Daoism Series 26:
周公解梦
Duke of Zhou’s Explanations of Dreams
This book is allegedly written by the Duke of Zhou [zhou gong 周公] who is also said to have authored the Zhou Yi, the core of The Book of Changes. Here follows a small excerpt from chapter 3 ‘Physical Body, Face, Teeth and Hair’ [shen ti mian mu chi fa 身体面目齿发]:
自身白衣人所謀，梳頭洗面百憂去，身拜尊長大吉昌，身上汗出主凶惡。身病蟲出得重職，身上蟲行病患安，繩索系身長命吉， 枷索臨身病欲來。身或肥瘦皆為凶， 面對官者主大吉， 露體無衣吉大利， 婦人披頭有私情。
If one’s own body [wears] white clothes [in one’s dreams], then people are scheming. If one combs one’s hair or cleanses one’s face [in one’s dreams], the hundred worries will all be gone. If one pays respect to one’s superiors, it is greatly auspicious and prosperous. If sweat effuses from one’s body, it is chiefly inauspicious and bad. If the body is ill and worms emerge, one will obtain important position. If insects crawl on one’s body, the suffering of illness will be pacified. When ropes tie up one’s body, then one will [enjoy] a long life of auspiciousness. If shackles approach one’s body, then illness is about to arrive. Whether the body is fat or emaciated, both are inauspicious. If one faces an official, it is chiefly and greatly auspicious. If one is naked and without clothes, it is auspicious and favourable. If there is a woman [with unkempt hair] that hangs down loosely from the head, there will be a love affair.
Post-Scriptum: This article will be published as part of a book, entitled ‘Arts of Daoism’ about meditation, stillness cultivation, abstention from grains [bi gu辟谷], sleeping gong [shui gong睡功], dreams, vegetarianism and diet in Daoism, formulae for fasting and meditation incense, including several chapters from the alchemical classic The Essentials of the Shortcut to the Great Achievement [da cheng jie yao 大成捷要]. It will be a mixture of anecdotal and oral transmissions from my teacher Li Shi Fu and translations of a number of chapters from ancient texts. It is set to be released before Christmas 2020, and a first draft is already finalized.
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