Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Evening (xī) Page 247, Entry 16 Pronounced meng (falling tone). The opposite of being awake; the scenes or images experienced during sleep. Book of Documents (Shangshu), section Talk on Appointment: In a dream, the Heavenly Emperor bestowed upon me a virtuous assistant. Book of Odes (Shijing): Thus, I interpret my dream. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), section Spring Officials, Dream Interpretation: Based on the sun, moon, and stars, one interprets the auspicious or inauspicious nature of six types of dreams: first, proper dreams; second, nightmares; third, thoughts-based dreams; fourth, waking dreams; fifth, joyful dreams; and sixth, fearful dreams. Also, the Grand Diviner manages three methods of dream interpretation: first, inducing dreams; second, strange dreams; [Commentary] refers to peculiar dreams; third, reaching dreams. [Commentary] Reaching means to rise or progress, referring to dreams that arise naturally without conscious thought. Sometimes also written in a variant form (xian meng). Zhuangzi, section Adjustment of Controversies: Formerly, Zhuang Zhou dreamt he became a butterfly, fluttering about, truly a butterfly. Suddenly waking, he was startled to realize he was clearly Zhuang Zhou. Zhang Zai, Correcting Youthful Ignorance: When dreaming, the body is closed and the vital energy focuses within; dreams are formed due to habitual thoughts, where the hungry dream of obtaining and the full dream of giving. Also the name of a marsh. Book of Documents (Shangshu), section Tribute of Yu: The Yun marsh and the Meng marsh regions can be cultivated. Also, Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on Sir Vacuous (Zixu Fu): The State of Chu has seven marshes, one of which is called Yunmeng. The Yunmeng marsh spans nine hundred square miles. According to the Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan) and the Book of Han (Hanshu), the character meng in Yunmeng has two pronunciations, one in the level tone and one in the falling tone. Also the name of a river. Meng River, located east of Yichun County in Yuanzhou. Universal Geography (Huanyuji): Formerly, Zhong Yi wished to select a site for a county here; he prayed at night for a dream omen, and later the result matched his prayer, so he named the county Si County and the river Meng River. Also a surname. Found in the Comprehensive Genealogies (Tongpu). Pronounced meng (level tone). Pan Yue, Lament for the Departed: Since I saw it with my own eyes but there was no omen, I have never dreamt of it while awake or asleep. Thus I look back and ponder the family fate, long entrusting my heart to you. Pronounced meng. Book of Odes (Shijing): I wish to enter the dreamland with you. Also rhyming with liang, pronounced zhang. Mi Heng, Rhapsody on the Great Wilderness (Dahuang Fu): Fearing the omens of divination are perplexing, I withdraw and quietly ponder in the orchid chamber. My soul travels and meets with the spirits, revealing auspicious dream omens to me. Also rhyming with bang, pronounced mang (falling tone). Daoist Canon Songs (Daozang Ge): Deep red robes appear at the gathering of people, and human life at its beginning is like a long-forgotten dream. Virtue is hidden within the void, reaching absolute stillness without being aware of its own existence. (Note: The character dang is pronounced in the falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi: Meng, meaning unclear. The character is formed with the radical for evening and the phonetic element meng (with parts omitted). Textual Research: Book of Odes (Shijing): The original text says interpret this dream, which has been corrected to interpret my dream.