Description
A PAIR OF LARGE JAPANESE WOODEN ‘BAKU’ 獏- TEMPLE ORNAMENTS, EDO PERIOD A lovely pair of very detailed carved wooden temple ornaments 木鼻 (kibana) in the shape of elephant-like mythical creatures known as 'Baku'. Baku 獏 (also written 貘) are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares. These creatures have the trunk and tusks of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of a cow, and the paws of a tiger. Kibana are ornaments placed at the top of pillars or at the corners of beams in a temple so they could serve as guardians of the temple. The last photo is an example of how similar kibana originate. One baku has its mouth open while the other's is shut. As a part of Buddhist symbolism the open mouth is meant to be forming the sound "a" あ, while the closed mouth is forming the sound "un" うん. Combined, they form the word a-un. "a" and "un" are symbolic of all beginnings and endings. Dimensions: Height 32 cm, Width 20.5 cm, Depth 49 cm. Period: Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868). In a very nice original condition with wear consistent with age. 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. (From Wikipedia)
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A PAIR OF LARGE JAPANESE WOODEN ‘BAKU’ 獏- TEMPLE ORNAMENTS, EDO PERIOD A lovely pair of very detailed carved wooden temple ornaments 木鼻 (kibana) in the shape of elephant-like mythical creatures known as 'Baku'. Baku 獏 (also written 貘) are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares. These creatures have the trunk and tusks of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of a cow, and the paws of a tiger. Kibana are ornaments placed at the top of pillars or at the corners of beams in a temple so they could serve as guardians of the temple. The last photo is an example of how similar kibana originate. One baku has its mouth open while the other's is shut. As a part of Buddhist symbolism the open mouth is meant to be forming the sound "a" あ, while the closed mouth is forming the sound "un" うん. Combined, they form the word a-un. "a" and "un" are symbolic of all beginnings and endings. Dimensions: Height 32 cm, Width 20.5 cm, Depth 49 cm. Period: Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868). In a very nice original condition with wear consistent with age. 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. (From Wikipedia)
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