Chinese Urban Legends- Does the Mongolian Death Worm really exist?
Overview:
Prior to beginning this series, I posted a poll on #twitter, asking what people would prefer:
1) a series about Chinese urban legends OR
2) a series about Irish urban legends.
So far, the votes for Chinese urban legends have been leading by sixty percent. Interestingly, I have decided that both aspects of folklore deserve attention in the world of writing. In saying that, it’s my intention to begin this blogging series with Chinese urban legends, since it had received the most votes by other twitter users. However, I will also be working on an Irish urban legends series, as well.
Chinese Urban Legends- Part One:
“The Monstrous Mongolian Death Worm”, the narrative…
For centuries a large, serpent-like creature has plagued the Gobi desert in greater China. People say this creature eats men, women, and children, whomever it views as a potential victim of its acidic wrath. It does not care. Although, people say it’s important not to travel in the Gobi desert alone- but travelling with a buddy will not necessarily save you from the beast that’s almost three feet in length. It might have arrived in the Gobi desert from ancient Mongolia, following the Mongols conquering of the rest of Asia centuries ago. If that’s true, it would have survived to this day. According to legend, the Mongolian Death Worm waits in the sand, seeking out its next victim, those of which daring to enter its versatile domain. (original interpretation from the author)
Note: I changed some of the details because variation is important, within a folkloric context.
What makes this an urban legend?
With respect to urban legends, an important factor is the validity of belief. For instance, ghost stories are often not considered urban legends because some people find difficulty in actually believing them. Myself, I am definitely entertained by ghost stories, however, I don’t necessarily believe all of those I have heard. In the case of the Mongolian death worm, there’s no way of proving, nor dismissing its existence. That’s what makes folklore one of the most interesting disciplines in the world.
Although the story of the Mongolian death worm was likely created as a sort of cautionary tale, it’s quite possible this story was used to warn children of travelling too far from their homes, centuries ago. However, something to keep in mind: there are many animal species yet to be officially discovered around the globe. Since I’m a folklorist, I would not necessarily be surprised to learn the “Mongolian death worm” actually exists- somewhere.(see below for another similar article)
Let’s dig deeper:
The Mongolian Death Worm’s native name, Olgoi-Khorkhoi, means “intestine worm”, due to its red blood-like color, and size, which is the size of an intestine. It has been described by many to be from 2–7ft long, have the ability to spit out a corrosive yellow saliva and to generate blasts of electricity. However this latter power is thought of as being folkloric by the nomads of the Gobi. Western culture has come to call this monster the “Mongolian Death Worm.” Nobody is entirely sure what the worm actually is. Experts are certain it is not a real worm because the Gobi Desert is too hot an area for annelids to survive. Some have suggested it might be a skink, but they have little legs and scaly skin whereas witness accounts specify the worm is limb-less and smooth bodied. The most probable explanation is that the deathworm is a new species of amphisbaenia or worm-lizard, a group of burrowing reptiles. Although the native Mongolian people are convinced of the Death Worm’s nature, it will take more years of research to satisfy the rest of the world’s scientific community. [sic](https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Mongolian_Death_Worm)
More specifically with urban legends, there is often a way of rationalizing the legend itself. Although it is highly unlikely the Mongolian death worm inhabits the Gobi desert, we cannot dismiss the importance of transmitting legends from person to person.
Final Thoughts:
In one of my eBooks, I discussed Japanese urban legends, and their cultural significance. Despite existing on the same continent, it’s no surprise Chinese and Japanese urban legends are quite different. In terms of Japanese legends, much of these stories had been inspired by ancient Indian culture sometime during the Feudal Japanese era. However, China’s deep history goes back thousands of years- even longer than Japan. With that in mind, I look forward to writing the next piece on Chinese urban legends here at #Medium.
Thank you,
Brandon
Acknowledgements:
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