Jiaoren 鮫人 (jiāo rén)

Watercolor and Alcohol Markers, 2020
Wen Ting Dong 董文婷

Jiaoren, meaning fish people, are the Chinese form of merpeople. In Chinese mythology, there are many part-human part-fish creatures, including fish with human hands and feet, fishes with human heads, and Jiaoren that are human from the waist up and fish from the waist down. Jiaorens lived in the southern seas of China and moved through the water like fishes. Jiaorens are known to have their own kingdom and unique cultures.  They are skilled weavers of a priceless cloth called dragon silk which is as light as feather and water repellent. The tears of Jiaoren can turn into pearls. The oil from its body has a very low burning point and candles made from these oils can burn for a very long time. In fact, the tomb of the First Chinese Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is said to be filled with these candles which are called long glowing lights.

Fun Fact - There are theories claiming that Jiaoren legends came from island dwelling tribes that are skilled swimmers who dived for pearls and traded with the Chinese in ancient times. And it's not uncommon for native island tribes to weave their own clothes and tattoo their skin into a pattern to look like fish scales.