expression, noun
empty dream; transient dream
A literary expression for a fleeting, insubstantial dream, often used to convey the impermanence of worldly pursuits. Derived from a classical Chinese story about a man who dreamed an entire lifetime while his millet was cooking.
人生は一炊の夢に過ぎないと、彼は悟った。
He realized that life is nothing but an empty dream.
Also refers to the fleeting nature of life from a Chinese story, but 一炊の夢 emphasizes the brevity of a dream within the time it takes to cook a single meal.
From a classical Chinese tale in which a man dreams of a lifetime of glory and ruin while his millet is cooking; the expression symbolizes the transience of worldly success.