柘絲在柘城(cheng)有(you)悠久的生產歷史,相傳(chuan)在上古時期,嫘祖(zu)(又尊稱為蠶(can)神(shen)、先(xian)蠶(can)、蠶(can)姑娘、比姑、嫘姑,是中華祖(zu)先(xian)軒轅皇(huang)帝(di)之妻),在黃河中下游輔助軒轅皇(huang)帝(di)傳(chuan)授(shou)人民植桑養蠶(can)過程中,發(fa)現柘城(cheng)桑樹所養之蠶(can),體肥、個大、絲多、于是便在這里傳(chuan)授(shou)養蠶(can)織絲技術,柘城(cheng)一帶(dai)從此(ci)絲業大興。
漢(han)代襄邑縣(xian)(睢(sui)縣(xian))是(shi)全國絲織工(gong)業中心,供應(ying)宮廷(ting)服裝用料,其原料就(jiu)(jiu)是(shi)柘(zhe)縣(xian)(柘(zhe)城(cheng)縣(xian))供應(ying)的。漢(han)朝年間,柘(zhe)絲就(jiu)(jiu)經絲綢之路,運往中亞、中東,最(zui)后到(dao)達歐洲,史有“柘(zhe)絲為最(zui)”的美稱。
1931年(nian),柘(zhe)城(cheng)縣(xian)有高(gao)大(da)喬木桑5萬余棵年(nian)產蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)絲10萬公斤以上。據1934年(nian)《申報(bao)年(nian)鑒(jian)》記載:“19世紀20年(nian)代,柘(zhe)城(cheng)家家植桑,戶(hu)(hu)戶(hu)(hu)養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。”群眾流傳說:“懶(lan)紡棉(mian)、勤養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can),四(si)十五天得繭錢。”民國(guo)27年(nian)(1938年(nian))日軍侵占柘(zhe)城(cheng)后(hou),大(da)量桑樹被(bei)砍伐,蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)業生產遭到嚴重破壞。建(jian)國(guo)后(hou),人民政(zheng)府為恢復(fu)發展蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)業生產,曾(ceng)設專業機構,配有技術人員(yuan),引進優良蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)種,改進養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)技術。1971年(nian)后(hou),推廣桑杈園養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can),發展湖桑養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)和試養(yang)秋蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。至(zhi)1977年(nian),養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)5867張,收購繭79607公斤。當地群眾至(zhi)今仍采用相(xiang)傳的技術進行養(yang)蠶(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。