Development During The Silk Republic

The "Industry Plan" formulated by Sun Yat-sen listed the development goals of 750,000 tons of cocoons, 71,000 tons of silk, and 1.125 billion meters of silk according to the needs of 450 million people in China at that time; To increase production”, “to study the spinning method too carefully, to improve the types, quality and color of the silk”, so that “China’s silk industry can gradually improve before it can compete with foreign countries. Mr. Zhongshan said, “If China The mulberry leaves, silkworm seed and silk quality of China have not been improved, and the old laws are still old. China’s silk industry is not only a failure, I am afraid that it will be eliminated by nature and will be completely eliminated.” This became the consensus of the national silk industry at that time. People of insight rushed to call for "industry to save the country," and asked to set up a silk technical school, develop silk production, and increase silk exports. At that time, some industrialists responded positively, and the government also gave some support, planting mulberry, sericulture, and reeling silk woven silk production. Technology has been improved and improved. Silk has become an important material for the country’s foreign exports, accounting for more than 20% of the country’s total export value at that time. In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), the War of Resistance Against Japan began, and Japanese imperialists invaded and occupied Jiangsu, China. The main silk producing areas of Zhejiang, Shandong, and Guangdong plundered silk resources and undermined China’s silk production. In the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, it soon experienced the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, until the 38th year of the Republic of China (1949). ) The production and export of cocoon silk was the lowest point of production and sales during the Republic of China, and the entire silk industry is dying.