中國絲綢 China Silk (Chinese-English Edition) - Sale € 14,95 for

Li Shijuan
ISBN: 962-7357-98-91 17-CE-2718P
Hong Kong New Age
118 pag. paperback 21 x 29 cm 1991

Silk – the most exquisite the most luxurious of fabrics. The word “silk” has always been linked to the great eastern land of China. China was the cradle of silk. As early as the neolythic era some 5,000 years ago, mulberry tree planting, silkwarm breeding, silk reeling and weaving, all were part of daily life in Yellow River valley. In the course of the five milleniums to follow, this unique fruit of Chinese civilization gradually became an integral part of world cultural heritage. Indeed, it had a prfound significance not only for world textile manufacture but also as a major landmark in the general advancement of humankind.

The great past and vigorous present of the Chinese silk industry is one of remarkable success stories in world history. Careful study of ancient texts and archeological findings confirm that the Chinese silk industry evolved, gathered experience and matured very slowly. Centuries and milleniums of trial and error, painstaking experimenting, innumerable inventions and improvement were needed before silk began to resemble the perfect product of today.

The Chinese silk has won the respect of the world for its excellent quality, rich varieties, magnificent designs and colours and superb production technology. The production of silk in China is a branch of human activity based on science, research, and advanced proffesional education and training system. The production itself is technologically highly advanced and production machinery up to date. The quality of products is being constantly improved, the varieties and designs are becoming ever more colourful. There are garment silks, decorative silks and industrial silks. Production of silk garments and silk kniwears have also developed rapidly. In addition to meeting the world’s market needs Chinese silks are exported to more than a hundred countries and regions. China has become the world’s biggest silk producer and exporter, and plays major role in world silk production and trade.

The history of China’s silk industry has been not only been one of the mainstays of Chinese economy, but has also been close to the spiritual lif of the people, intimately linked with the nation’s culture. While used as materila for garments, best quality silks were also regarded as art masterpieces. They were used to facilate the exchange of commodities, as means of payment, as valuable gifts or exquisite awards. The artists used silk as a superb material for painting. Silk Inspired innumerable poems, songs, dances. Last but not least, silk was a major vehicle in the East-West cultural exchange. As its name suggests silk was a major reason for the opening, more than 2,000 years ago, of that remarkable ancient highway, the Silk Road. But a host of other articles flowed along this trail, and not only in one direction. A considerable exchange of commodities, culture and ideas resulted. This served to rise the cultural level of both East and West. At the same time the process of exchange and cultural integration helped mutual understanding, thus strengthening friendship of peoples of distant lands. Today the ancient Silk Road is still a giant outdoor musuem of world culture with new exhibits constantly added by archeologists.

In this book the authors will give a complete view of the remarkable phenomenon of Chinese silk. They will aquaint the reader with its history, cultural significance, manufacture, silk-related science and technology and the many and varied products of the Chinese silk industry. It will also discuss the ways in which it reaches the wholesalers, retailers and consumers, in China and abroad.