To every culture, there is a Great age long Tradition, the origin of most of this traditions around the World remains unknown and would remain a Mystery. Some of this came around from chain of events from the past just like the Ningyo!
Ningyo is a Japanese version of Mermaids, translating to "Human Fish" or Hangyo-jin(Half Fish Human). All this are according to ancient Japanese Folklore which states a clear distinct feature between western Mermaids and the Ningyo.
Having a Monkey's mouth with small Fish-like teeth ,shining golden scales and a quiet voice like a skylark or a flute-
A couple of Asian countries lacks Legends about the western Mermaid(as described by early Explorers) but they own strong myths about snake spirits which could transform into human, half-man half-serpent called Nagas/Nagini by indians. This spirit of the water are comparable to mermaids because of their close features e.g Beautiful, Seductive, Innocent and Vengeful.
Early Explorers tells tales of their sea expeditions giving details of their mermaid encounters, this had prompted Japanese traders to create a coy in a Monkey with a fish tail as Ningyos were described and called them "Ningyo dolls". This cause a great mislead and misinformation to the European Explorers who thought they had seen something similar in the Asian Coasts.
In 1880, the legend of Ningyo was adopted and the news spread all the way to China from Japan. even though it had been seen periodically in Japanese Folklore tales; but not as friendly as the Western description of Mermaid by these drunks and home sick sailors who had interchanged their wives at home with this image of mermaids found at Sea.
Unfortunately, there has not been enough concrete evidence about Mermaids except as depicted in Books and Movies, but this features of Mermaids and Ningyo granting wishes to Human, and their underwater habitat makes this creatures essentially similar. It was acclaimed that early western explorers have egocentric take on foreign folklore, hence they had a choice to appropriate or blend their own myth with those of foreigners.
The Western-centric/Eurocentrism Knowledge of this different begins had caused confusion, this two creatures have their supernatural powers which makes them cousins e.g all the Havoc at Sea is blamed upon Mermaids while Ningyo are known to cause stormy weathers when captured. So also is the believe of catching a mermaid would grant humans their wishes, and the meat of a Ningyo when eaten is rumored to grant immortality.
Scientifically, the authenticity of the existence of mermaids has caused several debates and social brouhaha for decades now, for this reasons; people had fallen in love with this creatures, some even worshiped them in some regions of the world and a lot of people would be thrilled if they actually Existed!
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