"Wandering Spirits is a translation and study of the most comprehensive work on dream culture in traditional China - Lofty Principles of Dream Interpretation (Mengzhan yizhi), compiled in 1562 by Chen Shiyuan and periodically reprinted up to the modern era. This unique treatise compiles various theories, Chen's own comments concerning the nature of dreams and their role in waking life, and almost seven hundred examples assembled from a wide range of literary sources. It was Chen's View that dreams are real and that they constitute an important part of our life experience. Mostly resulting from out-of-body wanderings of the spirit, dreams have consequences for personal welfare and can disclose aspects of human and cosmic consciousness. The abundant examples that Chen collected not only reveal these ideas in action, but also present a fascinating slice of Chinese society through the ages. This translation is accompanied by a full-length introduction that surveys the evolution of Chinese dream culture and the role of Chen Shiyuan and his encyclopedia."--BOOK JACKET.