Mulan in a Flowing Silk Robe coloring page

About this coloring page

Mulan in traditional dress wears a robe inspired by the clothing of ancient China, with layers that wrap across the chest, a sash at the waist and extra long sleeves. Many garments like this were made from silk, a fabric that was first produced in China thousands of years ago.

Silk comes from the cocoons spun by silkworms, caterpillars that feed on mulberry leaves. Each cocoon is made from a single very fine, very long thread. To use it, workers carefully unwind the cocoon and twist several threads together into a strong strand that can be woven into cloth.

For centuries, China kept the secret of silk making to itself. Silk was so valuable that it was traded along routes linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe, now known as the Silk Road. Spices, paper, ideas and customs traveled those roads too.

Wide sleeves were a sign of elegance and made for dramatic movements in traditional dance. In the Disney movie, Mulan dresses like this when her family gets her ready to make a good impression on the matchmaker, a scene full of silk, flowers and nerves.

• mulan
• disney princess
• china
• silk