Japan’s Mermaid Mummies: Unveiling the Ancient Mystery
When most people think of mermaids, they imagine the enchanting sirens of Western mythology—beautiful, half-human creatures with flowing hair. However, if you venture into the historic temples of Japan, you might encounter something far more unsettling. The “Mermaid Mummy” (Ningyo no Miira) is a grotesque, dried artifact that has fascinated travelers, scientists, and historians for centuries. Far from the Disneyfied version of ocean life, these relics offer a glimpse into the strange and fascinating world of Japanese folklore and Edo-period curiosity.
The Origins: Masterpieces of the Macabre
During Japan’s Edo period (1603–1867), a unique culture of curiosity flourished. This was the era of misemono—carnival-style exhibitions showcasing the weird and wonderful. It was in this environment that the mermaid mummies rose to prominence.
Historically, these mummies were not discovered in the depths of the Pacific but were crafted by skilled artisans. Initially believed by Western observers to be the taxidermy fusion of a monkey’s upper torso and a salmon’s tail, these artifacts were often sold to foreign sailors or displayed as holy relics. The most famous example reached the West via P.T. Barnum, known as the “Feejee Mermaid.” However, the domestic history of these creatures is far deeper, rooted in spiritualism rather than just sideshow trickery.
The Legend of the Ningyo
To understand why a temple would house a dried mermaid, one must understand the legend of the Ningyo. In Japanese mythology, a Ningyo is not a beautiful maiden but often a fish-like creature with a human face and a mouth like a monkey’s, capable of making sounds like a skylark or a flute.
The most pervasive legend surrounding the Ningyo is the story of Yao Bikuni. According to folklore, a young woman unknowingly ate the flesh of a mermaid brought back by her father. Because the flesh of the Ningyo is believed to grant eternal life and youth, she stopped aging. She lived for 800 years, outliving husbands and children, eventually becoming a nun (Bikuni) to wander the country planting trees and alleviating suffering.
Because of this association with longevity and protection from bad luck, mermaid mummies were often enshrined in temples. Worshipers would pray to these dried effigies for health, safe delivery in childbirth, and protection against epidemics.
Modern Culture and Scientific Revelation
While the spiritual allure remains, modern science has recently peeled back the layers of mystery surrounding these artifacts. In a landmark study concluding in 2023, researchers at the Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts analyzed a famous mermaid mummy held at the Enju-in Temple in Okayama Prefecture.
For decades, it was assumed to be a chimera of animal parts. However, CT scans and DNA analysis revealed a surprising truth: the mummy contained no skeletal structure. Instead, it was a masterpiece of papier-mâché, cotton, and plaster, dating back to the late 1800s. The lower body was covered in scales from a pufferfish, and the jaw belonged to a carnivorous fish, but the “monkey” torso was entirely manufactured from cloth and paper.
Far from diminishing their value, this discovery highlights the incredible craftsmanship of Edo artisans and the powerful human desire to physically manifest the supernatural.
Traveler’s Tips: Where to See Them
If you are a traveler with a taste for the macabre or an interest in Japanese yokai (spirits) culture, you can still visit temples that house these mysterious mummies.
- Tenshou-Kyousha Shrine (Fujinomiya, Shizuoka): Located near the base of Mt. Fuji, this shrine claims to house the oldest and largest mermaid mummy in Japan. The legend here ties directly to Prince Shotoku, making it a site of significant historical weight.
- Enju-in Temple (Asakuchi, Okayama): The home of the recently analyzed mummy. While the mummy itself may not always be on public display due to its fragile state, the temple grounds are steep in history.
- Zuiryu-ji Temple (Osaka): This temple houses a smaller mermaid mummy and is known for its connection to the dragon god.
Etiquette Note: Remember that despite their odd appearance, these are religious artifacts housed in active places of worship. Always be respectful, ask permission before taking photos, and maintain a quiet demeanor.
Sources & Further Reading
For those wishing to dive deeper into the ancient lore of the Ningyo, classical texts provide the earliest accounts.
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): One of the oldest written records in Japan (720 AD), the Nihon Shoki records an incident in the 27th year of Empress Suiko’s reign (619 AD) where a strange “human-fish” was caught in a river, marking one of the earliest recorded sightings of a Ningyo.
- Setsuwa Literature: Various collections of Buddhist tales from the Heian and Kamakura periods detail the karmic consequences of interacting with these creatures.
- Gazu Hyakki Yagyo: Toriyama Sekien’s famous encyclopedias of yokai provide visual representations of how the Ningyo was perceived in the Edo period context.