Ornamental patterns from ancient Chinese textiles. [Photo provided to China Daily]

That probably explains why Russian, French and Arabic publishers are keen to publish translations of the series.

The sericulture and silk artisanship of China are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and President Xi Jinping is quoted as saying in May last year: "The ancient silk routes, spanning thousands of kilometers and years, embody the spirit of peace and collaboration, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. The Silk Road spirit has become a great heritage of human civilization."

The seriousness with which Zhao and his team went about their task is evident throughout the 10 volumes.

"The pictures are all scanned and restored as vector graphics, which means they will be easy for any designers to pick up and redesign," Zhao says.

"These standard Chinese patterns from our ancestors will increase our cultural creativity. At least we won't be looking at the wrong patterns for reference."