Wang Fuzhi's "E Meng" (Nightmare) posits that the lingering psychological trauma of past injustices, particularly those experienced during periods of political upheaval and personal suffering, can manifest as persistent, debilitating mental states akin to nightmares. The work is a profound exploration of the internal landscape of a mind haunted by memory, suggesting that unresolved grief, fear, and a sense of helplessness can become a chronic condition, impacting one's perception of reality and capacity for future well-being. Wang's text is not a narrative of external events but an inward journey, detailing the insidious ways these "nightmares" shape thought patterns, emotional responses, and the very fabric of one's existence.

The central thesis is that prolonged exposure to profound suffering and the subsequent inability to process or escape it leads to a form of sustained psychological distress that incapacitates the individual, making it difficult to discern between past trauma and present reality. Key ideas include the cyclical nature of trauma-induced suffering, the isolation of the afflicted mind, and the profound challenge of breaking free from these internal prisons. Readers gain insight into the enduring impact of historical trauma on individual psychology and the complex mechanisms through which suffering can become a deeply ingrained, reoccurring state of being.

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Key concepts

Psychological Trauma — Enduring mental and emotional difficulties that arise from experiencing or witnessing distressing events.
Memory and Reality Distortion — The way traumatic memories can warp present perceptions, blurring the lines between past and present.
Internalized Suffering — The process by which external pain and injustice become a chronic, self-perpetuating psychological state.
Persistence of Grief — The enduring and overwhelming emotional burden that continues long after the initial cause has passed.
Psychological Paralysis — The inability to act or engage with life due to overwhelming mental distress.