Silk |
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China is the earliest country to have produced silk (sī chóu 丝绸). Silk is a symbol of the ancient culture of China. Legend has it that Lei Zu (léi zǔ 嫘祖), wife of Emperor Huangdi (huáng dì 黄帝), invented sericulture (yǎng cán 养蚕), silk reeling (sāo sī 缫丝) and weaving. Chinese archaeologists believe the technology of silk weaving has at least a history of more than 4000 years. During Neolithic Age (xīn shí qì shí dài 新石器时代), China had begun to raise silk worms and weave silk. Silk production began to take shape in Shang (shāng 商) Dynasty, and the workmanship was improved. To the Qin (qín 秦) and Han (hàn 汉) dynasties, silk production was in a great development. Silks were originally reserved for the Kings of China for their own use and gifts to others, but spread gradually through Chinese culture and trade both geographically and socially, and then to many regions of Asia. Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants because of its texture and luster. In Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian (zhāng qiān 张骞), a famous diplomat of the time, opened up the "Silk Road" (sī chóu zhī lù 丝绸之路). The road was started in ancient Chang’an (cháng ān 长安), by way of Gansu (gān sù 甘肃), Xinjiang (xīn jiāng 新疆), leading its way to Central Asia, West Asia and then to Europe. Silk was continuously transported to the western countries along the road. Silk trading and exporting was unprecedentedly prosperous. The trading has promoted the economy and cultural exchange between China and the neighboring country and middle plains of China and the border land. Silk Road has not only brought the beautiful clothes to the western world, but also the splendid ancient oriental civilization. Westerners were very fond of Chinese silk. It is said that during the first century AD, a Roman emperor went to a theater wearing silk, which made a great stir in the audience. Since then, people wished to wear clothes made of Chinese silk. China, therefore, was called the “Silk Country”(sī guó 丝国). 丝绸 新石器时期中期,中国便开始了养蚕、取丝、织绸了。到了商代,丝绸生产已经初具规模,具有较高的工艺水平,有了复杂的织机和织造手艺。
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