(ようさん)

ようさん
noun
sericulture; silkworm raising
1. sericulture; raising silkworms
The practice of raising silkworms in order to produce raw silk.
この地域(ちいき)養蚕(ようさん)(さか)んだ。
Sericulture is thriving in this region.
祖母(そぼ)(わか)(ころ)養蚕(ようさん)仕事(しごと)をしていた。
My grandmother worked in sericulture when she was young.
養蚕(ようさん)農家(のうか)(かいこ)(そだ)てて(まゆ)出荷(しゅっか)する。
Sericulture farmers raise silkworms and ship the cocoons.

Composed of (よう) (to raise, rear) + (さん) (silkworm). Refers to the farming activity of raising silkworms to obtain silk.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 養蚕(ようさん)農家(のうか): a sericulture farmer
  • 養蚕(ようさん)(さか)んだ: sericulture is thriving
  • 養蚕(ようさん)(ぎょう): the silk-farming industry

NOTE:
Sericulture was central to Japan's economy from the Meiji era into the early twentieth century. Related words: 生糸(きいと) (raw silk), (かいこ) (silkworm), and (まゆ) (cocoon).