There really is a piece of Han Dynasty silk over 2000 years old. Embroidered with a pattern of birds and other animals, it was found in the well-sealed tomb of a woman whose name was Xiu. (The pattern of the Phoenix accompanying this novel is an excellent representation of the bird.) But the silk made its way to a Chinese museum in Hubei where, as far as I know, it rests to this day. On the other hand, the theft of priceless artifacts is a real and serious problem around the world.
In honor of the original fabric, I designed this pattern in silk. However, there have been requests for more common flosses to match the pattern. DMC 6-strand floss colors that should be widely available, and match up with the original design fibers quite well, are –
Monica Ferris 