WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -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. The Chinese managed to keep silk a secret for over 1000 years.

Detailed explanation-2: -The most common tale on the origins of the Silkworm begins in 2640 B.C. when Si-Ling-Chi, a Chinese Empress was simply walking through her garden, when a ‘cocoon’ (of a Silkworm) dropped into her tea. Upon picking it up, she found the cocoon begun to unravel, forming a beautiful string of what is now known as ‘Silk’.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Process of Silk Manufacturing According to legend, the princess Xi Lingshi discovered that a cocoon could be unravelled to produce a thread when one dropped into her tea while sat under a mulberry tree. The secret of silk production is the tiny creature known as the silk worm, the most common is the Bombyx Mori.

Detailed explanation-4: -Silk was a status symbol in ancient China. Silk was used to weave ceremonial garments and gifts to foreign dignitaries. Silk was so valued in ancient China that anyone found smuggling silkworm eggs, cocoons, or mulberry seeds was put to death.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Chinese learned how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. They managed to keep the process for making silk a secret for hundreds of years.