Question

Why did the Chinese guard the secret of silk production so carefully?

The process was not perfected and not ready to share with others.
The knowledge would create too much bickering between silk manufacturers.
The Silk Road would most likely collapse without silk production.
The production generated great wealth for China as long as it was not shared.

Answer 1

The best answer is: "The production generated great wealth for China as long as it was not shared."

Explanation: China kept sericulture secret to maintain a monopoly on silk, which brought them huge economic and diplomatic advantages through trade (especially along the Silk Road). Revealing the process would have ended that lucrative monopoly.