The Role of Silk in Ancient Rituals: New Insights from Bronze Age China

Silk’s Sacred Threads in Early Civilizations

Recent discoveries¹ at the Sanxingdui site in the Yangtze River Basin reveal that silk, a material synonymous with trade and luxury, was also deeply embedded in the ritual practices of ancient civilizations. Researchers from the China National Silk Museum and the Sichuan Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology have confirmed that silk played a significant role in sacrificial rituals conducted by the Shu State during the late Shang Dynasty (1600–1100 BCE).

Schematic diagram of fabric residue and weave structure. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78687-7

This finding not only sheds light on the ceremonial uses of silk but also underscores the technological and cultural sophistication of early Bronze Age societies in China.

The Elusive History of Silk

Silk has long been central to Chinese civilization and global trade, giving its name to the famed Silk Road. However, its organic nature has made it challenging to trace in archaeological contexts. While evidence of silk farming dates back to the Neolithic period, direct proof of its use has been scarce until now.

At the Sanxingdui site, eight sacrificial pits have revealed layers of ash, burned artifacts, and fabric remnants. Among these artifacts, a unique bronze "grid-like ware" embedded with jade provided critical clues. The team employed advanced analytical techniques to investigate whether the fabric traces on these objects were indeed silk.

Cutting-Edge Science Meets Ancient Artifacts

Analytical Techniques Unravel the Mystery

To confirm the presence of silk, researchers combined multiple state-of-the-art methods:

• Immunoaffinity Column (IAC) Enrichment: Enriched protein samples for detailed analysis.

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Identified silk fibroin, a protein specific to silk.

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): Examined the fibers’ structural details, confirming their smooth, triangular cross-section, a hallmark of silk.

• Proteomics: Detected the heavy chain of silk fibroin (P05790 protein), linking the material to Bombyx mori (mulberry silk).

These methods not only identified silk residues but also revealed their preservation through mineralization processes, influenced by copper ions from nearby bronze artifacts.

Silk’s Role in Ancient Rituals

The analysis confirmed that silk remnants found in the pits wrapped jade artifacts and covered bronze objects, suggesting their intentional use in ceremonial contexts. Researchers hypothesize that silk served as a “material carrier” in religious rituals, symbolizing a connection between Heaven and Earth. This aligns with historical accounts of silk being used for sacrificial temple clothing in ancient China.

“Silk’s association with religious and cultural practices highlights its dual role as both a practical material and a spiritual medium,” the researchers noted in their study published in Scientific Reports.

A Legacy of Sericulture

The identification of Bombyx mori silk demonstrates that sericulture—the farming of silkworms on mulberry trees—was well-established during the Shang Dynasty. While the historical accounts of silk farming often emphasize the central plains, this discovery highlights the Yangtze River Basin as an early hub of sericulture, dating back over 5,000 years.

Radiocarbon dating places the silk fibers from Sanxingdui at approximately 3,000 years ago, making them some of the oldest examples of silk ever found.

“These findings connect the Shu State’s ritual practices to a broader history of technological and cultural innovation in silk production,” the researchers added.

Broader Implications

This research emphasizes the cultural significance of silk beyond its economic value. At Sanxingdui, silk emerges not only as a material of trade but as a symbol of spiritual and societal complexity. By providing direct evidence of silk’s ritual use, this study deepens the understanding of ancient China’s religious practices and technological advancements.

The legacy of the Shu State lives on in the region’s continued dominance in global silk production, a testament to its enduring influence on human civilization.

Related Research

These studies provide a comprehensive overview of silk's ritualistic and cultural significance in ancient China, particularly in Bronze Age societies.

1. Bagley, R. (2018).
   The Bronze Age before the Zhou dynasty.
   In Routledge Handbook of Early Chinese History.
   Link
   Explores ritualistic and ceremonial practices involving bronze, silk, and jade in early Chinese civilizations.

2. Rawson, J. (2015).
   Steppe weapons in ancient China and the role of hand-to-hand combat.
   The National Palace Museum Research Quarterly.
   PDF
   Discusses the incorporation of silk in ceremonial weaponry and its symbolic importance.

3. Wang, S. (2022).
   Exotica, Fashion, and Immortality: The New Use of Gold in Han Dynasty China (206 BCE–CE 220).
   Cambridge Archaeological Journal.
   DOI:10.1017/S0959774321000613
   Highlights the evolution of luxury materials like silk in rituals and their cultural connotations.

4. Ge, J., & Hu, Y. (2021).
   The Yellow River Civilization and the Yangtze River Civilization.
   In A History of the Yellow River and River Civilizations. Springer.
   Link
   Explores sacrificial rituals and material culture in the Yangtze and Yellow River civilizations.

5. Langford, H. (2009).
   The textiles of the Han Dynasty and their relationship with society.
   Adelaide Research Repository.
   PDF
   Analyzes the role of silk in ancient Chinese social and ritual contexts.

6. Elias, H. (2024).
   The Southwest Silk Road: Artistic exchange and transmission in early China.
   Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies.
   Link
   Discusses silk’s cultural significance and its role in early trade and rituals.

7. Li, Q. (2019).
   Silk Road: The Study of Drama Culture.
   Springer.
   Link
   Examines ritualistic uses of silk along the Silk Road and their symbolic meanings.

8. Yuan, H. (2018).
   Sinitic Civilization Book II: A Factual History through the Lens of Archaeology.
   PDF
   Explores silk and jade use in sacrificial rituals during early Chinese history.

9. Guolong, L., Major, J. S., Mackenzie, C., & Wang, H. (2022).
   Phoenix Kingdoms: Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age.
   Link
   Discusses well-preserved silk textiles in burial and sacrificial contexts during the Bronze Age.

10. Cao, Y., Ding, Y., Xu, Y., & Ma, Z. (2023).
    The Yangtze River: Harmony Between Humans and Nature.
    ResearchGate.
    PDF
    Highlights the integration of silk into rituals and its symbolic representation in Yangtze River culture.

1. Zheng, H., Yang, R., Guo, J., Xie, Z., Liu, J., Yang, H., Jia, L., Yu, J., Cai, Q., Tang, F., & Zhou, Y. (2024). Evidence of the use of silk by bronze age civilization for sacrificial purposes in the Yangtze River basin of China. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78687-7