Bakunawa
The Bakunawa is a great sea dragon who rises to swallow the moon, causing eclipses. People bang pots and play gongs to scare it off, preserving light and cosmic balance.
Story beats
- 1) Seven moons once lit the world; Bakunawa devours six, leaving one.
- 2) During an eclipse, the dragon arcs from the sea, jaws around the remaining moon.
- 3) Communities make noise—drums, gongs, shouting—to force it to release the moon.
- 4) Some versions include a love story or offense that drove the dragon to hunger; others frame it as cycle guardian.
Context & symbolism
Bakunawa myths explain lunar eclipses and reinforce communal action to restore order. Noise rituals empower ordinary people to repel cosmic threats, linking folklore to skywatching.
In Bikolano tradition, Bakunawa was punished for desire; in others, it is a regulator of ebb and flow. The tale blends dread with agency—cosmos responds to human clamor.
Motifs
- Sea serpent swallowing the moon
- Communal noise-making
- Remnant of seven moons
- Ritual appeasement or romance motive
Use it in play
- Time-sensitive eclipse: players must lead noise rites to save the moon.
- Retrieve a lost moon-silver scale from the sea trench after an eclipse battle.
- Parley with Bakunawa—offer restitution or love token—instead of fighting.
- An eclipse cult silences villages so the dragon can finally finish its meal; stop them.