Baku (dream-eating yokai), are supernatural beings in Chinese and Japanese mythology that are said to be able to devour nightmares, so they are also known as "dream-eating yokai".
Over time, Baku has come to be seen as a summoned beast in Chinese and Japanese folklore with the ability to eat nightmares.
Baku's identity and beliefs have changed over thousands of years in Japan. According to legend, they were created from leftover puzzle pieces left over after the gods finished creating all the other animals, so they had the appearance of a mythical hybrid creature. Despite this, the fact that no one has ever seen a Baku has led to the fact that when asked to describe their identity, each person said something. The best known identification of Baku is from the Sankai Ibutsu, which describes it as a peculiarly shaped creature, bearing the body of a bear, the head and trunk of an elephant, and the tail of an ox. , rhinoceros eyes and sharp claws like tigers.
Despite its strange appearance, Baku is a sacred animal that is worshiped by humans as a guardian god because of its ability to eat people's dreams, especially nightmares. Stories of Baku's nightmarish eating originate in Chinese folklore, and then appeared in Japan between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Baku are also yokai, but they help people by eating nightmares or bad spirits that cause those nightmares. Wherever Baku appears, yokai and evil spirits flee in fear, which is why Baku is said to bring good luck and health. Baku only appear when called to but sometimes they do this without being called, but most legends say that the dreamer must wake up and call Baku if he wants them to eat his dream. Some stories even say that Baku can turn dreams of being eaten by them into good luck. If the children had nightmares, they would wake up and repeat three times "Baku-san, come and eat my dreams" then Baku would appear and eat those dreams so that the children could go back to sleep peacefully.
However, one must refrain from calling Baku to appear because if they still feel hungry after eating the nightmares, they will also eat the person's good dreams, beliefs and hopes, leaving them with an empty life. This comes from ancient legends that say, if they are not satisfied after eating dreams, they can also eat the hopes and dreams of the person who called them. This creates the taboo that summoning Baku requires caution, as if Baku is not satisfied after eating the nightmare, it can swallow all hopes and dreams. Until now, keeping a Baku amulet by the bed is still a common practice among Japanese children. If you sleep on a Baku skin, all diseases will be repelled.
📚 Explore more of the Mystical Creatures series here: Dive into the Enchanted Realms of Mythology
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