周公解夢
The Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams
The following is an excerpt of the forthcoming translation of the ‘Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams’ by Nikita Bushin, published by Purple Cloud Press by June 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.
Two other books are worth mentioning here in this context of Chinese dream interpretation, which are the ‘Categorical Study of Dream Interpretation’ 夢占類考 and ‘An Easy Guide to Dream Interpretation’ 夢占逸旨; the latter has been translated by Richard Strassberg in ‘Wandering Spirits’:
Chapter 01 (working draft):
天地日月星辰
The Heaven and the Earth, the Sun and the Moon and the Stellar Constellations
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天門開貴人薦引
When the gates of heaven open up, one will be introduced [to opportunities] by a noble man.
天光照主疾病除 天晴雨散百憂去 天明婦人生貴子
If the heaven’s light illuminates you, it forebodes that all the sicknesses shall be eradicated.
The heaven is bright and the rain has stopped – countless worries shall dissipate.
The shining of the dawn forebodes the spouse to give birth to a noble child.
天門赤主有大起 仰面向天大富貴 乘龍上天大主貴
The gates of heaven are of scarlet colour – it forebodes the rise of your position.
Facing towards the sky means great fortune and happiness [wealth and prestige].
To ride a dragon and ascend to the sky is a sign of immense splendour.
上天求妻兒女貴 天上取物位王侯 飛上天富貴大吉
To rise up to the sky and search for a wife forebodes the splendour for the children.
To obtain something above from heaven forebodes the position of a king or a marquis.
Flying up to the heaven is an auspicious sign that forebodes riches and splendour.
登天上屋得高官 天裂有分國之憂 天星明主公卿至
To enter the heavenly office forebodes taking a high career rank.
If the Heaven cracks – you will have concernes due to [got a bit dramatic]the state. disintegration.
The stars in the sky shine brightly forebodes you rising to become a duke and a minister.
天愈饒益壽命吉 渡天河主有所吉 天地富所求皆得
Heaven excels at prospering of beings is a sign of happiness and longevity.
Crossing the Heaven’s river (Milky Way) forebodes some kind of happiness.
The Heaven and the Earth are rich and plentiful – what you seek, you will receive.
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PPS: Image: The Thatched Hut of Dreaming of an Immortal from the Ming Dynasty
