sentences:  The tale inspired such works as the poem "Sadko" by Alexei Tolstoy (1817–75), the opera "Sadko" composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and the painting by Ilya Repin.Merfolk are mentioned in the "Shanhaijing" ("Classic of Mountains and Seas") compilation of Chinese geography and mythology, dating from the 4th century BC.The "jiaoren" () or "shark people" are mentioned in the "Bowuzhi" (c. 290 CE); and a number of other texts, including the "Records of Strange Things" (early 6th century CE).