Baku Dream Eater

Baku Dream Eater-

Good Afternoon my dearest friends & followers, Today I thought I would bring you into the world of
Japanese folklore/urban legend. They have so many different stories that are so interesting, so I hope that you like them too! This one is called the Baku the Dream Eater. Which in some ways I could use this spirit if it is a good one. You see I have had bad dreams most of my life and I take medication to stop the bad dreams, which works most of the time. When I started doing the research for this post I tend to look for the images first, this gets my interest going. Then I look-up the legends. I found many different kinds of images of the Baku Dream Eater. Some were even a bit scary as other were more kinder looking. So on with the tale of the Baku Dream Eater of Japan.
In Japan if a child wakes from a nightmare, he/she knows what to do. They been told by their parents or grandparents of the Baku dream eater if they were to ever have a nightmare what to do. And this is what the children of japan do 'Hugging their face in the pillow after they awake, the child will whisper 3times- Baku-san, come eat my dream. Baku-san, come eat my dream. Baku-san, come eat my dream. As you see in the drawing to the left, if the child's request is granted, the monstrous Baku will come to the child's rescue and suck the bad dream away. However, a word of caution- You must remember that the Baku is a monster and cannot be summoned without consequences. What I mean by this is: If you happen to summon a hungry Baku, he might not be satisfied with just a single dream and suck away the child's hopes, ambitions & soul along with the bad dream, leaving them hollow.
What is the Baku Dream Eater-

From what I could discover, the Baku Dream Eater is said to be a legend according to
Japanese. As to how it was created, one legend says, it was the Gods of Japan when they were finished creating the animals of earth- they took all of the odds and ends lying around - then put them back together creating the Baku Dream Eater. What the Gods of Japan ended up with was your classic Baku- the body of a bear, the nose of an elephant, the feet of a tiger, the tail of an ox and the eyes of a rhinoceros. But of course there is the dark side to everything, as there is to the Baku the Dream Eater. As I said earlier in the post, the Baku eats all dreams, not only night mares. This includes dreams of aspirations, dreams of your future and dreams of hope too.
History & Legends of the Baku Dream Eater-

As for the History, legends, & folkloric of the Baku Dream Eater, there are many different creatures of the Baku that have changed over the centuries. It was said in some of the most ancient Chinese legends, the Baku were hunted for their pelts. Why? Well, Some said by using a blanket from a Baku, was a Talisman. And it could be used against illness & other malice evil spirts too.  However, due to the lack of the unavailable Baku pelts and hunting the creatures were eventually none to find...
The Baku was change to an image of the Baku over the bed to afford you equal protection.
During the Tang Dynasty 618 -907, it was very popular to have folding screens that were decorated with the Baku Dream Eater to protect the Emperor & his Dynasty. Later the legend of the Baku  transmitted to Japan. This is where the beast became associated with the Dream Eater Monster Baku that is best known today.
Since the Tang Dynasty the Legend of the Baku Dream Eater has stayed consistent with Japan.
However, I did discover in this post and my research of the Baku Dream Eater that there are not just one way of summoning the Baku. Yes, there's a variety of ways.  

1- In Fukushima they say, if you wake after a bad dream and say, 'I give this dream to the Baku'
    Then that dream will never trouble you again.
2-Other ways of summoning the Baku is if you repeat, 'Baku-san, come eat my dream' three times 
    in a row'. He will come eat your nightmares, A word of caution- You must remember that the Baku is a monster and cannot be summoned without consequences. What I mean by this is: If you happen to summon a hungry Baku, he might not be satisfied with just a single dream and suck away the child's hopes, ambitions & soul along with the bad dream, leaving them hollow.
3-During the Muromachi Period of Japan-1337 to 1573, it became popular for people on their
   death bead to hold an image of the Baku as a Talisman.
4-Finally during the Edo period 1603 to 1868 there were pillows in the shape of the Baku Dream Eater, that were said to protect the sleeper from bad dreams.
Baku Dream Eater in Modern Japan-

Many of the legends have faded away in time, but the Baku Dream Eater has not. It is still a
popular figure in Modern Japan.
It appears in many modern animations, comic books, trading cards too, Although in appearance they look more and more like authentic tapir and less and less like the folkloric monster on the ancient times.
So that is the tale & legend of the Baku Dream Eater of both China and Japan. I hope that you enjoyed the tale.
Love you all. Your Friend Always... Wendy..