Dreaming of fish
Lucky in KoreaIn the West fish often stand for abundance, fertility or ideas coming up from your unconscious.
Korean dream reading agrees on abundance. Catching a big fish is read as gaining money or a prize, and a lively fish is a common taemong. Small, dead or rotten fish are the weaker versions.
Fish dreams, scene by scene
- You catch a big fishGood sign
Money or a reward comes to you.
- A fish jumps into your armsGood sign
A classic taemong, or sudden luck.
- Fish swim in clear waterGood sign
Things go smoothly.
- Dead or rotting fishTake care
A plan loses steam. Check the details.
The Korean story behind fish dreams
Fish lay countless eggs, so in East Asian art they became a symbol of abundance and many descendants. Korean folk paintings show carp leaping in pairs, and fish shapes decorate old furniture and pottery. Fish were also thought never to close their eyes. For that reason, traditional Korean locks were often made in the shape of a fish, meant to stand guard over a storeroom or chest day and night. In a land with sea on three sides, a good catch also meant food and income for coastal towns. These ideas made a lively fish in a dream a natural sign of gain.
Could a fish dream be a taemong?
A fish taemong, especially a carp or a big fish caught with your hands, is said to announce a healthy, prosperous child.
Fish dream: what people do next
A big fish dream often prompts a lottery ticket, especially if the fish was caught by hand. Couples hoping for a child may mention it to family, since fish are a classic taemong, or birth dream. Some keep the dream secret until the news is certain. If the fish was dead, people simply review their plans more carefully.