In the annals of history, the line between superstition and prophecy can sometimes appear blurred, especially when viewed through the lens of significant historical events. This was particularly evident in the case of Mao Zedong, a leader known for his adherence to Marxist atheism, yet one who couldn’t escape the ancient Chinese belief in the connection between celestial events and human fate. Let’s delve into a curious incident highlighting this dichotomy — a meteor shower that seemed to portend the end of an era in China.
The Jilin meteor shower: A startling phenomenon
On the afternoon of March 8, 1976, people near the outskirts of Jilin City in China were startled by a thunderous noise that halted their daily activities. Three blazing fireballs tore through the sky and crashed to the ground at incredible speeds, breaking into thousands of pieces and creating a “meteor shower.” The impact was so powerful that it shattered the windows of homes hundreds of miles away, leading some to believe an atomic bomb had detonated.
This event was reported as one of the most enormous meteor showers ever witnessed, with over 138 meteorite specimens and over 3,000 fragments collected over a 500 square kilometer area, weighing 2,770 kilograms.
Celestial omens in Chinese culture
The Chinese have long embraced the concept of “Tian Ren He Yi” (天人合一), which suggests a harmonious connection between Heaven and Earth, with celestial phenomena often seen as omens for earthly events. Unusual occurrences like meteor showers, solar eclipses, and blood moons have traditionally been interpreted as signs of impending fortune or disaster.
Mao Zedong’s reaction to the Jilin meteor shower
More than a month after the meteor shower, on April 22, Mao Zedong asked his nurse, Meng Jinyun (referred to here as “Xiao Meng”), to read him the news. She happened upon a report about the meteor shower and began to recite it. As she read, Xiao Meng noticed Mao, who had been reclining, suddenly sitting up — an unusual behavior for him.
After hearing the entire report, Mao appeared enveloped in emotion, showing signs of deep thought, unease, and fear. He got up, asked Xiao Meng to open the curtains — another rare request — and stared at the setting sun for a long time, seemingly lost in contemplation.
Mao confided in Xiao Meng, acknowledging the historical precedence of such events and their ominous implications. Despite her secular education and disbelief in such superstitions, Mao affirmed his belief in “Tian Ren Gan Ying” (天人感应), the idea that natural phenomena can signal changes in the human world, with each omen indicating good or bad fortune.
The prophetic interpretation of the meteor shower
Mao pondered why the ancients would invent such stories. Xiao Meng later recalled Mao standing at the window, staring into the sky, lost in thought. As events unfolded, it seemed the ancients may not have been entirely off the mark.
The three largest meteorites from the Jilin shower corresponded to the end of three significant figures in Chinese politics. Indeed, in 1976, China witnessed the deaths of three of its leaders: Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and Mao Zedong himself.
The numerous smaller meteorites were ominously linked to a catastrophic event — the Tangshan earthquake. On July 28, 1976, a 7.8 magnitude quake struck Hebei Province with a force equivalent to 400 Hiroshima bombs. It devastated the city of Tangshan, claiming the lives of 240,000 people and injuring 160,000 more.
Reflections on belief and superstition
Upon witnessing these subsequent events, one wonders if Xiao Meng reconsidered her staunch disbelief in the existence of gods and omens. The Jilin meteor shower and the events of 1976 present a fascinating case study of the enduring power of superstition and the weight of historical belief in modern times.
For our Millennial audience, this story reminds us that even the most rational minds can find themselves at the crossroads of science and superstition, especially when faced with the unexplainable. It’s a testament to the complex nature of human belief and the mysterious ways our world unfolds.
