During the third year of the Chengsheng era of the Liang Dynasty in June, a black, dragon-like mist suddenly appeared in the imperial palace, and that was definitely a bad omen! Black was the symbolic color of the Zhou Dynasty, and the appearance of this black mist in the imperial palace foreshadowed an impending attack by the Zhou army on the Liang Kingdom. As expected, that year the Liang Kingdom was destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty, and the emperor also died.
In the fifth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty in June, a black cloud appeared in the northwest direction, extending all the way to the ground, and then dispersed, resembling heaps of pigs, with more than ten heaps. According to the "Book of Hongfan Wuxing," this indicated that there would be a war outbreak in the northwest direction. At that time, General Wang Gui of the Later Zhou was stationed with his troops in the area of Mount Lu in Shanxi Province. The following year, Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, and Wu Mingche's army was completely wiped out.
In the first year of the Heqing era of the Later Qi Dynasty in April, the river in Wuyang County had also turned crystal clear. A man named Xiang Kai said, "The Yellow River symbolizes the princes. The water becoming clear means that the princes will become like emperors." Over a decade later, the Sui Dynasty indeed unified the country.
In the third year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty, the river in Wuyang County had also turned crystal clear, as clear as a mirror, able to reflect scenes several miles away. By the twelfth year of the Daye era, the river near Longmen also became clear. Two years later, the Tang Dynasty replaced the Sui Dynasty.
In the fourteenth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty in July, the Yangtze River turned a deep blood-red, stretching from Jiankang all the way to Jingzhou. During the Zhenming era, the Yangtze River turned red again, this time stretching from Fangzhou all the way to the sea. The "Book of Hongfan Wuxing" states, "Fire conquers water; water turning red indicates that the ruler's laws are harsh and punishments are cruel, hurting the nature of water. When the Five Elements change abnormally and the balance of Yin and Yang is disturbed, various abnormal phenomena appear, all of which are signs of the country's impending demise." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhan" also says, "When water turns into blood, there will be a war outbreak." At that time, the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty had just ascended to the throne and implemented a cruel and tyrannical rule, fulfilling this prophecy. Eventually, the Chen Dynasty was indeed overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.
In the fourth month of the second year of Zhengming, the river water in Nanpu, Yingzhou, turned as black as ink. Black water appeared in Guanzhong, and now the river water in Huainan has also turned black, indicating that the regions of Jingzhou and Yangzhou are about to fall under the control of Guanzhong.
In the first year of Daxiang in Houzhou, the water in the pond at Xianyang turned blood red, similar to what happened in the fourteenth year of Taijian in the Chen Dynasty. At that time, punishments in Houzhou were extremely harsh, and not long after, the country perished.
The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" also states: "If rulers do not consider the feelings of the people, it represents unenlightened rule, leading to frequent disasters and eventually the country's demise. Various disasters will follow, such as monsters appearing, epidemics spreading, livestock being affected, officials falling ill, and so on, all of which are ominous signs."
In the sixth year of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty, on the day of Wuxu in the eighth month, a strong wind blew, breaking many trees. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says: "When a strong wind blows from the east, the world is on the brink of chaos, and within three months, war will erupt." That year, the army of the Wei Kingdom indeed invaded Zhongli.
In the third year of Chengsheng, on the day of Guiwei in the eleventh month, the emperor reviewed the troops in the southern city, with a strong north wind howling and the sky darkening severely. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "This is a sign of the king's confusion!" At that time, the emperor had just pacified the Hou Jing rebellion, and the ministers in the court advised him to return to Danyang, but he did not listen, was overly suspicious, and committed many foolish acts, so the heavens warned him with a strong wind. That year, Western Wei perished.
In the sixth year of Tianjia in the Chen Dynasty, on the day of Guiwei in the seventh month, a strong wind blew from the southwest, blowing down the waiting towers in Lintai. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" believed this was the fault of the powerful ministers. At that time, the crown prince was still young, and Prince Xu of Ancheng seized all the power, and the emperor failed to intervene in time. The next year, the emperor died, the crown prince ascended the throne, and Prince Xu of Ancheng once again deposed the crown prince.
In the twelfth year of the Taijian era, in the sixth month of Renxu, a strong wind damaged the central gate of Gaomen. In the same year, in September, another strong wind arose in the evening, overturning houses and uprooting trees. This was a portent of Wang Shuling's tyranny in Shixing. During the Zhide period, a strong wind toppled the Zhuque Gate.
In the third year of Zhenming, in the sixth month of Dingsi, a strong wind blew in from the northwest, stirring up huge waves that flooded the Stone City and the Huai River. At that time, the Empress had favored Sima Shen, who ruthlessly executed loyal ministers and generals, while Shen Keqing, Shi Wenqing, Jiang Zong, Kong Fan, and others were arrogant and indulgent, suppressing dissent and plunging the government into chaos. This was a sign of heavenly punishment!
In the second year of the Heqiheqing era, a strong wind blew for thirty days before stopping. At that time, the emperor had just handed over power to treacherous officials, and his tyranny was growing. In the third year of Tiantong, in the fifth month, another strong wind blew, darkening the day, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted. The celestial signs warned once again, yet the emperor remained oblivious. The following year, the emperor died. The emperor ordered that all memorials had to first pass through the hands of treacherous officials before reaching him. Princes Rui of Zhaojun and Run of Fengyi believed that the treacherous officials were unfit for their positions in the palace, but they were falsely accused, and Prince Rui was ultimately executed. The treacherous official wielded complete control over life and death in the palace, but was later killed by Prince Yan of Langya.
In the third month of the seventh year, a strong wind blew from the northwest, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted, continuing for five days before finally ceasing. This was a portent of the tyranny of Gao Anagui, Luoti Po, and others.
In November of the 20th year of the Kaihuang era, a severe storm swept through Chang'an City, blowing off roofs and uprooting trees, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people in Qinzhou and Longzhou. The ground shook violently, causing even the bells at Jingcha Temple to ring three times by themselves, the doors of the Buddhist hall to unlock themselves, and bronze statues to walk out. This phenomenon of the bells and drums ringing on their own is attributed to "evil spirits." Yang Xiong once said that when an emperor is incompetent and misled by treacherous officials, only concerned with his reputation, strange occurrences like these "evil spirits" will appear. At that time, Empress Dugu was in power, Yang Su held immense power, and the emperor believed their slander, resulting in the dismissal of Gao Feng, the removal of Crown Prince Yang Yong, and the installation of Prince Jin, all mere facades! The emperor's confused mind and the heavy presence of yin energy were ominous signs of impending disaster! The vibrations of the metal statues and locks in the temple, caused by the shaking trees, are a manifestation of water overcoming metal. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "This all stems from losing the people's trust!" Gao Feng and Yang Yong were both dismissed without any wrongdoing; of course, this would lead to a loss of the people's hearts! In the second year of the Renshou era, a Hu man traveling through Xihai was riding a mule when suddenly a whirlwind lifted him and his cart a thousand feet high, only to crash down and break apart. Jing Fang's "Yizhuan" says, "When opinions are not unified, the highest virtue will be hidden, leading to strange winds like these." Two years later, Han Wang Liang plotted a rebellion in Bingzhou; wasn’t this incident with the cart and mule a sign of his rebellion? Flying high and falling down is a sign of ruin! It seemed as if the heavens were warning him: do not recklessly use military force, for it will ultimately lead to failure! Yet he ignored the warning. Ultimately, he was defeated in under a month.
In the second year of the Chengsheng era of the Liang Dynasty, in the tenth month on the day of Dingmao, a strong wind arose, turning day into night, and the land was engulfed in darkness. This was the work of the "night specter"! Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says: "When the feathers rise and the wind blows, the world will be dark, and the people will fall ill, or else thieves will run rampant." Three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by Western Wei.
In the third year of the Zhengming era of the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was covered with dark clouds, heavy fog, and a bitter smell in the air. Emperor Chen was inept, which was yet another omen of the "night specter"! The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "When the emperor loses the people's hearts, the ministers become powerful, and blind the emperor's eyes, such a scene of dark clouds will appear." At that time, the northern army was advancing towards the Yangtze River; Lü Zhuang and Ren Mannu came to seek peace, but Emperor Chen was swayed by the treacherous minister Kong Fan, was inept, and ultimately led to the country's demise.
In the winter of the fourth year of the Wuding era of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, dense fog covered the land for six days and nights, casting a shadow over the day. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "When the day is as dark as night, it is a sign of yin invading yang, a sign that ministers will invade the monarch." Sure enough, the next year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi plotted to kill the Grand General.
In the second year of the Zhou Daxiang, Yu Jiong was defeated in Xiangzhou and killed tens of thousands of his accomplices in Youyu Garden. Later, ghostly wails echoed repeatedly at night. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "The cry is a sign of death, the voice of demons approaching night. When ghosts cry at night, it is a sign of imminent death." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" also says: "When ghosts cry at night, the country will perish." Indeed, the following year, the entire noble class of the Zhou Dynasty was wiped out, and the Zhou Dynasty perished.
During the Renshou period, ghostly wails echoed repeatedly near the Renshou Palace and at the foot of the Great Wall of China. Shortly thereafter, Empress Xian and the Emperor both met their ends.
In the eighth year of the Daye era, Yang Xuangan rebelled in the Eastern Capital. The Shangshu Fan Zigai had tens of thousands of his followers slaughtered outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, there were frequent cries and moans heard, just like the previous omens. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "Crying is a sign of death, the sound of evil spirits as night falls. Ghosts cry at night, a sign of impending large-scale death." Later, Wang Shichong assassinated King Dong of Yue.
In the first year of Wuping in the Later Qi dynasty, the locust tree bloomed without bearing fruit. The locust tree symbolizes the position of the three highest officials. Blooming but not bearing fruit is a sign of decline. The following year, Lu Shangshu and Shi Kai were executed, Prince Hu Changren of Longdong, and Tai Bao Wang Yan of Langye were both killed, and Prime Minister Duan Shao also died.
During the reign of Chen Houzhu, there were Zhang Guifei and Kong Guifei, both of whom were very beautiful and considered enchanting women. The emperor was entranced by them and lavished his affection on them, often letting them serve him, drinking, writing poetry, and enjoying themselves together. Once they entered the palace, they often stayed inside for several weeks, indulging in unrestrained extravagance and luxury. The treasury was empty, the people were disgruntled, the soldiers became disheartened and undisciplined, and the enemies invaded, but no one was willing to fight to the bitter end. This is all because of the seduction of women causing the downfall of the country! When the Chen dynasty was destroyed, the emperor and his two concubines jumped into a well, and the Sui army captured Zhang Guifei and killed her to appease the elders of Jiangdong. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "Flowers symbolize glory, wealth, and appearance. Because of the chaos caused by beauty, this is referred to as 'Hua Nie'."
The emperor of the State of Qi had a particular fondness for a beautiful woman named Feng Xiaolian. This girl was intelligent and beautiful, was skilled at playing the pipa, and sang and danced with extraordinary skill. The emperor was utterly captivated by her and appointed her as a noble concubine. To please her, the emperor also selected thousands of beautiful girls to serve as her maids, spending lavishly on their attire. At this time, the army of the State of Zhou was already at the city gates, the border was in turmoil, with refugees flooding in everywhere. The emperor wanted to withdraw his troops and head back to the capital, but Feng Xiaolian was unwilling to leave and persuaded the emperor to continue the siege. The emperor believed her, which resulted in missing a critical opportunity, and the city of Jinzhou was breached. Later, the armies of Qi and Zhou clashed at Jinzhou. Due to Feng Xiaolian, the emperor missed several opportunities, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country. Even now, the people of Qi still hold him accountable.
When Prince Wuling of Liang was offering sacrifices to the city god, preparing to sacrifice a cow, a red snake suddenly appeared coiled around the cow's mouth. This was seen as an ominous sign, interpreted as dragons and snakes causing mischief. In the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the sacrificial cow's mouth was injured, and people believed that this was a sign that the heavens did not accept the sacrifice, rejecting Duke Xuan. The "Five Elements Chronicle" states: "If a ruler goes against the will of heaven, dragons and snakes will cause trouble." Though Prince Wuling of Liang claimed he was going to provide aid, he was actually proud and arrogant in his heart, which resulted in the heavens rejecting the sacrifice, fulfilling the omen of a ruler going against the will of heaven. As a result, he was defeated by Emperor Yuan.
Later, in the second year of Qi's Wuping reign, Bingzhou presented yet another ominous sign: a five-legged cow. The "Hongfan Five Elements Chronicle" states: "The significance of the cow will manifest in the palace." The emperor then mobilized a large number of troops and embarked on extensive construction in the Xian Du Garden, constructing ponds, hills, palaces, and pavilions with extravagant flair. Just as the project was completed, the country fell.
Later, during the sixth year of the reign of Zhou Jiande, a three-headed beast appeared in Yangwu, resembling a water buffalo with one head yellow, one head red, and one head black. The three-headed beast fought each other, with the yellow beast hitting the black beast from the side, causing the black beast to die, and the yellow beast also ran into the river. This was a portent of disaster akin to that of cattle. Black was the color revered by the Zhou dynasty, so the death of the black beast symbolized doom. Several years later, the Zhou dynasty indeed perished, and the Sui dynasty established its dominance. The Sui dynasty's military flag was red, and their military uniforms were yellow.
During the early years of the Sui dynasty, a cow with an additional hoof on each knee of its four legs appeared at Mount Heng. Later, the Sui dynasty built the Eastern Capital, constructed the Great Wall, and dug canals.
In the third year of the Zhenming reign of the Chen dynasty, the Sui army arrived at the banks of the Yangtze River. However, the last Chen ruler remained at ease and declared, "The Qi army has come three times, and the Zhou army twice, and we defeated them all. What can they possibly do?" At that time, the Minister of Works, Kong Fan, responded, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier that has always separated the north and south. How could the northern army possibly cross it? I have always worried about holding a low position, but if they do cross the river, I could be promoted to Grand Commandant!" The last Chen ruler was delighted to hear this and indulged in music, entertainment, drinking, and continuous poetry. This was truly a folly! At a critical moment of national survival, the fate of a nation can be determined in an instant, and both ruler and subjects should work tirelessly day and night. Yet, the last Chen ruler displayed no fear, and Kong Fan followed suit in reckless abandon. Even the heavens could not bear to watch, so how could the Chen dynasty not perish? As a result, the Chen dynasty was destroyed, and Kong Fan was exiled to a remote location.
Emperor Wenxuan of Qi once hosted a banquet at Dongshan. He suddenly threw down his wine cup, exploded in anger, issued a decree for a western expedition, and boasted about his powerful military. However, shortly after, he lamented to his ministers, "I shouldn't be wearing this black robe." In the end, no troops were sent out. Wise individuals thought that the emperor's mind was already disturbed, knowing that his reign would not last long. Later, Emperor Wenxuan of Qi did indeed fall ill, indulging in wine and pleasure, his temperament became erratic and irritable, and a few years later, he died.
Emperor Wucheng mourned the death of his mother, but he still wore red ceremonial robes. Not long after, he ascended the Sannai stage, held banquets, and enjoyed himself. The attendants brought him white ceremonial robes, but he exploded in anger and threw the clothes off the platform. Not long after, he died.
In the first year of the Daitong era of the Liang Dynasty, there was rain and mud. In the second year, there was rain and ash that had a yellowish tint. This color close to yellow portended disaster. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "Ignoring good omens indicates that someone knows but does not act. The appearance of a yellow omen foretells disasters, including calamities involving dragons and the loss of heirs. This is caused by obstructing the virtuous and abandoning the righteous path." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang considered himself intelligent and knowledgeable, detesting those stronger than himself. He also devoutly believed in Buddhism, even treating himself like a slave, which was a consequence of obstructing the virtuous and abandoning the righteous path.
In the first month of the first year of the Daobao era of the Liang Dynasty, there was rain and yellow sand. In the second year, Emperor Jianwen dreamt of eating soil. Shortly after, he was deposed by Hou Jing, crushed to death under sandbags, and his sons were also killed, fulfilling the prophecy of no descendants.
During the reign of the last emperor of Chen, he dreamt of people wearing yellow robes surrounding the city. Disturbed by this dream, he had all the orange trees in the city cut down. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty declared himself emperor, the court officials and everyone in the court donned yellow robes. Not long after, the Sui army attacked the Chen Dynasty, confirming the premonitions of the last emperor of Chen.
In the second year of the Later Zhou dynasty, in the first month, there was a strange phenomenon of yellow soil rain falling from the sky, which eventually ceased after some time. This was reminiscent of a similar event in the first year of Datong, both being strange celestial phenomena. At that time, the emperor had become profoundly incompetent and soon passed away. When Emperor Jing succeeded to the throne, he voluntarily abdicated, a clear indication that the nation’s fortunes were dwindling!
In the second year of Kaihuang, the capital also experienced soil rain. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui learned from the lesson of the weakness of the Later Zhou vassals that led to the dynasty's downfall, so he enfeoffed his sons to different regions and allowed them to hold positions of power. The occurrence of this strange phenomenon foreshadowed impending turmoil, and indeed, later these princes rebelled one after another. Jing Fang once said in "Yi Fei Hou": "When yellow soil falls from the sky, the people will toil hard but not achieve good results." At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui was busy building palaces and later built the Palace of Ren Shou, engaging in large-scale construction projects. Mountains were leveled, valleys were filled, and more than half of the craftsmen perished from overwork.
In the first year of Taiqing in the Liang Dynasty, a woman from the Mo family in Danyang gave birth to a baby boy with eyes on the top of his head, and his eyes were as big as a two-year-old child's face. As soon as he was born, he spoke: "I can't stay here!" His mother said, "You have to let me live first!" The ghost of drought said, "There are officials above me in charge, I can't just do as I please. Quick, make a red hat, and everything will be alright." His mother didn't have time to make a hat, so she tied a red cloth strip around the child's head. Since then, the drought persisted for two years, and the disasters in Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou were especially severe. Many of the Mo family's neighbors used red cloth strips to ward off the calamity, and it worked well, but it was not effective when others tried to imitate it.
In the second year of Dabao, a five-year-old boy in Jingkou climbed to the top of a tall building on the southwest corner of the city, beating a drum to mimic the sound of the Yangtze River's waves. The drumming symbolized impending conflict. At that time, it was when Hou Jing was causing chaos in Jiangnan.
In the third year of the Chen Dynasty, a man about 30 feet tall appeared on Mount Luofu, dressed in pure white and wearing gorgeous clothes. Jing Fang's divination said, "The appearance of a giant signifies the downfall of the country." Two years later, the emperor died.
When Chen Houzhu was the crown prince, a woman broke into the Eastern Palace shouting, "The ruler of Bi Guo!" Eventually, Chen Houzhu ascended the throne, leading to the downfall of the Chen Dynasty, fulfilling this prophecy.
In the third year of the Zhide era in August, a maidservant from a family in Jiankang died and was buried for nine days, but miraculously revived! A cowherd heard some noise and dug her out.
In the second year of the Zhenming era, a ship was launched, and suddenly someone heard saying, "Next year will be chaotic!" People looked and found a dead infant on the ship, two feet long and without a head. The Chen Dynasty fell the following year.
During the Tianbao era of the Qi Dynasty, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads sharing one body. Subsequently, the court was controlled by treacherous villains, where social ranks were blurred, reflecting the chaotic situation in the court.
When Chen Houzhu was in power, there was a monk who appeared deranged, bowing to crows and scolding monks. The crow, being black, symbolized the Zhou Dynasty. Shortly after, the Qi Dynasty fell to the Zhou Dynasty, and Buddhism was suppressed.
In the third year of the Baoding era of the Later Zhou Dynasty, a woman gave birth to a boy with a penis on his back like a tail and toes resembling animal claws. The penis should not grow on the back, and the toes should not have claws, signifying an inversion of yin and yang, the disorder between ruler and subjects, and the disaster of usurpation. At that time, Prince Jin Yuwen Hu seized power and plotted to usurp the throne. The child's peculiar condition served as a divine warning: the relationship between ruler and subjects had been reversed, and a cruel struggle was about to occur. The emperor understood the divine will after seeing this child, so he executed Yuwen Hu, handled state affairs personally, practiced frugality, pacified the Qi state, and was revered as the founding emperor. This truly turned disaster into fortune!
In the time of Emperor Wu, there was a strong man who practiced martial arts. He acted like he was crazy, grabbed a gourd, and rushed to Yuwen Hu's doorstep, smashed the gourd, and shouted, "You’re alright, Yuwen Hu, but your sons are in big trouble!" Back then, Yuwen Hu was in power and went to visit the Empress Dowager, but was killed by the Emperor. The Emperor ordered Yuwen Hu's sons to be arrested, and they all took poison to end their lives. The strong man later went begging in the market, and when people handed him food, he used a bag with no bottom to collect it, laughing and saying, "It's not filling up!" Before long, the Zhou dynasty fell, the Emperor moved the capital, and Chang'an turned into ruins.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang period, an old man in Huozhou transformed into a fierce beast. In the seventh year, a monk from Xiangzhou transformed into a snake, wrapping its tail around a tree and whipping itself, measuring about two zhang. In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a person several zhang tall appeared at Yingmen, with footprints that were four feet five inches long. That year, the Emperor died.
In the first year of the Daye era, Fang Huian's mother from Yanmen, who was a century old, grew a horn on her forehead, two inches long. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "Women belong to Yin, horns belong to soldiers, the bottom reflects the top." After this, chaos broke out, and the Turkic army surrounded the Emperor's palace in Yanmen.
In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village in Yanmen gave birth to a meat egg as big as a dou. She buried the egg. A few days later, dark clouds gathered over the spot where she buried it, the ground shook, and a cave opened up, but the egg had vanished.
In the sixth year, a maid from the Li family in Zhaojun gave birth to something the size of a chicken egg. On the first day of the sixth year, a thief wearing a white training skirt and holding fragrant flowers claimed to be Maitreya Buddha reincarnated. He barged into Jianguo Gate, stole the guards' weapons, and tried to start a rebellion. Prince Qi, Yang Jian, ran into him and killed him. Three years later, Yang Xuangan rebelled, surrounded Luoyang with his troops, and was defeated and killed.
It is said that eight years ago, there was a guy named Cheng Gong, who was acting a bit crazy and running around Dongdu Street shouting "I'm going to rebel!" The emperor caught wind of this and was furious. As a result, the next year, Xuan Gan actually took up arms and surrounded Luoyang City. By the twelfth year, Cheng Gong was at it again, shouting "Rebel!" This time, Li Mi was closing in on Dongdu with his troops, while Meng Rang set Fengdu City ablaze and took off.
Nine years ago, the emperor resided in Gaoyang. There was a man from Tang County named Song Zixian, who was particularly adept at performing tricks. Every night, lights would be on in his upstairs room, where he performed tricks with Buddha statues and even claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya. He also hung a large mirror in the hall, with depictions of snakes, beasts, and humans on it. When someone came to visit him, he would rotate the mirror to reveal to them their appearance in the next life. If the image of a snake appeared in the mirror, Song Zixian would say, "You have committed serious sins; you should recite more scriptures!" and then have the person bow again, this time showing the image of a person in the mirror. People nearby believed it to be true, and thousands of people came to visit him every day. Later, Song Zixian secretly planned a rebellion, intending to hold a large Buddhist event and then seize the opportunity to attack the emperor's carriage. His plot was uncovered, and General Yangyang led troops to arrest him. When they arrived at his residence at night, they surrounded the house, where they only found a large fire pit, so the soldiers dared not enter. General Yangyang said, "There was no fire pit here before; it must be some sort of sorcery!" When they entered to investigate, the fire pit had vanished. Song Zixian was arrested and executed, leading to the involvement of over a thousand households. Later, there was a monk named Xiang Haiming, who claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha in Fufeng and secretly planned a rebellion. Those who followed him would have pleasant dreams. Therefore, everyone believed in him, and people in the Guanzhong region worshipped him as a saint. He rebelled and unexpectedly gathered tens of thousands of followers. Ultimately, he was defeated by the government forces. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Fei Hou": "Deceiving the public with false words, causing a loss of faith among the people, leading to deserted roads; within three years, there will be uprisings." From that point on, chaos erupted, and the roads were left deserted.
In the fifth year of the Liang Dynasty under Emperor Chaotian, in the eleventh month, an earthquake struck the capital city, affecting wood, metal, water, fire, and the land. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "Officials with strong power will create chaos and harm the world." Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Feihou," "If there is an earthquake in a certain place in November, the people there will suffer from hunger." At that time, the Governor of Jiaozhou, Li Kai, rebelled. The following year brought a devastating frost, leading to widespread famine.
In the third year of the Putong era, in the first month, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. The Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, led a rebellion with the people of Yizhou.
In the twelfth month of the sixth year, another earthquake occurred. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Feihou," "If there is an earthquake with sound in winter, happening in December, that place will face conflict." At that time, the Emperor ordered Prince Yong of Yuzhang to lead troops northward.
In January of the year 518 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou," "When the earth moves in spring, the year will not prosper." That year, there was also a major flood, causing widespread famine among the people.
In November of the year 516 AD, there was another earthquake in Jiankang. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states, "Earthquakes in November will lead to great losses and hunger in the city." The following year brought a devastating frost, and the common people suffered from hunger again.
In October of the year 518 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. That year, mountain bandits in the Kuaiji region rebelled.
In February of the year 521 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. That year, Li Ben of Jiaozhou rebelled and drove away the Governor Xiao Zi.
In the intercalary first month of the year 523 AD, there was an earthquake. Li Ben proclaimed himself emperor and appointed numerous officials.
In April of the year 549 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. At that time, Hou Jing proclaimed himself Grand Chancellor and withheld essential supplies from the Emperor. That month, the Emperor died in despair.
In May of the year 560 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. Wang Lin in Yingzhou enthroned Xiao Zhuang as emperor.
In November of the year 570 AD, there was an earthquake. Chen Baoying rebelled in the Minzhong region.
In January of the year 571 AD, there was an earthquake. This indicated the rise to power of Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing.
In November of the year 548 AD, the Xihe region experienced a collapse and caught fire. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" states: "The earth collapses, and its ruler perishes." Zu Xiong explained: "Fire represents yang energy; earth represents yin energy. When the earth burns, it means yin energy is destroyed, yang energy prevails, indicating that subordinates will usurp power and ultimately bring about their own downfall." At that time, Gao Huan was in power, and Hou Jing held power in Henan. Two years later, Gao Huan died as predicted, and Hou Jing rebelled and ultimately perished.
In the year 550 AD, there was an earthquake in Bingzhou. This was a sign of Wei Shikai's growing power.
In 581 AD, there were frequent earthquakes in Liangzhou, resulting in the collapse of many city walls and the emergence of springs from the ground. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" records: "The earth cracks, and the Qiang and Yi tribes are in rebellion." At that time, the Tuyuhun tribe frequently raided the Hexi region.
In May of the year 584 AD, there was an earthquake in the capital. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" records: "The earth shakes in the fifth month of summer, and people flee." That year, there was a famine in the Guanzhong region, and the emperor ordered the populace to move to the Guandong region in search of food.
In April of the year 586 AD, there were earthquakes in Qizhou and Yongzhou. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" records: "The earth shakes in the fourth month of summer, and the grains do not ripen, resulting in widespread famine."
In the year 588 AD, there was a landslide at Mount Gushan in Liangzhou. "Hong Fan's Five Elements Biography" records: "The collapse and scattering signify rebellion and disloyalty to the ruling class." Liangzhou is within the territory of the Han dynasty. The following year, Prince Liang of Han rebelled.
In the year 611 AD, Mount Dizhu collapsed, blocking the Yellow River, causing the river to backflow for miles. Liu Xiang in "Hong Fan's Five Elements Biography" said: "Mountains symbolize kings, while water represents yin energy and the common people. Heaven warns that if a king's power becomes too oppressive, there will be collapse, and the people will be displaced." At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was waging war against Liaodong, and the people were suffering, resulting in widespread discontent and rebellion. Yet, Emperor Yang of Sui remained oblivious, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Sui dynasty.
In the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it is also said: "If the emperor cannot achieve the ultimate, this is referred to as the inability to establish a stable rule. Its fault lies in incompetence, its punishment is long-term darkness, and its result is weakness. At this time, there will be the phenomenon of monster-hunting, chaos will arise from dragons and snakes, and there will be horse disasters." In October of the year 590 AD, it had not rained for a long time. Liu Xiang said: "If the ruler is immoral, and the ministers have strong power to deceive the monarch, there will be a long period of cloudy weather without rain." During that time, Empress Dugu and Yang Su secretly plotted against the Crown Prince Yang Yong, reducing him to the status of a commoner. In the year 550 AD, Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, Gao Huan, was in power and personally led the army to attack the army of Western Wei at Yubi. In November of that year, Gao Huan fell ill and decided to withdraw his troops. The soldiers were terrified and said: "Wei Xiaokuan used a specially made strong crossbow to kill the Prime Minister." Western Wei issued an order nationwide saying: "With one shot of the strong crossbow, the evil will perish on its own." Gao Huan was very angry after hearing this, and his condition worsened, which is likely what is referred to as "shooting monsters." The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Shooting is a symbol of military disaster, and if the energy is in conflict with the heavens, disaster will arise." On the march, General Cao Weizu in the palace advised Gao Huan: "Your Majesty, you are now going against the flow of energy, which is harmful to the guest army but beneficial to ourselves." Gao Huan did not listen, and the army stagnated for fifty days, facing repeated defeats. He again believed in those useless suggestions, cutting off the Fen River to the north of the city and building up earthen mounds. The terrain there was steep, over a thousand feet high, and the project was never completed, leading to the deaths of seventy thousand people. This illustrates the dire consequences of defying the will of heaven! Gao Huan died that year. The following year, Wang Sizheng caused disturbances in the Henan region.
Back in Wuping, the emperor made his way back to Ye City from Bingzhou alone, as he passed through Bagong Ridge, singing and walking at night. Suddenly, someone suddenly went mad, convinced that the emperor was under the spell of a fox spirit, hiding in the bushes and firing arrows. He wounded several people and nearly struck the emperor. The emperor seized him and had him executed on the spot. The man had no clue what he was doing at that moment. Claiming that foxes can bewitch people is just nonsense about demons and monsters. Back then, the emperor was completely indifferent to state affairs, only focused on singing, drinking, and enjoying himself with palace maids and eunuchs, even donning ragged clothes to beg and entertain himself on the streets. These were all bad omens! Someone shot at the emperor; this was a sign that disaster was looming. Before long, the country fell.
In the second year of the Liang Dynasty, a dragon was fighting in the Tan River in North Liangzhou, with mist rising and spreading for miles. This dragon fight was an omen of trouble caused by dragons and snakes. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "Dragons are fearsome beasts that are hard to handle. They symbolize the heavens and rulers. If disasters strike the heavens and the ruler's authority is compromised, the dragon will also suffer. Dragon fighting is a harbinger of war." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" also notes, "When people's hearts are unsettled, strange occurrences like dragon fights will emerge." At that point, the emperor had just taken the throne and faced rebellions from Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian, sparking widespread panic and hidden crises throughout the country.
In June in the fifth year of Emperor Putong’s reign, a dragon fought at Wangbei in Qu'e, Daliang City, then headed west to Jianling City. Along the dragon's path, trees were broken for dozens of zhang. This was reminiscent of an omen from the second year of Tianjian. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" notes that when a dragon passes through Jianling and trees are broken, it is a sign that the country will go to war and the imperial tomb will be destroyed. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with empty theories, neglecting agriculture and military affairs, leading to a demoralized army and lazy soldiers. The ruler's rule had problems, hence the dragon's strange behavior. Yet, the emperor remained completely oblivious. In the first year of Taiqing, another dragon fight occurred in the waters of Lizhou, amidst towering waves and swirling clouds. People saw a white dragon running south, closely followed by a black dragon. That year, Hou Jing surrendered with his troops, and the emperor accepted him unprepared, sparking widespread panic. Soon, chaos erupted, the emperor became overly anxious, and eventually died of depression.
In the summer of the tenth year of Datong, thunder suddenly struck at night, and a dragon fell into a well in a Yanling household! The next morning, the dragon was found, as big as a mule. Some people wanted to kill it with a spear, but to their dismay, many large snakes appeared in the courtyard and house, as large as a hundred-bushel boat! The whole family fled in fear. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" notes: "Dragons are yang creatures that symbolize nobility. They should be in the sky or on the ground, not in the villages or homes of ordinary folks. Wells represent deep places. If a dragon appears in a well, it could spell disaster for the princes, leading to imprisonment, all because of the emperor's folly." Later, Hou Jing rebelled and indeed imprisoned Emperor Jianwen in a wine cellar, leading to his death, and many royal princes and nobles were imprisoned to death.
In the eleventh year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, in January, a dragon appeared in Chizili, South Yanzhou, similar to the situation in the tenth year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the last emperor ascended the throne, but he was indulgent and ineffective, leading to the downfall of the country and his own imprisonment. In the first year of the Wuding era of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, a large snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, the beautiful and smart wife of Gao Zhongmi, the governor of Beiyu Province, caught the eye of the crown prince Gao Cheng. Gao Zhongmi, panicked, rebelled with Wulao City and secretly colluded with the Western Wei Dynasty, leading to a major battle at Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) almost got wiped out by the Western Wei army, barely escaping, with thousands of soldiers lost. In the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a dragon measuring seven to eight zhang long appeared in the main hall of Qizhou, similar to what had occurred in the tenth year of the Datong era. At that time, the Princes of Changshan and Changguang wielded significant power, and the emperor did not want to suppress them. The emperor died the following year, and the crown prince Yin ascended the throne. Changshan Prince Gao Yan indeed deposed the emperor, imprisoning him, which led to his death. In the first year of Heqing, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou, similar to what had occurred in the ninth year of Tianbao. Previously, Prince Ping Qin Gao Guiyan received an edict from Emperor Zhao to appoint Prince Gao Bai Nian as his successor. However, Gao Guiyan chose Prince Changguang Gao Zhan, who would later become Emperor Wucheng. Gao Bai Nian was deposed as the Prince of Leling and eventually imprisoned and killed. In the fourth year of Tiantong, someone in Guixiang chopped down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon with a broken leg, dead in the tree hollow. People believed that the dragon symbolized the monarch, and the death of the dragon and the withered tree were seen as ominous signs. That year, Emperor Wucheng died. In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in a well in Handan city, with vibrant dragon energy shooting up into the sky. A dragon also appeared in a dry well at a Buddhist temple in Jiju County, similar to what had occurred in the first year of Heqing. Later, the last emperor of Northern Qi, Gao Wei, surrendered to Northern Zhou and was ultimately killed.
In the seventh year of Wuping's reign, below Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou, there were two snakes, one red and one black, fighting for several days until the red snake ultimately perished. Red is the color of the Qi state, while black is the color of the Zhou state. The death of the red snake in their battle is a dire omen! Later, the emperor promoted deceitful courtiers, fought against the Zhou army in Jinzhou, and even entrusted the army to the treacherous Gao Anagong, who ended up surrendering to the enemy. This was a direct result of the emperor's negligence! Eventually, the emperor was captured by the Zhou army.
Prince Yan of Langye destroyed the Bai Ma Pagoda in the Northern Palace, originally constructed by Duke Cheng during the Shizhao period. Soon after, a white snake several zhang long was spotted coiling around before vanishing. At that time, Prince Yan of Langye was known for his tyranny and cruelty, acting without considering the consequences, and failed to heed warnings from omens, leading to a disaster.
In the fifth year of Jiande during the Later Zhou dynasty, a black dragon fell dead in Bozhou. The dragon is a symbol of kingship, and black is the color of the Zhou dynasty. The dragon's fall and subsequent death is an extremely ominous sign. At that time, the crown prince proved to be utterly incompetent, and the emperor was very worried. Upright ministers like Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the crown prince, but the emperor did not listen. Two years later, the emperor died, the crown prince ascended the throne, cruelly killed Prince Qi, Xiaobo, and others, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country.
In the fourth year of Renshou, a dragon appeared in the well of the Governor's Office in Daizhou. This dragon would transform into an iron horse or a soldier, bending a bow and aiming arrows to shoot people. The transformation into an iron horse foreshadowed a disaster involving horses, while the bending of the bow and shooting of arrows seemed like shooting demons, all indicating that there would be war among the feudal lords, ultimately leading to imprisonment. At that time, Prince Liang of Han was secretly plotting rebellion, so these signs appeared to warn him. Ignoring the warnings, Liang rebelled, was stripped of his status and reduced to commoner after his failure, and ultimately died in prison after several years.
Hou Jing declared himself emperor in Jiangnan. Every time he went to battle, if his white horse neighed and pawed the ground, he would win for sure; if it hung its head, he would definitely lose. In the battle in Xizhou, his white horse lay down and couldn't get up; despite Hou Jing bowing and whipping it, the horse remained motionless. This was a bad omen! "The Book of Hongfan Five Elements" says: "The horse is a symbol of the army. When enemies are about to invade, strange phenomena will appear with the horses." As a result, Hou Jing faced a crushing defeat.
In the fifth year of the Chen Taijian era, horses in Hengzhou began to grow horns. "The Book of Hongfan Five Elements" says: "Horses growing horns are a sign of war and a portent of destruction." At that time, Emperor Chen Xuan dispatched Wu Mingche to lead troops against the Zhou army at Lvliang. After many years of fighting, suffering heavy losses, Wu Mingche was finally captured by the Zhou army.
During the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi, a horse with horns appeared in Guangzong County. The horn grew between the horse's ears, shaped like a sheep's tail. This was quite an unusual sight! According to the writings of Jing Fang in "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor personally goes to battle, horses will grow horns." Sure enough, four years later, the Khitan people invaded the border, and Emperor Wen Xuan led his forces to confront them.
In the fourth year of the Daye era, many horses in the Taiyuan stables died, with over half of them perishing! When the emperor heard about this, he was furious and immediately sent people to investigate. The stablemaster reported, "Every night, the horses in the stables inexplicably died from fright." The emperor had no option but to summon a wizard for insight. The wizard quickly discerned that the emperor intended to attack Liaodong, so he aligned his words with the emperor's intentions, stating, "The late emperor once sent Yang Su and Shi Wansui to attack Liaodong, saying they were going to bring ghost soldiers!" When the emperor heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately released the person in charge of the stables. According to the "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography," it was the defiance of heavenly will that caused the horses to die in such large numbers. At that time, the emperor toured the realm each year, visiting locations near the Great Wall and occasionally traveling to Qiemo, significantly depleting the nation's resources. It seemed the heavens were warning him: don’t keep so many horses and stop wandering aimlessly! But the emperor refused to listen, eventually leading to chaos in the country.
In the eleventh year of the Daye era, in the counties of Henan and Fufeng, horses with long horns several inches long appeared. This mirrored the situation during the Tianbao period exactly! At that time, the emperor frequently led troops himself to attack Goguryeo.
In the first year of Yining, in Jiangdu Palace's Longma Stables, hundreds of horses inexplicably died within ten days! This situation was nearly identical to that of the fourth year of the Daye era!
