In the fourth month of the first year of Emperor Wu's reign in the Liang Dynasty, a severe hailstorm occurred. According to historical texts, "Hail is a sign of Yin energy encroaching upon Yang energy." At that time, Emperor Wu of Liang always served as a servant to the monks, devoutly believing in Buddhism, completely at the mercy of the monks.
In the sixth month of the second year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, another hailstorm struck; in the fourth month of the tenth year, there was yet another hailstorm; and in the ninth month of the thirteenth year, hail fell again. During this period, the Prince of Shixing, Shuling, was arrogant and domineering, secretly amassing assassins and plotting rebellion, while the emperor placed great trust in him, leading to three ominous signs from heaven. Yet, the emperor failed to comprehend this. When the emperor died, Shuling indeed rebelled.
In his later years, Emperor Wenxuan donned luxurious silks and satins, heavy makeup, and often wore barbarian attire, disguising himself for secret visits to the streets. Heavy makeup is typically associated with women; men dressing as women and monarchs dressing as commoners signals impending change! After his death, the crown prince ascended the throne, only to be deposed and become the King of Jinan. Moreover, the Qi Dynasty's ancestors hailed from the Yin Mountains, and his choice of barbarian clothing seemed a bid to return to ancestral attire. Luxurious clothing is not the proper attire for emperors to wear, and disguising oneself to visit the streets is something only commoners do, a sign of the downfall of the Qi Dynasty!
Empress Lou of the Qi Dynasty lay bedridden, and her nightgown inexplicably floated on its own; shortly after, she passed away.
Emperor Wen of the Chen Dynasty liked to have palace maids make headpieces resembling hair buns out of white coarse cloth and also made carriage covers out of white cloth. Both of these items are associated with funerals! Consequently, Empress Dowager Chen was indeed overthrown by Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, and both she and her son were executed.
During Emperor Wu's reign in the Zhou Dynasty, Empress Dowager Chen established a "Village for Poor Children" in the palace gardens, where she amusingly begged in tattered clothes. Ultimately, Empress Dowager Chen was defeated by the Zhou Dynasty, captured, and taken to Chang'an, where she died; her concubines fell into poverty and were forced to survive by selling candles.
In the first year of Emperor Xuan of the Zhou Dynasty, he wore a ceremonial robe adorned with twenty-four tassels, and the attire for carriages, horses, flags, and drums also featured the number twenty-four. The guards' attire was vibrant, interspersed with red and purple. He decreed that all vehicles across the country should have large wooden wheels, without spokes. Court officials were prohibited from wearing jade belts, and women were required to apply black eyeliner and yellow eyebrows. He also had funeral tents constructed, where the five empresses were housed separately, with sacrificial vessels arranged in front for ancestral worship, which the emperor personally recited the sacrificial texts. He had five luxurious carriages transporting women while he walked behind with his guards. He also hung upside-down chickens and broken tiles on the carriage, finding amusement in the sounds they produced. These were all acts of malevolence! Shortly thereafter, he died unexpectedly, and the regime fell into the hands of the Sui Dynasty, with the laws of the Zhou Dynasty being completely altered by the Sui.
During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, the women in the households of Wang Yong of Fangling and Wang Shiji of Yiyang wore headscarves resembling army flags. These women symbolized yin, while the ministers symbolized yang, and donning the banners of the troops implied that the ministers would encounter military calamities! Eventually, Wang Yong of Fangling was indeed harmed, and Wang Shiji was executed as well.
During the Kaihuang period, someone submitted a memorial indicating that for several years, when the rooster crowed, it failed to flap its wings, as if something was obstructing it beneath its wings, preventing it from lifting them. This suggested that high-ranking officials in the court were on the verge of misfortune! The emperor dismissed him. In Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou," it states: "When the rooster crows without flapping its wings, the country will face great calamity." Subsequently, many high-ranking officials were executed, numerous princes were deposed, and the crown prince was imprisoned as well.
During the early years of the Daye era, chickens across the country began crowing at night. The "Yi Fei Hou" in the Jing Fang said, "Chickens crow at night, urgent commands." It also stated, "Crow at night when it's dark, the people will face disasters; if they crow when most people are asleep, there will be war; if they crow in the middle of the night, blood will flow like a river." After the mid-Sui Dynasty, the country faced many issues and lacked sufficient funds, so taxes were hastily increased, and local officials were severely punished. The common people could not survive, rebelled, and wars broke out, leaving many dead in their wake.
During the Kaihuang era, every night at the Imperial Palace, someone would harass the palace maids. The palace steward reported this to the emperor. The emperor said, "How could someone enter the palace with such tight security? It must be a demon!" He then warned the palace maids, "If you encounter it, chop it!" Later, something that looked like a person climbed onto a bed at night, and the palace maid struck it with a knife, as if hitting bone. The thing fell off the bed and ran away. The palace maid chased it, and it drowned in a pond. The next day, the emperor had the water drained from the pond, and a large turtle, over a foot long with knife marks on its shell, was found. The emperor ordered it to be killed, and this incident never happened again. Turtles live in water and are very symbolic, representing conspiracy, a sign that the Prince of Jin wanted to please the people in the palace and seek heirs.
In the second year of Zhenming in the Chen Dynasty, in April, countless rats poured from the shores of Caizhou into the Huai River at Shitoucheng, all the way to both banks of Qingtang. Several days later, these rats all died and floated down the river, near Qingxiang. The "Yi Fei Hou" in the Jing Fang said, "Rats gather in groups for no reason, not digging holes or nesting, indicating that the ruler of the realm is on the verge of death." Shortly thereafter, the Chen Dynasty met its demise.
In the autumn of the seventh month of the sixth year of the Jia Tian reign of the Chen Dynasty, the Yixian Hall collapsed inexplicably, which was related to the negative influence of metal and wood at that time. At that time, the emperor was busy with construction projects, building five palaces including the Xiande Hall, which were said to be magnificent and gorgeous, but the common people were left unemployed, so the wood lost its normal characteristics. Yixian Hall, which symbolizes respect for the elderly and virtuous, collapsed inexplicably, as if the heavens were sending a warning: "Emperor, your extravagance is unwarranted." The emperor did not understand and died the following year.
In June of the first year of the Zhenming era, the sounds of sawing and chopping echoed in the water pavilion in the palace, and then the pavilion inexplicably collapsed. In the seventh month, the Vermilion Bird Canal also mysteriously sank. At that time, the later emperor was extravagantly building gardens but neglected ancestral sacrifices. The water pavilion was a place for the emperor's leisure and banquets; the Vermilion Bird Canal was the gateway to the capital. They inexplicably broke down, as if the heavens were warning: palaces are destroyed, roads are cut off. The later emperor failed to grasp this, ultimately leading to his downfall at the hands of the Sui Dynasty, with palaces and temples turning into ruins.
During the reign of Emperor Xiaozhao of the Qi Dynasty, he wanted to kill Yang Yin. While traveling to the provincial capital, the pole of his sedan chair snapped when entering the east gate. The emperor was furious and died a year later. "The pole broke for no reason."
In the third year of the Heqing era, the beams of the official residence in Changguang County suddenly split apart, taking on a shape resembling a human figure. The magistrate was very scared and had the cracked wood cut away, but the next day it cracked open again. Changguang was the emperor's fief, and such a change in the wood was an ominous sign. That year, the emperor died.
In the autumn of the seventh year of the Wuping era, Empress Mu was going to Jin Yang and first went to bid farewell to Empress Hu at the Northern Palace. When she arrived at the palace gate, the Seven Treasures carriage she was in unexpectedly sank into the ground, with the ox's legs sinking in as well. "The Seven Treasures carriage sank into the ground for no reason, with the ox losing its four legs." That year marked the fall of the Qi Dynasty, and the empress was captured and taken to Chang'an.
In the sixth year of the Later Zhou Dynasty, the Qingcheng Gate collapsed for unknown reasons. The color green symbolizes the east and the Eastern Palace. At that time, the Crown Prince displayed neither dignity nor proper etiquette, and the Qingcheng Gate collapsed inexplicably, which was a sign of the Crown Prince's incompetence. The Emperor did not understand. The following year, the Crown Prince ascended the throne and indeed became a weak ruler. The downfall of the Later Zhou Dynasty began at this moment.
During the reign of the Sui Dynasty, Prince Qi Yang Jian built a mansion in the Eastern Capital, and the beams of the newly built sleeping palace inexplicably broke. At that time, the Emperor had no Crown Prince, and everyone thought Yang Jian should succeed to the throne. The court officials all looked to him, but Yang Jian became arrogant and reckless, even consulting fortune tellers and engaging in superstitious practices. The inexplicable breaking of the beams in the sleeping palace foreshadowed treachery. Heaven warned him through this anomaly, but Yang Jian did not understand and eventually offended the Emperor.
The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Words spoken but not heard indicate poor governance. Its sin lies in usurpation, its punishment is prolonged drought, and its ultimate result is calamity. Sometimes there will be poetry demonized, sometimes there will be insect disasters like caterpillars, sometimes there will be dog-related calamities. This can lead to disputes and make it hard to distinguish between good and bad. Only when wood restrains metal is it normal."
Prince Wuling of the Liang Dynasty usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, with the reign title Tianzheng. Marquis Yongfeng Xiao Hui said, "Your Highness, this time it’s not going to end well. Previously, Huan Xuan's reign title was Daheng, and those with foresight warned, 'it will be over by the second month,' and indeed Huan Xuan failed in early spring. Today, it is Tianzheng, and when you break down the character '正' (zheng), it means 'to stop.' Can it last long?" Indeed, a year later, he failed.
During the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Qi, Crown Prince Yin was to hold a crowning ceremony. The emperor ordered Xing Zicai to create the characters on the crown for him. Xing Zicai wrote the characters "正道" (The Right Way). The emperor said, "'正' means 'to stop.' Is my son doomed?" Xing Zicai requested a change, but the emperor disagreed, saying, "It is the will of heaven!" He then turned to Prince Yen of Changshan and said, "I leave the opportunity to take over the world to you, but do not kill him!" When the emperor died, the crown prince succeeded him, and Prince Yen of Changshan indeed deposed himself and became emperor. Crown Prince Yin was soon killed.
During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, the Left Chancellor, Shi Kai, said to the emperor, "Since ancient times, emperors all eventually turn to dust. What's the difference between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou in the end? Your Majesty should enjoy happiness while young and strong. A day of pleasure is worth a thousand years. Don't waste your efforts on frugality." The emperor was pleased to hear his words and indulged in more excess. Shi Kai not only led the emperor down the wrong path but also wielded power and was eventually killed by the chief censor.
During the Wuping period, the Chen army attacked Pengcheng, and the emperor was deeply concerned. Han Changluan, the attendant, said, "Even if we lose Henan, we can still be the ruler of Guizi. Huainan has already been lost, so what’s there to worry about? Life is short, so just enjoy yourself and don't worry." The emperor was very happy and became immersed in wine and women, neglecting the affairs of the state. Before long, the Zhou dynasty wiped out the state.
In the seventh year of Wuping, the emperor faced defeat at the hands of the Zhou army and fled to Ye City, proclaiming himself as the abdicating emperor and passing the throne to his son Heng, changing the era name to Longhua. At that time, people rearranged the characters "隆化" to read as "降死" (surrendering to death). He indeed surrendered to the Zhou dynasty and then died.
Emperor Zhou Wudi changed the era name to Xuanzheng. Emperor Xiao Kui of the Liang dynasty rearranged the characters "宣政" to read as "宇文亡日" (the day Yuwen would meet his end). In June of that year, Emperor Zhou Wudi died.
When Emperor Xuan of Han was still the crown prince, he did not follow the rules, and Emperor Wu of Han often punished him. Later, when Xuan became emperor, he touched the scars from his punishments and shouted, "You brat, you really have a long life!" He also changed the era name to "Great Image," and Xiao Kui (Emperor Wu of Liang) deliberately interpreted the two characters as "Tomb of the Son of Heaven." As a result, Xuan died the following year.
During the Kaihuang period, King Xiao Cong of Liang changed the era name to "Broad Fortune." The people of Jiangling privately discussed, "The character 'fortune,' when interpreted differently, suggests that the army is fleeing. Our ruler won't be defeated by the army, will he?" Later, Xiao Cong was detained when he entered the capital and was unable to return. His uncle Xiao Yan led a rebellion among the people, and the Liang state perished in this way.
Emperor Wen of Sui named his crown prince Yang Yong, the Jin prince Yang Ying, the Qin prince Yang Jun, and the Shu prince Yang Xiu. During the Kaihuang period, someone submitted a petition stating, "'Yong' is only suitable for an ordinary person, 'Ying' is a standout among thousands, and 'Jun' is a standout among tens of thousands; these are all good names for common people, unsuitable for an emperor." Emperor Wen ignored him. At that time, people felt that many with the surname Yang were related to the Ying surname. Someone suggested, "If Yang Ying rebels, it will become a disaster for the Ying surname (Ying Yang)." Emperor Wen was displeased by this suggestion and quickly changed their names. Later, Yang Yong, Yang Jun, and Yang Xiu were all deposed, and Yang Guang became emperor, ultimately leading to the loss of the empire, fulfilling the prophecy of "Disaster of the Yang Clan."
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he declared the era name as "Great Undertaking." Those with foresight regarded it as ominous, saying, "The two characters 'Great Undertaking,' when split apart, read as 'Great Suffering is Coming!'" Not long after, chaos erupted throughout the land, bringing war and disasters in every corner.
Emperor Yang of Sui once lightly remarked to his secretary Yu Shinan, "I don't like it when people advise me. If those high-ranking and famous people advise me, it's just for their own fame, which I find even more intolerable. As for those of low status, although I can be a bit more tolerant, I won't ultimately spare them. Remember that!" At that time, people remarked that in ancient times, the wise emperors ruled the world with keen vision and hearing, and even set up places where people could boldly offer advice, allowing people to criticize and create conditions for those who offer advice, fearing that honest advice would not reach their ears. This is how their benevolence spread across the land, benefiting future generations. However, Emperor Yang of Sui had an aversion to those who offered direct advice, suppressed his advisers; could he endure for long? In the end, he was indeed killed, meeting a tragic end.
In 502 AD, there was a severe drought, with rice prices soaring to five thousand coins per bushel, and many people starved to death. "The Biography of Hong Fan's Five Elements" said: "Your Majesty, you are too overbearing, always raising troops and exhausting the people, undertaking massive construction projects, completely disregarding the lives of the people, causing widespread resentment. But you cannot let go of power, so the yang energy is too strong, losing balance, and the yin energy sinks down and cannot keep up. With excessive yang energy, of course, there will be droughts. Initially, Your Majesty attacked Xiangyang, defeated Zhang Chong, and then defeated Chen Bozhi, pacifying Jiankang, fighting many battles, exhausting the people. After you ascended the throne, you continued to fight endlessly with Northern Wei, which contributed to the drought."
In the spring of 550 AD, there was no rain, and it was still the same in April. Previously, the Zhou army looted north of the Huai River. Here, generals like Wang Shuling of Shixing led troops to defeat them, and the northern Huai region fell to the Zhou dynasty, which was also the cause of the drought.
In 534 AD, there was a severe drought in areas such as Bingzhou, Sizhou, Fenzhou, Jianzhou, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Qinzhou, and Shanzhou, leading many people to flee. That year, Emperor Taizu of Northern Qi engaged in battle with Western Wei at Shayuan, was defeated, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands.
From winter to spring in 548 AD, there was a drought. Previously, the Western Wei army attacked Luoyang, and Emperor Shenwu personally led troops to fight a major battle against Western Wei at Mangshan, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands.
In the summer of 555 AD, there was a severe drought. Previously, Your Majesty mobilized a large force to construct over four hundred miles of the Great Wall, which brought great suffering to the people and squandered resources.
In the spring of 559 AD, there was a drought. Previously, Your Majesty conscripted hundreds of thousands to construct the luxurious platforms of Jinfeng, Shengying, and Chongguang, indulging in extravagance while ignoring the plight of the people, which led to the drought, attributed to excessive yang energy.
In April 562 AD, there was a drought in Bingzhou, Jinzhou, and five other states to the west. That year, Your Majesty again conscripted troops to build Zhi Pass. The Turkic army of two hundred thousand destroyed the Great Wall and attacked Hengzhou.
In the spring of 570 AD, there was a drought. During this time, Your Majesty mobilized a large force to construct the Daming Palace.
After 584 AD, the capital frequently experienced droughts. At that time, the capital was moved to Longshou, and palaces were built, exhausting the common people, again attributed to excessive yang energy.
In 610 AD, there was a drought in Yanzhou, Daizhou, and border areas. At that time, Your Majesty conscripted over a million troops to build the Great Wall and personally inspected the border, resulting in widespread unemployment among the common people and many starving to death on the roads.
In 614 AD, there was a nationwide drought, and the people fled in search of food. At that time, Your Majesty mobilized the national army and personally attacked Goguryeo, with nearly ninety percent of the soldiers perishing from cold and starvation. In 618 AD, there was a nationwide drought. At that time, all counties and towns sent people to repair the city walls, conscripting men, women, and the elderly, forcing everyone into corvée labor.
On the eighth day of the sixth month in the third year of the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of Liang, while giving a lecture in the Chongyun Hall, a monk named Zhigong suddenly leaped up, singing and dancing, then burst into tears and composed a five-character poem: “Joyful over thirty, sorrowful over fifty! Just look at eighty-three, the calamity of the earth arises. Sycophants deceive with lies, treacherous ministers destroy the gentlemen. If you do not believe my words, during the dragon's time, thieves will emerge. Let us go to the midst of the horses, bearing sorrow without seeing joy.”
This poem foretells the rise and fall of the Liang Dynasty. From the Tianjian period to the Liang Datong, for over thirty years, the region south of the Yangtze River was very peaceful. However, in the second year of Taiqing, Taicheng fell, and Emperor Wu of Liang reigned for forty-eight years; the "fifty li" mentioned in the poem refers to this period. On August 13 of the first year of Taiqing, Hou Jing came to surrender from Xuanhu, which is north of Danyang City, referred to as "Zidi" in the poem. Emperor Wu of Liang trusted Zhu Yi's advice and accepted Hou Jing. Hou Jing's rebellion began in the year of Wuchan, and by the year of Wu, Emperor Wu of Liang died from grief.
Ten years later, on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, Zhigong wrote another poem at a large gathering: "The vulture dog’s tail starts to go wild, wanting to die but not dying, biting and hurting people, and in an instant, he self-destructs. The trouble lies in your Yin, with death in Sanxiang, with corpses lying around, no one to bury them." Hou Jing's childhood name was Dogzi; he initially surrendered from Xuanhu, which is the ancient Runan. South of Baling, there is a place called Sanxiang, which is where Hou Jing's forces were defeated.
During the Tianjian period, there was a recluse named Tao Hongjing from Maoshan who also composed a five-character poem: "Yifu lets things scatter and spread, Ping Shu sits and talks idly, unexpectedly in the Zhao Yang Palace, it suddenly turns into the palace of the Chanyu." By the time of Liang Datong, the court officials were preoccupied with discussing metaphysics, neglecting their responsibilities. "Yifu" and "Ping Shu" were both virtuous ministers at that time. After Hou Jing's rebellion, he moved into the Zhao Yang Palace.
In the Datong period, a children's rhyme was popular among the people: "The black-haired white horse comes from Shouyang." Later, when Hou Jing captured Danyang, he rode a white horse, using a green silk rope for reins.
In the early period of the Chen Dynasty, another children's rhyme emerged: "The yellow-striped green horse, departing from the banks of Shouyang. The winter air is ending as it comes, and the spring breeze begins as it leaves." Later, the Emperor of the Chen Dynasty was ultimately defeated by Han Qinh Tiger. Han Qinh Tiger's childhood name was Qinh Tiger, and "yellow-striped" refers to him. When he captured Jiankang, he also rode a green horse, and the timing corresponded with the children's rhyme.
During the Chen Dynasty, the "Peach Leaf Song" by Wang Xianzhi was all the rage in Jiangnan. The lyrics are: "Peach leaves, oh peach leaves, crossing the river without a paddle. But crossing brings no hardship, I will welcome you myself." What a cheerful song it was! Later, when the Jin Dynasty attacked the Chen Dynasty, the army camped at the foot of Peach Leaf Mountain. Han Qingtian crossed the Yangtze River, and the general Ren Mannu even went to Xilin to guide the northern troops.
The emperor of the Chen Dynasty, Chen Shubao, built a Qiyun Temple, and the common people began to sing: "Qiyun Temple, the enemy comes without cease." Before the song was finished, the Sui army came, and Chen Shubao was captured. Indeed, it proved the prophecy in the song correct.
Not long after the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Chen Shubao composed a new song with particularly mournful lyrics, which he had the palace beauties learn to sing. The lyrics sang: "Jade trees in the backyard bloom, the flowers do not last long." People back then believed this song foretold doom, indicating that the Chen Dynasty was about to perish, and indeed, not long after, the Chen Dynasty fell.
When Emperor Shenzu of the Northern Qi had just moved the capital to Ye City, a nursery rhyme circulated among the people: "Poor little green sparrow, flying into Ye City. The nest is not yet built, raising its head, it has lost its hometown. Sending a letter to the wife and mother, looking forward to the new wife’s child." The little green sparrow refers to Emperor Xiaojing of Northern Qi, who was the son of King Qinghe, and his mother was the daughter of Emperor Shenzu. The palaces in Ye City were still under construction when the dynastic change happened, just like the nursery rhyme says, "the nest is not yet built." Not long after, Emperor Xiaojing died. His mother, Empress Wenxuan, later married Yang Yin, and that's why the nursery rhyme mentions "sending a letter to the wife and mother," and "new wife’s child" refers to Empress Wenxuan's identity after marrying Yang Yin.
During the reign of Wuding, a nursery rhyme appeared: "The hundred-foot pole is broken, the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out." The "high" refers to the royal surname of the Northern Qi dynasty, while "clear" refers to the name of Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng. Five years later, Emperor Shenwu died, fulfilling the line "the high pole is broken"; seven years later, Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng was assassinated, fulfilling "the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out."
During the Tianbao period, a fortune teller named Lu Fahe wrote these lines on his wall: "A ten-year emperor is acceptable, a hundred-day emperor is as desperate as fire, a one-year emperor is replaced." Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi ruled for ten years before dying; the deposed emperor only ruled for just over a hundred days before being deposed, and Emperor Xiaozhao died after ruling for a year, all of which fulfilled Lu Fahe's prophecy.
In the first year of Wuping, a nursery rhyme circulated among the people: "The fox cuts its tail; you want to remove me, I want to remove you." In April of that year, Wang Changren of Longdong wanted to send assassins to kill He Shikai, but the plot was exposed, and he was falsely accused by He Shikai and killed. This nursery rhyme also came true.
Two years ago, children sang a nursery rhyme on the streets: "He Shikai, on July 30, I will send you to the southern platform." After singing, everyone clapped and shouted, "Kill him!" As a result, on July 25, the Inspector General, Wang Yan of Langya, indeed captured He Shikai and sent him to the southern platform for execution. In the same year, another nursery rhyme appeared: "In July, cutting the rice comes too soon; in September, eating cake is just right. In October, washing the rice jar; in November, Zhao Laosheng is sent out." He Shikai was killed in July, Wang Yan died in September, and in November, Zhao Yanshen was appointed as the governor of Xiyanzhou.
As the Wuping period was drawing to a close, a nursery rhyme said: "The yellow flower is about to fall, the clear cup is only full for drinking." At that time, Empress Mu and her son were meddling in state affairs, causing great distress among the people. The empress was nicknamed "Yellow Flower," and this nursery rhyme foretold the downfall of the Qi dynasty, just like the yellow flower was about to wither.
In Ye City, there is still a nursery rhyme that goes: "A broom of gold, a handle of jade, sweeping the palace to welcome the family from the west." Not long after, the army of the Zhou Dynasty entered Ye City.
When the Zhou Dynasty was first established, another nursery rhyme appeared: "At the top of the poplar tree, the golden rooster crows, only the uncle is here, no nephew in sight." Gao Wei, the last ruler of Northern Qi, was the nephew of the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty. After he abdicated, he died, while his uncles rose to immense power one after another.
Emperor Xuan of Zhou danced and sang hand in hand with palace maids in the middle of the night, singing: "Knowing my life is fleeting, I roam through the candlelit night." As a result, he died after three years of being emperor.
In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Gaozu went to Bingzhou and hosted a banquet for Prince Xiao of Qin and Prince Xiang. Emperor Gaozu also spontaneously composed a four-line poem: "How few are the beautiful faces, the jade-like beauty fleeting. One morning the flowers fall, and the white hair is hard to escape. In the following year, who has it and who does not?" The next year, Prince Xiang died, and eighteen years later, Prince Xiao of Qin also died.
In the eleventh year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui set out from the capital to the Eastern Capital. Upon arriving at ChangLe Palace, he got drunk and excitedly wrote a five-line poem. The poem ends with: "Only the heart yearns to return, no longer relying on the wind's strength." He had the beauties in the palace recite this line repeatedly, and he cried until his face was streaming with tears, making even the servants around him sigh. After that, Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu and wrote another five-line poem: "Seeking to return but unable to go, truly enduring the spring. The birds urge drinking, the plum blossoms laugh at killing." This poem was written in March, and he was also killed in March, truly fulfilling the "enduring the spring" in the poem! That year, thieves were everywhere, roads were blocked, and Emperor Yang was frightened, completely abandoning the thought of returning to the capital. He even had a dream in which two young men sang: "Staying is death, leaving is death. Better to take a boat across the river." So he built a palace in Danyang, planning to stay there. But before the palace was finished, he was assassinated.
During the Daye period, a folk rhyme circulated among the people: "Peach and plum trees, the wild swan flies around Yang Mountain, twisting through the flower grove. Do not speak recklessly; who claims Xu?" Later, Li Mi was captured by the authorities for being involved in the Yang Xuangan rebellion case. He escaped while on the road and secretly gathered a group of outlaws, breaking out of Yangcheng Mountain and attacking the Luokou granary, after which he stationed in the garden. "Do not speak recklessly; it refers to Li Mi"; "Yuan Wuhua also calls himself Xu Guo," Yuan Wuhua claimed the title of emperor and established Xu Guo, which was later overthrown. "Who claims Xu is actually an expression of people's doubts and fears," the phrase "who claims Xu" in this rhyme expresses the confusion and terror of the people.
In the first year of the Daitong era of the Liang Wu Emperor, Prince Xiaolun of Shaoling had a raccoon fighting on the beam of his bedroom in Nanjing during the day, and he caught it when it fell down. By the time of the Taiqing era, during the chaos of Hou Jing, Xiaolun led troops to rescue Taicheng. Upon reaching Zhongshan, a bear that had just awakened from hibernation suddenly appeared and bit Xiaolun's horse. This was truly the "curse of the caterpillar"! Later, Xiaolun was defeated by Wang Sengbian and fled to Nanyang, ultimately being killed by the Western Wei.
During the Daitong era of the Liang Dynasty, every night, foxes would call out under the palace, and it continued for several years without stopping. Jing Fang's "Yifei Hou" states: "Wild beasts cry out, and the city lies in ruins." Soon after, the country fell into chaos, and there were nearly no survivors in Danyang City.
In the early years of the Chen Dynasty, a fox scurried under the emperor's bed, and no one could catch it. Jing Fang's "Yifei Hou" states: "A fox enters the lord's chamber, and the chamber is left uninhabited." Shortly thereafter, the Chen Dynasty fell.
In the year 548 AD, in September, a leopard entered the southern gate of Ye City and was killed on the spot. Five years later, in August, another leopard ran to the Copper Jue Terrace. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When wild animals enter the city, run onto the main road of the court, or run to the government office, it is a disaster; the monarch is doomed!" That year, the Eastern Wei Dynasty suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Yubi, and Gao Huan also died of illness.
In the year 552 AD, during the Later Qi Dynasty, a rabbit ran out of the temple. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When a rabbit runs into the royal family, the monarch is doomed!" The temple is where the ancestors' spirits reside. Five years later, the Zhou army attacked Ye City, and the emperor was forced to flee.
As the end of the Wuping period of the Later Qi Dynasty approached, wolves were spotted everywhere in areas such as Bingzhou and Sizhou, and they even ate people! The "Hong Fan Five Elements Biography" says: "Wolves, which are greedy and violent beasts, are mostly white, symbolizing war. Wolves are also like dogs, indicating a disaster associated with dogs." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also says: "If the monarch is incompetent and tyrannical, disasters will fall on the people, and only by hiding in the deep mountains can lives be saved. Wolves eating people is a sign of this kind of disaster." At that time, the emperor favored villains, was greedy and cruel, and harmed the people, and the prophecy of wolves eating people was fulfilled. Soon after, the Later Qi Dynasty was wiped out by the Zhou army, which was a sign of war.
During the Wuping period, outside the gate of Shuozhou Prefecture, there suddenly appeared footprints of a child, and the soil was piled up to resemble a city wall. People at that time were puzzled by it, and after careful investigation, it was found to be the doing of a fox spirit, and later such strange occurrences spread to Bingzhou and Ye City. This was similar to the situation of the leopard entering the city in the third year of Wuding. That year, Prince Nan'an Si Hao rebelled, marching straight to Bingzhou, and was defeated by government forces. Zheng Zirao, Yang Fahao, and others rebelled in the Shandong region.
In the year 557 AD, during the fourth year of the Tianbao era of the Later Qi, strange incidents of dogs mating with women were reported in Ye City and Dunqiu. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Different species should not mate, yet they have; this mating of dogs and humans foretells a 'dog calamity.'" 'Dog calamity' signifies excessive yang energy and a loss of the people's hearts. At that time, the emperor was indifferent to state affairs, and his benevolence did not benefit the common people.
During the reign of the Later Emperor, he even conferred titles and ranks upon dogs, with female dogs being given titles such as Lady and County Princess, and they were provided with soldiers to serve them, enjoying good food and drink, and were given soft bedding to sleep on. Heaven was about to punish him for bestowing nobility upon dogs, which was a clear indication of 'dog calamity!' It seemed Heaven was saying that these ministers were just like dogs! The Later Emperor did not understand this principle, ultimately leading to the downfall of the nation.
In 563 AD, during the third year of the Baoding era of the Later Zhou, a dog gave birth to puppies, but the lower half of the puppies' bodies was split in two, with two tails and six legs. Dogs are fierce animals, with claws, symbolizing soldiers. At that time, Yuwen Hu and others were plotting treachery. The split in the rear half of the dog's body was indeed a fulfillment of this omen.
In the first year of the Daye era, many dogs in the Yanmen region lost their owners and ran in packs in the wild, looking like wolves and attacking people! It took years for the situation to settle down. According to a book called "Wuxing Zhuan," it stated: "Dogs are meant to guard homes, yet they have lost their owners; this indicates that the ministers are no longer listening to the emperor. The dogs have even begun to resemble wolves, and the wolf's fur is white, which is a sign of impending war!" Later, the emperor engaged in excessive military campaigns and endless forced labor, and Heaven was warning him: stop the forced labor, or the loyal subjects who guard your home will rebel! But the emperor ignored the warnings, insisting on building the Great Wall and then stirring up chaos in the Western Regions and Liaodong, resulting in widespread discontent among the common people. Eventually, a coup broke out in Jiangdu, and even the guards around the emperor rebelled.
In the second year of Liang Datong, white fur sprouted in the fields, measuring two feet long, which seemed to be a good omen. However, Sun Sheng felt that this was a sign of burden on the people and waste of resources. Previously, there had been a large-scale mobilization of the common people to build the Fushan Weir, costing a huge amount of money. Just as it was about to be completed, it collapsed several times, and the people were weary of the labor, with sighs and complaints heard everywhere on the roads.
In September of the first year of Qi Heqing, a lot of fur, in both white and black, appeared on the ground at the foot of the Great Wall in Cangzhou, measuring four to five inches long, which also seemed to be a good omen. At that time, the Great Wall was being repaired in the north, and the country was also building the San Tai, exhausting the common people.
In July of the sixth year of Kaihuang, a fine, hair-like rain fell in the capital, with some strands over three feet long and others six or seven inches. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "Hair falling from the sky indicates a great famine in the country." At that time, the Guanzhong region was experiencing severe drought, and grain prices skyrocketed.
In the early years of the Tian Tong of the Later Qi, a jade disc appeared by itself on the Fengshan sacrificial altar, which also seemed to be a good omen. Mount Dai was the place where emperors changed dynasties, and the jade disc was used for sacrifices, so its appearance signaled a change of dynasty and the necessity for sacrifices. Later, the Qi state was destroyed, and its territory fell to the Zhou dynasty. Emperor Gaozu accepted the Zhou dynasty's abdication, unifying the realm, which fulfilled the event of burning firewood for sacrifices on Mount Tai.
In the third year of Wuping, the phrase "Qi Wang" was found inscribed on the blue stone wall beneath Baishui Rock. Someone changed it to "Shang Yan," and the later ruler thought this was a good omen, with all the civil and military officials coming to congratulate him. In the end, the Zhou army invaded, and the later ruler indeed fled from Ye City.
In the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, over ten stones fell from the sky between Wuan and Fuyang. The "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" stated: "If stones fall from the sky, the emperor will face misfortune!" Seven years later, the emperor died.
Towards the end of the Kaihuang era, Gaozu buried two small stones in the palace to mark the position of the bed. Soon after, the two stones transformed into jade. Liu Xiang said, "Jade is the most precious. When something worthless turns into something precious, it is a sign that a major event is about to happen!" By the end of the Daye period, there were thieves everywhere, daring to proclaim themselves kings and emperors.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty, a stone was found in Xiping County with the inscription "The Emperor Will Reign for a Thousand Years." The court officials all congratulated each other, bursting with joy. However, some wise figures voiced their concerns, saying, "'A thousand years' is something said after death. To say it can be established now, disaster is probably not far off." As a result, the following year, Emperor Yang of Sui met his demise.
In the twelfth year of the Datong period of the Liang Dynasty, at the entrance of the Qu'a tomb, the stone qilin actually moved by itself! This signifies wood overcoming metal! The movement of the stone suggests that the heavens were warning that the tomb would be unattended and the stone qilin would be moved by someone else. Later, the Liang Dynasty did indeed fall.
Now let's talk about what happened in the fourth year of Heqing in the Later Qi Dynasty. The stones in the palace moved on their own and even clashed! A man named Sui Meng believed stones represented yin, indicating subjects. The movement of the stones suggested that the emperor's trusted aides would turn against him. Sure enough, later on, the Zhou Dynasty army marched east, and the emperor's favored courtiers Wei Xiangyuan, Qi Fuguixiong and his brothers, and Han Jianye all defected to the Zhou Dynasty.
In the twelfth year of the DaTong era of the Liang Dynasty, in the first month, the court dispatched two guardian statues to Jianling. The left one, which had two horns, arrived smoothly at the tomb. The right one, which had only one horn, was just about to set off, but it suddenly jumped three times in the carriage, breaking the yoke! They switched to another carriage and continued their journey, but before they could reach the tomb, which was only two miles away, it jumped three times again! Every time it jumped, the passengers were so frightened that they leapt three to four feet into the air, and the wheels sank three inches into the ground! This was a sign of Wood overpowering Metal! As Liu Xiang noted, "Loss of popular support, inability to execute orders, and disregard of opinions are all due to the disorder of Metal energy." Stones represent Yin and symbolize ministers. When ministers rebel, it is a sign of this. In his later years, Emperor Wu of Liang neglected state affairs, focusing only on chanting Buddhist scriptures and discussing metaphysics. The court was in chaos, orders were not executed, and opinions were not heeded, which was the root cause of the impending disaster! This ultimately led to the rebellion of Hou Jing.
In the first year of the Jiande era during the Zhou Dynasty, a stone statue was discovered in Puyang County. The local officials intended to transport it to the prefecture to extract the gold from it. However, the stone statue inexplicably jumped and fell to the ground twice during the journey! Eventually, they secured it to the side of the carriage with a thick rope, but the rope broke, and the stone statue fell again. At that time, the emperor had just destroyed the Qi state and attacked Huainan, with continuous wars and exhausted people, which served as a clear sign of losing popular support!
