Shan Hai Jing , an ancient Chinese text from at least the fourth century BC contains the earliest reference to a mermaid, calling the creature lingyu or renyu. According to the book, apart from lingyu , there were other kinds of mermaids, including chiru , diren and huren. In one chapter, mermaids are depicted as sounding like crying babies and have four feet. In addition, some mermaids have the ability to resurrect when they pass away.
He Bo, or Feng Yi, god of the Yellow River in Chinese fairy tales, is described as a man with a half-human and half-fish body. Their tears can become pearls. The cloth or silk made by jiaoren is called jiaoxiao or jiaosha , which is mentioned in many poems in Chinese ancient literature. Without any fish-like features, they are beautiful females with fairy skin and very long hair. With black skin and yellow hair, the mermaids in his book have two sexes, webbed hands and feet and human eyes, mouths and noses.
Unlike the others mentioned, they have red wings on their backs. Bai becomes human and get married to the son of a businessman. But she has to stay in a lake from time to time to remain vigorous and fit. Mermaids in Chinese fairy tales. Yearender: auctions overview. Copyright -. All rights reserved. Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Mermaids in Chinese fairy tales By Li Hongrui chinadaily.
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