Baku Hand Tattoo Designs
Baku (Baku) as a hand — back-of-hand piece including fingers.
Why Baku works as a hand
Protection against evil, nightmare devourer. The baku eats bad dreams and wards off pestilence.
The story behind the motif
A chimeric creature with an elephant's trunk, rhinoceros eyes, tiger paws, and an ox tail. In Japanese folklore, calling out 'Baku, come eat my dream' after a nightmare summons the creature. However, summoning it carelessly risks it eating good dreams and hopes too.
Composition notes
For a hand, baku sits naturally as the focal subject, framed by traditional supporting elements — clouds, waves, wind bars, or seasonal botanicals — that fill the space between major anatomical landmarks. Plan the composition so the motif’s strongest line follows the body’s natural flow (back-of-hand piece including fingers).
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