“Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song” is a prophetic poem written by Liu Bowen, a famous politician and strategist in the Ming Dynasty. It is named after a dialogue between Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and Liu Bowen. In the dialogue, Zhu Yuanzhang covered the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) with a bowl and asked Liu Bowen what was in the bowl. Liu Bowen accurately calculated that it was Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle). The monarch and his officials then started a dialogue about the national destiny of the Ming Dynasty. The contents of these dialogues were later recorded, forming the Song of Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle).

The prophecy of “Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song” covers a wide range of aspects, including politics, military, culture, society and so on. The poem uses metaphors, symbolism, and other techniques to accurately predict major historical events of the Ming Dynasty and its later generations. Here is a practical analysis of some of these prophecies:

The prophecy of “swallows flying” predicted the Jingnan War of Yan King Zhu Di, and this prophecy was later verified. Zhu Di fought against Emperor Jianwen and finally won the throne, with the title of Yongle, which was in line with the prediction in the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song.
The phrase ‘Eight Thousand Female Demons Disorderly Court Regulations’ implies Wei Zhongxian’s authoritarian and chaotic governance. In the late Ming Dynasty, Wei Zhongxian was very powerful and autocratic, which was consistent with the prediction in the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) song.
The phrase ‘Mu Xia turned his head and saw a knife in his eyes’ cleverly reveals Li Zicheng’s name and rebellion. The peasant uprising army led by Li Zicheng captured Beijing and overthrew the rule of the Ming Dynasty, which is in line with the prediction in the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) song.
The Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song also predicted the demise of the Ming Dynasty and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty. For example, the phrase ‘ten thousand sons and ten thousand grandsons’ may seem like a compliment to the imperial family of the Ming Dynasty, but it actually implies a prophecy of the Ming Dynasty’s aura. After sixteen emperors, the Ming Dynasty lasted 276 years, and finally perished in the Chongzhen period, which was in line with the prediction in the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song. The establishment and rule of the Qing Dynasty also coincided with the prediction in the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song.
In addition, the Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song also predicted the social unrest and change after the demise of the Qing Dynasty, as well as some important events in the future. Although these prophecies have not yet been fully verified, the historical trends and philosophical reflections contained therein still have important enlightening significance for understanding and comprehending history, reality, and the future.

In general, as a wonderful book of prophecy, the accurate prediction and profound philosophical thinking of Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) Song have aroused people’s strong interest and concern. However, the interpretation and verification of prophecies still require caution and objectivity, and should not be blindly superstitious or overly interpreted. At the same time, we should also recognize the complexity and uncertainty of history, as well as the continuous development and changes of human society.