#Jiaoren

[fate-magical-girls]

The Varieties of Chinese Mermaids

In the modern day, most people will think of the pearl-crying Jiaoren. However JIAOREN IS NOT THE PERFECT EQUIVALENT OF THE MERMAID in pre-modern folklore.

Chinese mermaids come in multiple types. Most of them can be found in the Chronicle of the Mountains and the Seas (Shan Hai Jing/山海經). Others can be found in the In Search of the Supernatural (Sou Shen Ji/搜神記) or Extensive Records of the Taiping Era (Taiping Guangji/太平廣記).

YUFU/MER-WIFE (魚婦): Zhuanxu was a god-emperor in legendary times, whose accomplishments included sending two of his sons to complete the separation of Heaven and Earth. When he died, fish ate his corpse, becoming half fish and half human women. They live in the Great Wilderness toward the west of China. They combine traits of humans, fish, and snakes. The Classic of Mountains and the Seas states: "There is a fish half-withered, it is Zhuanxu that died and then revived; when the winds blow northward, the sky whips up great geysers, snakes transform into fish, and those are mer-wives."

LINGYU/HILL FISH (陵魚，鯪魚): The Lingyu lived in the northern regions of China, either in the sea or mountain streams. They have human faces and limbs, but fish bodies. They are identified with Chinese giant salamanders or mud carp in the modern day. The Classic of Mountains and Seas states: "The nation of Guye is in the sea, among the Guye mountain range, surrounded by peaks to the southwest. There are great crabs are in the sea. There are Lingyu, which have human heads, feet, and hands, in the sea."

CHIRU/RED RU FISH (赤鱬): The Chiru lived in mountain in the south of China. It was red all over, had a human face, and its call sounded like that of a shelduck or mandarin duck. Eating its flesh protected people from contracting scabies. They are identified with sockeye salmon in the modern day. The Classic of Mountains and Seas states: "Three hundred miles more to the east, there is the mountain called Blue Hill...The Ying Waters emerge from here. Within are many Chiru; their forms are like fish, yet they have human faces, and their cries are like that of a shelduck. Those that eat its flesh will never have scabies."

DIREN/DI PEOPLE (氐人): The nation of the Di People was in the South of China. They were human from the waist up and fish from the waist down. They might have been a mythologization of the real Di People, who lived in western China, spread out from Shaanxi to Gansu. They joined the confederation of nomadic peoples who conquered Northern China during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. The Baima people of Gansu believe themselves to be descended from the ancient Di. The Classic of the Mountains and Seas states: "The nation of the Di People is west of the Jianmu Tree. Its inhabitants have human faces but fish bodies, with no feet."

HAI RENYU/SEA MERMAID (海人魚): The Sea Mermaid lives in the East China Sea. They tend to be around five to six shaku tall. (4'7"-5'6" or 1.4-1.68 meters.) Their upper bodies were that of humans, and they were all very beautiful. Their skins were white as jade, and their tails had no scales, but were covered in fine rainbow-colored hairs. Their hair grew long and wild like horse manes. Their private organs were much like that of humans, and they often sought humans or were sought by humans as mates in coastal communities, where they would live in a pool on their spouse's property. Sometimes they had red feelers or fins on their elbows and backs. Their bodies could not be penetrated by blades, but their fats could be harvested after death to form ever-burning candles. Han Dynasty texts state: "Merfolk have a human-like form longer than one shaku. They are not fit for consumption. Their skins are rougher than those of sharks, and cannot be penetrated by saws. They have little holes on their neck that they breathe through...Their fat is used to light lamps in royal tombs because the fire will never extinguish." Extensive Records of the Taiping Era states: "Sea Mermaids are found in the Eastern Sea. The largest ones are five or six shaku long. They are shaped like humans, with the brows and eyes, mouths and noses, hands and fingers, and heads of beautiful women, lacking in no feature. Their flesh is white as jade, and they have no scales, but thin, soft, and sleek hairs of five colors about one or two inches in length. Their private organs were no different from those of ordinary men and women. Widows and widowers from coastal communities often acquire them and raise them in pools. They mate the same way humans do, and never harm humans."

LOTING YUREN/LOTING FISH-MEN (盧亭魚人): Loting Fish-Men were found in the south of China, mostly around the Guangdong, Macau, and Hong Kong regions. They had humanoid limbs and humanoid faces with yellow hair and yellow eyes, but scaly bodies with fish tails. They lived mostly in the water, feeding on fish, but also built houses from mussel shells, and their favorite snack was chicken blood. They were a mythologization of the Tanka People, a southern Chinese pariah class who were once forced to live on their boats, as well as the Semang People. Ming Dynasty texts state: "The Jin Dynasty rebel Lu Ting was defeated and fled into the Guangdong region, where he lived a fugitive life on the water. After some generations, his descendants were unable to procure food or clothes, so they went about bare bodied and were called Loting. They would often sail out on the sea fishing for food, and they could all lie underwater for three or four days without dying, for they had already become fish." Qing Dynasty texts state: "Among the merfolk are the Loting Fish-Men, who are very numerous on Dayushan Island and the Wanshan Islands. Their adults are like humans, with male and female. Their hairs are dusky yellow and short and their eyes are also yellow, while their faces are black. Their tails are around an inch long. When they encounter humans they dive fearfully into the water. Often they would float along the waves, which would amaze people, who would they chase them. When a man who acquired one their females did the dirty with her, the fish-woman could not speak, only giggle. After a long while, she learned to wear clothes and eat grains. She was brought to Dayushan, where she went back to the water. These are the merfolk who do not harm men."

JIAOREN/SAMEBITO/SHARK-MEN (鮫人): Jiaoren are found in the South Seas. THEY ARE MER-SHARKS. THEY HAVE INKY BLACK BODIES, WILD HAIR, GLOWING GREEN EYES, AND SHARP TEETH. They are usually employed by dragon gods as weavers, capable of working tirelessly and spinning special waterproof silks. Their tears became pearls. They were first equated to Western mermaids by modern fantasy writers romanticizing the fact that they cried pearls.

WA WA YU/KIDDO FISH (娃娃魚): The Chinese Giant Salamander was often called a "mer-person" in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and described having a cry that resembled a baby's wail. To this day the colloquial name is still "Kiddo Fish".

[maichan808]

My prompt for @mdzsrbb. Many thanks to Cas for bringing this lovely tale to life!

to be alone (with you) (7K | Jiaoren LWJ/Human WWX) Wei Ying stumbles into a secluded cave near the beach, and finds more than just fish living in the waters below.

read on AO3

[aberleigh]

Part of a production design project for a Tang Dynasty era 'The Little Mermaid'. I'll be posting more from it later this month.

She is listening to the fishermen gossip to hear more about the prince she rescued!

[fistfuloflightning]

was feeling a mermaidy way today so have a vaguely eldritch jiaoren!shen yuan from What the Water Gave by the lovely @ruensroad

[halcyonmirage]

Quick art I did of my OC Arlen! He got a dramatic ass haircut in RP-

[aline-the-cat]

Once, a beautiful jiaoren fell in love with a human cultivator and was loved in return... but the mortal world wasn't allowed to interact with the sacred creatures, and so the heavens punished the merman, with only his lover as the witness of such a brutal act...

"Wei Ying! Wei Ying! Please!"

"Lan... Zhan..." the dying jiaoren made an effort to open his silver eyes. Lan Wangji always looked so handsome, his golden eyes were so beautiful... Wei Wuxian would never regret falling in love with the man nor giving birth to their child "take care.... of a-Yuan" he whispered "I... love you" his final words echoed in their cave as his mythical blood painted the blue water red

"I love you! Wei Ying! Please don't leave me!" Lan Zhan cried over his increasingly cold body, he knew his son was already hidden, but his beloved, his dear Wei Ying... "please... please"

In the sacred cave only the pained whispers of a broken heart were heard for hours even aftef the sun set

Hey! Here's a little piece I made for Mermay day 8: Heartbreak, WangXian inspired :3

[r95irth]

New chapter of Jiaoren is up. Sorry i'm too tired to do an illustration this week. I hope i really am going to recover from moving because BR chapter needs a few adjustment too.

The most i did the past few days had been this doodle, that's all i can offer you uu°

[underpaidimmortal]

happy mermay everyone!! it's been ages since i've put out some art because this has been a project the size of a blue whale to handle... but at least we finally get a pretty jiaoren to make up for it!!

in chinese myth, jiaoren are mermaid-like beings who have tears that form pearls and are reputed to be spectacular silk craftsmen. i also combined a reference to the dragon kings who live under the ocean, which you can see in the jade horns (and the tail... just a lil)!!

as always, reblogs go a long way :)) happy splish sploshing!!

[mdzs-is-rotting-my-brain]

Wangxian Mermay 2023

Day XIII: Seashells.

Some light angst for Hump Day

It had been years since he'd seen the ocean.

Mama had taken them once, before her heath finally failed. Shufu had come with to ensure they did not overtax her, nor she pushed herself too hard for them.

That day had been gray, overcast, a light drizzle of rain kept everyone else away.

Lan Wangji had loved it.

A day with his mother and brother and uncle, for once not reciting a single rule about calm or moderation as they collected seashell after seashell to present to their mother.

She had left them soon after.

He understood it now, standing on the same beach, a box of seashells in his hands, better then he had at six.

"Lan Zhan?"

Wei Ying.

Upon meeting him Lan Wangji did not understand his alternating desire to push him away, and wanting to be close to him at all times.

Lan Wangji was a Clan raised Jiaoren, his life governed by order, routine, and rules.

Wei Ying was the opposite. Growing wild among the reefs and shallows, flitting between the humans and the Jiaoren like he was equally a part of both.

He knew how to twist, and tease, how to break every single one of Lan Wangji's restraints with heated looks and well-timed teasing winks.

Mama would have loved him.

He was brilliant. His rogue Jiaoren. As he knew how to be fun and delightful. He also had a capacity for gentle kindness Lan Wangji had not thought him capable of upon their first meeting.

He saw the look on Lan Wangji's face when they found the dust covered box during renovations. Knew it was important.

"We don't have to do this love." Wei Ying kissed his cheek, warm in affection even as he shivered when the cold wind cut down the beach.

Lan Wangji looked down at the box, then back to the slate gray ocean, white tipped waves cresting against the shore. The air thick with the smell of rain.

"I want to." He held the box tighter to his chest, the sharp edges of the wood pressing against his skin.

He felt Wei Ying staring at him, knew his brilliant mind was working up a way to make this easier. That is what he did. Somehow. He took heavy burdens and made them lighter. Easier to carry. It did not make sense. The burden was the same, but with Wei Ying it all felt…lighter. Easier.

He took Lan Wangji's arm, gently pulling him to the edge of the water.

Opening the chest he looked over the large assortment of shells, before he picked up one of the smallest ones.

He met Lan Wangji's eyes, searching him, silently asking for permission.

Lan Wangji swallowed and slowly nodded.

Wei Ying's gentle smile felt like the warmth of the sun across winter's frozen ground.

He turned to the ocean, crouching low, holding the shell between both hands. He treated it like a treasure. He treated everything important to Lan Wangji like a treasure.

"Mama Lan. From this humble husband, thank you so much for raising such a kind, and polite man." Wei Ying told the ocean where she had come from. "He is truly the best of this world. You have so much to be proud of. When you meet him again, and he is your son in that next life. I pray you both can walk longer together."

He looked back, his brows lifted in sympathy. Lan Wangji felt the bitter burn at the back of his throat. The heat in his eyes.

"He misses you mama Lan." He said softer, more reverent, "He always will."

He tipped his hands into the next oncoming wave, letting it take the shell from his hand.

It caught on the sand, swirling with the next two waves, as if it did not want to go yet.

Wei Ying stood, sliding his hand into Lan Wangji's.

When the third wave retreated, the shell was gone.

"A little at a time." Wei Ying wrapped his arms around Lan Wangji, hiding the box with his sleeves, "That's all. Just a little bit at a time."

Lan Wangji turned into him, hiding his face in Wei Ying's shoulder.

Around them the rain gently fell.

[pepoboyz]

now my heart is bound, like a plague upon the sound

oc lambda huang in qing dynasty qizhuang. doesn’t really look like it bc i was way too tired to draw the tiny little details of embroidery. 7 hrs on procreate

[casualmelody]

Jiaoren Facts

Some fun facts about my version of the Jiaoren & their kingdom!: - Jiaoren have the ability to breathe on the land and sea - They can change their tails easily from aquatic tails to human legs - Jiaoren have freckles with a bioluminescent glow - They can withstand very cold temperatures since their kingdom was very deep within the ocean - They can dwell in both fresh and saltwater - Lower half can be any aquatic being (fish, eel, squid) - Teeth are very sharp for carnivorous purposes - Their vocal cords are structured in such a way that they have a wider range than normal humans do - They cry gemstones, the rarity of which depending on how deep the sadness is - Jiaoren gems are considered extremely precious and are only given as gifts to close friends or family - Jiaoren Pearls enable a mortal to breathe underwater, as such the King and Queen expressly forbade the giving away of these pearls on pain of death - The Jiaoren people are highly gifted in any forms of the arts: weaving, sewing, singing, dancing, painting, acting, playing instruments, etc. - One of their more precious treasures is something called Dragon Yarn, a special type of sea silk - Nobles were expected to study the arts from the moment they begin schooling until they are eventually encouraged to pursue the skills they show most promise in. The more arts you knew, the more intelligent and cultured you seemed - The Jiaoren became very malcontent against the dragons, resenting having to bow to them as the superior beings of the sea who are blessed by Heaven - This lead to a very long war which the Jiaoren eventually lost, leading to the entire kingdom being wiped out (save for Xingshen) - The Jiaoren have bardic-like magic with their songs, either being able to cast actual spells or grand illusions that put visuals to the song’s story. The effects are only as powerful as the mood of the singer. If it weren’t so fickle it’d be used during combat, as such it’s more of a party trick. The effects can be strengthened with more singers, though any less energy would dampen the effects of the illusion - The Jiaoren kingdom was hidden from the public eye via royal magic because of the increased kidnappings at the hands of humans greedy for their tears and arts

[darkstoryspinner]

Jiaoren

Granny used to read to me about the amoret of sailers—the Jiaoren, mermaids with black skin and yellow hair, webbed feet and hands, wings, human eyes that cried pearls. They were famous for their art and weaving. If you were given a charm crafted by a Jiaoren, a sign of their trust, you were `enabled to breathe underwater, permitting you to visit them. One day, a Jiaoren befriended a family and…

[ziseviolet]

Chinese hanfu.

[aberleigh]

I love how you can see the moment I started to nail the water look. I spent ages staring at various pier references.

[halcyonmirage]

A river basin is no place for an Jiaoren...just as Graywater's underbelly, is no place for a child.

[turquiosescales]

ykw, im posing something else here other than asks for the Ao Brothers

For the Mermaid AU by @monkiart

Jiaoren!Lu Jiao

Pre-Jttw:

Despite his species, he was a very mischevious creature, always bringing bad fortune and irritation to the fishermen and local sea creatures in the ocean. No one ever put him in his place, not even his brother. Until the water gods Mazu and Gonggong put a seal on him (the marking on his forehead) to prevent him from causing trouble to the locals ever again.

After Jttw:

He is now a shell of his former self, he is weaker and more reliant on his fish form in order to swim away from fishermen and enemies. After Sun Wukong heavily injured him, he now claimed a new mock name given by the locals of the sea, "Ruo Laba". He now spends most of his time lurking under water and the seal on his head is only growing stronger and stronger. Sometimes it activates even if he is not disturbing the locals