The Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams

The Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams

The following is an excerpt of the introduction and a chapter from the forthcoming translation of the ‘Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams’ by Nikita Bushin, published by Purple Cloud Press by October this year. This book is a famous reference for dream interpretations in China to date. It is based on the ancient belief that dreams can imply auspice or inauspice, good or bad fortune, disaster or luck. As such dreams are a means to foretell the future.
Introduction to the Historical Duke of Zhou:

易繫又辭，詩歌德音，通隆德盛，血誠赤心。
He appended and commented on the [Book of] Changes; poems and songs echo his virtues. He was abundant in knowledge and magnificent in virtues, with sincere blood in his crimson heart.

The Duke of Zhou arguably wears the token of being the most honoured deified figure in Chinese tradition, after Confucius. He epitomizes the righteous, sincere, loyal, modest and virtuous ruler to the Chinese, who vigorously promoted the patriarchal system of ‘the eldest son as the heir to the throne’, unlike previously in the Shang Dynasty where the successor was a younger or older brother of the late sovereign.

Furthermore, he has been celebrated as the spirit of dreams, or at least been associated with dream interpretation culminating in this present work. Lastly, he is famous in China for writing the commentary on the King Wen’s arrangement of the Book of Changes in the version we know today as the [Book] of Changes from the Zhou [Dynasty]. The subsequent introduction will strive to illuminate the Duke of Zhou’s character and nature especially in governmental affairs drawing from several ancient text, as textual references.

The overall political accomplishments of the Duke of Zhou are commended in chronological order in the Great Tradition of the Esteemed Book 尚書大傳, an alternative version of the Confucian Book of Documents 書經, which was written by the Han Dynasty‘s scholar Fu Sheng 伏勝, in scroll four:

周公攝政，一年救亂，二年克殷，三年踐奄，四年建侯衛，五年營成周，六年制禮作樂，七年致政成王。
When the Duke of Zhou acted as regent, in the first year, he rescued [the country] from [falling into] disorder; in the second year, he subdued [the King of] Yin; in the third year, he trampled [the noble] Yan; in the fourth year, he established the marquess of Wei; in the fifth year, he built up [King] Cheng’s Zhou [Dynasty]; in the sixth year, he systemized the rites and composed music; and in the seventh year, he [abdicated and]handed over the rulership to King Cheng.

Chapter Excerpt:
塚墓上開花大吉　棺自出墓中大吉　將棺入宅祿位至。
If flowers bloom on top of a burial mound, it forebodes great fortune. If a coffin has left a grave by itself, it forebodes great fortune. If a coffin is brought back to the house, it forebodes gaining wealth and an official post.

死人出棺外客至　開棺與死人言凶　棺歛死人主得財。
If the dead is rising from the coffin, it forebodes an outsider guest. If the coffin is open and one speaks with the dead, it forebodes misery. If you lay to rest a dead person in a coffin, it forebodes acquiring wealth.

見棺水上大得財　空遠無人主遠行。
If you see a coffin floating on the water, it forebodes acquiring great wealth. If there is a vast land with no people, it forebodes a distant travel.

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