Sericulture
Videos
Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, the caterpillar of the domestic silkmoth is the most widely u
Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk by Zhang Xuan (713–755), reproduced by Emperor Huizong in the 12th century
The silkworms and mulberry leaves are placed on trays.
Twig frames for the silkworms are prepared.
The cocoons are weighed.
Silk
Videos
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven or knitted into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and a smaller coating of sericin. It is most commonl
Raw silk of domesticated silk worms, showing its natural shine
Four of the most important domesticated silk moths. Top to bottom: B. mori, Hyalophora cecropia, Antheraea pernyi, Samia cynthia. From Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (1885–1892)
Rearing of wild Eri silk worm, Assam
Woven silk textile from tomb no 1. at Mawangdui in China, from the Han dynasty, 2nd century BC