Prophecy is a unique prophetic culture in ancient China.
Túchèn refers to an ancient prophetic text, which usually appears in the form of a combination of pictures and text to predict good or bad fortunes in the future. Prophecy originated in ancient China and reached its peak during the Warring States, Qin and Han dynasties. It was not only a way for ancient people to predict their fate and seek well-being, but also a carrier of cultural communication and folk beliefs at that time.
The content of prophecies is diverse, including predictions of macro events such as natural disasters, wars, and regime changes, as well as predictions of micro aspects such as personal destiny, marriage, and wealth. The production and interpretation of prophecies are usually the responsibility of specialized divination (bǔshì) personnel, who reveal the meanings contained in them by studying the patterns, words and relationships between them.
In ancient times, prophecies had a certain degree of authority and influence. Sometimes, it can even influence national policies and royal decisions. However, with the development of history, especially the advancement of science and technology, the prophecy gradually lost its original authoritative status and eventually evolved into a cultural symbol.
In the history of our country, there are many famous prophecies. For example, the slogan "Heaven is dead, Huang Tian shall stand" in the late Eastern Han Dynasty is a kind of political prophecy. In addition, the prophecies have also had many influences on later generations, such as religious art such as Taoism and Buddhism, as well as folk arts such as New Year pictures and paper-cutting. The shadow of the prophecies can be seen.
Carriers of prophecies:
1. Murals: Murals are one of the main carriers of prophecies. Ancient murals rely on caves, temples, tombs, etc. to combine prophecies with religion, mythology, The combination of history and other themes shows rich cultural connotations. For example, the murals in Mogao Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes in Dunhuang contain many representative works of prophecy.
2. Stele inscriptions: Stele inscriptions are another common carrier of prophecies. Ancient stele inscriptions were mainly made of stone and combined prophecies with text and patterns to commemorate historical figures, events or commend meritorious deeds. For example, the "Horse Treading on Flying Swallows" stele from the Eastern Han Dynasty is a prophetic work of extremely high artistic value.
3. Bronze wares: The pictures and prophecies on bronze wares are called "copper prophecies". Ancient bronze wares were mostly ritual vessels, such as tripods, goblets, jues, etc. Bronze prophecies mostly appeared with decorative patterns, meaning Good luck and blessings. For example, the prophecies on the "Gui of Death from Heaven" in the Western Zhou Dynasty showed the high achievements of the art of prophecies at that time.
4. Brocade: Brocade is a kind of exquisite silk fabric. Ancient brocade weaving skills were exquisite. The prophecy and brocade were combined to form a unique prophecy brocade. For example, the "Five Stars from the East Benefit China" brocade from the Han Dynasty has high historical and artistic value.
5. Paper: With the invention of paper, prophecies began to appear on paper. Paper prophecies are presented in the form of paintings, calligraphy, etc., such as "Poems on Horses" by Han Gan in the Tang Dynasty, "Xuanji Pictures" in the Five Dynasties, etc.
6. Others: In addition, there are prophecies on pottery, jade, gold and silverware, etc., which together bear witness to the prosperity of the art of prophecy in ancient my country.