Mulberry Tree

As is known to all silk is a unique invention of China. For a long period of time, China was the only country in the world which produced and used silk.

Among the myths and legends of Chinese history, Lei Zu, a Concubine of the Chinese ancient Emperor Xuanyuan, is recognized as the ancestor of sericulture and silk spinning.

There is a beautiful story telling how Lei Zu was drinking in a wild mulberry bush when some wild cocoons fell in her bowl. When she tried to fish out the cocoons, she found it stretched in a never-ending line. Then she began to rear wild silkworms and spun to knit. Afterwards, she was worshipped as “Goddess of Silkworms” by Chinese people.

Even today, there is an old tradition kept in Huzhou city of Zhejiang Province that Lei Zu is worshiped every Qingming Festival (around April 5th every year) for her contribution for bringing silk into people’s life.

Chinese silk is not only famous for its exquisite design, but also for its lightness and thinness.

There is an interesting story in Sulayman’s Journey to the East.

An Arabian merchant visited an official of Tang Dynasty（AD 618-907）, he found a black mole in the official’s chest. He could hardly believe it, so he stared at his chest for quite a while. Until the official asked that he thought there was something wrong with his eyes, because he could see the mole under two layers of clothing! He told his doubt to the official and the official burst into a great laughter. After being showed the silk costume, the merchant finally realized how thin the silk was and became crazy about this amazing textile.

Silk History in China

According to some archaeological data, the exact time that silk was put into practical use is earlier than Lei Zu’s era of 4,600 years ago.