Baku - The Legend of the Dream Eater.
The Baku, also known as the ‘Dream Eater’, is a mythological being or Spirit in Chinese and Japanese folklore which is said to devour nightmares. The Baku cannot be summoned without caution, however, as ancient legends say that if the Baku is not satisfied after consuming the nightmare, he may also devour one’s hopes and dreams.
Tales of the Baku devouring nightmares originated in Chinese folklore, and later appeared in Japanese folklore between the 14th and 15th century, in what was known as the Muromachi period. While the Baku is a spiritual being, it has a well-defined appearance. It takes on the form of a chimera – a mythological beast comprised of a variety of parts from other animals. The Baku is typically depicted with a bear’s body, an elephant’s nose, a tiger’s feet, an oxen tail, and rhinoceros eyes. According to legend, the Baku was created by the spare pieces that were left over when the gods finished creating all other animals.
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. Baku-San, come eat my dream. Baku-San, come eat my dream.” Then, 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. To this day, it remains common for Japanese children to keep a Baku talisman at their bedside.
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