The Ancient Myth of the Origin of Silk
The ancient legend tells the story about the wife of the Yellow Emperor, Si Ling-Chi which happened around the year 2597 BC. One day, Si Ling-Chi was having tea in the imperial gardens. A cocoon fell into her cup. She was trying to get it out, but it became hooked by her nail. Suddenly, the cocoon started to unravel. Si Ling-Chi was surprised to discover that the cocoon was actually made from a long thread, strong and soft.
Si Ling-Chi was involved in the very first efforts in working with the silk fibers. She discovered how to turn it into a thread and, later, to weave into a soft fabric. She is the one who began silkworm cultivation, or SERICULTURE and created the foundation of the world’s silk industry. Today, Si Ling-Chi, who at that time was a 14 year old girl, is honored as the goddess of silk in Chinese mythology.
The Golden Silk of Khmer…Cambodia
Silk has been produced and processed traditionally in Cambodia. As in the time of Si Ling-Chi in China, sericulture in Cambodia is predominately done by women. It’s a magical and painstaking process. Also, traditional weaving skills run in the family. Some families weave and others do not weave, as it is a traditional skill. The skill is transferred from mother to daughter along with the family loom.
There are two different types of silk available in Cambodia, the traditional yellow or golden silk and the imported (Vietnam, China, etc.) white silk. These two types of silk are distinctively different. Golden Khmer silk is highly valuable. The amount of it produced in Cambodia is so small that large scale production of pure fine golden silk products is not really carried out. Fine golden silk products are regarded by silk specialist as a product of higher quality as compared to the white silk products from Vietnam and Thailand.
Cambodia is trying hard to revive the production of fine golden silk yarn. Cambodian sericulture is still in the state of transformation. In this stage your involvement is significant. By purchasing, you are directly helping it towards the overall goal. If the supply for Cambodian Golden Silk products grows, this ancient cultural wonder will grow with it.
The silk worms eat a special diet of mulberry leaves
