Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), there has been a hobby of keeping crickets in China. People are so fascinated by this “musician” of nature that they make all kinds of specialized cages from clay to gold, even trying to carve them, turning them into beautiful works of art.
Crickets are creatures with a short life cycle, only about 70-90 days. It is said that since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) of China, the concubines in the palace have traditionally invited each other to catch crickets in the autumn.
It is estimated that in nature there are about 1,000 different species of crickets, divided into two clades of crickets (Gryllidae) and mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae).
Crickets are creatures with a short life cycle, only about 70-90 days.
It is not difficult to raise crickets because they are omnivores, digesting vegetables, fruits and other smaller insects. But the main reason crickets are “loved” is because males know how to crow. By rubbing the outer pair of beetles, which have many interlaced veins, they make a chirping sound.
Originally, the emperor of China had three palaces and six concubines, many thousands of people. To relieve boredom in the days of waiting for their turn to be blessed, these free women draw up all kinds of fun, including cricket farming.
Since the 8th century, cricket farming has existed in Chinese palaces.
According to records, at least since the 8th century, cricket farming has existed in Chinese palaces. Although it is unlikely that the “kings’ wives” were the ones who initiated the game of raising crickets, it is true that because they liked to catch crickets to raise them, the folk also followed suit.
In the role of “favorite” of the concubines, crickets are kept in precious cages of gold and silver. People put cricket cages at the bedside, eagerly waiting to hear them crow.
Although raising crickets is not difficult, taming them into “pets” that know their owners is impossible. The brain of the entomologist is too small, only aware of instincts, but not developed emotions like higher creatures (eg birds, animals).
Crickets are easy to raise but must be kept in captivity.
China is a land of four seasons, hot summers and cold winters. Even though crickets are easy to raise, they also need specialized equipment to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
In the beginning, people simply kept crickets in jars made of clay. Pottery appeared soon, providing all kinds of useful items for daily life. Just a little variation is that the potters have a type of jar with a lid, with air holes suitable for crickets.
But one inconvenience is that terracotta jars cannot be used for winter. It was too cold, causing the crickets to die from the cold. They need a cage that is both breathable and cozy. And in response, the gourd cage was born.
Various shapes of cricket cages.
Gourd is a familiar plant in Asia, grown for its young fruit as food and the rind as a scoop and container.
Also since the Tang Dynasty, the Chinese have known to use dried gourds empty intestines as cages for crickets . Unlike the cold clay pot in winter, the inside of the gourd shell is quite cozy. Just mix soil and lime, spread a layer on the bottom or add a piece of cotton, that ” pet cricket” has “roof”.
Gourd cage.
To make a gourd cricket cage, first dry it and remove all the intestines. Then punch a few more holes to let the air in. With such a sketchy thing, I am not worthy of the “musicians of nature”. The artisans stepped in, turning the dried gourds into ravishing handcrafted masterpieces.
At first, people only painted on dried gourds. After that, the feat of creating the shape of the gourd cage from the time when the flowers were just set fruit. They insert wooden or metal molds into the young gourds, forcing them to grow to the desired shape. The world of gourd cricket cages becomes diverse, ranging from natural round shapes to cylinders, squares, vases…
Above all is an attempt to decorate the shell and lid of the gourd cage. Through the skillful hands of artisans, they range from simple geometric patterns to intricate carvings of flying dragons and phoenixes.
Especially in addition to being beautiful, the gourd cricket cage also amplifies the sound. It helps to make the cricket sound louder and better.
After the gourd shell, the Chinese also make cages for crickets from turtle shells to coconut shells, sandalwood, and even ivory. But the most popular are still gourd, bamboo, wood, metal cages… The reason is simple, because they are both cheap and easy to create. In addition to the cage, people also cast a super-tiny porcelain tray to store food for crickets.
Masterpieces of handicrafts like old times used to trap crickets.
In the wild, in addition to using the crowing sound to flirt with the female, male crickets also use it to “mighty show off” with the female of the same sex. They are extremely belligerent, maybe because of fighting for children or territory, they fight to the point of death.
After the pleasure of hearing the crow, the Han people also raise crickets because of their passion for cricket matches. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), cricket fighting became a widespread pastime.
Interestingly, despite the 1000 years that have passed, the Chinese have not stopped loving cricket. It’s just that at today’s cricket shops, they don’t use handicraft masterpieces like in the past, but use simple bamboo or plastic cages.