Liu Bowen

Also known as Liu Ji · Zi Bowen · Liu Qingtian

Liu Bowen is Liu Ji, courtesy name Bowen, of Qingtian in Chuzhou (in modern Zhejiang). A jinshi of the Yuan Zhishun reign, he served as assistant magistrate of Gao'an, later quarrelled with his superiors over his hard line against the rebel Fang Guozhen, and withdrew home to write the parables of Yulizi. Summoned by Zhu Yuanzhang in 1360, he offered eighteen proposals, advised destroying Chen Youliang before Zhang Shicheng, and was present at the battle of Lake Poyang. He became director of astronomy in 1367, censor-in-chief in 1368 and Earl of Chengyi in 1370. Pushed aside by the chancellor Hu Weiyong, he went home gravely ill in 1375 and died a month later; the Ming History says medicine from a doctor Hu had brought left a stone-like lump in his belly. In 1513 he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and named Wencheng. The Pancake Song prophecies and tales of his uncanny foresight are folk legends attached to his name.