Weaving cloth using a loom is an ancient technology shared by cultures around the world. There are countless variations of loom designs , all of which share the same basic functions of holding the warp in tension and creating openings for weft insertion. The looms represented in this book were part of the exhibition A World of Looms: Weaving Technology and Textile Arts in China and Beyond, held from 30 May to 15 September 2018, at the China National Silk Museum (NSM) in Hangzhou.

Totaling more than 50 looms, the exhibits ranged from archaeological looms and their reconstructions to modern looms that are still in use today. This book forms a permanent record of the exhibition, as well as bringing together the work of leading scholars from around the world. The essays and catalog highlight the rich weaving cultures of the world and the diverse evolutionary paths that loom technologies and textile arts have taken.

They particularly show how different regions and cultures have preserved and adapted loom technologies for their local needs. The project was enriched by the participation of thirteen textile scholars with different areas of expertise, who were invited to give lectures during the international conference on 31 May 2018; their specializations covering the regions of China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Indonesia, Laos, ancient and modern Europe, Ghana, Madagascar, India, and South America.

Fourteen weavers and specialists were also invited to give loom demonstrations or presentations during the three-day workshops on 1–3 June 2018. The spirit of collaboration and exchange that was engendered during the exhibition, conference and workshops is captured in this book.

作为丝绸之路的主角，丝绸产品及其生产技术和艺术成为丝绸之路上重要的内容被传播到世界各地，为东西方文明互鉴做出了贡献。2018年，中国丝绸博物馆举办了世界范围内大规模的织机展览“神机妙算——世界织机与织造艺术”。基于此，中国丝绸博物馆馆长赵丰联合世界各地专家学者，详细介绍展览中十余个国家的数十套种类各异的织机及丰富多样的织物，展示织机及织物为东西方文明互鉴做出贡献。