What is Wuhou Bainian Ji?

诸葛亮（托名） · 约1900年

Wuhou Bainian Ji (武侯百年乩, 'Marquis Wu's Hundred-Year Divination') is a prophetic poem obtained through spirit writing (planchette divination, known as fuji 扶乩) in 1933, at the opening ceremony of the Xuanyuan Academy in Fanling, Hong Kong. The text is attributed to Zhuge Liang — the legendary strategist and chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, posthumously titled 'Marquis of Wuxiang' (武乡侯), hence 'Marquis Wu.' Written in seven-character verse, it purports to prophesy major Chinese events from the early 20th century through the next hundred years.

Fuji (spirit writing) is an ancient Chinese divination practice: a medium holds a T-shaped wooden stylus (the 'ji pen') and traces characters on a sand tray, believed to channel messages from deities or spirits. This prophecy was produced through such a ceremony. The first section was published on December 15, 1933 in the Hong Kong Industrial & Commercial Daily, titled 'Divination Words Descended from Kongming.' In December 1951, the Overseas Chinese Daily published additional sections under the title 'A Prophecy from Eighteen Years Ago.'

The authenticity of the Wuhou Bainian Ji is heavily debated. First, the original 1933 newspaper text reads 'five-colored flags rise in the east,' but the 1951 reprint changed it to 'five-starred flags' — suggesting post-hoc alteration. Second, versions circulating online are roughly three times the length of the newspaper original; the additional sections (so-called Parts Two and Three) are likely modern additions. Third, spirit writing itself is a folk religious practice, and attributing texts to ancient sages is a well-known convention. This site presents the most widely circulated version with section-by-section verification for readers to assess.

Core Message
"To rescue the suffering is the one true way; when governance and faith unite, there is joy without sorrow." — Wuhou Bainian Ji
Key Timeline
  • 1933 — First section published in the Hong Kong Industrial & Commercial Daily
  • 1937–1945 — The Sino-Japanese War period prophesied in the text
  • 1949 — The regime change prophesied in the text
  • 1951 — Remaining sections published in the Overseas Chinese Daily
  • 1997 — The Hong Kong handover referenced in the text
Data Sources
  • First section published in the Hong Kong Industrial & Commercial Daily on December 15, 1933; remaining sections in the Overseas Chinese Daily, December 1951. Original newspaper copies available via the Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System (HKPL MMIS)
  • Background on the fuji (spirit writing) tradition: (Wikipedia)
  • This site uses the most widely circulated version; scholarly debate on authenticity remains ongoing, and later sections (Parts Two and Three) may be modern additions
  • Verification based on public historical records and news reports; editorial opinions do not represent academic consensus
  • Site icon: the ji pen (T-shaped spirit writing stylus) — fuji is the method by which this prophecy was produced, and the stylus is its most representative instrument

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.