Tui bei tu
Encyclopedia
Tui bei tu is a Chinese prophecy
book from the 7th-century Tang dynasty
. The book is known for predicting the future of China
, and is written by Li Chun-feng (李淳風) and Yuan Tian-gang (袁天罡). It has been compared to the works of famous western prophet Nostradamus
. Well-known in Hong Kong
, Macau
and Taiwan
, it was long banned in the People's Republic of China
under the Communist party
for superstition
(one of the “Four Olds
”), though it has since re-appeared in street-side book stalls in the 1990s as a bestseller
.
, each accompanied by an equally obscure poem
. The title means "Back-Pushing Sketch" and comes from the last illustration.
Each poem is a prophecy, which describes a Chinese historical event that will occur in order. For example, the 36th poem should occur before the 40th poem. Poem number 60 is the last prophecy. Some sources have said that out of the 60 prophecies, 55 of them are supposed to have already been fulfilled. Though just like Nostradamus
's work, the interpretations largely depend on the individuals. Some scholars compared the different versions and found the book have been rewritten for many times.
version of the book explained, Tui Bei Tu is a way of shaping public opinion used by feudal rulers to seize power or consolidate power. It is also similarly used by oppressed people to overthrow their rulers.
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
book from the 7th-century Tang dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. The book is known for predicting the future of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and is written by Li Chun-feng (李淳風) and Yuan Tian-gang (袁天罡). It has been compared to the works of famous western prophet Nostradamus
Nostradamus
Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
. Well-known in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, it was long banned in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
under the Communist party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
for superstition
Superstition
Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events....
(one of the “Four Olds
Four Olds
The Four Olds or the Four Old Things were Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas. One of the stated goals of the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China was to bring an end to the Four Olds...
”), though it has since re-appeared in street-side book stalls in the 1990s as a bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
.
Description
The book is supposed to contain clues to China's future conveyed through a series of 60 surreal drawingsSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, each accompanied by an equally obscure poem
Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry is poetry written, spoken, or chanted in the Chinese language, which includes various versions of Chinese language, including Classical Chinese, Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Yue Chinese, as well as many other historical and vernacular varieties of the Chinese language...
. The title means "Back-Pushing Sketch" and comes from the last illustration.
Each poem is a prophecy, which describes a Chinese historical event that will occur in order. For example, the 36th poem should occur before the 40th poem. Poem number 60 is the last prophecy. Some sources have said that out of the 60 prophecies, 55 of them are supposed to have already been fulfilled. Though just like Nostradamus
Nostradamus
Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
's work, the interpretations largely depend on the individuals. Some scholars compared the different versions and found the book have been rewritten for many times.
Usage
During the end-of-dynasty turmoil, rebels used it to prophesize victory for their cause and thereby drum up public support. As the introduction to one mainland ChinaMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
version of the book explained, Tui Bei Tu is a way of shaping public opinion used by feudal rulers to seize power or consolidate power. It is also similarly used by oppressed people to overthrow their rulers.
In the culture
- The Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
TVB drama A Change of DestinyA Change of DestinyA Change of Destiny is a TVB costume drama series broadcast in April 2007.The series is about two young men having the same birthday but have both of them have a different life...
mentions the Tui bei tu.
External links
- Taiwan Sina book scan images with poem - words are in classic vertical alignment
- Chinese prophecy research group (Traditional Chinese)
- Alexchiu philosophy super I-Ching (English)
- Hinet (Traditional Chinese)
- Cs.columbia.edu (Simplified Chinese)
- Jilm (Simplified Chinese)
- Mmkey (Simplified Chinese)
See also
- Chinese classic textsChinese classic textsChinese classic texts, or Chinese canonical texts, today often refer to the pre-Qin Chinese texts, especially the Neo-Confucian titles of Four Books and Five Classics , a selection of short books and chapters from the voluminous collection called the Thirteen Classics. All of these pre-Qin texts...
- Tung shingTung shingThe Tung Shing is a Chinese divination guide and almanac. It consists primarily of a calendar based on the Chinese lunar year.-History:...
- “Shaobing SongShaobing songThe “Shaobing Song” or the “Pancake Poem” is a poem purported to be written by Liu Ji, also known by his courtesy name as Liu Bowen, during the Ming dynasty. He supposedly presented the poem to the Hongwu Emperor.-Prophecy:...
”, another prophetic text - NostradamusNostradamusMichel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
- Vaticinia NostradamiVaticinia NostradamiThe Vaticinia Michaelis Nostradami de Futuri Christi Vicarii ad Cesarem Filium D. I. A. Interprete , or Vaticinia Nostradami for short, is a collection of eighty watercolor images compiled as an illustrated codex...