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TL;DR: Ancient Vietnamese viewed dreams as spiritual omens containing messages about the future. Modern science suggests dreams mostly reflect memories, emotions, and the subconscious, with no evidence of prophetic ability. This article contrasts both perspectives for an objective view.
Dream interpretation in Vietnamese folk culture: from traditional belief to the scientific perspective
What do dreams mean in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people?
Since ancient times, Vietnamese people have believed that dreams are not merely meaningless images passing through sleep. Dreams are seen as a bridge between the real world and the spiritual world, where people can receive omens and messages from ancestors, deities or supernatural forces. This belief took deep root in the wet-rice agricultural culture, where people always sought peace of mind in the face of the uncertainties of nature and life.
For this reason, dream interpretation became a popular cultural and folk-belief practice. People decode the symbols in dreams such as snakes, dragons, water, fire, deceased relatives... based on folk experience passed down by word of mouth or through dream-interpretation books. Each dream is assigned a specific meaning, which may be a good omen (such as dreaming of a golden dragon, or a carp turning into a dragon) or a bad omen (such as dreaming of blood, falling teeth, losing property). This interpretation is often tied to spiritual activities such as going to the pagoda, drawing fortune slips, or asking a physiognomist to explain it.
Omens in dreams: the stories that spark curiosity
The appeal of dream interpretation comes from stories of dreams that came true, spread across many generations. The press has recorded many cases said to be strange "dream visitations". For instance, in 1893, an American journalist named Samson dreamed that the Krakatoa volcano erupted violently and wrote it up as an article. The article was deemed fabricated and he lost his job, but only a few days later, this volcano really did erupt strongly, causing a great disaster.
Or the case in 1974, when an American woman named Robins dreamed that a Turkish DC-10 aircraft met with disaster in March or May, killing hundreds of people. The prophecy in her dream was recorded and sent to the aviation authority, but no one could prevent the disaster from happening exactly as foretold. These stories, though not scientifically verified, still make many people believe that dreams can transcend the limits of space and time, bringing information from the future. However, scientists still have no satisfactory explanation for these coincidences.
What is the scientific perspective on dreams?
In contrast to folk belief, modern science approaches dreams as a physiological and psychological phenomenon of the brain. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, scientists began to study dreams systematically.
The psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Jung
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, saw dreams as "the royal road to understanding the unconscious". He held that dreams are the fulfilment of wishes and desires repressed in the subconscious. When awake, we restrain these desires according to social norms, but when asleep, they are revealed in the form of symbols and images in dreams.
Carl Jung, a student and also a collaborator of Freud, held a different view. Jung believed that dreams not only reflect the personal unconscious but also connect with the "collective unconscious", which holds the shared symbols and archetypes of humanity. According to Jung, dreams play an important role in helping people mature, understand themselves and balance their psychological life.
How were REM sleep and the function of dreams discovered?
In the 1950s, science made a great leap forward when REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) was discovered. This is the stage when the brain is most active, and most vivid dreams occur during this stage. Modern studies show that dreams are the result of electrical impulses in the brain, randomly connecting fragments of memory, thoughts and emotions from the day.
One evolutionary hypothesis holds that dreams are an ancient biological protective mechanism, helping us simulate and process potential threatening situations, thereby increasing our ability to perceive and avoid danger in reality. Psychology professor Tobie Nathan from the University of Paris 8 also likened dreams to a way the brain "answers" questions, predicting what may happen based on the information it has gathered, rather than being a supernatural prophecy.
How do folk and scientific conceptions of dreams compare?
So there are two contrasting ways of looking at dreams:
| Perspective | Folk belief | Scientific view |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Omens, spiritual messages | Physiological and psychological activity of the brain |
| Origin | From deities, ancestors, supernatural forces | From memory, emotions, the subconscious |
| Meaning | Predicting the future, signalling good or bad fortune | Reflecting the inner self, processing information, not prophetic |
| Approach | Decoding symbols, consulting books, asking a master | Psychological analysis, brain research |
Although science does not yet have an absolute explanation for every phenomenon surrounding dreams, no evidence has shown that dreams can supernaturally predict the future. The coincidences regarded as "dream visitations" can be explained by statistical probability, the confirmation effect (remembering only the dreams that happen to match events) and the power of imagination.
Dream interpretation through the lens of culture and psychology
Dream interpretation in folk culture, though without a scientific basis, still carries a certain cultural and psychological value. It reflects the worldview, beliefs and feelings of people in the past. Dream interpretation helps people find comfort and faith in times of unease and worry. It is also a way for people to face their own hidden concerns and aspirations through symbols.
However, in the present era, we need a clear-headed and objective view. Dreams should be seen as a mirror reflecting the soul, helping us understand ourselves better, rather than relying too much on dream interpretation to decide important matters in life. A harmonious combination of treasuring traditional cultural values with a scientific way of thinking will help us have a more balanced and meaningful life.
