The Pushing Back Diagram “is said to be a miraculous prophecy book co created by astronomer Li Chunfeng and scholar Yuan Tiangang during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, based on the Book of Changes, astronomical calendar, and the Eight Trigrams of the Book of Changes. It arranges the hexagrams in sequence according to the names of the 64 hexagrams in the Book of Changes, matching them according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches. It cycles one week according to the order of Jia Zi and Yi Chou, with a total of sixty hexagrams. Each hexagram is numbered by the stem branch and mainly includes: one hexagram, one image, prophecies, and one “praise” regulated poem, with a total of four parts. The following is an analysis and practical interpretation of some of the prophecies in the ‘Pushing Back Diagram’:

Prophecy analysis method
The prophecy in ‘Pushing Back Diagram’ does not directly indicate specific events, but expresses future trends and directions through metaphors and symbols. For example:

Tian Gan Di Zhi: As an ancient Chinese time marker system, it provides a specific time background for each elephant.
Hexagram: Originating from the Book of Changes, it reveals the inherent laws of the development of things through its symbolic symbols and principles of change.
Prophecy and pictorial prophecy: using implicit poetry and images to imply important events that will happen in the future.
Songwen: It is a summary and explanation of each image, helping readers understand the deeper meaning of the prophecy.
Practical interpretation of some prophecies
The First Elephant (Opening Discussion on Circulation)
The vast expanse of heaven and earth knows no end; the sun and moon cycle endlessly
Song said, “Since Pangu to Xiyi, the struggle between tigers and dragons has been extraordinary. I have come to understand the true essence of the cycle and tried to discuss the fundamental principles of the Tang Dynasty
Interpretation: This image is symbolized by the heavens, earth, sun, and moon, indicating the beginning of all things in the universe and the natural laws of the cycle. Songwen summarizes the major historical events and human development since the founding of Pangu, and implies the historical development after the Tang Dynasty.
The Second Elephant (National Fortune of the Tang Dynasty)
Prophecy: “Abundant fruits, unknown in number; one fruit, one benevolence, new is old
Song said, “All things arise from the soil, and the 29th will first become solid. Unify the Central Plains, and the Yin will be prosperous and the Yang will be exhausted first
Image: A plate of 21 fruits, symbolizing the 21 emperors of the Tang Dynasty.
Interpretation: This image indicates the national fortune of the Tang Dynasty through a plate of fruit. Among them, “29” refers to the 289th year of the Tang Dynasty’s national fortune, and “Yin Sheng Yang Xian Jiang” may have foreshadowed the chaotic political situation of women in the imperial harem such as Wu Zetian.
The Third Elephant (Empress Wu proclaimed himself emperor)
Prophecy: “When the sun and moon are in the sky, they shine upon the earth below; they are shrouded in mystery, both literary and martial
Song said, “After wandering through the emptiness of the sky, I once again entered the imperial palace. The branches have been plucked and the roots are still there. Oh, who is the male of the morning chicken
Image: A woman lying on the ground, with a saddle beside her and a box of books.
Interpretation: This phenomenon prophesied the historical event of Empress Wu Zetian’s coronation. Wu Zetian was the only legitimate female emperor in Chinese history. She created her own name “曌”, which means “the sun and moon are in the sky”, echoing the prophecy of “the sun and moon are in the sky”. The poem of praise implies that Wu Zetian was once favored by Emperor Taizong of Tang to be placed in the palace, and later became a nun before taking power and proclaiming herself emperor.
The Fifth Elephant (An Lushan Rebellion)
Prophecy: “Yang Huafei, the road to Shu is difficult; cutting off bamboo and Xiao will reveal the sun
Song said, “The drums and gongs of Yuyang pass through Tongguan. On this day, the king is blessed with Jian Mountain. If Mu Yi encounters a ghost at the foot of the mountain, he will be buried here with a golden ring
Image: A temple with a woman sitting in the middle and a dog next to her.
Interpretation: This phenomenon clearly predicted the occurrence of the An Lushan Rebellion, which was a landmark event in the Tang Dynasty’s transition from prosperity to decline. By using phrases such as’ Yang Huafei ‘and’ Difficulties on the Shu Road ‘, it cleverly implies the fate of Yang Guifei and the escape of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. The poem further describes the details and consequences of this historical event.
The 18th Elephant (under the rule of Empress Dowager Liu)
The mother of the world, the golden sword subdues the rabbit; in the year of March 8th, public security is consolidated
Song said, “Frequent floods and droughts are not a disaster. I helped the young master sit on the altar. In the morning, I saw the light of a hairpin shining again, and the atmosphere in the world was calm and bright
Interpretation: This phenomenon prophesied a historical event in which Emperor Renzong of Song ascended the throne at a young age and his adoptive mother Liu E, also known as Empress Dowager Liu, took control of the court affairs on his behalf. Songwen describes the deeds of Empress Dowager Liu during her reign, including developing social productive forces, building water conservancy projects, and implementing benevolent governance, as well as the stable situation of society during her tenure as regent.
Prediction accuracy evaluation
From historical records, it can be seen that the “Pushing Back Map” successfully predicted many major historical events, such as the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, the establishment of the Song Dynasty, and the replacement of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These predictions not only have a long time span, but the specific events also highly match the prophecies and hymns in the picture. However, we need to have a clear understanding of the prediction methods and objects for the ‘Pushing Back Chart’:

Prediction method: The prediction method of “Pushing Back Map” integrates various knowledge such as ancient astronomy, calendar, and divination in the Book of Changes. The prediction objects mainly include major events such as national rise and fall, dynastic changes, and social transformations. This macro level prediction is more uncertain and ambiguous compared to micro level predictions of individual fate.
Interpretation difficulty: The prophecy in ‘Pushing Back Chart’ does not directly indicate specific events, but expresses future trends and directions through metaphors and symbols. This requires the interpreter to have a profound cultural background and keen insight in order to accurately capture the information.
Version differences: The “Pushing Back Map” has undergone multiple revisions, additions, and deletions during its circulation, and there are also differences in the predicted content and accuracy of different versions. This further increases the difficulty of evaluating its predictive accuracy.
In summary, as an ancient Chinese prophecy masterpiece, the accuracy and practical significance of the “Pushing Back Map” have been verified and paid attention to in the long river of history. However, when interpreting and evaluating its predictions, we need to maintain a cautious and objective attitude, fully considering factors such as prediction methods, interpretation difficulty, and version differences.