The Silk Road originated in the Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Jian to the Western Regions, opening up a land passage from the capital Chang 'an to Central Asia and West Asia via Gansu and Xinjiang, and connecting with Mediterranean countries.
It can be said that the opening of the ancient Silk Road in China promoted the economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West and spread the ancient civilization of China. But it also proves that China invented silk very early. Archaeological research shows that China was the first country to invent silk in the world. However, Indian scholars do not agree with this.
Indian archaeologists discovered a site more than 4000 years ago in their hometown. Silk fibers were found on the surface of bronzes in the site. So they are very sure that India was the first country to invent silk, and then it spread to China. Is it true that this kind of silk was originally invented by Indians?
China has more conclusive evidence to refute this statement, that is, archaeologists have discovered an ancient site, which proves that silk existed in China more than 8,000 years ago.
According to historical records, China had silk in the era of the Yellow Emperor. Lei Zu, the wife of the Yellow Emperor, discovered the method of planting mulberry and raising silkworms and asked the Yellow Emperor to order the protection of mulberry trees. Since then, Lei Zu has taught people to raise silkworms, spin silk and weave with silk, thus changing people's lifestyle of covering their bodies with leaves.
Li Bai's master, Zhao Yi, said in "The Year of Leizu's Holy Land" that "Leizu opened mulberry to raise silkworms and spun silk", and so on. Historical records clearly show that Lei Zu, the wife of the Yellow Emperor, was the first person to raise silkworms and weave clothes with silk. Since then, silk has played an increasingly important role in people's daily life. In addition, the status of the Yellow Emperor and Lei Zu is more and more respected by people, and they are known as the "first silkworm" virgins.
The Yellow Emperor has a history of about 5000 years. If historical records are correct, China silk has a history of at least 5,000 years. However, it is many years earlier than Indian silk. If the documentary records are not enough to prove the true origin of silk, then the discovery of ancient sites in China strongly proves that China had silk more than 8,000 years ago. This shocking discovery not only broke the argument of Indian scholars, but also subverted the virgin myth of Lei's ancestor "the first silkworm".
In 1960s, an ancient site was discovered in Jiahu Village, Wuyang County, Henan Province, China, about 9000-7500 years ago. Archaeologists named it "Jiahu Site". There are many important discoveries in the ruins. Among them, the earliest wine in China, the earliest bone flute instrument in China and the earliest primitive inscription in China were found. The site covers a large area and is difficult to excavate. So far, it has been excavated many times.
In the latest excavation of 20 13, archaeologists made a newer and greater discovery: because they found strong evidence of the earliest existence of silk in China.
As we all know, silk is not easy to preserve, but also easy to rot. So, without any protective measures, how did archaeologists find silk in Jiahu site?
That's true. When archaeologists dig graves in the ruins, they extract soil from the remains of people in the graves. After scientific laboratory analysis, the residue of silk fibroin has been clearly detected. In 20 16, the research team of a domestic university also published an influential article and published this amazing research result, which caused an uproar in academic circles.
Only silk was found. Will there be more expectations? After further exploration, some knitting tools and bone needles were found in the ruins. From these clothing tools, it can be seen that Gu Jia Lakers have mastered the most basic knitting technology and can also make silk from silk.
This important discovery of Jiahu Site confirms that the real origin of silk is China. In fact, not only Jiahu site, but also more archaeological sites can prove that silk really originated in China.
For example, more than 5,000 years ago, half a cocoon was found at the site of Yinxi Village in Shanxi Province. Knitting tools found in Hemudu site, Zhejiang Province. A large number of silk fabrics have been found in Dawenkou cultural site, which proves that China began to plant mulberry and sericulture as early as 5,000 years ago.
There are too many such sites, but the discovery of the Henan site has continued the history of China Silk for thousands of years. At this point, Indian scholars' theory of silk origin, confirmed by China's archaeological research institute, is of course self-defeating.
I've read it in books before. It is said that the Western Han Dynasty began to gradually form the Silk Road. After that, silk was dumped to India, where silk industry began to appear. By the early Ming Dynasty, it had been dumped westward along the Silk Road on a large scale. With the closure of the Mughal silk trade by the Ming Empire, the Mughal Empire reached its peak. But this book is not a serious document, so it is not clear whether it is true or false.
Here, we can be sure that China not only invented silk, but also nurtured its cultural heritage. The spread of silk has added many colors to world history. The Silk Road had a far-reaching impact on Asia and Europe. We can even gain insight into history, feel the rise and fall of countless countries, and feel the success or failure of wars brought about by the Silk Road.
China's ancestors invented silk more than 8,000 years ago. They probably didn't expect that it was their clever inventions that brought unparalleled glory and prosperity to the world.