Baku are creatures that are made of the spare parts that were left over after all of the other creatures were created. This creature was originally portrayed in Chinese folklore, gaining popularity in Japan as early as the 14th century. Baku are traditionally depicted with an elephant's head, tusks, and trunk along with a tiger's claws. They eat bad dreams. Evil spirits and yōkai flee from baku, so they are said to bring health and good luck wherever they go. Their images are often carved into the pillars above temple doors and on the columns supporting temple roofs.
FUN FACT: The word "baku" also means "tapir" in Japanese. Tapir's share this Yōkai's name because of their uncanny resemblance to the supernatural beast. This is why modern depictions of baku often portray them as tapirs instead of portraying them as chimeras.
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You can summon a baku by saying "Baku-san, come eat my dream." three times. This can be done prior to falling a sleep to prevent bad dreams or after waking up because of a nightmare in order to let the person sleep peacefully again. However, baku should only be called upon sparingly because they will devour a person's hopes and desires if they are still hungry after eating their nightmare, leading the person to live an empty life.
To this day, Japanese children often keep a baku talisman by their bedside to protect them from nightmares.
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Examples in various media:
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Drowzee (Pokémon)
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Bug (Parodius)
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Luna (Animal Crossing)
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Unnamed baku (Naruto) While most modern depictions of baku depict them as tapirs, this baku has a more traditional, chimera-like appearance.
