The Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams by Nikita Bushin
This two-part translation of the Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams (Zhougong jiemeng 周公解夢) is a most welcome addition to the literature on traditional Chinese folklore and its modern legacy. As we know, all humans dream, and all cultures try to make sense of their dreams. But the Chinese have made an art form of both activities. To my knowledge, no culture has spent more time encouraging people to dream (quite literally!) or thinking about what their dreams might mean. Although each of the several extant editions of the Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams provides an essentially self-contained record of Chinese popular beliefs, Johan Hausen’s “Introduction” and his essay titled “The Character of the Duke of Zhou” locate the two translated versions of the work within the expansive framework of colorful stories surrounding the fully historical Duke of Zhou, who died c. 1035 BCE. For reasons that will become apparent, he came to be known as the Chinese “God of Dreams” (Mengshen 夢神).
-Excerpt from the Introduction by Richard J. Smith,, a George and Nancy Rupp Professor of Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University
自身白衣人所謀 梳頭洗面百憂去 身拜尊長大吉昌
Seeing yourself dressed in white is a sign of others plotting against you.
Brushing your hair and washing your face is a sign that a hundred worries will disappear.
Bowing to your elders predicts extremely good fortune and prosperity.
身上汗出主凶惡 身病蟲生得重職 身上蟲行病患安
When one’s body is sweating, it is an omen of misfortune and evil.
When one’s body is ill with worms, it foretells one’s appointment to an important official post.
Insects crawling over one’s body is a sign that one’s illness will be
relieved.
-Excerpt from chapter 3. Body, Face, Eyes, Teeth and Hair
Image Excerpt: Dream Journey to Mt. Tiantai 夢遊天台圖 1814 by Qian Du 錢杜 (1763–1844)
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