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==History & Uses==

==History & Uses==

Originally native to India, where it has been grown since at least 1800 BCE, cotton was also produced in ancient China, but was not grown to any significant extent in Korea until around 1360. In Japan, there were a number of unsuccessful attempts at introducing cotton, going back as early as the 8th century, but it was not until the late 15th that it took off in any significant way. By the late 16th century, cotton was commonly worn by low-ranking samurai, and in the early 17th century, cotton production had finally expanded to a majority of the areas of Japan, and took up nearly half of the agricultural area immediately around [[Osaka]]; over the course of the Tokugawa period, cotton played a central and major role in driving (or constituting) economic growth.

Originally native to India, where it has been grown since at least 1800 BCE, cotton was also produced in ancient China, emerging originally in [[Yunnan province]] but not becoming economically prominent until the [[Yuan Dynasty]];<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations'', Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 228.</ref> in Korea, cotton was not grown to any significant extent until around 1360. In Japan, there were a number of unsuccessful attempts at introducing cotton, going back as early as the 8th century, but it was not until the late 15th that it took off in any significant way. By the late 16th century, cotton was commonly worn by low-ranking samurai, and in the early 17th century, cotton production had finally expanded to a majority of the areas of Japan, and took up nearly half of the agricultural area immediately around [[Osaka]]; over the course of the Tokugawa period, cotton played a central and major role in driving (or constituting) economic growth.

Cotton replaced ramie (''asa'', hemp) as the most standard fabric in the Edo period, as it was easier to process and to transport. Whereas ''asa'' had to be processed within a few days of harvesting the raw materials, and could not be transported well before processing, raw cotton could be transported much more easily, both before processing and at various stages within the process. The development of cottage industries, or the so-called "putting out system," to process cotton in stages represents a core element of the Edo period proto-industrialization process. Cotton passed through many hands in stages of processing the raw materials, weaving it into fabric, dyeing and printing, and finally wholesale and retail, contributing considerably to the commercial, proto-modern growth of the Tokugawa economy; for the first time, a significant portion of the population bought, rather than made, their clothes.

Cotton replaced ramie (''asa'', hemp) as the most standard fabric in the Edo period, as it was easier to process and to transport. Whereas ''asa'' had to be processed within a few days of harvesting the raw materials, and could not be transported well before processing, raw cotton could be transported much more easily, both before processing and at various stages within the process. The development of cottage industries, or the so-called "putting out system," to process cotton in stages represents a core element of the Edo period proto-industrialization process. Cotton passed through many hands in stages of processing the raw materials, weaving it into fabric, dyeing and printing, and finally wholesale and retail, contributing considerably to the commercial, proto-modern growth of the Tokugawa economy; for the first time, a significant portion of the population bought, rather than made, their clothes.