Edo period
Hatsuyume β The Year's Prophecy
The first dream of January 1stβ2nd predicts the entire year. Japanese people would even place images of lucky symbols under their pillows to influence the dream.
Tradition β Annual prophecyJapanese dream tradition features Baku β a chimera with an elephant's trunk, tiger's paws and ox's tail that devours nightmares. Say 'Baku-san, come eat my dream' three times and the nightmare vanishes. The first dream of the New Year (hatsuyume) foretells the entire year ahead.
Baku β after a bad dream, say its name three times and it will consume the nightmare. Originally from Chinese mythology, Baku became central to Japanese dream culture.
Hatsuyume (εε€’) β the first dream on the night of January 1stβ2nd foretells the whole year. The three luckiest dreams: Fuji (Mount Fuji), taka (hawk), nasu (eggplant). This tradition dates to the Edo period (1603β1868).
"Baku-san, come eat my dream. Baku-san, come eat my dream. Baku-san, come eat my dream."
β Traditional Japanese invocation after nightmaresThe dream-eating chimera β elephant trunk, tiger paws, ox tail. Call its name three times to devour your nightmare.
The first dream of the New Year predicts the entire year. Best: Mount Fuji, hawk, or eggplant.
Author of The Tale of Genji (c. 1000 CE) β often called the first novel β which contains significant dream scenes.
'Bound by metal' β the Japanese term for sleep paralysis, attributed to supernatural spirits.
Did you know Japan has a creature that eats nightmares? Baku β a chimera with an elephant's trunk and tiger's paws β will swallow your bad dream if you call its name three times.
Did you know in Japan, the first dream of the New Year predicts the whole year? The hatsuyume tradition says the luckiest dreams are of Mount Fuji, a hawk, or an eggplant.
Did you know the world's first novel contains important dream scenes? Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji (c. 1000 CE) uses dreams as both narrative and psychological tools.
The first dream of January 1stβ2nd predicts the entire year. Japanese people would even place images of lucky symbols under their pillows to influence the dream.
Tradition β Annual prophecyMurasaki Shikibu's masterpiece, often called the world's first novel, uses dreams as crucial narrative and psychological devices throughout its 54 chapters.
Literature β Dream as narrativeA chimeric creature that devours bad dreams. Originally Chinese, Baku became central to Japanese dream culture. Children were taught to invoke it after nightmares.
Folklore β Dream protection5,000 years of dream wisdom. Now it's your turn.
Interpret your dream for free β