Silk and silk making is a vital feature of Chinese history and its ancient civilization. Silk was first produced in China in the year 3000 B.C. and archaeological evidence of its existence dates back to about 5,500 years ago.

The Chinese Silk Road was constructed under the western Han Emperor Wudi who felt it imperative to build an alliance with neighboring countries to guard against military threats. In 119 B.C., Emperor Wudi sent Zhang Qian to build an alliance with India and China’s neighboring countries. The mission lasted from 138 B.C. to 126 B.C. Silk was an instant hit in India, and so, trading more silk became a priority for the Emperor.

The Silk Road was constructed for this purpose. The Chinese Silk Road started from Chang’an (or Xi’an) across Middle Asia, South Asia and West Asia. It went still further and was connected to many countries of Asia and Europe. Chinese silk and many other inventions came to Europe via the Chinese Silk Road. The Romans were especially captivated by the luxurious fabric. Chinese silk became a symbol of wealth among them. An Indian monk who lived for a long time in China and who came to Rome was believed to have brought the technology of raising silkworms and silk production to Europe.

Raising silkworms and unwinding their cocoons is known today as silk culture or sericulture. It takes approximately 25-28 days for a silkworm to grow old enough to spin a cocoon. Sericulture is a painstaking process that requires a great deal of human labor. About 1,000 meters of silk can be unwound from a single cocoon. To make a tie, about 111 cocoons are necessary. A woman’s blouse requires about 630 cocoons. This is why silk is a much prized and valuable fabric up to now.