Interpreting the Jade Prophecies of the Fourth Year of Guangchu period in Han Zhao

A piece of white jade inscribed with prophecies was found at the collapse of the Zhongnan Mountain in the fourth year of the Guangchu (the reign title) period by Han zhao regime of Liu Yao, and Liu Jun, the top official of Zhongshusheng, interpreted the jade prophecies as an inauspicious sign, which objectively became an important trigger for the subsequent battles between Liu Yao and Shi Le. At the same time, by examining the knowledge base of Liu Jun’s prophecies interpretation to restore the mainstream auspicious interpretation at that time, we can reveal the self-representation and theoretical construction of the Han zhao in the pre-history of the founding of the state, the succession of destiny, the change of the state name and the regime’s strategic direction. The emergence of the jade prophecies in the fourth year of the Guangchu period and the subsequent historical development typically reflect the profound influence of prophetic factors on early Chinese medieval society.