Jìyì Láng

Jìyì Láng
The Jìyì Láng (sometimes also Jìyì-Láng, Jìyìláng or simply Jìylá) is the pronotum of a deceased Mantid, which may be removed from a body for spiritual or memorial purposes. It is a common practice in many parts of China and Japan to keep them as memorials. They are used to build Mantis family trees.

History
Removal of the pronotum of a deceased insectoid is an ancient practice and dates back centuries. References can be found dating back as far as the Zhou dynasty, 500 BC but the practice is believed to be even older.

Pronotum removal of deceased relatives has become less relevant in present days but since the majority of the Mantid population resides in more rural and uncharted regions of China, it remains common among this species.

Methods
To create a Jìyì Láng the carapace plate is severed from the tissue of the back using long hooks with crescent blades. The carapace plate is then cleaned of any fiber residue and the exposed tissue of the back is covered with a layer of cloth made from Atlas Silk. Cracked or otherwise damaged carapace is fixated with clear resin from Fir trees. It is considered disrespectful to restore a Jìyì Láng in any more advanced fashion.

The Jìyì Láng can then be framed, fixed to a backing (commonly an ornate rosewood plate) or be kept as-is. If the Jìyì Láng is used for a family tree, the front is embossed with the name of the deceased. Jìyì Láng are typically kept hung from the wall over little in-house shrines in the foyer.

Legal Status
Since a change in law in 1965, removing the pronotum from any insectoid is government regulated and requires a special license throughout all of China. The pronotum is one of the few carapace parts that is a shared trait among all of Chinas diverse insect population. The chitin layers of the carapace are unique for every individual and give information about age, gender and numerous medical details, making them an important piece of evidence in forensics and identification. Removal of a pronotum without a valid license is a major crime and faces harsh penalties.