What Dreams May Come… For Hatsuyume!

The first dream of the year is considered to be very auspicious of your luck for the rest of the year to come. Apparently certain combinations of images were considered to be very lucky: Mt. Fuji, a hawk, then an eggplant for example. Because people were expected to be awake all night long on New Years Eve, the dream is not really expected until January 2nd when they can get a full night of sleep.

Meaning of Hatsuyume

Mt. Fuji = Safety/Security

Fuji is very large and broad at its base. Though in Japan dreams of mountains are traditionally interpreted as difficulties and achievement, Mt. Fuji represents safety and prosperity. Nothing can shake or disturb that giant and nearly perfectly symetrical volcano. So Mt. Fuji represents safety. A dream of Mt. Fuji was sure to mean at the very least things would not change for the worst, and you could be sure of a secure year. Also the broad base represents your expanding fortunes through the year, and thus prosperity. Some foreign language sources have been reporting that the phonetic sound of “Fuji” sounds similar to a different kanji pair that mean “not death”. However, I have yet to find a Japanese source for this.

Hawk = Achieving High Asperations

Imagine you are a hawk flying high in the sky. You are free to do as you please and can go higher and higher. The possibilities for you are endless and you can achieve high ideals and aspirations.

Eggplant = Accumulating Wealth and Passing it on to future generations

Generational wealth as an aspiration to accomplish was a thing back in the Edo period of Japan. Eggplants produce a lot of fruits. They make a lot of fruits. So their work is very fruitful. Fruitful work for people leads to wealth. Accumulated wealth from work can be passed down to later generations. Thus the things you accomplish through your work this year will bring you prosperity for yourself and generations of your family to come. Some foreign language sources have reported that “nasu” sounds like the Japanese word for “accomplish” or “fulfill”. However, none of the sources I read in Japanese said anything about this.

Hatsuyume Dreams Four, Five, and Six and the Seven Gods of Prosperity

Extra Hatsuyume

Though not nearly as famous there are three more dreams that can mean a happy, prosperous and lucky rest of the year. Dream four is about fans. Fans spread out like your spreading wealth and prosperity. The fifth dream is about tobacco. Tobacco in Edo times was a luxury item. Its rising smoke represented your rising fortunes. The sixth hatsuyume lucky dream is about a kind of blind hairless monk that played a Japanese instrument called a biwa on the street called a “biwa hoshi”. The word “hairless” in Japanese sounds phonetically the same as “no injury” (This one has several Japanese sources). Thus you will get through the year without being seriously hurt.

The Seven Gods of Prosperity | ShichiFukuJin

Dreaming of a treasure ship laden with such riches as money, hammers, ricebales, etc. is pretty auspicious! But if one or more of the seven gods of prosperity are on that ship too, you are really in for a good year. The seven gods are…

#1 Ebisu

God of Fishing, Shipping and Commerce

#2 Daikokuten

A Hindu warrior deity named Mahākāla and once introduced in Japan became the God of Wealth and Prosperity

#3 Bishamonten

From Indian Buddhism, Bishamonten is the God of Warriors (not war) and is also a God of Defense Against Evil.

#4 Benzaiten

The Hindu goddess of water, in her Japanese representation, she is the Goddess of Arts and Knowledge.

#5 Fukurokuju

The God of Wealth, Happiness, and Longevity

#6 Hotei

the God of Happiness and Abundance

#7 Juroujin

The God of Wisdom

References

In English

https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/figures/the-seven-lucky-gods/

https://www.nippon.com/en/nipponblog/m00061/jiro-dreams-of-fuji-japan’s-hatsuyume-tradition.html

https://jpninfo.com/38217

In Japanese

初夢とはいつ見る夢？吉夢見るおまじないや悪い夢の対処法！

初夢占いの意味20選！初夢はいつ見る夢？縁起の良い夢・悪い夢について解説

「初夢」はいつ見た夢のこと？
縁起が良い「一富士二鷹三茄子」の理由とは

h初夢とはいつ見る夢のこと？縁起の良い夢・悪い夢、一富士二鷹三茄子の意味などを解説

「一富士、二鷹、三茄子」だけじゃない　初夢で縁起が良い、悪いの違いとは？

初夢とは？いつ見る夢を指す？初夢の由来から縁起の良い夢を紹介

「一富士、二鷹、三茄子」だけじゃない　初夢で縁起が良い、悪いの違いとは？

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Picture from [email protected]

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Products Related to Hatsuyume on Amazon Japan Global

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And Japonica from Rakuten

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