When exactly silk was created is not known, but there are evidence that the Chinese were using silk as far as 27th century BC.

For 30 centuries, silk production was a closely guarded secret known only to the Chinese, and it wasn't until AD 300 that Japan and India finally learned of how silk was gathered and weaved.

According to Chineese legend, the discovery of silk has been credited to Hsi-ling-shi, the 14 year old bride of the Emperor Huang Ti, in the garden of Emperor Huangdi.

Upon the request of her husband, Hsi-ling-shi searched for the reason which was damaging the Emperor's fine Mulberry trees and discovered caterpillars ferouciously devouring the leaves and building their cocoons. In order to destroy the source of the problem, she put a cocoon into hot water and found to her surprise that a delicate, single thread unwinded itself -- thus silk was discovered.