What Is Baku? The Japanese Yōkai That Eats Nightmares

The Baku is a kind of Japanese yōkai known for eating nightmares. It is a mix of different animals, usually shown with an elephant’s trunk, a rhinoceros’s eyes, an ox’s tail, and a tiger’s paws.

In the past, people saw the Baku as a protective spirit. If someone woke up from a scary dream, they could ask the Baku to eat the nightmare so it would not turn into bad luck. The Baku started in Chinese stories but became a big part of Japanese folklore during the Edo period.

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Key Takeaways

Attribute	Details
Names	Baku, Hakutaku (sometimes conflated), Dream Eater
Translation	The name translates directly to the animal known as the tapir in modern Japanese.
Title	Eater of Dreams, Devourer of Nightmares
Type	Chimerical Holy Beast (Seijū)
Origin	Chinese mythology; imported to Japan as a protective spirit.
Gender	Ambiguous/Unspecified
Appearance	Elephant’s trunk, rhinoceros’s eyes, tiger’s paws, and an ox’s tail.
Powers/Abilities	Consumption of nightmares and the conversion of bad luck into good fortune.
Weaknesses	Over-hunger (may consume hopes and dreams if called too often).
Habitat	The spiritual realm; often summoned into domestic bedrooms.
Diet/Prey	Human nightmares and bad dreams.
Symbolic Item	The kanji for “Baku” or illustrations on pillows.
Symbolism	Protection, psychological relief, and the transformation of misfortune.
Sources	Sancai Tuhui, Konjaku Hyakki Shūi, Wakan Sansai Zue.

Who or What is Baku?

The Baku is a supernatural creature seen as a holy beast or chimera, and acts as a spiritual guardian. Unlike yōkai that scare or hurt people, the Baku is wanted because it only eats human nightmares. People believe it lives in the spirit world but comes to help when someone calls for it after a bad dream.

In Japan, the Baku is more than just a monster—it stands for divine protection. During the Edo period, people often depicted the era on talismans and pillows to ward off evil spirits. The Baku is considered lucky and is grouped with other famous creatures, such as the Kirin and the Phoenix. Its main job is to help people avoid lasting harm from bad dreams.

“Baku” Meaning

The word Baku (獏) in Japanese means both the legendary yōkai and the real animal, the tapir. The name comes from Chinese mythology, where the creature first appeared in the Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas). The word originally meant something like ‘strike’ or ‘tap,’ but in Japanese stories, it is linked to eating or consuming.

When the Baku legend moved from China to Japan, the name stayed the same, but its traits changed. In China, people valued the Baku for its pelt, which they thought could prevent illness. In Japan, the story became more about dreams and spiritual protection.

The name Baku is used the same way all over Japan. Sometimes it is linked to the Hakutaku, another mythical beast with many eyes, so the two creatures appear together in old art.

How to Pronounce “Baku” in English

In English, Baku is pronounced BAH-koo. The first part, ‘Ba,’ sounds like ‘father’ or ‘basket.’ The second part, ‘ku,’ sounds like ‘koo’ in ‘cool’ or ‘food.’ Both syllables are stressed evenly, just like in Japanese.

What Does the Baku Look Like?

The Baku’s look is very unique, as if it were made from the leftover parts after the gods created other animals. The Wakan Sansai Zue, an encyclopedia from the Edo period, says the Baku has an elephant’s trunk to sniff out and inhale dreams. Its eyes are like a rhinoceros’s, often shown as sharp or watchful.

The Baku is often said to have tiger’s paws, showing its strength and its quiet steps in the dream world. Its tail is like an ox’s, and its fur is usually shown as spotted or rough. In many ukiyo-e prints, including those by Hokusai, the Baku has a thick mane and sharp tusks.

Even though the Baku looks strong and a bit odd, it is not shown as scary. Instead, it is seen as a solid, protective creature. Some stories say its skin is so tough that weapons cannot pierce it, and its urine can dissolve iron or stone.

Habitat

The Baku does not live in a real place, such as a forest or a mountain. Instead, it lives in the dream world or in the space between sleep and waking. Stories say it moves through this spirit world, attracted by the energy from people’s troubled dreams.

At home, people would invite the Baku in. In the past, its home was thought to be the bedroom. People used to keep ‘Baku pillows’ or put pictures of the Baku under their beds.

This made the bedroom a protected space where the Baku could appear. Since it eats dreams, the Baku is never found in the wild or empty places. It is always connected to people and their minds.

Origins and History

The Baku first appeared in Chinese stories during the Tang Dynasty. At first, people thought it protected them from disease. They believed that using a blanket made from Baku fur would keep them safe from sickness and evil spirits. When the story came to Japan, the Baku’s protection became more about the night, a time seen as spiritually risky.

In the Muromachi period (1336–1573), people started putting images of the Baku on deathbeds to help souls pass peacefully, safe from evil spirits. By the Edo period, this belief was very popular. People would write the Baku’s kanji on their pillows or use pillows shaped like the creature. Over time, the Baku changed from a general protector against illness to a special ‘dream eater.’

As time went on, people started to mix up the legendary Baku with the real tapir. Early Japanese travelers saw the Malayan tapir, noticed its trunk-like nose and odd look, and thought it matched the old stories about the Baku.

Sources

Many old Japanese books and encyclopedias from the Edo period mention the Baku.

Source	Quote
Wakan Sansai Zue	The Baku has the trunk of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of an ox, and the feet of a tiger. It eats copper and iron, but also devours human dreams.
Konjaku Hyakki Shūi	When one has a bad dream, if they call ‘Baku-kura, Baku-kura’ (Baku, come eat), the dream will be consumed and no harm will come.

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Famous Baku Legends and Stories

The Summoning of the Dream Eater

In many old Japanese stories, the main tale about the Baku is how to call it. People believed that if you woke up from a nightmare, especially one that seemed like a bad sign, you should quickly say a special phrase: ‘Baku, kurae!’ (Baku, eat it!).

The legend says the Baku would enter the room and inhale the remnants of the nightmare. One story tells of a young nobleman who dreamed of a huge snake wrapping around his house, which was seen as a sign of coming trouble.

When he woke up, he called for the Baku three times. The Baku appeared as a mist, turned into its beast form, and ate the snake. The next day, the nobleman learned that a rival had left the city, so the dream’s curse was gone.

The Danger of the Hungry Baku

Although the Baku is kind, old stories warn not to call it too often. One tale tells of a man so afraid of anything bad that he called the Baku every night, even for minor problems.

At first, the Baku did its job and ate the man’s small worries. But since that was not enough, the Baku started to eat his hopes, dreams, and happy thoughts too. In the end, the man had no nightmares, but he also lost all motivation, joy, and ambition.

The Baku and the Treasure Ship

In stories about the Seven Lucky Gods, the Baku often helps out. The gods are said to travel on a treasure ship called the Takarabune. At New Year’s, children put a picture of the boat under their pillows to make sure their first dream of the year is a good one.

In many of these pictures, the ship’s sail has the Baku’s kanji on it. The story says the Baku guards the ship, keeping away bad spirits and nightmares so the sleeper’s dreams stay lucky. If a child still has a bad dream, the Baku on the sail is believed to come alive and eat the dream before the child wakes up.

Baku Powers and Abilities

The Baku is seen as a very strong protector. Unlike other yōkai like Kappa or Tanuki, the Baku is much more powerful. It can even change fate by taking away bad omens. Its main power is to purify the spirit and affect the subconscious.

• Nightmare Consumption: The primary ability to physically or spiritually inhale bad dreams, preventing them from manifesting as bad luck.
• Omen Reversal: The power to turn a “bad” dream into a “good” or neutral event through consumption.
• Warding Influence: Its presence or image acts as a barrier against lesser malevolent spirits (mononoke) that cause sleep paralysis or night terrors.
• Metal Consumption: In some older legends, the Baku is said to be able to eat iron and copper, though this is a less common attribute in the dream-eating lore.

How to Defend Against Baku

Since the Baku is kind, people do not need to fight it. Still, there are ways to make sure it does not stay too long or eat more than it should.

The best way to handle a Baku is to call it only after a really scary dream. If you do not often have nightmares, it is better not to keep its image in your bedroom, so the Baku does not become a bother.

Shinto charms called ofuda, which are for household gods, help keep a good balance and make sure only good spirits come into the home. If a Baku has taken too much of someone’s spirit, people traditionally pray at a local shrine to regain their energy.

Baku vs Other Yōkai

Name	Category	Origin	Threat Level	Escape Difficulty
Oni	Oni	Hell/Wicked spirits	High	Difficult; requires force/charms.
Kappa	Suijin	Water spirits/nature	Moderate	Moderate; trickery or bowing.
Yuki-onna	Yūrei	Death in snowstorms	High	Very Difficult; cold-based.
Tanuki	Obake	Animal shapeshifter	Low	Easy; they are pranksters.
Tengu	Kami/Yōkai	Mountain ascetics	High	Difficult; requires respect/skill.
Rokurokubi	Obake	Human curse	Low	Easy; avoid the head.
Gashadokuro	Yūrei	Mass graves	Extreme	Very Difficult; hide or pray.
Noppera-bō	Obake	Shapeshifter	Low	Easy; they only want to scare.
Jorōgumo	Obake	Spiders reaching 400 years	High	Difficult; avoid silk traps.
Nurarihyon	Leader	Unknown/Old age	Minimal	Difficult; he is hard to kick out.
Kuchisake-onna	Urban Legend	Mutilated woman	High	Moderate; use hard candy/puns.

Symbolism

Attribute	Details
Element	Air/Spirit (associated with breath and dreams).
Animal	Elephant/Tapir.
Cardinal Direction	West (associated with the ending of the day and sleep).
Color	Multi-colored or White (denoting purity and holiness).
Plant	Bamboo (often depicted in backgrounds of Baku art).
Season	Winter (when nights are longest and dreams most frequent).
Symbolic Item	Baku-makura (Specialized pillows).

The Baku symbolizes bringing order to the mind and overcoming chaos. In Japan, it shows the idea that night fears can be controlled and calmed with spiritual help. The Baku acts as a safety net, helping people deal with anxiety and trauma.

Artists often show the Baku in netsuke (small carvings) and ukiyo-e prints, as a sign that someone wants a peaceful life. The Baku is special among yōkai because it is known for helping people, unlike many yōkai that stand for disasters or bad behavior. Today, Baku still appears in games and cartoons as a guardian of sleep.

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Frequently Asked Questions