Bōshi by Nagahara Kōtarō. 19th century Japan. Public domain image.

Sericulture is the practice of rearing silkworms for the production of silk. It is an ancient art that dates back to at least 5,000 years ago, originating in China. The process involves raising silkworms on mulberry leaves until they spin cocoons made of silk fibers. These cocoons are then harvested and processed to extract the silk threads.