Chinese Treadle Spinning

– China

China invented their treadle after the Han, but I’m uncertain as to when. Their treadle is sideways, but with it being sideways, a skilled spinner can spin 3-5 threads at a time[1]. While the pedal is called a “treadle”, it is inaccurate for European Spinners. We think of pressing a peddle down and the wheel spinning. This is more an oar and a rowing like motion where the whole leg is used to spin the wheel.

 

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A replica of a Chinese wheel, used by its creator.[2] The oar-like rowing motion required to move the pedal can be seen here. He is also demonstrating the two threads at a time method used on Chinese wheels. I, for one, am super envious.

 

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​Diagram showing a period Chinese woman plying 4 threads at once, with notations to guide the reader in the article on the mathematics of spinning, which I did not understand. Also shown more modern Chinese woman spinning 2 threads at once using the same type of wheel. It shows how the wheel is perpendicular to the user.[3]​