My experience from this week was definitely different from that of prior weeks. At the start of Week 6, I received all this information about textiles: production, technique, consumption, value, and history. It was a lot to absorb, even now; I am still learning. Throughout the week, I started to pay more attention to my clothes–all different kinds. I looked at my socks, sweaters, T-shirts, blouses, trousers, lounge sets, active wear, pajamas, and more. I stretched and touched the fabric, observing the stretchiness and the technique used to create these pieces of clothing. Compared to other weeks, I was able to include my newfound knowledge about textiles to my daily thoughts.
Furthermore, I learned about the monetary values of certain clothing pieces, depending on the region. I had an obvious realization that I should not interpret the information I learn about early China to all of China. There are likely some discrepancies between regions because while there is a national culture, there is also an equally significant local culture that is unique to each province.
Three Things I Learned this Week
- Means of yarn production: drop spindle spinning, Navajo spinning, and spinning via the wheel.
- Different kinds of textiles: simple, complex, and silk.
- Introduction to dyed textiles; process of degumming.
Bibliographic References
Sheng, Angela. “Determining the Value of Textiles in the Tang Dynasty: In Memory of Professor Denis Twitchett (1925-2006)”. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Third Series, 23, no. 2 (2013): 175-95.
