In the second year of the Chengsheng reign of the Liang Dynasty, on the tenth month of the Dingmao year, a strong wind arose. The day was as dark as night, the sky and the earth shrouded in gloom, as if demons were at work. Jing Fang once said in "Yifeihou" that when there is a phenomenon known as "feathered sun wind" and the world becomes dark, the people will fall seriously ill, or else thieves will run rampant. Indeed, three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by the Western Wei.
In the third year of the Zhengming reign of the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was covered with clouds and mist, dark and unclear, with a pungent smell in the air that made people uncomfortable. Chen Houzhu was incompetent and weak, a manifestation of demonic influence. In the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it is said that if the emperor is foolish and incompetent, the ministers will become powerful, deceiving the monarch, leading to dark omens. At that time, the northern army was already approaching the Yangtze River, with Liuzhuang and Renmannu coming to seek peace, but Chen Houzhu, misled by the treacherous Kong Fan, ultimately led to the country's downfall.
In the winter of the fourth year of the Wuding reign of the Eastern Wei, a thick fog lingered for six days, enveloping both day and night in darkness. In the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it is said that when day is as dark as night, it is a sign of Yin Qi invading Yang Qi, a warning of ministers encroaching on the monarch. Indeed, the following year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi conspired to assassinate the Grand General.
In the second year of the Da Xiang reign of the Zhou Dynasty, Wei Jiao was defeated in Xiangzhou, massacring tens of thousands of his followers in Youyu Garden. From then on, cries of ghosts were often heard at night. Fan Hong said in the "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" that the sound of crying heralds death and demonic influence. Ghosts crying at night herald impending death. Jing Fang also said in "Yifeihou" that "when ghosts cry at night, the country will perish." The following year, all the royal officials of the Zhou Dynasty were killed, marking the end of the Zhou Dynasty.
During the Renshou period, ghostly cries echoed frequently near the Renshou Palace and at the foot of the Great Wall. Shortly after, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor both perished in the Renshou Palace.
In the eighth year of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Xuangan raised a rebellion in the Eastern Capital. The Minister of Works, Fan Zigai, had thousands of his accomplices executed outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, ghostly cries and wails, along with moans, were often heard there, similar to previous omens. The "Wuxing Zhuan" also states: "Ghosts weep at night, and death will occur." Later, Wang Shichong killed King Dong of Yue in Luoyang.
In the first year of the Wuping reign of the Later Qi Dynasty, the locust tree bloomed but did not bear fruit. The locust tree symbolizes the position of the Three Excellencies, and blooming without bearing fruit foreshadows a scene of decline. The following year, the Minister of Records, He Shikai, was executed, and Prince Hu Changren of Longdong and Prince Yan of Langye were both murdered, while the Left Prime Minister, Duan Shao, also met his end.
In the final years of the Chen Dynasty, Emperor Chen Shubao had two stunningly beautiful women by his side, Consort Zhang and Concubine Kong, known for their enchanting beauty. Chen Shubao was enchanted by them, favoring them over all the other concubines in the palace, having them by his side each day, indulging in poetry and fine wine. Once he entered the palace, he wouldn’t emerge for weeks on end, lost in debauchery and extravagance, with no self-restraint whatsoever. This led to the treasury being drained, and the court had to forcibly levy taxes on the people, causing widespread resentment and alienation among the soldiers. The enemy was at the gates, yet not a single soldier was willing to fight to the death. All this stemmed from the emperor's obsession with women! In the end, the Chen Dynasty perished, with Chen Shubao and his consorts taking their own lives by jumping into a well. The Sui army captured Consort Zhang and executed her to quell the anger of the people in Jiangdong. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "'Hua' symbolizes glory, wealth, and beauty. The downfall due to his obsession with women is termed 'Hua Nie'."
The last emperor of the Qi dynasty fell due to a favored concubine. This favored concubine was named Feng Xiaolian, clever and beautiful, skilled at playing the pipa, and especially talented in singing and dancing. The emperor of Qi was enchanted by her and bestowed upon her the title of Shufei. He even selected thousands of beautiful palace maids to serve her, with the adornments of a single palace maid costing thousands in gold. While the emperor was out hunting, the Zhou army had already closed in on the city gates, the borders were in crisis, and the Zhou army was advancing. The emperor wanted to return to the capital, but Feng Xiaolian was reluctant to leave and persuaded the emperor to continue the hunt. Amazingly, the emperor listened to her. This delay resulted in missed battle opportunities, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Qi dynasty. To this day, the people of Qi blame Feng Xiaolian for this.
During the reign of King Wuling of Liang, while preparing to make a sacrifice to the city god, a red snake suddenly coiled around the mouth of the sacrificial ox, an ominous sign of impending disaster. Based on similar signs, this was considered as the work of a dragon or snake. In the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the mouth of the sacrificial ox was injured during the suburban sacrifices, which led to Duke Xuan's downfall, as people believed this was a sign that the heavens rejected the sacrifice. The "Records of the Five Elements" states, "When a king goes against the will of heaven, dragons and snakes will cause trouble." Although King Wuling claimed to be going to the rescue, he was actually arrogant and indulgent. This arrogance caused the heavens to reject the sacrifice, fulfilling the consequences of going against the will of heaven. In the end, he was defeated by Emperor Yuan.
In the second year of Wuping of Later Qi, Bing Province presented a five-legged ox, yet another ominous sign. The "Records of the Five Elements" states, "The matter of the ox is manifested in the palace." Subsequently, the emperor embarked on massive construction projects in Xiandu Park, building ponds, mountains, and palaces, indulging in lavish luxury and extravagance. Just as the construction projects were completed, the country collapsed.
In the sixth year of the Later Zhou Dynasty, a three-headed creature resembling a water buffalo appeared in Yangwu, with one head yellow, one red, and one black. The black head fought with the others for a long time, but the yellow head bumped into it from the side, causing the black head to die, and then both the yellow and black heads ran into the river together. This foreshadowed a disaster akin to that of cattle. Black was a color esteemed by the Zhou Dynasty, and the death of the beast symbolized the downfall of the Zhou Dynasty. Several years later, the Zhou Dynasty did indeed fall, and the Sui Dynasty unified the country. The Sui Dynasty used red for its military flags and yellow for its soldiers' uniforms.
In the early years of the Daye era, a cow with hooves growing on its knees appeared at Mount Heng. Later, the Sui Dynasty established its eastern capital, built the Great Wall, and dug canals.
In the third year of the Zhenming era of the Chen Dynasty, Sui troops approached the riverbank. Chen Houzhu remarked nonchalantly, "The Qi army has come three times, and the Zhou army has come twice, but none have been able to defeat us. What can they do?" The Minister of Works, Kong Fan, said, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier that has historically divided the north and south. How could the northern army possibly cross over? I've always worried about my low status, but if they do cross the river, I could be promoted to General!" Chen Houzhu was delighted to hear this and indulged in music, summoned courtesans, drank wine, and continuously composed poetry. This was truly a folly of the heart! At the critical moment for the nation's survival, everything is decided in the blink of an eye. Rulers and subjects should labor day and night, yet Chen Houzhu remained unafraid. Kong Fan also indulged in pleasure with him, and with their minds clouded, how could they not fail? The Chen Dynasty ultimately met its demise, and Kong Fan was likewise exiled.
Emperor Wenxuan of the Qi Dynasty once held a feast on Dongshan, suddenly threw his wine cup down, became furious, issued a decree to march west, and boasted about how powerful his army was. But later, he wept before his ministers, saying, "This black robe is not to my liking." In the end, no troops were sent out. Wise observers believed that the emperor's mind had become unhinged, knowing that his reign would not last long. Later, the emperor indeed fell ill, indulged in wine and pleasures, had a volatile temperament, was easily angered, and died a few years later.
Emperor Wucheng mourned the death of Empress Dowager Ding, but he still wore a red official robe. Not long after, he ascended the platform of San Tai, held feasts and celebrations, and a servant brought him a white official robe, which infuriated him, and he threw the white robe down the platform. Not long after, he died.
In the first year of the Datong era in the Liang Dynasty, dust fell from the sky. The following year, ash fell from the sky, with a yellow color. This indicated that there would be yellow auspicious signs, but Jing Fang in "Yifeihou" said, "Hearing good advice but not accepting it indicates perception, but the abnormal appearance of yellow foreshadows a calamity akin to a dragon's wrath, a catastrophe that will cut off the descendants. This is due to suppressing the wise and forsaking the correct path." At that time, the Liang Emperor considered himself intelligent and knowledgeable, disliked those stronger than himself, and deeply believed in Buddhism, even treating himself as a slave, which was indeed a punishment for suppressing the wise and forsaking the correct path!
In the first month of the first year of Dabao, yellow dust rained down from the heavens. The following year, Emperor Jianwen had a dream of swallowing a lump of mud. Not long after, he was ultimately deposed by Hou Jing, crushed to death with sandbags, and his sons were also killed, thus fulfilling the omen of the disaster of yellow dust.
During the reign of the final emperor of the Chen Dynasty, he dreamt of people wearing yellow clothes besieging the city. The last emperor disliked this dream and ordered the destruction of all the orange trees in the city. After the Sui Dynasty's Emperor Gaozu received the abdication, court officials donned yellow robes. Not long after, the Sui army attacked and besieged the Chen Dynasty, thus fulfilling the last emperor's ominous dream.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Daizong of Later Zhou, in the first month, a rain of yellow earth fell across the land and lasted for quite some time before stopping. This was similar to the strange phenomenon that appeared in the first year of Datong. At that time, the emperor had become extremely incompetent and died after only a year, after which the Peaceful Emperor also abdicated the throne. This was another omen of the decline of the dynasty, severing the imperial family's inheritance.
In the second year of Kaihuang, there was a rain of earth in the capital. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui learned from the lesson of the weak vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty leading to the country's downfall, so he appointed his sons to various regions and set up provincial administrations, allowing them to wield power in their respective areas. This phenomenon of "territorial loss" was accompanied by an auspicious sign of "earthy qi," but ultimately, these princes turned against each other. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth rain falls, the people toil in vain." During that time, the Sui Dynasty was in the process of constructing its capital city and later built the Renshou Palace, undertaking extensive construction projects that resulted in the deaths of many craftsmen.
In the first year of Taiqing of the Liang Dynasty, a woman with the surname Mo in Danyang gave birth to a son with eyes on top of his head, and his eyes were as big as those of a two-year-old child. As soon as the child was delivered, he spoke: "I am the ghost of drought, I cannot stay here." His mother said, "You must let me live." The ghost of drought replied, "There are officials above me, how can I be free to act? Hurry and make a top hat of crimson color, then everything will be fine." His mother did not have time to make the hat, so she tied a red cloth strip to his hair. From that point on, the drought persisted for two years, particularly severe in Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. Many of Mo's neighbors were spared from disaster by wearing red items, but this practice proved ineffective in other regions.
In the second year of Dabao, a five-year-old child named Yu Zanger climbed to the top of a tall tower at the southwest corner of Jingkou, beating a drum and performing "The Long Jiang Le." The drum was a symbol of the army. At that time, Hou Jing was causing chaos in Jiangnan.
In the third year of Chen Dynasty Yongding, someone saw a giant about 10 meters tall appearing on Mount Luofu, completely white and dressed in luxurious clothes. Jing Fang's divination said: "The appearance of a giant signifies the downfall of the country." Two years later, the last ruler of the Chen Dynasty died.
When the last ruler of the Chen Dynasty was still a prince, a woman burst into the Eastern Palace, shouting loudly: "The ruler of Bi!" Later, the last ruler of the Chen Dynasty ascended to the throne, and the dynasty eventually perished, fulfilling this omen.
In the third year of Zhende, in August, a maid in Jiankang died at home. After being buried for nine days, she miraculously revived. A cowherd heard the commotion and dug her out.
In the second year of Zhenguan, a ship docked, and suddenly someone said: "There will be chaos next year!" Everyone looked and found a dead infant on the ship, two feet long and headless. The following year, the Chen Dynasty fell.
During the reign of Qi Tianbao, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads on one body. Afterwards, the court was controlled by corrupt officials, with no distinction between upper and lower ranks, truly fulfilling the omen of "two heads."
During the reign of the last ruler of Northern Qi, there was a monk who was crazy and would bow to crows while cursing at monks. Crows were the color of the Zhou Dynasty. Not long after, Northern Qi was conquered by Northern Zhou, and Buddhism was suppressed.
In the third year of Baoding in Northern Zhou, a man gave birth to a boy with reproductive organs on his back like a tail and toes resembling animal claws. Reproductive organs should not be on the back, but they were, signifying the reversal of yin and yang, and the reversal of ruler and subject! Toes should not have claws, but they did, signifying that a violent event was imminent! At that time, Jin Gong Yuwen Hu usurped power, waged wars everywhere, and secretly plotted to seize the throne. It seemed like heaven was warning that the order between ruler and subject had been disrupted, and a cruel disaster was about to occur! After seeing these signs, the emperor realized the situation, killed Jin Gong, personally handled state affairs, and managed the country with frugality, eventually pacifying Qi and being called the founding emperor. This truly transformed disaster into fortune!
During the reign of Emperor Wu, there was a strongman who pretended to be insane, holding a gourd. He ran to the home of Yuwen Hu, the Duke of Jin, smashed the door, and shouted, "You may still live, but your son is in misery!" At that time, Yuwen Hu was in power and was on his way to see the Empress Dowager, so the Emperor ordered his execution. He then dispatched soldiers to capture his sons, who all chose to take poison and end their lives. The strongman then went out to beg on the streets, and when someone gave him food, he used a bottomless sack to collect it, then laughed and said, "It's empty!" Before long, the Northern 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 transformed into a ferocious beast. In the seventh year, a monk in Xiangzhou turned into a snake, wrapping his tail around a tree and striking himself, reaching over twenty feet long. In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a figure several feet tall appeared at Yingmen Gate, leaving footprints four feet five inches long. That year, the emperor died. In the first year of the Daye era, a person from Yanmen named Fang Huian, whose mother had reached the age of one hundred, grew a horn on her forehead, two inches long. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "Women represent yin. Horns represent soldiers. The response of the lower to the higher." After that, chaos indeed ensued, with the Turkic army surrounding the emperor at Yanmen. In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village in Yanmen gave birth to a meat egg the size of a large egg, which she buried. A few days later, the spot where the egg was buried became shrouded in mist, the earth shook, and a cave appeared, but the egg was nowhere to be seen. It is said that six years ago, a maid from the Li Laiwang family in Zhaojun gave birth to a strange creature the size of an egg. This was no ordinary occurrence, signaling the troubling events that were about to unfold. On the first day of the first month of the sixth year, a thief clad in a white training outfit and jacket, holding incense, proclaimed himself to be the reincarnation of Maitreya. He ran to Jianguo Gate, stole the weapons of the guards, and even attempted a rebellion! However, he was intercepted by Prince Qi Yang Jian and executed on the spot. Three years later, Yang Xuangan staged another rebellion, leading troops to besiege Luoyang, but was ultimately defeated and killed.
In the eighth year, there was a man named Cheng Gong who was acting madly and shouting that there were thieves in the capital. The emperor was not pleased upon hearing this. When you think about Cheng Gong's behavior in light of subsequent events, it seems like a kind of prophecy, doesn't it? Sure enough, the following year, Yang Xuanzhang raised an army and besieged Luoyang.
By the twelfth year, Cheng Gong started shouting about thieves once more! This time, Li Mi was advancing on the capital, and Meng Rang set fire to Fengdu City before fleeing. Cheng Gong was truly eccentric; every time he shouted about thieves, it came true!
In the ninth year, the emperor was in Gaoyang. There was a man from Tang County named Song Zixian who was particularly skilled in magic tricks. Every night, light would shine from his upper floor, and he could magically conjure Buddha statues, claiming to be the reincarnation of Maitreya. He also hung a large mirror in the hall, reflecting images of snakes, beasts, and humans depicted on paper. When visitors came to see him, he would turn the mirror and show them their future life. If a snake shape appeared in the mirror, Song Zixian would say, "This is your sin; you must chant more scripture!" Then he would make them bow once more, and the mirror would show a human form. People in the vicinity were all taken in by him, with hundreds or thousands coming to see him every day. Song Zixian was secretly plotting a rebellion, planning to convene a meeting of the U
Later on, a monk named Xiang Haiming appeared who claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha in Fufeng County and secretly planned a rebellion. Those who followed him would experience good dreams. As a result, everyone believed in him, and the scholars in the Guanzhong region regarded him as a great saint. He launched his rebellion and surprisingly gathered tens of thousands of followers! Ultimately, he was defeated by the imperial forces. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou," it says: "Those who deceive the masses with false words, this is not a good sign. No one is walking on the road. Within three years, someone will rebel." Since then, chaos ensued, and there were truly few people on the roads.
In November 506 AD, the capital Jiankang experienced an earthquake, affecting the five elements: wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. "Hong Fan's Five Elements Transmission" says: "The subordinates have great power and are about to cause trouble, endangering the country." Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" also elaborates: "An earthquake in November winter will lead to famine and many deaths in that area." Interestingly, at this time, the governor of Jiaozhou, Li Kai, rebelled. The following year, frost arrived, crops failed, and the people faced starvation.
In January 508 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. This time, the governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, instigated a rebellion. In December 510 AD, another earthquake occurred. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" elaborates: "An earthquake in winter with sound, if it happens in December, there will be war in that area." As anticipated, the emperor commanded Prince Yuzhang Cong to lead an expedition northward.
In January 512 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "An earthquake in spring means there will be no good harvest this year." That year, there was a flood, and the common people went hungry. In November 515 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "An earthquake in November will lead to major funerals and famine in that area." Indeed, the following year, frost ravaged the crops, and the people suffered hunger once more.
In October 517 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. That year, bandits emerged in Mount Kuaiji. In February 519 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. That year, Li Ben of Jiaozhou rebelled and drove away the governor, Xiao Zi. In the leap month of the first month of 521 AD, there was an earthquake. Li Ben proclaimed himself emperor and established a host of official positions.
In April of the year 523 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. During this period, Hou Jing proclaimed himself the Grand Chancellor, overseeing the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, and refused to give the emperor anything he wanted. That month, the emperor died of grief. In May of the year 550 AD, Jiankang was struck by an earthquake. During this time, Wang Lin in Yingzhou backed Xiao Zhuang as emperor. In November of the year 556 AD, an earthquake occurred, and Chen Baoying rebelled in Minzhong. In January of the year 557 AD, there was an earthquake, and Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing exercised their power unchecked.
In November of the year 527 AD, the Western River region experienced subsidence and a fire broke out. In "Yi Yao Zhan," Jing Fang stated: "When the land sinks, the ruler will die." Zu Xing explained: "Fire is yang energy, and the land is yin energy. When the land catches fire, it is the destruction of yin energy, causing chaos with yang energy, leading to the abuse of power by subordinates, ultimately resulting in self-destruction." At that time, Emperor Gao Huan of Northern Qi was in power, while Hou Jing was abusing his power in Henan. Two years later, Gao Huan indeed died, Hou Jing rebelled, and ultimately met the same fate of self-destruction.
In the year 530 AD, Bingzhou suffered from an earthquake. This foreshadowed the rise of Shi Kai's tyranny.
In the second year of the Jiande era of Later Zhou, the region of Liangzhou suffered from frequent earthquakes. Many city walls and houses collapsed, the ground opened up in several places, and springs emerged. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth shakes in the fifth month of summer, people will be displaced." That year, there was a famine in Guanzhong, and the emperor ordered the populace to go to Guandong to find food.
In April of the second year of the Renshou era, earthquakes occurred in Qizhou and Yongzhou. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Fei Hou": "When the earth shakes in the fourth month of summer, the crops will fail, and people will suffer from hunger." Three years afterward, Gu Mountain in Liangzhou suffered a landslide. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" wrote: "When it collapses and falls, it is a sign of rebellion and betrayal." Liangzhou was originally part of the Han Dynasty territory. The next year, Prince Liang rose in rebellion.
In the seventh year of Daye, Mount Dizhu collapsed, blocking the Yellow River and causing the river to flow backward for miles. Liu Xiang said in "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan": "Mountains represent the ruler; water represents the yin, and is similar to people. Heaven warned, 'If the ruler and people are oppressive and about to collapse, the common people will not have a place.'" During this time, the emperor was engaged in war in Liaodong, and the people were suffering under heavy burdens. The air was thick with complaints, and rebellions erupted across the country. The emperor failed to see, and in the end, the country perished.
In "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it also says: "If the emperor does not reach the extreme, this is referred to as a lack of establishment. Their faults are hidden, their punishments are constant yin, and their extremes are weak. At that time, there will be evil omens, dragon and snake disasters, and horse troubles."
In October of the twentieth year of Kaihuang, the sky remained overcast without a drop of rain. Liu Xiang said, "When the king loses balance and the ministers are strong but obscure the ruler's wisdom, it is called cloudy." At that time, Empress Dugu secretly conspired with Yang Su to frame Crown Prince Yong, deposing him and demoting him to a commoner.
In the year 550 AD, Prime Minister Gao Huan of Eastern Wei led troops to attack the fortifications at Jade Wall in Western Wei. In November of that year, Gao Huan fell ill and commanded a withdrawal. The soldiers were filled with fear, saying, "Wei Xiaokuan of Western Wei used a specially made strong crossbow to shoot and kill the Prime Minister!" Western Wei also ordered the country to say, "With one arrow from the strong crossbow, Gao Huan died." Gao Huan heard this news and became very angry; his condition worsened, feeling that it was the work of evil spirits. In "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it says, "Shooting is a sign of military disasters and chaos, and if the qi goes against the heavens, disasters and chaos will arise." Gao Huan continued to march, and General Cao Weizu in the palace advised him, "Right now, the dead qi is overpowering the living qi, which is not good for the enemy but beneficial for yourself." Gao Huan did not listen, stayed in place for fifty days, fought many battles but all failed. He also followed dubious advice, cutting off the Fen River to the north of the city and building up a hill. The terrain was steep and dangerous, over a thousand feet high, and as a result, the project remained unfinished, resulting in the deaths of seventy thousand people. All because they went against the will of heaven! Gao Huan died that year. The following year, Wang Sizheng came to disturb Henan again.
After Gao Huan's death, Eastern Wei changed its national title to Northern Qi. The last ruler of Northern Qi, Gao Wei, returned from Bingzhou to Ye City. When he reached Bagong Ridge, he walked while singing at night. Suddenly, someone went insane. The emperor thought he was under the spell of a fox spirit, so he hid in the bushes, drew his bow, and shot at him. He wounded several people and almost hit the emperor himself. The emperor caught the man and killed him, but the man was completely unaware of his actions. Foxes can bewitch people, symbolizing evil spirits. At that time, Gao Wei did not care about state affairs, only singing and drinking with palace maids and eunuchs, even begging for pleasure in ragged clothes on the streets. These were omens of evil influence, and shooting him was a sign of impending disaster. It wasn't long before Northern Qi met its downfall.
In the year 502 AD, during the second year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, a dragon battle was reported in Tanli, Beiliangzhou, with mist rising for miles around. This was seen as a sign of dragon mischief. The "Hong Fan Five Elements" states, "Dragons are formidable beings, symbolizing heaven and rulers. If heaven is damaged, the ruler's rule will be damaged, and the dragon will also be harmed. Dragon battles are a sign of military turmoil." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" says, "When people's hearts are restless, there will be strange phenomena like dragon battles." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang had just ascended the throne, leading to widespread unrest due to the rebellion from Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian.
In June of the fifth year of Emperor Taizong's reign, a dragon fought near Qu'a Wangpo, then headed west and arrived at Jianling City. Wherever it passed, trees were broken with breaks measuring several dozen zhang. This was similar to the phenomenon that occurred in the second year of the Tianjian era. The broken trees in Jianling foretold that the country would face turmoil and that the imperial tomb would be desecrated. At that time, the emperor only focused on academic discussions and neglected agriculture and military affairs, causing the country to become frivolous and lazy. The king's rule was flawed, which led to the appearance of the dragon omen. Yet, the emperor remained oblivious. In the first year of Taiqing, dragons were seen fighting in the waters of Lizhou. Waves rolled, clouds and mist covered, and people saw a white dragon running south, followed by a black dragon. That year, Hou Jing surrendered with his troops; the emperor accepted him without any preparation, and the entire nation was filled with fear. Soon, war broke out, and the emperor died from excessive worry.
In the summer of the tenth year of Daitong, a dragon fell into a family's well in Yanling after being struck by lightning. The next morning, the dragon was the size of a donkey. People tried to kill it with a halberd, but suddenly they saw several large snakes in the yard and house, as thick as several hundred hu of large vessels. The family members were terrified and fled in all directions. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says, "The dragon is masculine and represents nobility. It should be in the sky or on the ground, not in the villages and houses of common people. The well represents deep darkness. The princes will suffer from being imprisoned, which stems from the emperor's misconduct." Later, Hou Jing rebelled, ultimately imprisoning and killing Emperor Jianwen in the wine cellar, and the royal princes and nobles were also imprisoned and met tragic ends.
In the first month of the eleventh year of Taijian of the Chen Dynasty, a dragon appeared in a pond in South Yanzhou, mirroring the phenomenon from the tenth year of Daitong in the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the last emperor took the throne; he was indulgent and extravagant, excessively pursuing pleasure and failing at everything. This eventually led to the destruction of the country, and he himself was imprisoned.
In the first year of the Wu Ding era of the Eastern Wei dynasty, a giant snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, Lady Li, the beautiful and intelligent wife of Gao Zhongmi, the Governor of Northern Yuzhou, caught the attention of Gao Cheng, the Crown Prince. Uneasy, Gao Zhongmi rebelled, using Wulao as his stronghold, which led to a major battle in Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) was cornered by the Western Wei army and barely escaped, resulting in the deaths of several thousand people.
In the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi dynasty, a seven to eight zhang long dragon appeared in Da Tang of Qizhou, similar to what had been seen in the tenth year of Daitong. At that time, the Princes of Changshan and Guangling held significant power, but the Emperor did not want to suppress them. The following year, the Emperor died, and Crown Prince Yin ascended to the throne. Prince of Changshan, Xiao Yan, indeed deposed the Emperor, imprisoning and ultimately killing him.
In the first year of Heqing, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou, just like in the ninth year of Tianbao. Prior to this, Prince Pingqin Gao Guiyan accepted the will of Emperor Zhao to appoint Prince Gao Bainian as his successor. However, Gao Guiyan appointed Prince Changguang, Gao Zhan, who later became Emperor Wucheng. Gao Bainian was deposed as Prince Leling and tragically perished while imprisoned.
In the fourth year of Tiantong, someone in Guixiang cut down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon with its feet broken, dead in a tree hole. Everyone claimed this was a symbol of "wood virtue," as wood is a significant symbol. The dragon symbolizes the emperor. A dead dragon in a dead tree is a very ominous omen. That year, Emperor Wucheng died.
In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in a well in Handan, with colorful dragon energy soaring into the sky. A dragon also appeared in a dry well in a Buddhist temple in Jijun. The fortune teller said this was similar to the first year of Heqing. Later, the last ruler of Northern Qi, Gao Wei, surrendered to Northern Zhou, where he was ultimately killed.
In the seventh year of the Wuping era, at the foot of Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou, a red snake and a black snake appeared fighting. They fought for many days, and in the end, the red snake died. Red is the symbol color of Northern Qi, while black is the symbol color of Northern Zhou. The death of the red snake after their battle was an ominous sign! Later, the last emperor of Northern Qi placed his trust in a treacherous minister and engaged in battle with the Northern Zhou army in Jinzhou. He handed over the army to the treacherous minister Gao Anagong, who ultimately colluded with the enemy. This was a disastrous consequence of the emperor's own negligence! In the end, the last emperor of Northern Qi was captured by the Northern Zhou army.
Prince Gaoyan of Langye tore down a white horse-shaped pagoda in the Northern Palace, originally constructed by Duke Cheng during the Stone Zhao period. During the demolition of the pagoda, a giant white snake several zhang in length appeared, wriggled around, and then disappeared. At that time, Gaoyan was known for his tyranny and cruelty, which served as a sign of his moral decay! He did not heed the warnings of these omens, ultimately leading to disaster.
In the fifth year of the Jiande era of Later Zhou, a black dragon fell in Bozhou and died. The dragon is a symbol of kingship, and black is the symbol color of Northern Zhou. The dragon's fall and subsequent death were extremely ominous signs. At that time, the Crown Prince of Zhou was utterly incompetent, and the emperor was worried about it. Honest ministers like Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the Crown Prince and the installation of another, but the emperor ignored their counsel. Two years later, the emperor died, the Crown Prince ascended the throne, and cruelly killed Prince Qi and Xiaobo, leading to the downfall of the country.
In the fourth year of Renshou, a dragon was seen in the well of the General’s Office in Daizhou. This dragon occasionally transformed into iron-armored cavalry, and other times bent a bow and shot arrows at people. The transformation into iron-armored cavalry foretold of impending warfare, while bending a bow and shooting arrows was like shooting demons, indicating war among the vassals that would lead to imprisonment. At that time, Prince Gao Liang of Han was secretly plotting a rebellion, which served as warnings for him. Gao Liang did not heed the warnings, eventually rebelled, and after failing, was demoted to commoner status, imprisoned for several years, and ultimately died.
Hou Jing, this guy, declared himself king and emperor in Jiangnan. Before every battle, if the white horse he rode lifted its head high and pawed the ground restlessly, he was sure to win the battle; if it kept its head down, defeat was certain. Once in Xizhou, the horse suddenly lay down and wouldn't move, no matter how much Hou Jing pleaded or beat it. It was later known that this was a sign that something was about to go wrong with the horse! "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Horses are a symbol of the army. When the generals are about to go to war, the horses will show strange phenomena." It was because of this that Hou Jing suffered a crushing defeat.
In the fifth year of the Taijian period of the Chen Dynasty, horses in Hengzhou actually grew horns! "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Horse growing horns is a sign of defeat!" At that time, Emperor Chen Xuan sent Wu Mingche to lead the army to fight against the Zhou Dynasty army in Luliang. After years of fighting, the entire army was wiped out, and Wu Mingche was captured by the Zhou Dynasty army.
During the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a horse that had a horn between its ears, resembling a sheep’s tail, appeared in Guangzong County. "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "When the emperor leads his troops into battle himself, the horse will grow a horn." Four years later, the Khitan invaded the border, and Emperor Wenxuan personally led the army to battle.
In the fourth year of the Sui Dynasty, more than half of the horses in the Taiyuan stable died. The emperor was furious and sent someone to investigate. The stable manager said, "Every night, the horses in the stable are startled for no apparent reason, which is why so many died." The emperor then found a wizard to look into it. The wizard, knowing that the emperor wanted to attack Liaodong, played along with the emperor's wishes and said, "The late emperor sent Yang Su and Shi Wansui to attack Liaodong with spirit soldiers!" The emperor was pleased to hear this and let the stable manager go. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "Going against the will of heaven is why so many horses died." At that time, the emperor toured around every year, running to the Great Wall in the north and to Qie Mo in the west, causing great suffering among the people. Heaven had already warned him; the horses in the stable were dying and running amok, but the emperor did not listen, eventually leading to chaos in the world.
In the eleventh year of Daye, the horses in three counties of Henan and Fufeng grew horns several inches long, similar to what had happened during the Tianbao period. The "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "Horses growing horns are a sign of military defeat!" At that time, the emperor personally led campaigns against Goguryeo for several years.
In the first year of Yining, at the Jiangdu Palace, many horses in the Longma stable died for no apparent reason. Within ten days, several hundred horses died, similar to the events of the fourth year of Daye.
