The history of sericulture in China is a long one.

Therefore, there are a number of ways for reference which can be used together to try to determine if a fabric is genuine silk or a synthetic man-made fabric that looks like silk.

Japan and China have been the top manufacturers of it in the past 30 years - they have manufactured over 50% of it!

The German term Seidenstraße ("the Silk Road") was coined in 1877 by Ferdinand von Richthofen, who made seven expeditions to China from 1868 to 1872. It comes from the cocoon of the silk worm and requires a great deal of handling and processing, which makes it one of the most expensive fibers also. The Silk industry actually began between 5,000 and 3,000 BC in China. Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by silkworms that are kept in captivity. However, only silk from the silkworms is used for textile purposes. Besides Chinese exports, foreign businessmen also came to China to buy silk and china wares. Only India has a comparably large industry that produces about 30,000 metric tons. if so, why was "Trade with China" still so important in the 1500s? Asked in History, Politics & Society What was the origin of silk? There is ample archaeological evidence of primitive paper types from the 2nd century BCE in China, largely using hemp. Silk was such an important product from China that the trade route from Europe to China became known as the Silk Road. is it true that it needs a specific climate only found in China? It’s said that until the second century B.C., silk remained an … Silk is used today for many things, but mostly clothing, such as scarves. The history of sericulture in China is a long one. Besides Chinese exports, foreign businessmen also came to China to buy silk and china wares. Designboom has a fascinating pictorial of the traditional silk making process of the craftspeople in a small village in north-east Tailand. It actually comes from the cocoon of the silk worm. Update : I thought that Justinian had some monks or somebody smuggle silk worms from China and started his own silk production? The bum of the silk worm. How Silk is Made. Japan and the Middle East started cultivating silk around 300 AD and the Crusades brought the concept of silk production to Western Europe. The oldest silk found in China has been dated to about 3630 BC, which means that it is from the Chinese Neolithic period. It is the easiest way to tell pure silk from others. Top Modern Silk Producing Regions Silk is mainly produced in the south of the Yangtze River Delta. I'm interested in buying silk products, like t-shirts, pijamas and woman dresses. However, China dominates the luxury silk market today. Some countries are trying some new ways to make silk without silkworms. This silk was found in the Henan Province, a region widely regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization. But whatever the result, nobody should forget that silk was, still is, and will always be a priceless treasure. Silk became an important part of the Chinese economy. Have you ever wondered how is silk made? Silk clothing was often embroidered with designs. Genuine and high-quality silk will always be relatively expensive. The Silk Road also facilitated the smuggling of silkworm eggs into the Mediterranean and from there into the rest of Europe. China produces about 150,000 metric tons annually. Hello, I'm going to China soon. The caterpillars hatch out of eggs, and then they are fed a diet of mulberry leaves in a controlled environment. Today China is the leading silk producer of the world. Silk was made in China. Silk moths lay many tiny eggs during their lifespan of four to six days. It is very difficult to find out with exactness the date of the discovery of the silk, but its use goes back to something like 4 500 years. This silk was found in the Henan Province, a region widely regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization. China and India are the two leading silk producers today. It actually comes from the cocoon of the silk worm. Silk is used today for many things, but mostly clothing, such as scarves. The Invention of Paper. This is one of the reasons why it is also one of the most expensive fibers. Hopefully, they can be successful. Not wasted, in many places the leftover dead silkworms are seasoned, boiled, fried and eaten. Japan and China have been the top manufacturers of it in the past 30 years - they have manufactured over 50% of it! Silk is a fabric first produced in Neolithic China from the filaments of the cocoon of the silk worm. Silk has since lost its status as the most coveted luxury material but still holds the aura of beauty and decadence that it held in times past.