Baku
In Japan, among superstitious people, evil dreams are believed to be the result of evil spirits, and the supernatural creature called Baku is known as Eater of Dreams. The Baku like so many mythological beings, is a curious mingling of various animals. It has the face of a lion, the body of a horse, the tail of a cow, the forelock of a rhinoceros, and the feet of a tiger. Several evil dreams are mentioned in an old Japanese book, such as two snakes twined together, a fox with the voice of a man, blood-stained garments, a talking rice-pot, and so on. When a Japanese peasant awakens from an evil nightmare, he cries: "Devour, O Baku! devour my evil dream." At one time pictures of the Baku were hung up in Japanese houses and its name written upon pillows. It was believed that if the Baku could be induced to eat a horrible dream, the creature had the power to change it into good fortune.
The Shojō's White Saké[2]
The Shojō is a sea monster with bright red hair, and is extremely fond of drinking large quantities of sacred white saké. The following legend will give some account of this creature and the nature of his favourite beverage.
We have already referred to the miraculous appearance of Mount Fuji.[3] On the day following this alleged miracle a poor man named Yurine, who lived near this mountain, became extremely ill, and feeling that his days were numbered, he desired to drink a cup of saké before he died. But there was no rice wine in the little hut, and his boy, Koyuri, desiring if possible to fulfil his father's dying wish, wandered along the shore with a gourd in his hand. He had not gone far when he heard some one calling his name. On looking about him he discovered two strange-looking creatures with long red hair and skin the colour of pink cherry-blossom, wearing green seaweed girdles about their loins. Drawing nearer, he perceived that these beings were drinking white saké from large flat cups, which they continually replenished from a great stone jar.
"My father is dying," said the boy, "and he much desires to drink a cup of saké before he departs this life. But alas! we are poor, and I know not how to grant him his last request."
"I will fill your gourd with this white saké," replied one of the creatures, and when he had done so Koyuri ran with haste to his father.
The old man drank the white saké eagerly. "Bring me more," he cried, "for this is no common wine. It has given me strength, and already I feel new life flowing through my old veins."
So Koyuri returned to the seashore, and the red-haired creatures gladly gave him more of their wine; indeed, they supplied him with the beverage for five days, and by the end of that time Yurine was restored to health again.
Now Yurine's neighbour was a man called Mamikiko, and when he heard that Yurine had recently obtained a copious supply of saké he grew jealous, for above all things he loved a cup of rice wine. One day he called Koyuri and questioned him in regard to the matter, saying: "Let me taste the saké." He roughly snatched the gourd from the boy's hand and began to drink, making a wry face as he did so. "This is not saké!" he exclaimed fiercely; "it is filthy water," and having said these words, he began to beat the boy, crying: "Take me to those red people you have told me about. I will get from them fine saké, and let the beating I have given you warn you never again to play a trick upon me."