Baku (spirit)

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For other uses, see Baku (disambiguation).

Baku (獏 or 貘) is the name of a fantastic beast in Japanese folklore, originally from China. It is usually depicted as a squat, trunked creature, vaguely resembling the tapir with which it shares its name in Japanese. It is often described in chimeric terms. Today the most common description gives it the body of a bear, the legs of a tiger, the nose of an elephant, the tail of an ox, and the eyes of a rhinoceros, but other descriptions exist, such as one from ancient China pegging it as a goat-like animal with nine tails, four ears, and eyes on its back.

The baku is a benevolent beast, credited in China with a general ability to ward off evil, but it has become best known for its ability to devour human nightmares and the bad luck that accompanies them. A person waking up from a bad dream may call out to the baku for help, repeating three times "I give my dream to the baku to eat," or a similar phrase. The creature's image is considered an auspicious ornamentation for bedroom accoutrements, and was once painted in gold lacquer on the pillows of nobility.

The baku is also considered capable of devouring the evil spirits which cause plague and disease, and sleeping on the skin of one is said to keep away sickness and bad luck.

[edit] References

Mizuki, Shigeru (2004). Mujara 5: Tōhoku, Kyūshū-hen. Japan: Soft Garage, p. 137. ASIN 4861330270.
Mason, W. B.; Basil Hall Chamberlain (1901). A Handbook for Travellers in Japan. J. Murray, p. 201.
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[edit] Baku in popular culture

The baku makes appearances in many Japanese fantasy fiction stories, especially in anime and manga.

The Drowzee is a baku-like Pokémon, and Digimon features a character called Bakumon. The Monster Rancher series features a Baku creature as well.
Baku are also found in Magic: The Gathering in the Japan-inspired set Betrayers of Kamigawa. [6]
Baku appear in the Oriental Adventures supplement of Dungeons & Dragons, but are named "Shirokinukatsukami." Supposedly this is the longest single-word monster name in the game.
The baku appear briefly in the book Sandman: The Dream Hunters, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano (published by DC Comics, Vertigo imprint).
"Baku" is a main character in the Playstation 2 game Dual Hearts, characterized as a "pig" that eats dreams.
A baku appears in an early episode of Urusei Yatsura, accidentally brought into the real world when the main character is woken from a bad dream prematurely. A baku also features in the movie, Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer.
In Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, the villain, Bagoo is based on this creature.
In Final Fantasy IX, the leader of Tantalus is named Baku.