Crickets Culture Grand Ceremony

Author: Meng Zhaolian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Raise and select early autumn crickets with large heads and long legs; place them in an empty basin and keep them in a cool, clean place. Avoid frequent observation, as it may cause them to age prematurely. After raising them for ten days, you can observe them carefully. When placing them in the basin, clearly mark their color. Crickets whose body color changes from dim to bright are superior, while those whose color changes from bright to dim are useless. If the color is overly glossy, it is also not desirable. The má lù (fine lines on the head) should be straight, not curved or half-cut and coarse. The xiàn é (line on the forehead) should also be fine, long, and straight—curved ones are not preferred. The tail should be particularly slender, white, and delicate. Carefully raise and nurture them, and start fighting when the White Dew arrives three or four days later. If the cricket is truly a high-quality qīng (blue) or huáng (yellow) type, avoid fighting it too early. Wait until the deep autumn period around the Double Ninth Festival when its mouthparts are fully hardened. Do not fight it when its mouthparts are still tender, as damaged mouthparts would be a great loss. In general, observe the cricket's color to determine its age—do not fight it if its color is not yet fully developed. Wait until the body color becomes rich, then match its size with an equal opponent before fighting, but do not fight excessively. As the cricket manual says, young people are often too impatient, and raisers should take note. If you want to win steadily, ensure the opponents are of equal size and avoid fighting larger crickets.
[Translation] In early autumn, if you see crickets with large heads and long legs, catch them and place them in an empty basin, keeping them in a cool and clean place. Do not observe them frequently, as it may cause them to age prematurely. After raising them for ten days, you can observe them carefully. When placing them in the basin, clearly mark their color. Crickets whose body color changes from dim to bright are excellent, while those whose color changes from bright to dim are useless. If the color is overly glossy, it is also not desirable. The má lù (fine lines on the head) should be straight, not curved or half-cut and coarse. The xiàn é (line on the forehead) should also be fine, long, and straight—curved ones are not preferred. The tail should be particularly slender, white, and delicate. Carefully raise and nurture them, and start fighting when the White Dew arrives three or four days later. If the cricket is truly a high-quality qīng (blue) or huáng (yellow) type, avoid fighting it too early. Wait until the deep autumn period around the Double Ninth Festival when its mouthparts are fully hardened. Do not fight it when its mouthparts are still tender, as damaged mouthparts would be a great loss. In general, observe the cricket's color to determine its age—do not fight it if its color is not yet fully developed. Wait until the body color becomes rich, then match its size with an equal opponent before fighting, but do not fight excessively. As the cricket manual says, young people are often too impatient, and raisers should take note. If you want to win steadily, ensure the opponents are of equal size and avoid fighting larger crickets.