Crickets are also called fighting crickets, in ancient times, fighting cockroaches are like raising grasshoppers, fighting roosters are playthings and despised, to the early and middle Ming Dynasty Xuande years of breeding insects, fighting insects is very popular. The Xuande Emperor was very fond of insect breeding and fighting insects. Raising crickets and fighting crickets was a great joy for the nobles and literati of the palace, and the cricket jar also became a collection of miscellaneous miscellaneous items.
Xuande cockroach tank
What are the differences between a cockroach tank and a cockroach pot? How to appreciate the distinction? Aside from the difference in the name and the material, what is the difference? How to distinguish it?
The cricket basin is divided into two factions, north and south. The northern can is represented by Zhao Ziyu and Guo Jingsheng in Beijing and Tianjin, called the can; In the south, Suzhou Lumu is called a basin. In terms of time, the North Tank was arose in the Qing Dynasty. The "South Basin" began in the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty. Coupled with the unique manufacturing conditions and sophisticated craftsmanship, the "South Basin North Tank" was opened in the old Beijing City.
The cricket basin is divided into two factions, north and south. There are north-south differences between cricket tanks and cricket basins, with the thin walls of the southern pelvis and the thicker walls of the northern pelvis, which is due to climate. The north tank is relatively thick, the insect breeding sound insulation is good, the temperature and humidity fluctuations are slow, and the south basin is relatively light and the air permeability is better. Northern artifacts began to be called "pots", while in the south they were still called "pots". Although this is not a strict definition, the north is often mixed pots and cans, but it is generally conventional and has been followed to this day
The moth jars are used for raising autumn insects, the northern cans are rough, thick walls, single shapes, and few patterns; in the south, there are three kilns in Suzhou Lu Tomb Town, the Yu kiln, the imperial kiln and the temple front kiln. The south basin is also divided into two cricket basins with different uses: "yin basin" and "yang basin". The color of the "yin basin" is black, and it is advisable to raise new insects; the color of the "yang basin" is white, and it is advisable to raise old insects that have already fallen into the basin. The southern pot is characterized by intricate shapes, patterns and exquisite workmanship.
The northern cricket basin is basically fixed on the thick wall, the cavity is higher, and the lower circle foot is set, and the flat fall cover is basically used instead of the sky fall cover common in the south basin. It is also due to the depth of the cavity. The north is not as humid as the south, but the temperature difference between day and night is large, and the climate becomes cold overnight. The south basin wall is thin, flat and shallow without pounding the bottom of the soil, all focus on not having moisture, but it is not applicable in the north, the wall thickness is to delay the sudden heat and cold of the external air, and the bottom of the soil is to store a certain amount of moisture, to prevent the air from being too dry and causing the humidity in the tank to fluctuate, since the bottom of the soil is to be pounded, the cavity is naturally high, and the thickness of the soil bottom should be reserved. All kinds of differences are based on local conditions and insect suitability. The cricket pots made in Yuyao Village, Lumu Town, Suzhou are extremely exquisitely made. It can be said that "looking at the shape from a distance, looking at the mud closely, looking at the picture carefully, opening the model well, peeping the bottom well, knocking sound is good."
<h1>History of the North Tank South Basin</h1>
First, the north tank cricket tank
Cockroach jar
The north jar mainly includes Wan Li Zhang and Zhao Ziyu, which are the weapons of the "bucket cans" of the princes and nobles in the old days. Whoever has several Objects of Zhao Ziyu and Wan Li Zhang is a matter of great face. The old tank should also be equipped with the original bottom to be more authentic, there are snakeskin bottom, white sand bottom, etc., it plays a great role in water permeability and moisture retention, and the so-called "slow drinking water" is the key here. Among them, the sink should be made of Fangyuan and Blue Fish Treasure, and the best water brand should be made of ivory, such as bone or porcelain. There are also a small number of north pots with exquisite shape, such as carving on the outside of the jar, needle patterns, colored clay settings, etc., and some pots are also inlaid with jewelry diamonds and other ornaments on the outer wall.
<h1>Second, the South Basin Land Cricket Basin</h1>
Folk legend is that at that time, there was an official fan in Suzhou surnamed "Zhu" who paid tribute to a "jute-headed" cricket on the mountain above Suzhou, and actually defeated the "plum blossom wings" raised in the palace in one fell swoop. Emperor Xuande then issued a secret edict asking Suzhou to pay tribute to a thousand good crickets.
Lu Mu clay pot
Speaking of the unique conditions of the Lu mu clay pot, it is because there are imperial kilns for firing gold bricks and unique clay. Officials surnamed Zhu had obtained high-quality crickets in the mountains above the southwest of Suzhou, and they must find ways to find utensils for raising crickets. Of course, he also knew the name of the Imperial Kiln Golden Brick. So one day he came to the imperial kiln in an official car, and the kiln workers fired it according to his wishes... So Emperor Hu'er loved Wu and Wu, and of course, Suzhou Lu Mu's cricket pot thus became a tribute.
Therefore, the south basin is also known as the cricket basin, when Lu Mu is the most, the current basin wall and the thickness of the basin floor are generally only about 5 mm, which is characterized by a variety of styles and beautiful appearance. The thickness of the basin wall and the bottom of the basin is at least one centimeter, and there are even super large basins with a wall thickness of 15 mm, and its style is simple and solid compared to the southern basin; and because the north calls crickets crickets, the north calls the cricket basin a cricket tank.
Third, the south basin kiln is exquisite
The inner belly of the kiln where the gold bricks are burned is generally round. Some people may think like this: the brick brick large basin round basin is small, and when the blank is filled, the gap of the brick blank is filled with the basin blank, and the same firing is the same. That idea is wrong. The firing of utensils is exquisite. Different sizes, different heat is different, and the furnace can be the same. Not only is it important to burn bricks and pots, but everything is important. Therefore, Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" has a saying: "If you rule a big country, you should cook small fresh." This is what is said.
The kilns that burn mud pots are relatively small and convenient to make. Therefore, when the traditional crafts were restored in the early 1980s, the Lu Mu clay pot walked ahead of the royal kiln gold bricks. Therefore, the mud pot kiln blooms everywhere in Lu Mu Yu Kiln Village, and the mud pot brings people economic benefits; at the same time, the waste of resources caused by it is also a pity.
Like Lu Mu's various mud pots during the Xuande period, they were displayed in the Forbidden City, until the early Qing Dynasty When Lu Tomb Li Xiufang, Yang Hongxing and other famous hands burned the "through" character, "frost" word cricket pot has also become a precious cultural relic; contemporary masters first recommended the mud pot made by Yuan Zhonghua, its ornamental and artistic nature has far exceeded practicality and become an art treasure.
Fourth, the north tank pursues practicality
The reason why the north tank and the south basin have such a big difference in the thickness of the basin floor and the basin wall is mainly caused by environmental factors. In North china and northwest China, the temperature difference between day and night in early autumn is very large, and the cooling rate is much faster than that in East China over time after autumn. If the basin wall and bottom of the cockroach tank are not thick enough, the clam will definitely be affected by the outside temperature and age prematurely. The temperature drop in East China (mainly referring to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui) during the autumn to the cold dew period is relatively slow, and the temperature and humidity in the room are generally just right for cricket growth. Therefore, the thin basin wall of the south basin is more suitable for crickets. This can be verified from the thickness of the house buildings in the north and south.
In addition, in order to better prevent crickets from being affected by the external environment, northern insect friends will also put a layer of triad soil bottom on the pond in the cockroach tank to increase the moisture infiltration and moisturizing performance of the basin. Another function of this layer is to protect the claw flowers of crickets (crickets have only two body parts that crickets use to grasp the ground). If appropriate Chinese medicine is added to the triad soil, it will also play a special role in calming crickets and slowing down aging according to the different drugs used. This is the skill mastered by veteran players.
However, the process of pond bottom is very troublesome (pond bottom is the process of putting the triad soil into the basin and then using a flat-headed hammer to mix the triad soil).
The biggest reason for the different use methods of the north and south of the north is the significant difference in the climate between the north and the south, the north is dry and cold, the south is humid and warm, so the method of using the north tank directly in the south is very unsuitable, so the cultivation of crickets and crickets is also based on the differences between the north and the south, here to rely on experience, this is also the introduction of the north tank south basin purpose, of course, there are now north tanks used in the south, the south basin is used, the collection of crumble tanks is for fun, nourishing the heart, looking for happiness, In this way, there is a healthy body to pursue its favorite art collection.