Hatsuyume: The First Dream of the New Year

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🌙 Written by Stefan Zugor, international lucid dreaming expert and teacher. Learn how to lucid dream in 7 days or less.

Every New Year’s eve, the Japanese await the first dream. This first dream is referred to as Hatsuyume and has been a tradition that has spanned across the generations.

The name itself can be divided into two. Hatsu is the name for dream and yume is the term used for first or beginning. This is a very important dream to the Japanese. They believe that it holds the key to how successful the year is going to be. They say that you can tell how much fortune you are going to get in the coming year.

Hatsuyume has brought about the need to induce dreams. To improve on the chances of having good fortune, some people go to bed with a picture of the seven deities, with ships full of treasure.

Dreaming of certain symbols such as Mount Fuji, an eggplant or a hawk suggests your year will be fulfilling.

What if you have nightmares instead?

You can summon a creature that eats away the dreams. This creature is known as the Baku. Its appearance is somewhat scary, having the head of an elephant with claws like a tiger and horns. To do this, you would need to call onto Baku three times by uttering the words “Baku-san come eat my dreams”.

The downside of summoning the Baku is it could also eat away the good dreams. Traditions all over the world have their own take on inducing dreams all which are interesting to comprehend. However, it is advisable not to take them too seriously as we now know the science behind them.

The best dreams

Among the best dreams you can have every New Year are ones that involve Mount Fuji, an egg plant or a hawk.

There are two theories that try to explain the origins of these three. One of them claims that since Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, that dreaming of it is actually a sign of good luck. In Japanese culture, the hawk is considered a clever and regal bird and the eggplant translation in the Japanese language means achieving greatness.

First dream of the new year

The second theory suggests that since the ancient art of falconry as well as consuming eggplants were among the favourite things of Tokugawa Leyasu, the legendary shogun, then having such dreams would certainly improve your luck.

However, regardless of whichever theory anyone wants to hold on to, people seem to agree that the belief of the first dream has been held onto since the Edo period.

The Edo period

This time is also known as the Tokugawa period when Japan was under the rule of Tokugawa Shogunate. It dates from 1603 to 1868. It was a prosperous period in Japan’s history. There were no wars, the Japanese economy was thriving and the population was stable. Culture and art developed rapidly and people from all over the nation partook.

Fans

Fans were traditionally used to keep your body cool. Dreaming of fans is also considered a great positive in Hatsutyume. This is because fans were used by the wealthy not only as a way to keep cool but also as a method of granting the wishes of someone without necessarily having to nod their head.

The Lucky Gods of Japan

There are seven lucky gods of Japan. One of them is a goddess. The Japanese believe that they bring good fortune for their recognition. A long and healthy life, wealth and prosperity can be expected from them. So who are these seven lucky gods?

  • Benten: She is the goddess of music and art and is most often associated with musicians, painters and sculptors.
  • Bishamon: He is at the pinnacle of the Buddhist religion in Japan and offers happiness, respect and honour.
  • Ebisu: Among the seven only Ebisu has a day set aside to honour him. He offers wealth and good business. He is a lover of fishermen and is often portrayed carrying a fish.
  • Hotei: Hotei brings joy as well, which is not surprising as he is always depicted to be good natured and always smiling. With a plump body, he carries a bag that is filled with treasure and will gladly bestow upon those who are willing to honour him.
  • Daikoku: Short in stature and with a long beard, Daikoku can be identified with his golden mallet which he always carries in his hand. He is a god of good fortune and wealth and carries a sack filled with valuable trinkets and wealth.
  • Fukurokuju: This god is very easy to identify among the seven due to his unusually long forehead. He is the god of longevity. Since a deer, snake, tortoise or storks are viewed as symbols of a long life, Fukurokuju is often depicted around these four animals. He also offers riches and happiness and is the only god amongst the seven who can bring the dead back to life.
  • Jurojin: As the god of knowledge and wisdom, Jurojin carries a scroll that is believed to contain ancient wisdom. He is shown in the company of a dear. The deer is the symbol of wisdom.

With so much belief in hatsuyume, it’s no wonder that the Japanese have devised ways to make their dream more positive. One of these ways is in the 7 lucky Gods of Japan. By sleeping with an image of these gods under your pillow, the odds are going to be stuck in your favour.