n June 2, Shanghai International Studies University’s multilingual press delegation visited China National Silk Museum, which is located by the West Lake in Hangzhou. Led by a docent, they appreciated the colorful embroideries and studied the long history of silk. The experience left us thinking about how we, as students of language, could contribute to the spreading of such beautiful Chinese traditional culture to the world.

After more than 20 years of development, the museum has become the largest of its kind in the world, serving multiple purposes, including collection, research, cultural preservation and exhibition. Soon it will dedicate a new exhibition house with the theme of the Silk Road and the Road’s Silk to the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative. The entire museum covers an area of 22,999 square meters and consists of Silk Road Gallery, Weaving Gallery, Sericulture Gallery, Conservation Gallery, Fashion Gallery and so on. Its major attraction includes historical relics since the Neolithic Age unearthed along the Silk Road, including fabrics of the Han and Tang Dynasty, objects of the Liao-Jin Era in the northern grasslands, costumes of the Song Dynasty in areas south of the lower reaches of the Yangze River and textile machinery from different times.

We could not help but marvel at the splendid garments, and the exquisite craftsmanship that found expression in them. Every thread and piece tells the stories of the work and life of the Chinese people. Woven in the patterns of clouds and waves was the people’s longing for never-ending happiness. The prints of yellow flowers and mystique beasts speak their desire for power and good fortune. While a red stain bonnet with lotus embroidery could be worn by any child, rich or poor, the luxurious robes with dragon motif were only enjoyed by the imperial rulers. Every item is evidence of the richness of Chinese history and culture.

From the guided tour, we also learned about silk farming and related technologies, which were developed by the Chinese people centuries ago, admired the grandness and intricacy of traditional looms, and studied the assembly and operation principles and the main functions of ancient Chinese textile machinery. The tour ended at the Fashion House, where we appreciated the representative costumes from different cultures and varied times.

China is the origin place of silk, which in turn has become a symbol of her spirit and long-celebrated civilization. Emperors used silk to show their authority and officials used it to show their status. Literary men wrote poems about it and artists splashed inks upon it. The weaving threads of silk in water inspired the invention of paper while the early silk printing paved the way for more advanced printing technology.

It was silk, a single thread of which that seemed so tender and fragile, that bound the Chinese people together through thousands of years, and linked, thousands of years ago, the yet mysterious China to the world. In its own way, with its unique charms, it has inspired some of the most colorful chapters in the human history, and will continue that role on the world stage, but this time with more strength and greater glamour.

The article is written and translated by the Translation Association of the School of English Studies (SESTA) at Shanghai International Studies University. For use of the content, please contact: ses_translators@163.com.