Chapter 1
The biology of the silkworm
Chapter 2
The ancient art of sericulture
Chapter 3
Secrets of the Silk Road
Chapter 4
Modern science and high-tech silk
YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of silk
Ch 2 · The ancient art of sericulture
schopenhauer Sericulture
It's just one single thread, three thousand feet long, wrapping up a cozy little white cocoon.
schopenhauer China kept the secrets of silk production hidden from the world for millennia.
schopenhauer Cocoons are boiled to soften the sericin glue before the silk is unraveled.
BETA
schopenhauer Play an educational game about the history, science, and ancient art of sericulture. Discover how silk is made from silkworms to fabric.
Fun Fact
Imperial tea discovery: Legend says Empress Leizu discovered silk when a cocoon fell into her hot cup of tea.
Glossary
sericulture (noun)
The production of raw silk through the cultivation of silkworms. Archaeological evidence traces this practice back to China's Neolithic Yangshao culture around 3000 BCE.
The production of raw silk through the cultivation of silkworms. Archaeological evidence traces this practice back to China's Neolithic Yangshao culture around 3000 BCE.
Quiz
How many cocoon filaments are typically wound together to make a single usable silk thread?
Quiz
What was the penalty in ancient China for smuggling silkworms or their eggs out of the country?
Quiz
What ancient Chinese invention allowed weavers to create complex, patterned silk textiles?
Quiz
What is the formal term for the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk?
Quiz
Which natural ingredient was historically used in China to dye silk a brilliant blue?