In Vietnamese history, a female character from a humble mulberry-picking farmer raising silkworms has climbed to the position of an Empress who suspects that the world has left a good name in history, that is Y Lan, the wife of Mr. King Ly Thanh Tong (1054-1072), mother of King Ly Nhan Tong (1072-1127).
The story of Y Lan attracts later generations by anecdotes about her beautiful love with King Ly Thanh Tong and a heyday of mulberry farming, silkworm rearing, silk nursery, and silk weaving.
According to records in Vietnamese history, in the spring of 1063, King Ly Thanh Tong went to pray at Dau pagoda (Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh). When passing through Tho Loi incense, he lifted the curtain and looked out, saw the villagers eagerly coming to see and bowing from afar, only a 19-year-old daughter still calmly picking strawberries next to the orchid tree sang a clear song.
King Ly Thanh Tong was surprised, sent soldiers to take her to the front of the car to ask questions. The king asked why she did not welcome the price, she replied: "I am a poor child, have to work hard to hide my face, take care of my parents, do not dare to expect to go to the procession to see the dragon's face". Seeing that the girl, although poor but beautiful, answered fluently and intelligently, the king immediately sent her to Thang Long citadel, and appointed her as Lady Lan (the word "y lan" means like an orchid tree). built a separate palace (now Yen Thai communal house, Hang Gai ward, Hanoi) named Ỷ Lan palace.
Y Lan is the person who has contributed to the development of mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, silk production, and silk weaving in Vietnam. By the 17th century, every year, ships of Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands, Tibet... came to Hoi An port to trade goods and buy raw silk and silks.
To this day, despite the diverse appearance of man-made fabrics, silk still has a certain position in the global market, especially in the high-end silk segment. Therefore, we cannot forget the historical imprint of a historical female figure - Empress Lan
