LEGEND OF SILK
What is Silk? - Answer- Silk is a thin, but strong fiber that silkworms produce when they are making their cocoons. It can be woven into a very soft and smooth fabric. Silk fabric was invented in Ancient China and played an important role in their culture and economy for thousands...
LEGEND OF SILK
What is Silk? - Answer- Silk is a thin, but strong fiber that silkworms produce when
they are making their cocoons. It can be woven into a very soft and smooth fabric.
Silk fabric was invented in Ancient China and played an important role in their culture
and economy for thousands of years.
What is silk in Chinese Culture? - Answer- Silk cloth was extremely valuable in
Ancient China. Wearing silk was an important status symbol. At first, only members
of the royal family were allowed to wear silk. Later, silk clothing was restricted to only
the noble class. Merchants and peasants were not allowed to wear silk. Silk was
even used as money during some Ancient Chinese dynasties.
How did the people keep silk a Secret? - Answer- Silk became a prized export for the
Chinese. Nobles and kings of foreign lands desired silk and would pay high prices for
the cloth. The emperors of China wanted to keep the process for making silk a
secret. Anyone caught telling the secret or taking silkworms out of China was put to
death.
How did the people Smuggle silk? - Answer- The Chinese managed to keep silk a
secret for over 1000 years. However, in 550 AD the secret of silk became known to
other countries when two monks from the Byzantine Empire managed to smuggle
some silkworm eggs out of the country. They hid the eggs inside of their bamboo
walking sticks.
Making silk - Answer- The ancient Chinese bred special moths to produce the quality
silk they wanted. Here are the steps in the process for making silk:
-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.
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