Silkworm farming and silk weaving in Quang Nam

The Cham people cultivated mulberry trees and raised silkworms to make silk thread for weaving. Rich green mulberry fields were often found on the alluvial grounds along the Vu Gia and Thu Bon rivers.

The Cham people’s silkworm farming and silk weaving were transferred to the Vietnamese.

When the Vietnamese migrated to this region, they learnt much of the local folklore and traditional crafts from the indigenous Cham people, including cultivating mulberry trees, raising silkworms, and weaving silk.

About 300-400 years ago, Quang Nam provided the silk and silk thread for domestic needs and exported to some countries, such as Japan, Laos, and Tibet.

At that time, Cu Lao Cham served as a stop for merchant ships from different countries to buy renowned Champa goods, including agarwood, pepper, ivory, tortoiseshell, and silk.

In the early 16^th century, Vietnam had a lot of well-known silk villages, including Ma Chau, Dong Yen, and Thi Lai in Duy Xuyen (Quang Nam). Japanese merchant ships, including the red-seal ships, often docked at Hoi An international trading port to buy silk and pottery products. The activities were lasting during the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

However, the silk villages in Quang Nam have been heavily impacted by market competition and have gradually declined. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the traditional craft while also transforming to keep pace with global technological developments, enabling competition with imported silk.

At the same time, there should be cooperation in the silk production, including growing mulberry trees, raising silkworms, reeling silk, weaving silk, and marketing products, so that the silk industry in Quang Nam can recover and develop sustainably.