During the sixth year of the Tianjian reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, on the day of Wuxu in the eighth month, a strong wind blew, breaking many trees. Jing Fang stated in "Yifei Hou" that when there is a strong wind during the time of Jiaosu, chaos will reign in the world, and within three months, there will definitely be a war outbreak. As predicted, that year, the Wei army invaded Zhongli.
In the third year of the Chengsheng reign, in the eleventh month on the day of Guiwei, the emperor was inspecting the troops in the southern city when suddenly a cold north wind blew, darkening the sky. According to the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," this indicates the ruler's incompetence. At that time, the emperor had just quelled the rebellion of Hou Jing, and the court officials urged him to return to Danyang, but he didn't listen and acted foolishly, so heaven sent a strong wind as a warning. That year, Western Wei perished.
In the sixth year of the Tianjia reign of the Chen Dynasty, in the seventh month on the day of Guiwei, a strong wind blew from the southwest, toppling the waiting tower in Lingtai. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" explains that this signifies ministerial overreach. At that time, the crown prince was still young, and Prince Ancheng Chen Xu wielded power, which the emperor did not stop in time. The next year, the emperor passed away, the crown prince ascended the throne, and Chen Xu directly deposed the crown prince.
In the twelfth year of the Taijian reign of the Chen Dynasty, in the sixth month on the day of Renxu, a strong wind damaged the doors of Gaomen. In the same year, in the ninth month, a strong wind blew in the evening, knocking down houses and uprooting trees. This was a sign of the ministerial power of Prince Shixing Chen Shuling.
In the Zhide period, a strong wind blew down the Zhuque Gate.
In the third year of the Zhenming reign of the Chen Dynasty, in the sixth month on the day of Dingsi, a strong wind blew from the northwest, stirring up massive waves that inundated Shitoucheng and the Huai River. At that time, the empress favored Sima Shen, who unjustly killed loyal officials and generals, while ministers such as Shen Keqing and Shi Wenqing committed many evils, and Jiang Zong and Kong Fan were indulgent and obstructed court affairs, leading to incompetence and misgovernment. Therefore, heaven unleashed a strong wind to punish them.
During the second year of the Qing era of the Southern Qi Dynasty, a strong wind blew for thirty days before stopping. At that time, the emperor had just handed over power to treacherous officials, particularly Shi Kai, who became increasingly tyrannical. In the third year of the Tian Tong era in May, another strong wind blew, darkening the sky during the day and causing houses and trees to fall. Despite these warnings from heaven, the emperor remained unresponsive. The following year, the new emperor ordered that all memorials be reviewed by Shi Kai before being presented to him. Prince Zhao and Prince Feng accused Shi Kai of arrogance and unsuitability for his position, but were instead slandered by Shi Kai. Prince Zhao was even executed as a result. Shi Kai held absolute power over life and death in the court and was later killed by Prince Xiao Yan of Langya. In March of the seventh year of the Tian Tong era, a strong wind blew from the northwest, causing houses and trees to fall for five days before stopping. This was a sign of the growing tyranny of Gao Anagui, Luo Tipuo, and others. In November of the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era, a severe storm hit Chang'an City, with winds so strong they could overturn houses and uproot trees, causing the deaths of thousands in Qinzhou and Longzhou. An earthquake followed, and the drums began to sound on their own. The bell at Jingsha Temple rang three times on its own, the doors of the Buddha hall opened by themselves, and a bronze statue walked out of the hall. This phenomenon of the drums and bell ringing on their own was attributed to a "drum demon" according to historical accounts. Yang Xiong once remarked that when those in power are incompetent and deceived by villains, only holding empty titles, such strange occurrences of "drum demons" will happen. At that time, Empress Dowager Dugu was in power, and Yang Su held great influence. The emperor was swayed by their slander and dismissed Gao Feng from his position, demoting Crown Prince Yang Yong to a commoner and appointing Prince Jin as the new crown prince. The emperor's mind was in turmoil, a clear sign of excessive yin energy! Both the bell and the bronze statue are made of metal, with metal trembling and wood shaking, all indicative of impending water disasters. The "Hong Fan Five Elements" states: "This all stems from their loss of the people's trust!" Gao Feng and Yang Yong were dismissed without cause, which inevitably led to the loss of the people's trust.
In the second year of Renshou, there was a Hu people in Xihe riding a mule on the road. Suddenly, he was swept up by a whirlwind, along with a carriage, flying thousands of feet into the sky, and then falling down and shattering. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When everyone goes against each other with the same heart and virtue, the highest virtues will be concealed, leading to the emergence of strange winds." Two years later, Prince Han Liang conspired to rebel in Bingzhou. Isn’t the sight of this carriage and mule a portent of his rebellion? Flying up to the sky and falling down, these are all ominous signs of impending failure! It seems like heaven is warning him: don't mess with the military, you will ultimately fail! But he ignored the warning. After the death of Emperor Gaozu, Prince Han Liang indeed rebelled, with many counties responding and an army numbering in the hundreds of thousands. He was defeated a month later.
In the second year of the Chengsheng era of the Liang Dynasty, in the tenth month of Dingmao, a strong wind arose, turning day into night, and the world was dark. This is yet another omen of the "Night Demon"! Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says: "When the sun is obscured by wind, the world will be dark, and people will fall seriously ill, or thieves will run rampant." Three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by Western Wei.
In the third year of Zhenming in the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was filled with mist, the light was dim, and the air was thick with a bitter scent. Chen Houzhu's incompetence was yet another sign of the "Night Demon." "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When the emperor loses the people's hearts and the ministers become powerful, blinding the emperor's eyes, this cloudy and dark scene will appear." At that time, the northern army was already approaching the Yangtze River, Liuzhuang, and Renman slaves came to seek peace, but Chen Houzhu was swayed by the treacherous minister Kong Fan, and his incompetence ultimately led to the country's destruction.
In the winter of the fourth year of Wuding in Dong Wei, dense fog enveloped the land for six days and nights, turning day into night. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When day turns as dark as night, it is a sign of yin invading yang, and the ministers will rise against their sovereign." Sure enough, the following year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi plotted to assassinate the Grand General.
In the second year of the Zhou Dynasty, Wei Jiao was defeated in Xiangzhou and ordered the execution of tens of thousands of his followers at Youyu Garden. Later, the sound of ghosts crying was often heard at that place at night. "Fan Hong's Biography of the Five Elements" says: "The crying is an omen of death, and it is the sound of evil spirits as night approaches. If ghosts cry at night, it will be a sign of death." Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" also said: "Ghosts cry at night, the country will perish." The following year, the royal ministers of the Zhou Dynasty were all killed, and the Zhou Dynasty perished.
During the Renshou period, the Renshou Palace and the base of the Great Wall frequently echoed with the sound of ghosts crying. Shortly after, Empress Xian and the Emperor died successively in the Renshou Palace.
In the eighth year of the Daye period, Yang Xuangan rebelled in the Eastern Capital. The Minister Fan Zigai had tens of thousands of his accomplices killed outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, the sounds of ghosts crying and moaning were often heard in that area, similar to the previous signs. Later, Wang Shichong killed Prince Dong.
In the first year of the Wuping period of the Later Qi Dynasty, the locust trees bloomed but bore no fruit. The locust tree symbolizes the position of the Three Excellencies, which is a sign of decline. The following year, the Minister of Records and the Chief Scribe were executed, Prince Hu Changren of Longdong and Grand Protector Wang Yan of Langye were both killed, and the Left Prime Minister Duan Shao also died.
During the reign of Emperor Chen of the Chen dynasty, there were two imperial concubines, Zhang and Kong, both of whom were considered captivating beauties. Emperor Chen was infatuated with them, lavishing them with attention and indulging in pleasures with them at his side. He would stay in the palace for days on end, engaging in excessive indulgence. The treasury became empty, the people were unhappy, and the soldiers were disheartened. When enemies invaded, no one was willing to fight fiercely. All of this was a result of the distractions caused by women! In the end, when the Chen dynasty fell, Emperor Chen and the two concubines jumped into a well together. The Sui army captured Zhang and executed her to placate the people of Jiangdong. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "Flowers symbolize wealth, beauty, and appearance. When a country falls into chaos due to beauty, it is called 'Huanie'."
The Emperor of Qi had a favorite concubine named Feng Xiaolian. She was beautiful, intelligent, played the pipa, and excelled in singing and dancing. The Emperor was enchanted by her and made her a noble concubine. He selected thousands of beautiful girls to serve as her attendants, with each attendant's attire costing a small fortune. While the Emperor was out hunting, the Zhou army launched a massive attack. Officials at the border urgently requested reinforcements, and messengers rushed to deliver the news. The Emperor wanted to recall the troops, but Feng Xiaolian disagreed and convinced him to continue the siege. The Emperor listened to her, leading to missed opportunities and the eventual fall of Jinzhou. Eventually, the armies of Qi and Zhou met at Jinzhou, and because of Feng Xiaolian, the Emperor missed several opportunities, ultimately leading to the country's downfall. Even today, the people of Qi still blame him.
When King Wuling of Liang conducted a sacrifice to the City God, he must sacrifice a cow. Suddenly, a red snake appeared coiled around the mouth of the cow; this was an ominous sign! As stated in ancient texts, it is a sign of dragons and snakes causing trouble. In the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the cow used for sacrifice injured its mouth. At that time, people believed that this was a sign that heaven had abandoned Duke Xuan. "The Book of Changes" says: "When a king goes against the will of heaven, the phenomenon of dragons and snakes causing trouble will appear." Although King Wuling of Liang claimed he was going to offer help, he was actually arrogant and conceited. His arrogance led to the heavens rejecting the sacrifice, fulfilling the sign of the king going against the will of heaven, and ultimately being defeated by Emperor Yuan.
Later, in the second year of Wu Ping of Qi, the state of Bingzhou presented a five-legged cow, which was also an ominous sign. "The Book of Changes of the Hong Fan" says: "The abnormal situation of the cow symbolizes the disaster of the palace." The emperor then embarked on a massive construction project, digging ponds, piling up mountains, and building palaces in the Xian Du Garden, reaching an extreme level of extravagance. Shortly after the project was completed, the country perished.
Later, in the sixth year of Zhou Jiande, three monsters appeared in Yangwu, resembling water buffalo, one yellow, one red, and one black. They fought each other, with the yellow water buffalo striking the black one from the side, which resulted in the death of the black water buffalo, and the yellow water buffalo also ran into the river. This closely resembles the ominous signs associated with cows! Black was the color revered by the Zhou dynasty, and the death of the black water buffalo symbolized the dynasty's doom. Several years later, the Zhou dynasty indeed perished, and the Sui dynasty replaced the Zhou dynasty, with the Sui dynasty's military flag being red, and their uniforms were yellow.
In the early period of the Sui Dynasty, a cow appeared on Mount Heng with an additional hoof on each knee. Later, Emperor Yang of Sui built the Eastern Capital, constructed the Great Wall, and dug canals.
In the third year of the Chen Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty army arrived at the bank of the Yangtze River. The last emperor of the Chen Dynasty said very casually, "The Qi Dynasty army has come three times, and the Zhou Dynasty army has also come twice; all of them were defeated by us. What can they possibly do?" At that time, the official Kong Fan replied, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier, used in ancient times to divide the north and the south. How could the northern army possibly cross over? I've always been worried about my low rank; if they really come across the river, I could become a marshal!" The last emperor of the Chen was quite pleased to hear this, so he hosted banquets, summoned courtesans, drank wine, and kept composing poems. In fact, this was a sign of his deep-seated illness. At a critical moment for the survival of the country, the ruler and his subjects should work day and night, but the last emperor of the Chen did not fear, and Kong Fan followed him into a life of indulgence. It was only a matter of time before the Chen Dynasty fell! As a result, the Chen Dynasty fell, and Kong Fan was exiled to a remote location.
Emperor Wenxuan of Qi once held a banquet at Dongshan; he suddenly threw down his wine cup, flew into a rage, issued a decree for a western expedition, and boasted about how powerful his army was. However, shortly thereafter, he cried to his ministers, "This black robe is not what I should be wearing." In the end, the plan for the western expedition was not carried out. Those in the know believed the emperor's mind was already unhinged, knowing that his reign would not last long. Later, Emperor Wenxuan of Qi indeed fell ill, became consumed by wine and women, his temperament grew erratic and irritable, and he died a few years later.
Emperor Wucheng was sad because of his mother's death, but he continued to wear a red official robe. Before long, he ascended the platform, hosted banquets, and indulged in revelry. The attendants brought him a white official robe; he flew into a rage and hurled the white robe off the platform. Before long, he died.
In the first year of the Da Tong era of the Liang Dynasty, there was a rain of dirt throughout the country. In the second year, there was a rain of gray earth that was yellowish. This yellowish hue foreshadows misfortune. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "Ignoring good omens indicates that someone knows (bad omens) are about to happen. When the color turns yellow, disaster will come, and the succession will be cut off. This is caused by suppressing the wise and cutting off the righteous." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang considered himself to be intelligent and knowledgeable, and he disliked those who were more excellent than himself. He also believed in Buddhism devoutly, even treating himself as a slave, which was the punishment he brought upon himself for suppressing the wise and cutting off the righteous.
In the first year of the Da Bao era of the Liang Dynasty, in January, there was a rain of yellow sand throughout the country. In the second year, Emperor Jianwen dreamed of swallowing a lump of soil. Shortly after, he was deposed by Hou Jing, crushed to death with a sack of soil, and his sons were all killed, fulfilling the omen of having "no successor."
During the reign of Chen Houzhu, he dreamed of people dressed in yellow surrounding the city. Chen Houzhu disliked this dream greatly, so he cut down all the orange trees in the city. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty declared himself emperor, everyone in the court dressed in yellow. Shortly after, the Sui army attacked and besieged the Chen Dynasty, fulfilling Chen Houzhu's dream.
In the second year of the Da Xiang era of the Zhou Dynasty, in January, there was a rain of yellow earth from the sky, which eventually stopped. This mirrored the events that happened in the first year of the Da Tong era. At that time, the emperor had become increasingly incompetent and deranged, and he died shortly after. The successor, Emperor Jing, also soon abdicated the throne, truly fulfilling the omen of "cutting off succession"!
In the second year of the Kaihuang era, there was a dust rain in the capital city. At that time, the emperor learned the lessons from the Zhou Dynasty's downfall due to the weakness of its feudal lords, so he divided his sons and bestowed significant powers upon them in various regions. The dust rain in the capital signaled that unusual events would occur on the land, and indeed, these princes eventually rebelled. During the construction of palaces and the Renshou Palace, many workers perished during the extensive construction projects. In the first year of the Taiqing era of the Liang Dynasty, a woman surnamed Mo in Danyang gave birth to a baby boy with eyes on the top of his head, who immediately spoke upon birth, declaring himself to be a drought demon. The drought demon instructed his mother to make a red hat to avert calamities. In the second year of Daobao, a five-year-old child in Jingkou climbed a high tower in the southwest corner of the city and imitated the sound of the waves of the Yangtze River with a drum, symbolizing impending war and chaos. During the Yongding era of the Chen Dynasty, a giant three zhang tall appeared on Mount Luofu, dressed in white, foretelling the nation's downfall. Two years later, the emperor passed away. When Chen Houzhu was a prince, a woman stormed into the Eastern Palace, shouting, "The ruler of Bi!" Chen Houzhu later ascended to the throne, and the dynasty eventually fell, fulfilling the prophecy made at that time.
In the third year of the Zhide era, in August, a maid in Jiankang died in her home and was buried for nine days before coming back to life. A cowherd, hearing the commotion, dug her up.
In the second year of the Zhenming era, people found a boat in the river and suddenly heard someone say, "There will be chaos next year." They looked and found a dead infant in the boat, two feet long, but without a head. The following year, the Chen Dynasty was overthrown.
During the Tianbao period of the Qi Dynasty, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads sharing one body. Later, corrupt officials controlled the government, where the distinctions between ranks had collapsed, fulfilling the omen of "two heads."
During the reign of the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty, there was a man in monk's robes who appeared to be deranged. He would bow to crows and curse monks. Crows were associated with the Zhou Dynasty. Shortly after, the Qi Dynasty was destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty, and Buddhism was suppressed.
In the third year of Baoding in the Later Zhou Dynasty, a man gave birth to a boy with a penis located on his back, like a tail; the tips of his toes looked like wild animal claws. A penis should not be located on the back, and toe tips should not resemble claws, which signifies a reversal of yin and yang, and disorder between ruler and subjects. At that time, Prince Jin Yuhu of the Later Zhou Dynasty seized power alone with ambitious intentions to usurp the throne. This served as a divine warning that the order between ruler and subjects had been disrupted, and a great disaster was about to occur! The emperor understood this and executed Yuhu, took personal control of state affairs, practiced frugality, and eventually pacified the Qi Kingdom, becoming the emperor, known as Gaozu. This truly transformed peril into safety!
During the reign of Emperor Wu, there was a muscleman pretending to be mad who ran to the doorstep of Yuwen Hu's house with a gourd, smashed the door, and yelled, "You may still live, but your son is in trouble!" At that time, Yuwen Hu was very powerful and was on his way to see the Empress Dowager when he was killed by the Emperor. The Emperor ordered the arrest of Yuwen Hu's sons, who all took poison and committed suicide. The muscleman later came out begging for food, and when someone gave him food, he used a bottomless bag to collect it, laughing heartily, "It's empty!" Not long after, the Zhou Dynasty fell, the founding emperor moved the capital, and Chang'an City became a ruin.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang period, an old man in Huozhou transformed into a fierce beast.
In the seventh year, a monk in Xiangzhou turned into a snake, wrapping his tail around a tree and whipping himself, measuring two zhang long.
In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a person who was incredibly tall, several zhang high, appeared at Yingmen, leaving footprints that were four feet and five inches long. That year, the emperor died.
In the first year of the Daye era, a man from Yanmen named Fang Hui'an, who was 100 years old, grew a horn on his forehead that was about two cun long. The 'Book of Hongfan and the Five Elements' says, "Women belong to yin, horns belong to soldiers, the lower opposes the upper." After that, chaos broke out, and enemy troops surrounded the emperor in Yanmen.
In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village in Yanmen gave birth to a meat egg, about the size of a rooster, and buried it. A few days later, dark clouds gathered over the burial site, and with a loud bang, a hole appeared, but the egg was gone.
In the sixth year, a maid in the Li family of Zhaojun gave birth to something about the size of a chicken egg.
On New Year's Day of the sixth year, a thief wearing a white training outfit, holding fragrant flowers, claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya. He broke into Jianguo Gate, seized the weapons of the guards, and tried to start a rebellion. Prince Qi Yang Jian ran into him and killed him. Three years later, Yang Xuan felt rebelled, surrounded Luoyang with troops, and was defeated and killed.
Eight years ago, there was a man named Cheng Gong who acted like a lunatic, shouting in the Eastern Capital that he wanted to rebel. The emperor was furious when he heard this. The next year, Xuan Gan actually rebelled and surrounded Luoyang.
Twelve years later, Cheng Gong was at it again, shouting about rebellion. Li Mi was closing in on the capital, and Meng Rang set fire to Fengdu City and fled.
Nine years later, the emperor was in Gaoyang. There was a man from Tang County named Song Zixian, who was particularly skilled at sleight of hand. Every night, strange lights would shine from his hall, and he could even conjure up Buddha statues, claiming to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha. He also hung a large mirror in his hall, reflecting images of snakes, beasts, and people drawn on paper. When visitors came to pay their respects, he would turn the mirror and show them their appearance in the next life. If a snake appeared in the mirror, Song Zixian would say, "You've committed serious sins; you should recite more scriptures!" Then he would have them bow again, and the mirror would show a human form. People nearby believed it was true, and hundreds or even thousands of people visited him every day. Later, Song Zixian secretly plotted a rebellion, preparing to start some kind of "Uncovered Buddha Assembly" and attack the emperor. The plot was uncovered, and General Yangyang led his troops to capture him. They surrounded his house at night, only to find a fire pit, and the soldiers hesitated to enter. General Yangyang said, "There was no pit here before; it must be sorcery!" After they entered, the fire pit disappeared. Song Zixian was arrested and executed, dragging over a thousand households into the mess.
Later on, a monk named Xiang Haiming appeared, who also claimed to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha in Fufeng and secretly plotted a rebellion. Those who believed in him reported having good dreams. As a result, everyone believed him, and the people in the Guanzhong area regarded him as a great sage. When he finally rebelled, he surprisingly amassed tens of thousands of followers. The rebellion was crushed by the imperial army. According to Jing Fang's "Yifei Hou," deceiving the masses with falsehoods refers to such unreliable matters. No one was walking the roads anymore, and within three years, someone would inevitably rise in rebellion. Since then, chaos spread across the land, and indeed, the roads were deserted.
In the fifth year of the Liang Dynasty, in the eleventh month, an earthquake struck the capital city, affecting wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "The subordinate forces are powerful and poised to create chaos." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "If there is an earthquake in November, there will be famine in that place." At that time, Jiaozhou's Governor, Li Kai, rebelled. The following year, there was frost, and the harvest was poor, causing the people to go hungry.
In the third year of the Putong era (AD 531), in the first month, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. At that time, the Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, led the people in rebellion.
In the sixth year, in the twelfth month, there was another earthquake. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "If there is an earthquake with sound in winter, occurring in December, there will be war in that place." At that time, the Emperor commanded Prince Yong of Yuzhang to lead an army northward.
In January of the year 535 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou": "If the earth moves in spring, the year will be unfruitful." That year, there was also a major flood, causing the people to go hungry.
In November of the year 537 AD, there was another earthquake in Jiankang. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "If there is an earthquake in November, the city will face significant loss and famine." The following year, there was a frost disaster, and the common people went hungry again.
In October of the year 538 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. That year, there was a rebellion of bandits in the mountains in the Kuaiji region. In February of the year 540 AD, there was another earthquake in Jiankang. That year, Li Ben of Jiaozhou rebelled and drove away the Governor Xiao Zi.
In the intercalary first month of the year 542 AD, there was an earthquake. Li Ben declared himself emperor and established a fully developed bureaucratic system. In April of the year 548 AD, there was another earthquake in Jiankang. At that time, Hou Jing declared himself Grand Chancellor and ignored the emperor's orders. In that month, the emperor died from his grief.
In May of the year 557 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. Wang Lin in Yingzhou enthroned Xiao Zhuang as emperor. In November of the year 559 AD, there was an earthquake. Chen Baoying launched a rebellion in Minzhong.
In January of the year 561 AD, there was an earthquake. This was a sign of the consolidation of power by Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing. In November of the year 529 AD, the Xihé region experienced land subsidence and fire. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" says: "When the earth collapses, its ruler will perish." Zu Xing explained that "Fire symbolizes yang energy, while the earth symbolizes yin energy. If the earth catches fire, it means that yin energy is being invaded by yang energy, indicating that subordinates are usurping power, which will ultimately lead to their own destruction." At that time, Gao Huan held power, while Hou Jing seized power in Henan. Two years later, Gao Huan indeed died, and Hou Jing rebelled and ultimately perished in failure.
In the year 530 AD, there was an earthquake in Bīngzhōu. This was a sign of the consolidation of power by He Shikai. In the year 582 AD, Liángzhōu experienced frequent earthquakes that caused city walls to collapse and springs to erupt from the ground. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" says: "When the earth splits, the Qiang and Yi tribes will revolt." At that time, the Tuyuhun tribe frequently raided the Hexi region.
In May of the year 584 AD, there was an earthquake in the capital city. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When the earth shakes in the fifth month of summer, people will be forced to flee." That year, there was a famine in the Guanzhong region, and the emperor ordered the people to go to the Guandong region to demand food. In April of the year 586 AD, there were earthquakes in Qízhōu and Yōngzhōu. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When the earth shakes in the fourth month of summer, the crops will fail, leading to widespread famine."
In the year 587 AD, there was a landslide in Gǔshān, Liángzhōu. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When a mountain collapses and scatters, it signifies betrayal and disloyalty to authority." Liángzhōu was a territory of the Han Dynasty. The following year, Prince Liang raised an army and revolted.
In the seventh year of Dàyè, Dizhushan collapsed, blocking the Yellow River and causing the river to backflow for dozens of miles. Liu Xiang wrote in the "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan": "Mountains represent rulers; water represents yin energy, symbolizing the people. Heaven warns that if a ruler's power becomes too oppressive, it will collapse, and the people will be displaced." At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was launching an attack on Liaodong, and the common people could no longer endure such heavy burdens. Complaints and rebellions were heard everywhere, ultimately leading to the collapse of the dynasty.
In the "Hong Fan Five Elements Treatise," it also says: "Emperors cannot be completely good and perfect; this is referred to as 'not establishing'; their fault is incompetence, and the punishment is persistent rain and gloom throughout the year, ultimately leading to the weakening of national strength. During this period, there will be evil spirits at work, disasters like dragons and snakes will appear, and there will be horse disasters."
In the twentieth year of Kaihuang, October, there was persistent rain and gloom. Liu Xiang said: "If the ruler loses balance, and the power of the ministers is strong enough to deceive the monarch, continuous rain and gloom will appear." At that time, Empress Dugu and Yang Su secretly plotted against Crown Prince Yang Yong, stripping him of his title and reducing him to commoner status.
In the fourth year of Wuding of Eastern Wei, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi was in power and personally led the army to attack the Jade Wall of Western Wei. In November of that year, Emperor Wenxuan fell ill and returned to the capital. The soldiers were terrified, saying: "Wei Xiaokuan used the Dinggong crossbow to kill the Prime Minister." Western Wei issued a nationwide order saying: "With one shot of the powerful crossbow, calamity will come upon you." Emperor Wenxuan was very angry when he heard this; his condition worsened, and this was likely the work of malevolent forces. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Treatise" says: "Shooting is a symbol of military chaos; if the energy goes against heaven, chaos will arise." On the way back, General Cao Weizu in the palace advised: "Your Majesty, you are using negative energy to counter positive energy, which is not good for guests but beneficial for hosts." Emperor Wenxuan did not listen; the army stalled for fifty days, and multiple battles failed. He then listened to the false advice, cutting off the Fen River to the north of the city and building up earthen mounds. The terrain there was steep, over a thousand feet tall; the project was never completed, and seventy thousand people died. This is the consequence of defying the will of heaven! Emperor Wenxuan died that year. The following year, Wang Sizheng instigated unrest in the Henan region.
During the reign of Emperor Wuping of Northern Wei, as the emperor was returning to Ye City from Bingzhou, he passed by Bagong Ridge singing as he walked in the dead of night. Suddenly, a madman, for reasons unknown—perhaps believing the emperor was enchanted by a fox spirit—hid in the bushes and began shooting arrows. He ended up injuring several people and nearly hitting the emperor. The emperor immediately caught and killed him, and the madman was completely unaware of his actions at the time. Speaking of fox spirits bewitching people, this is clearly the work of animal demons! At that time, the emperor showed no interest in state affairs whatsoever, spending his days singing, drinking, and indulging in pleasures with palace maids and eunuchs. He even donned tattered clothes to beg for amusement on the streets—all signs of a monster! Someone shooting arrows at him was also a sign of impending disaster. Not long after, Northern Wei perished.
In the second year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, two dragons fought in the pool in Beiliangzhou, with water mist covering several miles. This dragon fight was a portent of mischief caused by dragons and snakes! The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "Dragons are formidable creatures, symbolizing both the heavens and the sovereign. If the celestial signs are bad, the monarch's virtue is compromised, then the dragon will also face calamity. Dragon fights indicate war." Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" also says, "When people's hearts are restless, strange things like dragons fighting will happen." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang had recently ascended the throne and was confronted with rebellions from Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian. The people across the nation were in a state of unrest, truly fulfilling the ominous signs of dragon fighting.
In the sixth month of the fifth year of the Liang Dynasty's Emperor Wen, a dragon was spotted in Quawangbei and then headed west to Jianling City. Wherever the dragon passed, trees were broken, stretching for dozens of zhang. This was similar to the situation in the second year of Tianjian! When the dragon passed through Jianling, the broken trees foretold impending war and the destruction of the imperial mausoleum. At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang was solely focused on preaching and did not pay attention to agriculture and military affairs. The army had become complacent and the soldiers were lethargic. The principles of good governance were neglected, resulting in bizarre occurrences like dragons fighting. However, the emperor did not understand this at all. In the first year of Taiqing, there was another dragon fight in the water of Lizhou, with huge waves and swirling clouds. A white dragon was seen running south, followed by a black dragon. That year, Hou Jing surrendered to the Liang Dynasty, and the emperor accepted him unguarded, instilling fear across the nation. Soon after, chaos erupted, and the emperor worried excessively, eventually dying of sorrow.
In the summer of the tenth year of Dadi, there was thunder at night, and a dragon fell into a well in Yanling. The next morning, the dragon was the size of a donkey. Some people wanted to kill it with a spear, but suddenly several large snakes appeared in the courtyard and house, as massive as hundreds of dou of cargo! The entire family fled in terror. According to the book "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan," "The dragon symbolizes the masculine and represents nobility. Dragons should be in the sky or on the ground, not in the towns and houses of common people. Wells symbolize depth. If a dragon appears in a well, the princes are afraid of being imprisoned, which reflects the emperor's lack of wisdom!" Later, Hou Jing rebelled and ultimately imprisoned Emperor Jianwen in the wine cellar, leading to his death, with many imperial relatives and nobles also imprisoned to death.
In the first month of the eleventh year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, a dragon appeared in Chizili, South Yanzhou, just like the omen of the dragon that appeared in the tenth year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the future emperor ascended the throne; he lived extravagantly and indulgently, neglected state affairs, and failed to accomplish anything. In the end, the country was destroyed, and he himself was imprisoned and died.
In the first year of the Wuding era of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, a large snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, Li, the beautiful and intelligent wife of Gao Zhongmi, the governor of Beiyu Province, caught the attention of Crown Prince Gao Cheng. Feeling uneasy, Gao Zhongmi led a rebellion in Wulao City, secretly colluding with the Western Wei Dynasty, and fought a major battle with the Eastern Wei army in Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) was almost defeated by the Western Wei army, barely escaping, resulting in thousands of casualties.
In the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi Dynasty, a dragon seven to eight zhang in length appeared in the main hall of Qizhou, echoing the omen of the dragon that appeared in the tenth year of the Datong era. At that time, the King of Changshan and the King of Changguang wielded significant power, while the emperor ignored them. The next year, the emperor died, and Crown Prince Yin ascended to the throne. The King of Changshan, Xiao Yan, deposed the emperor, imprisoned him, and killed him, title him King of Jinan.
In the first year of the Heqing era, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou, echoing the omen of the ninth year of Tianbao. Previously, King Gui Yan of Pingqin followed Emperor Zhao's posthumous edict to crown Crown Prince Bai Nian as emperor. However, Gui Yan crowned Zhan, the King of Changguang, as emperor, who became Emperor Wucheng. Then he deposed Bai Nian, title him King of Leling, and eventually imprisoned and killed him.
In the fourth year of the Tiantong era, someone in Guixiang chopped down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon, with its foot broken and dead in the tree hole. At that time, the Qi country was known for its affinity with wood, and the dragon was a symbol of the king. The dead tree and dragon were an extremely ominous omen! That year, Emperor Wucheng passed away.
In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in the well of Handan, with colorful dragon energy soaring into the sky. A dragon also appeared in the dried well of a Buddhist temple in Jijun County, which was reminiscent of the omen from the first year of Heqing. Later, the emperor surrendered to the Zhou dynasty and was eventually killed.
In the seventh year of Wuping, two snakes, one red and one black, fought under Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou for several days, with the red snake ultimately dying. Red is the color of the Qi state, while black is the color of the Zhou state. The death of the red snake after the fight was a sign of impending doom. The emperor later relied on a treacherous minister, fought against the Zhou army in Jinzhou, and even handed the army over to the treacherous Gao Anagong, which ultimately led to his downfall. The emperor was eventually captured by the Zhou army.
Prince Yang of Langye demolished a white horse pagoda in the Northern Palace, built during the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Stone Zhao period. He saw a giant white snake several yards long, which disappeared after moving around. At that time, Prince Yang of Langye was cruel and reckless, failing to consider the consequences of his actions or heed unusual occurrences, leading to disaster.
In the fifth year of the Later Zhou Jiande, a black dragon fell dead in Bozhou. The dragon is a symbol of the monarch, and black is the color of the Zhou dynasty. The death of the dragon was a very ominous sign. At that time, the crown prince proved to be incompetent, and the emperor was constantly worried. Honest ministers like Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the crown prince, but the emperor did not listen. Two years later, the emperor died, the crown prince ascended the throne, and brutally executed the Prince of Qi, Wang Gui, Yuwen Xiaobo, and others. This led to the eventual downfall of the entire nation.
In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a dragon appeared in the Daizhou Governor's Office well. The dragon sometimes transformed into an iron horse and at other times into a soldier, and would even bend bows and shoot arrows at people. The transformation into an iron horse indicated impending warfare; the act of bending bows and shooting arrows, akin to targeting demons, foretold of wars between the princes, which would result in imprisonment. At that time, Han Wang Liang secretly plotted a rebellion, which is why these signs of warfare manifested. Han Wang Liang did not understand these signs, and eventually rebelled, only to be reduced to the status of a commoner, imprisoned for several years, and died.
Hou Jing proclaimed himself emperor in Jiangnan, and every time he went to battle, if his white horse neighed loudly and stomped its hooves, he would surely win; if it hung its head, he would surely lose. During the Battle of Xizhou, his white horse lay down and refused to move, despite Hou Jing's desperate pleas and attempts to prod it. This was a clear sign of impending disaster! "Hong Fan's Five Elements" states: "The horse is a symbol of the army, indicating the invasion of enemies, hence strange phenomena appear in horses." As a result, Hou Jing suffered a major defeat.
In the fifth year of Chen Taijian, the horses in Hengzhou grew horns. "Hong Fan's Five Elements" states: "Horse horns are a sign of war and a portent of destruction." At that time, Emperor Chen Xuan dispatched Wu Mingche to lead troops against the Zhou army in Luliang. After years of fighting, suffering heavy casualties, Wu Mingche was eventually captured by the Zhou army.
In the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a horse with horns appeared in Guangzong County, with the horns growing between its ears, resembling a sheep's tail. This was a notable occurrence! According to Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses grow horns." Sure enough, four years later, the Khitan invaded the border, and Emperor Wenxuan personally led the army into battle.
In the fourth year of the Daye reign of the Sui Dynasty, many horses died in the stables in Taiyuan, with more than half having died! When Emperor Yang of Sui heard about this, he was furious and immediately sent someone to investigate. The person in charge of the stables said, "Every night, the horses in the stables inexplicably frighten themselves and then die." Emperor Yang of Sui had no choice but to call in a wizard for insight. The wizard quickly realized that Emperor Yang of Sui was planning an attack on Liaodong, so he played along with the emperor's plans and said, "The previous emperor had sent Yang Su and Shi Wansui to attack Liaodong, claiming they would bring ghost soldiers!" When Emperor Yang of Sui heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately released the person in charge of the stables. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" wrote: "Going against the will of heaven is why so many horses died." During that period, Emperor Yang of Sui traveled extensively each year, venturing as far north as the Great Wall and as far west as Qumul, bringing great suffering to the people. It seemed the heavens were warning him: don't raise so many horses, and don't wander around aimlessly! But Emperor Yang of Sui ignored the warnings, and in the end, he brought about chaos in the world.
In the eleventh year of the Daye reign, in the three counties of Henan and Fufeng regions, horses with long horns several inches long appeared. This mirrored the situation during the Tianbao era! At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was personally leading troops to attack Goguryeo every year.
In the first year of Yining, at the Longma Stables in Jiangdu Palace, many horses inexplicably died within ten days, with several hundred horses dead! This situation was identical to that of the fourth year of the Daye reign!
