Sancai Tuhui: Utensils, Volume 9

The Small Spinning Wheel The pronunciation of "spinning" is formed by the sounds fei and liang original: 紡妃兩切. This is a traditional fanqie phonetic notation indicating the character fang.

The design of this wheel is found everywhere in the regions where hemp and ramie are produced. Since the previous illustrations have already provided a full description, it will not be repeated here.

In the Book of Sui The official history of the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE), compiled during the Tang Dynasty., it is recorded that the mother of Zheng Shanguo A high-ranking official of the Sui Dynasty known for his mother’s strict and virtuous upbringing., Lady Cui of Qinghe, was constantly engaged in spinning. Shanguo once asked her, “Mother, why do you toil so diligently at this?”

She replied, “Spinning is the duty of a woman. From the Queen at the top down to the wives of the Great Officers, each has their own specific textile work to produce. If one is lazy in their tasks, it leads to arrogance and idle dissipation. Although I am not a great scholar of the Rites, how could I allow my own reputation to be ruined by such neglect?”

Today, the wives and concubines of scholars and officials wear pronounced in the departing tone This gloss clarifies that the character for "clothing" (衣) is being used here as a verb meaning "to wear." and cover themselves with fine and beautiful silks, yet they have never known the labor of spinning. Upon hearing these words of Mother Zheng, they ought to reach an understanding and realize this truth for themselves.