(I) Ancient Origin and Development
The development history of Chinese silk is extremely long, dating back to before the Xia Dynasty. Legend has it that Leizu, the wife of Emperor Huang, invented the method of raising silkworms and weaving silk. During the Xia Dynasty, the royal family had slaves who specialized in raising silkworms. As time went on, the silk industry was further developed in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and became an important handicraft industry. Silk fabrics were regarded as luxury goods by the nobles. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, silk weaving technology continued to improve, and exquisite fabrics such as jacquard brocade, silk, and brocade could be woven.
During the Han Dynasty, the silk industry reached its peak. Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions to open up the Silk Road, and Chinese silk was continuously transported to countries and regions along the way, even to the Mediterranean coast. At the same time, maritime trade routes were opened up, and silk flowed into Korea, Japan and other places. According to historical records, the scale of silk production in the Han Dynasty was very large, with an annual tax revenue of 5 million pieces. The production focus was in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and the government established official silk production institutions in Chang'an, Qi, Shu and other places.
(II) Characteristics of different dynasties
During the Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the focus of the silk industry shifted. Due to frequent wars, silk production was affected to a certain extent, but it continued to develop in some areas.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains and Sichuan in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River were still important places for silk production. Silk production in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially in the Jiangnan area, developed rapidly, and formed a three-legged situation in the later period. The Silk Road trade was developed in the Tang Dynasty. Chinese silk was not only exported in large quantities, but also influenced by Western textiles and production technologies. After the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the weft-woven flower fabrics replaced the warp brocade, and the twill fabrics gradually replaced the plain fabrics.
During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, as the capital of the Song Dynasty moved south, the silk production base moved to the south, and further concentrated in the Jiangnan area since the Yuan Dynasty. The northern Silk Road was blocked by wars, but the southern maritime Silk Road became more and more prosperous, and silk products were transported by sea to Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian countries. The silk processing technology in the Song Dynasty was more sophisticated than that in the Tang Dynasty, and the techniques of kesi, damask, and brocade were more mature.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, silk production in the Jiangnan region became increasingly prosperous, and local specialties such as Suzhou silk, Hunan satin, and Sichuan Luojin were formed. The production technology of silk products has been further improved, the quality has become more delicate, the patterns have become more diverse, and the designs have become more exquisite. Machine-woven silk has also appeared, gradually replacing hand-woven silk.
In modern times, with the development of science and technology and the improvement of silkworm species, the silk industry has entered a new stage. The introduction of foreign designs and techniques has brought a modern look to silk culture, and silk education has also cultivated a group of outstanding talents.
The development history of Chinese silk is extremely long, dating back to before the Xia Dynasty. Legend has it that Leizu, the wife of Emperor Huang, invented the method of raising silkworms and weaving silk. During the Xia Dynasty, the royal family had slaves who specialized in raising silkworms. As time went on, the silk industry was further developed in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and became an important handicraft industry. Silk fabrics were regarded as luxury goods by the nobles. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, silk weaving technology continued to improve, and exquisite fabrics such as jacquard brocade, silk, and brocade could be woven.
During the Han Dynasty, the silk industry reached its peak. Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions to open up the Silk Road, and Chinese silk was continuously transported to countries and regions along the way, even to the Mediterranean coast. At the same time, maritime trade routes were opened up, and silk flowed into Korea, Japan and other places. According to historical records, the scale of silk production in the Han Dynasty was very large, with an annual tax revenue of 5 million pieces. The production focus was in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and the government established official silk production institutions in Chang'an, Qi, Shu and other places.
(II) Characteristics of different dynasties
During the Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the focus of the silk industry shifted. Due to frequent wars, silk production was affected to a certain extent, but it continued to develop in some areas.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains and Sichuan in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River were still important places for silk production. Silk production in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially in the Jiangnan area, developed rapidly, and formed a three-legged situation in the later period. The Silk Road trade was developed in the Tang Dynasty. Chinese silk was not only exported in large quantities, but also influenced by Western textiles and production technologies. After the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the weft-woven flower fabrics replaced the warp brocade, and the twill fabrics gradually replaced the plain fabrics.
During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, as the capital of the Song Dynasty moved south, the silk production base moved to the south, and further concentrated in the Jiangnan area since the Yuan Dynasty. The northern Silk Road was blocked by wars, but the southern maritime Silk Road became more and more prosperous, and silk products were transported by sea to Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian countries. The silk processing technology in the Song Dynasty was more sophisticated than that in the Tang Dynasty, and the techniques of kesi, damask, and brocade were more mature.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, silk production in the Jiangnan region became increasingly prosperous, and local specialties such as Suzhou silk, Hunan satin, and Sichuan Luojin were formed. The production technology of silk products has been further improved, the quality has become more delicate, the patterns have become more diverse, and the designs have become more exquisite. Machine-woven silk has also appeared, gradually replacing hand-woven silk.
In modern times, with the development of science and technology and the improvement of silkworm species, the silk industry has entered a new stage. The introduction of foreign designs and techniques has brought a modern look to silk culture, and silk education has also cultivated a group of outstanding talents.