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Baku

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Baku (獏 or 貘) are a kind of Japanese youkai that devour dreams and nightmares. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art. The Japanese term baku has two current meanings, referring to both the traditional dream-devouring creature and to the zoological tapir. In recent years, there have been changes in how the baku is depicted, and it is sometimes described as a chimera-like creature, with the body of a bear, an elephant's trunk, rhinoceros eyes, an ox tail, and tiger paws. They are generally considered benevolent creatures, but since they can also eat pleasant dreams besides nightmares, there's a dark side to them.

Baku in Touhou

In Touhou, baku are residents and rulers of the world of dreams, and their job is to maintain order in such a world. They are able of creating, changing and eating (erasing) the dreams of every creature at will. Their humanoid appearance seems to partially follow the original description, as Doremy Sweet, the only known representative of this species, displays an ox tail.

Perhaps because of their abilities, Reisen Udongein Inaba considers them the most dangerous kind of youkai in the world of dreams.[1]

Characters under this Bestiary

References

  1. Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom - Reisen Scenario, Stage 3

See Also

  • Wikipedia's entry for Baku