Detail of the Baku: Japanese Chimera

The image features a close-up, frontal view of the creature’s face. It has a pale, cream-colored hide with textured circular bumps along its jowls and snout. The creature possesses two large, circular blue eyes with prominent black pupils, complemented by a third, smaller almond-shaped eye centered on its forehead. Its mouth is downturned with visible dark, protruding tusks, rendered in a traditional Japanese painting style using fine ink outlines and subtle watercolor washes.

The Baku is a benevolent yōkai in Japanese folklore believed to consume human nightmares. It is frequently depicted in Edo-period iconography as a composite beast, often associated with protection against misfortune.