Elastic materials in historical China

[anerlich]

Would anyone happen to know if, and if so what kind of, elastic material, or springs, etc. might have been in use in China around the 1600 - 1700 timeframe?

I don't believe rubber was introduced to Asia in any meaningful quantities until the mid 1800's, and the only material of this nature would have been livestock intestines or embryo sacs, treated in lye. Catgut, except catgut doesn't come from cats. I'm not sure how much if at all spring steel was avaialbel at that time either.

I've looked on Wikipedia, Google, etc.

I need this for a small writing project. Any advice to appease my curiosity would be appreciated.

TIA

[Vajramusti]

Needham's multi volume "Science and Civilization in China"
is a classic source of information. The index could help.
Good libraries would have it.


Joy Chaudhuri

[anerlich]

Thanks, Joy, I'll go looking.

:)