Silk Art
Few fabrics in the world are as celebrated as silk. It is exotic, expensive and extremely sought after. Many people fall in love with the touch of silk. It is simply that desirable.
However, the source of the fabric is a definitely not sexy. Silk is a protein fiber that comes from the cocoons of the mulberry silkworm. Legend has it, that Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih discovered silk when a cocoon dropped into her cup of tea. She was the wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor who ruled China millennia ago. Confucius pegs the date her discovery in 2640 BC.
This was the start of a silk monopoly that took on a global importance. At first, silk was solely owned by the Imperial family. It was used only by the Emperor and those who were closest to him. This situation was untenable, as many sought to wear the valuable cloth.
But silk was so much more. It is very strong and moderately elastic. Silk was put to more and more uses. Fishing lines were made out of silk thread. Musical instruments were tied with silk thread. Silk was even used as a rag paper! During the Han Dynasty, farmers paid taxes in grain and silk. It was also used to pay for government servants. Silk became a currency and a highly tradable good.
The silk trade that connected East and West became the most important commercial route in antiquity. Silk was highly prized in the West. The Chinese maintained their monopoly well. The easiest way to get it is through a long land route across central Asia. The Chinese sent silk westwards and gold was sent eastwards in return. The Roman Empire loved the fabric, but between it and China was the unconquered Persian Empire. Much of Rome's policies in that area during that time were meant to maintain the silk trade going. When Persia tried to assert control on the routes, the Romans supported anti-Persian states and explored other routes. In some ways it was the oil trade of that period.
Unlike oil, which is limited by the source, silk is limited by knowledge. Sericulture, or the rearing of silkworms to make silk, was finally made known to the rest of the world. Chinese immigrants to Korea brought their knowledge of silk along in 200 BC. Japan learned about it in 300 CE after a raiding expedition took silkworm eggs and four young Chinese girls who knew the art. The west finally obtained sericulture in 552 CE. Justinian sent two Nestorian monks to find out about the secret. They brought back the knowledge and the silkworm eggs.
This diminished the importance of the silk trade but it didn't affect the value of silk in the least. It was still highly sought after. The making of silk became a prosperous and protected industry in the developing European kingdoms and cities.
In the modern world, Europe no longer makes silk (except for Italy). Japan still makes silk but it is negligible in terms of world production. Proving that history comes in circles, China produces most of the world's supply of this treasured fabric.
Jonathan Russell is an artist and blogger that has been writing articles on many different topics for the last 2 years. You can find him contributing articles at Beginning Quilting Now a website dedicated to helping those who are beginning quilting.
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