An Object of Seduction: Chinese Silk in the Early Modern Transpacific Trade, 1500-1700

The first book-length English-language study on the early modern export of Chinese silk to New Spain from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century explores how the demand for silk influenced the development of silk fashion and sericulture in China and New Spain, leading to conflicts on imperial regulations and hierarchical systems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

An Object of Seduction is a groundbreaking book-length English-language study that delves into the early modern export of Chinese silk to New Spain from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century. It offers a comprehensive comparison and contrast of the two regions, examining their development in sericulture, the widespread circulation of silk fashion, and the government's attempts to regulate its use. In his analysis, Xiaolin Duan argues that the increasing demand for silk on the global market played a pivotal role in fostering the parallel growth of silk fashion and sericulture in China and New Spain. At the same time, it also led to conflicts regarding imperial regulations on foreign trade and hierarchical systems.

To explore these dynamics, the book employs a rich array of evidence sourced from local gazetteers, correspondence, manual books, illustrated treatises, and miscellanies. Through this comprehensive approach, it sheds light on how the growing desire for and production of raw silk and silk textiles empowered individuals and societies to assert and redefine their positions in changing times and spaces, challenging the traditional state control.

The study highlights the interconnectedness of the two regions, as the exchange of silk not only facilitated cultural and economic interactions but also influenced the development of fashion and artistic styles. It explores how the introduction of Chinese silk into New Spain influenced local fashion trends, leading to the creation of new styles and patterns that reflected both Chinese and Spanish influences. Similarly, the study also examines how the circulation of silk in China influenced the development of silk production and trade in other parts of the world, contributing to the global spread of silk culture.

Furthermore, An Object of Seduction sheds light on the government's efforts to regulate the silk trade and control its distribution. It explores how the Spanish crown implemented various policies and measures to ensure the monopoly of Spanish silk production and prevent the importation of Chinese silk. These policies included taxes, embargoes, and restrictions on trade routes, which had significant economic and political implications for both China and New Spain.

In conclusion, An Object of Seduction is a seminal work that provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the early modern export of Chinese silk to New Spain. Through its detailed analysis of sericulture development, silk fashion circulation, and government regulations, the book offers valuable insights into the complex relationships between culture, trade, and power in the early modern world. It contributes to our understanding of the global history of silk and its impact on societies and individuals across different regions.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 229 x 155 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793614926