The art of fortune-telling has been a long-standing tradition, passed down through generations since ancient times. However, fortune tellers often rely on specific points on the facial features or hand shapes to predict the fortune or misfortune of individuals.
Historically, aside from the renowned fortune-teller Viên Thiên Cang, the military strategist Lưu Bá Ôn (during the Ming Dynasty) was also considered to possess a remarkable ability for “divining fate,” frequently achieving astonishing predictions.
Nevertheless, few people know that a notable fortune-teller with the title “divine predictor” had existed long before Viên Thiên Cang and Lưu Bá Ôn, spanning several hundred years. This individual is Hứa Phú, a talented female figure famous for her fortune-telling abilities during the Tần and Tây Hán dynasties.
The Legacy of a Divine Predictor
Legend has it that when Hứa Phú was born, she held in her hand a jade block engraved with the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching. After the Tần Thủy Hoàng learned of this, he believed that this girl would bring great fortune. Thus, he bestowed upon Hứa Vàng, Hứa Phú’s father, a gold reward of 200 taels, ensuring a prosperous life for his daughter.
The father named his daughter Mạc Phú (often referred to as Hứa Phú) with the hope that she would not fail to live up to the emperor’s expectations.
Hứa Mạc Phú demonstrated exceptional learning abilities from a young age, showing a unique aptitude for divination that far surpassed her peers. Furthermore, her understanding of the I Ching and the Eight Trigrams made her predictions highly regarded among the scholarly elite.
As she grew up, Mạc Phú became the most celebrated fortune teller of her time. She was sought after by many individuals, including influential figures, all eager to receive her insights.
News of her talents quickly reached Tần Thủy Hoàng, who summoned Mạc Phú to the palace. However, after her predictions revealed the imminent downfall of the Tần dynasty, Mạc Phú chose to refuse the palace summons.
Shortly after Tần Thủy Hoàng’s death, numerous conspiracies emerged, leading to the rapid demise of the Tần house. Hứa Mạc Phú then changed her name to “Hứa Phú.”
The “Divine Predictor” and Two Prophetic Predictions
Lưu Bang would become the first emperor of the Hán dynasty.
After the Tần house fell, during the Han-Sở conflict, a moment arose when Lưu Bang and Hứa Phú made a significant prediction: “Lưu Bang will become the emperor in the future.”
Amidst the chaos of war, Hứa Phú urged her father to heed the call of the legendary figure Ôn Thành and her brothers to gather troops, leading a formidable army to confront Lưu Bang. Before departing, Lưu Bang also acknowledged that once he secured the throne, he would reward Hứa Phú’s family.
This prediction indeed came to fruition. By 202 BC, Lưu Bang ascended the throne and established the Hán dynasty, known as Hán Cao Tổ. Shortly thereafter, Hán Cao Tổ appointed Hứa Vàng as Ôn Thành Hậu, while all three of his sons were designated as military generals, particularly Hứa Phú was honored as Minh Thư Định Hậu.
Observing the characteristics of her successor
After Lưu Bang’s ascension, the woman who would become known as Bắc Cơ was soon to be revealed. Naturally, after Lưu Bang’s rise, Bắc Cơ became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Lưu Hằng. Later, after numerous struggles, Lưu Hằng became the emperor, known as Hán Văn Đế. This event highlighted the prophetic predictions made by Hứa Phú concerning the future of Bắc Cơ.
Why did Hứa Phú decisively predict that Bắc Cơ would give birth to a “heavenly son”? It turns out that beyond her attractive appearance, Hứa Phú perceived the unique qualities on the face of Bắc Cơ.
In her book “Hứa Phú Luận Nữ Thiên,” it is clearly stated that to observe the fortunes of women, one must focus on five aspects. These include character determination, the fortune of their children, and ultimately the ability to predict wealth or poverty.
Thus, when observing the face of a woman, one must first consider the overall expression to deduce her partner’s worth. Secondly, the woman must have a bright expression, with prominent features. Particularly, a woman with a bright and vibrant appearance will have a greater likelihood of bearing a talented son.
Hứa Phú viewed Bắc Cơ not only as possessing a high stature, elegance, and sharp features but also noted her unique traits. Beyond her beautiful face, the woman had a radiant smile, bright teeth, and gentle demeanor. All these factors contributed to the prediction that she would bear a “heavenly son.”
Accordingly, after Lã Hầu passed away, Hứa Phú observed the situation and advised Chu Bột and Trần Bình to rise against the Lã family. Subsequently, these two individuals helped Lưu Hằng, the son of Lưu Bang and Bắc Cơ, ascend the throne, becoming known as Hán Văn Đế.
After ascending the throne, Hán Văn Đế appointed Trần Bình and Chu Bột as his chief advisors, maintaining the royal lineage of the Lã family.
This emperor also honored Hứa Phú with a noble title and rewarded her greatly for her significant contributions, as her influence was like a mountain to him. Without her, it would have been challenging for Hán Văn Đế to maintain his reign amidst the shifting dynamics of power.
By the ninth year of Văn Đế’s reign, Hứa Phú had become the revered figure, with her legacy preserved in the historical records. Although Hán Văn Đế was reluctant, he ultimately had to comply.
The life of this legendary figure is indeed a captivating narrative in history. From birth to her rise, she has made numerous significant predictions rooted in the art of fortune-telling. While many may see this as mere coincidence, the impactful predictions nevertheless shaped the fate of a nation.
Sources: QQ, Baidu
