May 20th- 25th, 2024 is Summer – SHOMAN (Lesser ripening) -22nd KOU “Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves”.
SHOMAN is one of the 24 solar terms. It’s the season when all things gradually grow and begin to the heavens and the earth. Silkworms are no exception. They are very busy eating mulberry leaves and are getting bigger and bigger.
The cocoons of silkworms produce beautiful silk thread and it was a valuable source of income for farmers. So, they actively bred silkworms with great care until around the 1960s.
When synthetic fibers became mainstream after around 1970, silkworms were no longer bred and then mulberries were no longer cultivated.
Since around 1970, when synthetic fibers became mainstream, silkworm farming has declined and mulberry cultivation has ceased.
However, in recent years, research has been underway to effectively utilize new species of silkworms as producers of biomaterials for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other products. Furthermore, mulberries and leaves are becoming increasingly popular as functional foods and ingredients.
