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In ancient times, people covered themselves with animal skins or leaves until the arrival of the Goddess of Silkworm (蚕神).
She was a pretty and kind—hearted girl. Unluckily, at that time her parents were ill, and she had to go out herself to pick wild fruit for them. But soon there no more fruit to pick around her home. She was so worried she began to cry under a mulberry (桑葚)tree. Finally, the Emperor in Heaven was moved by her story and sent a god to turn a silkworm on the mulberry tree.
The silkworm dropped some sweet mulberries into the girl's mouth. When she realized that the mulberry could be eaten, she was very happy picked some for her parents every day.
That summer, the silkworm began to give silk and build a cocoon (茧). The girl took the out of the cocoon and then made into clothes. The clothes felt cool in the summer and stayed in the winter. So she picked some silkworms from the mulberry tree and raised them. Later, she began to local people to weave (纺织) and wear beautiful and comfortable silk clothes.
The King was happy about her and decided to give her a new name Leizu. Later, Leizu married the Yellow Emperor and helped him unite China. She also the emperor to spread sericulture (养蚕业)across the country. Since then, Leizu has been respected by Chinese people as the Goddess of Silkworm.
