◇ Depends on the scene Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below
Sparring with bamboo swords means discipline and resolve; scoring a point means a good decision, being struck warns of hesitation.
Category: Actions & events (how to read this category)
Psychology
Kendo mirrors taut focus as you wait for a single opening, and the wish to govern yourself through courtesy and discipline. An opponent's face hidden behind the mask suggests you cannot read someone's heart; freezing on guard hints at a decision you cannot yet make.
Folklore and history
Kendo descends from samurai swordsmanship and survives as safe sparring with bamboo swords and armour. It is said to begin and end with a bow, and zanshin, staying alert after the strike, is prized. Swords themselves are held sacred in Japan, and dream readers take them as the power to cut through doubt.
Kunio Yanagita's study of taboo customs and prohibitions — backup material for our folklore-based analysis pieces.
Encyclopedia of Forbidden Customs: A Folklore Notebook of Taboos (Kunio Yanagita / Kawade Bunko)
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This site's view
In this site's view, the real meaning shows after the strike. If you celebrated and dropped your guard the instant you scored, beware of complacency after success. If you stood in a silent hall facing a presence with no one there, it may be unfinished practice against your own past self.
Going deeper: our reading
In kendo practice, loud shouts ring through the hall along with the clack of bamboo swords. Calling out the target as you strike is said to unite spirit, body and sword, and a hit without proper spirit may not count. In this site's reading, notice whether you could shout. A full cry from deep in your belly means you are ready to state your will clearly. If your voice cracked or would not come, you have been swallowing what you need to say, unable to swing all the way through in your heart. Bare feet on a cold floor, as in early-morning winter training, show you trying to discipline yourself in hard conditions. This is our speculation, but people who did kendo at school sometimes dream of it as adults, recalling heavy armour, sweat and the etiquette they once lived by, and quietly reviewing how they conduct themselves now.
What to do on waking
When you finish something today, pause for one breath and look back before moving on. That is everyday zanshin, and it catches oversights.
In this scene
- ◎Good It works out, you escape: you can overcome a real challenge (good)
- ▲Warn It fails, you are caught: feeling cornered — rest or ask for help (warning)
- Doing it again and again: an unsolved problem is still on your mind
- It felt good: the lucky reading gets stronger
- ▲Warn It felt frightening or painful: the warning reading gets stronger — rest first
- The same dream again and again: something your mind has not settled yet
Turning a bad dream
In Japan, people once tried to turn a worrying dream for the better: a baku charm under the pillow, telling the dream to a nandina bush, or reciting an old dream-turning poem. Read the column on dream trading and dream-turning
Haunted-spot exploration often means long hours driving and waiting in the car from late night into early morning, often in mountain or rural areas with no convenience store nearby — a car fridge keeps drinks and snacks fresh for hours. Adjustable from -20°C to 20°C, for either refrigeration or freezing.
IRIS OHYAMA Portable Fridge/Freezer 20L IPD-2A-B (for Vehicle Use)
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FAQ
Q. Is dreaming of kendo a good or bad sign?
A. Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below. Sparring with bamboo swords means discipline and resolve; scoring a point means a good decision, being struck warns of hesitation.
Q. Why do I keep dreaming of kendo?
A. A recurring dream usually points to something your mind has not settled yet. Research suggests such dreams tend to stop once the underlying worry is resolved. Keeping a dream diary helps you notice what triggers it.
Q. What should I do after dreaming of kendo?
A. When you finish something today, pause for one breath and look back before moving on. That is everyday zanshin, and it catches oversights.
Related dream essays
- True Dreams and Reverse Dreams: Why We Read Dreams Backwards
- Buying Dreams, Turning Dreams: A Japanese History of Dream Trading and Dream Charms
Read this dream with your own scene in the Dream Dictionary →
More dreams in "Actions & events"
- A Marathon
- Mountain Climbing
- Skiing
- Surfing
- Sumo Wrestling
- Judo
- Karate
- Boxing
- Pro Wrestling
- Ballet
- Gardening
- Packing
※ Dream interpretation here is entertainment drawing on psychology and folklore — it is not scientifically proven. "This site's view" is our own interpretation.
