Chinese and international experts take a close look at a well-restored silk piece. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

China's silk, a symbol of its ancient civilization, is now being comprehensively documented through a monumental collection catalogue called A Comprehensive Collection of Chinese Silks, being coordinated by the China National Silk Museum and Zhejiang University.

Spanning a decade, the project aims to catalogue over 20,000 silk artifacts from more than 80 institutions worldwide, producing 100 volumes of illustrated collections.

Twelve volumes have been published so far, showcasing masterpieces like the Five Stars Rising in the East, an ancient brocade armband discovered in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and imperial robes from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The project involves intensive global fieldwork, rigorous academic research and close collaboration with institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States and the British Museum in the United Kingdom.

More than a record of silk history, the project promotes the full-chain development of silk culture — including artifact restoration, digital databases and cultural innovation. Industrial collaborations are currently underway to revive ancient dyeing techniques and develop creative products.

As the project progresses, China's silk heritage continues to inspire cultural exchanges and innovation along the modern Silk Road.

The first batch of the 12 volumes of A Comprehensive Collection of Chinese Silks catalogue go on show. [Photo/Zhejiang University Press]