中國最早的草編遺物是河姆渡人(ren)制作的,距今已有7000年(nian)之久。
令據《禮記(ji)》載,周(zhou)代(dai)已(yi)有以蒲(pu)草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)制的(de)(de)莞席(xi)了(le),而且當時(shi)已(yi)有專(zhuan)業的(de)(de)"草(cao)(cao)(cao)工","作萑葦之器(qi)"。到春秋戰國時(shi)期,已(yi)有用(yong)萱麻和蒲(pu)草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)制的(de)(de)斗笠。秦漢時(shi)期,草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)已(yi)在民間廣泛使用(yong),品種(zhong)有草(cao)(cao)(cao)鞋(xie)、草(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)、草(cao)(cao)(cao)扇、草(cao)(cao)(cao)簾及僧侶(lv)信徒打坐的(de)(de)蒲(pu)團等。漢代(dai)至盛唐(tang),草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)亦較發達。除了(le)蒲(pu)草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)制蒲(pu)衣、蒲(pu)鞋(xie)外,還有蒲(pu)草(cao)(cao)(cao)編(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)制的(de)(de)蒲(pu)帆。
1982年,綏中(zhong)縣(xian)小莊子(zi)鄉(xiang)由山(shan)東(dong)黃(huang)縣(xian)引進(jin)以玉米果穗外皮為(wei)原料的草編技術新工藝。
以玉(yu)米皮(pi)為(wei)原料的綏(sui)中草編(bian)(bian)有平編(bian)(bian)、扣編(bian)(bian)和(he)辮編(bian)(bian)三種形式,做(zuo)工(gong)精(jing)致,款式新(xin)穎,美(mei)觀大(da)方(fang)。綏(sui)中草編(bian)(bian)有折疊椅墊(dian)、沙發墊(dian)、錢(qian)包、地毯、手飾盒等多個花色品種。