Approaches to Oneiric Texts and Imagery in Early Modern Japan

Understanding of the phenomenon of dreaming varies widely in different ages and cultures, and Japanese perceptions of its significance have changed notably over the course of history. Drawing on examples from literature, art, oneiromancy, essays, and written accounts of dreams, this study examines the evolution of these perceptions during the early modern period in Japan, arguing that the changes during this age were unusually dynamic and that modern views of oneiric phenomena had a genesis that was independent of the West.