枕中記

by Jiji Shen

"枕中記" by Shen Jiji is a traditional Chinese story written during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE). A dissatisfied young man named Lu encounters a Daoist monk and laments his lack of prestige and wealth. The monk offers him a porcelain pillow to sleep on, and Lu enters a vivid dream where he experiences the life of success he craved. Through this journey, the story explores Daoist and Buddhist teachings about life's illusions and the futility of worldly ambition.