Based on Japanese Folklore:

Baku are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares. According to legend, they were created by the spare pieces that were left over when the gods finished creating all other animals. The Baku is made up of an elephant head, rhinos eyes, bears body, tigers legs and an ox’s tail.

Legend has it that a person who wakes up from a bad dream can call out to Baku. A child having a nightmare in Japan will wake up and repeat three times, ‘Baku-san, come eat my dream.’ Legends say that the Baku will come into the child’s room and devour the bad dream, allowing the child to go back to sleep peacefully. However, calling to the Baku must be done sparingly, because if he remains hungry after eating one’s nightmare, he may also devour their hopes and desires as well, leaving them to live an empty life. The Baku can also be summoned for protection from bad dreams prior to falling asleep at night.

Painted in acrylic on 20cm x 20cm square canvas