What is the Jinling Tower Stele?

刘伯温（传） · 约1918年

The Jinling Tower Stele (金陵塔碑文) is a prophetic inscription attributed to Liu Bowen (Liu Ji, 1311-1375), a renowned strategist and founding minister of the Ming dynasty. According to legend, when Nationalist troops demolished a tower called 'Jinling Tower' in Nanjing in 1918, they discovered a stone stele buried beneath its foundation, inscribed with prophetic verses. The opening line declares: 'Jinling Tower, Jinling Tower — Liu Ji built it, Jieshi tore it down' — where 'Liu Ji' is Liu Bowen and 'Jieshi' is Chiang Kai-shek.

The inscription is composed in short, rhyming couplets resembling folk prophecy ballads. Its content covers major events of 20th-century China: warlord conflicts during the Republican era, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and the founding of the People's Republic. The text employs cryptic wordplay — character decomposition, homophones, and allegory — in a style shared with other famous Chinese prophecy texts such as the Tui Bei Tu and Shaobing Song.

However, the authenticity of the Jinling Tower Stele is highly contested among scholars. There are no reliable archaeological records confirming the 1918 discovery, and the earliest verifiable versions of the text appeared in Republican-era newspapers. Many scholars believe it is likely a Republican-period forgery attributed to Liu Bowen for credibility. Furthermore, different circulating versions contain textual discrepancies, and interpretations of the latter sections vary wildly. This site presents the most widely circulated version with verification analysis for reference.

Core Message
"Jinling Tower, Jinling Tower — Liu Ji built it, Jieshi tore it down. Once the Jinling Tower falls, soldiers and civilians slaughter each other." — Opening lines
Key Timeline
  • Opening — The building and demolition of Jinling Tower
  • Section 1 — Northern Expedition and warlord conflicts
  • Section 2 — Second Sino-Japanese War
  • Section 3 — Chinese Civil War and regime change
  • Section 4 — Founding of the PRC and subsequent events
  • Final section — Obscure prophecies about the future
Data Sources
  • Text based on the most widely circulated version; no archaeological artifacts have been verified (Wikipedia)
  • Authenticity is highly disputed; the text may be a Republican-era forgery
  • Verification based on historical records and public sources; editorial opinions do not represent academic consensus
  • For Liu Bowen's biography, see (Wikipedia: Liu Bowen)
  • Site icon: Pagoda motif — the Jinling Tower Stele is named after the tower, making it the most direct visual symbol of this prophecy

Disclaimer: This site is for academic research and cultural reference only. It does not constitute advice or guidance of any kind. We assume no responsibility for any judgments, decisions, or consequences arising from the use of this content.