During the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, a major locust plague occurred, and even the leaves of the pine and cypress trees along the fences were completely devoured. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "This is the result of the locusts' mischief." Locust plagues, like fish, are part of the Wuxing divination framework. The "Yi Fei Hou" also states, "If rulers do not focus on moral education, only seek pleasure, heaven will use insect plagues as a warning. Insects are of no benefit to humans, but they eat everything." At that time, the court ministers all believed that being simple and inactive was the best, not seriously handling political affairs, and not valuing the suffering of the people, which led to the locust plague.
Later, in the eighth year of the Tianbao period of the Qi Dynasty, locust plagues occurred in six prefectures in Hebei and twelve in Henan. The common folk went to offer sacrifices to the locusts. The emperor asked the Weizhou governor, Cui Shuzan, "What's going on with this locust plague?" Cui Shuzan replied, "The 'Wuxing Records' states, 'If earthworks are not done in a timely manner, it will lead to locust plagues.' Now the court is building the Great Wall outside and constructing three platforms inside, which is why disaster has come." The emperor was furious when he heard this; he slapped Cui Shuzan's mouth, grabbed his hair, and smeared filth from the latrine on his head. The extravagant project continued unabated. In the ninth year, Shandong suffered another locust plague; in the tenth year, Youzhou also experienced a major locust plague. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "If rulers are tyrannical and oppressive, imposing relentless forced labor, raise troops and build cities and palaces, but lose the people's hearts, it will lead to insect plagues." At that time, the emperor was tyrannical and oppressive, confirming the words of the text.
Later, in the second year of Jiande in the Zhou Dynasty, a significant locust plague struck the Guanzhong region. In the sixteenth year of the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, Bingzhou experienced a locust plague. At that time, Prince Xiao of Qin, Yang Junke, withheld funds from the people and undertook extensive construction of his mansion. Eventually, he faced punishment from the emperor and lost his life.
During the late period of the Kaihuang era, there were three monks practicing asceticism in a field in Weinan. One evening, they saw a big pig approaching them, followed by over ten piglets. The big pig said to the monks, "A Lian, I want to attain the path of the sage, but I still have a life to repay." After speaking, it left. The "path of the sage" refers to the way a king should take; "owing a life" refers to being about to be killed by Yang Guang. The crown prince Yang Yong, who should have inherited the throne and walked the path of the king, was imprisoned and deposed.
During the late period of the Kaihuang era, there was a man staying overnight in someone else's house in Weinan. In the middle of the night, he heard two pigs talking. One pig said, "The end of the year is near; tomorrow the master will sacrifice me. Where can I go to hide?" The other pig replied, "You can go to your sister's house north of the water." So the two pigs left together. As dawn approached, the master found the pigs missing and suspected the guest staying overnight of stealing them, so he questioned him. The guest told the master about the pigs' conversation he overheard, and the master found the pigs as the guest described. Later, Shu King Yang Xiu offended the emperor, who wanted to kill him, but Princess Le Ping pleaded several times to save him. Several years later, the emperor died, fulfilling the prophecy of the "end of the year."
In the third year of the Chengsheng era of the Liang Dynasty, in June, a black mist resembling a dragon suddenly appeared in the palace, and that was definitely not a good omen! Black was the color revered by the Zhou Dynasty, and the emergence of this black mist in the Liang Dynasty's palace foreshadowed an attack by the Zhou Dynasty army. Sure enough, that year the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty, and the emperor died.
In the fifth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, in June, a large black cloud appeared in the northwest, extending to the ground and then dispersing, resembling a group of pigs, totaling over ten. As noted in the "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography," "This indicates that there will be a war breaking out in the northwest." At that time, the general of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Wang Gui, was stationed in Lüliang. The next year, Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, but his army was completely defeated.
In the fourth month of the first year of Heqing in the Later Qi Dynasty, the Yellow River and Ji River became crystal clear. Xiang Kai said: "The Yellow River symbolizes the vassals. The clear water indicates that the vassals will follow the emperor, heralding the unification of the world." Sure enough, over a decade later, the Sui Dynasty unified the whole country.
In the third year of Daye in the Sui Dynasty, the river in Wuyang County became clear enough to reflect like a mirror, and the riverbed could be seen for miles around. Twelve years later, clear river water was also seen in Longmen. Two years later, the Tang Dynasty was established.
In the seventh month of the fourteenth year of Taijian in the Chen Dynasty, the Yangtze River turned blood red, flowing from Jiankang all the way west to Jingzhou. During the Zhengming period, the Yangtze River turned blood red again, this time flowing from Fangzhou all the way east to the sea. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When the water turns red, it is a sign of fire disaster affecting water, indicating that the ruler's laws are harsh, and punishments are brutal, disturbing the natural order of water. The changes in the Five Elements are abnormal, the balance of yin and yang is disturbed, and various abnormal phenomena appear, all of which are signs of the country's impending demise." Jing Fang also said in "Yizhan": "When the water turns into blood, it indicates that war is about to break out." At that time, the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty ruled with cruelty and tyranny, fulfilling this omen. Later, the Chen Dynasty was indeed destroyed by the Sui Dynasty.
In the fourth month of the second year of Zhengming, the river in Nanpu, Yingzhou, turned as black as ink. Black water had appeared in the Guanzhong region before, and now the river water in Huainan also turned black, indicating that the Jingzhou and Yangzhou regions were about to be attacked by the Guanzhong region.
In the first month of the first year of Daxiang in the Later Zhou Dynasty, the water in the Xianyang Pool turned blood red. This mirrored the earlier event when the Yangtze River turned red in the fourteenth year of Taijian in the Chen Dynasty. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" records: "Not thinking thoroughly is a sign of lack of wisdom, resulting in continuous disasters, with punishments coming in the form of violent storms, ultimately leading to premature death. There will also be disasters such as Zhiye Yao (a type of calamity), Huanie (a type of misfortune), Niu Huo (cattle disasters), internal diseases, Huang Sheng (yellow disease), Huang Xiang (yellow auspice), and disasters affecting wood, metal, water, fire, and earth."
In the sixth year of Liang Chaotian's reign, on Wuxu day in the eighth month, a strong wind blew, breaking many trees. Jing Fang noted in "Yifeihou" that when a strong wind blows on Jiaori day, chaos will ensue. Within three months, war will definitely break out. That year, the Wei army indeed invaded Zhongli.
On the day of Guiwei in the third year of Chengsheng, the Emperor reviewed the troops in the southern city, and a huge north wind blew, plunging the land into darkness, resembling the end of days. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" said that this was seen as a sign of the emperor's incompetence and misrule. 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, suspected everything, reflecting his paranoia and mismanagement, so God used the strong wind to warn him. That year, Western Wei fell.
In the seventh month of the sixth year of Chentianjia, a strong wind blew from the southwest, blowing down the waiting tower in Lingtai. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" believed that this was a sign of ministerial overreach. At that time, the crown prince was quite young, and Prince Ancheng Chen Xu held power; the emperor failed to intervene in time. The next year, the emperor died, the crown prince succeeded, and Chen Xu directly deposed the crown prince.
In the twelfth year of Taijian, in the sixth month of Renxu, a strong wind toppled the middle gate of Gaomen. In the same year, in September, another strong wind blew at night, blowing down houses and breaking trees. This was a sign of the power of Prince Shuxi of Shixing.
During the Zhide period, a strong wind blew down the Vermilion Bird Gate.
In the third year of Zhenming, in the sixth month of Dingsi, a strong wind blew from the northwest, sending waves crashing into Shitoucheng and the Huai River. At that time, Emperor Hou trusted Sima Shen, who ruthlessly executed loyal ministers and generals. Ministers like Shen Keqing and Shi Wenqing also abused their power, while officials like Jiang Zong and Kong Fan indulged in luxury, leading to political chaos, which was yet another sign of divine wrath.
In the second year of the Hezuoqing era of Later Qi, a fierce wind began to blow and lasted for thirty days before stopping. At that time, the emperor had just handed over power to the treacherous officials He Shi and Shi Kai, who grew increasingly powerful and arrogant. In the third year of Tiantong, in May, another fierce wind blew, darkening the day and knocking down houses and trees. This was another warning from the heavens, but the emperor remained unaware. The following year, the emperor passed away. The emperor ordered that all memorials be reviewed by He Shi before they could be presented to him. Princes Zhao and Feng thought He Shi was too arrogant and unfit for a position in the palace, but He Shi falsely accused them. As a result, Prince Zhao was executed. He Shi had the power of life and death and was ultimately killed by Prince Langye, Xiao Yan. In the third month of the seventh year of the reign, a fierce wind blew in from the northwest, knocking down houses and trees before stopping after five days. This was a sign of the growing power of ministers like Gao Anagui and Lu Tipo.
In the 11th month of the 20th year of the Kaihuang era, a huge storm swept through the city of Chang'an, overturning houses, uprooting trees, and causing the deaths of thousands of people in Qinzhou and Longzhou. The ground shook violently, and the sound of drums began to resonate on their own. The bell at the Jingsha Temple rang three times by itself, the door lock of the Buddha hall opened automatically, and the bronze statue seemed to walk out of the hall. This phenomenon of self-ringing drums and bells is attributed to evil spirits. Yang Xiong once said that if those in power are incompetent, swayed by villains, and only have empty fame, such strange phenomena will occur. At that time, Empress Dowager Dugu was meddling in politics, Yang Su held great power, and the emperor was swayed by their slander, dismissed Gao Feng from his position, deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong, and instead enthroned Prince Jin, who had no real capabilities and was merely riding on his reputation. The emperor was in a state of confusion, a clear sign of overwhelming yin energy! The bronze statue and the door lock are made of metal; metal moves, wood shakes, which is the reaction of water overcoming metal. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Transmission" suggests that this all stems from "losing the people's trust." Gao Feng and Yang Yong were dismissed without any wrongdoing; naturally, this would lead to losing the people's trust.
In the second year of the Renshou era, a Hu man in Xihe was riding a mule on the road when suddenly a whirlwind lifted him up and a cart a thousand feet into the air, then dropped them both, shattering them. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says, "If everyone does not obey, morality is lost, strange phenomena will occur." Two years later, Prince Han Liang conspired to rebel in Bingzhou; isn't this a clear sign of rebellion, represented by the cart and the mule? Flying up and then falling down, isn't this a sign of destruction? Heaven was sending him a warning not to use military force recklessly, that it would ultimately lead to failure, but he ignored the warning. When Emperor Gaozu died, Prince Han Liang rebelled, garnering support from provinces and counties, amassing an army of tens of thousands. Within a month, he was decisively defeated.
In the second year of the Liang Dynasty, in October, a strong wind arose, cloaking the world in darkness. This was the doing of the "Night Demon"! Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "If there is a feathered sun wind and the world is dark, there will be a great epidemic or rampant banditry." Three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by Western Wei.
In the third year of Zhengming of the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was covered with dark clouds, heavy fog, with a bitter scent in the air. The Chen Emperor was incompetent, which was also a sign of the "Night Demon." "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "If the emperor is incompetent, the ministers become powerful, deceiving the emperor, and a scene of dark clouds will appear." At that time, the northern army had reached the Yangtze River, and Liuzhuang and Renmannu came to seek peace, but Chen Houzhu believed the words of the treacherous minister Kong Fan, leading to the eventual downfall of the state.
In the fourth year of Wuding of Eastern Wei, during winter, heavy fog covered the land for six days and nights, rendering the day as dark as night. "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "When day turns as dark as night, it signifies yin encroaching on yang, a warning of ministers undermining the ruler." Sure enough, the following year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi conspired to assassinate the Grand General.
In the second year of Zhou Daxiang, Yu Jiong was defeated in Xiangzhou, and tens of thousands of his followers were executed at Youyu Garden. Later, the place often heard the sound of ghostly wailing at night. "Fan Hong Wuxing Zhuan" states: "The sound of crying is a sign of the dead appearing, especially eerie at night. When ghosts cry at night, it foretells death." Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" also states: "When ghosts cry at night, the country will perish." The following year, the royal ministers of the Zhou Dynasty were all killed, and the Zhou Dynasty was also destroyed.
During the Renshou period, the sound of ghostly wailing was frequently heard at Renshou Palace and at the foot of the Great Wall. Shortly thereafter, both Empress Xian and the Emperor died at Renshou Palace.
In the eighth year of Daye, Yang Xuangan raised an army in rebellion in the Eastern Capital. The Shangshu Fan Zigai killed tens of thousands of his followers outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, cries of ghosts and moans were often heard from that place, just like the previous omens. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "The sound of crying is a sign of the dead appearing, and it becomes even more ominous as night falls. When ghosts cry at night, there will be signs of death." Later, Wang Shichong killed King Dong of Yue in Luoyang.
In the first year of Wuping in Later Qi, the locust trees bloomed but bore no fruit. The locust tree symbolizes the offices of the Three Excellencies. The next year, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, He Shi, and the King of Longdong, Hu Changren, as well as the Grand Guardian King Yan of Langya, were all killed, and the Left Prime Minister Duan Shao also died.
During the reign of the last ruler of the Chen dynasty, there were Zhang Guifei and Kong Guifei, both stunningly beautiful and regarded as enchanting beauties. The ruler was enchanted by them, showing them special favor, and they always accompanied him, immersing themselves in poetry, wine, and music. Once they entered the palace, they would remain inside for dozens of days, living in extravagance and excess, without any restraint. The treasury was empty, the people were discontented, and the soldiers were disloyal and disheartened. When the enemy attacked, no one was willing to fight to defend their homeland. All this was because women led the country astray! When the Chen dynasty perished, the last ruler and his two consorts jumped into a well to take their own lives. The Sui army captured Zhang Guifei and executed her to appease the elders of Jiangdong. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "Flowers symbolize wealth, beauty, and prosperity. The downfall brought about by women is referred to as 'Hua Nie'."
The Emperor of Qi was especially favored a concubine named Feng Xiaolian. Feng Xiaolian was beautiful, intelligent, was skilled at playing the pipa, and was an exceptional dancer. The Emperor was enchanted by her and appointed her as a noble concubine. He also selected many beautiful women to serve as her maids, and dressing one maid could cost thousands. At this time, the Zhou army had already reached the border of Qi, and the border was in urgent need of reinforcements, as Zhou soldiers were encroaching everywhere. The Emperor wanted to retreat to the capital, but Feng Xiaolian disagreed and persuaded the Emperor to continue the fight and surround the Zhou army. Surprisingly, the Emperor listened to her, which caused him to miss a crucial opportunity in battle, and the Zhou army breached the city of Jinzhou. Later, Qi engaged the Zhou army in battle outside Jinzhou, and due to Feng Xiaolian's influence, the Emperor missed several crucial opportunities, ultimately leading to Qi's destruction. To this day, the people of Qi continue to blame Feng Xiaolian.
When Prince Wuling of Liang sacrificed to the City God, he had to sacrifice a cow, but a red snake suddenly appeared entwined around the cow's mouth, which was considered a very bad omen! According to ancient books, this symbolized the mischief caused by dragons and snakes, a dangerous omen. Just like in the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the sacrificial cow had an injured mouth, and everyone believed that this was a sign that the heavens did not accept the sacrifice and abandoned Duke Xuan. The "Wuxing Zhuan" says, "When a king goes against the will of heaven, dragons and snakes will cause mischief." Although Prince Wuling claimed to be going to support the front line, he was actually arrogant and conceited, resulting in the heavens rejecting his sacrifice, fulfilling the omen of a king going against the will of heaven. As a result, he was indeed defeated by Emperor Yuan.
Later, in the second year of Wuping in Qi, the province of Bing presented a five-legged cow, which was also a bad omen! The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "An abnormal cow symbolizes disaster for the royal family." The Emperor then embarked on massive construction projects, digging ponds, building mountains, and constructing palaces in Xiandu Park, reaching an unprecedented level of extravagance. Just after the projects were completed, the nation fell.
Later, in the sixth year of the Jiande reign of the 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 engaged in a prolonged struggle with another buffalo, while the yellow buffalo charged in from the side. The black buffalo died, and the yellow buffalo also fell into the river. This was akin to a disaster involving buffalo! Black was the color revered by the Zhou Dynasty, and the death of the black buffalo symbolized doom. A few years later, the Zhou Dynasty indeed perished, and the Sui Dynasty rose to power, marked by a red flag and yellow military uniforms.
During the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty, a cow appeared at Mount Heng, each of its four legs adorned with a hoof on the knee. Afterwards, the Sui Dynasty built the Eastern Capital, constructed the Great Wall, and dug canals.
In the third year of the Zhenming period of the Chen Dynasty, the Sui army pressed against the Yangtze River. However, the last emperor of Chen remained unfazed, saying, "The Qi army has come three times, and the Zhou army twice, all defeated by us. What can they possibly do now?" The Minister of the Imperial Clan at the time, Kong Fan, said, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier, historically used to separate the north and south. How could the northern army possibly fly over here? I have always worried that my rank is too low, but if they really cross the river, I might just become a Grand Commandant!" The last emperor of Chen was delighted to hear this and called for singing girls, indulging in pleasure and continuously composing poetry. This was the greatest hidden peril in his mind! In the critical moments of the nation's survival, everything can change in an instant. Rulers and ministers should work day and night, yet the last emperor showed no fear, and Kong Fan recklessly followed his lead. Even heaven seemed to strip him of his sanity; how could they possibly survive? And so, the Chen Dynasty perished, and Kong Fan was exiled to a distant place.
Emperor Wenxuan of Qi once held a feast in Dongshan, suddenly threw down his wine cup, flew into a rage, and ordered a westward expedition, boasting about the strength of his army. However, shortly after, he cried to his ministers, "This black robe is not what I should be wearing." In the end, the westward expedition was ultimately abandoned. Those with insight believed the emperor had lost his mind, knowing that his reign would not last long. Later, Emperor Wenxuan of Qi really fell ill, succumbed to a life of excess, had a volatile temperament, and died a few years later.
Emperor Wucheng, grieving his mother's death, donned red court robes. Not long after, he ascended the San Tai platform and held a banquet. When a servant brought him a white court robe, he flew into a rage and hurled the robe aside. Shortly after, he died.
In the first year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, the land was drenched in soil. The following year, it rained gray, with a yellowish hue. This yellowish omen, Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "Ignoring good omens shows a lack of repentance. The appearance of an abnormal yellow color indicates that disaster is imminent; the nation will be left without heirs, all due to the disaster caused by obstructing the wise and abandoning the right path." The emperor at that time believed himself to be intelligent and knowledgeable, detesting those more talented than himself. He was also a devout Buddhist, treating himself as if he were a slave, which was the punishment for obstructing the wise and abandoning the right path!
In the first month of Daobao's first year, it rained yellow sand across the land. The following year, Emperor Jianwen dreamed of swallowing a lump of mud. Shortly after, he was deposed by Hou Jing, who had him killed by being crushed with earth bags, and his sons were also murdered, fulfilling the prophecy of having "no heirs."
During the reign of Emperor Houzhu of Chen, he dreamt of people wearing yellow clothes surrounding the city. Disturbed by this dream, he ordered all the orange trees in the city to be cut down. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty declared himself emperor, the entire court and populace donned yellow robes. Shortly after, the Sui army attacked and besieged the Chen Dynasty, this came to fruition as foretold in Emperor Houzhu's dream!
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Daizong of Later Zhou, in the first month, there was a yellow soil rain falling from the sky, which stopped after a while. This was similar to the phenomenon that occurred in the first year of the Datong era. At that time, the emperor had become so incompetent and mad that he died a year later, and Jingdi took the initiative to abdicate the throne. This fulfilled the omen of the country's demise and lack of successors.
In the second year of Kaihuang, there was a rain of soil in the capital. At that time, the emperor learned from the lesson of the weak vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty leading to the downfall of the country, so he divided his sons and granted them power by setting up their own administrative offices in different regions. The occurrence of soil rain was seen as a certain omen hidden within the land, and later these princes indeed rebelled. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "When soil rain falls from the sky, the people will toil and suffer without gaining any benefit." At that time, the construction of the capital was underway, followed by the construction of the Renshou Palace, involving extensive construction efforts, including moving mountains and filling valleys, leading to the death of a large number of craftsmen.
In the first year of Taiqing in the Liang Dynasty, a woman from the Mo family in Danyang gave birth to a baby boy whose eyes were on the top of his head, and his eyes were as big as those of a two-year-old child. As soon as the child was born, he declared: "I am the spirit of drought, I cannot stay here." The mother said, "You have to let me survive first." The spirit replied, "There are officials above who oversee matters; how can I just come and go as I please? Hurry up and make a top red hat, then everything will be fine." The mother did not have time to make the hat, so she tied a red cloth strip to the child's hair. After that, there were two consecutive years of drought and plague, with severe disasters in Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. Many people in the vicinity of the Mo family were saved from disaster by wearing red items, but those who tried to replicate this in other places did not achieve the same results.
In the second year of Dabao, a five-year-old boy in Jingkou climbed to the top of a tall building at the southwest corner of the city, playing a drum and performing "Changjiang Lei." The drum represented the military, and at that time, Hou Jing was leading a rebellion in the south of the Yangtze River.
During the third year of the Chen Dynasty's Yongding era, a man who was three zhang tall appeared. People saw him on Mount Luofu, dressed in splendid white garments. Jing Fang's divination said, "The appearance of a giant foretells the downfall of the country." Two years later, the emperor died.
When he was still a prince, a woman burst into the Eastern Palace shouting, "The ruler of the Bi Kingdom!" Later, the heir apparent ascended the throne and ultimately led to the country's destruction, fulfilling this omen.
In August of the third year of the Zhide era, a servant girl in Jiankang died and miraculously came back to life after being buried for nine days. A cowherd heard the commotion and dug her out.
In the second year of Zhenming, a ship sank, and suddenly someone heard saying, "Next year, there will be turmoil." People found a headless dead infant measuring two feet long. The following year, the Chen Dynasty was destroyed.
During the Tianbao era of the Qi Dynasty, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads sharing one body. Subsequently, corrupt officials controlled the government, and the lines between ranks became indistinct, fulfilling the omen of "two heads."
During the reign of the heir apparent, there was a monk who appeared deranged. He would bow to crows and beat and insult other monks. Crows are associated with the Zhou Dynasty. Not long after, the Qi Dynasty was annexed by the Zhou Dynasty, and Buddhism was banned.
In the third year of Baoding in the Later Zhou Dynasty, a man gave birth to a boy with a penis on his back, resembling a tail, and toes like animal claws. It is unnatural for a penis to be on the back, and the toes should not have claws, indicating the reversal of yin and yang, the disorder between ruler and subject, and the impending chaos. At that time, Prince Jin Wenzhu Hua, ambitious and power-hungry, wanted to usurp the throne. The strange signs on the child's body were like a warning from heaven: the relationship between ruler and subject had already become chaotic, and a disaster was about to happen! The emperor understood this omen, so he killed Wenzhu Hua, took charge of the government personally, practiced frugality, and pacified the Qi Kingdom, being honored as the founding ancestor, truly transforming peril into safety!
In the time of Emperor Wu, there was a strong man who practiced martial arts. He feigned madness, grabbed a gourd, and ran to the doorstep of Yuwen Hu's house, smashed the gourd to pieces, and shouted, "You're doing well, but your son is in big trouble!" At that time, Yuwen Hu was in control and was heading to see the Empress Dowager, but he was killed by the Emperor. The Emperor then sent soldiers to arrest Yuwen Hu's sons, and they all committed suicide by poison. The strong man later took to begging on the streets, and when someone handed him food, he used a bag with no bottom to catch it, laughing heartily as he did: "It's empty!" Before long, the Zhou Dynasty collapsed, the founding emperor moved the capital, and Chang'an City became a ruin.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang era, an old man in Huozhou turned into a ferocious beast.
In the seventh year, a monk in Xiangzhou turned into a snake, with a tail wrapped around a tree, whipping himself, measuring two zhang in length.
In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a person several zhang tall showed up at Yingmen, leaving footprints four feet five inches long. That year, the Emperor died.
In the first year of the Daye era, the mother of Fang Huian in Yanmen, who was one hundred, grew a horn on her forehead that was two inches long. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Women belong to yin, horns belong to soldiers, the lower part responds to the upper part." Soon after, chaos indeed ensued, and enemy troops surrounded the Emperor at Yanmen.
In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village in Yanmen gave birth to a meat egg the size of a bushel, which she buried. A few days later, the spot where she buried the egg was enveloped in clouds and mist, the ground trembled with thunder, a hole appeared, but the egg was gone.
In the sixth year, a maid in the Li family of Zhaojun gave birth to something the size of a chicken egg.
On the first day of the new year, a thief wearing a white practice skirt and holding incense claimed to be Maitreya Buddha reincarnated. He broke into Jiankou Gate, stole the weapons of the guards, and tried to stage 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 ultimately defeated and executed.
It is said that eight years ago, a man named Cheng Gong, behaving like a lunatic, shouted in the Eastern Capital that there were thieves planning a rebellion. The emperor was quite displeased to hear this. As a result, the next year, Xuan Gan actually revolted and surrounded Luoyang.
In the twelfth year, Cheng Gong began to shout "thief" once more! Li Mi led his troops close to the Eastern Capital, and Meng Rang set a fire in Fengdu City and then ran away.
In the ninth year, the emperor was in Gaoyang. In Tang County, there was a man named Song Zixian, renowned for his magic tricks. Every night, lights would emanate from his upstairs, and he could even summon Buddha statues, claiming to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha. He also hung a large mirror in the hall, featuring images of snakes, beasts, and human figures. When someone visited him, he would turn the mirror to show them their appearance in the next life. If the mirror showed a snake's shape, Song Zixian would declare, "This is the sin you've committed; you should recite more sutras!" Then he would make the person bow again, and the mirror would reflect the shape of a person. People nearby were convinced, and thousands flocked to see him each day. Eventually, Song Zixian secretly plotted a rebellion, planning to organize a large Buddhist event, then seize the chance to attack the emperor. His plan was uncovered, and General Yangyang led troops to apprehend him. When they arrived at his home that night, they surrounded the premises and only found a fire pit, so the soldiers hesitated to enter. General Yangyang remarked, "There was never a pit here before; it must be witchcraft!" When they entered to investigate, the fire pit had vanished! Thus, they apprehended Song Zixian and executed him, implicating over a thousand families. Later, a monk named Xiang Haiming emerged in Fufeng, claiming to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha and secretly plotting a rebellion. Those who followed him would be blessed with good dreams. As a result, he gained widespread belief, and the people in the Guanzhong region saw him as a great sage. He revolted, and astonishingly, he amassed tens of thousands of followers. Ultimately, he was defeated by the imperial forces. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "Deceptive words mislead the masses; people do not believe, and the roads have become deserted; within three years, someone will rise up in rebellion." Since then, chaos has erupted, and indeed, the roads have become deserted.
In the fifth year of the Liang Chaotian Reign, in the eleventh month, an earthquake occurred in the capital city, bringing disasters of the five elements: wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. According to the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," "The subordinates have strong power and are about to cause trouble, endangering the country." Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" notes: "In winter, if there is an earthquake in November, that place will suffer from famine." At that time, Jiaozhou's governor, Li Kai, rebelled. The following year, there was frost, resulting in a poor harvest and widespread famine.
In the first month of the third year of the Putong Reign, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. At that time, the Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, led a rebellion.
In the sixth year, in the twelfth month, another earthquake occurred. Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" states: "If there is a sound during a winter earthquake in December, there will be war in that place." At that time, the Emperor sent Prince Cong of Yuzhang to lead troops in a northern expedition.
In January of the year 515 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang (present-day Nanjing). Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" notes: "When the earth shakes 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 518 AD, another earthquake occurred in Jiankang. Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" states: "When an earthquake happens in November, there will be great losses and famine in the city." As expected, the following year brought severe frost, leading to another famine among the people.
In October of the year 520 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. That year, mountain bandits launched a rebellion in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang).
In February of the year 523 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. That year, Li Ben of Jiaozhou (present-day northern Vietnam) rebelled, driving away the Governor Xiao Zi.
In the intercalary first month of the year 525 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. Li Ben declared himself emperor and set up a full bureaucratic system.
In April of the year 549 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. At that time, Hou Jing declared himself Grand Chancellor and controlled the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, making the emperor's orders ineffective. That same month, the emperor died from grief and anger.
In May of the year 556 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. Wang Lin in Yingzhou (present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) proclaimed Xiao Zhuang as emperor.
In November of the year 560 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. Chen Baoying led a rebellion in Minzhong (present-day Fujian).
In January of the year 570 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiankang. This was an omen of the abuse of power by Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing. In November of the year 529 AD, there was a land subsidence and fire in Xihe (now Yongji, Shanxi). Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" records: "When the land subsides, the ruler will fall." Zu Xian explained: "Fire represents the yang essence; the land represents the yin principle. When the land burns, it goes against the yin way, implements the yang rule, and the officials act with impunity, ultimately leading to their own downfall." At that time, Gao Huan was in power, while Hou Jing was in charge of Henan. Two years later, Gao Huan indeed passed away, and Hou Jing then rebelled, eventually meeting his own demise. In the year 530 AD, there was an earthquake in Bingzhou (now Taiyuan, Shanxi). This was an omen of He Shikai's abuse of power. In the year 582 AD, there were frequent earthquakes in Liangzhou (now Wuwei, Gansu), with city walls collapsing in many places and springs bursting forth. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao Zhan" records: "When the earth splits, the Qiang and Yi tribes rebel." At that time, the Tuyuhun tribe frequently invaded the Hexi region. In May of the year 584 AD, there was an earthquake in the capital city (now Xi'an). Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" records: "When the earth shakes in May, people will flee." That year, the Guanzhong region experienced a famine, and the emperor ordered the people to go to the Guandong region for food. In April of the year 586 AD, there were earthquakes in Qizhou (now Fengxiang, Shaanxi) and Yongzhou (now Xi'an, Shaanxi). Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" records: "When the earth shakes in April, the grains will fail to ripen, and the people will suffer from great hunger." In the year 588 AD, there was a mountain collapse in Guishan, Liangzhou (now Hanzhong, Sichuan). The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" records: "When the mountain crumbles and falls, it signifies betrayal and disregard for authority." Liangzhou was an important region within the Han realm. The following year, Prince Liang rebelled.
In the seventh year of the Daye reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Dizhu Mountain suddenly collapsed, blocking the Yellow River and causing the river to backflow for dozens of miles. Liu Xiang said in "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan": "Mountains symbolize rulers, water represents yin energy, and also symbolizes the common people. Heaven warns that if a ruler's power is too heavy, it will face collapse, and the people will suffer as a result." At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was campaigning in Liaodong, and the people were overwhelmed, and complaints and rebellions spread across the land. Yet Emperor Yang of Sui failed to grasp this, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Sui Dynasty. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" also states: "If an emperor fails to reach his potential, it indicates that the foundation is poorly established. This will lead to incompetence, suffering through years of darkness, and eventual decline. At this time, demons will emerge, dragons and serpents will create chaos, and disasters will arise where horses injure people."
In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang reign, it hadn’t rained for a long time. Liu Xiang said: "If the ruler loses the middle path, and the ministers' power blinds the ruler, it will lead to continuous rainy weather." At that time, Empress Dugu and Yang Su secretly slandered Crown Prince Yang Yong, resulting in Yang Yong's deposition to commoner status.
In the fourth year of the Eastern Wei's Wu Ding era, Emperor Shenwu of the Northern Qi personally took on the role of prime minister and led the army to attack the Western Wei army at Yubi. In November of that year, Emperor Shenwu fell ill and returned to the court. The soldiers were terrified, saying, "Wei Xiaokuan used the Dinggong crossbow to shoot and kill the prime minister." The Western Wei issued an order nationwide, stating, "One shot of the strong crossbow, and the wicked will meet their own demise." Upon hearing this, Emperor Shenwu became furious, and his condition worsened, likely due to malevolent forces. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "Shooting is a sign of military disaster, and when the energy goes against the sky, disaster will arise." Despite this, Emperor Shenwu pressed on, while General Cao Weizu in the palace cautioned, "Your Majesty, you are channeling death energy against life energy, which is unfavorable to guests and beneficial to hosts." But Emperor Shenwu did not listen, and the army remained stalled for fifty days, facing defeat after defeat. He also believed the false advice, cut off the Fen River to the north of the city, and piled up earth mountains. The terrain there was steep and high, reaching over a thousand feet. The project was never completed, resulting in the deaths of seventy thousand people. This is the consequence of defying the will of heaven! Emperor Shenwu died that year. The following year, Wang Sizheng caused chaos in the Henan region again.
During the Wuping era, the emperor made his way back to Ye City from Bingzhou himself, passing by Bagong Ling. At night, he sang while walking. Suddenly, a man went insane, believing the emperor was under the spell of a fox spirit, and hid in the grass shooting arrows. Several people were injured, and the emperor was almost hit. The emperor apprehended him and executed him on the spot. At that moment, the man was completely unaware of his actions. Claiming that foxes can deceive people is itself a manifestation of animal malice! At that time, the emperor showed no interest in state affairs, instead indulging in song and revelry with palace maids and eunuchs. Sometimes he even wore tattered clothes, pretending to be a beggar, wandering around for fun. These are all ominous signs! Someone shot the emperor, which is a harbinger of military disaster and chaos! Soon after, the country was destroyed.
In the second year of the Liang Chaotian reign, a dragon appeared fighting in the waters of Tan in Beiliangzhou, with water mist covering several miles. This is a portent of chaos brought by dragons. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Dragons are difficult creatures to deal with. In the sky, they are celestial phenomena, and on earth, they are symbols of kings. When disasters occur in the celestial realm and the rule of kings is damaged, dragons will also bring disasters. Dragon fighting is a symbol of military turmoil." Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" says: "When people's hearts are not at peace, there will be demonic dragon battles." At that time, the emperor had just ascended the throne, and the rebellions led by Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian broke out, causing panic and crisis within the country.
In June of the fifth year of the Putong era, a dragon was seen battling at Qu'a Wangbei, then headed west to Jianling City, where trees were snapped for dozens of zhang. This is similar to the signs that appeared in the second year of Tianjian. As the dragon passed through Jianling, it broke trees, which was a precursor to the impending calamity of war and the destruction of the imperial mausoleum. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with studying scriptures and theories, neglecting agriculture and military affairs, resulting in a lax military and lazy soldiers. The king's rule had been damaged, hence the emergence of signs of dragon turmoil, which the emperor was completely unaware of. In the first year of the Taiqing era, a dragon appeared fighting in the water of Lizhou. The waves churned, and clouds of mist swirled, then a white dragon was seen running south with a black dragon chasing behind. That year, Hou Jing marched his troops in surrender, and the emperor accepted him without taking any precautions, instilling fear across the nation. Shortly thereafter, war broke out, and the emperor died from excessive worry.
In the summer of the tenth year of the Datong era, there was a sudden thunderstorm at night, and a dragon fell into the well of a family in Yanling! The next morning, when they looked at it, the dragon was as big as a mule. Some people wanted to kill it with a spear, but suddenly, many large snakes appeared in the courtyard and house, like hundreds of large ships, scaring the whole family to run around. "The Hong Fan's Five Elements Commentary" says: "The dragon, a masculine creature, represents nobility. It should be in the sky or on the ground, not in the village or house of the common people. The well symbolizes a deep place. If the dragon appears in the well, the princes may be in danger of being imprisoned; the emperor's lack of wisdom is to blame." Later, Hou Jing rebelled and indeed imprisoned and killed Emperor Jianwen in the wine cellar, and the imperial clan, royal family, and nobles all died tragically from being imprisoned.
In the eleventh year of Taijian in the Chen Dynasty, a dragon also appeared in the pond in South Yanzhou, which was exactly the same as the situation in the tenth year of Datong in the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the subsequent emperor ascended the throne, and he turned out to be an arrogant, indulgent, and inept ruler who couldn't accomplish anything. In the end, the country perished, and he himself was imprisoned and died.
In the first year of Wuding in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, a large snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, the wife of Gao Zhongmi, the governor of Beiyu Province, Li Shi, was beautiful and talented. The crown prince, Gao Cheng, fell in love with her, which made Gao Zhongmi extremely anxious. He simply rebelled in Wulao, secretly colluding with the Western Wei, and fought a big battle with the Eastern Wei army in Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) was almost captured by the Western Wei army and barely escaped, leading to the deaths of thousands.
In the ninth year of Tianbao in the Northern Qi Dynasty, a dragon measuring seven or eight zhang appeared in the main hall in Qizhou, just like the situation in the tenth year of Datong. At that time, King Gao Yan of Changshan and King Changguang held significant power, but the emperor failed to consider weakening their power. The next year, the emperor died, and Crown Prince Yin took the throne. King Gao Yan of Changshan indeed deposed the emperor, imprisoned, and killed him.
In the first year of Heqing, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou, similar to the events of the ninth year of Tianbao. Previously, Prince Ping Qin Gao Guiyan received the posthumous edict from Emperor Zhao to designate Prince Gao Bai Nian as the successor. However, Gao Guiyan instead chose Prince Changguang Gao Zhan, who later became Emperor Wucheng. Gao Bai Nian was relegated to Prince Leling and was eventually imprisoned and killed.
In the fourth year of Tiantong, someone in Guixiang cut down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon inside, with a broken leg, lying dead in the hollow of the tree. At that time, the Qi dynasty was known for its virtue of wood, and dragons were a symbol of royalty. The death of the dragon in the dead tree was an ominous omen! That year, Emperor Wucheng died.
In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in a well in Handan, radiating colorful dragon energy straight into the sky. A dragon also appeared in a dry well at a Buddhist temple in Jijun County. This was similar to the situation in the first year of Heqing. Later, the final ruler of Northern Qi, Gao Wei, surrendered to Northern Zhou and was eventually killed.
In the seventh year of Wuping, at Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou, a red snake and a black snake fought for several days, and the red snake died. Red was the color of Qi, while black was the color of Zhou. The death of one of the snakes after a fight was a sign of the country's forthcoming disaster! Later, the emperor relied on treacherous individuals and fought against the Zhou army in Jinzhou. He handed over the army to the treacherous Gao Anagong, who betrayed him, leading to the emperor's capture by the Zhou army.
Prince Langye Yan demolished a white horse pagoda in the Northern Palace, built by Duke Cheng during the Stone Zhao period. During the demolition, a large white snake several zhang long appeared, swirling around before disappearing. At that time, Prince Langye Yan was tyrannical and ruthless, causing senseless slaughter, which ultimately led to his downfall! He ignored the warning signs, leading to his own downfall.
In the fifth year of the Jinde 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 symbolic color of the Zhou Dynasty. The dragon's death was an extremely ominous omen. At that time, the crown prince was incompetent, and the emperor was worried about this. Upright ministers like Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the crown prince, but the emperor did not adopt their advice. Two years later, the emperor died, the crown prince ascended to the throne and brutally murdered the Prince of Qi and Xiaobo, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country.
In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a dragon appeared in the well of the General's Office in Daizhou. This dragon sometimes transformed into an iron horse, sometimes into a soldier wearing armor, with a bow drawn, ready to shoot. Transforming into an iron horse foretells a disaster related to horses; bending a bow to shoot arrows is like shooting demons, both predicting wars between vassals, leading to imprisonment. At that time, Han Prince Liang was secretly plotting a rebellion, so these omens appeared to warn him. Prince Liang did not realize this, and eventually rebelled, was deposed as a commoner, imprisoned for several years, and died.
Hou Jing proclaimed himself emperor in Jiangnan, and every time he went to war, if his white horse neighed loudly and pawed the ground restlessly, he would definitely win; if it hung its head, he would definitely lose. In the battle of Xizhou, his white horse lay on the ground and refused to get up, despite Hou Jing's prayers and beatings. This is a horse-related disaster! "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "The horse is a symbol of the army. When enemies invade, horses will exhibit strange phenomena." As a result, Hou Jing faced a crushing defeat.
In the fifth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, the horses in Hengzhou developed horns. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Horse horns symbolize war and are a sign of destruction." At that time, Emperor Xuan of Chen sent Wu Mingche to lead troops to attack Luliang and confront the Zhou forces. After years of fighting, the army endured significant losses, and Wu Mingche was ultimately captured by the Zhou forces.
During the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi dynasty, a horse with long horns appeared in the area of Guangzong, with the horns growing between its ears and shaped like a sheep's tail. Jing Fang stated in the "Yi Zhuan" that "when the emperor personally leads troops into battle, there will be horses with long horns." Sure enough, four years later, the Khitan people invaded the border, and Emperor Wenxuan personally led the army into battle, fulfilling this omen.
In the fourth year of Daye, many horses in the stables in Taiyuan died, with almost half of them perishing. When the emperor heard about this, he was furious and sent people to investigate. The stable overseer reported, "Every night, the horses in the stable are inexplicably frightened, which is why so many died." The emperor then invited a wizard to take a look. The wizard, knowing that the emperor was planning to attack Liaodong, went along with the emperor's thoughts and said, "The previous emperor had dispatched Yang Su and Shi Wan Sui to attack Liaodong, intending to bring ghost soldiers!" Upon hearing this, the emperor was pleased and decided to release the stable overseer. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" wrote, "Going against the will of heaven, that's why so many horses died." At that time, the emperor toured around every year, sometimes near the Great Wall, sometimes in the west of Qumul, which caused great suffering for the people. It seemed heaven was warning him: stop raising so many horses and wandering around aimlessly! But the emperor refused to listen, eventually leading to chaos in the world.
By the eleventh year of Daye, three counties in Henan and Fufeng also had horses with long horns, with the horns several inches long. This mirrored the situation during the Tianbao period. During that time, the emperor personally led troops to attack Goryeo for several years in a row.
In the first year of Yining, in the Longma Stables in Jiangdu Palace, many horses inexplicably died within ten days, with hundreds dying. This was similar to the situation in the fourth year of Daye.
