Baku (獏 or 貘) are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares. According to legend, they were created by the spare pieces that were left over when the gods finished creating all other animals. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have appeared in manga and anime.
The Japanese term baku has two current meanings, referring to both the traditional dream-devouring creature and to the Malayan tapir.[1] In recent years, there have been changes in how the baku is depicted.
The traditional Japanese nightmare-devouring baku originates in Chinese folklore about the mo 貘 (giant panda) and was familiar in Japan as early as the Muromachi period (14th–15th century).[2] Hori Tadao has described the dream-eating abilities attributed to the traditional baku and relates them to other preventatives against nightmare such as amulets. Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database, citing a 1957 paper, and Mizuki also describe the dream-devouring capacities of the traditional baku.[3]
An early 17th-century Japanese manuscript, the Sankai Ibutsu (山海異物), describes the baku as a shy, Chinese mythical chimera with the trunk and tusks of an elephant, the ears of a rhinoceros, the tail of a cow, the body of a bear and the paws of a tiger, which protected against pestilence and evil, although eating nightmares was not included among its abilities.[1] However, in a 1791 Japanese wood-block illustration, a specifically dream-destroying baku is depicted with an elephant’s head, tusks, and trunk, with horns and tiger’s claws.[4] The elephant’s head, trunk, and tusks are characteristic of baku portrayed in classical era (pre-Meiji) Japanese wood-block prints (see illustration) and in shrine, temple, and netsuke carvings.[5][6][7][8]
Writing in the Meiji period, Lafcadio Hearn (1902) described a baku with very similar attributes that was also able to devour nightmares.[9] Legend has it that a person who wakes up from a bad dream can call out to baku. A child having a nightmare in Japan will wake up and repeat three times, "Baku-san, come eat my dream." Legends say that the baku will come into the child's room and devour the bad dream, allowing the child to go back to sleep peacefully. However, calling to the baku must be done sparingly, because if he remains hungry after eating one's nightmare, he may also devour their hopes and desires as well, leaving them to live an empty life. The baku can also be summoned for protection from bad dreams prior to falling asleep at night. In the 1910s, it was common for Japanese children to keep a baku talisman at their bedside.[10][11]
Gallery
Baku sculpture at the Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Baku and Lion sculpture at the Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
^ abNakagawa Masako (1999). "Sankai ibutsu: An early seventeenth-century Japanese illustrated manuscript". Sino-Japanese Studies. 11 (24–38): 33–34.
^Hori Tadao 2005 "Cultural note on dreaming and dream study in the future: Release from nightmare and development of dream control technique," Sogical Rhythms 3 (2), 49–55.
^Kern, Adam L. 2007 Manga from the Floating World: Comicbook culture and the kibyoshi of Edo Japan. Cambridge: Harvard University Asian Center. Page 236, figure 4.26.
^Hadland Davis F., "Myths and Legends of Japan" (London: G. G. Harrap, 1913)
Bibliography
Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. International Research Center for Japanese Studies. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. (Summary of excerpt from Warui Yume o Mita Toki (悪い夢をみたとき, When You've Had a Bad Dream?) by Keidō Matsushita, published in volume 5 of the journal Shōnai Minzoku (庄内民俗, Shōnai Folk Customs) on June 15, 1957).
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baku (mythology).
Baku – The Dream Eater at hyakumonogatari.com (English).
Netsuke: masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains many representations of Baku
January 07, 2023
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Baku 獏 or 貘 are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares According to legend they were created by the spare pieces that were left over when the gods finished creating all other animals They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art and more recently have appeared in manga and anime A baku as illustrated by Hokusai The Japanese term baku has two current meanings referring to both the traditional dream devouring creature and to the Malayan tapir 1 In recent years there have been changes in how the baku is depicted Contents 1 History and description 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory and description EditThe traditional Japanese nightmare devouring baku originates in Chinese folklore about the mo 貘 giant panda and was familiar in Japan as early as the Muromachi period 14th 15th century 2 Hori Tadao has described the dream eating abilities attributed to the traditional baku and relates them to other preventatives against nightmare such as amulets Kaii Yōkai Denshō Database citing a 1957 paper and Mizuki also describe the dream devouring capacities of the traditional baku 3 An early 17th century Japanese manuscript the Sankai Ibutsu 山海異物 describes the baku as a shy Chinese mythical chimera with the trunk and tusks of an elephant the ears of a rhinoceros the tail of a cow the body of a bear and the paws of a tiger which protected against pestilence and evil although eating nightmares was not included among its abilities 1 However in a 1791 Japanese wood block illustration a specifically dream destroying baku is depicted with an elephant s head tusks and trunk with horns and tiger s claws 4 The elephant s head trunk and tusks are characteristic of baku portrayed in classical era pre Meiji Japanese wood block prints see illustration and in shrine temple and netsuke carvings 5 6 7 8 Writing in the Meiji period Lafcadio Hearn 1902 described a baku with very similar attributes that was also able to devour nightmares 9 Legend has it that a person who wakes up from a bad dream can call out to baku A child having a nightmare in Japan will wake up and repeat three times Baku san come eat my dream Legends say that the baku will come into the child s room and devour the bad dream allowing the child to go back to sleep peacefully However calling to the baku must be done sparingly because if he remains hungry after eating one s nightmare he may also devour their hopes and desires as well leaving them to live an empty life The baku can also be summoned for protection from bad dreams prior to falling asleep at night In the 1910s it was common for Japanese children to keep a baku talisman at their bedside 10 11 Gallery Edit Baku sculpture at the Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine Shibuya Tokyo Japan Baku and Lion sculpture at the Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine Shibuya Tokyo JapanSee also EditDreamcatcherReferences Edit a b Nakagawa Masako 1999 Sankai ibutsu An early seventeenth century Japanese illustrated manuscript Sino Japanese Studies 11 24 38 33 34 Hori Tadao 2005 Cultural note on dreaming and dream study in the future Release from nightmare and development of dream control technique Sogical Rhythms 3 2 49 55 Mizuki Shigeru 2004 Mujara 5 Tōhoku Kyushu hen in Japanese Japan Soft Garage page 137 ISBN 4 86133 027 0 Kern Adam L 2007 Manga from the Floating World Comicbook culture and the kibyoshi of Edo Japan Cambridge Harvard University Asian Center Page 236 figure 4 26 夢貘まくら Accessed September 5 2007 Richard Smart Delivering men from evil Japan Times February 16 2007 Accessed September 8 2007 http www onmarkproductions com html shrine guide 2 shtml Accessed September 8 2007 http collectionsonline lacma org mwebcgi mweb exe request image hex M91 250 104 jpg Archived 2012 04 06 at the Wayback Machine Accessed October 12 2010 Hearn Lafcadio 1902 Kottō Being Japanese Curios with Sundry Cobwebs Macmillan Pages 245 248 ISBN 4 86133 027 0 M Reese The Asian traditions and myths pg 60 Hadland Davis F Myths and Legends of Japan London G G Harrap 1913 Bibliography EditKaii Yōkai Denshō Database International Research Center for Japanese Studies Retrieved on 2007 05 12 Summary of excerpt from Warui Yume o Mita Toki 悪い夢をみたとき When You ve Had a Bad Dream by Keidō Matsushita published in volume 5 of the journal Shōnai Minzoku 庄内民俗 Shōnai Folk Customs on June 15 1957 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baku mythology Baku The Dream Eater at hyakumonogatari com English Netsuke masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art fully available online as PDF which contains many representations of Baku Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baku mythology amp oldid 1119146467, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
