In the tenth year of Emperor Wu of Liang's Datong reign, in the third month, he went to Zhu Fang, then arrived at Siqian, and then to Xuanwu Lake. The fish in the lake all poked their heads out to watch the emperor, as if waiting for the emperor's carriage. Afterward, the emperor returned to the palace and died. According to the "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan," "Fish are yin things, symbolizing the common people. Fish also have scales, symbolizing the army." This indicated that the common people were planning to surround the imperial palace with their troops, and the fish peeking at the carriage meant this. Later, the rebellion of Hou Jing indeed occurred.
In the seventh year of the Wuping reign of Qi Houzhu, at Lu Ci Pond in Xiangzhou, the fish had all vanished and the water had dried up. According to the "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan," "This is caused by an emergency situation." Yanzi once said: "The river god treats water as his own country and fish as his people." When the water dries up and the fish vanish, it foreshadows the destruction of the country and the scattering of the people. The following year, Qi country indeed perished.
In the first year of the Daxiang reign of Hou Zhou, in the sixth month, there were carp in Yangwu fighting in the air. This is like courtiers rebelling, and the villains causing trouble together. The next year, the emperor died, and the country lost its power. Wei Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou, and Gaozu sent troops to defeat him.
In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang reign, four li southwest of Daxing City, there was a village called Yuancun where Buddhist activities were held. There was an old man with white hair, wearing a white skirt and short coat, who came to eat and then left. No one recognized him, so they chased after him. After chasing for about two li, they could no longer see him. However, they found a pond with a large white fish over ten feet long, followed by countless small fish. People competed to shoot it; some bows broke, and strings snapped. Finally, they hit it, cut open the fish's belly, and found rice inside, realizing that the fish was the old man transformed. A few days later, the canal suddenly overflowed, and those who had shot the fish all drowned.
In the twelfth year of Daye, the people of Huaiyang County were herded into the city, and the Luolangguo walls were breached. At the base of the women's wall, a hole was discovered, and inside the hole was a carp more than seven feet long. In the fourth year of the Weijia Ping era, the fish had gathered on the roof of the armory. Wang Su believed that fish belong in water, but their appearance on the roof suggested that something from the water had strayed from its rightful place, foreshadowing that the border would likely face defeat and a potential mutiny. Eventually, the failure of the Battle of Dongque came to pass. During that time, bandits from Changbai Mountain raided Henan, and a month later, the bandits arrived at the city. The county's forces put up a resistance but were ultimately defeated, resulting in the deaths of over ten thousand men, women, and children.
During the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty, a great locust plague occurred, and even the leaves of pine and cypress trees along the fences were devoured. "The Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "This is the consequence of the insects' wrongdoing." Locust plagues, much like fish, are connected to divination. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" also states, "If rulers neglect moral education in favor of indulgence, the heavens will send insect plagues as a warning. Insects are harmful to humans but eat everything." At that time, court officials held the belief that simplicity and contentment were virtues, neglecting governance and failing to prioritize food production, which ultimately resulted in the locust plague.
Years later, in the eighth year of the Qi Dynasty's Chaotianbao reign, there was a locust plague in the six provinces of Hebei and the twelve provinces of Henan. The common people flocked to worship the locusts. The emperor asked Cui Shuzan, the governor of Weizhou, "What is going on?" Cui Shuzan responded, "The 'Records of the Five Elements' says: 'If earthwork construction is not done timely, it will lead to locust plagues.' Currently, the court is building the Great Wall on the outside and constructing three platforms on the inside, and that’s why disaster has struck." Upon hearing this, the emperor became furious, slapped Cui Shuzan across the face, pulled his hair, and even smeared filth from the cesspool onto his head. Despite this, the labor projects continued. In the ninth year, Shandong was hit by locust plagues; in the tenth year, Youzhou also experienced a major locust plague. The 'Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan' states: "If rulers are excessively harsh in punishment, insatiable in greed, constantly waging wars, and building cities and towns, losing the hearts of the people, it will attract disasters." At that time, the emperor ruled tyrannically and oppressively, with endless forced labor on the people, which ultimately led to the fulfillment of the locust plagues.
Later, in the second year of the Jiande era of the Zhou Dynasty, a major locust plague also struck in the Guanzhong region. In the sixteenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, there was a locust plague in Bingzhou. At that time, Prince Xiao of Qin, Yang Junke, extorted money from the people while undertaking massive construction of government mansions. Later, he was eventually punished by the emperor for these actions and lost his life.
As the Kaihuang era was coming to an end, three monks in Weinan were living an ascetic life in the fields. One night, they saw a large pig coming towards them, followed by more than ten piglets. The large pig addressed the monks, "A Lian, I seek to walk the path of the wise and virtuous, but I still owe a life debt." After saying this, it walked away. Here, "the path of the wise and virtuous" refers to the path the emperor ought to follow; "owing a life debt" refers to being about to be killed by Emperor Yang of Sui.
During the Kaihuang period, as it was drawing to a close, there was a man staying at someone else's house in Weinan. In the middle of the night, he heard two pigs talking. One pig said, "The New Year is approaching, tomorrow the master is going to slaughter me for a sacrifice, where can I possibly hide?" The other pig replied, "You can go to your sister's house north of the river." So the two pigs left together. As dawn approached, the master couldn't find the pigs and suspected that the guest had stolen them, so he questioned him. The guest told the master what had happened, and the master followed the guest's advice and indeed found the pigs. Later, King Yang Xiu of Shu offended the emperor, and the emperor was out for his blood. Princess Le Ping pleaded for him several times, saving King Yang Xiu's life. Several years later, the emperor died, fulfilling the prophecy that "the year will come to an end."
In the third year of the Chengsheng reign of the Liang Dynasty, in June, a black, dragon-like aura suddenly appeared in the palace, and it was definitely not a good omen! Black was the color revered by the Zhou Dynasty, and now this black aura appeared in the Liang Dynasty's palace, foretelling that the Zhou Dynasty's army was on the verge of attacking the Liang Dynasty! Sure enough, that year the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by the Zhou Dynasty, and the emperor also died.
In the fifth year of the Taijian reign of the Chen Dynasty, in June, a black cloud appeared in the northwest, extending to the ground, then dispersing, like a group of pigs, more than ten of them. In the book "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan," it is written: "This indicates that there will be a war outbreak in the northwest." At that time, the general Wang Gui of the Later Zhou Dynasty stationed his army in Lvliang. The following year, Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, but his army was completely defeated.
In the first month of the Heqing reign of the Later Qi Dynasty, the Yellow River and the Jishui River became clear and transparent. A man named Xiang Kai said, "The Yellow River represents the feudal lords. The water has become clear, which should have been murky, indicating that the vassals will become a sign of the emperor." Over a decade later, the Sui Dynasty unified the country.
In the third year of the Daye reign of the Sui Dynasty, the river in Wuyang County also turned crystal clear, like a mirror, clear for miles around. By the twelfth year of the Daye reign, the river on the other side of Longmen also became clear. Two years later, the Tang Dynasty was founded.
In the fourteenth year of the Chen Dynasty, in the seventh month, the Yangtze River turned blood red, flowing from Jiankang to Jingzhou in the west. In the Zhenming era, the Yangtze River turned red again, this time flowing from Fangzhou eastward to the sea. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "When fire burns water, it is a sign of a water disaster, indicating that the ruler's laws are harsh and punishments cruel, harming the nature of water. The five elements change unpredictably, and yin and yang influence each other; various abnormal phenomena signal the country's impending downfall." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhan" also states: "When water turns into blood, it means war is about to break out." At that time, Chen Houzhu had just ascended to the throne and was implementing a cruel and tyrannical rule, which fulfilled this omen. Later, the Chen Dynasty was indeed destroyed by the Sui Dynasty.
In the second year of the Zhenming era, in the fourth month, the river water at Nanpu in Yingzhou turned as black as ink. Black water appeared in the Guanzhong region, and the river water in Huainan also turned black, indicating that the Jingzhou and Yangzhou regions were about to suffer from military disasters from the Guanzhong region.
In the first year of the Daxiang era of the Later Zhou Dynasty, in the sixth month, the water in the Xianyang Pool turned blood red, mirroring the situation in the fourteenth year of the Chen Dynasty. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Lack of careful consideration is a lack of sage wisdom. Its disasters include confusion, and its punishments are storms, ultimately leading to premature death. There will also be disasters such as the Zhiye Yaonie, Huaxie, Niu Huo, heart disease, Huangsheng Huangxiang, and disasters of the five elements of wood, metal, water, fire, and earth."
In the sixth year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, on the day of Wuxu in the eighth month, a strong wind blew, breaking many trees. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "When a strong wind blows at the sighting of Jiaoxiu, chaos is about to ensue. Within three months, war is sure to break out." That year, the Wei army indeed invaded Zhongli.
In the eleventh month of the third year of Chengsheng, on the day of Guimou, the emperor held a military review in the southern city. A huge north wind suddenly arose, darkening the sky and plunging everything into darkness. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says, "This is a sign of a ruler's incompetence and disorderly rule!" At that time, the emperor had just pacified the rebellion of Hou Jing, and the court officials advised him to return to Danyang. However, he did not listen, became suspicious, and made many foolish decisions, so the heavens used a strong wind to warn him. That year, Western Wei perished.
In the sixth year of Tianjia in the Chen dynasty, in the seventh month of Guiwei, a fierce wind from the southwest toppled the watchtower in Lingtai. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" explains that this is a sign of the power of the ministers. At that time, the crown prince was still young, and Prince Ancheng, Xiao Xu, held all the power, while the emperor failed to rein him in. The next year, the emperor passed away, the crown prince ascended to the throne, and Xiao Xu deposed the crown prince again.
In the twelfth year of Taijian, in the sixth month of Renxu, a strong wind damaged the Gaomen gate. That same year, in the ninth month, a strong wind blew at night, overturning houses and even uprooting trees. This signaled the growing power of Prince Shuling of Shixing.
During the Zhide period, a strong wind knocked down the Zhuque Gate.
In the third year of Zhenming, in the sixth month of Dingsi, a strong wind blew from the northwest, creating massive waves that flooded Shitou City and the Huai River. At that time, the empress appointed Sima Shen, who brutally executed loyal ministers and capable generals. Shen Keqing, Shi Wenqing, and others behaved arrogantly and unlawfully. Jiang Zong, Kong Fan, and others were even more arrogant and indulgent, deceiving the emperor and causing the court to be incompetent and chaotic. This is a punishment from the heavens!
In the second year of Heqi River Qing, a fierce wind howled for thirty days before stopping. At that time, the emperor had just handed over power to corrupt officials and He Shikai, and his tyranny grew ever more oppressive. In the third year of Tiantong, May, another fierce wind blew, darkening the day, causing houses to collapse, and trees to be uprooted. The signs from heaven were unmistakable, but the emperor remained blind to the signs. The following year, the emperor passed away. The emperor ordered that all memorials had to be approved by He Shikai before being presented to him. Prince Zhao of Jùn and Prince Feng of Yì believed that He Shikai was arrogant and unsuitable for a position in the palace, but they fell victim to his false accusations. Prince Zhao of Jùn was executed as a result. He Shikai entered and exited the palace at will, wielding life-and-death power, until he was eventually killed by Prince Langye, Xiaoyan.
In the seventh month of the seventh year, a fierce wind blew from the northwest, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted for five days before stopping. This was a sign of the tyranny of Gao Anagui and Luo Tibo.
In the eleventh month of the twentieth year of Kaihuang, a severe storm hit Chang'an City, with such ferocity that it overturned houses and uprooted trees, resulting in the deaths of thousands in Qinzhou and Longzhou. An earthquake also occurred, with drums sounding on their own, the bell at Jingsha Temple ringing three times by itself, the door lock of the Buddha hall opening by itself, and the bronze statue walking out of the door on its own. This phenomenon of self-sounding drums is attributed to "ghosts" according to ancient texts. As Yang Xiong noted, if the ruler is incompetent and misled by evil people, merely possessing an empty reputation, such strange occurrences will happen. At that time, Empress Dowager Dugu was in power, Yangsu's power was overwhelming, and the emperor believed their slander, dismissing Gao Feng from his position, deposing Crown Prince Yang Yong, and appointing Prince Jin, who was actually a puppet. The emperor's mind was confused, with excessive Yin energy, and the movements of metal and wood signified water overpowering metal. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" suggests that this was all due to "losing the people's hearts." Gao Feng and Yang Yong were unjustly dismissed, which naturally led to the loss of the people's hearts.
In the second year of Renshou, there was a group of Hu people riding a mule in Xihe, suddenly swept up into the sky by a whirlwind, along with a carriage, soaring thousands of feet into the air and then falling heavily and shattering into pieces. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "If everyone does not obey, even the highest virtue will be hidden; strange phenomena will occur." Two years later, Han Wang Liang conspired rebellion in Bingzhou; wasn't this carriage and mule a symbol of his uprising? Flying up and then falling down signified his impending failure. It seemed as if the heavens were warning him: don't mess with the military, you will ultimately fail! But he wouldn't listen. After the death of Emperor Gaozu, he did rise in rebellion, with tens of thousands of troops from various provinces rallying to his cause. However, a month later, he failed. In the second year of Chengsheng in the Liang Dynasty, in the tenth month of Dingmao, a strong wind blew, turning day into night, and the world was shrouded in darkness. This was the doing of the "Night Demon"! Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When the wind rises and the sun is darkened, the people will fall ill, or there will be a rise in bandits." Three years later, the Liang Dynasty was destroyed by the Western Wei. In the third year of Zhengming in the Chen Dynasty, on the first day of the first month, the sky was covered with dark clouds, heavy fog, with a sharp, bitter smell in the air. Emperor Chen was incompetent and foolish; yet another sign of the "Night Demon" at work! "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "When the emperor loses the people's hearts, the ministers will rise, deceive the monarch, and such dark celestial phenomena will appear." At that time, the northern armies had already approached the Yangtze River, Liu Zhuang and Ren Man Nu both came to seek peace, but Emperor Chen believed the words of the treacherous minister Kong Fan; his incompetence ultimately led to the country's destruction. In the winter of the fourth year of Wuding in Dong Wei, a thick fog persisted for six days and nights, with daytime as dark as night. "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "Daytime darkness like night is a sign of Yin Qi invading Yang Qi; ministers will invade the monarch." Sure enough, the next year, Yuan Jin and Liu Siyi plotted to assassinate the Grand General.
In the second year of the reign of Zhou the Great Elephant, Wei Jiong was defeated in Xiang Prefecture and massacred tens of thousands of his supporters at Youyu Garden. Later, the place often heard the sound of ghostly wailing in the middle of the night. "Fan Hong's Biography of the Five Elements" says: "The crying is a sign of death, and it is also the evil spirits that lurk at night. If ghosts cry at night, there will be signs of death." Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" also says: "Ghosts cry at night, the country will perish." Sure enough, the following year, the royal ministers of the Zhou Dynasty were all executed, and the Zhou Dynasty perished.
During the Renshou period, the Renshou Palace and the foot of the Great Wall heard ghostly wails several times. Not long after, Empress Xian and the Emperor both died shortly after in the Renshou Palace.
In the eighth year of Daye, Yang Xuangan rebelled in the Eastern Capital. The Shangshu Fan Zigai massacred tens of thousands of his supporters outside Changxia Gate. By the end of the year, the sounds of ghostly wails and moaning were frequently heard in that place, similar to the earlier omens. "Hong Fan's Biography of the Five Elements" says: "Crying is a sign of death, and it is also the evil spirits that lurk at night. If ghosts cry at night, there will be signs of death." Later, Wang Shichong killed King Dong in Luoyang.
In the first year of Wuping in Later Qi, the sophora tree bloomed but did not bear fruit. The sophora tree symbolizes the offices of the Three Dukes. Blooming but not bearing fruit is a sign of decline. The following year, the Supervisor of the Imperial Scribes was executed, along with Prince Hu Changren of Longdong and the Grand Tutor Wang Yan of Langye, who were also killed, and the Left Chancellor Duan Shao also met his end.
During the reign of the Chen Emperor, there were two beauties named Zhang Guifei and Kong Guifei, both renowned for their stunning beauty. The Chen Emperor was infatuated with them, favoring them over all other concubines in the palace, reveling in pleasure with them daily. He would often stay in the palace for days on end, living a life of excess and indulgence. The treasury was drained, and the people were heavily burdened with taxes, causing widespread discontent among the people and soldiers. When enemies attacked, there was not a single soldier willing to fight to the death. This all stemmed from the chaos caused by women! In the end, during the downfall of the Chen dynasty, the Chen Emperor and the two concubines threw themselves into a well. The Sui army captured Zhang Guifei and executed her, as a way to appease the people of Jiangdong. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Flowers symbolize wealth and beauty. The chaos caused by women is called 'Huaxie'."
The Qi emperor favored a concubine named Feng Xiaolian. She was beautiful, intelligent, talented in playing the pipa, dancing, and singing beautifully. The emperor was enamored with her and elevated her to the rank of Shufei. He provided her with many palace maids to attend to her, with the cost of each maid's attire running into the thousands. At this time, the Zhou army had reached the borders of the Qi kingdom, with urgent warnings from the frontiers and the enemy lurking everywhere. The emperor wanted to retreat and return to the capital, but Feng Xiaolian insisted he continue the siege. The emperor listened to her, leading to delays that allowed the Zhou army to capture Jinzhou. Later, the Qi army and the Zhou army clashed at Jinzhou, and thanks to Feng Xiaolian's influence, the emperor missed several opportunities, ultimately leading to the destruction of the kingdom. Even now, the people of Qi still hold Feng Xiaolian responsible.
Prince Wuling of Liang went to worship the City God, preparing to sacrifice a cow. Suddenly, he saw a red snake coiled around the cow's mouth, which was an ominous sign! Ancient books say that this signifies impending misfortune caused by dragons and snakes. In the past, during the third year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the sacrificial cow had injured its mouth. At that time, everyone believed that this was a sign that the heavens rejected the sacrifice and abandoned Duke Xuan. "The Book of Five Elements" also states: "If a king acts against the will of heaven, disasters caused by dragons and snakes will occur." Although Prince Wuling claimed to be going to rescue, in reality, he was arrogant and unrighteous, so the heavens did not accept his sacrifice, fulfilling the omen of the king's misconduct. As a result, he was indeed defeated by Emperor Yuan.
Later, in the second year of Wuping of Qi, Binzhou presented a five-legged cow, which was also a bad omen. "The Hongfan Book of Five Elements" says: "Abnormalities in cows indicate disasters in the palace." The emperor then launched extensive construction projects, digging ponds, building mountains, and erecting many luxurious palaces in Xuandu Park, indulging in lavish excess. Shortly after the projects were completed, the country fell.
Furthermore, in the sixth year of Jiande of Zhou, three strange creatures appeared in Yangwu, resembling water buffaloes—one yellow, one red, and one black. They fought each other, with the yellow buffalo killing the black buffalo, then the yellow buffalo ran into the river. This also resembled a disaster involving cows. Black was the color revered by the Zhou dynasty, and the demise of the black water buffalo symbolized the fall of the Zhou dynasty. Several years later, the Zhou dynasty indeed fell, and the Sui dynasty established its rule, flying red military flags and clad in yellow uniforms.
During the Deyuan period of the Sui dynasty, a cow appeared on Mount Heng, with a hoof on each knee of each leg. Afterwards, Emperor Yang of Sui built the Eastern Capital in Luoyang, constructed the Great Wall, and excavated canals.
In the third year of the Chen Dynasty, the Sui army arrived at the banks of the Yangtze River. The Chen emperor nonchalantly remarked, "The Qi army has come three times, and the Zhou army has come twice, and we defeated them all. What could they possibly do?" The official responsible for documentation, Kong Fan, said, "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier, historically serving to separate the north from the south. How could the northern army possibly cross over? I have always worried about my low rank, but if they really cross the river, I might get promoted to General!" The Chen emperor was quite pleased to hear this, so he played music, summoned dancers, drank, and continuously composed poetry. This was a clear display of incompetence! At such a critical moment for the survival of the country, decisions are made in an instant, and both the ruler and his ministers should be working tirelessly. However, the Chen emperor showed no fear, and Kong Fan indulged along with him. Even the heavens could no longer stand by, so how could the Chen Dynasty possibly survive? Ultimately, the Chen kingdom fell, and Kong Fan was exiled to a distant land.
Emperor Wenxuan of Qi once held a banquet on Mount Dongshan. Suddenly, he erupted in anger, ordered a western expedition, and boasted of the strength of his army. But shortly after, he cried to his ministers, "This black robe is unfit for me." In the end, the western expedition did not take place. Insightful observers believed that the emperor was already mentally deranged, knowing that his reign would not last long. Later, Emperor Wenxuan of Qi did indeed fall ill, became addicted to wine and women, his temperament became erratic and volatile, and he died a few years later.
Emperor Wucheng mourned the death of his mother, but he still wore a red official robe. Not long after, he ascended the Three Terraces, held banquets, and enjoyed himself. When a servant presented him with a white official robe, he erupted in anger and tossed the white robe aside. He died shortly thereafter.
In the first year of the Da Tong era of the Liang Dynasty, there was a rain of mud across the land. In the second year, there was ash rain throughout the land that was yellow. This shade of yellow was akin to an auspicious hue. Jing Fang said in "Yi Fei Hou": "Ignoring good omens means that there is already a premonition in the heart. The appearance of an unusual yellow hue signifies that disaster is imminent, because the ruler does not listen to advice, leading to the sign of the country's destruction." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang thought he was wise and disliked people who were more capable than him. He was also a devout believer in Buddhism, even treating himself like a slave, which was the reason for his punishment for obstructing wise governance and deviating from the right path.
In the first month of the first year of Da Bao of the Liang Dynasty, there was a rain of yellow sand across the land. In the second year, Emperor Jianwen dreamt of swallowing a lump of mud. Shortly after, he was deposed by Hou Jing, suffocated under a bag of mud, and his sons were also killed, realizing the prophecy of "no heir."
During the reign of Chen Houzhu, he dreamt of people in yellow clothing surrounding the city. Chen Houzhu disliked this dream, so he cut down all the orange trees in the city. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty ascended to the throne, the court and the people all wore yellow clothes. Shortly after, the Sui army attacked and surrounded the Chen Dynasty, realizing the omen of Chen Houzhu's dream.
In the first month of the second year of Da Xiang of the Later Zhou Dynasty, there was, in fact, a rain of yellow earth from the sky, which stopped after a while. This mirrored exactly what had occurred in the first year of Da Tong. At that time, the emperor was already extremely incompetent, and soon he died, passing the throne to the Jing Emperor. This realized the omen of the country's decline and its lack of successors.
In the second year of the Kaihuang era, there was a strange dust rain in the capital city. At that time, the emperor learned from the downfall of the Zhou dynasty due to the weakness of the vassals, so he appointed his sons to different regions and allowed them to set up their own offices, granting them significant power. However, instead of problems arising from the land, there was a phenomenon of auspicious soil energy, which led these princes to harbor rebellious thoughts later. Jing Fang once said in "Yifeihou": "If yellow earth falls from the sky, the common people will toil in vain." During the construction of the capital and later the Renshou Palace, mountains were leveled and valleys were filled, resulting in the deaths of a large number of workers.
In the first year of the Taiqing era of the Liang dynasty, a woman in Danyang named Mo 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. The moment the child was born, he spoke: "I am the drought demon, I can't stay here." His mother pleaded for her own life, and the drought demon responded: "There are powers above me, I cannot leave at will. Hurry and make a crimson hat, then everything will be fine." His mother did not have time to make a hat, so she tied a red cloth around the child's head. After that, a drought lasted for two years, with severe disasters in Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. Many of Mo's neighbors were spared from disaster by wearing red, but the same practice in other areas had no effect.
In the second year of the Dabao era, a five-year-old child in Jingkou climbed to the top of a high building at the southwest corner of the city wall and played the drum while performing "The Yangtze River Levee." The drum symbolized the military, and at that time, Hou Jing was causing trouble in the south of the Yangtze River.
In the third year of the Yongding era of the Chen dynasty, a man who was three zhang tall appeared on Mount Luofu, dressed in luxurious white garments. Jing Fang's divination predicted: "The appearance of a giant signifies the fall of the nation." Two years later, the emperor passed away.
When the crown prince was in power, a woman stormed into the Eastern Palace, shouting, "The ruler of Bi!" Later, when the crown prince ascended the throne, the nation quickly fell, fulfilling this omen.
In the third year of the Zhide era in August, a maid in Jiankang died, but astonishingly came back to life nine days after being buried. A cowherd heard the commotion and dug her out. In the second year of the Zhenming era, a ship was launched when suddenly someone exclaimed, "There will be chaos next year." People looked and found a dead baby in the ship, two feet long but without a head. The following year, the Chen dynasty fell. During the Tianbao era of the Qi dynasty, a woman in Linzhang gave birth to a child with two heads but one body. After that, the court was controlled by treacherous officials, where the distinction between the upper and lower classes vanished, fulfilling the omen of "two heads." During the reign of the last ruler, there was a monk who looked like a madman, bowing to crows while berating monks. Crows symbolize the Zhou dynasty. Not long after, the Qi dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty, and Buddhism was banned. In the third year of the Baoding era of the Later Zhou dynasty, a man gave birth to a boy whose reproductive organs were on his back, resembling a tail, and toes resembling claws of a wild beast. Reproductive organs should not be on the back, and toes should not have claws, signifying a disruption of yin and yang and the breakdown of order between rulers and their ministers! At that time, Prince Jin Yuweng Hu seized power alone, with ambitious intentions to usurp the throne. This served as a warning from the heavens that the order between rulers and ministers was in chaos, and significant events were imminent! The emperor understood this omen, so he executed Yuweng Hu, took control of the court, and adopted a frugal lifestyle, eventually pacifying the Qi state and proclaiming himself as Emperor Gaozu, effectively transforming peril into safety!
During the reign of Emperor Wu, there was a muscular man who trained in martial arts. He feigned madness, carrying a gourd to Yuwen Hu's doorstep. He smashed the gourd and shouted, "You can still live, but your son is in trouble!" At that time, Yuwen Hu wielded significant power but was killed by the Emperor's men as he was paying respects to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor sent troops to capture Yuwen Hu's sons, who all took poison to commit suicide. The strong man later emerged to beg for food, and someone gave him food. He used a bag with no bottom to collect the food, laughing and saying, "It's empty!" Shortly thereafter, the Zhou Dynasty fell, the founding emperor relocated 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 fierce beast.
In the seventh year, a monk in Xiangzhou turned into a snake, his tail wrapped around a tree as he whipped himself, measuring two zhang in length.
In the fourth year of the Renshou era, a person several zhang tall appeared at Yingmen, leaving footprints four feet five inches long. That year, the emperor died.
In the first year of the Daye era, a hundred-year-old man named Fang Huian from Yanmen developed a two-cun-long horn on his forehead. The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" states, "Women belong to Yin, horns belong to soldiers, the lower part responds to the upper part." Later, chaos erupted, with enemy troops surrounding the emperor at Yanmen.
In the fourth year, a woman in Songgu Village, Yanmen, gave birth to a meat egg the size of a large bushel, which she buried in the ground. A few days later, dark clouds gathered over the burial site, and there was a loud rumble as a hole appeared, but the egg had vanished.
In the sixth year, a maid from the Li family in Zhaojun gave birth to an object the size of a chicken egg.
On the first day of the lunar new year, a thief dressed in a white practice skirt and holding incense claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. He went to Jianguo Gate, stole weapons from the guards, and attempted to start a rebellion. Prince Qi, Yang Jian, confronted him and killed him. Three years later, Yang Xuan rebelled, leading troops to besiege Luoyang, but was ultimately defeated and killed.
Legend has it that eight years ago, there was a fellow named Cheng Gong who was yelling like a lunatic in the Eastern Capital, saying he wanted to rebel. The emperor was furious upon hearing this. Consequently, the following year, Xuan Gan actually revolted and besieged Luoyang.
Twelve years later on, Cheng Gong began yelling about rebelling once more. Li Mi drew near to the Eastern Capital, and Meng Rang torched Fengdu and made a quick escape.
Nine years earlier, the emperor was in Gaoyang. There was a man from Tang County named Song Zixian who was particularly skilled in performing magic. Every night, strange lights would emanate from his upstairs room, and he could even create Buddha statues, claiming to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha. He also hung a large mirror in his hall, reflecting images of snakes, beasts, and people drawn on paper. When someone came to visit him, he would turn the mirror and show them their form in the next life. If the mirror reflected the shape of a snake, Song Zixian would say, "You have committed serious sins, quickly recite more sutras!" and then have them bow once more, showing them the image of a person in the mirror. The people nearby were all deceived by him, and thousands flocked to pay their respects to him every day. Later, Song Zixian secretly plotted a rebellion, intending to rise during a large Buddhist event known as the "Unobstructed Buddha Assembly" and attack the emperor's carriage. The plan was discovered, and General Yangyang led troops to arrest him. When they arrived at his home that night, they circled the house and only saw a large fire pit, so the soldiers were hesitant to enter. General Yangyang said, "There had been no fire pit here before; it must be some kind of sorcery!" Once they entered, the fire pit vanished. Song Zixian was then captured and executed, resulting in the execution of over a thousand families. Later, a monk by the name of Xiang Haiming claimed to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha in Fufeng and secretly plotted a rebellion. Anyone who followed him would have pleasant dreams. Therefore, everyone believed in him, and the people of the Guanzhong region viewed him as a great sage. He eventually rose in rebellion with tens of thousands of followers, but was ultimately defeated by the imperial forces. Jing Fang stated in "Yifei Hou": "Deceptive words mislead the masses; people become disillusioned, and no one walks the roads. Within three years, someone will surely rise in rebellion." Since then, chaos erupted, and indeed, no one dared to walk the roads.
In November of the fifth year of the Liang Dynasty, an earthquake occurred in the capital city, affecting the five elements: wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" warns: "Powerful officials will stir up trouble and bring harm to the region." Jing Fang also mentioned in "Yi Feihou" that "if there is an earthquake in November, there will be famine in that area." At that time, the Governor of Jiaozhou, Li Kai, rose in rebellion. The following year, there was frost, leading to a poor harvest and famine among the people.
In January of the third year of Emperor Wen's reign, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. At that time, the Governor of Yizhou, Wen Senglang, led a rebellion alongside the people of his province.
In December of the sixth year, another earthquake occurred. Jing Fang stated in "Yi Feihou" that "if there is an earthquake with sound in winter, there will be war in that area in December." The Emperor then ordered Prince Yong of Yuzhang to lead troops on a northern expedition.
In January of the year 515 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiankang. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" records: "When the earth moves in spring, the year will not prosper." That year, there was also a major flood, resulting in famine among the people.
In November of the year 518 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. Jing Fang's "Yi Feihou" states: "If there is an earthquake in November, the city will face great losses and famine." The following year, severe frost led to starvation among the people.
In October of the year 520 AD, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. That year, there was a bandit uprising in the Kuaiji region.
In February of the year 523 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. That year, Li Ben from Jiaozhou led a rebellion and drove away Governor Xiao Zi.
In leap January of the year 525 AD, an earthquake occurred. Li Ben declared himself emperor and set up a full bureaucratic system.
In April of the year 548 AD, Jiankang experienced two more earthquakes. At that time, Hou Jing declared himself Grand Chancellor and disregarded the Emperor's orders. In the same month, the Emperor died from overwhelming grief.
In May of the year 556 AD, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. At that time, Wang Lin in Yingzhou crowned Xiao Zhuang as emperor.
In November of the year 560 AD, an earthquake occurred. Chen Baoying rebelled in the region of Minzhong.
In January of the year 561 AD, an earthquake occurred, signaling the rise of power for Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing.
In November of the year 529 AD, the Western River region experienced a sinkhole and a fire. Jing Fang's "Book of Divination" records: "When the earth sinks, its ruler will perish." Zu Xun explained: "Fire represents yang energy; earth represents yin energy. When the earth catches fire, it means yin energy is destroyed, yang energy is in chaos, indicating that the ministers have usurped too much power, and in the end, they will bring about their own destruction." At that time, Gao Huan was in power, while Hou Jing wielded significant influence in Henan. Two years later, Gao Huan indeed passed away, and as a result, Hou Jing rebelled and ultimately failed, leading to his death.
In the year 530 AD, an earthquake occurred in Bingzhou. This was a sign of Shi Kai's usurpation of power.
In the year 574 AD, the Liangzhou region experienced a series of frequent earthquakes, with many city walls collapsing and springs gushing out. Jing Fang's "Book of Divination" states: "When the earth splits, the Qiang and Yi tribes rebel." At that time, the Tuyuhun tribe frequently raided the Hexi region.
In May of the year 584 AD, an earthquake struck the capital city. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "When the earth shakes in May, people will scatter." That year, there was a famine in the Guanzhong region, and the emperor ordered the people to go to the Guandong region for food.
In April of the year 586 AD, earthquakes occurred in Qizhou and Yongzhou. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "When the earth shakes in April, the crops will fail, leading to widespread hunger."
In the year 588 AD, a mountain collapsed in Liangzhou at Gushan. "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" records: "When the mountain collapses, it signals betrayal and disregard for authority." Liangzhou was within the territory of the Han Dynasty, and the following year, Prince Liang indeed revolted.
In the seventh year of Daye, the Dizhushan mountain collapsed, blocking the Yellow River and causing the river water to flow backward for several miles. Liu Xiang said in "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan": "The mountain symbolizes the king; water represents yin energy and also the people. Heaven is warning that if the king's power becomes too heavy, it will collapse, and the people will be displaced." At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was mobilizing troops to attack the Liaodong, and the common people could not bear such heavy labor, leading to widespread discontent and rebellions across the country. Emperor Yang of Sui failed to grasp the underlying reasons, which ultimately led to the country's downfall.
In the "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan," it is also said: "If the emperor cannot reach the pinnacle of governance, then the political authority has not been properly established. The fault lies in incompetence; the punishment is severe, and ultimately leads to weakness. At this time, there will be incidents of shooting and slaying demons, disasters involving dragons and snakes, and disasters involving horses harming people."
In the twentieth year of Kaihuang, there was an extended period of continuous rain. Liu Xiang remarked, "If the ruler is morally corrupt, and the ministers have strong power that blinds the monarch, there will be continuous rainy weather." At that time, Empress Dugu and Yang Su secretly framed Crown Prince Yang Yong, reducing his status to that of a commoner.
In the fourth year of Wuding in Eastern Wei, Emperor Wen of Northern Qi was in power and personally led the army to attack Western Wei at Yubi. In November of that year, Emperor Wen fell ill and returned to the capital. The soldiers were filled with fear, saying, "Wei Xiaokuan used the Dinggong crossbow to shoot and kill the prime minister." Western Wei issued an order nationwide: "With one shot of the strong crossbow, the wicked will perish." Emperor Wen of Northern Qi was furious upon hearing this, and his condition worsened. This was likely a portent of shooting and slaying demons. "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "Shooting is a symbol of military disaster, with the energy going against the sky; disaster is about to happen." Emperor Wen continued to march, and General Cao Weizu advised him in the palace: "Your Majesty, you are opposing the natural order by countering life with death energy, which is not good for the guest army, but harmful to yourself." However, Emperor Wen did not listen, and the army remained in place for fifty days, suffering multiple defeats. He then believed the false advice, cutting off the Fen River in the north of the city and building up an earthen mound. The terrain there was steep, over a thousand feet high, and the project was ultimately left unfinished, leading to the deaths of seventy thousand people. This serves as retribution for defying the natural order! Emperor Wen died that year. The subsequent year, Wang Sizheng instigated chaos in the Henan region.
Back in Wuping, the emperor returned from Bingzhou to Ye City, passing through Bagong Ridge. In the middle of the night, he was walking with his entourage, singing and dancing. Suddenly, someone suddenly went mad, thinking that the emperor was bewitched by a fox spirit, hiding in the bushes and shooting arrows. As a result, several bystanders were injured, and the emperor was almost shot. The emperor seized him on the spot and ordered his execution. At that time, the man had no clue what he was doing. Claiming that a fox spirit bewitched him is just absurd! At that time, the emperor didn't care about state affairs at all, spending his days singing, drinking, and partying with palace maids and eunuchs. He even went out begging for pleasure in tattered clothes, which were all bad omens! Someone shooting him with a bow and arrow was a sign of trouble to come! Not long after, the country was destroyed.
In the second year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, a dragon was seen fighting in the Tan River in Beiliangzhou, and mist covered the area for miles around. This dragon fight was a sign of trouble from both dragons and snakes! According to the "Hongfan Five Elements Biography": "Dragons are fierce beasts that are difficult to deal with. In the sky, they are celestial phenomena, and on earth, they are symbols of kings. When celestial phenomena are damaged, the king's authority is undermined, and the dragon will also be affected. Dragon fighting is a sign of military disaster." Jing Fang also said in "Yi Feihou": "When people's hearts are restless, strange things like dragons fighting will happen." At that time, the newly crowned emperor faced rebellions from Chen Bozhi and Liu Jilian. The people were gripped by panic and fear.
In June of the fifth year of Taizong's reign, a dragon fought at Qu'awangbei, then headed west to Jianling City. Trees along the dragon's path were broken for dozens of zhang. This mirrored the events of the second year of Tianjian. When the dragon passed through Jianling, trees were broken, signifying an impending large-scale war and the destruction of the imperial tomb! At that time, the emperor was only focused on studying the classics and history, neglecting agriculture and military affairs, resulting in weak military combat power and lazy soldiers. The king's way was compromised, leading to strange occurrences like dragons fighting. The emperor was completely oblivious. In the first year of Taiqing, dragons were seen fighting in the waters of Lizhou, with towering waves and swirling clouds. People even saw a white dragon running south, followed by a black dragon. That year, Hou Jing surrendered with his troops, which sparked panic across the nation. Soon, chaos erupted, and the emperor died of excessive worry and melancholy.
In the summer of the tenth year of Dadi, thunder suddenly roared at night, and a dragon fell into a well in a Yanling household! The next morning, the dragon, about the size of a donkey, was found in the well! Some attempted to slay it with a halberd, but in an instant, many large snakes appeared in the courtyard and house, as large as boats carrying hundreds of dou! The entire family was terrified and scattered in all directions. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "The dragon, a masculine symbol of nobility, should be in the sky or on the ground, not in the towns and houses of common people. Wells are deep places, indicating that the princes would face imprisonment and disaster due to the emperor's negligence." Later, Hou Jing rebelled, imprisoning and killing Emperor Jianwen in the wine cellar, and the imperial relatives and nobles met the same fate, being imprisoned and killed.
In the eleventh year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, in the first month, a dragon appeared in Chizili in Nan Yan Prefecture, mirroring the omen of the dragon that appeared in the tenth year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty. Not long after, the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty ascended the throne. He was arrogant and indulgent, neglecting state affairs and failing at everything he attempted. In the end, the country was destroyed, and he himself was imprisoned and died.
In the first year of the Wuding era of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, a large snake appeared in Wulao City. At that time, the wife of Gao Zhongmi, the governor of Beiyu Prefecture, Li, was beautiful and intelligent. The crown prince Gao Cheng fell in love with her, causing Gao Zhongmi to feel uneasy. He then rebelled with Wulao City, secretly colluding with the Western Wei Dynasty, and fought a major battle with the Eastern Wei army in Heyang. Gao Huan (Emperor Shiwu) was almost defeated by the Western Wei army and barely managed to escape, with the deaths of several thousand people.
In the ninth year of the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a dragon of seven to eight zhang in length appeared in the main hall of Qizhou, echoing the omen of the dragon that appeared in the tenth year of the Datong era. At that time, the Changshan and Changguang kings had great power, but the emperor did not want to suppress them. The following year, the emperor died, and Crown Prince Gao Yin ascended the throne. King Changshan, Gao Yan, did indeed depose Gao Yin, imprisoning and killing him, and proclaimed himself emperor.
In the first year of the Heqing era, a dragon appeared in the bathhouse of Jizhou, mirroring the omen of the ninth year of Tianbao. Previously, King Guiyan of Pingqin received the posthumous edict of Emperor Zhao, appointing Crown Prince Gao Bai Nian as the heir. However, Guiyan appointed King Changguang, Gao Zhan, as the heir, who later became Emperor Wu Cheng. Gao Bai Nian was deposed as the Prince of Leling and eventually imprisoned and killed.
In the fourth year of the Tiantong era, someone in Guixiang cut down a dead tree and found a yellow dragon with a broken leg, dead in the tree hole. During that time, the Qi Dynasty valued wood as a symbol of virtue. The dragon symbolized the emperor, and the death of the tree signified the dragon's demise, which was a very ominous sign. That year, Emperor Wu Cheng died.
In the third year of Wuping, a dragon appeared in a well in Handan, with colorful dragon aura soaring into the sky. A dragon also appeared in a dried well in a Buddhist temple in Jijun, similar to the omen from the first year of Heqing. Later, Gao Wei, the last ruler of Northern Qi, surrendered to Northern Zhou and was eventually killed.
In the seventh year of Wuping, a red snake and a black snake appeared fighting under Zhaoyuan Tower in Bingzhou. After several days, the red snake died. Red is the color of Qi country, while black is the color of Zhou country. The death of the two fighting snakes is a sign that the nation is on the brink of collapse! Later, the emperor placed his trust in treacherous individuals, fought against the Zhou army in Jinzhou, and even handed the army over to the treacherous Gao Anagong, who conspired against him. This was a result of the emperor's own lack of caution! Eventually, the emperor was captured by the Zhou army.
Prince Yan of Langya dismantled a white horse stupa in the Northern Palace, constructed by Chengong during the Stone Zhao era. As a result, a large white snake several feet long appeared, vanishing without a trace. At that time, Prince Yan of Langya was tyrannical and ruthless, indiscriminately executing innocents, which led to his downfall! He failed to be vigilant in the face of unusual phenomena, ultimately leading to disaster.
In the fifth year of Jiande in Later Zhou, a black dragon fell dead in Bozhou. The dragon's death is an extremely ominous sign! At that time, the crown prince proved to be incompetent, and the emperor was constantly worried about it. Honorable ministers like Wang Gui and Yuwen Xiaobo repeatedly requested the removal of the crown prince, but the emperor ignored their counsel. Two years later, the emperor died, the crown prince succeeded to the throne, and ruthlessly executed the Prince of Qi and Xiaobo, leading to the ultimate demise of the country.
In the fourth year of Renshou, a dragon appeared in a well at the General's Office in Daizhou. This dragon would sometimes transform into an iron horse, and other times into the form of a soldier bending a bow and shooting arrows. The transformation into an iron horse indicated a disaster involving horses, while bending a bow and shooting arrows, resembling shooting demons, foretold of war between the princes, which would lead to imprisonment. At that time, Han Wang Liang was secretly planning a rebellion, so these omens appeared to warn him. Liang did not heed the warnings, eventually rebelled, but after his defeat, he was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned until his death.
When Hou Jing declared himself emperor in Jiangnan, every time he went to battle, if his white horse neighed and kicked, he was sure to win, but if it hung its head in despair, he was sure to lose. In the battle of Xizhou, his white horse lay down and could not get up, despite Hou Jing's pleas and attempts to prod it. This was a disaster involving horses! "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" said: "Horses are a symbol of the army, indicating that enemies will invade, hence the strange phenomena involving horses." Consequently, Hou Jing faced a crushing defeat.
In the fifth year of Chen Taijian, horses in Hengzhou started growing horns. "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" said: "Horse horns symbolize war, a sign of destruction!" At that time, Emperor Chen Xuan sent Wu Mingche to lead troops to Lvliang to confront the Zhou dynasty army. After years of fighting and heavy casualties, Wu Mingche was eventually captured by the Zhou dynasty army.
During the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a horse with horns appeared in Guangzong, the horns sprouting from the middle of its ears, resembling a sheep's tail. Jing Fang stated in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor personally leads troops into battle, horses will grow horns." Four years later, the Khitan people invaded the border, and Emperor Wenxuan personally led the army into battle, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
In the fourth year of Daye, many horses died in the stables of Taiyuan, nearly half of them. Upon hearing this, the emperor was furious and dispatched someone to investigate. The stablemaster explained, "Every night, the horses inexplicably frighten themselves, which is why so many have died." The emperor then summoned a wizard to investigate. Knowing that the emperor planned to attack Liaodong, the wizard said what the emperor wanted to hear: "The late emperor sent Yang Su and Shi Wan to attack Liaodong; they were accompanied by ghost soldiers!" Upon hearing this, the emperor was delighted and immediately freed the stablemaster. "Hong Fan Wuxing Zhuan" writes, "Defying the will of heaven, that's why so many horses died." During that time, the emperor traveled extensively each year, visiting the northern foot of the Great Wall and Qumul in the west, which brought great suffering to the people. It seemed heaven was warning him: stop keeping so many horses and wandering around! However, the emperor ignored the warnings, leading to chaos across the realm.
In the eleventh year of Daye, three counties in Henan and Fufeng saw the emergence of horses with long horns, measuring several inches in length. This mirrored the situation during the Tianbao period! At that time, the emperor personally led his troops against Goryeo every year.
In the first year of Yining, at the Longma stables in Jiangdu Palace, many horses inexplicably died—several hundred in just ten days. This situation was identical to that of the fourth year of Daye!
