The Emperor’s New Robe
Legend has it that Leizu, the wife of China’s Yellow Emperor, was sipping tea under a mulberry tree one day when . . . PLOP! A white cocoon landed in her cup. As Leizu fished it out, it unraveled into a long thread. She collected more cocoons and wove them into a soft, shimmering cloth. It was strong, smooth, and easy to dye. It was silk—cloth fit for a king.
Spinner’s Secrets
The Chinese learned to make silk at least 5,000 years ago. But they kept the process
