A Bao A Qu
Encyclopedia
Á Bao A Qu is a Malay
legend described in Jorge Luis Borges
's
1967 Book of Imaginary Beings
. Borges claimed that he had found the legend in the
book On Malay Witchcraft (1937), by C.C. Iturvuru.
The Á Bao A Qu lived in the Tower of Victory in Chitor
. The Tower of Victory consisted of many spiraling steps, from the top of which one can see the most beautiful landscape in the
world. The Á Bao A Qu waits on the first step for a man brave enough to try to climb up. Until
that point, it lies sleeping, a translucent blob, until someone passes. Then, when a man starts
climbing, the creature wakes, and follows close behind. As it progresses further and further
up, it begins to become clearer and more colorful. It gives off a blue light which increases as
it ascends. When the climber ascends halfway up the Tower, the Á Bao A Qu's tentacles become
visible. But it only reaches perfection when the climber reaches the top, and achieves
Nirvana
, so his acts don't cast any shadows. But almost all the time, the climber cannot
reach the top, for they are not perfect. When the Á Bao A Qu realizes this, it hangs back,
losing color and visibility, and tumbles back down the staircase until it reaches the bottom,
once more a colorless, dormant blob. In doing so, it gives a small cry, so soft that it sounds
similar to the rustling of silk. The creature has no eyes, but can see with its entire body.
When touched, it feels like the fuzz on the skin of a peach. Only once in its everlasting life
has the Á Bao A Qu reached its destination at the top of the tower.
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
legend described in Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
's
1967 Book of Imaginary Beings
Book of Imaginary Beings
Jorge Luis Borges wrote and edited the Book of Imaginary Beings in 1957 as the original Spanish Manual de zoología fantástica, or Handbook of Fantastic Zoology, expanding it in 1967 and 1969 to the final El libro de los seres imaginarios...
. Borges claimed that he had found the legend in the
book On Malay Witchcraft (1937), by C.C. Iturvuru.
The Á Bao A Qu lived in the Tower of Victory in Chitor
Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar...
. The Tower of Victory consisted of many spiraling steps, from the top of which one can see the most beautiful landscape in the
world. The Á Bao A Qu waits on the first step for a man brave enough to try to climb up. Until
that point, it lies sleeping, a translucent blob, until someone passes. Then, when a man starts
climbing, the creature wakes, and follows close behind. As it progresses further and further
up, it begins to become clearer and more colorful. It gives off a blue light which increases as
it ascends. When the climber ascends halfway up the Tower, the Á Bao A Qu's tentacles become
visible. But it only reaches perfection when the climber reaches the top, and achieves
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
, so his acts don't cast any shadows. But almost all the time, the climber cannot
reach the top, for they are not perfect. When the Á Bao A Qu realizes this, it hangs back,
losing color and visibility, and tumbles back down the staircase until it reaches the bottom,
once more a colorless, dormant blob. In doing so, it gives a small cry, so soft that it sounds
similar to the rustling of silk. The creature has no eyes, but can see with its entire body.
When touched, it feels like the fuzz on the skin of a peach. Only once in its everlasting life
has the Á Bao A Qu reached its destination at the top of the tower.
Sources
- The Book of Imaginary Beings, by Louis Borges, Translated by Andrew Hurley, © 2005 Viking Penguin (original Spanish © 1967 by Editorial Kier, S.A., Buenos Aires under title "El libro de los seres imaginarios")
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons, An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and MythGiants, Monsters & Dragons, An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and MythGiants, Monsters & Dragons, An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth is an encyclopedia of monsters, folklore, myths, and legends compiled by Carol Rose. The book features small entries about monsters, folklore, myths and legends from around the world, and includes many illustrations.- External...
, by Carol Rose, © 2000 W. W. Norton and Co. - The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, by John & Caitlin Matthews, © 2005 by HarperElement.