While many modern cultures may eschew the cricket as a crop-eating pest and noisy nuisance, the Chinese have long adored these singing insects for their beautiful music. The well-educated nobility held deep-rooted interests in the insects of the natural world, even compiling an encyclopedia that heavily featured them by 500 BC. While the worm and cricket became symbols of rot and famine in the West, they were well regarded in the East. The silkworm, in particular, represented the backbone of the silk trade.

Mr Liu, has quite a followed reputation for his prowess in champion fighting crickets. Cricket fighting dates all the way back to the Tang Dynasty,

Within the walls of the Forbidden City, nobles’ demand for well-bred crickets resulted in an industry of breeding prized singing and fighting crickets. Because crickets have a relatively short lifespan—just a few months, many days of which are spent as larvae or immature nymphs—crickets needed to be replaced often.