The merlion is a mythological creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Its English name comes from a portmanteau of mermaid and lion.

The merlion is the national emblem of Singapore, and merlion statues are common in fountains throughout the country. The merlion is a symbol protected under the Singapore Tourism Board Act and the prior approval of the Board has to be obtained before the merlion symbol can be used.

History of the merlion

The choice of the merlion as a symbol for Singapore has its roots in history, the merlion commemorates the ancient name and the legend taken from the "Malay Annals" (literary and historical work from the 15th or 16th century) explaining how Singapore received its present name.

In ancient times, Singapore was known as Temasek which is Javanese for the sea. It was then, as it is today, a centre of trade.

At the end of the 4th century A.D, Temasek was destroyed by the Siamese, according to some historians, but by the Javanese according to others. As recorded in the legend in the Malay Annals," Prince Nila Utama of the Sri Vijaya empire rediscovered the island later in the 11th century A.D. On seeing a strange beast (which he later learnt was a lion) upon his landing he named the island Singapura which is a Sanskrit word for Lion (Singa) City (Pura).

The merlion, with its fish-like body riding the waves of the sea, is symbolic of the ancient city of Temasek. At the same time, its majestic head recalls the legend of the discovery of Singapore by Prince Sang Nila Utama in the 11th century, when Singapore received its present name.

The merlion at Merlion Park

The merlion was first built as an eight-metre tall sculpture in 1972 and was located at the mouth of the Singapore River to "welcome all visitors to Singapore". Built by a local craftsman, Lim Nang Seng , who won several prizes in the Singapore Handicraft and Design competition organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (then known as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board) in 1970, it was commissioned for approximately S$165,000 in 1971, and formally installed on 15 September 1972 by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the then Prime Minister.

The merlion has since moved. On 15 September 2002, it settled into its new home at Merlion Park, located next to One Fullerton , overlooking scenic Marina Bay, with the park opened by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The Merlion at Sentosa