Know More About Chinese Silk History

China has a history of silk more than 5000 years, since she first invented the sericulture and silk production. It is silk that built a bridge between China and Europe, then the Silk Road became a symbol of the cultural and economic exchange between the East and the West. So silk is a part of the Chinese civilization, which made a great contribution to the world.
What kind of oriental silk mysteries will be brought to this beautiful country? It is learned that there will be more than 140 pieces /sets of silk textile exhibits collected by ChinaSilkMuseum, of which 80, carefully selected, extremely precious and rare, are relics of ancient China which epitomizes the historical development of ancient silk culture. Besides, woven fabrics and modern brocade add up to 60 pieces / sets, among which, some master embroidered pieces are supplied by the Culture Ministry of the People's Republic of China.

The exhibition is made up of three parts.
Part I narrates how China and Europe are connected through the route of Silk Road, that is, the silk relics textiles excavated along the Silk Road by land, sea and desert. Chinese silk chronology charts the development of silk in the past 5,000 years with emphasis on Chinese silk history and culture. A group of model weaving looms, ranging from the primitive back-strapped loom, the treadle plain-weave loom, the reclining loom and the mechanical patterning loom act out not only the weaving technology but also how the ancient Chinese made exquisite silk. The precious exhibits, the 5,000-year old components of a primitive back-strapped loom and the silk yarn unearthed in Yuyao county, Zhejiang Province, enable people to understand that the ancestors of the Chinese people began to grow mulberry trees, raise silkworms and weave silk fabrics even then, hence, the long civilization history of China.
Part II exhibits the silk textile relics from the early Qin period (306 BC) to the 40s of last century. You can see a Han dynasty brocade (206 BC) with the motif of running animals amidst the misty mountains, an indication of people's longing for a fairyland. Still another piece called "Persian Samite" which dates back to the Northern dynasties (386-581AD) with its motifs of elephant, camel, winged horse, lion, and hunter in half a dozen colors, clearly indicates the influence of the western regions. Rare animals and gods from the Greek mythology form the major motifs of silk textiles from the 5th-9th centuries. A well preserved silk tabby coat tie-dyed by hand helps us to understand and study the silk production techniques as well as the fashion style in that dynasty. The brocade fabrics, elegant and poised with pearl roundel and floral spray motifs produced in the Tang dynasty not only reflect the prosperity of that dynasty but also the high level of technology in the silk production. The delicate and refined style of the Song dynasty is shown in a suit of gauze coat, trousers and a pair of shoes on display. They are thin, light and graceful. The trousers with its short yet loose legs recapture the fashion style of that time. The silk textiles and clothes after the 19th century on this show are all bright in color, diversified in style and exquisite in embroidery.