Editing Merfolk

{{Short description|Legendary water-dwelling beings}}
{{redirect|Merpeople|other uses|Merfolk (disambiguation)}}
'''Merfolk''', '''Mercreatures''', '''Mermen''' or '''Merpeople''' are legendary water-dwelling, human-like beings. They are attested in [[folklore]] and [[Myth#Mythography|mythology]] throughout the ages in various parts of the world. Merfolk, Merpeople, or simply Mer refers to humanoid creatures that live in deep waters like Mermaids, Sirens, Cecaelia etc.

In English, female merfolk are called [[mermaid]]s, although in a strict sense, mermaids are confined to beings who are half-woman and half-fish in appearance; male merfolk are called [[Merman|mermen]]. Depending on the story, they can be described as either ugly or beautiful.

Chinese ''rényú'' ({{lang|zh|人魚}}) stands for "merfolk", but in ancient geographical or natural historical tracts, the term referred to "human-fish" or "man-fish" purported to inhabit rivers or lakes in certain parts of China. The Japanese analogue ''[[ningyo]]'' ({{lang|zh|人魚}}) likewise translates to "human-fish" while, at the same time, having also applied to various human-like fish recorded in writings from medieval times into the Edo Period.

==China==
Certain fantastical types of "fish", generically referred to as ''renyu'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|人|魚}}}}, "human-fish") are alleged to occur in various parts of China according to the ''Shan Hai Jing'' (''[[Classic of Mountains and Seas]]'', 4th century BC). It is mentioned in the ''Bei Shan Jing'' ("Classic of the Northern mountains"),  ''Zhong Shan Jing'' (Central Mountains), and  ''Xi Shan Jing'' (Western Mountains) sections of this work.{{sfnp|Kuzumi|2006b|p=53}}<ref name="kong&chen"/>

This work and others also mention several additional types of "anthropomorphic fish"{{sfnp|Magnani|2022|p=87}} with limbs in other regions such as the {{interlanguage link|chiru|zh|赤鱬|lt=''chiru''}} ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|赤|鱬}}}}; "red ru fish"<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-chiru-redrufish"/>) and {{interlanguage link|lingyu (fish)|zh|陵鱼|lt=''lingyu''}} ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|陵}}魚}}; "hill-fish"), considered to be in the same category of creatures. Certain tribes or races of humans were also described being part-fish, namely the {{interlanguage link|Di people (merfolk)|zh|氐人族|lt=Di people}}.{{sfnp|Magnani|2022|p=89}}{{sfnp|Kuzumi|2006b|p=53}}

It is recorded that the [[Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor]] was illuminated with lamps fueled by the oil of the human-fish (''renyu''), whose flames were meant to last a very long time.<ref name="sima_qian-watson-tr"/><ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-lingyu-hillfish"/>

In the Chinese Song Dynasty's supernatural tale collection ''[[Yijian Zhi]]'' (夷堅志), there are stories of sea sirens similar to those in other folklore. One tale describes a beautiful female demon living on a cliff of an island. A man sailed to the island, married a woman there, and she taught him how to recognize plants and avoid dangers, protecting him from wild beasts. They had two sons together. However, when a fellow townsman arrived on the island and took the man back by boat, the woman cursed him, throwing their sons into the water in a fit of rage and yelling at him to leave. The man stayed silent after boarding the ship.<ref name="a">{{cite book |title=夷堅志 |date=2006 |publisher=中华书局 |isbn=978-7-101-05236-7 |page=54 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=adxKAQAAIAAJ&q=%E5%A4%B7%E5%A0%85%E5%BF%97 |language=zh}}</ref>

Another tale from [[Guangzhou]] tells of a merchant who, upon reaching an island, was captured by two women and taken into the mountains. They fed him daily, but he couldn't tell if he was still alive. After about a year, he overheard the women discussing magic, and he begged them to take him to the place where it was performed. When they did, he sought help, causing the women to flee by flying away. Though he was revived, his food gradually dwindled, and he died two months later.<ref name="a"/>

===''Renyu'' or human-fish===
;(aka ''haieryu''. subtypes ''tiyu'' and ''niyu'' )
{{multiple image
 | header = ''Renyu'' of Jueshui ("Bursting River"), Mt. Dragon-Marquis.
 | total_width = 
 | image1 = Sancai-tuhui-094-bird&beast6-06renyu-humanfish - labeled.jpg
 | caption1 = Described as resembling a ''fei'' {{linktext|𩵥}} type of fish.{{right|{{small|― Wang Qi.  ''[[Sancai Tuhui]]'' (1609)}}<ref name="wang_qi-sancai_tuhui-renyu"/>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The accompanying text here says the ''renyu'' resembles a fish called ''fei''.}}}}
 | alt1 = A fei-like renyu
 | image2 = Wang fu(1895)-shanhaijingcun3-fol27a-renyu-manfish.png
 | caption2 = Described as resembling a ''tiyu'' {{lang|zh|䱱魚}} .{{efn|Image for the ''tiyu'' (''renyu''/''haieryu'') in {{harvnb|Suzuki tr.|1929}} ''Benca Gangmu'' is reproduced in {{harvnb|Kuzumi|2006b|p=60}} which resembles this picture.}}{{right|{{small|―{{interlanguage link|Wang Fu (Qing dynasty)|zh|汪紱|lt=Wang Fu}}(d. 1759) '' Shan hai jing cun''<!-- 山海經存-->, pub. 1895}}<ref name="wang_fu3-beishanjing3"/>}}
 | alt2 = A tiyu-like renyu 
 | footer =
}}

The ''renyu'' ({{lang|zh|人魚}}; human-fish) is described in the ''Bei Shan Jing'' ("Classic of the North Mountains") section as dwelling on Mt. Longhou ({{lang|zh|龍侯山}}, "Dragon-Marquis Mountain") in the waters of the Jueshui ({{lang|zh|決水}}, "Bursting River"), which flows eastward into the [[Yellow River]].{{Refn|Alternatively, River BurstBurst ({{lang|zh|決決水}}) on Mount Dragonbutt.{{sfnp|Birrell tr.|2000|p=45}}}} It is said to "resemble the ''tiyu''"<ref name="shanhaijing03northern"/><ref>Cf. {{harvp|Unschuld tr.|2021|p=733}}: "The ''Bei shan jing'' states: "The Jue shui river has many ''ren yu'' 人魚 sea-cows. They are shaped like ''ti yu'' 䱱魚, newts, but have four feet.."</ref> (translated as "resemble catfish"<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-renyu-humanfish"/>{{sfnp|Birrell tr.|2000|p=45}}<ref>Cf. {{harvp|Luo tr.|2003|p=3606}}: "''Beishan Jing'': In Jueshui River there are many dugongs. They look like catfish but have four legs..""</ref>){{Refn|Cf. {{harvp|Unschuld tr.|2021|p=733}}:}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The ''tiyu'' is not literally a catfish but a subtype of ''renyu'' "human-fish", according to the ''Bencao Gangmu'', as given below. However, this translation may be justified in the light of [[Guo Pu]]'s commentary to the ''Bei Shan Jing'', which reads "The ''renyu'' is, namely, the  ''niyu''. It resembles catfish with four feet/legs, and voice like a child crying. Nowadays this catfish is also called the ''ti'' 人魚即鯢也。似鮎而四足、聲如兒嗁。今亦呼鮎爲䱱。音蹏(テイ)". In Naoaki Maeno ed. (1975). ''Sengaikyō retsu sennin den''<!--前野直彬『山海経・列仙人伝』--> ''apud'' Yamaguchi (1995)<ref name="yamaguchi_tetsuro"/>}}{{Refn|This Guo Pu quote as commentary to ''Bei Shan Jing'' is hard to confirm in other secondary sources, but similar phrases about ''renyu'' resembling catfish were written by other near-contemporaries, one being "Guangzhi" 廣志 (attributed to Guo Yigong 郭義恭) as preserved in the ''[[Shui Jing Zhu]]'': [[Yi River (Henan)|Yi River]],<!--"鯢魚聲如小兒啼，有四足，形如鯪鱧，可以治牛，出伊水也"--> cf. commentary to the ''Hainei bei jing'' 海内北經 (Classic of regions within the seas: North), by Yuan Ke.<ref name="yuan_ke2004"/> Another is {{interlanguage link|Xu Gugang (scholar)|zh|徐廣|lt=Xu Gugang}}, <!--徐廣曰 人魚似鮎而四足。即鯢魚也--> probably from his ''Shiji Yinyi'' or "Pronunciation and Meaning of the Shiji"; both these are quoted in annotations to the ''Shiji'': Books of the First Emperor of Qin, 6, which mentions the human-fish oil used for lanterns in the Emperor's tumulus.{{sfnp|Fujisawa|1925|pp=45–46}}}} possess four legs, with a voice like baby crying.{{Refn|name="bencao-gangmu-tiyu"}}

Eating the fish purportedly cured idiocy<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-renyu-humanfish"/> or dementia.{{sfnp|Unschuld tr.|2021|p=733}}{{sfnp|Luo tr.|2003|p=3606}} This fish as a cure was also quoted in the ''Compendium of Materia Medica'' or ''[[Bencao Gangmu]]'' (1596) under its entry for ''Tiyu'' ({{lang-zh|䱱魚}}){{Refn|name="bencao-gangmu-tiyu"|Li Shizhen, ''Bencao Gangmu'', (Chapter 44 §42) "Animals with Scales 4": §Tiyu. (Chinese);{{sfnp|Li Shizhen|1596}}{{sfnp|Li Shizhen|1782}} (English translations);{{sfnp|Unschuld tr.|2021|pp=732–733}}{{sfnp|Luo tr.|2003|pp=3606–3607}} (Japanese tr.).{{sfnp|Suzuki tr.|1929}}}}

The ''[[Bencao Gangmu]]'' categorized the ''tiyu'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|䱱}}魚}}<!--䱱魚-->) as one of two types of "human-fish" (''renyu''). The human-fish were also known as "child-fish" or ''haieryu'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|孩|兒}}魚}}<!--孩兒魚-->; {{lang|zh|孩儿鱼}}).{{Refn|name="bencao-gangmu-tiyu"}}<ref>Luo tr. (2003), index. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qUgoAQAAIAAJ&q=%22haieryu%22 '''6''': 4255]</ref>

The other type, called the ''niyu'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|鯢}}魚}}<!--鯢魚-->) is elaborated in a separate section.{{Refn|name="bencao-gangmu-niyu"|Li Shizhen, ''Bencao Gangmu'', (Chapter 44 §43) "Animals with Scales 4": §Niyu. (Chinese);{{sfnp|Li Shizhen|1596}}{{sfnp|Li Shizhen|1782}} (English translations);{{sfnp|Unschuld tr.|2021|pp=733–734}}{{sfnp|Luo tr.|2003|pp=3607}} (Japanese tr.).{{sfnp|Suzuki tr.|1929}}}} It has been noted by [[Li Shizhen]] that the character for the ''Niyu'' (''Ni'' {{lang|zh|鯢}} fish) consists of the "fish" [[Radical (Chinese characters)|indexing component]] ({{lang|zh|魚}}) and "child" ({{lang|zh|兒}}) radical.{{sfnp|Luo tr.|2003|pp=3607}}

Translators of the ''Bencao Gangmu'' attempt to match entries with actual [[taxa]] of animals, forbs, etc., where possible, and the ''tiyu'' type is glossed as "newts" while the ''niyu'' type is "[[Chinese giant salamander]]".{{sfnp|Unschuld tr.|2021|pp=732–733}}

===''Chiru'' or red ru fish===
[[File:南山經-赤鱬.svg|thumb|left|The ''chiru'' or "red ru fish".{{right|{{small|― Hu Wenhuan 胡文焕 (fl. 1596–1650). ''Shanhaijing tu'' 山海經圖 ("Illustrations to the Classic of Mountains and Seas", 16th century).}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|A close copy of this woodcut occurs in Wu Renchen's edition of 1667.<ref name="wu_renchen1667-chiru"/>}}}}]]
The {{interlanguage link|chiru|zh|赤鱬|lt=''chiru''}} ({{lang|zh|赤鱬}}; "red ru fish".<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-chiru-redrufish"/> Wade–Giles: ''ch'ih-ju''; "red ju"{{sfnp|Schiffeler|1977|p=120}}) is described in the ''Nan Shan Jing'' ("Classic of the Southern Mountains") as a human-headed fish. It is said to be found in the Qingqushan ({{lang|zh|青丘山}} "Green-Hills Mountains") in the Pool-of-Yi (Yì zhī zé {{lang|zh|翼之澤}}; "Carp-Wings Lake"). It is described as basically fish-form but having a human face, and issuing sounds like the [[mandarin duck]]. Eating it purportedly prevented [[scabies]] or itchy skin.<ref name="shanhaijing01southern"/><ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-chiru-redrufish"/>

The illustration of the ''chiru'' from China may have influenced the legless, human-faced fish visualization of some of the ''ningyo'' in Japan, according to the hypothesis of {{interlanguage link|Morihiko Fujisawa|ja|藤澤衛彦}}.{{sfnp|Fujisawa|1925|p=26}}

===Jiaoren===
The ''[[jiaoren]]'' ({{linktext|蛟|人}} "[[jiaolong|flood dragon]] people" or {{linktext|鮫|人}} "shark people"){{Refn|[[Edward H. Schafer]] also refers to "shark" here being interchangeable with ''jiao'' dragon (which he suggests translating as "cockatrice").<ref name="schafer1952-p156"/>}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The conception of them seems to have shifted from half-reptilian to half-fish in later periods.{{sfnp|Nakano|1983|p=143}}}} that appear in [[medieval]] writings are considered to be references to [[merfolk (disambiguation)|merfolk]].{{sfnp|Magnani|2022|p=87}}<ref name=wetherall/><ref>{{harvp|Nakano|1983|p=143}}; {{harvp|Matsuoka|1982|p=49}}</ref>

This mythical southern mermaid or [[merman]] is recorded in {{interlanguage link|Ren Fang|zh|任昉}}'s {{interlanguage link|Shuyi Ji (Ren Fang){{!}}''Shuyi ji''|zh|述異記 (任昉)}}<!--遹異記 --> "Records of Strange Things" (early 6th century CE).{{Refn|name=shuyi-ji|Ren Fang, ''Shuyi Ji'', second volume.:{{sfnp|Nakano|1983|p=140}} "南海中有鮫人室水居如魚不廢機織其眼泣則出珠晉木𤣥虚海賦云天琛水怪鮫人之室" (translation quoted below).}}<ref name=schafer1952-p160/>

<blockquote>In the midst of the South Sea are the houses of the ''kău'' ({{lang-zh|t=鮫|p=jiao|w=chiao}}<ref>{{harvnb|Schafer|1967|pp=217–218}}</ref>) people who dwell in the water like fish, but have not given up weaving at the loom. Their eyes have the power to weep, but what they bring forth is pearls.<ref>{{harvnb|Schafer|1967|p=220}}</ref></blockquote>

Similar passages appear in other texts such as the ''[[Bowuzhi]]'' ({{lang|zh|博物志}}, "Treatise of Manifold " {{c.|290 CE}}) as "weep[ing] tears that became pearls".<ref name=bowuzhi2/>{{sfnp|Magnani|2022|p=91}}<ref name=chengyu-kao-tr-lockhart/>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|A 15th-century compilation of quotations from Chinese literature, the {{interlanguage link|Youxue qionglin{{!}}''Chengyu kao''|zh|幼学琼林}} ({{lang-zh|t=成語考|link=no}}; "Idioms investigated") merely gives a partial quote from the ''Bowuzhi'' as "The mermaid wept tears that became pearls".<ref name="chengyu-kao-tr-lockhart"/>}}

These aquatic people supposedly spun a type of raw silk called ''jiaoxiao'' {{linktext|蛟|綃}} "mermaid silk" or ''jiaonujuan'' {{linktext|蛟|女|絹}} "mermaid woman's silk". [[Edward H. Schafer|Schafer]] equates this with [[sea silk]], the rare fabric woven from [[byssus]] filaments produced by [[Pinna (genus)|Pinna]] "pen shell" mollusks.<ref>{{harvnb|Schafer|1967|p=221}}</ref>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Chinese writings claimed that the raw material for such "silk" came from ''shuiyang'' 水羊 "water sheep" or ''shuican'' {{lang|zh|{{linktext|水|蠶}}}} "water silkworm" aka ''bingcan'' {{lang|zh|{{linktext|冰}}蠶}} "ice silkworm".<ref name="schafer1963"/> Cf. [[sea silk]].}}

=== ''Loting'' ===
[[File:盧亨魚人.jpg|thumb|Artist interpretation of Lu Heng fish activity by Author Hwlisc]]
Loting  (盧亭) is a mysterious ethnic group residing in Hong Kong's Myths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=盧亭： 大嶼山的香港神話 |url=http://had18.huluhk.org/article-detail.php?id=306&lang=tc |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=港文化18區 |language=zh-Hant-HK}}</ref> They are legendary merfolk half human and half fish, also known as Lo Yu, Lu Heng, or Lo Ting Fish Man.<ref>{{Cite web |title=灣區舊事/說盧亭 - 大公報 |url=https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1650565400821370880.html |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=大公文匯 www.tkww.hk}}</ref> They have lived on Tai O' Lantau Island in Hong Kong since the local civil uprising in the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China.<ref>{{Citation |title=卢循 |date=2023-04-12 |work=維基百科，自由的百科全書 |url=https://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%8D%A2%E5%BE%AA&oldid=76778994 |access-date=2024-07-20 |language=zh-Hant-HK}}</ref> It is said that Loting has fish scales on his fish-like human body, a face that resembles humans, and he enjoys sucking chicken blood.<ref>{{Cite web |last=鍵盤大檸檬 |date=2019-11-30 |title=「香港人魚」人身魚尾、嗜食雞血 傳為港人祖先 淒涼身世藏洋蔥 {{!}} 鴨卵青 {{!}} 鍵盤大檸檬 {{!}} ETtoday新聞雲 |url=https://www.ettoday.net/dalemon/post/47267 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=www.ettoday.net |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> They could use their catch to fish from Tai O and trade chickens with the local human inhabitants to survive.

==Japan==
{{main|ningyo}}

The ''ningyo'' ({{lang|ja|人魚|}} "human-fish") of Japan has its own history in the country's literary record. The earliest references (in the ''[[Nihon Shoki|Nihon shoki]]'', entry for year 619, reign of [[Empress Suiko]]) do not specifically use the term ''ningyo'', and the "thing" appeared in fresh water (a river in [[Ōmi Province]], canal [[Settsu Province]]), and may presumed to be a giant salamander.{{sfnp|Castiglioni|2021|pp=8–9}} Later accounts claim that Empress Suiko's regent [[Prince Shōtoku]] knew the creature to be a ''ningyo'' when one was presented to him by representatives of Ōmi.{{sfnp|Castiglioni|2021|pp=9–10}} The appearance of the human-fish was strongly associated with ill omen in later treatments of the Prince's encounter with the human-fish.{{sfnp|Castiglioni|2021|pp=9–13}}

During the Kamakura Period, ''ningyo'' of the marine sort were frequently reported as washing ashore, and these were taken to be ominous signs usually prefiguring bloody battles.{{sfnp|Castiglioni|2021|pp=13–15}}

The ''ningyo'', or rather ''renyu'' ({{lang|zh|人魚}}) and the like found in Chinese sources (''chiru'', ''tiyu'' etc., etc., discussed above) were also discussed in Japanese literature, for example, works of scholars of herbal and traditional medicine, such as [[Kaibara Ekiken]] (d. 1714) and [[Ono Ranzan]] (d. 1810). These Japanese scholars were also aware of European discussions on "sirens", "anthropomorphic fish", "''peixe muller'' (fish-woman)", etc.{{sfnp|Castiglioni|2021|p=22}}{{sfnp|Kuzumi|2006a|pp=61–65}}

==Philippines==

Merfolk, known collectively as Taga-Dagat or sometimes Bantay Tubig ("Water Guardians"), are aquatic beings in [[Philippine mythology]]. Due to the country's diverse cultures and languages across its many islands, tales of merfolk vary widely. These beings are often considered [[engkanto]] or supernatural entities or nature spirits and are believed to guard bodies of water.<ref name="Manuel 1958 55">{{Cite journal |last=Manuel |first=E. Arsenio |date=1958 |title=Tayabas Tagalog Awit Fragments from Quezon Province |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/1177378 |journal=Folklore Studies |volume=17 |pages=55 |doi=10.2307/1177378 |issn=0388-0370|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="laguna" /><ref name=":0">{{cite book |title=Mga Engkanto: A Bestiary of Filipino Fairies|year=2003 |publisher= eLf ideas Publication|location=Philippines }}</ref>
The most well-known merfolk figure is the [[Sirena (Philippine mythology)|Sirena]], a mermaid-like creature with the upper body of a human female and the tail of a fish. Sirenas are known for their mesmerizing voices, which they use to lure fishermen or sailors to their deaths by drowning or abduction. In some stories, Sirenas are portrayed as malevolent, while in others, they can become kind and loyal if they fall in love with a human.<ref>{{cite web| last = Waterhouse| first = John William| title = Mermaid| url = http://folknation.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/| access-date = 2008-08-09| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081028115345/http://folknation.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/| archive-date = 2008-10-28}}</ref> The Sireno is the male counterpart of the Sirena, though it appears less frequently in stories. Sometimes, Sirena are paired with the [[Siyokoy (Philippine mythology)|Siyokoy]] (also spelled Shokoy or Syokoy), another type of aquatic creature. Siyokoy are depicted as hostile sea monsters with scales, webbed limbs, and grotesque features. Unlike the Sirena, Siyokoy are more animalistic and are believed to drown humans. Their name is thought to originate from the Hokkien term [[List of supernatural beings in Chinese folklore|shui gui]], referring to water spirits in Chinese folklore.<ref name="Manuel 1958 55"/><ref name="laguna">{{Cite journal |last=Go |first=Bon Juan |year=2005 |title=Ma'l in Chinese Records – Mindoro or Bai? An Examination of a Historical Puzzle |url=http://www.philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/download/216/223 |journal=Philippine Studies |location=Quezon City |publisher=Ateneo de Manila University |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=119–138 |access-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Pattane">{{Cite book |last=Patanne |first=E. P. |title=The Philippines in the 6th to 16th Centuries |publisher=LSA Press |year=1996 |isbn=971-91666-0-6 |location=San Juan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott, William Henry. |title=Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History |publisher=New Day Publishers |year=1984 |isbn=971-10-0226-4 |location=Quezon City |page=70 |chapter=Societies in Prehispanic Philippines}}</ref> Another merfolk being is the [[Kataw (Philippine mythology)|Kataw]], often considered a higher-ranking water entity than the Sirena or Siyokoy. Kataw resemble humans but have gills, fins, and sometimes even human feet and the ability to manipulate water elements. They are known to disguise themselves as fishermen and lure humans into the sea. A human-eating version of the Sirena is the Magindara, often portrayed in Bicolano folklore.<ref name=":0"/><ref>Eugenio, Damiana L. (2002). ''Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends''. University of the Philippines Press. ISBN 9715423586.</ref><ref name=":2">Alzina, Francisco Ignacio (1668). ''Historia de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas''.</ref>

==In popular culture==
*Merfolk are a fictional race of humanoids that live underwater in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.
*Merfolk are humanoid aquatic creatures with fish-like characteristics in ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''.
*Merfolk are humanoid aquatic creatures with fish-like characteristics in ''[[Spectromancer]]''.
*In ''[[One Piece]]'', the Merfolk are among the different races in the anime and one of the two types that dwell underwater (the other being the Fishmen). Each of the Merfolk has their "fish" parts based on different fishes and related creatures like [[coelacanth]]s, [[Salangidae|icefish]], [[kissing gourami]]s, [[Japanese rice fish]], [[striped beakfish]], [[Pleuronectidae|righteye flounders]], [[olive flounder]]s, [[Chaetodontoplus|blue-striped angelfish]], [[Sillaginidae|smelt-whitings]], [[shark]]s, [[oarfish]], [[opah]]s, [[blue-ringed octopus]]es, [[shortfin mako shark]]s, [[seahorse]]s, [[catfish]], [[Bering wolffish]], [[goldfish]], and [[Cusk-eel|brotula]]s however not all of them are half fish as they have the aquatic parts of other marine creatures from waist down instead like an octopus.
*In ''[[Monster Musume]]'', Meroune Lorelei is a mermaid princess wearing gothic loli clothes who moves around in a wheelchair when she's out of water.
*The Techno Trolls introduced in ''[[Trolls World Tour]]'' bears a striking resemblance to mermaids but are able to survive and walk on dry land like the other tribes of trolls.

==See also==
{{wiktionary|merperson|merpeople|merfolk|merchild|merchildren}}
*[[Mer (disambiguation)]]
*[[Naiad]], female spirits of [[Greek mythology]] 
*[[Nixie (folklore)|Nixie]], water spirits of Germanic (especially Scandinavian) folklore
*[[Piscine humanoid]]
*[[Rusalka]], female spirits of Slavic folklore
{{Clear}}

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=bowuzhi2>{{cite wikisource|author=Zhang Hua 張華 |author-link=Zhang Hua |chapter=Book 2, "Foreigners" section; 卷之二「異人」|title=Bowuzhi |script-title=zh:博物志 |year= |origyear= |wslink=zh:博物志/卷之二#異人 |edition= |chapter-url= |noicon=yes |quotation=南海外有鮫人，水居如魚，不廢織績，其眼能泣珠。}}</ref>

<ref name="chengyu-kao-tr-lockhart">{{cite book|last=Lockhart |first=James Haldane Stewart, Sir  |author-link=James Haldane Stewart Lockhart |title=A Manual of Chinese Quotations: Being a Translation of the Ch'êng Yü K'ao |publisher=Kelly & Walsh, Limited |year=1893 |url=https://archive.org/details/manualofchineseq00qiuj |page=[https://archive.org/details/manualofchineseq00qiuj/page/280 280]}}</ref>

<ref name="kong&chen">{{cite book|author1=Kong Chao |author1-link=<!--(晋)孔晁(注)--> |author2=Chen Fengheng |editor1-link=:zh:陳逢衡<!--(江都)陳逢衡(補注)、陳本禮之子--> |title=Yì zhōu shū, juàn 17. Wáng huì jiě, dì 59 |script-title=zh:逸周書卷十七 王會解第五十九 |trans-title=Supplementary Notes # 59 to the Wang Hui ("Royal Assemblies") Chapter of the Lost Book of Zhou |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4tbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP46 |at= fol. 21b |series=Chenshi Dusao lou congshu 陳氏讀騷樓叢書 38|year=1808 }}. Commentary relating to the Huì people ([[Yemaek]]) in the east.</ref>

<ref name="schafer1952-p156">{{cite journal|last=Schafer |first=Edward H. |author-link=Edward H. Schafer |title=The Pearl Fisheries of Ho-p'u |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=72 |number=4 |year=<!--Oct. - Dec., -->1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2q04AAAAIAAJ |page=156 <!--155–168-->|doi=10.2307/596378 |quote=<!-- shark-people--> |jstor=596378|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
<ref name="schafer1952-p160">{{harvp|Schafer|1952|page=160}}, quoting the ''Shu-i shark-people'' (extracted in ''[[Piya]]'' 1.17): "In the South of the Sea are the houses of the shark people.."</ref>

<ref name="schafer1963">{{cite book|last=Schafer |first=Edward H. |author-link=Edward H. Schafer |title=The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of T'ang Exotics |publisher=University of California Press |year=1963 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqAGIL02BWQC&pg=PA202 |pages=202–203 |isbn=<!--0520054628, -->9780520054622}}</ref>

<ref name="shanhaijing01southern">{{cite wikisource|author= |author-link= |chapter=Juan  01. Nan Shan Jing |script-chapter=zh:卷01 南山經 |trans-chapter=Classic of Southern Mountains  |title=Shan Hai Jing (SKQS) <!-- (Siku Quanshu edition)--> |script-title=zh:山海經 (四庫全書本) |date=1773–1782 |orig-date=c. 400BC |wslink=zh:山海經 (四庫全書本)/卷01#又東三百里曰青丘之山 |edition= |chapter-url= |noicon=yes}}</ref>
<ref name="shanhaijing03northern">{{cite wikisource|author= |author-link= |chapter=Juan  03. Bei Shan Jing |script-chapter=zh:卷03 北山經 |trans-chapter=Classic of Northern Mountains |title=Shan Hai Jing (SKQS) <!-- (Siku Quanshu edition)--> |script-title=zh:山海經 (四庫全書本) |date=1773–1782 |orig-date=c. 400BC |wslink=zh:山海經 (四庫全書本)/卷03 |edition= |chapter-url= |noicon=yes |quote=又東北二百里曰龍侯之山無草木多金玉決決之水出焉〈音訣〉而東流注于河其中多人魚其狀如䱱魚四足其音如嬰兒<small>〈䱱見中山經或曰人魚即鯢也似鮎而四足聲如小兒啼今亦呼鮎為䱱音蹄〉</small>食之無癡疾}}</ref>

<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-renyu-humanfish">{{cite book|editor-last=Strassberg |editor-first=Richard E. |editor-link=<!--Richard E. Strassberg--> |chapter=125. Human-fish (Renyu) |script-chapter=zh:人魚 |title=A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the ''Guideways Through Mountains and Seas'' |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=2018 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnpFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 |page=129 |isbn=978-0-52029-851-4}}</ref>

<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-chiru-redrufish">{{cite book|editor-last=Strassberg |editor-first=Richard E. |editor-link=<!--Richard E. Strassberg--> |chapter=15. Red Ru-fish (Chiru) |script-chapter=zh:赤鱬 |title=A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the ''Guideways Through Mountains and Seas'' |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=2018 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnpFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89 |page=89 |isbn=978-0-52029-851-4}}</ref>
<ref name="shanhaijing-strassberg-lingyu-hillfish">{{cite book|editor-last=Strassberg |editor-first=Richard E. |editor-link=<!--Richard E. Strassberg--> |chapter=292. Hill-fish (Lingyu) |script-chapter=zh:陵魚 |title=A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the ''Guideways Through Mountains and Seas'' |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=2018 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnpFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 |pages=203–204 |isbn=978-0-52029-851-4}}</ref>

<ref name="sima_qian-watson-tr">{{cite book|ref={{SfnRef|Watson tr.|1993}}|last=Sima |first=Qian|author-mask=Sima Qian<!--司馬遷--> |translator-last=Watson |translator-first=Burton |translator-link=Burton Watson |chapter=Mushi-bu dai-42-kan furoku suiko |script-chapter=ja:蟲部第四十二卷 附録 水虎 |title=Records of the Grand Historian: Qin dynasty |volume=3 |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=1993 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SZeTl90IA8C&pg=PA63 |page=3|isbn=<!--0231081685, -->9780231081689}}</ref>

<ref name="wang_fu3-beishanjing3">{{cite book|editor=Wang Fu |editor-link=:zh:汪紱 |chapter=Book 3. ''Bei Shan Jing'', No. 3|script-chapter=zh:巻之三 北山經第三 |title=Shan hai jing cun |script-title=zh: 山海經存  |publisher=Wang Yi Bo<!--汪彝伯--> |year=1895 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NkAtAAAAYAAJ |at=<!--北次三經圖--> fol. 19a}} (illustration at [https://books.google.com/books?id=NkAtAAAAYAAJ&PP193 fol. 27a])</ref>

<ref name="wang_qi-sancai_tuhui-renyu">{{cite book|editor1=Wang Qi |editor1-link=:zh:王圻 |editor2=Wang Siyi |editor2-link=<!--王思義--> |chapter=Niaoshou 6-juan Linjie-lei Renyu |script-chapter=zh:鳥獸六巻 鱗介類 人魚 |trans-chapter=Birds & Beasts, Book 6 / Fish & Shellfish / Human-fish. |title=Sancai Tuhui Book 94 of 106 |script-title=zh:三才圖會 第94卷(全106卷） |publisher=N. p. |date=1609<!--萬暦37--> |chapter-url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2574392/53 |pages=}}; Also {{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBJaAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP398 |2=Huaiyin caotang 槐陰草堂 published version of 1609}}, with additional proofing editors (潭濱黄・晟東曙) listed at the book 5 title page .</ref>

<ref name=wetherall>{{cite journal |last=Sugimoto |first=Akiko |author-link=<!--Akiko Sugimoto--> |translator=William Wetherall  |title=Chasing the Moon (Part 9) |script-title=ja:追月記 |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=42 |number=3 |date=<!--September/October-->2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGK6AAAAIAAJ |page=40<!--40–42-->|quotation=Jiaoren (鮫人 mythical fish-human, mermaid, merman)}}. [http://www.wetherall.org/translations/Sugimoto_CM9_2006-09_Three_Chinese_Stories.html website]</ref>

<ref name="wu_renchen1667-chiru">{{cite book|ref={{SfnRef|Wu Renchen|1667}}|author=Guo Pu |author-link=Guo Pu |editor1=Wu Zhiyi (Wu Renchen) <!--呉志伊=吳任臣 --> |editor1-link=:zh:吳任臣 |others=Wang Shihan<!--汪士漢--> proofing ed. |chapter=Juan 3. Shouzu. Gudiao |script-chapter=zh:山海經圖 巻三 獸族 蠱雕 |trans-chapter=Book 3. Beast-kind. ''Poison-Eagle'' |title=Tuxiang shanhaijing xiangzhu |script-title=zh:圖像山海經詳註  |publisher=Fu Wen Tang<!--文畬堂--> |date=1667 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1MVaAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP138 |at=<!--unpaginated: Book 3, fol. 5a? -->}}</ref>

<ref name="yamaguchi_tetsuro">{{citation|last=Yamashita |first=Tetsurō |author-link=:ja:山下哲郎 |title=Hōbutsushū shikai (4): Shukke tonsei setsuwa kiji no kōshō (sono 1) |script-title=ja:『宝物集』私解（四）-出家遁世説話記事の考証（その一）- |journal=Meiji daigaku Nihon bungaku<!--明治大学日本文学--> |volume=23 |date=1995-06-30 |url=https://m-repo.lib.meiji.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10291/14933/1/nihonbungaku_23_16.pdf |page=21<!--16–23--> |hdl=10291/14933}}</ref>

<ref name="yuan_ke2004">{{cite book|editor-last=Yuan |editor-first=Ke |editor-link=:zh:袁珂 |title=Shānhāijīng jiàozhù |script-title=zh:山海經校注 |publisher=Liren shuji<!--里仁書局--> |date=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s6EdAQAAMAAJ&q=小兒啼 |page= |isbn=<!--9579113351, -->9789579113359}}</ref>
}}

'''Bibliography'''
{{refbegin}}
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*{{cite journal|last=Castiglioni |first=Andrea |author-link=<!--Andrea Castiglioni--> |title=The Human-Fish: Animality, Teratology, and Religion in Premodern Japan |journal=Japanese Journal of Religious Studies |volume=48 |number=1 |date=2021|url=https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/journal/6/article/1537/pdf/download  |pages=1–44 |doi=10.18874/jjrs.48.1.2021.1-44 |jstor=27039930|s2cid=237709697 |doi-access=free }}
*{{cite book|last=Fujisawa |first=Morihiko |authorlink=:ja:藤澤衛彦 |chapter= |script-chapter=ja:人魚傳説考|title=Nihon densetsu kenkyū |script-title=ja:日本伝説研究 |volume=2 |publisher=Daitōkaku<!--大鐙閣--> |date=1925 |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/972232/30 |pages=19–48 |language=ja}}<!--https://books.google.com/books?id=VhVIAAAAMAAJ&q=八百比丘尼+清寧-->
*{{Cite journal|last=Kuzumi |first=Kazuo |author-link=<!--九頭見和夫--> |title=Edo jidai no 'ningyo' zō (2): Hakubutsugaku no hakurai wo chūshin to shite |script-title=ja:江戸時代の「人魚」像（2）―博物学の舶来を中心として |trans-title=Das Bild der „ Seejungfraun“ in der Edo-Zeit 2 |journal=Bulletin of the Faculty of Human Development and Culture Fukushima University<!--人聞発達文化学類論集--> |number=2 |publisher=<!--福島大学人間発達文化学類--> |date=June 2006a |url=https://www.lib.fukushima-u.ac.jp/repo/repository/fukuro/R000000545/16-19.pdf |pages=45–55  |hdl=10270/499 }}
*{{Cite journal|last=Kuzumi |first=Kazuo |author-link=<!--九頭見和夫--> |title=Edo jidai izen no 'ningyo' zō: Nihon ni okeru 'ningyo' zō no genten e no apurōchi |script-title=ja:江戸時代以前の「人魚」像 : 日本における「人魚」像の原点へのアプローチ |trans-title=Das Bild der „Seejungfraun“ vor der Edo-Zeit: Das Herantreten an den Ausgangspunkt des Bildes der „ Seejungfrau“ in Japan |journal=Bulletin of the Faculty of Human Development and Culture Fukushima University<!--人聞発達文化学類論集--> |number=4 |publisher=<!--福島大学人間発達文化学類--> |date=December 2006b |url=https://www.lib.fukushima-u.ac.jp/repo/repository/fukuro/R000000546/16-27.pdf |access-date=<!--2020-11-18--> |pages=51–61 |hdl=10270/500 }}
*{{cite wikisource|author=Li Shizhen<!--李時珍--> |author-link=Li Shizhen  |chapter=Animals with Scales 4: Tiyu; Niyu |script-chapter=zh:鱗之四 䱱魚・鯢魚 |title=Bencao Gangmu |script-title=zh:本草綱目 |year=1596  |wslink=zh:本草綱目/鱗之四#䱱魚 |edition=}}
**{{cite wikisource|author=Li Shizhen<!--李時珍--> |author-link=Li Shizhen  |chapter=Chapter 44. Animals with Scales 4: Tiyu; Niyu  |script-chapter=zh:卷44 鱗之四,  䱱魚・鯢魚 |title=Bencao Gangmu (SKQS) <!-- (Siku Quanshu edition)-->|script-title=zh:本草綱目 (四庫全書本)  |year=1782 |origyear=1596 |wslink=zh:本草綱目 (四庫全書本)/卷44#䱱魚 |edition=}}
**{{cite book|ref={{SfnRef|Suzuki tr.|1929}}|last=Li |first=Shizhen |author-mask=Li Shizhen<!--李時珍 (著);--> |translator-last=Suzuki |translator-first=Shikai <!--鈴木真海--> |chapter=Mushi-bu dai-42-kan furoku suiko |script-chapter=ja:蟲部第四十二卷 附録 水虎 |title=Tōchū kokuyaku honzō kōmoku |script-title=ja:頭註国訳本草綱目 |volume=10 <!--十冊-->|publisher=Shunyōdō<!--春陽堂--> |year=1929 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/kokuyakuhonzokom10lish/page/n32/mode/2up |pages=|language=ja}}
**{{cite book|ref={{SfnRef|Unschuld tr.|2021}}|author=Li Shizhen |translator=Paul U. Unschuld |chapter=Animals with Scales. Chapter 44. ''Ti yu''. ''Ni yu'' |script-chapter=zh:䱱魚. 鯢魚 |title=Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume VIII: Clothes, Utensils, Worms, Insects, Amphibians, Animals with Scales, Animals with Shells |publisher=Univ of California Press |year=2021 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KXUgEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA732 |pages=732–734 |isbn=<!--0520976983, -->9780520976986}}
**{{cite book|ref={{SfnRef|Luo tr.|2003}}|author=Li Shizhen |translator=Luo Xiwen |translator-link=:zh:罗希文 |chapter=Drug 44-42 Tiyu. Drug 44-43 Niyu |title=Compendium of Materia Medica: Bencao Gangmu |volume=5 |publisher=Foreign Languages Press |year=2003 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFooAQAAIAAJ&q=renyu |pages=3606–3607 |isbn=<!--7119032607, -->9787119032603}}
*{{cite journal|last=Magnani |first=Arianna |author-link=<!--Arianna Magnani--> |title=Searching for Sirenes in the 17th and 18th Centuries: Fantastic Taxonomies of Anthropomorphic Fish in Chinese and Jesuit Texts |journal=Sulla Via del Catai  |number=26 |date=May 2022 |url=https://www.martinomartinicenter.org/uploads/2/2/8/5/22856686/26_magnani_87-105.pdf |pages=87–105}}
*{{cite journal|last=Matsuoka |first=Masako 松岡正子 |author-link=<!--松岡正子--> |title=Ningyo densetsu: Sengaikyō wo jiku to shite |script-title=ja:「人魚傳説」―『山海經』を軸として― |trans-title=Mermaid Legends Told Mainly in Shan-hai jing  |journal=Journal of Waseda University Society of Chinese Literature <!--中国文学研究 第8期-->|volume=8 |date=1982-12-01 |url=https://waseda.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=2283 |pages=49–66}}
*{{cite book|last=Nakano |first=Miyoko 中野美代子 |author-link=<!--:ja:中野美代子--> |title=Chūgoku no yōkai |script-title=ja:中国の妖怪 |publisher=Iwanami Shoten<!--岩波書店--> |year=1983 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=axMzAQAAIAAJ  |pages=140–143|isbn=9784004202356 }}
*{{cite book|last=Schafer |first=Edward H. |author-link=Edward H. Schafer |title=The Vermillion Bird: T'ang Images of the South |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=1967 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yaeESYegRXMC }}
*{{cite book|last=Schiffeler |first=John William |author-link=<!--John William Schiffeler--> |title=The Legendary Creatures of the Shan Hai Ching |volume=1–2 |publisher=Orient Cultural Service |year=1977 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqzfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22ch%27ih-ju%22+fish
}}

{{refend}}
{{Fantasy fiction}}

[[Category:Merfolk]]
[[Category:Piscine and amphibian humanoids]]
[[Category:Fairy tale stock characters]]