Throughout China’s vast folklore, there are five dreams that have become household tales. These legendary narratives, passed down from ancient times, offer profound insights into the realities of life.
The dream of yellow millet
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a sage named Lü Weng. In his travels, he came across a young man named Lu Sheng in Handan. Despite the vast age difference, the two felt an immediate kinship.
As they conversed, Lü Weng learned of Lu Sheng’s struggles and his thirst for answers. Lu Sheng lamented about his years of hard work yielding no results, his extensive learning finding no application, and his inability to realize his dreams of achieving high rank and fortune.
Seeing Lu Sheng’s distress, Lü Weng offered him some yellow millet porridge and told him to take a nap while it was being cooked, promising a dream that would fulfill his desires. In his dream, Lu Sheng experienced the joys of marriage, he achieved scholarly recognition, and he rose to the position of a prime minister. However, this success was short-lived, as he soon found himself framed and imprisoned. As his anxiety peaked, the dream ended.
Awakening, Lu Sheng thanked Lü Weng, realizing that worldly gains and losses are but fleeting dreams. This story gave rise to the phrase “A Dream of Yellow Millet,” signifying the transient nature of worldly achievements.
The dream of Nanke
In the Tang era, a man named Chunyu Fen, while resting under a locust tree, drifted into sleep. In his dream, he was escorted by two emissaries in purple to a kingdom within the tree. There, he was appointed governor of Nanke and even married the king’s daughter. However, his good fortune didn’t last, as he eventually fell out of the king’s favor. Awaking, Chunyu Fen realized his dream kingdom was merely an ant’s nest under the tree, highlighting the illusory nature of worldly desires and the importance of keeping a grounded perspective.
Zhuangzi dreams of a butterfly
The philosopher Zhuangzi once dreamed he was a butterfly. Within the dream, he was so engrossed in his butterfly identity that he forgot his human existence. Upon waking, Zhuangzi pondered if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man. This dream underscores the fluid boundaries between reality and illusion, urging us to remain open-minded and authentic.
Jiang Yan’s dream of a pen
During the Southern and Northern dynasties, the literary genius Jiang Yan dreamed that the renowned writer Guo Pu gave him a five-colored pen. With this pen, Jiang Yan’s writings became unparalleled. However, in another dream later in life, Guo Pu reclaimed the pen. Jiang Yan’s subsequent writings lacked their former brilliance, leading to the phrase “Jiang’s talent exhausted.” The story is a reminder of the need for continuous learning and growth.
Luo Han’s dream of a bird
In the Eastern Jin period, a young man named Luo Han dreamed of swallowing a colorful bird. After this dream, his literary prowess surged, leading to widespread admiration and recognition by the court. Luo Han’s consistent brilliance throughout his life was attributed not just to the dream, but also to his persistent efforts and dedication to learning.
In these legendary dreams, the boundaries between illusion and reality blur, offering profound reflections on ambition, fate, and the nature of existence.
Translated by: Chua BC
