Corn is native to South America. 7000 years ago, American Indians began to grow corn. Because corn is suitable for dry land cultivation, western European colonists brought corn seeds back to Europe after invading America, and then planted them widely in Asia and Europe. About the middle of16th century, China began to introduce corn, probably during the Ming Dynasty in China.

Cotton planting has a long history, which began around 800 BC. China is one of the countries that planted cotton earlier in the world. In the 3rd century BC, that is, during the Warring States Period, there were records about cotton planting and textile in China in Shangshu and Houhanshu.