complicated weaving and weaving techniques.

China is the first country in the world to raise silkworms and silk reeling. The ancestors of the Chinese nation not only invented silk, but also flourishing silk and silk, giving them brilliant art in costumes, economy, art and culture, and thus leaving silk garments in the world.

The ancient Sichuan Shu brocade, the Suzhou song brocade, and the Nanjing brocade, known as the three famous brocade, are excellent representatives of silk fabrics. They still enjoy a high reputation in the world today.

Therefore, silk represents, in a sense, the long and splendid culture of China.

With the great economic development in the Warring States period, Qin and Han Dynasties, silk production reached a peak.

Almost all places can produce silk, and the varieties of silk are also rich. They are mainly divided into three categories: silk, jade and brocade.

The emergence of brocade is an important milestone in the history of Chinese silk. It combines silk's excellent performance with fine arts. Silk is not only a noble material but also a work of art, which greatly improves the cultural connotation and historical value of silk products, and its influence is very far-reaching.

In the Qin and Han Dynasties, the silk weaving industry had not only developed greatly, but also with the large-scale expansion of the Han Dynasty, the trade and output of silk reached an unprecedented level.

The promotion of trade has further developed the economic and cultural exchanges between the Central Plains and the border areas, China and the eastern and western neighbors, thus forming the famous "Silk Road".

This road started from ancient Changan, and went west through Gansu and Xinjiang, and finally reached Europe through Central Asia and Western Asia.

In 126 BC, under the policy of westward advance of Emperor Wu, a large number of Chinese silk was pported westward through the "Silk Road".

After the development of the Wei, Jin and Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, Chinese silk has undergone great changes. On the one hand, it has broken through the traditional heritage, and on the other hand, it is compatible with the advantages of foreign technology and patterns.

The long war in the Three Kingdoms, the two Jin Dynasties and the northern and Southern Dynasties caused serious damage to the the Yellow River river basin economy. In the Sui Dynasty, the focus of China's sericulture and silk industry had been pferred to the Yangtze River Valley.

The Tang Dynasty is the peak period of silk production, no matter the output, quality and variety have reached an unprecedented level.

The production organization of silk is divided into three types: handicraft industry, sideline industry and independent handicraft industry.

At the same time, the foreign trade of silk has also been greatly developed. Not only has the "Silk Road" passageway increased to three, but the degree of trade has also been unprecedentedly high.

The production and trade of silk made great contributions to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

During the song and Yuan Dynasties, with the progress of silkworm technology, Chinese silk had a short time.

Not only the variety of silk has obviously increased, especially the three distinctive new varieties, such as Song Jin, silk and gold ornaments, but also made great breakthroughs in the summing up and popularization of sericulture production technology.

In the two dynasties of Ming and Qing Dynasties, because of the sprout and development of capitalism, the production and trade of silk also changed greatly: the commercialization trend of silk production became more and more obvious, and the overseas trade of silk was developing rapidly.

However, the hindrance of the feudal system to productivity is also very prominent. China's silk industry has fallen into a very sad situation under the double blow of exorbitant taxes and heavy taxes and heavy dumping.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the silk industry has entered a new historical period.

From 1980 to 1990, the production of raw silk in China rose from 36 thousand tons to 57 thousand tons, up 1.58 times, the production of silk fabric increased more than 2 times, silk fabric consumption increased from 400 million meters to 1 billion 220 million meters, increased by about 3 times; raw silk exports accounted for more than 80% of world silk trade, and silk satin accounted for 50% up and down.

After years of efforts, China has won the leading position in the world's silk market, and the silk industry has become a pillar industry for foreign exchange.

China's silk industry has been developing rapidly, and a complete silk industry system has been built. Silk products have been sold in more than 100 countries and regions around the world.

Under the new situation of reform and opening up, the ancient silk of our country is developing new youth and heading for a bright future.