Archaeologists in Sichuan Province, China, have unearthing a preserved Han Dynasty pavilion dedicated to the Silkworm Goddess (Can Shen). The site includes a stone altar carved with mulberry leaf patterns and dozens of small jade silkworm figurines, marking it as a major hub for the ancient "First Feeding" festival.
This festival was a state-sanctioned ritual where local nobility would lead ceremonies to ensure the health of the year's silk production. The discovery provides tangible evidence of how ancient agricultural cycles were ritualized into grand public festivals that sustained the economic and spiritual lifeblood of the Silk Road civilizations.