Detailed explanation of the sixth image of Tuibei 60: Yisi (Rebuilding the Tang Dynasty)

The Tuibei Tu was created by two famous officials of the Tang Dynasty, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang. According to legend, one day Li Chunfeng was drinking with Yuan Tiangang when he suddenly heard strange phenomena in the sky and was inspired to predict some things that would happen in the future. There are 60 images in total in the book, and even things that are happening now can be found in the book. This issue of Tuibei Tu special topic will introduce to you the sixth image Yi Si (Rebuilding the Tang Dynasty). If you are interested, let’s learn about it together!

The third image is Yi Si

【Prophecy】

Not all are not the emperor is the emperor

The haze has gone and the sun and moon are shining again

【Song said】

The great banners are erected in the two capitals, and the chariot is heading east again today.

The world is rebuilt, and the people are happy to see peace in the next one or two years

Vernacular explanation:

1: Explain the prophecy

[Neither the capital is the capital, nor the emperor is the emperor] Lingwu, which was not the capital, became the capital, and the prince became the emperor.

During the An-Shi Rebellion, the royal family fled Chang'an and Emperor Xuanzong fled to Sichuan. Crown Prince Li Heng succeeded to the throne in Lingwu, temporarily making Lingwu the capital and honoring Xuanzong as the emperor emeritus.

[The haze has gone and the sun and moon are shining again] The Anshi Rebellion was put down and peace returned to the world.

2: Explanation and pictures

[Big flags stand tall in the two capitals, and the chariot is heading east again today] "Big flag": flag. "Two Capitals": In the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was called Xijing and Luoyang was called Dongjing. "Nianyu": the emperor's carriage. Corresponding to the figure.

This sentence refers to the September and October of 757, when Guo Ziyi and the nominal Marshal Guangping Prince Li Yu[1] recaptured Chang'an and Luoyang. In December, Emperor Xuanzong returned eastward from Western Shu (Sichuan) to the capital of Chang'an.

[The world is rebuilt and the people are happy] The recovery of the two capitals was seen as the restoration of the world, and the people of the two capitals were happy. "Rebuilding the world": refers to Guo Ziyi's rebuilding of the Tang Dynasty: Guo Ziyi was ordered to take charge of the country in times of crisis and repeatedly made remarkable achievements. After recovering the two capitals, Emperor Suzong said to him: "Although this is my country, it was actually rebuilt by you." "People's Happiness": The people of the two capitals are enjoying peace and happiness for the first time. It seems to indicate that Guo Ziyi is deeply loved by the people.

[There will be peace in the next one or two years] The riddles in the prophecies are sometimes deliberately misleading in the literal sense, so as not to reveal the secret but to imply the true meaning. Otherwise, it would be seen through in the world. This sentence is often understood as: There will be peace in another one or two years. However, compared with historical facts, the metaphor is: It is a pity that the peace we saw only lasted for one or two years.

After the two capitals were recovered in 757, Luoyang enjoyed peace for only one or two years. In May 759, it fell into the hands of Shi Siming again. In 761, Shi Siming was killed by his son Shi Chaoyi, who ascended the throne. In October 762, Emperor Daizong of Tang borrowed troops from the Uighurs and once again employed Guo Ziyi to recapture Luoyang. Shi Chaoyi fled to Mozhou (now north of Renqiu, Hebei) and hanged himself in the first month of 763. The Anshi Rebellion lasted for 7 years and 3 months and was finally completely quelled. But the good times did not last long, and the next war was about to begin.

What is the sixth image about: [Rebuilding the Tang Dynasty]

The sixth image shows a city gate, representing the capital Chang'an. Two people in front hold ceremonial guards and clear the way for the emperor. There is one person sitting in the cart behind and one person pushing the cart. This is a symbol of Emperor Xuanzong's return to Chang'an. The prophecy says: "It is not the capital, it is not the emperor, it is the emperor. The haze will go away and the sun and moon will shine again."

"Fei Du is Du" means that the capital is where the emperor resides, but the emperor fled to Sichuan. Sichuan is not the capital, but the emperor is there. "Not an emperor but an emperor" means that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had passed the throne to Crown Prince Li Heng. Although Li Heng was already the emperor, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang still titled him the Supreme Emperor. The last two sentences refer to the fact that Emperor Suzong of Tang appointed Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi and others to defeat An Lushan and Shi Siming again and again, thus restoring the Tang Dynasty to its former glory.

The eulogy goes, "Grand flags stand tall in the two capitals, and the chariot is heading east again today. The world has created happiness for the people, and peace will be seen in the next one or two years." The two capitals refer to Luoyang and Chang'an; the chariot is the emperor's vehicle. The general meaning of the four sentences is that the Tang Dynasty defeated the An and Shi rebels, so that the Tang Dynasty flag was raised again in the two capitals, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang returned from Sichuan by carriage. It was also a blessing for the people that the Tang Dynasty became stable again, but complete peace would take another one or two years.