The Mysterious Sage and the Ambitious Rebel

In the chaotic final years of the Yuan Dynasty, when peasant revolts swept across China like wildfire, a remarkable partnership emerged that would capture the imagination of generations. Zhu Yuanzhang, a former monk turned rebel leader, sought the counsel of Liu Bowen, a reputed scholar with almost supernatural foresight. This relationship between military might and intellectual brilliance became the stuff of legend, blending historical fact with folkloric embellishment.

The stories first emerged from Zhu’s persistent attempts to recruit Liu as his strategist. Having established his power base and assumed the title of prince, Zhu needed someone who could see beyond the battlefield. Liu Bowen’s reputation as both a brilliant scholar and something of a mystic – capable of “knowing five hundred years past and five hundred years future” – made him the ideal candidate. Yet the scholar repeatedly refused summons, claiming he awaited the “true Son of Heaven.”

The Divine Encounter That Changed History

Frustrated by Liu’s refusals, Zhu devised an ingenious plan to demonstrate his heavenly mandate. According to the legend, Liu encountered a sleeping salt merchant whose body formed the character for “heaven” (天). When roused, the man’s new posture created the character for “child” (子), together spelling “Son of Heaven” (天子). This salt merchant revealed himself as none other than Zhu Yuanzhang in disguise. Though historically inaccurate – records show no such personal recruitment – this tale beautifully illustrates how folklore transformed political alliance into destiny.

The story serves multiple purposes in folk tradition: it validates Zhu’s imperial legitimacy, establishes Liu’s ability to recognize true rulers, and sets the stage for their complex relationship. Notably, it also introduces the recurring theme of Liu’s reluctant service, suggesting his wisdom surpassed even the emperor’s power.

The Battle of Wits Between Emperor and Advisor

Their legendary intellectual duels became favorite subjects of storytellers. One famous episode involves a chess game where Zhu, facing defeat, tests Liu’s famed memory by having him recite entire books verbatim. When Liu succeeds flawlessly, Zhu shifts to testing his poetic skills with increasingly complex couplets:

“With heaven as chessboard and stars as pieces, who dares play?”
Liu counters: “With earth as lute and roads as strings, who dares pluck?”

These exchanges showcase the tension between ruler and advisor – Zhu’s insecurity about his peasant origins versus Liu’s effortless erudition. The stories often portray Zhu as intellectually outmatched but politically dominant, a dynamic that would characterize their historical relationship.

Prophecy and the Fate of Dynasties

Perhaps the most enduring legend involves Liu’s prediction about the Ming Dynasty’s duration. When asked to emulate Jiang Ziya’s famous prophecy of the Zhou Dynasty’s 800-year reign, Liu cryptically responds: “Eight hundred seems too few, three hundred seems too many.” He explains that longevity depends on virtuous governance, avoiding direct prediction while subtly warning about the dangers of poor rule.

The Ming’s actual 276-year reign (1368-1644) led later generations to interpret this as precise foresight. This legend reflects traditional Chinese views about the Mandate of Heaven – that dynasties rise and fall based on moral governance rather than fixed timelines.

The Great Escape: Liu Bowen’s Narrow Avoidance of Imperial Wrath

As Zhu consolidated power, folklore depicts growing imperial paranoia. The “Celebration Tower” story tells how Zhu planned to eliminate potential rivals by inviting them to a banquet in a specially designed building meant for burning. Liu, foreseeing the danger through astrological observation, feigns injury to avoid attending while secretly warning general Xu Da through coded advice: “Serve loyally, follow closely.”

Xu’s literal interpretation – physically clinging to Zhu during the banquet – saves his life when the tower is torched. This dramatic tale, while fictional, captures historical tensions between Zhu and his early supporters as he transformed from rebel leader to autocratic emperor.

The Architect of Nanjing and Protector of the People

Construction legends highlight Liu’s compassion and quick thinking. In one account, when Zhu carelessly reveals his humble origins (“I just wanted meat with every meal”) before palace workers, Liu saves a eavesdropping craftsman by convincing Zhu the man is deaf and mute. The grateful emperor bestows the ironic title “King Without Mouth,” turning potential execution into dark comedy.

Another tale credits Liu with designing Nanjing’s layout using feng shui principles to protect residents. These stories emphasize Liu’s role as mediator between imperial power and common people, softening Zhu’s harshness with wisdom and compassion.

The Mysterious Disappearance and Enduring Legacy

Liu’s eventual departure from court becomes its own legend. Foreseeing danger, he advises Xu Da to establish himself at Shanhaiguan (the strategic pass Liu helped design) before vanishing. Later, Zhu discovers evidence suggesting Liu was the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang – explaining his supernatural abilities. This connection to China’s most famous strategist elevates Liu from historical figure to mythical sage.

The absence of dedicated Liu Bowen temples (unlike the numerous Zhuge Liang shrines) becomes proof of this mystical succession in folk belief. The stories conclude with Zhu abandoning his search for Liu, realizing the futility of hunting someone who could always anticipate his moves.

Why These Legends Endure

These tales persist because they address universal themes: the tension between wisdom and power, the moral responsibilities of leadership, and the human desire for justice in an unpredictable world. By transforming historical figures into archetypes – the brilliant but constrained advisor, the capable but paranoid ruler – folklore makes complex historical dynamics accessible and meaningful across generations.

The legends also serve as subtle social commentary. Liu’s victories are always intellectual or moral rather than political, reflecting Confucian ideals about scholar-officials serving as ethical counterweights to imperial authority. His escapes and prophecies offer symbolic victories where historical records show eventual defeat.

Ultimately, the Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Bowen legends represent China’s rich tradition of using history as both entertainment and instruction – where the past becomes a mirror for reflecting on power, morality, and human nature itself.