Examples of monochrome weaving predate the Han Dynasty with samples of the technique unearthed during excavations of Shang Dynasty which existed from 1766 to 1122 B.C. Fragile damask silks with monochromatic color schemes and geometric designs were discovered among silk materials in Anyang the capital of the region during the period. Created using horizontal looms with a warp beam, cloth beam and pattern rods, these silk creations were the predecessors of the Han Dynasty monochrome weaves.
While the history of weaving in China includes hemp and animal based materials, silk is the dominant material in written records and examples of weaving in the region. According to myths concerning the discovery of silk as a textile, silk production was first seen in the Yellow River region more than 4,000 years ago. By the time the Han Dynasty rose to prominence, silk had been established as not merely an economic commodity but also a cultural one. Silk had become a recognizable symbol of wealth and power, implying nobility and a high position within the empire.
Monochrome weaving combined the lustrous finish of silk with bold geometric patterns of black and white. Much of the monochrome tabbies created during the period were self-patterned and created using a treadle operated loom which was invented during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty which was in place prior to the emergence of the Han Dynasty. This technology improved on the horizontal looms of the past and helped to increase productivity and allowed for greater artistic development among weavers.
Perhaps one of the most concrete archeological examples of monochrome weaving during the Han Dynasty was discovered in the early 1970s, when the tomb of the Lady of Dai was opened and its contents examined by researchers. Among the artifacts found with the late royal's body were numerous examples of monochrome silk materials. These materials included 18 plain monochrome silk tabbies, four embroidered monochrome silk tabbies, and three examples of monochrome patterned silks. The samples revealed both the importance of silk during the Han Dynasty, as well as the perfection of the monochrome weaving technique of the period.