The prototype of Baku (left) is an ancient divine beast - Dream tapir (mò). /Animation screenshot
Earthlings can no longer stop Kuromi and Baku, the "sweetest in the universe" animation CP. Among the top ten most popular characters released by Sanrio in 2022, the "Devil Rabbit" Kulomi, born in 2005, ranked among the top three on the list, crushing Sanrio's Hello Kitty and Melody and other classic ace characters.
, and Kulomi's loyal follower Baku also succeeded in making the scene. Because of his unyielding and favored Kulomi, Baku was also named the new "spokesperson for men's genius" by netizens.
Baku was also named the "Male Ethics spokesperson" in the animation industry by netizens. /Xiaohongshu
But what species is Baku? In cartoons, Baku is often called "purple eggplant" by Kulomi, so some fans believe that Baku is a "humanized" eggplant sperm. But in fact, the prototype of Baku is a mysterious beast from ancient times - the dream tapir (mò).
In Japanese culture, "tapir" is a mysterious animal from Chinese mythology, and its Japanese name is "baku" (Baku).
In the early 17th century Japanese manuscript "Sankai Ibutsu", a tapir is a divine beast with an elephant body with an elephant trunk, rhino ears, ox tail and tiger claws. It can prevent plague and drive away evil. In the woodcut manuscripts of the late 17th century, tapirs were given a new function - swallowing nightmare.
In the woodcut manuscripts of the late 17th century, tapirs were given a new function - swallowing nightmare. /wikireligeous
Among them, the tapir's prolong nose is its tool for sucking dreams.
Mythology research scholar F. Hadland Davis wrote in "Japanese Myths and Legends" that among Japanese civilians (heimin), tapir is a mascot that drives away nightmares. "Whenever people wake up from a horrible nightmare, everyone will shout, 'Oh, Baku, eat my nightmare'."
And "Baku-san" (meaning "come and eat my dream") has become a dream-driven spell among the Japanese folk. According to legend, just recite it silently three times to get rid of the invasion of nightmares.
Therefore, people often press the tapir mascot under the pillow before going to bed, or use a pillowcase with a Baku pattern. On the lacquered wood pillow of the princes and nobles, we can also see the Chinese character "tapir" drawn with gold lacquer.
is a pillow with a shape of tapir. /wikicommons
As long as you have tapirs accompany you, people believe they can have a good sleep.
In addition, tapirs often appear in the architectural decoration of Edo period (1603-1868). Especially in temples and shrines (such as Kamakura, Yakumo Shrine Tokiwa), sculptures of dream-eating beasts often appear under the eaves to help people resist nightmares and evil spirits.
Sculptures of dream-eating beasts often appear under the eaves to help people resist nightmares and evil spirits. /onmark website
Meiji period writer Koizumi Yakumo , also mentioned Dream Eating Tapir in the novel "Strange Talk". Koizumi Yabu wrote: "Its ability is unique and can swallow people's dreams."
Interestingly, in ancient Chinese records, tapirs did not have the function of "dream eating" at the beginning.
The original prototype of the tapir can be traced back to "Shan Hai Jing·Xishan Jing", "There are many beasts, and many birds, and many corpses and doves." Among them, the fierce leopard is considered to be the source of the prototype of the Chinese character "Tipir".
Fengleopard is considered to be the prototype source of the Chinese character "takus". /Qing Dynasty "Shan Hai Jing Picture Book"
Qing Dynasty scholar Hao Yixing In his book "Shan Hai Jing Ji Shu", he believed that "a fierce leopard is a tapir leopard", which is a kind of leopard ; while the Jin Dynasty Feng Shui master Guo Pu believed that a fierce leopard is a bear-like animal, "a fierce leopard is like a bear and is small, with shallow hair and shiny."
The earliest dictionary in ancient China, " Erya ", also records "tapir", the original text is: "tapir, white leopard", and the annotation is: "Like a bear, with a small head and a 𤷒 foot, black and white, can lick copper, iron and bamboo bones."
In the corresponding illustrations of "Erya", tapir has a "elephant".
In the corresponding illustrations of "Er Ya", tapir has a "elephant"./Yi Xuexuan Ying Song version "Er Ya Yin Tu"
As shown in "Er Ya", the tapirs in this period did not eat dreams, but they were a monster with excellent teeth and could eat copper, iron and all kinds of hard things.
until Tang Dynasty , the poet Bai Juyi made a concrete and vivid description of the image of tapir in "Pipet Ping Praise" - "The tapir is an elephant trunk, rhinoceros eye, ox tail, and tiger feet. It grows in the southern valley, 'slept on its skin and ward off the plague, and aims to ward off evil spirits'." It is commonly known as the "Five Unlikes".
can be seen, and the image of tapir in Japanese mythology also comes from this.
Dream Eating Beast in "Pokemon".
However, tapir is not a fictional thing that only exists in mythology. Fossils show that the strange-shaped tapir has indeed lived on the land of China.
Today, in Southeast Asia and South America, we can also see tapirs. There are four species of tapirs still alive, three of which are distributed in Central and South America. The most widely distributed Brazilian tapir lives in the tropical plains of South America, lurking during the day and foraging at night.
They are exactly the same as the tapirs written by Bai Juyi—their ears are like horses, their hind legs are like cows, their bodies are like pigs, but they also have long noses like elephants. The weight can reach 330 kilograms.
In Southeast Asia and South America, we can also see tapirs. /wikipedia
However, tapir has a gentle and shy personality, and is not as aggressive as it looks. They like to live in seclusion, but the rough man has a sensitive heart under his appearance (the reaction to the outside world is more sensitive than that of a dog) -
This is probably the case, so that Baku can capture the heart of the little demon Kulomi.
Tapires have gentle and shy personality, and are not as aggressive as they look on the outside. /Cartoon screenshot
Reference:
Species｜Does tapir really eat dreams?
Li Baiyu｜Ancient monsters—tapir, "Wild Animals" (1986)
All things and monsters talk | Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai
Monogatari mook|Dream-eating tapir: We meet in our dreams
Wind Xixi｜Shan Hai Bailing: Gods, birds, beasts, fishes in "Shan Hai Jing"
Wikipedia | Baku (mythology)
/Yi Xuexuan Ying Song version "Er Ya Yin Tu"As shown in "Er Ya", the tapirs in this period did not eat dreams, but they were a monster with excellent teeth and could eat copper, iron and all kinds of hard things.
until Tang Dynasty , the poet Bai Juyi made a concrete and vivid description of the image of tapir in "Pipet Ping Praise" - "The tapir is an elephant trunk, rhinoceros eye, ox tail, and tiger feet. It grows in the southern valley, 'slept on its skin and ward off the plague, and aims to ward off evil spirits'." It is commonly known as the "Five Unlikes".
can be seen, and the image of tapir in Japanese mythology also comes from this.
Dream Eating Beast in "Pokemon".
However, tapir is not a fictional thing that only exists in mythology. Fossils show that the strange-shaped tapir has indeed lived on the land of China.
Today, in Southeast Asia and South America, we can also see tapirs. There are four species of tapirs still alive, three of which are distributed in Central and South America. The most widely distributed Brazilian tapir lives in the tropical plains of South America, lurking during the day and foraging at night.
They are exactly the same as the tapirs written by Bai Juyi—their ears are like horses, their hind legs are like cows, their bodies are like pigs, but they also have long noses like elephants. The weight can reach 330 kilograms.
In Southeast Asia and South America, we can also see tapirs. /wikipedia
However, tapir has a gentle and shy personality, and is not as aggressive as it looks. They like to live in seclusion, but the rough man has a sensitive heart under his appearance (the reaction to the outside world is more sensitive than that of a dog) -
This is probably the case, so that Baku can capture the heart of the little demon Kulomi.
Tapires have gentle and shy personality, and are not as aggressive as they look on the outside. /Cartoon screenshot
Reference:
Species｜Does tapir really eat dreams?
Li Baiyu｜Ancient monsters—tapir, "Wild Animals" (1986)
All things and monsters talk | Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai
Monogatari mook|Dream-eating tapir: We meet in our dreams
Wind Xixi｜Shan Hai Bailing: Gods, birds, beasts, fishes in "Shan Hai Jing"
Wikipedia | Baku (mythology)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-