In Chinese history, whenever there was a period of social unrest or of decline and corruption in the dynastic government, the leaders of rebellious uprisings would often--deliberately or otherwise--put about some prophecies or fables purporting to reveal the will of heaven, or even turn them into songs and rhymes to be spread around the wellsides and markets by women and children, so as to crystallize popular support for the overthrow of the reigning dynasty.
過去中國歷史上每當朝政敗壞、社會動盪的時代，造反起義的逐鹿群雄往往會有意無意地散佈一些具有天命預言性質的讖語或神話，甚至編成歌謠在市井間讓婦嫗兒童傳唱，以凝聚民氣，為推翻當朝造勢。