柘絲(si)在(zai)柘城(cheng)(cheng)有悠(you)久的(de)生產歷史,相傳在(zai)上古時期,嫘祖(zu)(又尊(zun)稱為蠶(can)(can)(can)神(shen)、先(xian)蠶(can)(can)(can)、蠶(can)(can)(can)姑娘、比姑、嫘姑,是(shi)中(zhong)華祖(zu)先(xian)軒(xuan)轅皇(huang)帝(di)之妻(qi)),在(zai)黃河中(zhong)下游輔助軒(xuan)轅皇(huang)帝(di)傳授人民(min)植桑養蠶(can)(can)(can)過程中(zhong),發現柘城(cheng)(cheng)桑樹(shu)所養之蠶(can)(can)(can),體肥(fei)、個大(da)、絲(si)多、于是(shi)便在(zai)這里(li)傳授養蠶(can)(can)(can)織絲(si)技術,柘城(cheng)(cheng)一帶從此絲(si)業大(da)興。
漢代襄邑縣(睢縣)是全國(guo)絲織工業(ye)中(zhong)心,供應宮廷服(fu)裝用料(liao),其原料(liao)就(jiu)是柘(zhe)縣(柘(zhe)城縣)供應的。漢朝(chao)年間,柘(zhe)絲就(jiu)經絲綢(chou)之路,運往中(zhong)亞、中(zhong)東,最后到(dao)達歐(ou)洲,史有“柘(zhe)絲為最”的美稱。
1931年(nian)(nian),柘城(cheng)縣(xian)有高大喬木桑(sang)(sang)5萬余棵年(nian)(nian)產蠶(can)(can)絲10萬公斤(jin)以上。據1934年(nian)(nian)《申(shen)報年(nian)(nian)鑒》記載:“19世(shi)紀20年(nian)(nian)代,柘城(cheng)家家植(zhi)桑(sang)(sang),戶(hu)戶(hu)養(yang)蠶(can)(can)。”群眾流傳(chuan)(chuan)說:“懶紡棉、勤養(yang)蠶(can)(can),四十五天(tian)得繭錢。”民國27年(nian)(nian)(1938年(nian)(nian))日軍侵占(zhan)柘城(cheng)后,大量桑(sang)(sang)樹被(bei)砍伐,蠶(can)(can)業生產遭到嚴重破壞。建國后,人(ren)民政(zheng)府為(wei)恢復發(fa)展蠶(can)(can)業生產,曾設(she)專業機構,配有技術人(ren)員,引進(jin)優良(liang)蠶(can)(can)種(zhong),改進(jin)養(yang)蠶(can)(can)技術。1971年(nian)(nian)后,推廣桑(sang)(sang)杈園養(yang)蠶(can)(can),發(fa)展湖桑(sang)(sang)養(yang)蠶(can)(can)和試(shi)養(yang)秋蠶(can)(can)。至(zhi)1977年(nian)(nian),養(yang)蠶(can)(can)5867張,收購繭79607公斤(jin)。當地群眾至(zhi)今仍采用相傳(chuan)(chuan)的技術進(jin)行養(yang)蠶(can)(can)。