Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China

Apparently during the Han Dynasty of China [206BC-AD220] both jade and cicadas were seen as protection for the deceased during the afterlife. Amongst other things, cicadas made of jade were placed on the tongue of the body. I wonder if this physical placement was intended to assist the vocal capacity of the spirit in the afterlife through the song of the cicada. [Mind you, the song of the cicada is not vocal. All these insects sing via mechanical production. Crickets sing via the rubbing of body parts, or stridulation and cicadas use the tymbals, organs specially for the job].