Many explanations
The archive gathers ideas associated with the Huangdi Neijing, Lingshu, Zhouli, Zhuangzi, Liezi, Xunzi, and Huainanzi. They are a historical conversation, not one tested scientific account.
Bodies, categories, and waking life
The medical texts link dreams with yin-yang and bodily conditions in ancient language. Zhouli records classifications. Zhuangzi asks about dream and waking, while Liezi links dreams with daytime thought and encounters.
Read historically
These texts preserve different attempts to understand vivid inner experience. They can open cultural questions without proving a personal prophecy or medical conclusion.
Traditional Sources
Sources referenced on this page
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
少气之厥，令人妄梦……肺气虚，则使人梦见白物；肾气虚，则使人梦见舟船溺人。
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
阴气盛，则梦涉大水而恐惧；阳气盛，则梦大火而燔灼；阴阳俱盛，则梦相杀毁伤。
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
掌三梦之法：一曰致梦，二曰觭梦，三曰咸陟。……一曰正梦，二曰噩梦，三曰思梦，四曰寤梦，五曰喜梦，六曰惧梦。
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
方其梦也，不知其梦也，梦之中又占其梦焉。觉而后知其梦也。……其寐也魂交，其觉也形开。
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
神遇为梦，形接为事。故昼想夜梦，神形所遇，故梦也。……梦有六候。
Menglin Xuanjie · 夢林玄解
心卧则梦，偷得则自行，使之则谋。