The Basan is a rare bird found only on the island of Shikoku, in the mountains of Ehime. They are roughly the size of a turkey and shaped like a chicken. Basans are easily recognized by their bright red crest and brightly colored plumage that looks like tongues of fire. Their most notable feature is their breath flowing out of a dragon's fire-like mouth. However, the flame does not give off heat nor ignite combustible materials. Wood and embers make up their diet
According to legend, anyone who heard Basan flap his wings and saw the appearance of this ghost chicken would disappear without a trace.
Basan are completely nocturnal species and little is known about their behavior. They make their homes in remote bamboo groves, far from human habitation. During the day it hides in bamboo groves, but at night it emerges and wanders into remote villages at night in search of remains of bonfires or charcoal. When pleased or startled, the basan fish flaps its wings creating a distinctive rustling sound "basabasa" that makes people feel fear. It is said that the basa fish also has the breath of the fire god, creating demonic flames, but it has never harmed anyone.
The Kamakura period recorded many cases of Basan being encountered in the forests or appearing in densely populated areas. It looks a lot like a chicken but is unusually large, it walks constantly and occasionally swings its beak to the ground. In particular, many people see it spewing fire to burn bushes when detecting strange creatures. No one knows where it originated and no one knows until now whether it exists or not.
📚 Explore more of the Mystical Creatures series here: Dive into the Enchanted Realms of Mythology
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