In the second year of the Liang Dynasty, in March, a heavy snowfall occurred, with snow accumulating to three feet! The "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" states: "The usual omen is rain, but if the rain and snow are too heavy, it is an abnormal phenomenon. Rain is a manifestation of yin energy, while snow is an extreme accumulation of yin energy. These are all omens of disloyalty among ministers and discontent among the people." At that time, when the governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, rebelled, didn’t this perfectly illustrate the omen of "disloyal ministers"?
In the third year of Datong, in July, it was quite a shock when it snowed in Qingzhou, causing crop disasters. At that time, the governor of Jiaozhou, Li Ben, rebelled and even proclaimed himself emperor, establishing officials, and the court sent troops to fight him, but they were unable to capture him.
In December of the tenth year, another heavy snowfall occurred, covering the ground in white, with snow accumulating to three feet. At that time, the princes Shaoling Wang Lun, Xiangdong Wang Yi, and Wuling Wang Ji held nearly as much power as the emperor, all arrogant and tyrannical. The crown prince greatly disliked them, but the emperor could not control them. Heaven displayed ominous signs, but the emperor remained oblivious. Later, when Hou Jing rebelled, these princes each held their own troops, claiming to rescue the emperor, but in reality, they had no intention of saving him and instead slaughtered each other, ultimately leading to the downfall of the state.
In the second year of the Eastern Wei Xinghe, in May, it unexpectedly snowed! At that time, Gao Huan was serving as the prime minister; he conscripted over a hundred thousand people to build Ye City, causing the people to voice their grievances. This was probably a sign of public discontent.
In the fourth year of Wuding, in February, a heavy snowfall occurred, freezing many people and livestock to death, with frozen bodies littered across the roads. At that time, the Later Qi's rule was extremely oppressive, and Bu Luoqi raised troops to rebel, attacking several provinces, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.
In the second year of the Later Qi Heqing, in February, a heavy snowfall occurred, along with continuous rain, with snow several feet thick over thousands of miles, and frost still falling during the day! At that time, the Turkic Khagan Mu Gan joined forces with the Zhou army to attack Bingzhou, killing countless officials and common people; the sight was truly horrifying.
In November of the second year of the Tian Tong era of Northern Qi, heavy snow fell; in the first month of the third year, heavy snow fell again, with snow accumulation reaching two feet; in the first month of the third year of Wu Ping, heavy snow fell again! During that time, Consort Feng and Lu Lingxuan held power in the court, and the mood in the court was particularly grim, which is why heaven frequently manifested unusual phenomena, and the thunder and rain were abnormal.
In July of the first year of the Tai Jian era of the Chen Dynasty, there was a heavy rain, and an earthquake occurred, which damaged the huabiao at Wan'an Tomb and the pagoda at Huiri Temple; a woman was also crushed under the heavy gate of Waguansi. In Jingfang's "Yi Fei Hou," it is said: "Thunder and lightning strike the hills and mountains because the monarch has violated the teachings of the ancestors; killing by fire is due to the monarch's belief in slander, leading to the harm of loyal subjects." At that time, Cai Jingli was heavily favored due to his treachery, while Right Minister Lu Shan was demoted due to slander, later falling ill from depression and dying.
In March of 577 AD, an earthquake occurred in the arsenal of the Chen Dynasty. At that time, Chen Houzhu was excessively ambitious, launching northern expeditions for several consecutive years, leading to a depletion of national strength and exhaustion of the troops. Although they captured Huainan and continued to attack Pengcheng and Bianzhou, the minister Mao Xi strongly advised against it, but his advice was not heeded. As a result, the forces led by Wu Mingche and others were utterly defeated, and Huainan was also lost. The arsenal stores weapons, and its earthquake seemed to be a warning from heaven: the war should be stopped, and the people should be pacified! However, the emperor did not understand and mobilized troops on a large scale.
In June of the same year, earthquakes occurred at Taihuang Temple, Zhuangyan Temple, Chongyang Pavilion, and Honglu Mansion. Taihuang Temple and Zhuangyan Temple were places where the Chen Kingdom revered Buddhism, Chongyang Pavilion was a place for the emperor's feasts, and Honglu Mansion was a place for receiving guests; all these places experienced earthquakes in the same year, as if heaven was warning them: the national prestige has declined, and if they fail to cultivate virtue, in the future, there will surely be reliance on Buddhism and Taoism, indulgence in feasting, abandonment of rituals, ultimately leading to the fall of the country. Yet, the rulers and ministers of the Chen Dynasty failed to grasp this lesson.
When Emperor Chen was in power, various disasters occurred one after another. He was afraid, so he fled to the Taihousi to serve as a temple attendant, praying for divine protection, but neglecting state affairs, indulging in wine and women, abandoning traditions and laws, neglecting to repair and maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries, and ultimately leading the country to destruction.
In the summer of 550 AD, an earthquake struck the southern gate of Duan Xiaoxian's residence. The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang says, "When an earthquake shakes the door or house of a noble minister, within three years, the treacherous minister will be executed." The following year, He Shikai was put to death.
In the winter of 550 AD, hail made of wooden ice fell from the sky. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "This is a manifestation of extreme yin energy condensation. Wood represents the lesser yang, symbolizing noble ministers. When disasters are about to occur, yin energy will invade wood, causing wood to feel cold first, resulting in hail. Wooden ice, also known as 'jie', is a symbol of weapons." At that time, Situ Hou Jing controlled Henan, Gao Yang was unwell, and Emperor Wenxiang feared a rebellion by Hou Jing, so he summoned him back, leading to Hou Jing taking advantage of the situation to rebel. The governors of Yuzhou, Xiangzhou, and Guangzhou were all captured and humiliated by Hou Jing, which was an ominous sign for the noble ministers. Later, the Left Prefect Murong Shaozong and Hou Jing fought at Guoyang, capturing and killing fifty thousand enemy soldiers.
In 552 AD, a hailstorm of wooden ice lasted for three days. Previously, Prince Yue of Qinghe was falsely accused by Gao Guiyan and died from despair that year.
In the winter of the first year of Wuping, it rained and the trees were covered in ice; in the second year of February, the trees were covered in ice again. At that time, the Chancellor was He Shikai. In July of the same year, the Grand Guardian and Prince of Langya, Xiao Yan, falsely claimed to have an imperial edict to execute He Shikai. The General of the Army, Kudifu Lian, and the Right Prefect of the Grand Secretariat, Feng Zicong, were also executed by Xiao Yan for this matter. In September, Xiao Yan met his own demise.
In the sixth and seventh years, for several consecutive years, trees were covered in ice during both spring and winter. That year, the Zhou army invaded Jinyang and subsequently pacified the capital, Ye. The last emperor of Northern Qi fled to Qingzhou, where many ministers either died or fled, and numerous counties were ravaged by the war. In the first year of the Dachong reign of the Liang Dynasty, in April, there was a hailstorm. As noted in the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," "Hail is a sign of yin energy invading yang energy." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang often dressed as a servant, was obsessed with Buddhism, and was entirely under the influence of the monks. In the second year of the Taijian reign of the Chen Dynasty, in June, there was a hailstorm; in the tenth year, in April, there was another hailstorm; in the thirteenth year, in September, there was hail again. At that time, Prince Shixing of Chen was arrogant and overbearing, secretly recruiting assassins, and the emperor continued to trust him despite three ominous signs. When the emperor died, Prince Shixing indeed rebelled. The last emperor of Northern Qi, Lou Zhaojun, fell ill and was bedridden, and her nightgown inexplicably began to float. Shortly after, she died. In his later years, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi wore luxurious embroidered clothes, applied makeup, often dressed as a barbarian, and disguised himself to mingle with commoners. Makeup is a woman's decoration, men dressing as women, and monarchs becoming subjects. After his death, his son was dethroned as the King of Jinan. The Qi clan came from the Yin Mountains, wearing barbarian clothes, wanting to return to their original attire. Embroidered garments are not suitable for an emperor, and disguising oneself to mingle with commoners foretells the downfall of the Qi Dynasty. The last emperor of Northern Qi preferred palace maids to wear white coarse cloth headpieces that resembled women's hair buns, and he also liked white carriage covers. Both items are associated with funerals. Eventually, the last emperor of Northern Qi was indeed defeated by Emperor Wu of Zhou, and both father and son were killed.
During the Wuping years, the last ruler of Northern Qi built a "Poor Children's Village" in the palace gardens, dressed in rags to beg inside for amusement. He often had people wear black clothes and bind each other for play. Later, the last ruler of Northern Qi was ultimately defeated by the Zhou Dynasty, captured in Chang'an and subsequently died; his concubines were left in poverty, relying on selling candles to survive.
In the year 578, Emperor Wu of Zhou, wearing a crown adorned with twenty-four tassels, traveled with carriages, horses, flags, and drums, all in groups of twenty-four. The guards wore outfits in a mix of five colors, including red and purple. He also ordered that all vehicles in the country use large wooden wheels without spokes. Court officials could not wear sashes, and women had to paint their eyes black and their eyebrows yellow. Even more absurdly, he constructed five tents resembling those used for funerals, allowing the five queens to live in them separately, with sacrificial vessels placed in front of the tents for ancestral worship, which he personally performed. He paraded the five queens on carriages while he walked behind with his guards. Even more ridiculous, he hung chickens upside down on the carriages and placed broken tiles on them, taking amusement in the sounds they produced. These actions were clear signs of misfortune! Not long after, Emperor Wu of Zhou died suddenly, and the Sui Dynasty replaced it, abolishing the laws of the Zhou Dynasty.
During the Kaihuang years of Emperor Wen of Sui, in the Eastern Palace, Prince Yang Yong, and Prince Wang Shiji of Yiyang, the style of headscarves worn by women was identical to the spear and banner flags used by the army. Women represented the yin, while officials represented the yang, yet the women's attire resembled military flags, which foreshadowed disaster for the officials! Indeed, Yang Yong was later murdered, and Wang Shiji was executed as well.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, someone submitted a memorial stating that in recent years, the roosters did not flap their wings when crowing, as if something were blocking them under their wings, preventing them from lifting their wings. This suggested that influential courtiers close to the emperor were plotting a rebellion. However, this memorial went unheeded. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" stated: "When a rooster crows without flapping its wings, the country is in great danger." Later, many ministers were killed, princes were deposed, and even the crown prince was imprisoned.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, roosters all over the country often crowed at night. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" stated: "Roosters crowing at night is a sign of urgency." It also said: "If roosters crow when it's dark, disasters will come to the people; if roosters crow while people sleep, there will be war; if roosters crow in the middle of the night, there will be bloodshed." In the later period of Emperor Yang's rule, there were numerous national issues and financial shortfalls, prompting Emperor Yang to urgently increase taxes, forcing local officials and the people into a situation where they could not survive, leading to uprisings everywhere, with thieves and continuous wars, and dead bodies everywhere.
During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, there were nightly disturbances of the palace maids in the Yeting Palace. The palace steward informed the emperor of this. The emperor said, "With such strict guards at the palace gates, how did someone get in? It must be a demon!" He then warned the palace maids, "If you see it, just chop it!" Later, something resembling a human crawled onto the bed at night, and the palace maids slashed at it with a knife, as if they were slicing through a pile of dry bones. The thing fell off the bed and ran away, with the palace maids in hot pursuit until it drowned in a pond. The next day, the emperor commanded the pond be drained, and a foot-long turtle with knife marks on its shell was found. The emperor had the turtle killed, and the matter was deemed settled. This turtle, a cunning creature of the water, symbolized treachery and deceit, suggesting that the Prince of Jin was flattering the emperor in hopes of gaining an heir.
In April of the second year of Chen Chaoming, countless rats poured from the Caizhou bank into the Huai River beyond the Stone City, running all the way to the banks of Qingtang. A few days later, these rats all died and were washed into the river, close to Qingxiang. Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" says, "Rats gather in groups for no reason, without digging holes or building nests, indicating that their monarch is about to die." Not long after, the Chen dynasty fell.
In the seventh month of autumn in the sixth year of Tianjia of the Chen dynasty, Yixiantang inexplicably collapsed, near Jinjimu. At that time, the emperor was busy constructing grand palaces, including Xiande Palace, boasting about their magnificence, but the common people lost their livelihoods, causing the wood to lose its natural qualities. Yixiantang, which means "to respect the capable and honor the elders," collapsed for no reason. It seemed as if heaven was warning the emperor: with such extravagance and waste, and failing to utilize talented individuals, what good is empty fame? The emperor did not heed the warning and died the following year.
In the sixth month of the first year of Zhenming, there were sounds of sawing and chopping in the water pavilion in the palace, and then the water pavilion inexplicably collapsed. In the seventh month, Zhuque Hang also inexplicably sank. At that time, the later emperor was busy building gardens but neglected ancestral worship. The water pavilion was where the emperor enjoyed leisure, and Zhuque Hang was a crucial gateway for the country. They inexplicably deteriorated, as if heaven was warning: palaces were destroyed, and roads were cut off. The later emperor did not listen to advice and was eventually destroyed by the Sui dynasty, with palaces and temples reduced to ruins.
Xiaozhao, the emperor of Later Qi, wanted to kill Yang Yin. While riding in a carriage to the provincial capital, the carriage shaft inexplicably broke as they entered the east gate. The emperor was very displeased with this incident and died a little over a year later.
In the third year of Heqing, the beams of the official buildings in Changguang County suddenly peeled off, revealing shapes resembling humans. The magistrate found it very ominous and had the peeled-off parts cut away, but the same thing happened again the next day. Changguang was the emperor's original fief, and such changes in the beams were an ill omen. That year, the emperor died.
In the autumn of the seventh year of the Wuping era, Empress Mu wanted to go to Jinyang and first went to the Northern Palace to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Hu. As a result, when she arrived at the palace gate, the seven-treasure chariot she was riding in mysteriously sank into the ground, with even the oxen's hooves completely vanishing from sight. That year, Northern Qi was destroyed, and the empress was captured and taken to Chang'an. This truly proved the old saying: calamity descends from the heavens!
Next, let's talk about the events of the Later Zhou. In the sixth year of Jiande, the Qingcheng Gate suddenly collapsed. The color blue represents the east and symbolizes the crown prince. The sudden collapse of the Qingcheng Gate foreshadowed that the crown prince lacked the dignity and decorum necessary for his role; unfortunately, the emperor did not understand this omen. The following year, the crown prince took the throne and turned out to be a foolish ruler, leading the Zhou Dynasty towards decline; everything began from here.
During the Daye period, Prince Yang Jian of Qi constructed a residence in the Eastern Capital, and the newly built palace beams suddenly broke. At that time, the emperor had not yet established a crown prince, and everyone believed that Yang Jian was the most qualified to inherit the throne, with ministers in the court placing high hopes on him. As a result, he became arrogant and reckless, even consulting fortune-tellers for divination and engaging in those superstitious practices. The palace beams breaking for no reason signified that the wood had lost its essence, a portent of treachery! Heaven warned him through this ominous sign, but unfortunately, Yang Jian did not understand and ultimately angered the emperor, leading to a bad outcome.
The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "When words go unheard, it signifies a failure to govern the country well. Its sin is overreach, and the punishment is prolonged drought, ultimately leading to distress. Sometimes, strange poems may appear, sometimes there may be disasters from caterpillars, and sometimes there may be calamities from dogs. Thus, disputes arise, with both auspicious and inauspicious signs. Only wood conquers metal."
Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Ji, usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, with the reign title Tianzheng. Duke Yongfeng, Xiao Huan, said: "Your Majesty, this won't do! Previously, Huan Xuan's reign title was Daheng, and wise men believed it would end in 'February'; as a result, Huan Xuan indeed failed in mid-spring. Today is Tianzheng, and the character 'zheng' can be interpreted as 'one stop'; can it endure?" As expected, he failed a year later.
During the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Later Qi, Crown Prince Gao Yin was to conduct the cap ceremony, and the emperor ordered Xing Zicai to inscribe the words on his cap. Xing Zicai wrote the characters "zheng dao." The emperor said, "'Zheng' means to stop. Is my son doomed?" Xing Zicai requested a change, but the emperor disagreed, saying, "It is the will of heaven!" He then turned to Wang Gao Yan of Changshan and said, "When the time comes, it will be up to you; just make sure not to kill anyone." When the emperor died, the crown prince took the throne, and Wang Changshan indeed deposed him and became emperor, while Gao Yin was soon murdered.
During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, Chancellor He Shikai said to His Majesty: "From ancient times to the present, emperors ultimately turn to dust; Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou—what difference is there? Your Majesty should enjoy life while young and strong; a day's joy surpasses a thousand years. Don’t waste effort on frugality!" The emperor was pleased by this and became even more indulgent. He Shikai initially led the emperor with improper means, then abused power and mismanaged the state, ultimately being killed by the Grand Historian.
In the years of Wuping, the army of Chen attacked Pengcheng, and the later ruler was greatly frightened. The attendant Han Chuangluan advised him: "Even if you lose Henan, you can still be a king in Kucha! What’s there to worry about now that Huainan is lost? Life lasts a few decades; just enjoy life and stop worrying!" The emperor was very pleased to hear this and became even more addicted to wine and pleasure, completely disregarding state affairs. Not long after, he was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty.
In the seventh year of Wuping, the last ruler was defeated by the Zhou army, fled to Ye City, proclaimed himself to be the retired emperor, passed the crown to his son Heng, and changed the era name to Longhua. At that time, some people reinterpreted 'Longhua' to mean 'descending death,' and so he died after surrendering to the Zhou dynasty.
Emperor Wu of Zhou changed the era name to Xuanzheng, and Emperor Xiao Kui of the Liang dynasty reinterpreted 'Xuanzheng' to mean 'the day of Yuwen's death.' In June of that year, Emperor Wu of Zhou died.
When Xuan Di was the crown prince, he often disregarded the rules, and Emperor Wu often beat him. After he became emperor, he touched his scars and lamented, "You died too late!" Then he changed the era name to Daxiang, and Xiao Kui reinterpreted 'Daxiang' to mean 'the emperor's tomb.' The following year, Xuan Di tragically died.
In the early years of the Kaihuang era, Prince Xiao Cong of Liang changed the era name to Guangyun. The people of Jiangling whispered among themselves, "'Yun' means the army is running away! Is our ruler going to be chased away by the army?" Later, Xiao Cong traveled to the capital but was detained and never returned. His uncle Xiao Yan incited the people to rebel, thus, the Liang dynasty met its end.
Emperor Wen of Sui named his sons; the crown prince was named Yang Yong, the Prince of Jin was named Yang Ying, the Prince of Qin was named Yang Jun, and the Prince of Shu was named Yang Xiu. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, a memorial was submitted saying, "'Yong' is the name for a single soldier; 'Ying' is for thousands of outstanding talents, and the best among them are called 'Jun.' These are good names for common people, not auspicious names for emperors!" The emperor ignored it. At that time, many said that those with the surname Yang were actually Ying, and a courtier warned the emperor, "If Yang Ying rebels, it will turn into a disaster for the Ying clan." The emperor was displeased to hear this and quickly changed Yang Ying's name. Later, Yang Yong, Yang Jun, and Yang Xiu were all deposed, Yang Guang became emperor, lost the empire, and ultimately faced the downfall of the Yang clan.
When Yang Guang became emperor, he changed the era name to Daye. The wise felt uneasy and said, "The two characters 'Daye' can be interpreted as 'great suffering is coming'!" As a result, not long after, the world fell into chaos, with widespread suffering and sights too tragic to endure. Yang Guang often casually told his secretary, Yu Shinan, "I don't like being advised by others. If those in high positions come to advise me, it’s because they seek fame, and I can't stand it. As for those of lower status, though I might be somewhat more lenient, but in the end, I won’t actually listen to them. Do you understand what I mean?" Back then, people said that wise ancient rulers governed with sharp insight and keen perception, establishing special channels for advice, even setting up a "slander wood" for people to freely write criticisms, fearing that loyal words would not reach their ears. Only in this way could the world be peaceful and blessings bestowed upon future generations. Yet, Yang Guang despised those who spoke frankly and suppressed ministers who dared to advise him. Could he really last? In the first year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, there was a great drought, and a dou of rice cost five thousand coins, resulting in many people starving. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "If the emperor is stubborn and self-serving, raises troops for war, overburdens the people and squanders resources, embarks on grand construction projects without caring for the people's lives, and the ministers are filled with grievances, although the emperor knows it is wrong, he cannot let go of power, then the yang energy will be overly strong and unbalanced, and the yin energy will weaken. An excess of yang energy will lead to drought." Initially, when Yang Guang mobilized troops in Xiangyang, he defeated Zhang Chong and Chen Bozhi, pacifying Jiankang, fighting many battles, and the people were exhausted. After becoming emperor, he continued to fight against Northern Wei, which also contributed to the drought. In the twelfth spring of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, there was no rain until April. Previously, the Zhou Dynasty's army attacked Huai Bei, and the armies of King Shuling of Shixing and others were defeated, leading to the Huai Bei region falling into the hands of the Zhou Dynasty, which also contributed to the drought.
In the fourth year of the Tianping era of Eastern Wei, there was a severe drought in areas such as Bingzhou, Sizhou, Fenzhou, Jianzhou, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Qinzhou, and Shanzhou, leaving many people homeless. That year, Emperor Shenwu fought against the Western Wei at Shayuan and suffered a defeat, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers.
In the second year of the Wuding era of Eastern Wei, from winter to spring, there were continuous droughts. Previously, the Western Wei army had invaded Luoyang, and Emperor Shenwu personally led his troops into battle against the Western Wei at Mangshan, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers.
In the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi Dynasty, there was a severe drought in the summer. Prior to this, a large number of troops were mobilized to build over 400 miles of the Great Wall, which strained the people and resources, contributing to the drought.
In the first year of the Ganming era, there was a drought in the spring. Prior to this, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were mobilized to build three luxurious palaces—Jinfengtai, Shengyingtai, and Chongguangtai—due to reckless extravagance and neglect of the people's welfare, resulting in the drought caused by excessive yang energy.
In April of the year 562 AD, five western provinces in Shanxi and Hebei suffered from a severe drought. That year, the government conscripted laborers to build Zhiguan. A Turkic army of 200,000 invaded, breaching the Great Wall and invading Hengzhou, causing internal and external problems.
In the spring of the year 570 AD, there was another drought. The court once again drafted troops nationwide to build the Daming Palace, causing immense suffering among the common people.
Starting from the year 584 AD, the capital region frequently experienced droughts. In response, the court relocated the capital to Longshoushan and constructed palaces, causing extreme fatigue among the people, a combination of natural disasters and man-made calamities, truly embodying the saying "excessive yang leads to disaster."
In the year 608 AD, the Yan and Dai regions, as well as many border areas, suffered from droughts. The court conscripted over one million laborers to build the Great Wall, while the emperor personally inspected the border areas, causing displacement and starvation among the people, with corpses strewn everywhere.
In the year 612 AD, a nationwide drought led to famine. The court once again drafted troops nationwide, and the emperor personally led an expedition to Goguryeo, resulting in nearly ninety percent of the soldiers dying from freezing and starvation. In the year 617 AD, there was another nationwide drought. People from all counties and towns were sent to build cities, regardless of age or gender, resulting in unbearable living conditions for the populace.
On June 8th, 506 AD, Emperor Wu of Liang was giving a lecture in the Chongyun Hall when a monk named Zhigong suddenly started singing and dancing, then burst into tears, and recited a five-character poem: "Happy for more than thirty, sad for fifty li! But look at eighty-three, the demon disaster strikes. Flatterers deceive and traitors bring down the noble. If you don't believe my words, when the dragon rises, a thief will emerge. Even amidst horses, sorrow outweighs joy." For over thirty years, during the Tianjian to Putong periods of the Liang Dynasty, the area north of the Yangtze River was very peaceful. It wasn't until the second year of Taiqing that Taicheng was breached, and Emperor Wu of Liang ruled for forty-eight years; the poem's mention of "fifty li" came true. On August 13th of the first year of Taiqing, Hou Jing surrendered at Xuanhu. Xuanhu is to the north of Danyang, belonging to the "Zidi" region. Emperor Wu of Liang believed Zhu Yi's words and accepted Hou Jing's surrender. Hou Jing's rebellion began in the year of Wuchen, and by the year of Wuni, Emperor Wu of Liang died from excessive worry.
Ten years later, on April 8th, 516 AD, Zhigong composed another poem at a large gathering: "The tailless dog starts to go mad, wanting to die but biting and injuring people, will self-destruct in an instant. The trouble lies in Ruyin; three will perish in the Xiangs, corpses lying unburied for a day." Hou Jing's nickname was Dog, and he initially surrendered at Xuanhu, which was the ancient Ruyin. South of Balin, there is a place called Sanxiang, where Hou Jing suffered defeat.
During the Tianjian period of the Southern Dynasties, Tao Hongjing, a Daoist from Maoshan, wrote a five-character poem: "Yifu is frivolous, Pingshu sits and talks in vain; unexpectedly in Zhao Yang Hall, suddenly becomes the Chanyu Palace." At that time, the ministers in the court were all enthusiastic about discussing metaphysics, and the "Yifu" and "Pingshu" mentioned in the poem were both famous ministers at the time. Who would have imagined that Hou Jing would later rebel and seize Zhao Yang Hall!
During the Datong period, a nursery rhyme was popular among the people: "Qing silk white horse comes to Shouyang." Later, when Hou Jing breached Danyang, he was indeed riding a white horse, with the reins made of green silk. This nursery rhyme proved to be true!
In the early period of the Chen Dynasty, a children's rhyme emerged: "Yellow horse, green steed, from the banks of Shouyang. Coming when winter ends, leaving as spring begins." Later, the emperor of the Chen Dynasty was indeed defeated by Han Qintian, whose original name was Qintian; the "yellow horse" refers to him. When he captured Jiankang, he was indeed riding a green steed, and the timing of his coming and going also matched the nursery rhyme's description of late winter and early spring.
During the Chen Dynasty, Wang Xianzhi's poem "Peach Leaf" was popular in the Jiangnan region: "Peach leaves again, crossing the river without oars. Though crossing brings no trouble, I’ll come to greet you myself." Later, when the Jin Wang attacked the Chen Dynasty, they camped at the foot of Peach Leaf Mountain. After Han Qintian crossed the river, General Ren Mannu welcomed the northern army at Xinlin, which also resonated with the imagery of "crossing the river" in the poem.
When Chen Houzhu built the Qiyun Temple, the locals sang a song: "Qiyun Temple, the bandits come endlessly." Before the Qiyun Temple was completed, the Chen Dynasty was breached by the Sui army, and Chen Houzhu was captured.
During the Zhengming years, Chen Houzhu composed a new song with deeply sorrowful lyrics, and he had the palace concubines learn to sing it. The lyrics were: "Jade tree, flowers in the back courtyard, flowers bloom but do not last long." People at the time saw this as an ominous sign, foretelling the fall of the Chen Dynasty.
When Emperor Shenzu of the Northern Qi first moved the capital to Ye City, a nursery rhyme circulated among the people: "Poor little blue bird, flying into Ye City. The nest isn't even built yet, raising its head, it loses its hometown. Sending letters to the wife and mother, to see the new bride and child." This refers to Emperor Xiaojing of Wei, the son of Prince Qinghe, who later married the daughter of Emperor Shenzu. The palaces of Ye City were not yet completed when the abdication occurred, just as the nursery rhyme says "the nest isn't even built yet." Xiaojing soon died, and Shenzu's daughter later became Princess Chang of Taiyuan and married Yang Yin. At that time, Empress Dowager Lou was still present, which is why the nursery rhyme mentions "sending letters to the wife and mother"; "new bride and child" refers to the deposed empress.
During the Wuding period of the Northern Qi dynasty, there was a children's rhyme circulating among the people: "A hundred-foot high pole breaks, the lamp under the water extinguishes." This "high pole" refers to the nobility of the Qi family, and "Cheng" refers to Emperor Wenxuan Gao Cheng. As a result, five years later, Emperor Gao Yang died, fulfilling the "high pole breaking"; seven years later, Gao Cheng was assassinated by a hitman, fulfilling the "lamp under the water extinguishing." You see, this children's rhyme is remarkably accurate!
Then, during the Tianbao period, a man named Lu Fahe wrote the following on a wall: "An emperor can serve ten years without issue, an emperor is as anxious as fire for a hundred days, an emperor changes every year." This means that an emperor is acceptable for ten years, anxious for a hundred days, and replaced every year. It really came true: Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang died after ten years in power, the deposed Emperor Gao Yin lasted just over a hundred days before being removed, and Emperor Xiaozhao Gao Yan died after one year in power.
In the first year of Wuping, another children's rhyme appeared: "The fox cuts off its tail; if you want to get rid of me, I'll get rid of you." In April of that year, Prince Longdong Hu Changren wanted to send an assassin to secretly kill He Shikai, but the plan was exposed, and He Shikai reported him, leading to his execution.
In the second year of Wuping, another children's rhyme came: "He Shikai, on the thirtieth of July, I will send you to the South Terrace." After singing this rhyme, the children also clapped and said, "Kill him!" As a result, on the twenty-fifth of July, Chief Imperial Censor Wang Yan of Langye captured He Shikai and sent him to the South Terrace to be beheaded. That year, there was another children's rhyme: "Cutting wheat too early in July is harmful, in September, eating cakes is just right. In October, washing the rice pot, in November, Zhao Lao leaves." In July, He Shikai was killed, in September, Langye Wang was killed, and in November, Zhao Yanshen was sent to Xiyanzhou as a governor, fulfilling this children's rhyme as well!
Towards the end of the Wuping period, another children's rhyme appeared: "The yellow flowers are about to fall, the clear wine is full in the cup." At that time, Empress Mu and her son had absolute power and interfered in politics, causing distress among the people. Empress Mu's nickname was Huanghua, and later, when the Northern Qi dynasty was destroyed, the phrase "the yellow flowers are about to fall" also proved true.
In Ye City, there is still a children's rhyme that goes: "A broom made of gold, a handle made of jade, sweeping the palace to welcome the family from the west." Not long after, the army of the Zhou Dynasty invaded Ye City.
In the early Zhou Dynasty, another children's rhyme appeared: "On the top of the white poplar tree, the golden rooster crows, only the uncle has no nephew." The last ruler of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Gao Wei, was a distant nephew of the Sui Emperor, and shortly after he abdicated, he died, while his uncles held great power.
Emperor Xuan of Zhou danced and sang with palace maids in the middle of the night, singing: "Aware that my life is fleeting, I carry the candle to wander at night." As a result, he died three years after becoming emperor.
In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, the emperor inspected Bingzhou and hosted a banquet for King Qin and his son Zixiang. The emperor also spontaneously composed a four-line poem: "How many red faces, the jade beauty is fleeting. One morning the flowers fall, white hair is hard to remove. In the years to come, who will have and who will not." This poem was quite touching, but unexpectedly, the next year Zixiang died, and eighteen years later, King Qin also passed away.
In the eleventh year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui traveled from the capital to the eastern capital, reaching Changle Palace, where he got drunk and wrote a five-line poem. The final line of the poem read: "Only the heart yearns to return, no longer relying on the wind's strength." He had the beauties recite this line repeatedly, crying until his clothes were soaked, and the guards present sighed along with him. Later, Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu and wrote another five-line poem: "Seeking to return but unable to go, truly becoming a victim of spring. The birds urge drinking, the plum blossoms laugh at killing." This poem had a mournful tone, and in March, he was killed, fulfilling the poem's prophecy of "becoming a victim of spring." That year, bandits rose everywhere, and the roads were blocked, which frightened Emperor Yang and led him to abandon any thoughts of returning to the capital. He also dreamed of two young men singing: "To stay is to die, to leave is to die. Better to take a boat across the river." So he started constructing a palace in Danyang, planning to settle there. Unfortunately, before the palace could be completed, he died.
During the Daye era, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Peach and plum, the swans and geese circle around Yang Mountain, winding through the flower forest. Don’t speak thoughtlessly; who said it was okay?" Later, Li Mi was captured by the authorities for taking part in the Yang Xuan rebellion. While escaping on the road, he secretly gathered a group of bandits, broke out of Yangcheng Mountain, attacked the Lukou granary, and then stationed his army in the Yuan. "Don’t speak thoughtlessly; it's Li Mi," this nursery rhyme is about Li Mi. "Who says it's allowed," likely questions whether Li Mi’s rebellion would be successful, but Li Mi ultimately failed, and Yuwen Huaji, who later declared himself ruler of Xu, was also defeated.
In the first year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, Prince Shaoling Xiao Lun was in his bedroom in South Xuzhou. During the day, he saw two civets fighting on the windowsill and managed to catch them when they fell. During the Taiqing era, he encountered the Hou Jing rebellion and led his troops to assist Taicheng. When he reached Zhongshan, a hibernating bear suddenly appeared and bit Xiao Lun's horse. This was likely another bad omen, much like a caterpillar, foretelling disaster. Xiao Lun was eventually defeated by Wang Sengbian, fled to Nanyang, and was ultimately killed by the Western Wei.
During the Datong era, every night, foxes howled beneath the palace, and it took several years for them to stop. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "When wild beasts howl, the city is desolate." Before long, the country fell into chaos, and nearly everyone in Danyang City perished.
During the Zhenming era of the Chen Dynasty, a fox suddenly dashed into the imperial palace, scurried under the bed, and couldn't be caught. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "When a fox enters the ruler's palace, the country won’t last long." Before long, the Chen Dynasty fell.
In the third year of the Wu Ding era of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, in September, a leopard broke into the south gate of Ye City and was killed by the people. In the eighth month of the fifth year of the Wu Ding era, the leopard appeared on the Copper Jue Platform. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says, "When wild beasts break into the city, even running onto the main roads of the court and to the gates of the government offices, it is a great disaster; the ruler is doomed!" That year, the Eastern Wei suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Yubi, and Emperor Gao Huan also died of illness.
In the second year of the Wuping era of the Later Qi, a rabbit ran out of the temple. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says, "When a rabbit runs into the palace, the ruler is doomed." The temple is where the spirits of the ancestors reside. Five years later, the Zhou army besieged Ye City, and the last emperor, Gao Zhan, fled.
In the later period of the Wuping era, there were many wolves in Binzhou, Sizhou, and other places, and they even preyed on humans. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "Wolves are greedy and violent beasts, mostly white, symbolizing war. Wolves are like dogs, indicating a disaster involving dogs." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also says, "If the ruler is not virtuous, disasters will befall the people, and only by hiding in the deep mountains can lives be saved. Wolves preying on humans are a sign of such disasters." At that time, the emperor surrounded himself with wicked advisors, and he himself was greedy and cruel, harming the people. The prophecy of wolves preying on humans came true. Not long after, Later Qi was destroyed by the Zhou army, which was a sign of war!
During the Wuping era, outside the gate of Shuozhou Prefecture, there suddenly appeared footprints of a child, and soil was piled up to resemble a city wall. People at that time found it very strange. Upon investigation, it was revealed to be the work of a fox spirit. Later, these strange occurrences spread to Binzhou and Ye City. This was reminiscent of the leopard's entry into the city in the third year of Wu Ding. That year, Prince Nan'an Gao Sihao launched a rebellion and marched straight to Binzhou, but was ultimately defeated by the imperial forces. Zheng Zirao, Yang Fahao, and others also engaged in rebellion in the Shandong region.
In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Qi, the bizarre phenomenon of dogs mating with women appeared in Ye City and Dunqiu. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Different species should not mate, yet they have; this is a sign of chaos. The mating of dogs and humans is a portent of the calamity of dogs." The calamity of dogs signifies excessive yang energy in the world, a loss of virtue, and the downfall of a nation. At that time, the emperor was indifferent to state affairs, and his grace did not reach the common people.
During the reign of the later emperor, he even bestowed titles upon dogs, granting them the rank of "Minister of State," while female dogs were given titles such as "Madam" and "County Lady." They were even provided with troops for sustenance, fed fine rice and grains, and slept on soft bedding. Heaven was about to punish him; he actually bestowed titles upon dogs, which was a clear sign of the calamity of dogs! It seemed Heaven was saying that these ministers were just like dogs! The later emperor did not understand this principle, which ultimately led to the downfall of the nation.
In the third year of the reign of Later Zhou, a litter of puppies was born, one of which had its rear end split in two, with two tails and six legs. Dogs are fierce creatures, equipped with claws and teeth, representing soldiers. At that time, Yuwen Hu and others, such as Hou Fu and Hou Long'en, harbored treasonous intentions and plotted against the state. The split rear of the dog was an omen!
In the first year of the Daye era, many dogs in the homes of the people at Yanmen Pass left their owners, running in packs into the wilderness, their appearances turning wolf-like, and they even bit and devoured people, causing unrest for several years. The "Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Dogs are meant to guard homes, yet now they have left their masters; this is a sign of disloyalty among ministers. The dogs' appearance becoming wolf-like, and wolves being white, is a portent of impending war." Later, the emperor initiated relentless military campaigns, constantly conscripting the people. Heaven seemed to be warning him: do not further exhaust the people and waste resources, for those tasked with guarding and protecting might rebel! The emperor ignored the advice and even initiated the construction of the Great Wall. He then launched campaigns against the Western Regions and Liaodong, leading to widespread grievances, culminating in the rebellion known as the Jiangdu Incident, where even the emperor's own guards joined the rebellion.
In the second year of Liang Datong, white hairs sprouted from the ground, two feet long, which was seen as an omen. Sun Sheng believed this was a phenomenon caused by the people’s excessive labor. Previously, a large-scale mobilization of the people to build the Fu Shan dam squandered a tremendous amount of resources, and it was about to be completed, but the dam kept failing. Sighs filled the roads as the people grew weary of the labor.
In the first year of Qihui, in September, in Cangzhou and at the foot of the Great Wall, numerous hairs sprouted from the ground, both white and black, four to five inches long, which was yet another ominous sign. At that time, the Great Wall was being built in the north, and three platforms were being constructed domestically, causing great suffering to the people.
In the sixth year of Kaihuang, in July, a light rain of hair fell in the capital, some three feet long and others six to seven inches short. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" warned, "When hair falls from the sky, the nation would suffer a great famine." The Guanzhong region was experiencing a severe drought, and rice prices soared.
In the early years of the Tian Tong of the Later Qi Dynasty, the jade bi at the Fengshan altar on Mount Dai emerged on its own, which heralded an impending change of dynasty. Mount Dai is a place where emperors change dynasties, and the jade bi is an item used for sacrifices. Now that it has come out on its own, it foreshadowed a change of dynasty. Later, the Qi state was destroyed, the land belonged to the Zhou Dynasty, the founding emperor accepted the abdication of the Zhou Dynasty, and the world was unified, fulfilling the omen of offering sacrifices on Mount Tai.
In the third year of Wuping, next to the green stone wall under the Baishuiyan, a line of words appeared: "Qi perishes and flees." Someone changed it to "Shangyan," and the emperor believed it was a good omen, prompting all the officials to come and congratulate. Later, the Zhou army invaded the Qi state, and the emperor indeed fled Ye City.
In the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, between Wu'an and Fuyang, over ten stones fell from the sky. The text warned, "When stones fall from the sky, it signals danger for those in power!" Seven years later, the emperor died.
During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, as the year drew to a close, the Emperor buried two small stones in the palace floor to mark the position of his bed. Before long, these stones transformed into jade. The ancients said, "Jade is extremely precious. When something worthless becomes precious, it signals that a change is on the horizon!" As the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty was coming to an end, rebellions broke out everywhere and many claimed themselves as emperors.
In the thirteenth year of Daye, a stone appeared in Xiping County with the words: "The emperor can rule for a thousand years!" The ministers celebrated joyfully. But those who were knowledgeable worried and said, "A thousand years is a phrase reserved for the dead! To say now that one can rule for a thousand years means disaster is imminent!" The following year, the emperor was killed.
In the twelfth year of Daitong in the Liang Dynasty, the stone qilin at the entrance of the Qu'a tomb stirred. Wood conquers metal, and when a stone stirs, it signifies a relocation! It seemed heaven was sending a warning that this tomb would have no master in the future, and the stone qilin would be moved by someone else! Later, as expected, the Liang Dynasty fell.
In the fourth year of Heqing in the Northern Qi Dynasty, the stones in the palace began moving on their own and clashing together. Some claimed that stones represent the yin, symbolizing the ministers. The stones' movements in the palace signaled impending betrayal by those close to the Emperor. Eventually, during the Eastern Expedition of the Zhou Dynasty, the Emperor's favored ministers—Wei Xiangyuan, Qi Fugui, his brothers, and Han Jianye—all betrayed him, defecting to the Zhou Dynasty.
In the twelfth year of the Da Tong era of the Liang Dynasty, in the first month, two statues of a guardian beast were sent to Jianling. The two-horned statue on the left arrived smoothly at the tomb. However, the single-horned statue on the right jumped three times as soon as it set out, breaking the carriage shaft. After switching to another carriage and continuing on, when it was just two miles from the tomb, it jumped three more times! Each time it jumped, the people in the carriage were so startled they leaped three to four feet into the air, with the carriage wheels sinking three inches deep into the ground. As the ancients said, "Wood restrains metal: when the people's hearts are lost, no one follows orders, and no one believes what is said—this is chaos caused by metal!" In his later years, Emperor Wu of Liang neglected state affairs, focusing solely on reciting Buddhist scriptures and discussing metaphysics. The court was in chaos, no one followed orders, and no one believed what was said, and this was the consequence! Later, the Hou Jing rebellion eventually broke out.
In the first year of the Jiande era of the Zhou Dynasty, a stone statue was found in Puyang County. The county officials wanted to transport it to the prefecture and scrape off the gold on top of it. However, the statue jumped off the carriage twice during transport. Later, they tied it to the carriage with a thick rope, but the rope broke. At that time, the emperor had just defeated the Qi state and was campaigning in Huainan, with ongoing wars exhausting the people—this is what losing the people's hearts looks like!
