Ancient Chinese silk production and early sericulture (c. 2000 BCE–220 CE)

1. Silk fibroin identified in Jiahu burials

   Jan 1, 6500 BCELabels: Jiahu site, Fibroin

   • PLOS ONE
   • LiveScience

2. Hemudu sites show early weaving tool evidence

   Jan 1, 4000 BCELabels: Hemudu culture, Weaving tools

   • Clothing Textiles
   • Silk History

3. Yangshao cocoon find indicates silkworm use

   Jan 1, 4000 BCELabels: Yangshao culture, Bombyx mori

   • Silk History
   • Clothing Textiles

4. Qianshanyang yields Liangzhu silk fragments

   Jan 1, 2700 BCELabels: Liangzhu site, Silk fragments

   • Clothing Textiles
   • Xinhua

5. Shang oracle bones attest textile economy context

   Jan 1, 1250 BCELabels: Shang dynasty, Oracle bones

   • ChinaKnowledge
   • Oracle Script

6. Silk appears among Shang elite tomb textiles

   Jan 1, 1200 BCELabels: Shang elite, Burial textiles

   • Clothing Textiles
   • ChinaKnowledge

7. Warring States era expands silk weaving sophistication

   Jan 1, 500 BCELabels: Warring States, Silk weaving

   • Silk History
   • Clothing Textiles

8. Han dynasty consolidates silk’s state-economic role

   Jan 1, 202 BCELabels: Han dynasty, State economy

   • UNESCO
   • Silk History

9. Mawangdui Tomb 2 interment of Li Cang

   Jan 1, 186 BCELabels: Mawangdui, Li Cang

   • Mawangdui

10. Mawangdui Tomb 1 burial preserves painted silk banner

    Jan 1, 168 BCELabels: Mawangdui, Xin Zhui

    • UMich Library
    • Wikimedia

11. Silk manuscripts buried in Mawangdui Tomb 3

    Jan 1, 168 BCELabels: Mawangdui, Silk manuscripts

    • Mawangdui
    • Chunqiu Shiyu

12. Zhang Qian mission catalyzes Silk Road exchange

    Jan 1, 138 BCELabels: Zhang Qian, Silk Road

    • UNESCO
    • Britannica

13. End of Eastern Han marks close of period

    Jan 1, 220Labels: Eastern Han, Dynasty fall

    • Britannica
    • Silk History