in china, there is a legend that the discovery of the silkworm's silk was first invented by the wife of the yellow emperor, leizu around the year 2696 bc. according to the book written in the 13th century, she was drinking tea under a tree when a cocoon fell into her tea. she picked it out and as it started to wrap around her finger, she slowly felt something warm. when the milk ran out, she saw a small cocoon. in an instant, she realized that this cocoon was the source of the silk. she taught this to the people and it became common. there are many more legends about the silkworm.