[Minghui 11/03/2000] "Validate the Fa with reason, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and offer people salvation with benevolence" (Rationality) Prophecies of Liu Chi in China's Ming Dynasty By Rong Fa
The first issue of Time magazine in this new millennium ranked most influential personalities in every historical period of human civilization. The dubious distinction of "dictator of the 14 century" went to Zhu Yuanzhang (also known as Zhu Hung Wu), a Chinese of humblest origin (a homeless) who eventually "chased out the descendants of Genghis Khan and became the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty in China." According to Time, Zhu's other accomplishments included policies that led to "an agricultural bonanza", which made "the ordinary Chinese …the most prosperous inhabitants on earth." His success has largely been attributed to his key advisor, Liu Chi (also known as Liu Bowen), another legend in China famous for his wisdom and prophecies. What follows is an ad hoc English rendition of a conversation between Zhu and Liu, as documented in Ming dynasty royal archives. Emperor: Please advise: who will spread the Tao during the last Fa-declining period? Liu: There is a rhyme to reveal this secret: Emperor: Where, then, will Maitreya come into birth? Liu: Your majesty, please hear this prophecy: When the future spiritual Lord descends into this world, he will not assume the figure of a royal court dignitary; nor will he care to be a prince. Staying away from the Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries, he is instead born into an indigent family. He travels extensively around the "Northern Zhao and Southern Yan", and scatters the gold all along his way. Emperor: For the sake of our progeny, can you clarify what happens after the Ch'ing Dynasty[2]? Liu: I dare not expose in its entirety. But it is certain that the Ch'ing Dynasty remains solid before the opening of the sea routes to the outside. Bloodshed and wars, however, will ensue following the opening. If the time has come again for another opening to the outside, on an even larger scale, it must be "Lao Shui"[3] is reigning in Beijing. Emperor: What kind of changes, if any, does "Lao Shui" bring to the country? Liu: There are a lot of them. The most prominent one is the multitude of Taos will fade to introduce a great cultivation practice. This practice will make people younger than their age. It comes at a time when the monks have so degenerated that they are even demanding brides for themselves—what a funny moment, that ladies start marrying monks. Emperor: What do you have to say about the Tao in that era? Liu: In the final phase of the Fa-declining period, thousands of Great Enlightened Beings will descend into the human world; and hundreds of Buddha's will do the same. A full sky of Taos, immortals and Bodhisattva's, etc., will find it hard to escape this upcoming calamity. It is none other than the Buddha for the Future who descends to spread the Fa at this final moment. All Buddha's and Taos, in the heaven or in the human world, can only be spared if they are fortunate enough to be associated with the Fa by a "golden string"; otherwise, their fruit status will be cut down. After this declining period, Maitreya seals off the total of 81 calamities. Now, I'd like to share some of my observations regarding this conversation.
I'd like to conclude on a note to fellow practitioners: Let's not wait any longer, now that the celestial secret has fully been revealed; otherwise, it will be too late for regret when this opportunity is lost forever. (Translated on October 29, 2000 from edited version of http://www.minghui.cc/gb/0001/Oct/26/liubowen_yuyan_102600_shishi.html) [2]The Ming (1368-1644) and the Ch’ing (1644-1911) are two consecutive dynasties in China. Apparently, even before this conversation, the emperor had known the name of the subsequent dynasty through Liu. [3]"Lao" means "old"; and "Shui" is "water". The mention of "Lao Shui" here is interesting as its implications are consistent with those of the name of current Chinese despotic leader Jiang Zemin. "Jiang" in Chinese refers to river; "Zemin", by literal translation, is "helping people grow by watering them continuously." Ironically, during the summer of 1990, the first year Jiang assumed the top office of the country, China saw a large part of its territory most damagingly flooded; and human tolls were in the thousands. It was widely circulated within the somewhat "superstitious" segment of the population that the flood might have some to do with the name of their leader. Since that time, however, severe floods have become a usual occurrence every year in China.[4]One liang is 1and 1/3 oz. [5]One liang is 1and 1/3 oz. [6]Liu Chi, along with Zhu Yuanzhang, is a most colorful character the mundane Chinese royal history has to offer to the general public. He is also credited with creation of the "moon cake" holiday now widely observed—for the original purpose of serving as a liaison tool in uniting Chinese natives against their Mogul rulers.
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