In July of the seventh year of Emperor Liang Chao Tian's reign, it rained continuously until October. The "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" states, "When the yin energy accumulates too heavily, it will lead to floods." At that time, Emperor Wu fought wars for several consecutive years, and that year there was a large-scale northern expedition. Although the army won some battles, the soldiers were exhausted, and the common people were voicing their grievances, which was a manifestation of accumulated yin energy.
In the twelfth year of the Tai Jian period of the Chen Dynasty, in the eighth month, there was heavy rain that did not stop. At that time, Prince Shuling of Shixing was arrogant and overbearing, which was a sign of strong yin energy. The following year, Emperor Xuan died, and the successor ascended the throne. During the mourning period, Shuling actually assassinated the new emperor! Fortunately, the palace servants timely rescued the ruler, allowing him to escape with his life. Shuling fled the palace and rebelled at the Eastern Manor. The new emperor sent Xiao Mohe to quell the rebellion, resulting in the deaths of thousands.
In the fifth year of the Wuding period of Eastern Wei, it rained for more than seventy days in autumn, which foreshadowed the conspiracy by Yuan Jin and Liu Siyu to assassinate Emperor Wenxiang of Later Qi.
On the Gengzi day of the sixth month in the third year of the Heqing period of Later Qi, there was heavy rain that poured continuously, day and night, until the Jiachen day. In Shandong, floods ravaged the area, and many people starved to death. That year, the Turks invaded Bingzhou, and rebellions also broke out in the border regions, all of which were signs of impending disaster.
In the third year of the Tiantong period of Northern Wei, there was continuous overcast rain in October. This was a consequence of Empress Hu's debauchery.
In the seventh year of the Wuping period of Northern Zhou, there was heavy rain, causing widespread flooding that displaced the common people. At that time, Luo Tipa and Han Changluan were in power, and the rule by petty officials invited punishment.
In the third year of the Jiande period of Later Zhou, it rained for thirty days in July. At that time, Wei Ci Wang Zhi was covertly plotting a rebellion. Just when the emperor was at Yunyang Palace, Zhi led his subordinates to attack Suzhang Gate, and Yuchi Yun led troops to resist, quelling the rebellion. The rain also stopped that day.
In the third month of the second year of the Liang Dynasty, there was a heavy snowfall, with three feet of snow on the ground. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "The usual omen is rain, but if it is particularly severe, then it is abnormal. Rain is yin energy, and snow is a more intense accumulation of yin energy. These are signs of a woman failing to uphold her duties and a subject being disloyal to their ruler." At that time, the Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, led a rebellion among the prefectures and counties to defect to the Wei Kingdom, which was a manifestation of disloyalty.
In the third year of the Datong period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, in the seventh month, unexpectedly, it snowed in Qingzhou, which caused damage to crops. At that time, the Governor of Jiaozhou, Li Ben, rebelled and declared himself emperor, establishing officials, and the court sent troops to suppress the rebellion, but they were unable to succeed.
In October, there was a heavy snowfall, with three feet of snow on the ground. At that time, princes like Shaoling, Xiandong, and Wuling wielded power nearly equal to that of the emperor, each acting arrogantly. The Crown Prince detested them, but the emperor could not do anything about them. Despite the heavens being unable to bear it, the emperor remained oblivious. When Hou Jing rebelled, these princes led their armies, claiming to support the emperor, but in reality they had no intention of saving the emperor, instead killing each other, leading to the downfall of the country.
In the second year of Xinghe of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, in the fifth month, there was also a heavy snowfall. At that time, Gao Huan was in power, mobilizing over ten thousand soldiers to build Ye City, leading to widespread discontent among the people, which were all ominous signs.
In the fourth year of Wuding, in the second month, there was a heavy snowfall, resulting in the deaths of many people and livestock from freezing, with frozen corpses littering the roads. At that time, the rule of the Northern Qi Dynasty was very tyrannical, and Bu Luoji rebelled, causing havoc in several provinces, with countless deaths.
In the second month of Heqing of the Northern Qi Dynasty, there was heavy snowfall accompanied by rain, with ice blanketing thousands of miles and snow piling several feet high, and frost visible during the day. At that time, the Turkic Khan Mugan and the Zhou Dynasty's army invaded Bingzhou, killing numerous officials and civilians, with the death toll beyond counting.
In the second year of the Northern Zhou's Tian Tong era, in November, there was heavy snow; in the third year, in the first month, there was a significant snowfall, with two feet of snow on the ground; in the third year of Wu Ping, in the first month, it snowed heavily again. At that time, Consort Feng and Lu Lingxuan held power in the harem, and the environment was very oppressive, which is why Heaven frequently issued warnings, and the thunderstorms were unusual.
In the first year of the Tai Jian era of the Chen Dynasty, in July, there was heavy rain; the Huabiao monument at Wan'an Tomb was struck by lightning, the pagoda of Huiri Temple was also struck by lightning, and a woman was killed by lightning beneath the heavy gate of Waguansi Temple. As Jing Fang noted in "Yi Fei Hou": "When thunder and lightning strike the hills, it is because the will of the ancestors has been defied; when fire kills people, it is because the ruler has listened to slanders and killed the loyal and good." At that time, Cai Jingli of the Chen Dynasty was heavily favored due to his deceitful actions, while the Right Chancellor Lu Shan was demoted due to false accusations, ultimately succumbing to illness brought on by worry and dying.
Speaking of the Chen Dynasty, in the third month of the tenth year, the armory suddenly trembled with an earthquake. Back then, the emperor had a particular obsession with warfare, and for several years in a row, he fought in the north, draining the national treasury and wearing out the soldiers. Although they conquered Huainan and wanted to attack Pengcheng and Bianzhou, Minister Mao Xiji strongly advised against it, but the emperor completely ignored him. As a result, the forces led by Wu Mingche were utterly vanquished, resulting in the loss of Huainan. The armory was a place for storing weapons, and when it shook, it felt as if heaven was warning that they should withdraw the troops and allow the people to live in peace and prosperity! But the emperor did not understand and continued to mobilize troops for war on a large scale. In June of that year, the Taishang Temple, Zhuangyan Temple, the east tower of Chongyang Pavilion, and the entrance to Honglu Mansion all shook. The Taishang Temple and Zhuangyan Temple were places where the Chen Dynasty revered Buddhism, the Chongyang Pavilion was where the emperor often feasted and enjoyed himself, and the Honglu Mansion was where guests were received. All of these places shook in the same year, as if heaven was signaling that the country's prestige had faded, and if they did not focus on cultivating virtue, they would inevitably rely on Buddhism and Taoism in the future, indulge in pleasure, abandon rituals, and perish as a nation! The emperor and the ministers of the Chen Dynasty still did not understand. When Chen Houzhu came to power, disasters continued to occur one after another. He grew fearful and fled to Taishang Temple to become a recluse, in hopes of finding Buddha's protection, but neglected the affairs of the state, sunk into a life of wine and women, neglecting rituals and laws, did not repair relations with neighboring countries, and ultimately brought about the downfall of the nation. In the summer of the first year of the Qi Wuping era, the pillar at the south gate of Prime Minister Duan Xiaoxian's residence fell. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" states: "When an earthquake rattles the home or gate of a noble minister, within three years, treacherous ministers will face execution." The next year, He Shikai was indeed executed.
In the winter of the fourth year of the Wuding era of the Eastern Wei, it unexpectedly began to hail wood hail. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "When yin energy reaches its peak and stagnates, wood belongs to the lesser yang and symbolizes noble ministers. When disasters are about to occur, yin energy will invade wood, causing it to be affected by the cold first, hence the hail during rain. Wood hail is also called 'jie,' which symbolizes weapons." At that time, the Minister of Works, Hou Jing, controlled Henan, while Gao Huan was unwell. Emperor Wenxiang feared that Hou Jing would rebel, so he summoned him back, which led Hou Jing to seize the opportunity to rebel. The governors of Yuzhou (Gao Yuancheng), Xiangzhou (Li Mi), and Guangzhou (Bao Xian) were all captured and humiliated by Hou Jing, fulfilling the prophecy of disaster for noble ministers. Later, the Left Chancellor Murong Shaozong fought Hou Jing in Guoyang, capturing and killing fifty thousand men.
In the second year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi, there was wood hail for three days. Earlier, Wang Yue of Qinghe was falsely accused by Gao Guiyan and died of depression that year. In the winter of the first year of Wuping, it rained, and the trees were covered in ice; in February of the following year, the trees were again covered in ice. At that time, the real power was held by the Minister of Personnel and Shi Kai. In July that year, the Grand Tutor, Prince Xiao Yan of Langya, forged an edict to kill him. General-
In the second year of the Tai Jian era of the Chen Dynasty, in June, a great hailstorm struck; in April of the tenth year, another great hailstorm fell; in September of the thirteenth year, there was yet another hailstorm. At that time, King Shixing, Chen Shuling, was arrogant and tyrannical, secretly befriending assassins and plotting treason, yet the emperor continued to trust him deeply, which resulted in heaven displaying signs three times. Yet, the emperor remained oblivious to the danger. After the emperor's death, Chen Shuling indeed rebelled and caused chaos.
Empress Lou Zhaojun, the wife of Northern Qi's last ruler Gao Wei, fell ill in bed, and her nightgown inexplicably rose on its own. Shortly after, she died.
In his later years, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi wore luxurious brocade clothing, applied makeup, and often performed in barbarian attire, going incognito to visit the markets. Wearing makeup is a woman's adornment; a masculine ruler performing effeminate acts is a sign of the ruler becoming a subject! After Emperor Wenxuan's death, the crown prince ascended the throne but was deposed, becoming the King of Jinan. Moreover, the Qi clan originated from the Yin Mountains, and donning barbarian attire was a bid to revert to their ancestral garments, signaling rebellion! Luxurious brocade is not the attire of an emperor; going incognito is something only commoners do. All these are signs of the impending downfall of Northern Qi!
The last ruler of Northern Qi liked to have palace maids make headdresses resembling women's hairstyles from coarse white fabric and also enjoyed using white car covers. Both of these items are associated with funerals! Later, the last ruler of Northern Qi was indeed destroyed by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, and both he and his son were killed.
During the Wuping years, the last ruler of Northern Qi built a "poor village" within the garden, dressing in ragged clothes to beg there for his own amusement. He often had people don black clothing and tie each other up. Eventually, the last ruler of Northern Qi was defeated by Northern Zhou, captured in Chang'an, and died; his concubines fell into poverty and even resorted to selling candles to survive.
In the year 579 AD, Emperor Wu of Zhou wore a crown with twenty-four tassels, and his chariots, flags, and drums were all designed according to the number twenty-four. The clothing of his attendants was a mix of five colors, predominantly red and purple. He ordered that all chariots in the country be fitted with large wooden wheels, without spokes. Court officials were forbidden from wearing sashes, and women had to wear black makeup with yellow-painted eyebrows. He even built tents similar to those used for funerals, where five empresses each lived in one, with sacrificial items placed in front for ancestral worship, and he personally recited the sacrificial texts. He also paraded the five empresses in carriages through the streets, while he walked alongside with his attendants. Strangely, he hung chickens and shards of broken tiles from the carriages, enjoying the sounds they made. These were all strange and ominous behaviors! Not long after, Emperor Wu of Zhou died suddenly, and the power transitioned to the Sui Dynasty, completely changing the system and laws of the Zhou Dynasty.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, Prince Fangling Yang Yong in the Eastern Palace, as well as the Marquis of Yiyang Wang Shiji's household, the style of headscarves worn by women mirrored the military banners and flags in the army. Women represented yin, while subjects represented yang, and women wearing military flags foreshadowed impending disasters for the court! As expected, Yang Yong was later assassinated, and Wang Shiji was also executed.
Also during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, someone wrote a memorial saying that in recent years, when chickens crowed, they did not flap their wings, as if something was obstructing them under their armpits, preventing them from lifting their wings, indicating that high-ranking officials in the court were facing misfortune! However, the memorial went unheeded. The "Yifeihou" in Jing Fang's Book of Changes says: "When chickens crow without flapping their wings, the country is destined for great disaster." In the aftermath, numerous ministers were executed, many princes were deposed, and the crown prince was even imprisoned.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, chickens across the country often crowed at night. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou," "Chickens crowing at night is an urgent sign." It also mentioned: "If chickens crow when it's dark, disasters will befall the people; if chickens crow when it's quiet, there will be wars; if chickens crow in the middle of the night, there will be bloodshed." In the later period of Emperor Yang's rule, the country faced numerous major issues and financial troubles, so taxes were hastily increased, shifting the blame to local officials. The people struggled to make ends meet and revolted; bandits roamed freely, wars raged on, and corpses littered the land.
During the Kaihuang period, palace maids in the Yeting Palace experienced nightly disturbances. The palace steward informed the emperor about this. The emperor said, "The palace guards are so strict, how did someone get in? It must be the work of spirits!" So he warned the palace maids, saying, "If you encounter it, chop it!" Later, something resembling a human climbed onto the bed at night, and the palace maid drew a knife and chopped it, as if she were chopping dry bones. It fell off the bed and scurried away; the palace maid chased after it, and it ran into the pool and drowned. The next day, the emperor ordered the pool to be drained, and a large turtle over a foot long was fished out, with chop marks on its shell. The emperor ordered the turtle to be killed, and this incident never happened again. This turtle lived in the water, was cunning, and symbolized conspiracy, suggesting it was the prince trying to curry favor with the king in the palace, hoping for a son to be fulfilled.
In the second year of Zhenming in the Chen Dynasty, in April, countless rats poured from the Caizhou bank into the Huai River outside Shitoucheng, making their way to the banks of Qingtang. Several days later, these rats all died, floating downstream towards Qingxiang. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" stated: "Rats gathering in groups for no reason, not digging holes or building nests, foretells the ruler's death." Not long after, the Chen Dynasty perished.
In the autumn of the seventh month of the sixth year of the Chen Dynasty, Yixiantang collapsed inexplicably. Yixiantang was located near Jinyumu. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with grand construction projects, building five palaces including Xiande Hall, which were said to be magnificent. The people lost their jobs as a result, and the wood had lost its original properties. Yixiantang, meaning to honor the virtuous and respect the elderly and young, collapsed inexplicably, seemingly warning the emperor that focusing only on luxury and pleasure without using talented individuals was useless. The emperor ignored the warning and died the following year. In the sixth month of the first year of Zhenming, strange sawing sounds were heard in the palace's water pavilion, and the water pavilion collapsed without warning. In the seventh month, Zhuque Hang also inexplicably sank. At that time, the emperor was engrossed in building gardens while neglecting ancestral sacrifices. The water pavilion was where the emperor enjoyed leisure, and Zhuque Hang was a crucial gateway for the country. Their sudden destruction seemed to signal that the palaces were falling and the roads were severed. The emperor ignored the warnings and was ultimately overthrown by the Sui Dynasty, leaving the palaces and temples in ruins. Emperor Xiaozhao of the Later Qi Dynasty wanted to kill Yang Yin. When he went to the capital, the shaft of his carriage suddenly broke at the East Gate. The emperor was greatly disturbed by this incident and died a year later. In the third year of Heqing, the pillars of the official office in Changguang County unexpectedly began to peel, revealing shapes that resembled human figures. The magistrate was terrified and ordered the peeled area to be removed, but the next day it happened again. Changguang was the emperor's original fief, and such a transformation in the wood was an ominous omen. That year, the emperor died. In the autumn of the seventh year of Wuping's reign, Empress Mu was going to Jin Yang and first went to the North Palace to bid farewell to Empress Hu. When she arrived at the palace gate, the ornate carriage she was riding in inexplicably sank into the ground, with all four legs of the ox sinking into the earth as well. That year, the Qi State was destroyed, and the empress was captured and taken to Chang'an. This truly exemplified the saying "heaven has its unforeseen changes."
Next, in the sixth year of King Jian De of the Zhou Dynasty, the Qingcheng Gate collapsed for no apparent reason. The color green represents the east and symbolizes the Eastern Palace, where the crown prince resides. At that time, the crown prince lacked both authority and decorum, and the collapse of the Qingcheng Gate symbolized his complete unfitness for the crown prince position. However, the emperor did not heed this warning. The following year, the crown prince ascended to the throne and indeed became a tyrant, leading the Zhou Dynasty into decline; all of this began here.
During the Daye period, Prince Qi Yang Yan was building a residence in the Eastern Capital, and the beams of the newly built sleeping quarters suddenly broke. At that time, the emperor had no crown prince, and everyone believed Yang Yan was the next heir, with the ministers in court placing high hopes on him. As a result, Yang Yan became arrogant and reckless, consulting fortune tellers and engaging in superstitious practices. The beams of the sleeping quarters breaking for no reason was a sign of the wood's unnatural state, a sign of treachery! Heaven was warning him through these portents, but he failed to recognize it, and later he was indeed punished by the emperor.
The "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" says: "When no one listens to what is said, this is what mismanagement looks like. Its sin is usurpation, its punishment is continuous drought, and its ultimate outcome is suffering. Sometimes there will be deceptive words that confuse the public, sometimes there will be disasters such as caterpillars, and sometimes there will be calamities involving dogs. As a result, there will be disputes and signs of uncertain fortune. Only wood can overcome metal."
King Xiaoj of the Liang Dynasty usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, with the era name Tian Zheng. Duke Yongfeng, Xiao Hui, said: "Your Majesty, this is a bad idea! Previously, Huan Xuan's era name was Da Heng, and wise men believed 'it would end in February,' and indeed Huan Xuan's downfall occurred in mid-spring. Today is Tian Zheng, and the character 'Zheng' means 'one stops'; can it really last?" Sure enough, he failed a year later.
During the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of the Later Qi, Crown Prince Gao Yin was to undergo the crown ceremony, and the emperor ordered Xing Zicai to inscribe characters on the crown. Xing Zicai wrote the two characters "正道" (zhengdao). The emperor said, "'正' (zheng) means to stop. Is my son destined for disaster?" Xing Zicai requested a revision, but the emperor refused, saying, "This is fate!" He then turned to Wang Gao Yan of Changshan and said, "When the time comes, you will hold great power; do not kill anyone." When the emperor passed away and the crown prince ascended the throne, Wang Gao Yan indeed deposed him and became emperor, and Gao Yin was soon killed.
During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, his Left Minister and Shi Kai said to him, "From ancient times to the present, all emperors eventually turn to dust—Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou, aren't they all the same? You are still young and strong; you should enjoy life to the fullest. A day of joy is worth a thousand years; don't bind yourself so painfully!" The emperor was very pleased to hear this and gave in to hedonism even more. Shi Kai first encouraged the emperor to go astray and then usurped power, ultimately being killed by the Grand Minister.
In the years of Wuping, the people of Chen attacked Pengcheng, and the later emperor was terrified. The attendant Han Changluan advised him, "Even if you lose Henan, you can still be the king of the Kingdom of Kucha! What’s there to worry about losing Huainan at this point? Life lasts only a few decades; just seek some enjoyment and don’t worry unnecessarily!" The emperor was very pleased to hear this, so he indulged in wine and women, completely disregarding state affairs. Not long after, he was destroyed by the Zhou dynasty.
In the seventh year of Wuping, the later emperor was defeated by the Zhou army and fled to Ye City, proclaiming himself the retired emperor, passing the throne to Crown Prince Heng, and changing the era name to Longhua. At that time, someone split the characters "隆化" (Longhua) and combined them to read as "降死" (to surrender and die), and indeed, after he surrendered to the Zhou dynasty, he died.
Emperor Wu of Zhou changed the era name to Xuanzheng, and Emperor Xiao Kui of the Liang dynasty split the characters "宣政" (Xuanzheng) and combined them to read as "宇文亡日" (the day the Yuwen clan fell). That June, Emperor Wu of Zhou died.
When Emperor Xuan was the crown prince, he disregarded the rules, and Emperor Wu often beat him. When Emperor Xuan became the emperor, he touched his old scars and exclaimed, "You really have a long life!" He also changed the regnal title to "Great Elephant," but Xiao Kui split the characters to read as "Tianzi Zhong." The next year, Emperor Xuan died.
In the early years of the Kaihuang period, Prince of Liang Xiao Cong changed the regnal title to Guangyun. The people of Jiangling talked to each other, "The word 'yun' means military retreat! Surely our ruler won't be driven away by the army?" Later, Xiao Cong went to the capital but was detained and never returned; his uncle Xiao Yan led the people to rebel, and the Liang Kingdom was thus destroyed.
Emperor Wen named his crown prince Yong, Prince of Jin named Ying, Prince of Qin named Jun, and Prince of Shu named Xiu. In the early years of the Kaihuang period, someone wrote a letter saying, "'Yong' is the use of a single soldier; thousands of outstanding talents are called 'Ying,' and the best among tens of thousands are called 'Jun.' These are all good names for common people, not auspicious names for emperors!" The emperor ignored him. At that time, people said that many people with the surname Yang were descendants of the surname Ying, so someone told the emperor, "If Yang Ying rebels, it will become a disaster for the Ying family." The emperor was very unhappy when he heard this and quickly changed their names. Later, the three sons Yong, Jun, and Xiu were all deposed, Yang Guang became emperor, lost the throne in the end, and the disaster of the Yang family came to pass.
Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne and changed the regnal title to Daye. Some people thought that this regnal title was not auspicious, saying, "If you split the characters of 'Daye,' it becomes 'Da Ku Lai' (great suffering)!" Not long after, the world descended into chaos, with suffering evident everywhere.
Emperor Yang often casually told his secretary, Yu Shinan, "I don’t like being advised by others. If those in high positions come to give me advice, it’s usually because they want fame and personal gain, which I can’t stand. As for those in lower positions, I might be slightly more lenient, but in the end, I won’t really listen to them. You know what I mean, right?" At that time, people commented that the wise rulers of ancient times ruled the world with keen insight and sharp hearing; they would establish dedicated places for receiving advice and even set up wooden tablets for freely writing critical opinions, making it convenient for subjects to give advice, all while worrying that loyal words might not reach their ears! Only in this way could blessings spread across the world and fortunes benefit future generations. However, Emperor Yang despised those who spoke frankly and suppressed advising officials; could he survive for long? Ultimately, he met a tragic end.
In the first year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, there was a severe drought, and a dou of rice was priced at five thousand coins, resulting in many people starving. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "If a ruler excessively wastes yang energy, mobilizes troops, overworks the people, undertakes massive construction projects, and disregards the lives of the common folk, if the ruler can't control himself, it will lead to an excess of yang energy losing balance, with yin energy weakening and unable to attach. An excess of yang energy will result in drought." Initially, Emperor Yang raised troops in Xiangyang, defeated Zhang Chong, vanquished Chen Bozhi, and pacified Jiankang, fighting many battles and exhausting the people. After ascending the throne, he continuously waged war against Northern Wei, which contributed to the drought.
In the spring of the twelfth year of the Chen Dynasty's Taijian era, there was no rain until April. Prior to this, the Northern Zhou army raided Huai North, and the army of King Shuling of Shixing and others were defeated, leading to the occupation of the Huai North region by Northern Zhou, which also contributed to the drought.
In the fourth year of the Tianping era of the Eastern Wei, there was a severe drought in regions such as Bingzhou, Sizhou, Fenzhou, Jianzhou, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Qinzhou, and Shanzhou, leaving many people homeless. That year, Emperor Shunwu of Qi battled Western Wei at Shayuan, was defeated, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands.
In the winter and spring of the second year of Eastern Wei's Wu Ding era, there were continuous droughts. Before this, the Western Wei army invaded Luoyang, which led to tens of thousands of deaths when Emperor Wen personally led the army to battle against the Western Wei at Mang Mountain.
In the summer of the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi dynasty, there was a severe drought. Before this, a massive mobilization of labor was carried out to construct over four hundred li of the Great Wall, which contributed to the drought due to the strain on labor and finances.
In the spring of the first year of the Qianming era of the Northern Qi dynasty, there was a drought. Before this, several hundred thousand people were mobilized to build the extremely luxurious palaces of Jinfengtai, Shengyingtai, and Chongguangtai, ignoring the plight of the common people, which led to a drought attributed to excessive yang energy.
In the fourth month of the second year of Heqing, five states in Shanxi experienced a drought. That year, the emperor also ordered the conscription of laborers to build Zhiguan, which was adding insult to injury. To make matters worse, two hundred thousand Turkic troops destroyed the Great Wall and invaded Hengzhou, resulting in great suffering for the people.
In the spring of the second year of Tian Tong of the Later Zhou dynasty, there was another drought. This time, the emperor heavily conscripted laborers for the construction of the Daming Palace, exhausting the common people.
After the fourth year of the Kaihuang era, the capital city also frequently experienced droughts. To escape the droughts, the emperor moved the capital to Longshou, undertaking massive construction projects to build palaces, causing great hardship to the people. These were all signs from above!
In the fourth year of Daye, border regions such as Yanjing and Daizhou also experienced continuous droughts. The emperor even drafted over a million laborers to work on the Great Wall, personally inspecting the border areas, leaving people destitute and starving, with bodies strewn across the roads.
By the eighth year of Daye, the whole country faced a severe drought, forcing people to flee everywhere. Unfortunately, at this time, the emperor once again conscripted the entire military force to personally campaign against Goguryeo, resulting in the army suffering from extreme cold and hunger, with nearly ninety percent of the soldiers perishing. In the thirteenth year of Daye, the whole country faced another severe drought, with people of all ages and genders from various counties and towns being conscripted to repair city walls, resulting in unbearable conditions for everyone.
In the third year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, on June 8th, Emperor Wu was delivering a sermon in the Chongyun Hall when a monk called Zhigong suddenly jumped up to sing and dance. Then he suddenly burst into tears and recited a five-character poem: “Joyful for over thirty years, sorrowful for fifty miles! Just look at eighty-three, disasters arise in Zidi. Treacherous ministers deceive, rebel ministers destroy the noble ones. If you do not believe my words, when the dragon appears, the rebels will rise. Just go to the middle of the horse, holding sorrow without seeing joy.” From the Tianjian era to the Taiqing era, over thirty years, the south was peaceful and uneventful. Until the second year of Taiqing, when Taicheng was breached, the emperor had reigned for forty-eight years, and the prophecy of "fifty miles" came true. On the thirteenth day of the eighth month in the first year of Taiqing, Hou Jing came to surrender from Xuanhu, which is north of Danyang, referred to as “Zidi” in the poem. The emperor fell for Zhu Yi's slander and accepted Hou Jing's surrender. Hou Jing's rebellion started in the year of Wuchan, and by the year of Wuyin, the emperor died from excessive worry.
On the eighth day of the fourth month ten years later, Zhigong composed another poem at a large gathering: “The crooked-tailed dog begins to go mad, wanting to die but not dying, biting and injuring people, will soon perish. The disaster lurks in your shadow, dying in Sanxiang, with corpses scattered everywhere, no one to bury them.” Hou Jing's nickname was Dogzi, and he initially surrendered from Xuanhu, which is ancient Runan. South of Baling is a place called Sanxiang, where Hou Jing was defeated.
During the Tianjian era of the Southern Dynasties, the Taoist priest Tao Hongjing wrote a five-character poem: “Yifu is carefree, Ping Shu sits discussing emptiness, unexpectedly in the Zhaoyang Hall, it suddenly becomes the palace of the Chanyu.” In this poem, Yifu and Ping Shu were both ministers at that time. By the Datong era, the court ministers were all wrapped up in empty talk and metaphysics, resulting in Hou Jing's rebellion, and he eventually occupied the Zhaoyang Hall, fulfilling Tao Hongjing's lines.
In the Datong era, a nursery rhyme circulated: “The black-haired white horse is coming from Shouyang.” Later, when Hou Jing breached Danyang, he did indeed ride a white horse, with reins made of black silk. This nursery rhyme was also fulfilled.
By the time of the Chen Dynasty, a nursery rhyme emerged: "Yellow-class green dapple horse, coming from Shouyang River. Winter's chill at arrival, spring breeze at departure." This nursery rhyme predicted the downfall of the Chen Dynasty. Later, the last emperor of Chen was defeated by Han Qinhui. Han Qinhui, whose original name was Qinhu, is referred to as "Yellow Class" in the rhyme. When he conquered Jiankang, he rode a green dapple horse, and the timing of the attack on Jiankang aligned with the rhyme's description of "Winter's chill at arrival, spring breeze at departure."
During the Chen Dynasty, the song "Peach Leaves," penned by Wang Xianzhi, was very popular in the Jiangnan region: "Peach leaves and peach leaves, crossing the river without the need for a boat. Cross without any suffering, I will personally welcome you." When the Jin Dynasty attacked the Chen Dynasty, they set up camp under Peach Leaf Mountain. When Han Qinhui crossed the river, General Ren Mannu went to Xilin to greet the northern army, which echoed the line "I will personally welcome you" in the song.
The last emperor of Chen built the Qiyun Pavilion, and at that time, the common folk sang a song: "Qiyun Pavilion, invaders come without end." Before the Qiyun Pavilion was finished, the Sui Dynasty's army attacked and captured the last emperor of Chen.
During the Zhenming period of the Chen Dynasty, the last emperor composed a new song that had a mournful and melancholic melody, and even had the palace concubines practice singing it. The lyrics were: "Jade trees in the backyard, flowers that do not bloom for long." People of that time regarded this song as a prophecy, believing the Chen Dynasty would soon meet its end, and it indeed did.
When Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi just moved the capital to Ye City, there was a children's rhyme circulating among the people: "Poor little green sparrow, flew into Ye City. Nest not yet built, looks up and loses sight of its homeland. Sending letters to wife and mother, admiring the new bride." This children's rhyme refers to Emperor Xiaojing of Wei, who was the son of Prince Qinghe and later married Princess Chang of Taiyuan, the daughter of Emperor Shenwu. The palace in Ye City was still unfinished when the abdication occurred, just like "nest not yet built." Emperor Xiaojing died shortly after, and at that time, Empress Dowager Lou was still alive, so the rhyme mentions "sending letters to wife and mother," and the "new bride" refers to the empress who was deposed.
During the Wuding period of Northern Qi, there was a children's rhyme circulating among the people: "A hundred feet high pole breaks, the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out." The "high" refers to the emperor named Qi, while the "lamp" refers to Emperor Wenxiang, Gao Cheng. Five years later, the emperor passed away, fulfilling the "pole breaks"; seven years later, Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng was assassinated, fulfilling the "lamp at the bottom of the water goes out." This children's rhyme turned out to be quite accurate!
Later, during the Tianbao period, there was a man named Lu Fahe who went to the palace and wrote on the wall: "Ten years as the emperor is still acceptable, being emperor for a hundred days is as urgent as being on fire, a year as the emperor means someone else will take the throne." And what happened? Emperor Wenxuan died after ten years of reign, the deposed emperor was removed after just over a hundred days, and Emperor Xiaozhao died after a year. The predictions of this children's rhyme all came true!
In the first year of Wuping, another children's rhyme appeared: "Fox cuts off its tail, you want to eliminate me, I eliminate you." In April of that year, Prince Longdong Hu Changren wanted to send assassins to kill He Shikai, but the plan was exposed, and instead, He Shikai turned the tables and ended up killing him. This children's rhyme illustrates how those who scheme against others may ultimately harm themselves.
In the second year of Wuping, there was another nursery rhyme: "He Shi Kai, on July 30th, will take you to Nantai." After the children finished singing this nursery rhyme, they clapped together and said, "Kill him!" And what happened next? On July 25th, the Deputy Imperial Censor Langye Wang Yan arrested He Shi Kai and escorted him to Nantai to be executed. That same year, there was another nursery rhyme: "In July, the crops are harvested early, in September, enjoy the cakes just right, in October, clean the rice urn, in November, drive away Zhao Lao." In July, He Shi Kai was killed, in September, Wang Yan of Langye was killed, in November, Zhao Yanshen was exiled as the governor of Western Yanzhou, which also came true! As the Wuping era was coming to an end, another nursery rhyme appeared: "Yellow flowers are about to fall, the clear wine vessel is full." At that time, Empress Mu and her son were arrogant and overbearing, interfering in court affairs, making the people suffer. Empress Mu's nickname was "Yellow Flower," and later, when Northern Qi was destroyed, the phrase "yellow flowers are about to fall" also came true. Another nursery rhyme circulated in Ye City: "Gold as a broom, jade as a handle, sweep the hall to welcome the Western family." Not long after, the Zhou army soon attacked Ye City. When the Zhou Dynasty was first established, another nursery rhyme appeared: "The golden rooster crows at the top of the poplar tree, only the uncle has no nephew." Gao Wei, the last emperor of Northern Qi, was a nephew of the Sui Dynasty, and shortly after abdicating, he died, while his uncles remained powerful. Emperor Xuan of Zhou also danced and sang with palace maids at night, singing: "Know that life is short, carry the candle and travel at night." As a result, he died after ruling for three years. This song was indeed quite fitting! In the tenth year of Kaihuang, the emperor visited Bingzhou and hosted Prince Xiao of Qin and his son Zixiang. The emperor spontaneously created a four-line poem: "How many red faces, how fleeting jade looks. Once the flowers fall, white hair is hard to remove. In the coming years, who will have and who will not." This poem is truly moving, as not long after, Zixiang died, and eighteen years later, Prince Xiao of Qin also passed away.
In the eleventh year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui left the capital for the Eastern Capital and arrived at the Changle Palace, where he became incredibly intoxicated and wrote a five-character poem. The last line of the poem was: "I only have the heart to return by flight, no longer relying on the wind's power." He had the beautiful woman recite this line repeatedly, crying with tears streaming down his cheeks, and everyone around him sighed along. Later, Emperor Yang of Sui went to Jiangdu and wrote another five-character poem: "Seeking to return but unable to leave, truly enduring a difficult spring. The birds' songs urge the wine, the plum blossoms mock and slay." This poem was remarkably fitting, as in March, he was killed in Jiangdu, fulfilling the line "experiencing a difficult spring" from the poem. That year, bandits were rampant, and the roads were blocked, thus Emperor Yang of Sui grew fearful and entirely abandoned the thought of returning to the capital. He even dreamed of two young men singing: "Living is death, leaving is death. It’s better to take a boat across the river." So he ordered a palace to be built in Danyang, intending to reside there. However, before the palace was completed, he was killed by someone. During the Daye era, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Peach and plum fruits, the swan flies around Yang Mountain, winding through the flower forest. Do not speak carelessly, who says it is allowed." Later, Li Mi was arrested by the authorities for participating in the Yang Xuangan rebellion and escaped. He secretly gathered bandits, broke out from Yangcheng Mountain, captured the Lukou Granary, and later stationed in the imperial park. "Do not speak carelessly, it is also Mi," refers to Li Mi; "Yuwen Huaji self-proclaimed Xu Guo, soon perished," Yuwen Huaji proclaimed himself emperor and was swiftly extinguished. "Who says it is allowed, it was likely just a phrase of doubt and speculation."
In the first year of the Datong era of Emperor Wu of Liang, Prince Shaoling Xiao Lun was in his bedroom in Nanxu Prefecture. During the day, a marten was fighting on the windowsill and fell down, getting caught. During the Taiqing era, when the chaos of Hou Jing occurred, he led troops to rescue Taicheng. When he reached Zhongshan, a bear that had just awakened from hibernation suddenly appeared and bit the horse of Xiao Lun. This was truly a sign of the "curse of the caterpillar"! Later, Xiao Lun was defeated by Wang Sengbian and fled to Nanyang, where he was ultimately killed by Western Wei.
In the Datong era, foxes howled under the palace every night, and it took several years for it to stop. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says, "Wild beasts roaring, the city is empty." Shortly after, the country fell into chaos, resulting in heavy casualties in Danyang City.
During the reign of Chen Dynasty's Zhenming era, a fox suddenly ran under the bed in the palace, and despite a long search, no one was able to catch it. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says, "When a fox runs into the king's residence, the country cannot survive." Not long after, the Chen Dynasty fell.
In the third year of Wuding in Eastern Wei, in September, a leopard entered the south gate of Ye City and was killed immediately. In August of the fifth year, another leopard ran to Tongjue Terrace. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says, "When wild beasts run into the city, even onto the main roads of the palace, to the gates of the officials, great disaster is about to occur, and the monarch will die." That year, Eastern Wei was defeated in the Battle of Yubi, and Emperor Gao Huan also died of illness.
In the second year of Wuping in Later Qi, a rabbit suddenly appeared from the temple. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says, "When a rabbit runs into the royal family, the monarch will die." This temple is where the ancestors' spirits reside. Five years later, the Zhou army attacked Ye City, and the last ruler of Later Qi fled.
Towards the end of the Wuping era, wolves were rampant in Bingzhou, Sizhou, and beyond, and they even ate people. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "Wolves are greedy and violent beasts, mostly white, symbolizing war. Wolves resemble dogs, foreshadowing impending misfortunes involving dogs." Jing Fang's "Yizhuan" also says: "If the monarch is unjust, disasters will fall upon the common people, and they can only preserve their lives by hiding in the deep mountains. The prophecy of people being devoured by wolves is a sign of such disasters." At that time, the emperor favored petty officials, was greedy and tyrannical, and harmed the people, fulfilling the prophecy of people being devoured by wolves. Not long after, the Later Qi fell to the Zhou army, which was indeed a sign of war.
During the Wuping era, outside the gates of Shuozhou, suddenly, footprints resembling those of children appeared, and dirt was piled up to resemble city walls. People at the time found it very strange, and upon closer investigation, it was discovered to be the work of a fox spirit. Later, this phenomenon began to spread to Bingzhou and Yecheng. This was similar to the situation in the third year of Wuding. That year, Wang Sihao from Nanan led a rebellion and headed straight for Bingzhou, but was defeated by the imperial army. Zheng Zirao, Yang Fahao, and others also rebelled in Shandong.
In the fourth year of the Tianbao era of Later Qi, strange occurrences of dogs mating with women appeared in Yecheng and Dunqiu. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Mating between different species that should not mate is a sign of chaos. The mating of dogs and humans foreshadows impending misfortunes involving dogs." Dog disasters are a sign of excessive yang energy and a disconnect from the people's sentiments. The emperor at that time did not care about state affairs, and his benevolence did not reach the common people.
During the rule of the last emperor, he even bestowed titles and ranks upon dogs, and female dogs were made ladies and county lords, assigned soldiers to serve them, well-fed and well-cared for, and given soft bedding. Heaven was preparing to punish him, and he actually bestowed titles upon dogs, which was clearly a sign of impending misfortunes involving dogs! It seemed that Heaven was saying, "Your officials are just like dogs!" The last emperor failed to grasp this lesson, which ultimately led to the state's downfall.
In the third year of the Later Zhou in the Baoding region, a litter of puppies was born, one of which was divided in two below the waist, with two tails and six legs. The dog was fierce, with sharp claws and teeth, resembling a soldier! At that time, Yuwen Hu and Hou Fu, Hou Long'en, and others were filled with doubt; the dog's unusual shape was seen as an omen.
In the first year of the Daye era, many dogs belonging to common people near Yanmen Pass abandoned their owners, running in packs into the wild, their appearance taking on a wolf-like appearance, and they even bit and ate people, leading to unrest for several years. The "Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Dogs are meant to guard homes, and now they have left their owners; this is an omen of disloyalty among the subjects. The dogs had taken on a wolf-like appearance, whose fur is white; this is a sign that war is about to happen." Later, the emperor pursued reckless military campaigns, constantly laboring the common people, as if heaven were warning him: do not harm the people and waste resources further, or those loyal subjects guarding the home will rebel! The emperor ignored the warnings and stubbornly initiated the construction of the Great Wall. Following that, he attacked the Western Regions and Liaodong, causing widespread resentment, which ultimately led to the Jiangdu Rebellion, where even the guards around the emperor participated in the rebellion.
In the second year of the Liang Datong era, white fur appeared in the fields, about two feet long, which was considered an auspicious omen. Sun Sheng believed this was a sign of the people's suffering. Previously, there had been a large-scale mobilization of the people to build the Fushan Weir, which was costly and nearly completed, yet it collapsed several times, leading to significant suffering among the people due to labor.
In the first year of the Qi Heqing era, in September, a lot of fur appeared on the ground in Cangzhou and at the foot of the Great Wall, some white and some black, four to five inches long, which was seen as an auspicious omen. At that time, the Great Wall was being constructed in the north, and three platforms were being built domestically, leading to significant suffering among the people due to labor.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang era, in July, downpours of hair-like rain fell in the capital, with some pieces over three feet long and others six to seven inches. The "Yifei Hou" by Jing Fang states: "When hair-like rain falls from the sky, the nation will face a severe famine." At that time, the Guanzhong region faced a severe drought, and rice prices skyrocketed.
During the early years of the Hou Qi dynasty, the jade bi at the Dai Shan Fengshan Altar emerged on its own, which was a sign of approaching auspiciousness. Dai Shan was the place where emperors performed ceremonies for the change of dynasties, and the jade bi was the sacrificial offering used in the ceremonies. Its emergence indicated that there would be a change of dynasty, requiring the use of the sacrificial jade bi. Later, the Qi kingdom was destroyed, the land belonged to the Zhou dynasty, and the founder of the Qi dynasty accepted the Zhou dynasty's abdication, unifying the world and fulfilling the omen of offering incense sacrifices at Mount Tai.
In the third year of the Wu Ping era, next to the green stone wall under Baishuiyan, a line of words appeared: "Qi's downfall." Someone changed it to "Shang Yan," and the emperor thought it was auspicious, with the entire court gathered to offer their congratulations. Later, the army of the Zhou dynasty invaded Qi, and the emperor indeed abandoned Ye City and fled.
In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, between Wu'an and Fuyang, more than ten stones fell from the sky. It was written in books: "Stones falling from the sky indicate danger for the current ruler!" Seven years later, the emperor died.
As the Kaihuang era was coming to an end, Emperor Gaozu buried two small stones in the palace on the ground to mark the location of the bed. Not long after, these two stones transformed into jade. Ancient books say: "Jade is extremely precious; the transformation from something cheap to something valuable is a sign of impending change." Towards the end of the Daye era of the Sui dynasty, rebellions erupted everywhere, with many declaring themselves emperor.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, a stone appeared in Xiping County with the words: "The emperor can rule for a thousand years." The court officials celebrated happily. However, those who were knowledgeable worriedly said, "A thousand years is a phrase used after death. To say now that one can rule for a thousand years means disaster is about to come." The following year, the emperor was killed.
In the twelfth year of the Daitong era of the Liang dynasty, the stone qilin at the entrance of the tomb in Qu'a stirred to life. It is written in books that wood conquers metal, and movement signifies relocation. This was a warning from heaven that the tomb would be left unguarded, and the stone qilin would be moved. Later, indeed, the Liang dynasty ultimately fell.
In the fourth year of the Heqing era of Northern Qi, the stones on the palace started moving by themselves and began colliding with one another. Some said that the stones belonged to yin energy, representing the ministers, and that the movement of the stones was a sign of rebellion from the emperor's favored ministers. Later, the Zhou army marched eastward, and the favored ministers Wei Xiangyuan, Qi Fugui and his brothers, Han Jianye, and others all defected to the Zhou dynasty.
In the twelfth year of the Datong era of the Liang dynasty, in the first month, two guardian beasts were sent to Jianling. The one on the left, a two-horned beast, arrived at the tomb without incident. The one on the right, a one-horned beast, jumped three times while on the cart, breaking the yoke. After changing to another cart, it jumped three more times before reaching the tomb, each jump causing the people on the cart to be lifted three to four feet off the ground, and the wheels sank three inches into the ground. The text explains that wood overcomes metal and says, "Losing the hearts of the people, orders cannot be executed, and words cannot be heeded; this is a manifestation of chaotic metal energy. Stones belong to the yin, representing the ministers, and changes are about to occur among the ministers." In his later years, Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty ignored political affairs, focusing only on reciting Buddhist scriptures and discussing metaphysics, leading to chaos in the court, orders that could not be executed, and words that could not be heeded. This was the consequence, ultimately leading to the Hou Jing rebellion.
In the first year of the Jiande era of the Zhou dynasty, a stone statue appeared in Puyang County. The county officials wanted to transport it to the government office and scrape off the gold on it. As a result, the statue jumped down on its own during the journey and fell to the ground, doing this twice. They then tied it to the cart with a thick rope, but the rope broke again. At that time, the emperor had just defeated the Qi state and was attacking Huainan, constantly at war, leaving the people exhausted. This was a clear sign of losing the people's support!
