A Signpost

Within the kanji 夢 (yume), which means both “dream” and “vision,” lies a tension between forces that can either inspire or enslave. 夢 (yume) is a symbol full of internal dynamism, reflecting the contradiction between transience and depth, illusion and suffering. At its peak sways 艹 (grass)—light, ephemeral, like a dream’s memory dissolving in the morning breeze. Below it rests 罒 (the eye), not meant to look outward, but inward. Lower still, at the foundation of the character, lies 夕 (night, its radical)—the dark stage for today’s reflections.

Do we dream life, or is life itself a dream? Is a dream a guiding signpost, or merely a flickering illusion leading to disappointment? The ancient Taoist Zhuangzi once wondered whether he had dreamt that he was a butterfly or whether the butterfly was dreaming that it was Zhuangzi. Similar questions continue to resurface, taking on different forms across different times and places.

In Japanese culture, dreams are approached with caution. They can inspire and lead to growth, but they can also become deceptive desires that mislead. Some dreams uplift us, guiding us toward a better version of ourselves; others ensnare us in the chains of unfulfilled longing. Some, perhaps, are meant to remain unfulfilled, for it is in their fleeting nature that their beauty resides. Others demand discipline and perseverance to be transformed into reality. The kanji 夢 (yume) encapsulates this ambiguity—it is both sleep and aspiration, illusion and the guiding light of the path. It is a key that can lead to either awakening or entrapment in the world of desire. Everything depends on how we choose to interpret it. So today, let us read the kanji: 夢 (yume).

What Does the Character 夢 ("Yume") Look Like?

At first glance, the kanji 夢 (yume) may seem complex, but its elements are interconnected. There is an internal logic that binds these components together, forming a single, meaningful symbol whose structure reveals its essence: sleep, dream, vision, fantasy, illusion.

The Structure and Symbolism of 夢 – The Secrets of the Japanese "Dream"

The kanji 夢 (yume) is not merely a written representation of the concept of dreaming or aspiration, but the very essence of its transience, mystery, and deep philosophy that has shaped human perceptions of reality and illusion for centuries. Its structure is not a random arrangement of strokes but a precisely composed framework in which each element carries meaning.

艹 – "Grass" – Fragility and Transience

The 艹 (grass) radical is placed at the very top of the character 夢, which may seem unusual at first, as grass is rarely associated with dreaming. However, its presence gains deeper significance when viewed through the lens of impermanence.

Just as grass bends in the wind, so too is the dream something fleeting, ethereal, easily dispersed. Some theories suggest that 艹 in this case may symbolize mist or vapor, which fits the vision of dreams as something intangible, blurry, and impossible to grasp. In ancient Chinese beliefs, dreams were sometimes described as a misty garden of thoughts, something that springs from the subconscious and vanishes as swiftly as it appears.

The placement of grass at the top of the character may also serve as a metaphor for dreams as an inaccessible reality, stretching above us like a misty, unreal expanse.

罒 – "The Eye" / "The Net" – Visions Beneath Closed Eyelids

At the center of the kanji 夢 lies 罒, which depending on the context, can mean "net" or "eye." In this case, it most likely refers to the eyes—closed eyes in sleep.

Closed eyes in this context suggest the world of inner vision, dreams that the mind "sees" even when the body sleeps. Some scholars interpret 罒 as a net, through which images, thoughts, and fantasies flow freely, beyond the control of rational thought. It may also allude to traditional beliefs about mediums conducting rituals, entering into a trance-like state similar to dreaming, where the real world recedes into the background, giving way to the spiritual.

The eye in this kanji does not serve to look outward—it is instead a window into the internal world of dreams and illusions.

夕 – "Night" – The Realm Where Dreams Are Born

At the base of 夢, we find the radical 夕, which means "moon, evening, night." Its meaning is the most straightforward—dreams appear at night, under the veil of darkness.

In ancient Chinese scripts, 夕 was often used to signify transitional moments—between day and night, between reality and dream. In many cultures, the night is associated with mystery, a world hidden from view—it is in darkness that our thoughts drift toward visions and aspirations.

It may also symbolize the connection between sleep and death—in both Japanese and Chinese philosophy, sleep is often referred to as "a small death," a state of suspension between being and non-being.

The 夕 radical firmly anchors the concept of dreams within its natural context—the night, where wakefulness gives way to slumber, and dreams become the only light.

冖 – "The Blanket" – The Veil of Sleep, The Border of Reality

The central element of 夢, 冖, is often interpreted as a covering over the face or body of a sleeping person—a blanket, a veil.

In ancient pictographic writings, we find figures lying in beds, covered by fabric—a clear reference to the physical aspect of sleep. Yet, this covering also serves as a boundary between the world of dreams and wakefulness—a state in which reality loses its clarity.

One could also see in it a metaphor for illusion, a curtain separating the real world from what is only imagined.

Similar symbols appear in Chinese calligraphy and art—curtains, mist, and veils often represent that which is imperceptible to the naked eye but can be sensed intuitively.

The Structure of 夢 and Its Hidden Harmony

The kanji 夢 is not a random composition—each of its elements plays a role in the narrative of dreams as a state of mind:

1. 艹 (grass) – symbolizes the transience of dreams and their ethereal nature.
2. 罒 (eye) – signifies inner vision, dreams as images of the mind.
3. 夕 (night) – roots the dream within its natural context—darkness and mystery.
4. 冖 (covering) – marks the boundary between wakefulness and illusion, symbolizing the world of dreams as a hidden reality.

The harmony of these elements makes 夢 not just a representation of "dream," but also a philosophical reflection on the nature of dreams, illusions, and aspirations.

A Note on the Older Writing: 寝目

In the past, the kanji 夢 had an older form—寝目, which can be translated as "sleeping eyes":

• 寝 (neru, to sleep) – originally referred to the act of sleep itself, its physical side.
• 目 (me, eye) – indicated the visual aspect of dreaming, emphasizing that sleep is not just unconsciousness, but an active state of internal vision.

Unlike the more literal 寝目, 夢 combines the physical experience of sleep with the metaphorical depth of dreams within a single structure.

The shift from 寝目 to 夢 reflects the evolution of thought regarding dreams—from a purely biological occurrence to a richer concept that encompasses visions, desires, and the intangible nature of reality.

The transition from "sleeping eyes" to "the fleeting dream" illustrates how perspectives on dreams have transformed, not only as a nocturnal phenomenon but also as a boundless space of imagination and infinite possibility.

History and Evolution of the Kanji 夢 (Yume)

The kanji 夢 (yume), meaning "dream" and "vision," has a history stretching back thousands of years. Its evolution, from the oldest forms of Chinese script to modern kanji, reflects not only changes in writing systems but also cultural, philosophical, and linguistic transformations in the perception of dreams and aspirations.

Origins – Oracle Bone Script

The oldest known forms of the kanji 夢 can be traced back to oracle bone script (甲骨文, jiǎgǔwén), used during the Shang dynasty (c. 17th–11th century BCE), as well as bronze script (金文, jīnwén) inscriptions from the Zhou period.

In oracle bone inscriptions, the character 夢 appeared in a more pictographic form, composed of several elements that may suggest different meanings:

▫ A figure lying on a bed – possibly representing a sleeping person.
▫ A person covered with fabric – interpreted as a symbol of sleep or unconsciousness.
▫ The moon and eyes – indicating the nocturnal nature of dreams and their connection to "inner vision" rather than physical sight.

Over time, these simplified drawings transformed into more schematic forms, eventually developing into seal script (篆書, zhuànshū).

Shamanic Origins

According to a theory proposed by Shirakawa Shizuka, a Japanese scholar, the character 夢 may have shamanic roots. In ancient China, dreams were often interpreted as contacts with the spirit world—it was believed that during sleep, the soul would leave the body and wander through the afterlife. The character 夢 might have originally depicted a shaman or medium experiencing visions in a trance state or interpreting dreams as messages from the gods. This understanding of dreams as messages from beyond reality was prevalent in ancient civilizations and persisted in both Chinese and Japanese culture.

Seal Script and Standardization

During the Qin dynasty (3rd century BCE), Chinese script underwent standardization, and the characters evolved into a more schematic form, known as seal script (篆書, zhuànshū). In this version, 夢 began to take on a more complex, hierarchical structure, where each component was arranged in a more regular manner, making it easier to reproduce on stone and paper. Key elements—the covering, closed eye, and moon—remained, but their configuration became more systematic.

In subsequent eras, particularly during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), characters were simplified to facilitate faster writing. This led to the emergence of kaisho (楷書, standard script), which later became the basis for modern kanji.

Shifting Meanings Over the Centuries

Originally, the kanji 夢 referred exclusively to sleep as a physiological phenomenon—simply the state of being asleep. However, over time, its meaning evolved.

• Heian Period (10th century CE) – The concept of dreams took on a metaphorical meaning, representing something fleeting and illusory, aligning with the later (17th-century) Japanese aesthetic concept of mono no aware (物の哀れ, the sorrow of impermanence).
• Edo Period (17th century CE) – The meaning of yume further evolved, transforming into aspiration and desire—a "dream" in the sense of a life goal. From this period onward, this interpretation of 夢 dominated in literature.

Today, in Japanese, 夢 can mean both a dream (as a nighttime vision) and a future aspiration, an inspiration, or a great ambition.

The Kanji 夢 (Yume) in Everyday Use

The kanji 夢 is more than just a character—it serves as a reflection of the Japanese way of thinking about reality, dreams, and impermanence. The word yume appears in numerous expressions that convey deeper meanings, often rooted in literature, Zen philosophy, and samurai traditions.

🔹 夢のまた夢 (Yume no mata yume)
"A dream within a dream" – something unreal, doubly distant, an unattainable dream.

🔹 夢の浮橋 (Yume no ukihashi)
"The Floating Bridge of Dreams" – a reference to The Tale of Genji, a metaphor for something fleeting, appearing only for a moment, like a bridge floating on a river.

🔹 夢にまで見る (Yume ni made miru)
"To see even in a dream" – to long for something so deeply that it appears in one's dreams every night.

🔹 夢幻泡影 (Mugen hōyō)
"Dream, illusion, bubble, shadow" – a classic Buddhist expression describing reality as fleeting and impermanent, like a dream or a soap bubble, appearing in Japanese sutras and Zen poetry.

🔹 「人生は夢の如し」 (Jinsei wa yume no gotoshi)
"Life is like a dream."
A classical saying derived from Nō theater and mujō (無常, impermanence) philosophy. Found in the works of Zeami, it echoes Buddhist thought—life lasts but a moment, like a dream, and fades away before we fully grasp it.

🔹 「人間五十年、下天の内をくらぶれば、夢幻の如くなり」
(Ningen gojūnen, gaten no uchi wo kurabureba, mugen no gotoku nari.)
"A human life lasts fifty years. Compared to the eternity of heaven, it is like a dream and an illusion."
A famous passage from Atsumori, a Nō drama by Zeami, also attributed to Oda Nobunaga, who was said to have recited it before the Battle of Tenmokuzan.

🔹 「一炊の夢」 (Issui no yume) – "A dream while cooking rice"
A reference to a Tang Dynasty tale. The protagonist embarks on a journey of great achievements, wealth, and power, only to awaken and realize that only a brief moment had passed—the time it took to cook a pot of rice. The moral? Life is as short and fleeting as a dream. Alternatively, it suggests that a dream is as real as life—they are indistinguishable.

🔹 「浅き夢見じ酔ひもせず」 (Asaki yume miji, ei mo sezu)
"I shall not dream shallow dreams, nor shall I be deceived."
A line from the Iroha poem, emphasizing impermanence and encouraging avoidance of illusions and superficial desires.

What the Kanji 夢 Teaches Us

On its most basic level, the kanji 夢 (yume) represents the word for "dream"—whether as sleep or aspiration—but embedded within its structure are profound contradictions of human experience. It marks the boundary between illusion and reality, as well as the impermanence of existence alongside the power of ambition.

To truly understand this kanji, we must turn to philosophical traditions where it played a key role—Taoism and Buddhism. The idea of 夢 (yume) speaks to the fundamental nature of reality.

Do We Dream Life, or Is Life a Dream?

One of the most famous philosophical reflections on dreams is Zhuangzi’s (莊子) tale of the butterfly. In his Taoist text Zhuangzi, he writes:

🔹 「昔者、莊周夢為胡蝶。」 (Mukashi Zhuang Zhou yume mite kochō to nari.)
"Long ago, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly."

Yet upon waking, Zhuangzi could not determine whether he had dreamed of being a butterfly or whether the butterfly was dreaming of being Zhuangzi. This is a key reflection on the boundary between dream and reality—are our experiences real, or are they as illusory as dreams?

The Buddhist concept of mujō (無常, impermanence) expands on this idea: life is as transient as a dream, and reality itself may be merely a projection of the mind.

In Nō theater, deeply influenced by Zen philosophy, characters often exist on the boundary between worlds—dreams, the afterlife, and reality. As Zeami Motokiyo (世阿弥元清), the founder of Nō, once wrote:

"Existence is like a dream and an illusion."

For him, the world depicted in Nō theater was like a dream (and like real life itself)—fleeting, ethereal, leaving only a momentary impression in the soul of the observer.

Is a Dream Merely an Illusion, or the Key to Transformation?

If life is a dream, does that mean dreams are futile? Or, perhaps, are they the only true path to fulfillment?

History knows many who have turned their dreams into reality. Liz Murray, raised in extreme poverty, dreamt of a better life and, against all odds, made it to Harvard. Martin Luther King Jr., with his famous words:

"I have a dream..."

demonstrated that a dream can become the driving force behind profound social change.

In Japan, however, dreams are often approached with caution—do they lead to enlightenment, or do they deceive us, making us chase after things that are, in essence, insignificant? In Buddhist thought, there is the concept of 夢想 (musō), which can mean both "dream" and "delusional illusions" (with the first character being our familiar "yume"). An example of this can be found in the poetry of Saigyō (西行):

🔹 「夢の世に心を捨てて残る身の うきにたえせぬ名をやながさむ」
"I cast my heart away in this world of dreams—will my name too vanish in fleeting sorrow?"

Saigyō, both a monk and a poet, recognized the contradiction between desires and reality. Do dreams lead to truth, or do they only bring suffering?

Are Dreams a Guide to Fulfillment or a Path to Illusion?

In Western culture, dreams are often synonymous with the pursuit of happiness and self-actualization. In Japanese culture, however, the approach to dreams is more ambivalent—they can lead to harmony, but they can also bring suffering if one becomes too attached to the "illusion of the world".

🔹 「夢は夢のままにしておけ」 (Yume wa yume no mama ni shite oke)
"Let a dream remain a dream."

This Japanese saying suggests that sometimes, a dream loses its charm the moment it is fulfilled.

In samurai culture, it was crucial to find balance between dreams and reality:

🔹 「夢を捨てるな、道を見失うな」 (Yume wo suteru na, michi wo miushinau na)
"Do not abandon your dreams, but do not lose your way."

The path to harmony is neither in rejecting dreams nor in blindly surrendering to them.

Should a dream be something we cling to tightly, or should it be a delicate light—guiding us forward but never the goal itself?

In Zen philosophy, there exists the concept of fukinsei (不均整)—the natural order of asymmetry. Striving too obsessively toward a dream can disrupt this balance, leading to frustration and suffering instead of harmony. On the other hand, completely rejecting dreams can lead to stagnation and a lack of inner transformation. Buddhism teaches the Middle Way (中道, chūdō)—one must not reject desires outright, but neither should one allow them to control one's life.

In this context, a dream can be a form of zenkō (善行, "good action"), as long as it does not lead to attachment (執着心, shūchakushin). In my more Western way of thinking, this teaching seems to say that one should avoid dreams that turn into shackles (shūchakushin) and instead cultivate those that inspire growth (zenkō)—without, however, the compulsive need for their complete fulfillment.

The Art of Imperfect Dreams

Different cultures have found different ways to reconcile these seemingly opposing truths. Japanese culture, too, has its own solutions. In ikebana, haiku poetry, or the philosophy of wabi-sabi, the dream of perfection gives way to an acceptance of transience and imperfection. The idea of mono no aware (物の哀れ)—the bittersweetness of impermanence—teaches that what is beautiful is fleeting, and its value lies precisely in that ephemerality.

Similarly, dreams: they are precious not because they can be fulfilled, but because they serve as guiding stars, giving meaning to the journey. In this spirit, the Japanese mindset does not celebrate the fulfillment of dreams but rather the process that leads toward them. As an old proverb says:

"Perhaps it is better not to ask whether a dream is an illusion or the key to fulfillment—but rather to ask what role it plays in our journey through life. If the goal is the path itself, then dreams are either decorations (adding beauty to life) or obstacles (bringing the pain of unfulfilled longing)."

Perhaps then, 夢 (yume) is neither an illusion nor a key to fulfillment—but a reflection of life itself—fleeting, elusive, yet full of meaning, as long as we walk its path with an open heart. And though dreams may dissolve like mist at dawn, it is precisely their irreversible fading that makes them worth dreaming.

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"Strong Japanese Women"

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    未開    ソビエライ

 An enthusiast of Asian culture with a deep appreciation for the diverse philosophies of the world. By education, a psychologist and philologist specializing in Korean studies. At heart, a programmer (primarily for Android) and a passionate technology enthusiast, as well as a practitioner of Zen and mono no aware. In moments of tranquility, adheres to a disciplined lifestyle, firmly believing that perseverance, continuous personal growth, and dedication to one's passions are the wisest paths in life. Author of the book "Strong Women of Japan" (>>see more)

Personal motto:

"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest." - Albert Einstein (probably)

  Mike Soray

   (aka Michał Sobieraj)

未開    ソビエライ

 An enthusiast of Asian culture with a deep appreciation for the diverse philosophies of the world. By education, a psychologist and philologist specializing in Korean studies. At heart, a programmer (primarily for Android) and a passionate technology enthusiast, as well as a practitioner of Zen and mono no aware. In moments of tranquility, adheres to a disciplined lifestyle, firmly believing that perseverance, continuous personal growth, and dedication to one's passions are the wisest paths in life. Author of the book "Strong Women of Japan" (>>see more)

Personal motto:

"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest." - Albert Einstein (probably)

Mike Soray

(aka Michał Sobieraj)

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