
Zhou Gong’s Explanations of Dreams
The book Duke of Zhou Interprets Dreams is the most well-known source for dream interpretation. Ancient Chinese people thought that dreams could mean both good and bad things. The book Duke of Zhou Interprets Dreams was often used by ancient people to help them understand their dreams. Ancient people thought that dreams were messages from the universe, and people can get good or bad vibes from their dreams by interpreting them because they thought that dreams were messages from the universe.
- Astronomical Phenomena
- Geography / Architecture / Landscape
- Spirits / Deities
- Bodily / Personnel Incidents
- Emotions and Violence
- Animals & Celestial Beings
- Clothing, Household Vessels and Others
Origin
People’s dreams were used in the ancient book Zhou Gong‘s Interpretation of Dreams to predict their futures, both good and terrible. Numerous followers still look to it as an authority in dream interpretation.
Differing versions
There are two versions of Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams, one of which is said to have been written by Zhou Gong and the other compiled by contemporary individuals. This individual is not from Zhouyi. The first version of “Dream Interpretation of Zhou Gong” is rumoured not to have been written by Zhou Gong Ji Dan, but by subsequent generations under his name.
Dream interpretation named after Zhou Gong
Why do you wish to entrust Duke Zhou’s name? After deduction, it has a great deal to do with Confucius. Confucius’ most revered historical figure is Zhou Gong. Confucius was determined to restore Zhou Li and exerted ceaseless effort towards this end. In order to increase the book’s credibility and distribution, its author presented it as the product of a certain celebrity.
Why does Zhou Gong appear in dreams? Confucius’ admiration of Zhou Gong’s ritual and music hierarchy, Zhou Li, was primarily responsible for elevating Zhou Gong’s status in Confucian culture. The words of Confucius were recorded in the Analects of Confucius, and the Zi said, “I am so awful! I won’t dream about Zhou Gong for a very long time.” It translates to “I am very old and have not been for a long time” in contemporary Chinese. I had a premonition about Zhou Gong. Clearly, Confucius believed that his desire to restore Zhou rituals might not be fulfilled during his lifetime.
People subsequently referred to dreaming as “Dreaming of Zhou Gong,” “Dream of Zhou Gong,” or “Going to Dream of Zhou Gong” because of this phrase.
Hidden Meaning
In “Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams,” dreams are the concealed reflections of the inner visage, as well as another illusory but real-life experience. As previously stated, we ponder during the day and dream at night. As with Zhuang Zhou’s dream of butterflies, strange dreams frequently startle and perplex us. And “Zhou Gong Interpretation of Dreams” interpreted these bizarre visions accordingly. In other words, dreams provide opportunities to observe one’s subconscious and conscious interactions. They may also, to some extent, imply something. People’s dreams open the door to self-integration, allowing them to alleviate their inner doubts, and there is no theoretical system or explicating principle at all.
If we look up “Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams,” we will find a astronomical phenomena, such as dreaming of the same object, which may have multiple interpretations in the book, or good and bad things. This is not to imply that the book is flawed, but there are numerous interpretations of visions.
1. Astronomical Phenomena

Natural phenomena such as wind, rain, thunder, snow, and rainbows, amongst others, are sometimes viewed as positive indicators. Having a dream in which you get soaked, get struck by lightning, or are able to sit or walk on a rainbow is a good sign that you will have a lot of luck.
If, on the other hand, the natural disasters had unfavorable repercussions, such as high winds destroying a home or heavy snow obstructing a passage, then these instances served as failure signs.
2. Geography / Architecture / Landscape

Whether in towns, temples, residences, fields, or the creepy area of the tomb or graveyard, everything can somehow be understood. This is true even in the locations. It is dependent on the dream as to whether something that might occur in the future is a message or a favorable indicator coming into the dreams that something might happen.
To see tombs or a graveyard may be an ominous portent, but to see the coffin being removed from the cemetery is a positive omen. Make an effort to recall as much as you can about the dream you had so that you do not misinterpret any of the signals that you received from your dreams. No one is sure who is responsible for sending these signals; some people may believe that it is from your ancestors, while others will suggest that you most likely have the ability to see into the future. Regardless of this, it’s always a good idea to investigate the meaning of your dreams and validate it for yourself. You are the only one who can know the truth.
3. Spirits / Deities
Having dreams in which you communicate with your ancestors or even God is entirely natural. Keep in mind that the translation here can mean temples, churches, mosques, or any other religious buildings in your culture.
4. Bodily / Personnel Incidents
Have you seen too many detective and crime movies and TV shows on Netflix? Perhaps you are correct, and most psychologists will advise you to reduce the amount of time you spend watching TV. But what if it has meaning for you? It appears true in your dreams, and if you remember the details, you may check to see what is in store for you in the future. Is it a favorable omen or a sign of impending adversity?
5. Emotions and Violence
Dreams of violence? And you most likely awoke startled! For the most part, we will awaken in the midst of any violence. But, in the actual world, is it all that bad? Quarreling with someone in real life is always a bad omen, but in a dream, it could be a favorable indication.
6. Animals & Celestial Beings

Animals & Celestial Beings are sometimes mystical. We saw celestial beings on the movies, and animals in the real life and movies too. These has some different meaning if we saw them in our dreams. Having a dog appear in your dream when you run, stroll, eat, play, swim, or hunt is a favourable omen, while having a dog fight, bark, bite, or speak the human language is a bad omen.
The presence of a cat in a dream is a good omen for money and the acquisition of a charming pet. Birds in a dream are a symbol of good luck, enlightenment, and other positive qualities.
7. Clothing, Household Vessels and Others
Dreaming about commonplace items? Wonder if you can put a meaning on it. Fixing a broken mirror with a pair of scissors? Do you find yourself dreaming about raincoats? Perhaps this is something you should investigate on your own.
Correct Usage
It must be understood that the living environment, cultural ambiance, level of knowledge, economic conditions, ideology, etc. of the ancients during the book-making era of “Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams” are vastly different from those of modern people, and that they live in a completely different universe. Under these enormous chasms, they are separated by aeons. How can the meaning of the same object dreamt by ancients and moderns be identical? How can we use the image to discover?
In fact, visions should be a result of the subconscious. The subconscious is incapable of verbal communication with us. The only way it can communicate with us is through various dream images containing cues, symbols, and metaphors.
Everyone must dream, and we all dream daily. Dreams are the ethereal illusions that accompany people’s lives as they arrive and go. As long as human cognitive capacity remains, dreams will endure eternally.
There is no distinction between high and low, between old and young, between respect and contempt, between men and women, between Chinese and foreigners, and even animals can fantasise. It’s just that the dream’s content is different. Similar to human figures, dreams are common, enigmatic, vague, and real.
How can this be explained if dreams are hallucinations and the events of the dream’s characters are vividly remembered after awakening? If dreams are real expressions, it is difficult to identify those that correspond precisely with the events of the dream’s characters after awakening. Occasionally the day is reflective and the night is the dream; occasionally the dream is realised and the day is the encounter.
The mystery of dreams has reached this point, and our progenitors have known it for a very long time; thus, the birth of the dream culture. Dream culture was an integral and essential component of ancient Chinese culture. Even though elegance is difficult to achieve, Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams is still a widely read book on dream interpretation.
Summary
The art of dream interpretation is difficult to locate in the archives of art and mathematics. Due to the popularity of dream culture among the general population, legends can foretell both the good and the bad from dreams. And it circulates by numerous people.
So, the question we must consider is: Should we believe “Zhou Gong’s Interpretation of Dreams”? This is always the dilemma. Science has not been able to record anyone’s dream yet, and we cannot put a recording camera in anyone’s dream and record it.
The best thing is for individual to write it down what they had dream previously (if they can still remember clearly), then check it with the list of Zhou Gong’s Explanations of Dreams here in this website. Everyone dreams differently, and dreams usually concern matters that are specifically to the individual.