Essentials of Sericulture

On the six-inch axle body, four sides are each fitted with a through-arm original: "貫脚", guanjiao. These function as the spokes of the reel wheel.. Each arm uses two pillars approximately one foot in length. On top of these, horizontal beams are installed. If the back of the beam is thick and rounded, it is called a Crucian carp back used for reeling coarse silk; if it is thin and has a sharp ridge, it is called a knife back used for reeling fine silk.

Of the four arms, one is designed to be movable. It is made of hard wood, wide at the top and tapered at the bottom, and is fitted tightly. This component is called the lever-spoke 杠 (gang): a removable spoke that can be adjusted to collapse the diameter of the reel.. It can be moved in or out to facilitate the removal of the silk from the wheel. Regarding the term "lever-spoke" (gang): The Tangyun dictionary defines it with the phonetic "zhai-geng" or "zhong-jing," pronounced like a personal name. The term for "fitting" (xiang) is a specialized woodworking term; it sounds like "zheng." There is no specific character for this technical sound, so this one is borrowed. According to the Shuowen Jiezi dictionary, "zheng" refers to a flagpole or post, while the Leipian dictionary defines it as a wedge.

The Guide Frame

The guide frame original: "牌坊", paifang. Named for its resemblance to traditional Chinese ceremonial archways. uses two wooden pillars, each two feet high. A horizontal bar is set across the top. Beneath this bar, short pillars three inches long are placed. For reeling two thread-ends, use one pillar; for three thread-ends, use two pillars. A hole is drilled through the long pillars, and a thin strip of bamboo is passed through to attach the vibrating thread-guides original: "響緒", xiangxu. These are likely small loops or bells that signal the tension and movement of the silk threads..

At the bottom, a thin board three inches wide is fitted, with holes drilled to serve as silk eyes original: "絲眼", siyan. Small guide holes through which the silk passes to keep threads separated.. Two holes are used for two thread-ends; three holes are used for three thread-ends.

The Silk Balance

The silk balance original: "絲稱", sicheng. Also known as a "traverse guide," this component moves back and forth to prevent the silk from piling up in a single spot on the reel. is the mechanism used to control the silk, causing it to wind across the axle in a diagonal pattern. It is made from a small wooden strip two feet in length.