Qiankun Wannian Ge (乾坤万年歌, 'Song of Ten Thousand Years of Heaven and Earth') is one of China's most famous prophetic poems. It is traditionally attributed to Jiang Ziya (Jiang Taigong), the legendary strategist who helped found the Zhou dynasty, hence its alternate name 'Taigong Wannian Ge.' Written in seven-character verse, the poem predicts the rise and fall of every dynasty from the Zhou to the eventual unification of the world. However, scholars have long questioned this attribution, as no pre-Qin texts contain any mention of the poem.
A more credible theory attributes the poem to Shao Yong (1011-1077), a Song dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar and master of I Ching numerology, who authored works such as Huangji Jingshi and Meihua Shi (Plum Blossom Poem). Some scholars believe the poem was actually composed during the Ming or Qing dynasty and falsely attributed to an ancient sage — a common practice. This is supported by the observation that predictions about dynasties before the Ming and Qing are remarkably precise, while later sections become increasingly vague, a hallmark of retroactive prophecy.
Regardless of authorship, Qiankun Wannian Ge stands as a major work of Chinese prophetic literature, ranked alongside Tui Bei Tu, Shaobing Ge, and Meihua Shi as one of the four great ancient prophecies. The poem is linguistically refined and rich in imagery, using metaphors and character puzzles to allude to historical figures and events. This site presents the complete poem in segmented form with verification analysis for reference.
Core Message
"All under heaven returns to one unified rest; heaven and earth endure ten thousand years as before." — Qiankun Wannian Ge, final passage
Segments 1-2 — Zhou dynasty to Qin unificationSegments 3-4 — Rise and fall of Han, Three KingdomsSegments 7-8 — Sui-Tang golden age and Five Dynasties chaosSegments 11-12 — Yuan conquest and Ming restorationSegment 14 — Qing dynasty and modern transformation
Original text sourced from widely circulated folk editions; authorship and date of composition remain debated (Wikipedia )
For Shao Yong's life and works, see Huangji Jingshi and related scholarship (Shao Yong - Wikipedia )
Precise predictions about pre-Ming/Qing dynasties may have been written retroactively rather than as genuine foresight
Verification based on historical records and public sources; editorial opinions do not represent academic consensus
Site icon: Trigram lines — Qiankun Wannian Ge takes its name from heaven (乾) and earth (坤), and the trigram is the fundamental symbol of I Ching studies
Qiankun Wannian Ge Prophecies All Prophecies 15 Q&A entries in total
Segment 1: Zhou Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Before the Great Ultimate divided, chaos had already passed; Feng Hou and Nüwa sat upon the stone. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors succeeded one another, and the lineage of succession should be correct. Now all under heaven is unified under Zhou, with rites, music, and literature flourishing for eight hundred autumns.
Vernacular: Before heaven and earth were separated, primordial chaos had passed. Feng Hou and Nüwa sat on the stone to create the world. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors succeeded each other in proper order. Now the world is unified under the Zhou dynasty, its ritual culture flourishing for eight hundred years.
Segment 2: Spring and Autumn, Warring States, and Qin Unification
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Remove the vertical stroke from 'chuan' to pass the realm — spring grain replaces the sun. All under heaven was never meant to last forever; within twenty years it cannot hold. 'Mao' sits on a golden head with a straight blade — cutting down all the wooden ram heads.
Vernacular: The character puzzle reveals dynastic transition from the Spring and Autumn period onward. The world cannot remain stable forever; within twenty years the dynasty falls. The character components hint at 'Liu,' who will cut down all obstacles. 'Wooden ram head' alludes to the Qin dynasty, which after unification lasted only two generations.
Segment 3: Western and Eastern Han
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One 'earth' character ascends to court — more inauspicious still; he changes the reign name, usurps the state, and seizes the throne. From the spring emerges a radiant lord, who restores the rivers and mountains for a long time yet. Four hundred years pass and the world changes; 'sun above a bent stroke' — embraced in arms.
Vernacular: The character 'earth' at court is ominous — he changes reign titles and usurps the throne (Wang Mang). From 'the spring' emerges a radiant ruler (Liu Xiu, whose name contains 'xiu/light'), restoring the Han. After four hundred years of Han rule, the character puzzle forms 'Cao,' alluding to Cao Cao holding power.
Segment 4: Three Kingdoms and Western Jin
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One branch drifts away to western Sichuan; the realm split in three passes through two generations. After forty years comes another great change; 'horse above' and 'nothing halved' — so it is said.
Vernacular: One branch (the Shu Han under Liu Bei) retreats to Sichuan, and the tripartite realm lasts two generations. After about forty years another transformation occurs; the character puzzle alludes to the Sima family who unified China as the Jin dynasty.
Segment 5: Eastern Jin and Northern & Southern Dynasties
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Two people defer to each other but poorly; yielding back and forth until dawn breaks. For five hundred years, staves are bundled together; one round light illuminates the great clarity.
Vernacular: Two figures yield to each other but the outcome is unfortunate, and through mutual yielding daylight gradually appears. For five hundred years conflicts are tangled like a bundle of sticks, until finally a round radiant light illuminates the heavens.
Segment 6: Sui Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A heavenly ox descends to Fusang; ten thousand li of mountains and rivers all belong to Yang. The great barbarian of 'thousand-mile grass' also awaits war horses entering Xianyang.
Vernacular: The heavenly ox star shines over the land of Fusang; all the realm's mountains and rivers bear the surname Yang (the Sui imperial family). But the great barbarian — 'thousand-mile grass' forming the character 'Dong' — also awaits cavalry marching on the capital.
Segment 7: Tang Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One 'wu' as the head — the meaning is deep; remove the side of 'monkey' and pair it with golden neighbor. Two dynasties' emperors merge into one; at the final limit, why worry about no peace?
Vernacular: The character 'wu' at the top carries deep meaning; remove the radical from 'monkey' and add a metal radical. The emperors of two dynasties merge into one; at the end, there is no need to worry — peace will come. The character puzzles allude to the Li-Tang dynasty.
Segment 8: Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One orphan in one city; swords and spears unresolved — what is there to contend? One-six bodies, one-six killed; the barbarians are left two hundred springs.
Vernacular: An orphan guards a single city amid unresolved warfare. 'One-six' (sixteen) alludes to the Sixteen Kingdoms or the chaotic fragmentation. The barbarians remain for two hundred years of spring. This segment is also interpreted as describing the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms chaos.
Segment 9: Northern Song
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A traveler from the northwest asks about the Central Plain; the Central Plain has no master and awaits a worthy hero. One traveler sings one song; the sun still shines but moonlight grows. All under heaven — from the start, I am the one who determines life and death; pig, sheep, chicken, dog — nine houses empty.
Vernacular: A traveler from the northwest inquires about the Central Plain's situation — it has no ruler and awaits a capable leader. This alludes to Zhao Kuangyin, who through the Chen Bridge mutiny founded the Northern Song dynasty.
Segment 10: Southern Song
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: The fire pig's fate arrives — hardship unbearable; three rabbits and one rat bring no peace. One pool of deep water flows across the whole land; all heroes under heaven hang upside down.
Vernacular: When the year of the fire pig arrives, suffering becomes unbearable. The years of three rabbits and one rat bring no peace. A pool of deep water covers the nation — all heroes suffer the agony of hanging upside down. 'Deep water' alludes to the Southern Song's retreat to the watery south, and portends its eventual fall.
Segment 11: Yuan Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: War erupts on all sides, heaven and earth are transformed; the 'grass-headed' man appears but is not the true ruler. One thunderclap startles the sky, the earth turns red; all heroes under heaven submit in defeat.
Vernacular: War erupts everywhere and the cosmic order is overturned. The 'grass-headed man' (alluding to the Mongols) appears but is not of the legitimate Chinese lineage. A great thunderclap stuns the heavens and the land turns red with blood; all heroes under heaven are forced to submit.
Segment 12: Ming Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A red-headed man emerges from the west, holding a golden blade in a great slaughter. Bright sun and moon shine with heavenly virtue; the short wall, the long wall — how many voyages? One branch falls below the western mountain; when the bright moon falls to earth, the people find peace.
Vernacular: A red-headed figure comes from the west wielding a golden blade in great battle. 'Sun and moon' combine to form the character 'Ming,' signifying the Ming dynasty shining with heavenly virtue. Though the Great Wall is built and rebuilt, how long can it hold? A branch falls below the western mountain; when the bright moon (Ming) falls, people finally find peace.
Segment 13: Early Qing Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A round red sun surges from the east; heroes under heaven all gallop forth. Holding a golden halberd, sweeping in all directions; dominating the realm, none can stand in the way.
Vernacular: A round red sun rises from the east; heroes everywhere gallop across the battlefield. Wielding a golden halberd sweeping in all four directions, dominating the realm with none able to resist. This alludes to the Qing dynasty entering through the passes from the northeast (the east) to unify China.
Segment 14: Fall of Qing and Republic
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Heaven gives birth to a great red flower; in all directions, everything is laid down. In the Song of Ten Thousand Years, the realm is told; cold and heat alternate — the years are uncounted.
Vernacular: A great red flower blooms from heaven; in all four directions and eight sides, everything settles. The Song of Ten Thousand Years tells the fate of the realm; through alternating cold and heat, countless years pass. The 'great red flower' is interpreted as alluding to the revolution and the red revolutionary movements after the fall of the Qing.
Segment 15: The Present and Future
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: All under heaven returns to one unified rest; heaven and earth endure ten thousand years as before.
Vernacular: The world ultimately returns to unity and peace; heaven and earth endure for ten thousand years, unchanged as always. This is the poem's conclusion, prophesying that the world will eventually achieve unification and lasting peace.
Prophecy Verification Evaluating predictions against reality for expired time points
Segment 1: Zhou Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Before the Great Ultimate divided, chaos had already passed; Feng Hou and Nüwa sat upon the stone. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors succeeded one another, and the lineage of succession should be correct. Now all under heaven is unified under Zhou, with rites, music, and literature flourishing for eight hundred autumns.
Vernacular: Before heaven and earth were separated, primordial chaos had passed. Feng Hou and Nüwa sat on the stone to create the world. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors succeeded each other in proper order. Now the world is unified under the Zhou dynasty, its ritual culture flourishing for eight hundred years.
The Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-256 BC) lasted approximately 790 years, closely matching the claim of 'eight hundred autumns.' Combined Western and Eastern Zhou form the longest dynasty in Chinese history.
Segment 2: Spring and Autumn, Warring States, and Qin Unification
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Remove the vertical stroke from 'chuan' to pass the realm — spring grain replaces the sun. All under heaven was never meant to last forever; within twenty years it cannot hold. 'Mao' sits on a golden head with a straight blade — cutting down all the wooden ram heads.
Vernacular: The character puzzle reveals dynastic transition from the Spring and Autumn period onward. The world cannot remain stable forever; within twenty years the dynasty falls. The character components hint at 'Liu,' who will cut down all obstacles. 'Wooden ram head' alludes to the Qin dynasty, which after unification lasted only two generations.
Qin Shi Huang unified the six states in 221 BC, but the Qin dynasty lasted only two generations (221-206 BC), approximately 15 years — close to the 'twenty years' prediction. The character puzzle components form 'Liu,' alluding to Liu Bang who replaced Qin and founded the Han dynasty.
Segment 3: Western and Eastern Han
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One 'earth' character ascends to court — more inauspicious still; he changes the reign name, usurps the state, and seizes the throne. From the spring emerges a radiant lord, who restores the rivers and mountains for a long time yet. Four hundred years pass and the world changes; 'sun above a bent stroke' — embraced in arms.
Vernacular: The character 'earth' at court is ominous — he changes reign titles and usurps the throne (Wang Mang). From 'the spring' emerges a radiant ruler (Liu Xiu, whose name contains 'xiu/light'), restoring the Han. After four hundred years of Han rule, the character puzzle forms 'Cao,' alluding to Cao Cao holding power.
'One earth at court' refers to Wang Mang, who usurped the Han throne in 9 AD and established the Xin dynasty. 'From the spring emerges a radiant lord' refers to Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu), who restored the Han in 25 AD. The two Han dynasties combined lasted approximately 405 years (206 BC - 220 AD), matching 'four hundred years.' 'Sun above a bent stroke' forms the character 'Cao,' referring to Cao Cao's domination.
Segment 4: Three Kingdoms and Western Jin
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One branch drifts away to western Sichuan; the realm split in three passes through two generations. After forty years comes another great change; 'horse above' and 'nothing halved' — so it is said.
Vernacular: One branch (the Shu Han under Liu Bei) retreats to Sichuan, and the tripartite realm lasts two generations. After about forty years another transformation occurs; the character puzzle alludes to the Sima family who unified China as the Jin dynasty.
Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in Chengdu in 221 AD, founding Shu Han (western Sichuan), forming a three-way split with Wei and Wu. Shu Han lasted two rulers (Liu Bei, Liu Shan) and fell in 263. The Three Kingdoms period lasted about 60 years (220-280). The character puzzle alludes to the Sima family; Sima Yan founded Western Jin in 265 and unified China in 280.
Segment 5: Eastern Jin and Northern & Southern Dynasties
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Two people defer to each other but poorly; yielding back and forth until dawn breaks. For five hundred years, staves are bundled together; one round light illuminates the great clarity.
Vernacular: Two figures yield to each other but the outcome is unfortunate, and through mutual yielding daylight gradually appears. For five hundred years conflicts are tangled like a bundle of sticks, until finally a round radiant light illuminates the heavens.
After the fall of Western Jin, the Sima clan retreated south to establish Eastern Jin (317 AD), followed by the prolonged North-South division. From late Western Jin (316) to Sui reunification (589), over 270 years of conflict ensued. The 'five hundred years' may be hyperbolic or may count from earlier periods. 'One round light' alludes to the Sui dynasty's reunification.
Segment 6: Sui Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A heavenly ox descends to Fusang; ten thousand li of mountains and rivers all belong to Yang. The great barbarian of 'thousand-mile grass' also awaits war horses entering Xianyang.
Vernacular: The heavenly ox star shines over the land of Fusang; all the realm's mountains and rivers bear the surname Yang (the Sui imperial family). But the great barbarian — 'thousand-mile grass' forming the character 'Dong' — also awaits cavalry marching on the capital.
Yang Jian founded the Sui dynasty in 581 and unified China — all the realm belonged to the Yang surname. Emperor Yang of Sui's tyranny led to widespread rebellion; Li Yuan raised troops and captured Chang'an (near ancient Xianyang) in 617. The Sui lasted only two generations (581-618), just 37 years.
Segment 7: Tang Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One 'wu' as the head — the meaning is deep; remove the side of 'monkey' and pair it with golden neighbor. Two dynasties' emperors merge into one; at the final limit, why worry about no peace?
Vernacular: The character 'wu' at the top carries deep meaning; remove the radical from 'monkey' and add a metal radical. The emperors of two dynasties merge into one; at the end, there is no need to worry — peace will come. The character puzzles allude to the Li-Tang dynasty.
Li Yuan founded the Tang dynasty in 618, which lasted until 907 — a span of 289 years and one of China's most glorious eras. 'Two dynasties merge into one' may refer to Wu Zetian's brief Zhou dynasty interlude before the Tang was restored, making two dynasties effectively one lineage.
Segment 8: Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: One orphan in one city; swords and spears unresolved — what is there to contend? One-six bodies, one-six killed; the barbarians are left two hundred springs.
Vernacular: An orphan guards a single city amid unresolved warfare. 'One-six' (sixteen) alludes to the Sixteen Kingdoms or the chaotic fragmentation. The barbarians remain for two hundred years of spring. This segment is also interpreted as describing the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms chaos.
The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) was a period of fragmentation after the Tang dynasty's fall, with five short-lived dynasties and over ten regional regimes coexisting amid constant warfare. The imagery of conflict and isolated cities matches this period.
Segment 9: Northern Song
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A traveler from the northwest asks about the Central Plain; the Central Plain has no master and awaits a worthy hero. One traveler sings one song; the sun still shines but moonlight grows. All under heaven — from the start, I am the one who determines life and death; pig, sheep, chicken, dog — nine houses empty.
Vernacular: A traveler from the northwest inquires about the Central Plain's situation — it has no ruler and awaits a capable leader. This alludes to Zhao Kuangyin, who through the Chen Bridge mutiny founded the Northern Song dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin was originally the commander of the palace guards of Later Zhou. In 960, he staged a mutiny at Chen Bridge, had the yellow robe draped over him, and founded the Northern Song dynasty, establishing its capital at Kaifeng and unifying most of the Central Plain.
Segment 10: Southern Song
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: The fire pig's fate arrives — hardship unbearable; three rabbits and one rat bring no peace. One pool of deep water flows across the whole land; all heroes under heaven hang upside down.
Vernacular: When the year of the fire pig arrives, suffering becomes unbearable. The years of three rabbits and one rat bring no peace. A pool of deep water covers the nation — all heroes suffer the agony of hanging upside down. 'Deep water' alludes to the Southern Song's retreat to the watery south, and portends its eventual fall.
The Jingkang Incident (1127) saw Jurchen forces capture Kaifeng, ending the Northern Song. Zhao Gou fled south and established the Southern Song at Lin'an (Hangzhou). 'Deep water flows across the land' alludes to the Southern Song's reliance on the Yangtze water network, and foreshadows its final destruction at the Battle of Yamen in 1279.
Segment 11: Yuan Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: War erupts on all sides, heaven and earth are transformed; the 'grass-headed' man appears but is not the true ruler. One thunderclap startles the sky, the earth turns red; all heroes under heaven submit in defeat.
Vernacular: War erupts everywhere and the cosmic order is overturned. The 'grass-headed man' (alluding to the Mongols) appears but is not of the legitimate Chinese lineage. A great thunderclap stuns the heavens and the land turns red with blood; all heroes under heaven are forced to submit.
Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271 and destroyed the Southern Song by 1279, bringing Mongol rule to China. The Yuan had an unprecedentedly vast territory, but the Mongol rulers were seen as foreign. 'One thunderclap startles the sky' describes the devastating impact of the Mongol cavalry sweeping across the land.
Segment 12: Ming Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A red-headed man emerges from the west, holding a golden blade in a great slaughter. Bright sun and moon shine with heavenly virtue; the short wall, the long wall — how many voyages? One branch falls below the western mountain; when the bright moon falls to earth, the people find peace.
Vernacular: A red-headed figure comes from the west wielding a golden blade in great battle. 'Sun and moon' combine to form the character 'Ming,' signifying the Ming dynasty shining with heavenly virtue. Though the Great Wall is built and rebuilt, how long can it hold? A branch falls below the western mountain; when the bright moon (Ming) falls, people finally find peace.
Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming dynasty in 1368 — 'sun and moon' combine to form the character 'Ming.' He rose from the west (Fengyang, Anhui) through the Red Turban rebellion. The Ming lasted 276 years (1368-1644) and rebuilt the Great Wall. 'Bright moon falls to earth' refers to stability after the Ming's fall.
Segment 13: Early Qing Dynasty
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: A round red sun surges from the east; heroes under heaven all gallop forth. Holding a golden halberd, sweeping in all directions; dominating the realm, none can stand in the way.
Vernacular: A round red sun rises from the east; heroes everywhere gallop across the battlefield. Wielding a golden halberd sweeping in all four directions, dominating the realm with none able to resist. This alludes to the Qing dynasty entering through the passes from the northeast (the east) to unify China.
In 1644, Qing forces entered through the passes from the northeast. The early Qing experienced the prosperous reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, with vast territory and strong national power. 'Dominating the realm, none can resist' matches the Qing's military supremacy during this period.
Segment 14: Fall of Qing and Republic
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: Heaven gives birth to a great red flower; in all directions, everything is laid down. In the Song of Ten Thousand Years, the realm is told; cold and heat alternate — the years are uncounted.
Vernacular: A great red flower blooms from heaven; in all four directions and eight sides, everything settles. The Song of Ten Thousand Years tells the fate of the realm; through alternating cold and heat, countless years pass. The 'great red flower' is interpreted as alluding to the revolution and the red revolutionary movements after the fall of the Qing.
The Qing dynasty fell in 1912 and the Republic of China was established. 'Great red flower' has multiple interpretations: some say it refers to the Xinhai Revolution (a red revolution), others to the later People's Republic of China (a red regime). This segment is relatively vague and its specific reference remains debated.
Segment 15: The Present and Future
姜子牙（传）/ 邵雍: All under heaven returns to one unified rest; heaven and earth endure ten thousand years as before.
Vernacular: The world ultimately returns to unity and peace; heaven and earth endure for ten thousand years, unchanged as always. This is the poem's conclusion, prophesying that the world will eventually achieve unification and lasting peace.