Shuihouzi

The Water Ape

Folk water demon that drowns swimmers to find a replacement soul.

The water ape, as the folk demon of ponds and rivers is called, lurks beneath the surface and drags swimmers down to drown, seeking a replacement for its own lost life. Nearly every region has its version of the tale, and the warning against children swimming alone is the practical heart of the myth — the deepest fear given a hairy, grinning shape.