Some historians say that silk originated in China about 10,000 years ago. In China, however, legend (have) it that Empress Si Ling Chi of China was the first one (discover) silk more than five thousand years ago. The story goes while sitting under a mulberry (桑树)tree in her palace garden, the Empress was having tea. A cocoon fell into her hot cup of tea from the branches of the mulberry tree. And as she watched, a strong white thread spread gradually.
For more than two thousand years, the Chinese kept the secret of silk to themselves. Anyone found guilty of smuggling (偷运)silkworm eggs, cocoons, or mulberry seeds was put to (die). Silk became the cloth of emperors and royalty and a great source of wealth. But common people were prohibited wearing silk. Silk was gathered and kept in warehouses for emergency.
The Chinese used silk in many ways. Civil servants (pay) in quantities of silk, and it was a way for the rulers to reward their citizens. Silk was also used as currency in domestic as well as foreign trade. Chinese traders exchanged their silk in return for spices and jewels (buy) in India.
Later, people from different parts of society began wearing silk clothes, and (surprise) silk came into (much) general use than before.
