Baku (mythical creatures)

The Baku ( Japanese 獏 and 貘 ) is a benevolent chimeric being of uncertain descent from the group of Yōkai , a group of monster beings of Japanese folk belief. Its origin is in China. He is shown with the head of an elephant and a rather stocky trunk, small ears, four feet with four claws each, a curly tail and the body and mane of a lion. Its fur is mottled and occasionally it shows flames on the groin and elbow joints.

The Baku stays close to people and can devour their bad dreams if they are called three times with the formula 獏 食 ら い ( baku, kurai - dt .: Baku, devour ). In this function, his portrait on the pillow should ensure a dreamless sleep. Also Netsuke were decorated with the image of Baku. At the mausoleum of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) also found carved representations of Baku.

Under the name of a tree deity ( Shirakina Kami ), the Baku helps against epidemics, for which purpose a calligraphy with his name was hung on the affected house.

Since the Chinese character 獏 denotes the tapir , which - unlike in Japan, where the animal was unknown - has been known since the time of the Han dynasty, it is assumed that the shape of the animal originally influenced the shape of the mythical creature.

• 

  Baku drawn by Hokusai

• 

  Figure of a Baku at the shrine of Konnō-Hachiman-gū in Shibuya

• 

  Figure of a Baku and a lion at the same shrine

literature

• Tijs Volker: The animal in far eastern art and especially in the art of the Japanese Netsuke with references to Chinese origins, traditions, legends, and art. Reprint with corrections. Brill, Leiden 1975, ISBN 90-04-04-2954 , pp. 17-18.