The origin of silk,

In ancient legend, Lei Zu, the wife of the Yellow Emperor, invented "raising silkworms to get silk", but in reality, when silk was invented is still controversial.

According to archaeological findings, experts speculate that in the middle of Neolithic Age five or six thousand years ago, China began to raise silkworms, collect silk and weave cloth. What really shows that the cocoon has been used is half a cocoon unearthed in Yin Xi Village, Xia County, Shaanxi Province in 1926. According to the research of archaeologist Li Ji and entomologist Liu Chongle, it is concluded that it is a mulberry cocoon.

The cocoon shell is about 1.36 cm long and about 1.04 cm wide. Cut off a part of the cocoon with a sharp blade. Yin Xi village lived in Yangshao period (about 5600-6000 years ago), which provided people with material objects to study the origin of silk. Textile tools have been found in Hemudu site, so it can be inferred that the use of silk will at least not be later than Liangzhu culture.

The most influential statement is 1958, the archaeological discovery made by scientists in China, and the silk fabrics of Dawenkou culture period 5,300 years ago. Silk technology was monopolized by China for hundreds of years. Because its weaving technology was a complicated process at that time, and people paid much attention to it because of its unique feel and luster, silk fabric became the main international trade material in the world before the industrial revolution.

At the earliest time, silk fabrics could only be used by emperors, but with the rapid development of silk industry, silk culture penetrated into China culture geographically and socially. It has become an indispensable high-grade commodity for China businessmen in foreign trade. At first, China strictly controlled the technical circulation of silk weaving and sericulture, and prohibited it from flowing to foreign countries.

However, with the assistance of immigrants from China, North Korea successfully achieved a breakthrough in sericulture technology in the first 200 years. In addition, sericulture was successfully carried out in Hotan River Basin (500-300 years ago) and India (300 years ago). However, it was about 550 years before the Roman Empire got silkworm eggs and developed sericulture technology.

Extended data:

The value of silk;

1 promoted the development of textile industry.

The local silk culture reacts on the local textile industry, making it carry out a series of innovations and reforms on the original basis, thus improving labor production efficiency, creating new fabric types and further enriching the silk culture.

2. It has promoted the development of language and literature in China.

Silk culture has played a great role in the emergence and development of Chinese characters, which is reflected in the emergence and application of Chinese characters related to mulberry, silkworm and silk and a large number of "Yi" characters. In Shuo Wen Jie Zi, there are 9353 characters in seal script, of which 248 are * * * *, accounting for about 3% of the total number of seal scripts.

Besides, there are many idioms and allusions related to silk culture, such as making your own cocoon, making your own sleeves, traveling at night, and returning home with clothes? [33]? . In addition, a large number of literary works also express feelings or reflect social reality by describing sericulture and silk, such as Shang Mo Mulberry by Li Bai and Bai Sixing by Du Fu.

3. Promoted the derivation of folk culture.

Silk culture is rich in folk customs. The worship of silkworm god in China has a history of thousands of years. For thousands of years, myths and legends about the silkworm god are endless, and there are many silkworm gods. Authentic silkworm gods are everywhere 10. Many songs, proverbs and dialects about silk culture are the activation of history and contain rich folk customs. Many old customs, social customs and life etiquette customs are related to silk culture.

4. Promoted the development of arts and crafts.

Silk culture has penetrated into all aspects of cultural life, which has had a great impact on people's aesthetic taste, and then affected other arts, and even promoted the emergence of some new art categories.

The invention of China's calligraphy and painting Xuan paper is directly related to ancient silk reeling and silk cloth. In fact, the invention of paper is still influenced by silk. The original meaning of paper is that the silk scraps accumulated in the rinsing process accumulate into a thin layer, which is called paper. Inspired by this, people made paper with fiber instead of silk fiber, which became a great invention of China.

Another important invention, printing, also originated in the silk industry. According to textual research, relief printing of ancient silk in China is the predecessor of block printing, and many parts of traditional printing technology directly come from printing. The invention of paper and printing greatly promoted the development of many arts such as calligraphy and painting.

5. It promotes the exchange and integration of world cultures.

As one of the great inventions in ancient China, silk has made great contributions to world civilization through the ancient Silk Road. At the same time, foreign cultures also entered China through the Silk Road, making the local culture more colorful. China immigrants have been accepted by Japanese for many times or sent envoys to China to study silk weaving technology.

Immigrants from China and a large number of Japanese students and scholars went to Japan with the delegation, which played an important role in Japan's political, economic and cultural reform and development. Especially in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the culture of Sui and Tang Dynasties had a strong influence on Japanese social culture. An unprecedented "imitation of Tang Wenhua" was formed in Japan and lasted for more than 200 years.

After Japanese culture entered China as feedback, it broadened people's spiritual horizons, and many cultures became the theme of poetry and songs. Some silks are painted with exotic gods or legends and stories praying for good luck, which were absorbed by China craftsmen and enriched the cultural interest of China people. In addition, silk, as a "messenger of peace" of all countries, has played a key role in the diplomacy of all countries.

Countries take the silk trade or the exchange of silk products as a breakthrough, strengthen the ties between countries, maintain peaceful and stable international relations, and provide good conditions and environment for the progress and development of world civilization.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Silk (the general term for fabrics woven or interwoven with silk or rayon)