Historical Context: Tui Bei Tu

The tui bei tu is featured in the drama A Change of Destiny, although the poems used in the drama are not in accordance to the actual ones in the book.

The tui bei tu (推背圖) is a prophecy book that predicts the future of China. Its authorship is most often attributed to Li Chunfeng (李淳風) and Yuan Tiangang (袁天罡), who wrote the book at the request of Emperor Taizong of Tang. The tui bei tu is one of the seven famous prophecy books of ancient China.

The book contains 60 drawings, each with a corresponding poem. Each set of drawing and poem (excluding the first and last) is supposed to predict an event in Chinese history. The predictions span two millenniums, from the Tang Dynasty to the present.  Most scholars agree on the interpretations for the first 39 prophecies, but the remaining interpretations are significantly more controversial. By some accounts, 55 of the 58 prophecies have been fulfilled, while other sources have the number at around 47.

Drawing #60

The book's name, which translates to "Back-Pushing Sketch", derives from its last set of poem and drawing. Allegedly, Li got so absorbed with the task that he predicted two millenniums into the future. Eventually, Yuan pushed him in the back and said "There is too much to say. Let's go rest instead."

Inevitably, the authenticity of the prophecies has been questioned. Since the poems and drawings are cryptic in nature, their meanings are open to interpretation. Moreover, the book was banned and ordered to be destroyed numerous times throughout history. There were multiple versions in circulation, thus making it difficult to verify the original contents.

Nonetheless, examining the events contained in the tui bei tu presents a good overview of the history of China from the Tang Dynasty onward.

Tang Dynasty

#1: Introduction
#2: The Tang Dynasty will have 21 emperors
#3: The ascension of Wu Zetian to the throne
#4: The removal of Wu Zetian and resumption of the Tang Dynasty
#5: The An Lushan Rebellion and death of Yang Guifei
#6: The enthronement of Emperor Suzong and the quelling of the An Lushan Rebellion
#7: The Tibetans invade Tang China
#8: Multiple rebellions during the reign of Emperor Dezong
#9: The rebellion of Huang Chao

Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms

#10: The overthrowing of the Tang Dynasty and establishment of the Later Liang
#11: The assassination of Li Cunxu
#12: The cessation of the Sixteen Prefectures
#13: The establishment of the Later Zhou
#14: Chai Rong as one of the last emperors of the Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms period
#15: The end of the Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms period

Song Dynasty

#16: The establishment of the Song Dynasty
#17: The Chanyuan Treaty
#18: The regency of Empress Liu during the reign of Emperor Renzong
#19: The chancellorship of Wang Anshi
#20: The death of Sima Guang and the political power of Cai Jing
#21: The Jingkang Incident
#22: The beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty
#23: The political power of Jia Sidao
#24: The end of the Song Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty

#25: The establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, which will have 10 emperors
#26: The uninterested rule of Toghon Temür

Ming Dynasty

#27: The establishment of the Ming Dynasty
#28: The Jiangnan Campaign
#29: Three Yang ministers help create a golden age, known as the Rule of Ren and Xuan
#30: The Tumu Crisis
#31: The political power of Wei Zhongxian and Madame Ke
#32: The overthrowing of the Ming Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

#33: The Qing Dynasty will have 11 emperors
#34: The Taiping Rebellion
#35: The invasion of Beijing during the Second Opium War and the burning of Yuan Ming Yuan
#36: Empress Dowager Cixi seizing power through the Xinyou Coup

Republic of China

#37: The Revolution of 1911 and the establishment of the Republic of China
#38: World War I
#39: The Second Sino-Japanese War

*Prophecies #40 onwards deal with modern China. There is a lack of consensus for the interpretations, thus, I will not provide a translation.

Leave a comment if you want to know more about any of the historical events above.