April 10, 2006

• Baku

  
  I mused upon the idea of a Baku [baa-kuu] a mythological creature that eats dreams.

  I came to the conclusion that a creatures such as this can/could only
  really achieve a harminious existence if it ate nightmares.

  A quick peek at wikipedia proved, and provided more thought upon this:

  "

  Baku ("dream eaters") are spirits found in Chinese and Japanese mythology. They are generally pictured as chimeras, either with the head of an elephant and the body of a lion or with the head of a lion, the body of a horse, the tail of a cow, and the legs and feet of a tiger. Alternatively, they may be more pig- or tapir-like creatures that range in color from black to pink.

  Baku are generally benign creatures who aid human beings by eating nightmares
  or the evil spirits that cause such dreams. Sometimes they do this
  unbidden, but other legends require a nightmare sufferer to awaken and
  call upon a baku to eat his dreams. According to some beliefs, baku can
  change eaten dreams to good luck.
  Other tales make the baku more troublesome, eating all dreams and thus
  depriving sleepers of their beneficial effects, or simply awakening
  sleepers and depriving them of sleep in general.

  Baku are almost always seen as beneficial, however, and pictures of the creatures are often placed in Japanese bedrooms to help ward off bad dreams (in modern times, baku toys and plush dolls may be used instead). In addition, people sometimes write the Chinese character for "baku" () on pillowcases. In the Edo era, pillows with a baku depiction were sold widely."

  

  • 8:41 pm
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