Behind the Myth: Dreams
This series of articles by Stephen Redeker sheds light on Korean myths, folklore, traditions, and superstitions for the benefit of foreign residents (and some Korean natives!) unfamiliar with them.
Korean Dreaming
How important was that wild dream you had last night? In western culture, dreams are seen as more of a novelty; an interesting (or embarrassing) topic to bring up among friends. However, in Korea, dreams can mean much more than that. In this country, dreams are seen as omens. Similarly in Chinese culture, dreams can be interpreted to symbolize good or bad fortune and even foretell the future of unborn babies.
Let’s start with the good. Pigs are a symbol of wealth in Korea. That’s why you will find many stores selling plastic “piggy” banks. When someone dreams of a pig, this can mean money is coming their way. Even more so if there are many pigs, or the pigs interact with the dreaming person. Some other lucky animals include bears, tigers, fish and sometimes even snakes. A dream of a dragon is considered super lucky, especially if it involves flying high in the sky. A dream like this symbolizes huge success in the dreamer’s life. When someone dreams of themselves flying, it’s also a success dream (but a falling dream is just the opposite). A dream about cats or dogs may be called a “dog dream” (개꿈) and usually does not hold any major significance.
Nature plays a part in fortunate dreams as well. You might think that a dream of a blazing inferno engulfing your home has a negative connotation. Actually, the reverse is true. The fire dream means your burdens and troubles in life are burning away so you can start fresh again. Hopefully in your dream you do not put out the fire. If this happens, the sight of ashes could mean the problems will return. What about a dream where a great flood washes through your home and city? Fortunately, this means that bad luck is being washed away and replaced by good luck. Only dreams with the cleanest of water are positive. A dream about muddy water is considered unlucky. Other good dreams include hiking mountains, swimming in the sea and clear skies. Things like blood, urine and excrement surprisingly are good omens. It is believed that all the toxins are flushed away from the body. The more the better!
Now onto some of the bad dreams. A nightmare is scary no matter where you are in the world, and it is never a good thing. When people have dreams about losing teeth, this can symbolize a few things: losing one tooth can mean someone close will be sick or possibly die, losing a few teeth means the road ahead will be rocky in the future, and losing all your teeth means everything will fall apart, leaving you with dire situations and decisions. A dream about your deceased ancestors is healthy, but a dream about a ghost, or even the grim reaper itself, is deadly. Dreaming about the angel of death means you will be taken to the afterlife. Some common themes of bad dreams are falling, running away, locked doors, mirrors breaking and animated dolls. Dolls are usually cute, but when they are moving around in your dream, it is never a good thing. That is, unless you are the puppeteer of a marionette-type doll. In that case, you have got everything under control in your life.
These dreams are not just passing subconscious thoughts; they are premonitions that can be passed on to others. A good dream can be bought or sold. For your dream to keep its good fortune, it must be kept a secret. If you know someone who is in need of your dream’s omen, you can sell it for any amount of money or trade it in for something else. After the transaction is complete, you can explain the dream in hopes to spread the wealth with that person. The next time a friend has a good dream, find out what the selling price is.
Another important part of “dream culture” in Korea is known as tae-mong (태몽). These are dreams about a baby’s conception. Often times the mother has her own dreams filled with symbols relating to her unborn baby, but close friends and family members can have these dreams as well. The gender can be foreseen according to various objects in the dream: certain fruit, flowers or jumping fish are symbols for a girl. If a mother dreams about certain vegetables, the night sky and stars or rainbows, then she may have a boy. A baby’s destiny can also be foreseen in a dream. Many of the above-mentioned examples of good dreams, such as the flying dragon, can be related to the future of an unborn baby.
It is good advice to handle your dreams with caution. Having dreams with negative omens are best when forgotten quickly and given no afterthought. When the good fortune comes with a positive dream, keep it a secret and enjoy the success it may bring. Buy a lottery ticket the next morning if you are so inclined. Armed with the knowledge of these dream interpretations, it is also possible to fill your pockets in another way: earn a lot of money as a dream broker.