Kappa
Location: Japan.
Time: Featured in local folklore since antiquity, belief in these creatures persists into the modern day, along with fairly recent supposed sightings.
The study of mystery primates and hominids seems particularly fond of ascribing cryptozoological identities to many different aspects of folklore, be it mythical or based on contemporary sightings.
The Kappa is a semi-human water-goblin from Japanese mythology which is very popular in Japan. Beliefs persist to this day that certain dangerous bodies of water are home to Kappas. They have a reputation for killing humans and eating their entrails, but as with many mythical beasts, there is a very formulaic way to outwit them. Carving your name into a cucumber and throwing it into the river as a gift for Kappa is a good preventative measure, but if you are captured by one on the shore, bowing is the best option (the polite Kappa will bow in return, emptying the bowl on its head, which contains magical water from which it derives its strength). In appearance, the kappa resembles a halfway between frog, man and turtle, yet another odd mythical hybrid.
Origins of the bulk of the Kappa myth seems obvious enough. Many cultures warn children not to swim in dangerous bodies of water, by invoking spirits or monsters that are said to live there. “Stay out of the water, or it will get you!” is a common phrase, but of course, in reality the true danger is of accidental drowning in deep or fast flowing water. Another potential origin is that it was a common Japanese tradition to dump deformed or stillborn babies in the river, because they brought bad luck, thus the association between goblin-like humanoids and water. Cryptozoological study of hominoids and unknown primates seems to consider the kappa to be a regional variant of the “aquatic ape” or “merbeing” category, and supposes that the myths are based on an actual aquatic primate. In the light of a more realistic approach, there is no need to invoke a zoological explanation for a purely mythical creature such as this.
But if we were to speculate about a real Kappa, we can use the “merbeing” model to that end. So, the Kappa (Baptopithecus japonicus) is a member of a genus that is widespread through Asia and some parts of Europe, it is believed the kappa used to range into China, Thailand and Korea, but has been exterminated from these areas through conflict with man, and the spread of rice farming. Only in Japan has a healthy respect for these creatures ensured their prolonged survival. Descended from a kind of macaque, the common ancestor of all merbeings, the kappa has come to resemble a goblin-like creature as large as large baboon, which spends much of its time foraging in rivers, creeks and ponds. It has broad webbed hands and feet bearing claws, and a long projecting snout, a slick thin coat of velvety greenish hair covers most of its body, with longer black hairs forming a mane on the neck running down the stomach. These creatures are omnivorous, and will gladly eat the roots and softer stems of water plants, as well as frogs, fish, salamanders and turtles, they will gladly accept offerings of juicy vegetables such as cucumber in many places, or simply steal vegetables from passing people. Like many baboons and macaques, they are fiercely territorial, and are able to viciously attack humans that intrude too close, children are sometimes attacked and eaten, but they are usually not able to fully overpower adults. They are generally solitary, but will socialise in the breeding season, generally twins are born and cared for by the mother, and she will stay on land more until they are able to withstand cold water.
Location: Japan.
Time: Featured in local folklore since antiquity, belief in these creatures persists into the modern day, along with fairly recent supposed sightings.
The study of mystery primates and hominids seems particularly fond of ascribing cryptozoological identities to many different aspects of folklore, be it mythical or based on contemporary sightings.
The Kappa is a semi-human water-goblin from Japanese mythology which is very popular in Japan. Beliefs persist to this day that certain dangerous bodies of water are home to Kappas. They have a reputation for killing humans and eating their entrails, but as with many mythical beasts, there is a very formulaic way to outwit them. Carving your name into a cucumber and throwing it into the river as a gift for Kappa is a good preventative measure, but if you are captured by one on the shore, bowing is the best option (the polite Kappa will bow in return, emptying the bowl on its head, which contains magical water from which it derives its strength). In appearance, the kappa resembles a halfway between frog, man and turtle, yet another odd mythical hybrid.
Origins of the bulk of the Kappa myth seems obvious enough. Many cultures warn children not to swim in dangerous bodies of water, by invoking spirits or monsters that are said to live there. “Stay out of the water, or it will get you!” is a common phrase, but of course, in reality the true danger is of accidental drowning in deep or fast flowing water. Another potential origin is that it was a common Japanese tradition to dump deformed or stillborn babies in the river, because they brought bad luck, thus the association between goblin-like humanoids and water. Cryptozoological study of hominoids and unknown primates seems to consider the kappa to be a regional variant of the “aquatic ape” or “merbeing” category, and supposes that the myths are based on an actual aquatic primate. In the light of a more realistic approach, there is no need to invoke a zoological explanation for a purely mythical creature such as this.
But if we were to speculate about a real Kappa, we can use the “merbeing” model to that end. So, the Kappa (Baptopithecus japonicus) is a member of a genus that is widespread through Asia and some parts of Europe, it is believed the kappa used to range into China, Thailand and Korea, but has been exterminated from these areas through conflict with man, and the spread of rice farming. Only in Japan has a healthy respect for these creatures ensured their prolonged survival. Descended from a kind of macaque, the common ancestor of all merbeings, the kappa has come to resemble a goblin-like creature as large as large baboon, which spends much of its time foraging in rivers, creeks and ponds. It has broad webbed hands and feet bearing claws, and a long projecting snout, a slick thin coat of velvety greenish hair covers most of its body, with longer black hairs forming a mane on the neck running down the stomach. These creatures are omnivorous, and will gladly eat the roots and softer stems of water plants, as well as frogs, fish, salamanders and turtles, they will gladly accept offerings of juicy vegetables such as cucumber in many places, or simply steal vegetables from passing people. Like many baboons and macaques, they are fiercely territorial, and are able to viciously attack humans that intrude too close, children are sometimes attacked and eaten, but they are usually not able to fully overpower adults. They are generally solitary, but will socialise in the breeding season, generally twins are born and cared for by the mother, and she will stay on land more until they are able to withstand cold water.