The ancient "Silk Road," a land thoroughfare linking China with
the West, has gained new popularity with the rejuvenated
craftsmanship of Atlas Silk.
Atlas Silk, with its startling colors and beautiful patterns, is
a unique local specialty of Jiya village in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region.
Weaving Atlas Silk is a common household skill with
craftsmanship that still strongly resembling that 2,000 years
ago.
Tureaili Haji, a Jiya villager in his thirties, spent all his
savings bringing back a state-owned Atlas Silk mill from the verge
of bankruptcy. With his great efforts, the pure hand-made silk has
now become a hot souvenir, popular among foreign tourists.
The silk's history is recorded in folklore. A Han dynasty (about
2,000 years ago) princess, who came to the Western Regions for
marriage, brought a silkworm cocoon to this place by hiding it in
her hair. Then the locals began to culture silkworms and weave
silk.
This anecdote is echoed by the findings in Shanpulu Ancient Tomb
and Niya Town Relics. The unearthed silk scraps and weaving tools
prove Atlas Silk's long history, which is as long as the Silk
Road's, according to some archaeologists.
Its invention may have nothing to do with the princess, but one
thing is certain - central China and the western regions had
established trade relations as early as Han dynasty.
It takes much more time to produce Atlas Silk by hand than
artificial silk by machine. Even the most skilled hand can weave
only three meters a day.
A traditional outfit made of Atlas Silk costs about 400 yuan
(US$49), which is too expensive to the locals whose annual per
capita income is only 1,000 yuan (US$123).
The villagers thus saw no profits in weaving hand-made silk and
began to fell mulberry trees and grow economic crops instead,
leaving this old workmanship endangered.
Fearing the decadence of this traditional legacy rich in
cultural and ethnic flavors, Tureaili Haji bought the unprofitable
weaving mill and even offered a free course on his own terms,
training people weaving and dying skills.
Now he employs over 30 craftsmen in his mill and has two sales
offices in Kashi and Turpan Prefectures.
The silk attracts customers from home and abroad. It is
especially popular in neighboring Uzbekistan. Last year Haji's mill
made a profit of 500,000 yuan (about US$62,000).
Tureaili Haji even set up a museum where visitors can learn
about the history of Atlas Silk and also visit the work site. This
museum has been listed as a tourist attraction by the local tourism
bureau.
"I am considering launching sales agencies in Urumqi and other
big cities. I believe Atlas Silk has a broader market," said
Tureaili Haji.
(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2005)