Family Gallery All About the Mythical Beast Baku at the Museum
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Frolicking Animals, Vol. 2 (Copy)
Copied by Yamazaki Kunzen (1817–1893), Meiji era, 19th century; Original: Heian period, 12th centuryJapanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 4
May 12, 2026 (Tue) - June 21, 2026 (Sun)Every year, the Tokyo National Museum holds a joint thematic exhibition related to animals together with other institutions in Ueno. Along with the Ueno Zoological Gardens and the National Museum of Nature and Science, we are proud to introduce this year’s thematic exhibition on baku. Baku are mythical creatures long known in East Asia who share a similar look with tapirs from the mammal class. With elephant-like trunks, baku are believed to devour nightmares. This exhibition presents paintings and books, along with pillows and mirrors decorated with baku motifs used to ward off evil. Through comparison with the real-life tapir, we invite you to explore the form and imagery of the legendary baku.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Pillow with Mythical Beast Baku | Cizhou ware, China | Jin–Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century | Gift of Mr. Naitō Gyōhō, TG-2363 | |||
| Highlight | Frolicking Animals, Vol.2 (Copy) | Copied by Yamazaki Kunzen (1817–1893) | Meiji era, 19th century; Original: Heian period, 12th century | A-1530-2 | |||
| Highlight | Volume 2 of Hokusai Manga | By Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) | Edo period, 19th century | QA-3006-2 | |||
| Highlight | Pillows with Mythical Beasts Baku and Nandina | Edo period, 18th century | H-3916 |