Merfolk
Merfolk or merpeople are legendary water-dwelling human-like beings. They are attested in folklore and mythology throughout the ages in various parts of the world. Female merfolk may be referred to as mermaids, although in a strict sense mermaids are confined to beings who are half-woman and half-fish in appearance. Male merfolk are called mermen. Depending on the story, they can be described as ugly or beautiful. Folklore. China. The "jiaoren" ( "flood dragon people" or "shark people") that appear in medieval writings are considered to be references to merfolk. Several types of beings which may fall  under "merfolk" are mentioned in the "Shanhaijing" 山海经("Classic of Mountains and Seas") dating to the 4th century BC. This mythical southern mermaid or merman is recorded in 's "Records of Strange Things" (early 6th century CE). In the midst of the South Sea are the houses of the "kău" () people who dwell in the water like fish, but have not given up weaving at the loom. Their eyes have the power to weep, but what they bring forth is pearls. Similar passages appear in other texts such as the "Bowuzhi" (博物志)(). These aquatic people supposedly spun a type of raw  silk called "jiaoxiao" "mermaid silk" or "jiaonujuan" "mermaid woman's silk". Schafer equates this with sea silk, the rare fabric woven from byssus filaments produced by Pinna "pen shell" mollusks. Chinese myths also recorded this "silk" coming from "shuiyang" 水羊 "water sheep" or "shuican" 水蠶 "water silkworm".