Huzhou Silk and Satin

Huzhou Silk and Satin

　　Product Name: Silk and Satin

Product Origin: Huzhou, Zhejiang

Product Features: As light as a cicada’s wing, as thin as morning mist, soft in texture, and glossy in color

Product Type: Handicraft

Product Introduction: “Silk and Satin” is a collective term for silk (绫) and satin (绢). The patterned type is called silk, and the plain type is called satin. Satin is mainly used as a substitute for paper in painting and calligraphy, while silk is primarily used for mounting calligraphy and paintings. Since the shrinkage rate of silk is almost the same as that of rice paper, it ensures a smooth, unwrinkled, and unbuckled finish when mounting artworks—exuding elegance, simplicity, and classical charm, providing a perfect artistic experience. Silk and satin are also used to make ethnic and theatrical costumes, lanterns, lampshades, kites, screens, silk flowers, and other craft products. They are also used to line exquisitely decorated gift boxes and the interiors of high-end buildings and hotels.

Product History: The production of silk and satin has a history of over 4,700 years. During the Three Kingdoms period, Shuanglin was under the territory of the Eastern Wu, and the produced continued silk (续绢) was already well known, earning the reputation of “Wu Continued Silk and Shu Brocade.” During the Liang Dynasty under Emperor Wu, the production of continued silk in Shuanglin was quite developed and was exported via Guangzhou to more than ten countries, including Lin Yi (Vietnam), Tianzhu (India), and Funan (Cambodia). Starting from the Tang Dynasty, Shuanglin silk was listed as a tribute product. By the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, there were several thousand households engaged in continued silk production in Shuanglin Town. During the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, there were over 20 silk shops in the town. Between 1919 and 1921, continued silk production in Shuanglin reached its peak, with over 2,000 pedal-powered looms in the town, producing more than 2.4 million meters of continued silk per year.