This paper highlights up the following three problems of the contemporary Chinese silk-reeling industry which was in the mist up to the end of the 1980's because of data scarcity.
First, our statistical analysis uncovers the year 1970/71 being the switching point from a stagnant to a rapidly growing phase. Furthermore, the rapid growth was supported by continuous increases of production capacity.
Secondly, the technological level embodied in the production facilities as well as their operational mode were confirmed in detail by the micro data obtained from our own survey for 42 filatures conducted in 1994. As the result, we may conclude that the diffusion of multi-ends reeling technology, which is most suited to a labor-abundant economy, promoted productivity increase in the industry.
Thirdly, the destruction caused by the Cultural Revolution was relatively small for the silk-reeling industry. Rather, it was in this period that many small filatures were constructed in rural towns, and the rapid growth phase was started.
