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Ancient China

Legend of Silk

Court Ladies making Silk by Huizong of Song

• A moth lays 500 or so eggs and then dies
• Baby worms hatch from the eggs are fed mulberry leaves for one month until they are fat
• The worms spin cocoons
• The cocoons are steamed to kill the growing moth inside
• The cocoons are rinsed in hot water to loosen the threads
• Women would unwind the cocoons and then combine six or so fibers into silk threads
• The threads are woven into cloth
• The cloth is then pounded to make it softer

• It wasn't until the Qing dynasty, which ruled from 1644 to 1911, that peasants were allowed to wear silk clothing.
• Silk was used for other purposes than clothing such a paper, fishing lines, bowstrings, and canvas for painting.
• Around the thirteenth century, Italy became one of the major producers of silk. Some of the finest silk in the world is made in Italy today.
• Silk clothing was often embroidered with designs. The most popular designs were of flowers and birds.
• Silk was such an important product from China that the trade route from Europe to China became known as the Silk Road.

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