The Ritual That Made the Empress: Silkworm Ceremony of Ancient China

Comments · 118

• MO

  @MorgottTheGraceGiven · 8 months ago (edited)

  I don’t think people appreciate the insane history of silkworms/silkmoths. As you mentioned, the story with Leizu is considered the foundation story, but there’s evidence that the split between the wild and domestic silk moths was actually about 5,000 years ago! That’s older than the evidence for fully domesticated chickens and camels. Also, they’re the ONLY insects humans have fully domesticated. Honeybees are semi-domesticated, but silkworms are fully, 100% reliant on humans.<br>I raised silkmoths to spin and weave on my loom for my senior thesis, and they’re truly incredible little critters. The entire process, including raising them, is so laborious intensive and requires so much patience and attention to detail. They rely on you for everything. Even when you let them emerge from their cocoons to breed, they cannot fly, and have no fear of predators. I can only hope that my care and love for the craft of sericulture brought dignity and honor to such an incredible and important part of Chinese imperial history and culture. <br>Sorry for the long comment, I just love silkworms, and it’s such a delight to watch this video and learn even more! There’s so much in here that I never knew, and it’s so fascinating to see how the ceremony changed throughout history. Great video as always, keep up the good work! Peace and love from Pennsylvania!

  208

• JA

  @jacku8304 · 8 months ago

  The Japanese Imperial Family still perform silkworm ceremonies as a cultural tradition. The task of raising silkworms have been led by successive Empresses since 1871, when Empress Dowager Shoken established the tradition to promote Japan&apos;s silk industry. In May 2024, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were reported to have fed young silkworms together at the the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery.

  124

• ZI

  @ZiggyWhiskerz · 8 months ago (edited)

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjhot63JS6Y&amp;t=1080">18:00</a> mother of the nation, but none of the &quot;children&quot; of the nation can see her? Ok...

  131

• SI

  @Siddharth-x4u · 8 months ago

  I am currently watching yanxi palace and the thumbnail instantly made me go- HER HIGHNESS THE EMPRESS!!!!✨️ she will forever be my favourite actor as an empress. She is so talented

  198

• GR

  @greygryphon6881 · 8 months ago

  What a contrast &nbsp;between our current days of cheap, practically disposable clothes, and clothing that was so important it&apos;s production was sacred. (I know silk was only for the wealthy few, but all clothing was much more valuable before industrialization...and probably better made too)

  38

• OY

  @oyunnbolstad · 6 months ago

  I really like the «banner» on the bottom of the screen telling us where we are in the imperial history when mentioning different emperors or empresses. It’s really helpful for reminding us «when» we are in history. ❤

  5

• ME

  @merchantfan · 8 months ago

  The description of the changes made around the time foot-binding became prevalent are so depressing 😭. Those were actual disability accommodations because they (literally) hobbled girls for no reason but &quot;beauty&quot;

  33

• AR

  @archervine8064 · 8 months ago

  Thank you! &nbsp;From watching dramas, I knew that this ceremony was a huge deal, but not what exactly happened.

  38

• NA

  @naty_witchygirl6151 · 8 months ago

  Takings notes for the imperial exam😂😂😂

  17

• SU

  @suikerkahuure5753 · 8 months ago

  No wonder Empress Langhua was livid when she found out Ruyi carried out the silk worm ceremony 😉

  27

• MU

  @mushroom-beans · 5 months ago

  I’ve unwound a silkworm cocoon before! It took me ages to fully unwind it. Everyone else in my class gave up but I was determined to finish and reach the center

  5

• GO

  @good_vibes_mostly · 8 months ago

  I’ve been so curious about this ceremony since you first mentioned it, it’s fascinating! Seeing a ritual like this evolving over hundreds or even thousands of years is amazing.

  43