Jade Cicada

[Jade cicada]

Jade cicada, Han, 2.9 cm long, 2.1 cm wide and 0.8 cm thick. The old collection of the Qing Palace
The work is made of white jade with brown spots and flakes. Flat abdomen, with longitudinal straight lines under the abdomen. Long wings, without wing markings. Small head, eyes protruding from both sides of the head
Jade cicadas have a long history of use. They are found in the sites of Hongshan Culture, Liangzhu Culture and Shijiahe Culture in the Neolithic Age. From then on to the Han Dynasty, cicadas are important themes in jade works. Jade cicadas are mainly used for two purposes. One is accessories, which were popular before the Shang Dynasty. Jade cicadas in the Han Dynasty were mostly jade in the mouth of the deceased, known as “jade”. Placing jade in the mouth of the deceased is an ancient burial custom. The jade cicadas unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in the early Warring States period were a group of small animals. Many jade cicadas were unearthed in the tombs of the Han Dynasty, and there were no holes for hanging ropes on them. The use of cicadas as a sign of hope for the transformation and regeneration of the deceased.

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