During the Kaihuang period, someone submitted a memorial stating that for several years, the roosters had been crowing without flapping their wings, as if something was hindering them from lifting their wings. This indicated that the court officials were in imminent danger. The emperor ignored him. Jing Fang's "Yifei Hou" said, "When a rooster crows without flapping its wings, the country is in great danger." Later, many officials were killed, many princes were deposed, and even the crown prince was imprisoned.
In the early years of the Daye period, roosters all over the country often crowed in the middle of the night. Jing Fang's "Yifei Hou" said, "Roosters crowing at night, urgent commands." It also said, "Crowing in the dark means disaster for the people; crowing when it's quiet means war is imminent; crowing in the middle of the night means bloodshed." As the country faced numerous major crises during this period, there was a shortage of funds, leading to forced tax increases. Local officials were pressured to complete tasks, the common people struggled to survive, and rebellions broke out, leading to continuous wars and death everywhere.
During the Kaihuang period, there were nightly disturbances involving the palace maids at Yeting Palace. The supervisor in the palace reported this to the emperor. The emperor said, "The palace gates are heavily guarded, how did anyone get in? It must be spirits!" He then warned the palace maids, saying, "If you see it, just chop it!" Later, a creature resembling a human climbed onto the bed at night, and the palace maids slashed at it with a knife, as if they had hit dry bones. The creature fell off the bed and ran away, with the palace maids chasing it until it drowned in the pool. The next day, the emperor had the water drained from the pool, and a turtle over a foot long was pulled out, with cuts on its shell. The emperor ordered it to be killed, and the incident never recurred. Turtles are aquatic animals, and are also mystical, symbolizing intrigue and deception, suggesting that the Prince of Jin was attempting to curry favor with the emperor to secure an heir.
In the second month of the second year of the Chen Dynasty under Emperor Chaozhen, countless mice poured from the shores of Caizhou into the Huai River near Shitoucheng, reaching both banks of Qingtang. A few days later, the mice all died and floated down the river to the area around Qingxiang. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou," "Mice gather in groups for no reason, not digging holes or building nests, gathering together, indicating that the ruler of the country is about to die." Not long after, the Chen Dynasty perished.
In the seventh month of the sixth year of the Tianjia reign of the Chen Dynasty, Yixiantang collapsed mysteriously, near Jinli Wood. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with construction projects, building five palaces including Xiande Hall, claiming to be magnificent. The common people were conscripted for labor, causing the wood to lose its original quality. Yixiantang, meaning to honor the wise and capable, collapsed inexplicably, as if heaven was warning the emperor: You only care about extravagance and pleasure, do not use the talents of the wise, what use is this empty name? The emperor did not listen to advice and died the following year.
In June of the year 589, the water pavilion in the imperial palace suddenly collapsed, as if it had been cut down. In July, the Zhuque Hang also sank inexplicably. At that time, Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty was focused on construction but neglected proper worship at the ancestral temple. The water pavilion was where the emperor feasted and the Zhuque Hang was the main road of the country. Their destruction seemed inexplicable, as if heaven was warning: the palace is destroyed, the road is cut off! However, Yang Guang failed to grasp the significance, and as a result, the Sui Dynasty was destroyed, and the palaces and temples were reduced to ruins.
Next, during the Northern Qi Dynasty, Emperor Xiaozhao wanted to kill Yang Yim. When he went to court in a carriage, the pole of his sedan suddenly snapped as he entered the east gate. Emperor Xiaozhao felt very uncomfortable, believing it was a bad omen, and he died just over a year later.
In the year 574 AD, the beams of the official building in Changguang County suddenly cracked, taking on a shape that resembled a human figure. The governor found it ominous and had the cracked wood removed. However, the next day, the beams cracked again, still in the same shape. Changguang was a fief granted to the emperor when he was previously titled king, and such a change in the trees was a very inauspicious omen! That year, the emperor died.
In the autumn of 577 AD, Empress Mu of Northern Qi was going to Jinyang and first went to the Northern Palace to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Hu. Upon arriving at the palace gate, her seven-treasure carriage inexplicably sank into the ground, with all four legs of the ox also sinking in. That year, Northern Qi was destroyed, and Empress Mu was captured and taken to Chang'an.
In 618 AD, the Qingcheng Gate collapsed inexplicably. The color blue represents the east and also symbolizes the crown prince. At that time, the crown prince displayed a lack of dignity and decorum, and the collapse of the Qingcheng Gate was a sign of the crown prince's incompetence. The emperor still did not understand; the following year, the crown prince ascended the throne and indeed became a foolish ruler, marking the beginning of the fall of the Zhou dynasty.
During the Daye period, Prince Yang Jian of Qi built a residence in the Eastern Capital, and the newly constructed sleeping quarters had its beams suddenly break on their own. At that time, the emperor had not yet appointed a crown prince, and people believed that Yang Jian should inherit the throne, with ministers in the court hoping for his ascension. As a result, Yang Jian became arrogant and reckless, even consulting fortune-tellers and practicing some forms of sorcery. The beams of the sleeping quarters broke inexplicably, and the wood lost its nature, which was a sign of treachery! Heaven was warning him through this strange phenomenon, but Yang Jian did not understand, and he was indeed punished by the emperor later.
The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "If he speaks but does not listen, this is what poor governance looks like. His crime is usurpation, and his punishment is a continuous drought, leading to eventual suffering. Sometimes there will be poetic words that confuse the public, sometimes there will be disasters from caterpillars, and sometimes there will be chaos from the Qiang people. Therefore, there will be disputes and omens of good and bad fortune. Only wood can conquer metal."
King Wuling of Liang usurped the throne and claimed the era name Tianzheng. Marquis Yongfeng Xiao Hui said, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this won't end well! Previously, Huan Xuan's era name was Daheng, and wise people interpreted it as 'the end of the second month,' and sure enough, Huan Xuan failed in early spring. Now with this 'Tianzheng,' if you deconstruct the character 'zheng,' it becomes 'yi zhi.' Can this last long?" Indeed, a year later, he was defeated.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Qi, Crown Prince Yin was preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony, and the emperor ordered Xing Zicai to create the calligraphy for the ceremony. Xing Zicai wrote the characters "zheng dao." The emperor said, "'Zheng' means 'yi zhi.' My son, does this mean he will meet an early demise?" Xing Zicai requested a change, but the emperor insisted, saying, "It is the will of Heaven!" He then turned to Prince Changshan Yan and said, "When the moment comes, you may take action, but do not kill him." When the emperor died, the crown prince ascended, and Prince Changshan Yan indeed deposed him and proclaimed himself emperor. Crown Prince Yin was soon killed.
During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, Left Supervisor Shi Kai said to the emperor, "Since ancient times, emperors all eventually turn to dust. What difference is there between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou in the end? Your Majesty should enjoy life to the fullest while young and strong. A day of joy is worth a thousand years. Do not waste your time being frugal!" The emperor was pleased to hear this and became more immersed in pleasure-seeking. Shi Kai not only incited the emperor onto the wrong path but also became corrupt and was eventually killed by the Chief Imperial Secretary.
During the Wuping era, the Chen army attacked Pengcheng, and the last ruler was so terrified that he could barely speak. Han Changluan advised him, "Even if you lose Henan, you can still become the ruler of Guizi. Now that Huainan is lost, what is there to worry about? Life is short, so enjoy it to the fullest, don't worry!" The emperor was pleased and became even more indulging in pleasures, completely disregarding state affairs. Before long, they were wiped out by the Zhou dynasty.
In the seventh year of Wuping, the last ruler was defeated by the Zhou army and fled to Ye City, declaring himself the Supreme Emperor, passing the throne to Prince Heng and changing the era name to Longhua. People at the time interpreted "Longhua" as "to descend into death." As a result, he indeed submitted to the Zhou dynasty, after which he died.
Emperor Wu of Zhou changed the era name to Xuanzheng, and Liang's ruler Xiao Kui interpreted "Xuanzheng" as "the day of Yuwen's demise." In June of that year, Emperor Wu of Zhou died.
When Emperor Xuan of Zhou was in the Eastern Palace, he did not abide by the laws and was frequently punished by Emperor Wu. After he ascended the throne, he touched the scars on his body and cursed angrily, "You died too late!" He then changed the era name to Daxiang, and Xiao Kui interpreted "Daxiang" as "the emperor's tomb." The following year, Emperor Xuan of Zhou died.
In the early years of Kaihuang, Prince of Liang Xiao Cong changed the era name to Guangyun. At that time, the common people in Jiangling whispered among themselves, "The character 'yun' means 'to flee!' Could our monarch be defeated and forced to flee?" Later, Xiao Cong was summoned to the capital, where he was detained and unable to return. His uncle Xiao Yan led the people in rebellion, and the Liang dynasty was eventually abolished.
In the early years of Kaihuang, Emperor Wen named the Crown Prince Yong, the Prince of Jin named Ying, the Prince of Qin named Jun, and the Prince of Shu named Xiu. Someone submitted a memorial advising, "The character 'yong' represents merely an ordinary person's virtue. Moreover, only the best among a thousand may be called 'ying', and only the best among ten thousand may be called 'jun'. These are merely praises from the common folk and are not fitting as imperial titles." The emperor ignored him. At that time, people thought that many with the surname Yang were actually called Ying, so someone advised, "Ying spelled backward is 'ying zhang' (disaster)!" The emperor was greatly displeased and promptly changed their names. Later, these sons, Yong, Jun, and Xiu, were all deposed. After Yang Guang ascended to the throne, he ultimately lost the realm, fulfilling the prophecy of "the calamity of the Yang clan."
Emperor Yang ascended the throne and named his reign "Daye." The knowledgeable were uneasy, saying, "If you separate the characters in 'Daye', it spells 'great suffering'!" Before long, chaos erupted across the land, and the people endured great suffering from the ravages of war.
Emperor Yang often casually said to his secretary, Yu Shinan, "I don't like to be advised by others. If someone of high status advises me for personal gain, I can't stand it. As for those of lower status, I might be a bit more lenient, but I still won’t accept their opinions. Do you understand what I mean?" At that time, people talked about how wise rulers of old governed the world with keen insight, encouraging criticism and setting up wooden plaques for people to write their opinions. They made it easier for those who offered advice and were concerned that honest advice would not reach them. Therefore, their blessings spread throughout the world and their virtues passed down through generations. However, this emperor detested candid advice, suppressed his advisors, and ultimately met a violent end.
In the first year of the Tianjian reign of the Liang Dynasty, a severe drought struck. A dou of rice sold for five thousand coins, and many people died of hunger. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "The ruler wields excessive yang energy, raises troops, overworks the people, builds cities without regard for their lives, and hears complaints from his subjects. However, the ruler cannot let go, leading to an imbalance of excessive yang and weakened yin. Excessive yang leads to drought." Initially, the emperor raised troops to Xiangyang, defeated Zhang Chong, defeated Chen Bozhi, pacified Jiankang, fought many battles before and after, and the people were exhausted. After ascending the throne, he continued to engage in wars with the Wei Kingdom, leading to the drought.
In the spring of 582 AD, there was no rain until April, causing widespread drought. Prior to this, the Zhou army had plundered the northern region of the Huai River, and the Southern Dynasty's Prince Ling of Shixing led his troops into battle, resulting in a complete defeat. The northern region was completely occupied by the Zhou Dynasty, which might have been a warning from heaven.
In the year 535, several provinces including Bingzhou, Sizhou, Fenzhou, Jianzhou, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Qinzhou, and Shanzhou experienced a severe drought, leaving many people without a means of survival and forcing them to flee. That year, Gao Huan, the emperor of Northern Qi, fought against Western Wei and suffered a major defeat at Shayuan, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people—a mix of natural disasters and human misfortunes.
From the winter of 548 to the spring of 549, there was another drought. Prior to this, the Western Wei army had invaded Luoyang, and Gao Huan personally led troops to confront them at Mangshan, resulting in yet more deaths in the tens of thousands. Alas, the war had worn them out, and the heavens added to their troubles.
In the summer of 556, there was another drought. Before this, the government had mobilized a large number of laborers to repair over four hundred miles of the Great Wall, which drained the people's resources—this was karma!
In the spring of 559, there was a drought. Prior to this, the government had conscripted hundreds of thousands of people to build the luxurious palaces of Jinfengtai, Shengyingtai, and Chongguangtai, living it up extravagantly without caring for the lives of the common people. This drought was definitely their own doing!
In April of 575, five provinces west of Bingzhou and Jinzhou faced drought. That year, the government again conscripted laborers to construct the Zhi Pass. At that time, two hundred thousand Turkic raiders showed up to stir up trouble, destroying the Great Wall and raiding Hengzhou—it was like trouble just kept piling on.
In the spring of 580, there was a drought. At that time, the government mobilized a large number of laborers to build the Daming Palace—sigh, here we go again, draining the people and squandering resources.
After 584, the capital Chang'an frequently experienced drought. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui moved the capital to Longshou Mountain, engaging in massive construction, which exhausted the common people. This drought was probably just fate!
In 614, the border regions of Yanzhou and Daizhou faced drought. At that time, the government conscripted over a million laborers to repair the Great Wall, and the emperor personally inspected the border defenses, leaving regular folks with no jobs, and many ended up starving on the road.
In the year 618 AD, there was a nationwide drought, and the common people fled in all directions. At that time, the government was recruiting soldiers from all corners, and the emperor even personally went to attack Goguryeo. As a result, more than half of the army froze and starved to death; it was a scene of utter tragedy. In the year 623 AD, there was another severe drought nationwide, and officials at all levels sent people to repair the city. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, was forced to work; it was truly unbearable for the common folk!
In the third year of the Tianjian reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, on the eighth day of the sixth month, he was giving a lecture at the Chongyun Palace when suddenly, a monk named Zhigong leaped up, sang and danced, then burst into tears and then composed a five-character poem: "Joyous for over thirty, sorrowful for fifty miles! Just look at eighty-three, disasters will arise on the land. Sycophants deceive, traitors destroy the virtuous. If you do not believe my words, the traitor will rise during the dragon's time. Even in the midst of horses, there is more sorrow than joy."
This poem predicted the rise and fall of the Liang Dynasty. From the Tianjian era to the Datong era of Emperor Wu of Liang, for more than thirty years, the southern region remained peaceful. However, in the second year of Taiqing, Taicheng was breached, and Emperor Wu of Liang ruled for forty-eight years; this "fifty miles" also came to pass. On the thirteenth day of the eighth month of the first year of Taiqing, Hou Jing surrendered from Xuanhu, and the city of Danyang to the north was called "Zidi." Emperor Wu of Liang trusted Zhu Yi's advice and welcomed Hou Jing. Hou Jing's rebellion began in the year of Wuchen and ended in Wunian. Emperor Wu of Liang died from overwhelming worry, and this "disasters will arise on the land" also came to pass. Ten years later, on the eighth day of the fourth month, the monk Zhigong wrote another poem at a large gathering: "The tail-wagging dog finally goes mad, wanting to die but not dying, gnawing and harming others, self-destructing in an instant. The trouble lies in Ruyin, with death in Sanxiang, corpses lying unburied."
Hou Jing's nickname was "dog," and he initially surrendered from Xuanhu, which was the ancient Runan. South of Baling, there is a place called Sanxiang, which is where Hou Jing was defeated. This poem eerily foretold Hou Jing's fate.
During the Tianjian period, there was a recluse in Maoshan named Tao Hongjing, who composed a five-character poem: "Yifu is carefree, Ping Shu sits discussing the void, unexpectedly, Zhaoyang Palace suddenly became the palace of the Chanyu." At that time, the court ministers were preoccupied with metaphysics, neglecting their responsibilities; "Yifu" and "Ping Shu" were both ministers of that time. As a result, after Hou Jing rebelled, he actually moved into Zhaoyang Palace.
In the Datong era, there was a folk rhyme that circulated: "The black-haired white horse comes from Shouyang." Later, Hou Jing captured Danyang, riding a white horse, with reins made of black silk.
In the early period of the Chen Dynasty, another folk rhyme appeared: "Yellow class, green steed, coming from the banks of Shouyang. When coming, it was the end of winter; when leaving, the spring breeze began." Later, the emperor of the Chen Dynasty was ultimately defeated by Han Qingtian. Han Qingtian's childhood name was "Huang Ban," and when he broke through Jiankang, he also rode a green steed, and the timing corresponded with what was said in the rhyme.
During the Chen Dynasty, Wang Xianzhi's "Peach Leaf Song" enjoyed great popularity in the Jiangnan region: "Peach leaves, more peach leaves, crossing the river without oars. But crossing is not difficult, I will welcome you myself." This song was a hit back then. Later, when the Jin Dynasty attacked the Chen Dynasty, they set up camp at the foot of Peach Leaf Mountain, and when Han Qingtian crossed the river, the general Ren Mannu went to Xilin to guide the northern army.
Emperor Chen Shubao of the Chen Dynasty built the Qiyun Temple, and the common people began to sing: "Qiyun Temple, the enemy comes without end." Before the song even finished, the Chen Dynasty was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty, truly fulfilling the song's prophecy. Chen Shubao himself also wrote a new song, with especially mournful lyrics, and had the beauties in the palace learn to sing it. The song sang: "Jade tree, flowers in the rear courtyard, flowers bloom but do not last long." People back then saw this song as a prophecy, feeling that the Chen Dynasty would soon come to an end.
When Emperor Gao Huan of Northern Qi had just moved the capital to Ye City, there was a nursery rhyme circulating in the streets: "Poor little green sparrow, flying into Ye City. The nest isn’t built yet, looking up and missing home. Sending letters to wives and mothers, admiring the new brides." This green sparrow refers to Emperor Xiao Jing of Northern Qi, who was the son of Prince Qinghe Gao Yue, and Gao Huan was his grandfather. The palace in Ye City was not yet completed when the dynastic change occurred, just like the nursery rhyme says, "The nest isn’t built yet." Emperor Xiao Jing died shortly afterwards, and his mother Empress Wenxuan was later remarried to Yang Yin. At that time, Gao Huan's wife Empress Lou was still alive, so the nursery rhyme says, "Sending letters to wives and mothers," and the "new brides" refer to the deposed empress.
During the Wuding era, another nursery rhyme appeared: "A hundred-foot high pole breaks, the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out." "Gao" refers to the Qi surname, and "Cheng" is the name of Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng. Five years later, Emperor Gao Huan died, which came true with the "high pole breaks"; seven years later, Emperor Gao Cheng was assassinated by a killer, which came true with the "lamp at the bottom of the water goes out."
During the Tianbao period, a man called Lu Fahao wrote a few sentences on his house wall: "Ten years the emperor may still be, a hundred days the emperor is urgent as fire, a year the emperor sits in succession." Later, Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang died after reigning for ten years, the deposed Emperor Gao Yin was overthrown after just over a hundred days, and Emperor Xiaozhao Gao Yan died after reigning for a year, all of which came true as Lu Fahao predicted.
In the first year of Wuping, another nursery rhyme circulated among the people: "The fox cuts off its tail; you want to get rid of me, and I’ll do the same to you." In April of that year, Prince Longdong Hu Changren wanted to send assassins to kill He Shikai, but the plot was uncovered, and instead, he was falsely accused by He Shikai, leading to his death.
Two years ago, children were singing nursery rhymes: "He Shikai, on July 30th, I'll take you to Nantai." After the children finished singing, everyone clapped and said together, "Kill him!" Consequently, on July 25th, Chief Imperial Censor Langya Wang Yan indeed arrested He Shikai and escorted him to Nantai to be beheaded. That same year, another nursery rhyme surfaced: "In July, harvest early; in September, enjoy the cakes. In October, clean the rice barrel; in November, drive Zhao Lao away." He Shikai was killed in July, Langya Wang died in September, and Zhao Yanshen was appointed as the governor of Xiyanzhou in November. All the nursery rhymes came true.
At the end of the Wuping era, another nursery rhyme appeared: "The yellow flowers are about to fall, the wine cups are filled to the brim." At that time, Empress Mu and her son behaved recklessly and interfered in court affairs, which worried everyone greatly. Empress Mu's nickname was Huanghua, and the line "the yellow flowers are about to fall" later came true with the fall of the Qi dynasty.
There was also a nursery rhyme circulating in Ye City: "Gold as a broom, jade as a handle, sweep the hall to welcome the Western family." Shortly after, the Zhou army marched into Ye City.
When the Zhou dynasty was newly established, another nursery rhyme emerged: "The white poplar tree's head, the golden rooster crows, only Uncle Jiu has no nephews around." Emperor Jing was the nephew of the Sui dynasty emperor, and shortly after abdicating, he died, while his uncles all held significant power.
Emperor Xuan of Zhou danced and sang with palace maids hand in hand in the middle of the night, singing: "Knowing that life is short, taking a candle to travel at night." This emperor died just three years into his reign.
In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Gaozu went to Bianzhou to entertain Prince Xiao of Qin and Prince Xiang. Emperor Gaozu even spontaneously composed a four-character poem: "Youth's beauty is fleeting, and a jade-like appearance is but temporary. Once the flowers fall, the white hair is hard to remove. In the coming years, who will have and who will not?" Consequently, the following year, Prince Xiang died, and eighteen years later, so did Prince Xiao of Qin.
In the eleventh year of the Dà Yè period, Emperor Yang of Sui set out from the capital to the Eastern Capital. When he arrived at Chang Le Palace, he became dead drunk and wrote a five-character poem. The poem's last line read: "Though my heart longs to return, I can no longer rely on the wind." He had the palace maids recite this line repeatedly, and he cried so much that his tears flowed down his face, making even the officials around him sigh in despair. Later, Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu and wrote another five-character poem: "Longing to return but unable to go, truly I have encountered a spring. The birds urge me to drink, the plum blossoms laugh at me." This poem was written in March, and he was killed in March, truly echoing the "encountering a spring" in the poem. That year, banditry was rampant, and the roads were completely blocked. Emperor Yang became fearful and gave up entirely on the idea of returning to the capital. He also dreamed of two young men singing: "To stay is to die, to leave is to die. It would be better to take a boat across the river." So he began to build a palace in Danyang, planning to settle there. Unfortunately, before the palace was completed, he was killed.
During the Dà Yè period, a children's rhyme was popular among the people: "Peach and plum, the swan circles around Yangshan, winding through the flower forest. Do not speak carelessly, who's talking about Xu?" Later, Li Mi was arrested by the authorities due to his involvement in Yang Xuangan's rebellion. He escaped while on the road. He secretly gathered a group of bandits, broke out from Yangcheng Mountain, attacked the Luokou granary, and later stationed in the garden. "Do not speak carelessly, it is also Mi," refers to Li Mi. Yu Wenhua claimed to represent Xu Guo, but was eventually defeated. The phrase "who says Xu" in this rhyme likely conveys surprise and doubt.
In the first year of the Daitong era under Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, Prince Shaoling Xiao Lun was in his bedroom in Southern Xuzhou during the day when two tanuki fought on the beam, which he caught after they fell. During the Taiqing period, amidst the chaos of the Hou Jing rebellion, he led troops to rescue Taicheng. When he reached Zhongshan, a bear that had just come out of hibernation suddenly appeared and bit the horse of Xiao Lun's mount. This was probably a bad omen, a sign of misfortune to come. Later, Xiao Lun was defeated by Wang Sengbian and fled to Nanyang, ultimately being killed by the Western Wei.
During the Daitong era of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, every night, foxes would call out beneath the palace, and it continued for several years. Jingfang's "Yifei Hou" states: "Wild beasts cry out in groups, and the city is empty." Soon after, the country soon descended into chaos, and almost all the people in Danyang City perished.
In the early years of the Chen Dynasty's Zhenming, a fox ran under the bed, and it could not be caught. Jingfang's "Yifei Hou" states: "If a fox enters the ruler's chamber, the chamber will not be inhabited." Not long after, the Chen Dynasty was destroyed.
In September of the year 548, a leopard broke into the southern gate of Ye City and was immediately killed. Five years later, in August, another leopard ran onto Tongjue Terrace. Jingfang's "Yifei Hou" states: "Wild beasts entering the city, even running to the main roads and the gates of the officials, is a great disaster omen; the ruler will perish." That year, the Eastern Wei suffered a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Yubi, and Gao Huan also died.
Ah, this really proves that old saying! When a leopard enters the city, the emperor dies; who can withstand that! Jingfang's book is indeed somewhat accurate.
In 552, a rabbit ran into the temple. Jingfang's "Yifei Hou" states: "If a rabbit runs into the royal family, the ruler will perish." The temple is a place where ancestral spirits reside. Five years later, the Zhou army invaded Ye City, and the later ruler, Gao Yang, fled.
The rabbit entering the temple means the same thing as the leopard entering the city; both are bad omens! This later ruler Gao Yang was also a doomed ruler.
As the Wuping era was drawing to a close, there were many wolves in Bingzhou, Sizhou, and other places, and they were even known to attack people. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Wolves are greedy and violent beasts, mostly white, and are a symbol of military disaster. Wolves resemble dogs and also foreshadow dog calamities." Jing Fang's "Yizhuan" also says: "If a ruler is unjust, disasters will befall the people, and they can only save their lives by hiding in the deep mountains. Wolves attacking people is a sign of such disasters." At that time, the emperor favored corrupt officials, was greedy and tyrannical, and harmed the common people. The omen of wolves attacking people was indeed a chilling reality! Later, he was ultimately defeated by the Zhou army, and this omen of military disaster was fulfilled.
The wolves attacking people, like the previous mention of leopards and rabbits, all signify chaos! This foolish and unjust emperor ultimately met with the fate of losing his country, which he deserved.
During the Wuping years, outside the gate of Shuozhou, a child's footprints suddenly appeared, and dirt was piled up to resemble a city wall. People at the time found it very strange, and upon careful investigation, discovered it was the work of a fox spirit. Later, this ominous presence spread to Bingzhou and Ye City. This mirrored the events of the third year of Wuding when a leopard entered the city. That year, Prince Gao Sihao of Nan'an raised an army to rebel, heading straight for Bingzhou, but was defeated by the imperial army. Zheng Zirao, Yang Fahao, and others also rebelled in Shandong.
The antics of this fox spirit also herald a bad omen, foreshadowing impending chaos.
In the year 559, in Ye City and Dunqiu, there were incidents of dogs mating with women. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Mating between different species that should not occur is a sign of chaos. Dogs mating with humans is a premonition of dog calamities." Dog calamities signify excessive yang energy and a loss of the people's hearts. At that time, the emperor was indifferent to state affairs and did not bestow blessings upon the common people.
The idea of dogs mating with humans... is simply unfathomable! The emperor's neglect of state governance, leading to the people's grievances boiling over, is a consequence of his own actions.
During the reign of the Later Emperor, officials were actually appointed to dogs, with female dogs even given the title of lady, and dogs were even provided with soldiers to care for them, eating fine grains and sleeping on soft beds. Even the heavens could not bear to see this, appointing dogs as officials; this is simply outrageous! It was as if the heavens were declaring that these ministers were no better than dogs. The Later Emperor did not understand, and in the end, the country was destroyed.
This emperor treating dogs like humans is simply absurd! This disaster caused by dogs eventually came true.
In the year 563 AD, a dog gave birth to puppies, but its body was split in half below the waist, with two tails and six legs. Dogs are fierce animals with claws, symbolizing soldiers. At that time, Yuwen Hu conspired with Hou Fu, Hou Long'en, and others to rebel. The dog's split body was an ominous sign.
The bizarre birth of this dog was yet another ill omen! The rebellion of Yuwen Hu and others was just a matter of time.
In the first year of the Daye era, many dogs in Yanmen ran away from their owners, running wild in groups in the wilderness, looking like wolves and even attacking people; it took several years to calm down. It is said in books: "Dogs are meant to guard homes; now they have run away from their owners. This is a sign of disloyalty among the subjects. The appearance of dogs becoming like wolves, white wolves, is a sign of imminent war." After that, Emperor Yang of Sui engaged in endless military activities, causing great suffering to the people. This was clearly a divine warning: stop the forced labor; your loyal subjects are about to rebel! But Emperor Yang of Sui did not listen, insisting on rebuilding the Great Wall and later meddling in the Western Regions and Liaodong. The people were fed up with him, and in the end, he died in Jiangdu, even his most trusted guards turned against him.
In the second year of the Liang Datong era, white hair grew in the fields, two feet long, which was seen as a good omen. A man named Sun Sheng believed this was a sign of squandering the people's labor and resources. Previously, a large number of people were mobilized to build the Fu Shan Dam, costing a fortune. It was nearing completion when the dam burst several times, and the people grew weary of forced labor, their sighs of discontent echoing everywhere.
In September of the first year of Qihui, in Cangzhou at the foot of the Great Wall, many tufts of hair appeared in the fields, some white and some black, four or five inches long, which was seen as a good omen. At that time, they happened to be building the Great Wall in the north, and three towers were also being built in the country, leading to the common people suffering from forced labor.
In the seventh month of the sixth year of Kaihuang, there was light rain in the capital city, with hair-like strands falling in the rain, some over three feet long, and some six or seven inches short. The "Yifeihou" in the Jingfang said, "Hair falling from the sky, the country will face a great famine." At that time, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and rice prices skyrocketed.
In the early years of the Tian Tong of the Later Qi, the jade disc on the Mount Dai Shan Sacrificial Altar came out by itself, another auspicious sign. Mount Dai Shan is a place where emperors change dynasties, and the jade disc is used in sacrificial rites. Now that it has come out by itself, it signals a change of dynasty. Later, the Qi state was destroyed, the land belonged to the Zhou dynasty, and the founding emperor accepted the abdication of the Zhou dynasty, unifying the world, all of which were the results of divine prophecy.
In the third year of Wuping, the phrase "Qi Wang Zou" appeared on the green stone wall under the Baishuiyan. Someone changed it to "Shang Yan," and the last emperor interpreted it as an auspicious sign, with all the civil and military officials coming to congratulate. Later, the Zhou army invaded, and the last emperor indeed abandoned Ye city and fled.
In the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, between Wu'an and Fuyang, many stones fell from the sky, more than ten of them! The texts say, "When stones fall from the sky, the ruler will be in danger." Seven years later, Emperor Wen of Sui died.
In the late years of Kaihuang, Emperor Wen of Sui buried two small stones in the palace on the ground as a mark, indicating the position of the bed. Not long after, these two stones turned into jade. The texts say, "Jade is the most precious; turning something cheap into something valuable, this signals a change!" By the end of Daye, there were uprisings everywhere, all claiming to be emperors.
In the thirteenth year of Daye, a stone was found in Xiping County, inscribed with the phrase "The Emperor Reigns for a Thousand Years." The ministers all congratulated, but some knowledgeable people worriedly said, "The saying 'live for a thousand years' is only said after death! Saying it can last a thousand years now, disaster is on the horizon." The next year, the emperor was killed.
In the twelfth year of the Liang Dynasty, the stone qilin at the entrance of the Qiaojian Tomb moved on its own. The movement of stones is a sign of impending relocation. It seemed like a warning from heaven: the tomb will be unguarded, and the stone qilin will be removed. Later, the country indeed perished.
In the fourth year of the Heqi River Qing, the stones in the palace began to move and collide with one another. Sui Meng believed that stones belong to Yin, representing ministers. When the stones in the palace moved on their own, it was a sign of trusted aides betraying. Later, during the Eastern Expedition of the Zhou Dynasty, favored ministers like Wei Xiangyuan, Qi Fugui and his brothers, and Han Jianye all betrayed and surrendered to the Zhou Dynasty.
In the first month of the twelfth year of the Liang Dynasty, two stone statues of Pi Xie were sent to the Jianling Tomb. The left one with double horns arrived at the tomb. The one with a single horn on the right, when about to be taken away, jumped three times in the carriage, breaking the carriage pole. After changing the carriage, before even reaching two miles from the tomb, it jumped three times again, each jump lifting everyone in the carriage three to four feet off the ground, with the wheels sinking three inches deep into the ground. This still signifies wood overcoming metal! Liu Xiang once said: "Losing the people's support, with orders ignored and words unheeded, is all due to the disorder of metal energy." Stones belong to Yin, representing ministers. When ministers change, it is a sign! In his later years, Emperor Wu of Liang did not focus on state affairs, with both ruler and ministers only chanting Buddhist scriptures and discussing metaphysics. The court was in chaos, orders not followed, words not heeded, and this was the reason! This eventually led to the chaos of the Hou Jing Rebellion.
In the first year of the Zhou Dynasty's Jiande, a stone statue was discovered in Puyang County, and the county officials intended to transport it to the prefecture to remove the gold from its surface. However, on the way, the stone statue jumped off the carriage by itself, twice. Then it was tied to the carriage wall with a thick rope, which broke, causing it to fall again. At that time, the emperor had just conquered the Qi Kingdom and was attacking Huainan, constantly waging wars, leaving the people exhausted and leading to their loss of support!
