Silkworm (silk production)

Timeline

1. c. -3000–-200Yellow–Yangtze River basins · ChinaArchaeology and texts show silkworms were domesticated in China, forming a technical chain of artificial mulberry feeding, pupation, and silk production. By the Han a fairly complete official sericulture and silk-weaving system existed, laying the foundation for later state monopolies on silk.
2. 420–500Silk weaving centers of Jiankang (Southern Dynasties) and Yecheng (Northern Dynasties) · JiangnanStates of the Northern and Southern Dynasties set up agencies such as the Shaofu and Shangfang to manage silkworm egg distribution, mulberry orchard levies, and silk tribute. Jiangnan became the main producer of high-quality raw silk, while the north developed hemp–silk mixed weaving and official workshops, forming a regional division of sericulture techniques.
3. 501–600Central Plains and the eastern Silk Road · ChinaAccording to Byzantine records, around 552 CE silkworm eggs reached the Eastern Roman Empire via the Western Regions, breaking the Persian silk monopoly. Meanwhile the Southern Liang and Chen and the Northern Qi maintained strict silkworm egg controls. After the Sui unification in 581, Jiangnan silk levies, mulberry-silkworm taxes under the equal-field system, and Silk Road silk exports were integrated, bringing silkworm production under unified imperial management.