Bian silk

Bian silk

　　Bian silk gets its name from Bianliang, the ancient capital of seven dynasties. Its production began in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and it now has a history of over 300 years. In the late Ming Dynasty, Jing Wenzhou from Hongtong County, Shanxi, came to Kaifeng to engage in trade. In the early Qing Dynasty, he founded the “Jing Wenzhou Silk Shop.” Thanks to his excellent business acumen, reputation for integrity, and high-quality products, the shop’s market expanded steadily, making it a renowned product of the Central Plains. During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the business flourished exceptionally. The Henan governor-general presented Bian silk as a tribute to the imperial court. Thereafter, the silk produced was not only supplied to the royal family but also given as gifts to foreign envoys. At its peak, the Jing Wenzhou Silk Shop operated 99 wooden looms and employed over 250 craftsmen. Its main products included cloud-patterned silk, black headscarves, one-zhang-two (approximately 4 meters) gauze scarves, handkerchiefs, head wraps, Bian silk, and Bian damask. These were sold as far as Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Lanzhou, with small quantities exported abroad. The characteristics of Jing Wenzhou silk are its durability, elegant appearance, strong tensile strength, and the fact that its luster becomes brighter the longer it is worn. The specifications of Bian silk are: each bolt is 2.35 chi (approximately 0.78 meters) wide, 50 chi (approximately 16.7 meters) long, with 7,200 warp threads, and weighs 40 taels. The raw materials come from silkworm silk produced in areas such as Zhecheng and Shangqiu. The production process includes: --- singeing the silk --- warping --- mounting on the loom --- setting the reed --- removing from the loom --- scouring --- dyeing --- winding onto the beam --- drying --- and finishing the product.