Essentials of Sericulture

...d as a "net for catching fish." In this agricultural context, however, the tool consists of two basket-like frames joined together, using two bamboo poles as handles. These poles are over ten feet original: 丈餘 (zhang yu); a zhang is approximately 3.3 meters. long, crisscrossed and tied so they can be opened and closed like a pair of giant tongs. Operating from a boat, the farmer lowers them into the river to grab and pull up silt; it is an extremely convenient tool. There are also versions where the frames are not woven from bamboo strips but are instead made from fine rope tied into a mesh; use of either style depends on the local customs of the region.

Thick Mud Shovel

The thick mud shovel is a wooden shovel. In certain dialects, it is called a xianbu original: 杴部; today, it is still commonly known by this name. The shovel head is over a foot long and its width width The original character run (潤) is used here to mean "wide." is six inches. The blade is hollowed out like a ladle. It uses a wooden handle six feet long. Once the silt has been dredged up and deposited into the boat, this shovel is required to scoop the mud out and spread it onto the fields.

Mud-Dragging Rake

The mud rake is made of wood. It is over two feet long and seven or eight inches wide. Its shape resembles two shovels joined together. A wooden handle eight feet long is set into the center. When the dredged mud has been piled up on the ground in one spot, this tool is used to drag and level the mud evenly across the soil.

Mulberry Saw