During the end of the Kaihuang period, three monks were practicing in the fields in Weinan. One evening, they saw a large pig with over ten piglets come to them and said to the monks, "A Lian (monk's name), I want to pursue the path of the sages, but I still owe a life!" After saying this, the pig left. The "path of the sages" referred to the path of the emperor, and at that time, Crown Prince Yong should have inherited the throne but was imprisoned and deposed. The "life" referred to being later killed by Emperor Yang of Sui.
As the year's end was approaching, a man in Weinan was staying overnight at someone else's house. In the middle of the night, he heard two pigs talking. One pig said, "The year's end is approaching; tomorrow the master will slaughter me for sacrifice, where can I hide?" The other pig replied, "Go to your sister's house in the north of the water!" Then they left together. As dawn approached, the master discovered the pigs were missing and suspected that the overnight guest had stolen them, so he asked him. The guest told the master what had happened, and the master found the pigs as the guest had described. Later, Duke Xiu of Shu made a mistake, and the emperor wanted to kill him, but Princess Le Ping worked hard to save Duke Xiu's life. Several years later, the emperor died, fulfilling the pig's words of "the year will end."
In the third year of Chengsheng in the Liang Dynasty, in June, the imperial palace was enveloped in black mist resembling a dragon. This was an ominous omen. Black was the color revered by the Zhou Dynasty, and now that black mist appeared in the imperial palace, it foreshadowed an attack by the Zhou Dynasty's army on the Liang Dynasty. That year, the Liang Dynasty was indeed destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty, and the emperor was also killed.
In the fifth year of Taijian in the Chen Dynasty, in June, a black cloud appeared in the northwest, descended to the ground, and scattered into more than ten piles resembling pigs. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" stated, "This foreshadows war in the northwest." At that time, the army of General Wang Gui of the Later Zhou was stationed in Lüliang. The following year, Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, leading to the complete defeat of his army.
In April of the first year of Heqing in the Later Qi dynasty, both the Yellow River and the Ji River became clear. Xiang Kai said, "The Yellow River symbolizes the princes. The clear river water, which should have been turbid, foreshadows the princes becoming emperors." Over a decade later, the Sui dynasty unified the country.
In the third year of Daye, the river water in Wuyang County became clear, and people's shadows could be seen for miles. Twelve years later, the same phenomenon of clear river water appeared in Longmen. Two years later, the Tang Dynasty was established.
In the fourteenth year of Taijian in the Chen dynasty, the Yangtze River turned blood red, flowing from Jiankang to Jingzhou. During the Zhenming period, the Yangtze River also turned blood red, flowing from Fangzhou to the sea. The "Hongfan Wuxing" (a classic text on cosmology and divination) states, "Fire burning water, this is because of harsh laws, cruel punishments, damaging the nature of water. The abnormal changes in the five elements, the interplay of yin and yang, chaotic qi, are all signs of the country's impending destruction." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhan" states, "When water turns into blood, war will occur." At that time, the Chen dynasty had just ascended the throne and implemented a cruel and tyrannical rule, fulfilling this omen. Later, the Chen dynasty was destroyed by the Sui dynasty.
In April of the year 586 AD, the water in Nanpu, Yingshou turned as black as ink. Black water had appeared in the Guanzhong region before, and now the water in Huainan had also turned black, affecting the Jingzhou and Yangzhou areas, all influenced by the disaster in the Guanzhong region. What does this mean? It means trouble is brewing!
In June of the year 579 AD, the water in Xianyang Pool turned red, mirroring the situation in the Chen dynasty in 554 AD. At that time, the court imposed severe punishments, and soon after, the country fell. The book "Hongfan Wuxing" states, "If one's thoughts are not correct, then one is not enlightened. This sin will bring disasters; the punishment is a violent wind, and the most serious consequence is premature death. There will also be demons and monsters haunting, various disasters, calamities, heart diseases, plagues, and so on; in short, all kinds of misfortunes."
In the year 517 AD, on the eighth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, a strong wind blew, snapping trees in half. Jing Fang's *Yi Fei Hou* said: "When Jiaosu appears, a strong wind blows, and chaos will ensue. Within three months, there will inevitably be a war outbreak." That year, the army of the Wei Kingdom reached Zhongli.
In the year 573 AD, on the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month, the emperor reviewed the troops at the southern city when suddenly a fierce north wind blew, plunging the land into darkness. *Hong Fan Five Elements Biography* said that this was seen as a sign of the emperor's incompetence. At that time, the emperor had just quelled the rebellion of Hou Jing, and the ministers advised him to return to Danyang, but he did not listen and suspected the ministers, making many foolish decisions, so heaven used a strong wind to warn him. That year, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by the Western Wei.
In the year 566 AD, on the twenty-ninth day of the seventh month, a strong wind blew from the southwest, blowing down the Lingtai watchtower. *Hong Fan Five Elements Biography* believed that this was a sign of the ministers' abuse of power. At that time, the prince was still young, and Prince Xu of Ancheng was in power, and the emperor did not timely stop him. The next year, the emperor died; the prince ascended the throne but was eventually deposed by Xu.
In the year 570 AD, on the twentieth day of the sixth month, a strong wind destroyed the middle gate of Gaomen. In the same year, in September, another strong wind blew at night, toppling houses and trees. These were all divine retribution for the abuse of power by Prince Shuling of Shixing!
Later, a strong wind blew and toppled the Zhuque Gate.
In the year 587 AD, on the fourth day of the sixth month, a strong wind blew from the northwest, stirring up huge waves that flooded the Stone City and the Huai River. At that time, the court appointed Sima Shen as a high official, who indiscriminately killed many loyal ministers and generals; Shen Keqing and Shi Wenqing acted arrogantly; Jiang Zong, Kong Fan, and others were extravagant and indulgent, suppressing dissent, being foolish and incompetent, which led to the ensuing calamity.
In the second year of Heqi, a relentless strong wind blew for thirty days straight before finally subsiding. At that time, the emperor had just handed over power to the treacherous and increasingly arrogant Shi Kai, who became increasingly overbearing.
In May of the third year of the Tian Tong era, there was another strong wind that darkened the daylight, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted. This served as yet another warning from above, but the emperor still did not understand. The emperor died the following year. Later, the new emperor ordered that all memorials must be reviewed by Heshikai before being presented to him. Prince Rui of Zhaojun and Prince Run of Fengyi considered him unfit for a position in the palace due to his arrogance and insolence, so they accused him in a memorial. However, they were wrongly accused by Heshikai, and Prince Rui of Zhaojun was executed as a result. Heshikai had free access in the palace, with the power to decide life and death, and was later killed by Prince Yan of Langya.
In March of the seventh year, a strong wind blew from the northwest, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted, lasting for five days before stopping. This confirmed the signs of tyranny and chaos associated with Gao Anagui and Luotipu.
In November of the twentieth year of Kaihuang, a strong wind blew in the capital, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted, leading to the deaths of more than a thousand people in Qinzhou and Longzhou. The ground shook violently, and the drums even rang out on their own. The bell at Jingsha Temple rang three times on its own, the door lock of the Buddha hall opened by itself, and the bronze statue walked out on its own. The self-ringing bells and drums signified the presence of malevolent spirits! Yang Xiong once said that if a ruler is incompetent and deceived by treacherous officials, those who only know flattery will gain power, leading to such signs of evil spirits. At that time, Empress Dowager Dugu intervened in politics, and the Left Supervisor Yang Su wielded immense power, leading the emperor to believe the slander of these two individuals, resulting in the dismissal of Supervisor Gao Jiong and the ousting of Crown Prince Yang Yong, who was replaced by Prince Jin as the crown prince, a mere figurehead. The emperor's inner turmoil indicated an excess of Yin energy! When metal moves, wood trembles—a sign of water overpowering metal. The 'Hongfan's Book of Five Elements' states, "This is caused by losing the people's support." Gao Jiong and Yang Yong were dismissed without having committed any wrongdoings, which was clearly a result of losing the people's support.
In the second year of Renshou, there was a Hu person in Xihe riding a mule on the road. Suddenly, he was swept up by a whirlwind, along with a cart, soaring to a height of over a thousand feet, and then crashing down, smashed to pieces. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When people refuse to obey, virtue hides away, and strange winds arise." Two years later, Han Wang Liang conspired to rebel in Bingzhou. Isn't this scene with the cart and mule a sign of his impending rebellion? Soaring up and then crashing down—this is a sign of doom! Heaven warned him not to recklessly mobilize his troops, or he would ultimately fail, but Han Wang Liang didn’t heed the warning. After Emperor Gaozu's death, Han Wang Liang rebelled, and various states rallied to his cause, amassing an army of several hundred thousand. After a month, he was defeated.
In the second year of Chengsheng in the Liang Dynasty, on the day of Dingmao in October, a strong wind blew, and it was as dark as night during the day, with the sky and earth going dark, feeling downright ominous! Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says: "When a strong wind blows during the day and the world goes dark, the people will fall seriously ill, or thieves will run rampant." Sure enough, three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by Western Wei.
In the third year of Zhengming in the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was covered with dark clouds, heavy fog, and a pungent smell in the air, making people feel uneasy. Chen Houzhu was incompetent, which was also quite strange! "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" writes: "When the emperor is immoral and the ministers are powerful, deceiving the king, there will be a scene of dark clouds." At that time, the northern army had already approached the Yangtze River, and people like Liuzhuang and Ren Mannu surrendered, but Chen Houzhu believed the treacherous words of the villain Kong Fan, made foolish decisions, and ultimately led to the destruction of the country.
In the winter of the fourth year of Wuding in Dongwei, dense fog covered the land for six days and nights without dispersing. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When it is as dark as night during the day, it is a sign of Yin Qi invading Yang Qi, indicating that ministers will invade the king!" The following year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi planned the plot to assassinate the Grand General.
During the second year of the Zhou Dynasty, Wei Jiong was defeated in Xiangzhou and he killed tens of thousands of his followers in Youyu Garden. Since then, the sound of ghostly wailing was often heard at night. Fan Hong's "Five Elements Biography" says: "Crying is a harbinger of death and an ominous occurrence. Ghosts cry at night, foretelling a major calamity." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" also says: "When ghosts cry at night, the country is about to perish." Indeed, the following year, the royal ministers of the Zhou Dynasty were all killed, and the Zhou Dynasty perished.
During the Renshou period, ghostly wails could often be heard at Renshou Palace and at the foot of the Great Wall. Shortly after, Empress Xian and the emperor died successively in Renshou Palace.
In the eighth year of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Xuangan rebelled in the Eastern Capital. The Minister of Works, Fan Zigai, killed tens of thousands of his followers outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, the sounds of ghostly wails and moans often echoed from that place, echoing past occurrences. Later, Wang Shichong killed Prince Dong in Luoyang.
In the first year of the Wuping period of the Later Qi Dynasty, the locust trees blossomed but did not bear fruit. Locust trees represent the positions of the Three Dukes, and blossoming without bearing fruit symbolizes decline. The following year, the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs and Shi Kai were both executed, Prince Hu Changren of Longdong, and Prince Yan of Langye were both killed, and Left Prime Minister Duan Shao met his end as well.
The last emperor of the Chen Dynasty, Chen Shubao, was accompanied by two breathtaking beauties, Zhang Guifei and Kong Guifei. Their beauty was so captivating that Chen Shubao was utterly captivated by them, showering them with more affection than all the other concubines combined. He spent every day with them, immersing himself in poetry, wine, and song and dance. Once inside the palace, he would stay locked away for days on end, lost in a haze of indulgence. The treasury ran dry, forcing taxes on the people, which sparked outrage among the citizens and soldiers alike. Not a single soldier was willing to fight to the bitter end when enemy troops besieged the city. This was all a result of the emperor's obsession with women! In the end, when the Chen Dynasty fell, Chen Shubao and the two concubines leapt into a well together. The Sui army captured Zhang Guifei and executed her to quell the fury of the people in Jiangdong. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" notes: "'Hua' represents wealth, beauty, and stunning looks. The obsession with beauty led to the downfall of the country, hence the term 'Hua Nie'."
The last emperor of the Qi Dynasty fell in love with a beautiful woman named Feng Xiaolian. Feng Xiaolian was not only beautiful, but also intelligent and talented, playing the pipa and excelling in singing and dancing. The emperor was extremely infatuated with her, granting her the title of Consort. He even selected thousands of beautiful palace maids to serve her, with each maid's attire costing thousands of gold coins. While the emperor was hunting, the Zhou Dynasty's army had already reached the borders, with urgent reports from the frontier of enemy forces surging like a tide. The emperor wanted to return to the palace, but Feng Xiaolian didn't want to leave and suggested that the emperor continue hunting. Surprisingly, the emperor followed her advice, missing the opportunity for battle, which led to the loss of Jinzhou City. Later, the Qi and Zhou armies clashed at Jinzhou City, and due to Feng Xiaolian, the emperor repeatedly missed opportunities, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country. The people of the Qi Dynasty still hold Feng Xiaolian responsible for this.
During the time when Prince Wuling of the Liang Dynasty was performing a sacrifice to the City God, a red snake suddenly coiled around the mouth of the sacrificial ox, which was seen as an ominous sign. According to ancient interpretations, this symbolized the wrath of dragons and snakes. In the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the sacrificial ox was injured during the suburban rites, and people believed this was a sign of heaven's displeasure, abandoning Duke Xuan. The "Five Elements Transmission" states: "When a monarch goes against the will of heaven, dragons and snakes will interfere." Although Prince Wuling claimed to be going for rescue, in reality, he was arrogant and conceited. His self-righteous attitude led to the rejection of sacrifices by heaven, leading to the consequences of defying heaven's will. Eventually, he was defeated by Emperor Yuan.
In the second year of Wuping of the Later Qi Dynasty, Binzhou offered a five-legged ox, which signaled another disaster. According to the "Hongfan Five Elements Transmission": "The matter of the ox symbolizes the palace." The emperor then launched grand construction projects in Xiandu Park, digging ponds, building mountains, and constructing palaces, indulging in excess. Just after these projects were completed, the country met its downfall.
In the sixth year of the Later Zhou Dynasty, a three-headed beast appeared in Yangwu, resembling a water buffalo with one head yellow, one head red, and one head black. The black buffalo fought with other buffalo for a long time, until the yellow buffalo ran over and killed the black buffalo, then ran into the river. This foreshadowed a disaster involving buffalo. Black was the color revered by the Zhou Dynasty, so the death of the black buffalo symbolized the fall of the Zhou Dynasty. Several years later, the Zhou Dynasty did indeed fall, and the Sui Dynasty unified the realm, with the Sui Dynasty's military flag in red and the soldiers' clothing in yellow.
In the early years of the Dali era, a cow with an extra hoof on each knee appeared on Dongshan Mountain. Later, the Sui Dynasty built its eastern capital, constructed the Great Wall, and dug canals.
In the third year of the Zhenming reign of the Chen Dynasty, the Sui army approached the river bank. Chen Houzhu casually said, "The Qi army has come three times, and the Zhou army has come twice, all of them defeated by us. What can they do?" The Shangshu Kong Fan said, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier that has historically separated the north and south. How could the northern army possibly cross the river? I have always worried about having too low a rank, but if they really cross the river, I could become a Grand Commandant!" Chen Houzhu was very pleased to hear this, so he called for singers and wine, indulging in endless poetry. This was a sign of his inner turmoil! At a critical moment of national survival, the fate of a nation can change in an instant, and both ruler and ministers should work tirelessly day and night. Yet, Chen Houzhu displayed no fear, and Kong Fan followed him in his folly. When even heaven took away his sanity, how could the country not fall? Chen eventually perished, and Kong Fan was also exiled.
Emperor Wenxuan of Qi once hosted a banquet on Dongshan Mountain, suddenly threw down his wine cup in anger, and decreed a western expedition, boasting about the strength of his army. But later, he wept to his ministers, saying, "I do not like this black attire." In the end, no troops were sent out. Wise observers believed the emperor was already losing his sanity, knowing that his empire would not last long. Eventually, the emperor fell ill, indulging in wine and pleasures, with a volatile temperament and quick temper, and died a few years later.
Emperor Wucheng was saddened by the death of Empress Dowager Ding, but he still wore a red official robe. Not long after, he ascended the Sannai Terrace and held a feast. The attendants brought him a white official robe, which greatly angered the Emperor, and he threw the white robe off the platform. Not long after, he died.
In the first year of Datong of the Liang Dynasty, rain and soil fell across the land. The following year, there was ash rain all over the world, with yellow ash. This signaled the arrival of yellow auspicious signs. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "Ignoring good advice is a sign of awareness. The appearance of abnormal yellow indicates the disaster of dragons and the misfortune of having no heirs. This is due to the suppression of the wise and the righteous path." The Emperor at that time considered himself intelligent and knowledgeable, hating those who were more excellent than him. He also believed in Buddhism, even willing to be a slave to others, which led to his suppression of the wise and the righteous path.
In January of the first year of the Dabao era, yellow sand fell from the sky. The following year, Emperor Jianwen dreamt of swallowing a mud pill. Not long after, he was deposed by Hou Jing, who suffocated him with a bag of mud, and his sons were also killed, fulfilling the omen of "no descendants"!
When Emperor Chen ruled, he dreamt of people wearing yellow clothes surrounding the city. Emperor Chen disliked this dream, so he cut down all the orange trees in the city. After the Sui Emperor received the abdication, everyone wore yellow clothes. Shortly after, the Sui army attacked and besieged the Chen Dynasty, fulfilling that dream.
In January of the second year of the Daxiang of the Later Zhou Dynasty, yellow soil fell from the sky and lasted for a long time. This mirrored the omens that appeared in the first year of Datong. The Emperor became increasingly incompetent and died a year later. By the time Emperor Jing came to power, he willingly abdicated. This was another fulfillment of "suppressing the wise and the righteous path, no heirs"!
In the second year of Kaihuang, there was a dust rain in the capital city. At that time, the emperor learned from the lesson of the Zhou Dynasty that the weakness of the feudal lords led to the fall of the dynasty, so he divided his sons and appointed them to govern different regions. After the omen of "losing territory" appeared, there appeared signs of "auspicious earth energy," yet, as a consequence, all of his sons conspired against him. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth rains, the people toil in vain." At that time, the capital was under construction, and later, the Renshou Palace was constructed; mountains were moved and valleys filled, and most of the laborers died from overwork.
In the first year of Taiqing in the Liang Dynasty, a woman from the Mo family in Danyang gave birth to a son with his eyes on the top of his head, the size of a two-year-old's. As soon as the child was born, he said, "I am the drought spirit; I cannot remain here." His mother said, "You have to ensure my safety." The spirit said, "There are people above me; how can I be free? Hurry and make a crimson hat, then everything will be fine." His mother didn't have time to make the hat, so she tied a red cloth strip on his head. After that, the drought lasted for two years, especially severe in Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. Many of Mo's neighbors were spared from disaster by wearing red items, but this remedy was ineffective elsewhere.
In the second year of Dabao, a five-year-old child named Yu Zanger climbed to the top of a high building on the southwest corner of the city gate at Jingkou and drummed the "Long River Terrace." The drum symbolized the military. At that time, Hou Jing was causing chaos in Jiangnan.
In the third year of Yongding in the Chen Dynasty, a man three zhang tall appeared on Mount Luofu, with a snow-white body and gorgeous clothes. Jing Fang divined that "the appearance of a giant signifies the fall of the dynasty." Two years later, the emperor died.
When Houzhu was the crown prince, a woman burst into the Eastern Palace shouting, "Bi Guozhu!" Later, when Houzhu took the throne, the Chen Dynasty quickly fell, fulfilling this omen.
In August of the third year of Zhide, a maidservant in Jiankang died and was buried for nine days, but then miraculously revived. A cowherd heard the commotion and unearthed her.
In the second year of the Zhenguan period, a boat was drifting downstream when someone suddenly exclaimed, "There will be chaos next year!" Everyone turned to see a dead infant on the boat, measuring two feet long and lacking a head. The following year, the Chen dynasty indeed fell. This incident truly fulfilled that saying.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads sharing one body. Later, the court was controlled by treacherous officials, with no distinction between upper and lower levels, which mirrored the child with two heads.
During the reign of the last emperor of Northern Qi, there was a monk who appeared to be mad. He would bow to crows and beat and scold monks. Crows are associated with the Zhou dynasty. Shortly after, Northern Qi was conquered by Northern Zhou, leading to the destruction of Buddhism.
In the third year of the Baoding era of Northern Zhou, a man gave birth to a boy whose reproductive organs were on his back, resembling a tail, and whose toes were like animal claws. Reproductive organs should not be on the back, yet they were, indicating a disruption of the balance of Yin and Yang; toes should not have claws, yet they did, a sign of impending violent events. At that time, Prince Jin Wuyan Hu was in power, waged wars everywhere, and secretly plotted to usurp the throne. It seemed as if heaven was warning that the order between ruler and subjects had been reversed, and violent disasters were about to occur. The emperor, upon seeing these omens, came to his senses, executed Prince Jin, and took control of the court himself, lived a frugal life, ultimately pacifying the Qi state and earning the title Gaozu. This truly turned disaster into fortune!
During the reign of Emperor Wu, there was a formidable martial artist who feigned madness and foolishness. He rushed to the doorstep of Prince Jin, Yuwen Hu, smashed a gourd, and said, "Your body is fine, but your son is in trouble!" At that time, Yuwen Hu was in power and was on his way to see the Empress Dowager, so the emperor ordered his execution. Soldiers were sent to arrest his sons, and they all poisoned themselves. The martial artist later begged for alms on the street, and when someone gave him some rice and wheat, he used a bag with no bottom to collect it, then laughed and said, "It's empty!" Shortly thereafter, the Northern Zhou dynasty met its end, Emperor Gaozu moved the capital, and Chang'an City became a ruin.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang era, an old man in Huozhou transformed into a fearsome beast.
In the seventh year, a monk in Xiangzhou turned into a snake, with its tail wrapped around a tree, striking itself, reaching over six meters in length.
In the fourth year of Renshou, a person towering several meters high appeared at Yingmen, with footprints measuring four and a half feet. That year, the emperor died.
In the first year of Daye, a man named Fang Huian from Yanmen had a mother who turned one hundred years old, with a two-inch-long horn growing from her forehead. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "A woman symbolizes yin; a horn symbolizes soldiers. The correspondence of the lower to the upper." Later, chaos indeed ensued, with the Turkic army surrounding the emperor at Yanmen.
In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village in Yanmen gave birth to a fleshy egg the size of a large melon, which she buried. Several days later, the place where the egg was buried was enveloped in mist, accompanied by a thunderous sound from below, and when people looked, they found a cave, and the egg had vanished.
It is said that six years ago in Zhao County, a woman named Li Laiwang had a servant who gave birth to a peculiar creature the size of an egg. This was no ordinary matter, indicating that trouble was to come.
On the first day of the first month in the sixth year, in the morning, a thief suddenly appeared, dressed in white and holding incense and flowers, claiming to be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha! He ran to Jianguo Gate, grabbed the weapons of the guards, and was about to start a rebellion. Coincidentally, Prince Qi Yang Jian came across him and immediately killed him. Three years later, Yang Xuan rebelled again, besieging Luoyang with his troops, and was eventually defeated and killed.
In the eighth year, a person named Cheng Gong appeared, acting erratically and shouting, "The thieves are coming! The thieves are coming!" on the streets of the eastern capital. When the emperor heard this, he felt uneasy, believing it was a bad omen. Sure enough, the following year, Yang Xuan rebelled and besieged Luoyang.
By the twelfth year, Cheng Gong started shouting, "The thieves are coming once more," and at that time, Li Mi was nearing the eastern capital. Meng Rang set fire to Fengdu City and fled.
When he was nine years old, the emperor was in Gaoyang. In Tang County, there was a guy named Song Zixian who was particularly good at performing tricks. Every night, there were bright lights coming from his upstairs, and he could even create illusions of Buddha statues, claiming to be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Even more astonishing was that he had hung a large mirror in his hall, showing images of snakes, beasts, and humans painted on paper. When visitors came to see him, he would rotate the mirror to show them their future lives. If the image of a snake appeared in the mirror, Song Zixian would say, "This is your sin, quickly recite more scriptures!" Then he would make the person bow again, and this time the mirror would reflect the image of a person. This ruse was quite effective, and people near and far believed it, with thousands of people coming to visit him every day. Song Zixian secretly planned a rebellion, intending to hold a grand Buddha event and then take the opportunity to attack the emperor's carriage. Unfortunately, the scheme was uncovered, and General Yangyang led troops to arrest him. When they arrived at Song Zixian's house at night, they found that the area around his house was surrounded by fire pits, and the soldiers were too afraid to approach. General Yangyang said, "There were no fire pits here before, it must be some kind of sorcery!" When they entered to investigate, the fire pits had disappeared! So they arrested Song Zixian and killed him, impl
In November 506 AD, the capital Jiankang experienced an earthquake, which impacted the five elements: wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "The power of the ministers is strong, and they are about to cause chaos and harm the country." Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" also records: "The earthquake occurred in November of winter, indicating that there will be famine and death in the area." As foretold, at that time, the Governor of Jiaozhou, Li Kai, rebelled. The following year, frost came, crops failed, and the people faced starvation.
In January 508 AD, Jiankang was struck by another earthquake. This time, the Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, also rebelled. In December 510 AD, Jiankang was hit by another earthquake. "Yi Fei Hou" states: "An earthquake in winter, with sound, occurring in December, indicates that there will be war in the area." At that time, the emperor commanded Prince Cong of Yuzhang to lead troops northward.
In January 512 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. "Yi Fei Hou" says: "An earthquake in spring indicates that this year will not be fruitful." That year, there was a flood, and the common people faced starvation. In November 515 AD, Jiankang was struck by another earthquake. "Yi Fei Hou" says: "An earthquake in November indicates that there will be major funerals and famine in the area." The following year, frost disaster struck, and the people had no harvest, leading to widespread hunger.
In October 517 AD, Jiankang was hit by an earthquake. That year, bandits were rampant in the Kuaiji region. In February 519 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. That year, Li Ben of Jiaozhou rebelled, driving away the Governor Xiao Zi. In the intercalary month of January 521 AD, Jiankang was struck by an earthquake. Li Ben proclaimed himself emperor and set up a fully-fledged bureaucratic system.
In April 526 AD, Jiankang was hit by another earthquake. At that time, Hou Jing proclaimed himself Grand Chancellor and ignored the emperor's orders. That month, the emperor passed away from grief. In May 550 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. Wang Lin in Yingzhou enthroned Xiao Zhuang as emperor.
In November 556 AD, Jiankang was struck by an earthquake. Chen Baoying led a rebellion in Minzhong. In January 557 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing abused their power, confirming the ominous predictions associated with the earthquakes.
In November of the year 530 AD, the Xihe region sank and caught fire. The "Yi Yao Zhan" says: "The earth sinking foretells the death of the monarch." Zu Xun explained: "Fire is yang energy, earth is yin energy; when the earth is on fire, it means yin energy is invaded by yang energy, suggesting that subordinates are usurping power, and will ultimately face disgrace." At that time, Gao Huan served as the prime minister of Northern Qi, while Hou Jing had control over the Henan region. Two years later, Gao Huan indeed passed away, and Hou Jing immediately rebelled, ultimately facing disgrace.
In the year 532 AD, there was an earthquake in Binzhou. This fulfilled the omen of He Shi Kai's tyranny.
In the second year of the Jian De reign of the Later Zhou Dynasty, earthquakes were particularly frequent in Liangzhou. Many city walls and houses collapsed, the ground split open in several places, and springs gushed out. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao Zhan": "When the earth cracks, the Qiang and Yi tribes rebel." At that time, the Tuyuhun frequently raided the Hexi region.
In May of the fourteenth year of the Kaihuang reign, the capital city also experienced an earthquake. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth shakes in the fifth month of summer, people will flee." That year, there was a famine in Guanzhong, so the emperor ordered the common people to travel to Guandong to beg for food.
In April of the second year of the Renshou reign, earthquakes occurred in Qizhou and Yongzhou. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth shakes in the fourth month of summer, the crops will fail to ripen, and people will suffer from hunger."
In the third year, Guishan Mountain in Liangzhou collapsed. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" wrote: "When the mountain crumbles, it signifies betrayal and a disregard for authority." Liangzhou was part of the Han Dynasty's territory. The following year, Prince Liang rebelled.
In the seventh year of the Daye reign, Dizhu Mountain collapsed, blocking the Yellow River, causing the river water to flow back and reverse for several tens of miles. Liu Xiang said in the "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan": "Mountains represent the ruler; water represents the yin, and the people. Heaven warns that if the ruler's power is too heavy, it will collapse, and the people will not have a place to live." At that time, the emperor was raising troops to attack Liaodong, and the common people could no longer endure such heavy burdens, resulting in widespread discontent and rebellion. The emperor did not understand, and in the end, the country perished.
"The Book of the Five Elements of the Hongfan" also says: "If the emperor is not in a position of power, it is called not established. The guilt is hidden, the punishment is often severe, and the power is weak. When there are shooting monsters, there are dragon and snake sins, and there are horse disasters."
In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era, in October, the sky was overcast for an extended period without a drop of rain. Liu Xiang said: "When the king loses his center, the subjects are strong and obscure the brightness of the king, then it is cloudy." At that time, Empress Dugu secretly plotted against Crown Prince Yong with Yang Su, and deposed him, demoting him to a commoner.
In the year 550 AD, Gao Huan of the Eastern Wei Dynasty was in power and personally led troops to attack the army of the Western Wei Dynasty at Yubi. In November of that year, Gao Huan fell ill and ordered the troops to withdraw. The soldiers were terrified, saying: "Wei Xiaokuan of the Western Wei Dynasty used a specially made powerful crossbow to shoot the prime minister (referring to Gao Huan)." The Western Wei Dynasty also ordered the entire country to say: "Once the powerful crossbow is fired, Gao Huan will die." Gao Huan was very angry when he heard this news, his illness worsened, and he believed it was the work of evil forces. "The Book of the Five Elements of the Hongfan" says: "Shooting symbolizes war and chaos, and when the energy goes against heaven, chaos will arise." Gao Huan pressed on, while the palace general Cao Weizu advised: "Your Majesty, now the negative energy is overpowering the positive energy, which is unfavorable to the enemy but beneficial to yourself." Gao Huan did not listen, stayed in place for fifty days, fought many battles and all failed. He also listened to some unreliable advice, cut off the Fen River in the north of the city, and built an earthen mound. The terrain was steep, rising over a thousand feet, and as a result, the project was left unfinished, resulting in the deaths of seventy thousand people. All of this was because he went against the will of heaven! That year, Gao Huan died.
In the second year, Wang Sizheng led a rebellion in Henan. After Gao Huan's death, the Eastern Wei's last ruler returned from Bingzhou to Ye City. While passing through Bagong Ridge at night, he sang and walked. Suddenly, someone went mad. The emperor assumed he was under the spell of a fox spirit, so the man hid in the bushes and began shooting arrows. He wounded several people and almost hit the emperor. The emperor caught the man and killed him. At that moment, the man was completely unaware of his actions. The act of fox spirits misleading people is a wicked deed. At that time, the emperor did not care about state affairs, only indulging in singing, drinking, and reveling with palace maids and eunuchs. At times, he would even don tattered clothes and pretend to be a beggar for amusement. These were all ominous signs of malevolent spirits. Someone shot arrows again, which foretold war and chaos. Before long, Eastern Wei fell.
In the year 502 AD, the second year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, a dragon was seen battling in the Tan River of Beiliangzhou, with mist rising for miles around. This was an omen of dragon and snake mischief. According to the "Book of Changes," "Dragons are difficult creatures to deal with. Dragons symbolize heaven and rulers. When heaven suffers, the ruler's authority is jeopardized, and the dragon will also be harmed. Dragon fights symbolize war." Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" states, "When people's hearts are uneasy, there will be dragon fights and monsters." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang had just ascended the throne, leading to widespread panic across the realm due to a rebellion by Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian.
In June of the fifth year of the common era, a dragon was seen fighting at the King's Pond in Qu'a, then headed west to Jianling City. Wherever it passed, trees were broken, with broken lengths of several dozen zhangs. This was similar to the strange phenomena that occurred in the second year of Tianjian. The broken trees near Jianling City indicated that the country was destined for war and the royal tombs would face destruction. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with scholarly pursuits, neglecting agriculture and military affairs, causing the country to become frivolous and negligent. The king's virtue had declined, leading to the appearance of the dragon's signs, yet the emperor remained oblivious. In the first year of Taiqing, another dragon was seen fighting in the waters of Lizhou. Waves crashed and clouds gathered, and people saw a white dragon running south with a black dragon closely following. That year, Hou Jing surrendered with his troops, and the emperor accepted him without precautions, instilling fear across the nation. Soon after, war broke out, and the emperor died from excessive worry.
In the tenth year of Daitong, in the summer, a dragon fell into a family's well in Yanling after being struck by lightning. The next morning, people found that the dragon was roughly the size of a donkey. Some attempted to kill it with a spear, but suddenly huge snakes appeared in the yard and house, each as thick as several hundred hu. The family members panicked and fled. The "Hongfan Five Elements Biography" states: "Dragons are symbols of yang and nobility. They should be in the sky or on the ground, not in common people's towns, houses, and families. Wells symbolize deep places, and the princes will encounter disasters of being imprisoned, caused by the emperor's lack of virtue." Later, Hou Jing did rebel and imprisoned and killed Emperor Jianwen in the wine cellar, leading to the tragic imprisonment and deaths of royal family members and nobles.
In the eleventh year of Taijian, in January, a dragon was spotted in a pond in South Yanzhou, similar to the strange signs that appeared in the tenth year of Daitong of the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the last emperor took the throne, indulging in luxury, neglecting state affairs, and acting recklessly. This ultimately led to the downfall of the country and his own imprisonment.
In the first year of the Wu Ding era of Eastern Wei, a large snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, Li, the wife of Gao Zhongmi, the governor of Beiyu Province, was both intelligent and beautiful. The Crown Prince Gao Cheng was very fond of her, causing unease for Gao Zhongmi. He then rebelled using Wulao as a base, secretly colluding with Western Wei, and a major battle broke out in Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) was forced into a corner by the Western Wei army and barely escaped, with several thousand people dead.
In the ninth year of Tianbao in Hou Qi, a seven to eight zhang long dragon appeared in the prefecture yamen of Qizhou, reminiscent of the phenomenon that occurred in the tenth year of Datong. At that time, the Princes of Changshan and Guangling had great power, but the emperor did not want to suppress them. The next year, the emperor passed away, and Crown Prince Yin ascended to the throne. Prince of Changshan Xiao Yan indeed deposed the emperor, imprisoned, and killed him.
In the first year of Heqing, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou! Fortune tellers claimed this was reminiscent of the events in the ninth year of Tianbao. Before this, Ping Qin Prince Gao Guiyan followed the will of Emperor Zhao to appoint Prince Gao Bainian as the heir. However, Gao Guiyan appointed Prince Gao Zhan, who would later become Emperor Wucheng. Gao Bainian was deposed as the Prince of Leling and was eventually imprisoned and killed. Ah, the struggle for power is so cruel!
In the fourth year of Tiantong, someone in Guixiang cut down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon with a broken leg, dead in the tree hole. Everyone at the time said this was a sign of wood virtue, as dragons symbolize monarchs. A dead dragon in a dead tree is an ill omen, and indeed, Emperor Wucheng passed away that year. This truly proves the old saying, "Heaven has unpredictable changes!"
In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in a well in Handan, with vibrant dragon energy shooting up into the sky! In a Buddhist temple in Jijun, a dragon also appeared in a dried well! The fortune teller said this was similar to what happened in the first year of Heqing. Later, the last emperor, Gao Wei, surrendered to Northern Zhou, and eventually was killed. Alas, this really illustrates the saying, "what rises must fall"!
In the seventh year of the Wuping era, at the foot of Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou, a red snake and a black snake appeared, fighting for several days until the red snake eventually died. Red is the symbol color of the Qi State, while black is the symbol color of the Zhou State. The death of one snake symbolizes impending doom! Later, the emperor relied on a treacherous minister and fought a major battle with the Northern Zhou army in Jinzhou. He even handed over the army to the treacherous minister Gao Anagong, who ended up surrendering to the enemy, which led to his own downfall. Eventually, the emperor was ultimately captured by the Northern Zhou forces.
King Gaoyan of Langye dismantled a white horse stupa in the Northern Palace, originally constructed during the Stone Zhao period. As a result, the appearance of a giant white snake several zhang long occurred, slithering around before disappearing. At that time, King Gaoyan was known for his ruthlessness and did not consider the consequences of his actions, failing to heed the warning of this strange phenomenon, ultimately resulting in his downfall.
In the fifth year of the Jiande era during the Later Zhou dynasty, a black dragon fell dead in Bozhou. The dragon is a symbol of the monarch, and black is the symbol color of the Zhou dynasty. The dragon's death signaled impending disaster! At that time, the crown prince was inept, and the emperor was very worried. Upright ministers such as Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the crown prince, but the emperor ignored their pleas. Two years later, the emperor died, the crown prince ascended to the throne, and ruthlessly executed the Prince of Qi and Xiaobo, ultimately resulting in the country's demise.
In the fourth year of Renshou, a dragon emerged from the well of the governor's office in Daizhou! The dragon transformed into an iron horse and armored soldiers, bending bows and preparing to shoot arrows. The appearance of the iron horse foreshadowed a calamity involving horses; bending bows and shooting arrows foreshadowed demonic disturbances and wars among the vassals, ultimately leading to imprisonment. At that time, Prince Gao Liang of Han was secretly plotting a rebellion, so this served as a divine warning! Gao Liang disregarded the warning, eventually rebelling, leading to his demotion to commoner status, and was imprisoned for several years before his death.
Hou Jing proclaimed himself emperor in Jiangnan. Every time he went to battle, if his white horse held its head high and neighed, prancing about, he would surely win; but if the horse kept its head down, he would surely lose. One time in Xizhou, his white horse lay down and refused to get up. Despite begging and beating, the horse remained still. This was a bad omen, as the horse experiencing difficulties indicated impending misfortune. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "The horse is a symbol of the army. If a general encounters war, the horse will exhibit abnormalities." In that battle, Hou Jing suffered a disastrous defeat.
In the fifth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, horses in Hengzhou began to grow horns. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" mentions: "Horse horns are also a sign of war, foretelling failure." During that time, Emperor Chen Xuan sent Wu Mingche to lead troops against the Zhou Dynasty in Luoyang. After years of fighting with significant losses, Wu Mingche was eventually captured by the Zhou Dynasty army.
During the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi Dynasty, there was a horse in Guangzong County with a horn growing between its ears, looking like a sheep's tail. According to the "Jingfang Yichuan": "When the emperor personally leads troops into battle, the horse will grow a horn." Four years later, the Khitan people invaded the border, and Emperor Wenxuan personally led the army into battle.
In the fourth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty, many horses in Taiyuan died, angering the emperor who sent people to investigate. The stable manager reported: "Every night, the horses in the stable scare themselves for no reason, leading to their deaths." The emperor then had a wizard look into it. The wizard, aware of the emperor's plan to attack Liaodong, went along with it and said: "The late emperor sent Yang Su and Shi Wansui to attack Liaodong with phantom troops!" Delighted, the emperor released the horse caretaker. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Going against the will of heaven led to the mass deaths of horses." During that time, the emperor toured the country every year, traveling from the north to the Great Wall and from the west to Qumo, causing great suffering among the people. Heaven warned him that all the horses in the stable had died, and he should stop wandering around aimlessly. The emperor did not listen, ultimately leading to chaos in the realm.
In the eleventh year of Daye, the three counties of Henan, Fufeng, and another all had horses whose horns were several inches long, which was similar to the situation during the Tianbao era. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "Horses with long horns are also a sign of war, foreshadowing failure." At that time, the emperor personally led his troops in campaigns against Goryeo for several years.
In the first year of Yining, in the Longma Stable at Jiangdu Palace, many horses died under mysterious circumstances, with hundreds perishing in just over ten days, mirroring the situation in the fourth year of Daye.
