Chapter Three: Utsusemi
The Cicada Shell

It has been reported that in China, shed skins or actual nymphs from a different species of cicada nymphs (all of which which are silent) are collected and ground up. A tea made from these skins is given to noisy, crying babies (like noisy, adult cicadas), in hopes of quieting them. People think the baby will then be quiet like the cicada nymph rather than noisy like the adult cicada. Similarly, the shed skins are used to treat “ringing in the ears.” The cicada nymph burrowing out of the ground has been a symbol of rebirth or reincarnation in a number of societies. For example, Native Americans of the Oraibi tribe believed that these cicadas had the power to renew life and made a medicine from them which was used to treat battle wounds. In Mayan, Aztec, and Chinese cultures, carved, Jade cicadas were placed on the tongue of a corpse prior to burial so that the deceased would some day re-animate and/or go on to better things like a cicada nymph coming out of the ground and shedding its nymphal skin. The Japanese, famous for their beautiful and intricate kites, frequently make these in the likeness of cicadas. In China, male cicadas are kept in cages in people’s homes so that the homeowners can enjoy the cicadas’ songs. In Navajo mythology, the cicada-god fought the birds and rescued Earth for humans. The people of Provence, France consider cicadas to be good luck. Good-luck charms in the shape of cicadas are popular items

A Zuni Legend:
“Once upon a time, a cicada singing from a pine bough excited the admiration of a coyote, who asked that he might be taught the song. He was not an apt pupil, but in the end, and after a fashion, he learned the tune. On the way home, the proud coyote stumbled in a gopher’s hole. Between the shock of the fall and the dust in his eyes and nose, every detail of the tune was forgotten. Twice an accident occurred, and twice the coyote returned to his teacher perched upon the pine bough. The second time, the distrustful cicada had resolved to take no more risks, but rather to teach the coyote a lesson of another kind. Strongly gripping the bark, he swelled and strained until his back split open and he was able to slip out of his old skin, which still retained its shape and position. Choosing a suitable quartz pebble, he popped this into the skin and flew to a neighboring tree. There on the pine branch, he left his empty skin which gave back no answer to the requests of the returning coyote. Soon the patience of the latter was exhausted, and with a spring he seized the counterfeit cicada and splintered his teeth on the stone inside. The teeth in the middle of his jaw were crushed so far down into his gums that one could barely see them, and all of his descendants to this day have inherited his broken teeth. So also, to this day, when cicadas venture out on a sunny morning to sing, it is frequently their custom to protect themselves by leaving their counterparts on the trees.” there. Facts:
The droning sound is produced by a pair of drumskin-like organs on the base of the abdomen. These vibrate at a high speed thus buzzing when the male cicada calls for a mate usually between mid-July and mid-September. Different species sing at different times of the day.

Once mating is complete, the female slits an opening in a small branch or twig with her ovipositor and deposits a small cluster of eggs. When the eggs hatch, the young nymphs drop to the ground, burrow down and begin feeding by sucking nourishing juices from the tree roots .

The nymphs remain in their subterranean world for approximately two years before they are ready to emerge into daylight and begin their adult lives. Other cicada species have a 4-17 year life cycle. (www.wnrmag.com/stories/1999/jun99/cicada.htm).

In 2004, a man who knew he was allergic to “shellfish” made the news when he had to be rushed to the hospital after eating, reportedly, 30 cicadas at once. Remember that, just as humans, birds, fish, frogs, and snakes are all members of phylum Chordata, so also cicadas, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, and spiders are all members of phylum Arthropoda (biology.clc.uc.edu/steincarter/cicadas.html)

Yum!
Cicada Stir-Fry:
Ingredients:

• minced onion, coriander (cilantro), fresh gingerroot
• sliced carrots, chopped cauliflower and/or broccoli
• water chestnuts and/or other vegetables of your choice
• bean sprouts and snow peas
• blanched, teneral cicadas

In a wok or other suitable pan, heat a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add ingredients in the order listed above when those in the most recent addition are partially cooked. Serve over whole-grain (“brown”) rice and add soy sauce to taste.

In relation to Genji:
1.Interesting how the young feed by sucking nourishing juices from the tree roots. It seems as if Utsusemi really gets to Genji at the "root" of his man hood. "Genji could not sleep."No woman has rejected me...."(47).
2.Also how the more Genji shows interest in her (harasses her) the more she "buries underground".
3. Utsusemi seems to attract Genji like the sounds of a Cicada. In the chapter "The Broom Tree"Genji listens intently for her until he hears pleasing sounds"....he was sufficiently curious about her to listen until he detected telltale sounds to the west: the rustling of silks and the pleasent voices of young women"(37).