Secrets Unveiled: The Fabricated Mermaid Mummy Exposed

February 23, 2023 Dahal 965 Views 6 min read

In the city of Asakuchi, Japan lies a temple that houses a unique artifact: a mummified “mermaid” that has been worshipped for centuries. Legend has it that the creature, allegedly caught off the coast of the Japanese island of Shikoku in the 18th century, possesses the power to grant immortality. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was even worshipped as a means of warding off the virus. However, a recent study conducted by the Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts has exposed the “mermaid” as nothing more than a fabrication of cloth, paper, and cotton decorated with fish parts.

*The supposed mermaid is being measured and tested to see if it is real.*

The Demand for Mermaid Mummies

The Japanese fascination with these mythical creatures likely drove the creation of such mermaid mummies. In the past, stories, pictures, and legends had been created, fueling the demand for such spectacles. The study’s lead researcher, Hiroshi Kinoshita of the Okayama Folklore Society, noted that groups and technicians in Japan at the time had the skills to create these elaborate mummies. Thus, the “mermaid” artifact was probably created to cash in on this demand.

The Anatomy of the Mummified ‘Mermaid’

The results of the study were surprising to the researchers. Although the lower half of the creature’s body was found to be fish, the upper half was not mammalian, as initially suspected. Instead, it was made from cloth, paper, and cotton, with pufferfish skin used on the arms, shoulders, neck, and cheeks. The creature’s hair was of mammalian origin, while its nails were made from animal keratin.

The jaws, on the other hand, were taken from an unknown carnivorous fish. No internal skeleton was detected, but metal needles were found in the back of the neck and lower body. The bottom half was manufactured with scales from a croaker fish, and the body surface was painted with a paste-like substance mixed with sand or charcoal powder.

Uncovering the Truth: X-ray Imaging, CT Scanning, DNA Analysis, and More

To reveal the truth about the mummified “mermaid,” the researchers employed a range of techniques, including X-ray imaging, CT scanning, fluorescent X-ray analysis, DNA analysis, and radiocarbon dating. They also used optical and electron microscopes to examine the artifact. The carbon dating revealed that some of the detached scales were from the late 1800s, although nothing was found to corroborate the historic letter stored alongside the mummy.

*The ancient mermaid artifact is sent through a CT scan to reveal the truth about its origins*.

Religious Significance of Mermaids in Japan

Mermaids have played a significant role in Japanese folklore, with legends suggesting that eating the flesh of a mermaid could grant immortality. In some parts of Japan, there is a legend that a woman accidentally ate the flesh of a mermaid and lived for 800 years. The Enjuin temple where the mummified “mermaid” was found also preserves the legend of Yao-Bikuni, a woman who supposedly ate the flesh of a mermaid and gained immortality. The temple itself may have received the artifact as a donation, as mermaid mummies were often preserved in temples and shrines and passed down as treasures.

During the Edo period, there was a fascination with mermaids in Japan, and stories, pictures, and legends were created around them. The mermaid mummies were likely made to meet the demand for such relics, either as spectacles or for export to foreign countries.

Myth and Beleive

Hiroshi Kinoshita, who conceived the study, said, “One of the keywords in my research is demand – mummies were created because of demand.”

The legend of mermaids in Japan has always been linked to immortality. There is a legend in many parts of Japan that if you eat the flesh of a mermaid, you will never die. The mermaid mummy found in Enjuin temple was believed to have the power to grant immortality, and some people, believing in the legend, used to eat the scales of mermaid mummies.

The Yao-Bikuni legend, where a woman accidentally ate the flesh of a mermaid and lived for 800 years, is also preserved near the temple where the mermaid mummy was found.

The mermaid mummy was likely created to capitalize on this legend and the fascination with mermaids, and it’s possible that other mermaid mummies were made in various parts of Japan during that period.

Studies that show the truth

The recent study has not only revealed the truth behind the mermaid mummy but has also highlighted the importance of scientific investigation in uncovering the truth behind historical artifacts. The mermaid mummy underwent X-ray imaging, CT scanning, fluorescent X-ray analysis, DNA analysis, and radiocarbon dating during the study, revealing the various materials used to create the fabrication.

*Caught in the Pacific Ocean, off the Japanese island of Shikoku, between 1736 and 1741.*

The fabrication was made with fish parts, such as the tail of a croaker fish for the lower body and pufferfish skin for the arms, shoulders, neck, and cheeks. The upper body was mostly made of cloth, paper, and cotton, with the hair being mammalian in origin, nails made from animal keratin, and jaws taken from an unknown carnivorous fish. No internal skeleton was detected, but there are metal needles in the back of the neck and lower body. The body surface was painted with sand or charcoal powder mixed with paste-like substances.

The recent study has also raised questions about the authenticity of other artifacts preserved in temples and shrines in Japan. Hiroshi Kinoshita said, “What happened to the mummies left behind when they had finished their role as a spectacle? The mummies cannot be discarded because of Japanese feelings towards mermaids. So how did the owners cope? Mermaids were donated to temples and shrines. Mummies were carefully preserved in temples and shrines and passed on as treasures.”

The revelation that the mermaid mummy is a fabrication has caused disappointment among its worshippers, but it has also provided valuable insight into the demand-driven creation of such relics during Japan’s Edo period. It has also highlighted the importance of scientific investigation in uncovering the truth behind historical artifacts.

In conclusion

The mermaid mummy that was worshipped in Japan as a symbol of immortality has been exposed as a fabrication made from cloth, paper, and cotton decorated with fish parts. The recent study has revealed the various materials used to create the fabrication and has highlighted the demand-driven creation of such relics during Japan’s Edo period.

While the revelation may have shattered the myth around the mermaid mummy’s supposed powers, It also highlights the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking when it comes to cultural artifacts and legends. It’s essential to question the authenticity of these relics and not take their supposed powers at face value. Nevertheless, the mermaid mummy’s continued significance as a cultural artifact cannot be denied, and it will remain a fascinating piece of Japan’s cultural history for years to come.