In the ninth year of the Tai Kang era of Emperor Wu, a dead cow appeared in the northern frontier of Youzhou, signaling that a disaster was to come. At that time, the emperor was in poor health and often thought about matters after his death, but the people he entrusted with his affairs were not trustworthy enough, which led to this omen. The ancients believed, "When resentment grows among the people, inhuman things will issue prophecies." Jing Fang's "Book of Changes" also stated, "Killing without reason will lead to cattle giving birth to monsters."
During the Tai An era of Emperor Hui, a cow owned by Zhang Cheng from Jiangxia suddenly spoke: "The world is about to be in chaos; why should I let you ride me?" Zhang Cheng was so scared that he rushed home, only to have his dog say, "Why are you back so soon?" Before long, the cow actually got up and walked! Zhang Cheng called in a fortune-teller to predict what would happen, and the result said, "A war is about to break out in the world; it will not just be one family that suffers." That year, Zhang Chang rebelled and first attacked Jiangxia, with Zhang Cheng as a general, which led to chaos across five states, and Zhang Cheng's family was exterminated. Jing Fang's "Book of Changes" said, "If a cow can speak, one can predict good and bad fortune based on its words." "Yimeng Qishu" also stated, "If the ruler does not treat the scholars well, but instead adorns warhorses with brocade and allows dogs and wolves to eat human food, then livestock will begin to speak." At that time, the emperor and feudal lords did not prioritize pacifying the people, which proved to be true.
In July of the first year of the Jianwu era of Emperor Yuan, a family in Chenmen, Jinling, had a cow that gave birth to a two-headed calf. Jing Fang's "Book of Changes" said, "A cow giving birth to a two-headed calf is an omen of the world about to split." At that time, Emperor Min was killed in Pingyang, and Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, leading to a division of the realm, fulfilling the earlier omen.
In the first year of Tai Xing, Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang's cow gave birth to a calf with eight legs, two heads, and two tails sharing one belly, but it died three years later. Another cow gave birth to a calf with one leg and three tails, and this calf also died at birth. Sima Biao said, "The double-headed cow symbolizes that power is held in private hands, indicating a lack of distinction between social classes." Jing Fang's "Commentary on the I Ching" states, "A cow with many legs symbolizes that the appointed talents are incompetent; a cow with fewer legs symbolizes that the appointed talents lack ability." Later, Wang Dun and others caused chaos in the government, which was all a bad omen.
In December of the fourth year, the sacrificial cow died. Liu Xiang explained in "Spring and Autumn" that the sacrificial cow died because "Duke Xuan was incompetent and thus heaven did not accept his sacrifices." The accomplishments of Emperor Yuan's restoration were largely due to Wang Dao's efforts. Liu Wei gained the emperor's favor by discerning the emperor's intentions, while Wang Dao was neglected, leading to disasters caused by incompetence.
In May of the year 327, a military guard's cow gave birth to a calf with two heads and six legs, which looked rather terrifying. That winter, Su Jun's rebellion plunged the realm into chaos. By the year 331, a man named Yuan Rong also had a cow that gave birth to a freak, with two heads, eight legs, and two tails connected together; it was indeed a sight to behold!
When Huan Xuan was in power, he visited the governor Yin Zhongkan in Jingzhou. While passing by He Xue, he encountered an old man herding a uniquely colored green cow, which looked different from ordinary cows. Huan Xuan was immediately drawn to it and exchanged his own riding cow for the old man’s green cow. Once he had the green cow, it took off at an incredible speed. When they reached Jingxi in Lingling, Huan Xuan let the cow rest and drink water, but the cow plunged into the river and never resurfaced. Huan Xuan sent people down to search, but after a whole day, they found nothing. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated and killed, leaving the question of whether the green cow was a bad omen unanswered.
In the year 221 AD, Liu Bei of Shu Han set out on an eastern campaign, departing from Zigui in February and stationing his army in Yidao. In June, a yellow gas appeared in Zigui, stretching over ten miles long and several dozen yards wide, particularly frightening. After more than ten days, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Xun. The location where the yellow gas appeared was quite close to where Liu Bei was defeated, and it's unclear whether there's any connection between the two.
During the Zhengshi reign of the Qi Prince of the Wei Kingdom, Sima Zhounan, the King of Zhongshan, served as a county magistrate in Xiangyi. One day, a rat ran out of its hole and declared, "Zhounan, you will die on a certain day!" Zhounan paid it no mind, and the rat went back into its hole. On the appointed day, the rat came out again wearing a hat and black clothes, saying, "Zhounan, you will die at noon today!" Zhounan still paid it no mind, and the rat went back into its hole again. After a while, the rat came out again and repeated the same words. This repeated several times until noon when the rat said, "Zhounan, you have ignored me, so I have no choice!" After saying this, the rat did a somersault with a dramatic flair and died, with its hat and clothes falling off. Upon inspection, it looked just like any ordinary rat. According to Ban Gu, this was a bad omen. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power and had conflicts with people like Zhounan, which led to such strange occurrences.
In December of the year 299 AD, thick fog rolled in. Emperor Hui at that time was incompetent, and the court was in chaos, leading to these strange phenomena.
In August of the year 322 AD, yellow fog blanketed the area, obscuring the sky.
In October of the year 323 AD, the capital city was shrouded in thick fog, with black gas rising into the sky, obscuring the sun.
On Guisi day in January 329 AD, yellow fog spread everywhere. In February, yellow fog spread again. At that time, Wang Dun was in power, and his rebellious intentions grew stronger.
In March of the year 357 AD, a fierce wind swept across Liangzhou, shrouding the area in yellow fog and swirling dust. At that time, Zhang Chonghua believed the slander of evil men and dismissed Xie Ai from his position as the Prefect of Jiuquan; the individual he appointed was utterly unqualified. Nine years later, Xie Ai passed away, and his son was also killed, fulfilling the ominous signs that had come before. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Ignoring good advice is a form of ignorance, which leads to strange yellow phenomena, leading to deafness and ultimately bringing disaster to future generations. The strange yellow phenomena refer to the yellow, turbid qi pervading the world, obscuring the wise and cutting off the right path, thus leading to chaos and affecting future generations."
On the day of Guiwei in February of the year 378 AD, yellow fog filled the sky, obscuring the sun. At that time, Wang Daozi held absolute power, favored evil and cunning men, and the court was in utter disarray.
On the day of Bingshen in October of the year 405 AD, a new moon day, yellow fog filled the air, causing dimness and no rain. This was an omen of Huan Xuan's impending rebellion.
In November of the year 408 AD, there was a heavy fog; in November of the year 410 AD, there was another heavy fog. At that time, the court was in decline, the power of the ministers was strong, and the land and the army were almost out of the emperor's control, which was yet another ominous sign.
Liu Xiang said: "Earthquakes result from an imbalance among the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu said: "The qi of heaven and earth adheres to specific operational rules; if these rules are violated, disasters will ensue. When the yang qi is suppressed and cannot rise, and the yin qi is oppressive and cannot descend, earthquakes will occur."
In the fourth year of Huangwu during the reign of Sun Quan, earthquakes occurred consecutively in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan accepted the title conferred by the Wei Dynasty, was appointed Grand General and King of Wu, changed his reign title to emperor, and centralized political power without governing the officials and the people, neglecting personal cultivation. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Even if the behavior of the officials is correct, absolute power will lead to earthquakes. The phenomenon of earthquakes manifests as waves in water, swaying in trees, and tiles falling from roofs. If the laws are abolished and officials are easily replaced, this is called the disturbance of Yin energy, which will lead to earthquakes that shake the palace. If the laws are shaken and the political power is in turmoil, this is referred to as non-conformity, leading to earthquakes that shake the mountains and cause springs to surge. Descendants who lack virtue but enjoy salaries, this is referred to as non-conformity, leading to earthquakes, shaking hills and causing springs to surge." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the officials is strong, they will cause trouble, which is a sign of disaster."
In November of 229 AD, an earthquake occurred in the capital city, with seismic waves coming from the east and a faint sound, causing roof tiles to fall off.
In June of 233 AD, an earthquake occurred in the capital city. That autumn, Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia, but was repelled by Hu Zhi, the Governor of Jingzhou. In addition, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, proclaimed himself King of Yan, changed his reign title to emperor, and established officials. The following year, he was suppressed.
In May of 231 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiangdong.
In the first month of the second year of the Chiwu era, an earthquake occurred! At that time, Lu Yi seized power, and Bu Zhi wrote to the emperor saying: "I’ve heard that the supervising officials are nitpicking and trying to frame others to assert their authority. Many innocent people have been wrongly sentenced to heavy punishments, and even the ministers are not trusted. How can the heavens and earth remain unchanged in such circumstances? Therefore, the earthquakes continue, a warning of the officials' abuse of power! I hope the emperor will seriously consider this matter and reflect on it." Ultimately, Lu Yi did indeed fail.
In the eleventh month of the second year of Zhengshi in the Wei Kingdom, Nan'an County experienced an earthquake. In the seventh month of the third year, Nan'an County experienced another earthquake. In the twelfth month, Wei County also experienced an earthquake. In the second month of the sixth year, Nan'an County was hit by another earthquake. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power and relocated the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace, where she bid farewell to the Emperor with tears. These consecutive earthquakes over the years were seen as an omen!
In the second month of the eleventh year of Chiwu in the Wu Kingdom, the Jiangdong region was struck by an earthquake. At that time, Sun Quan believed in slander and dismissed Zhu Ju, deposed his Crown Prince.
In the first year of Yanxing in the Shu Kingdom, Shu was struck by an earthquake. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao held power. As Sima Biao remarked, "Eunuchs lack masculinity, much like women." The situation of Huang Hao's power was similar to that of the Han Emperor's reign. That winter, the Shu Kingdom fell.
In the fifth year of Taishi during the reign of the Wu Emperor, in the fourth month, there was an earthquake. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinping rebelled. The following year, Sun Hao sent a large army to Wugou. In the seventh year, in the sixth month, there was another earthquake.
In the second year of Xianning in the Jin Dynasty, in the eighth month, Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang all experienced earthquakes. In the sixth month of the fourth year, Yinping and Guangwu were struck by earthquakes, and on the day of Jiazi, there was another earthquake.
In the second month of Taikang in the Jin Dynasty, Huainan and Danyang were hit by an earthquake. On the first day of the first month of the fifth year, the capital city experienced an earthquake. In the seventh month of the sixth year, there was another earthquake. In the seventh year, in the seventh month, Nan'an and Jianwei were struck by an earthquake. In the eighth month, Jingzhao experienced an earthquake. In the fifth month of the eighth year, Jian'an was struck by an earthquake. In the seventh month, Yinping experienced an earthquake. In the eighth month, Danyang was hit by an earthquake. In the ninth year, in the first month, Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing were struck by an earthquake. In the fourth month, Changsha, Nanhai, and eight other counties and states were hit by earthquakes. From July to August, four more earthquakes occurred, three of which were as loud as thunder. In September, Linhe was struck by an earthquake, and in December, another earthquake occurred. In the twelfth month of the tenth year, Danyang experienced another earthquake.
In the first month of the year 290 AD, there was an earthquake! From Jia Chong to Yang Jun, those in power during the Western Jin Dynasty were only out for themselves, secretly controlling the government. By the late Western Jin period, the talents they employed were becoming increasingly less capable, leading to frequent earthquakes, which defied logic, eventually resulting in the Western Jin's downfall.
In December 291 AD, Luoyang experienced another earthquake. That summer, Empress Jia instructed Prince Chu, Sima Wei, to kill King Runan, Sima Liang, and Grand Tutor Wei Guan. This shows a decline of yang and an excess of yin!
In 294 AD, earthquakes occurred in Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong in February. In May, there was a landslide in Shujun; in Huainan, Shouchun, there was a major flood, landslides, and cities were destroyed. In August, there was another earthquake in Shanggu, which also caused water to surge, resulting in hundreds of deaths. In October, Luoyang was struck by an earthquake. In November, earthquakes occurred in Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ru Yin, Liangguo, and Nanyang. In December, Luoyang experienced another earthquake. At that time, Empress Jia was in power and mismanaged the government, which eventually led to the Western Jin's downfall; this was all foretold! During the reign of Empress Dowager Deng in the Han Dynasty, earthquakes also occurred in various places. Li Gu stated: "The earth belongs to yin and should remain calm. Now, however, it goes against the nature of yin and enforces yang's decrees, which is why earthquakes happen." This is just like what happened in the Western Jin. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "When petty people create chaos, there will be disasters like landslides; this is a sign of yin energy overcoming yang energy, the weak defeating the strong." He also said: "When yin energy betrays yang energy, the ground will split, fathers and sons will be separated, and minority groups will rebel."
In May and June 295 AD, earthquakes occurred on Dingchou day of May and in Jincheng in June. Earthquakes also occurred in the first month of 296 AD and the first month of 298 AD.
In October 306 AD, an earthquake occurred! This was a sign of Prince Qi, Sima Jiong's dictatorship. In December 307 AD, there was another earthquake, a sign of Prince Changsha, Sima Yi's dictatorship.
In October 309 AD, earthquakes struck Jingzhou and Xiangzhou during Sima Yue's rule. In April 310 AD, Yanzhou experienced an earthquake. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, crossed the Yellow River, and headed south, all seen as ominous signs! In April 314 AD, Chang'an was struck by an earthquake. In June 315 AD, Chang'an experienced another earthquake. At that time, the young emperor faced a turbulent power struggle, with chaos and ongoing wars—clear signs of impending doom! In April 318 AD, Xiping experienced an earthquake that caused water to surge. In December, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiling, with water gushing and landslides happening. Gan Bao interpreted this as a sign of Wang Dun's impending rebellion. In May 330 AD (Xianhe 5th year of Eastern Jin), on the sixth day of the month, Qishan experienced an earthquake, causing many deaths due to collapsing mountains. At that time, Sima Bao, the Nanyang King, was present in Qishan, and some claimed it foreshadowed the Jin King (Sima Yan)'s imminent downfall. In May 331 AD (Xianhe 6th year), on the seventh day of the month, earthquakes occurred in Danyang, Wu County, and Jinling. In February 333 AD (Xianhe 8th year), Jiangling experienced an earthquake; in March, Yizhou experienced an earthquake; and on the sixth day of April, Yuzhang was hit by an earthquake. That year marked the rebellion of Su Jun. In 338 AD (Xianhe 13th year), on the fourth day of March, Kuaiji was struck by an earthquake. In June 345 AD (Yonghe 1st year), on the ninth day of the month, there was an earthquake. During this time, with a young emperor and the empress dowager in power, the ministers held sway, resulting in a series of earthquakes. In October 346 AD (Yonghe 2nd year), there was an earthquake; in January 347 AD (Yonghe 3rd year), on the third day of the month, there was an earthquake; in September, another earthquake occurred; and in October 348 AD (Yonghe 4th year), there was an earthquake. In January 349 AD (Yonghe 5th year), on the seventh day of the month, there was an earthquake. At that time, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, a clear sign of his eventual downfall.
In the year 353 AD (Yonghe 9th year), on the 4th day of the 8th month, an earthquake occurred in the capital, with a sound like thunder. "In the 9th year of Yonghe, on the 4th day of the 8th month, an earthquake occurred in the capital, with a sound like thunder." In the year 354 AD (Yonghe 10th year), on the 4th day of the 1st month, another earthquake struck, causing both chickens and wild fowl to crow. "In the 10th year of Yonghe, on the 4th day of the 1st month, an earthquake occurred, with a sound like thunder, causing both chickens and wild fowl to crow." In the year 355 AD (Yonghe 11th year), earthquakes occurred on the 2nd day of the 4th month and the 4th day of the 5th month. In the year 358 AD (Shengping 2nd year), an earthquake occurred on the 8th day of the 11th month. In the year 360 AD (Shengping 5th year), an earthquake occurred in Liangzhou in the month of August. In the year 362 AD (Longhe 1st year), an earthquake occurred on the 9th day of the 4th month. At that time, power was in the hands of the generals, and the emperor was merely a figurehead. "At that time, power was in the hands of the generals, and the emperor was merely a figurehead." In the year 363 AD (Xingning 1st year), on the 9th day of the 4th month, an earthquake occurred in Yangzhou, resulting in flooding of the lakes. "In the 1st year of Xingning, on the 9th day of the 4th month, an earthquake occurred in Yangzhou, resulting in flooding of the lakes." In the year 364 AD (Xingning 2nd year), an earthquake occurred on the 7th day of the 2nd month in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen was in complete control. "In the 2nd year of Xingning, on the 7th day of the 2nd month, an earthquake occurred in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen was in complete control." In the year 365 AD (Taihe 1st year), an earthquake occurred in Liangzhou in the month of February, causing water to gush out. This was a sign of Huan Wen's impending downfall. "In the 1st year of Taihe, in the month of February, an earthquake occurred in Liangzhou, causing water to gush out. This was a sign of Huan Wen's impending downfall." In the year 372 AD (Xian'an 2nd year), an earthquake occurred on the 8th day of the 10th month in Ancheng. That year, Emperor Jianwen died. "In the 2nd year of Xian'an, on the 8th day of the 10th month, an earthquake occurred in Ancheng. That year, the emperor died." In the year 373 AD (Ningkang 1st year), earthquakes occurred on the 8th day of the 10th month; in the year 374 AD (Ningkang 2nd year), earthquakes occurred on the 4th day of the 2nd month and the 5th day of the 7th month in Liangzhou, causing landslides. At that time, the heir was still a child, and power was in the hands of the generals, signaling a rise in yin energy. "In the 1st year of Xiaowu, on the 8th day of the 10th month, an earthquake occurred. In the 2nd year, on the 4th day of the 2nd month, an earthquake occurred. On the 5th day of the 7th month, another earthquake occurred in Liangzhou, causing landslides. At that time, the heir was still a child, power was in the hands of the generals, signaling a rise in yin energy."
In the year 377 AD (the second year of Taiyuan), on the 15th day of the leap month of March, there was an earthquake. In May, on Dingchou, there was another earthquake. In the year 386 AD (the eleventh year of Taiyuan), in June on Jimao, there was another earthquake. After that, soldiers near the Yellow River were engaged in battles for several consecutive years, and the common people were exhausted; this was a result of natural disasters and man-made calamities. In the year 390 AD (the fifteenth year of Taiyuan), on the night of the new moon of March, there was an earthquake. In August, there was also an earthquake in the capital. In December, on Jiwèi, there was another earthquake. In the year 392 AD (the seventeenth year of Taiyuan), in June on Guimǎo, there was an earthquake. In December, on Jiwèi, there was another earthquake. At that time, corrupt officials were in power, creating chaos and turmoil, and the people of the world could not bear it. In the year 393 AD (the eighteenth year of Taiyuan), on the new moon of January, there was an earthquake. In February, on the night of Yǐwèi, there was another earthquake.
In the year 400 AD (the fourth year of Emperor An's Long'an), in April on Yǐwèi, there was an earthquake. In September, on Guichou, there was another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was young and inexperienced, and the affairs of the state were completely controlled by the ministers.
In the year 404 AD (the fourth year of Yixi), on the night of the new moon of January, there was an earthquake, with a thunderous sound. In October, on Guihai, there was another earthquake. In the year 405 AD (the fifth year of Yixi), on the night of Wuxu, there was an earthquake in Xunyang, with a sound like thunder. The following year, the forces of Lu Xun were defeated. In the year 408 AD (the eighth year of Yixi), from January to April, the Nankang and Luling regions experienced four consecutive earthquakes. The following year, the imperial army launched a campaign westward to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In the year 410 AD (the tenth year of Yixi), in March, on Wuyin, there was an earthquake.
In the year 240 AD (the thirteenth year of Sun Quan's reign in Wu), in August, the mountains in Danyang, Jurong, and other areas such as Guzhang and Ningguo collapsed, causing catastrophic floods. Liu Xiang once said: "Mountains represent the yang, symbolizing the ruler; water represents the yin, symbolizing the people. When disasters strike, it serves as a warning that when the ruler's authority collapses, the people will lose their support!" During the Spring and Autumn period, the collapse of Liang Mountain, and in the Han Dynasty, many mountain collapses and floods occurred in the states of Qi and Chu, all for the same reason. During the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou, when worshiping ancestors, the place of worship must not extend beyond the ancestors' tombs in order to protect the country's peace. The rise and fall of a country, along with its disasters and blessings, all have underlying reasons. Although Wu was referred to as an empire, it was essentially still a vassal state. The disaster in Danyang was seen as a sign from heaven! Liu Xin believed: "The rise and fall of a country is closely related to the mountains and rivers. When mountains collapse and rivers dry up, it is a sign that the country is about to perish." Two years later, Sun Quan died, and twenty-six years later, Wu was destroyed.
In the year 265 AD (the second year of the reign of Emperor Yuanxi of Wei), in February, the collapse of Taihang Mountain signaled the downfall of Wei. That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.
In the year 270 AD (the third year of the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Taishi), in March, Dashishan collapsed. In the year 271 AD (the fourth year of Taishi), in July, Mount Tai collapsed, with rocks rolling three miles. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "The collapse from top to bottom corresponds to the rocks falling from Mount Tai, indicating the appointment of a virtuous king and the capture of the ruler." Later, the emperor died, and power shifted away from the imperial family. Emperor Hui was weak and ineffective, and both Emperor Huai and Emperor Min were captured to the north. The country fell under northern control until Emperor Yuan rose in the south, which fulfilled that prophecy.
In the year 280 AD (5th year of Taikang), on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, the ground of the Temple of Xuande suddenly collapsed, which was indeed an ominous omen! In the following year (6th year of Taikang) in October, Xinxing Mountain in Nan'an suffered a landslide, causing a large amount of water to surge out. Then in February of the year 282 AD (7th year of Taikang), Dalu Mountain in Zhuti also collapsed, damaging the local government offices, and the Chouchi Cliff in Yinpíng also experienced a landslide. In July of the year 283 AD (8th year of Taikang), a torrential downpour occurred, and a section of land in front of the palace unexpectedly collapsed, measuring about five feet across and several feet deep, and astonishingly, a broken ship was found inside! These bizarre occurrences happened in quick succession, truly unsettling people's hearts.
In the year 300 AD (4th year of Yuankang), a landslide occurred in Shu County, leading to numerous fatalities. On the twenty-ninth day of the fifth month, a landslide also occurred in Shouchun, causing a flood, collapsing city walls, and an area roughly thirty zhang wide sank, resulting in many deaths. In June, Shouchun experienced heavy thunderstorms, landslides, and many homes were buried. Shangyong experienced similar disasters. In August, a massive fissure opened up at Juyong Pass, thirty-six zhang wide and eighty-four zhang long, water surged forth from below, resulting in a severe famine. Landslides struck various locations in Shangyong one after another, with an area sinking thirty zhang wide and one hundred and thirty zhang long, leading to numerous fatalities. These calamities were all retribution for the chaos wrought by Empress Jia!
In the year 302 AD (1st year of Taian), a landslide occurred in Xiyong.
In the year 307 AD (first year of Emperor Huai of the Yongjia era), in the third month, the area of Buguangli in the northeast of Luoyang collapsed. By the year 308 AD (second year of Yongjia), on the day of Yihai in the eighth month, the city wall of Juancheng collapsed unexpectedly by over seventy zhang. Sima Yue felt extremely uneasy about this and moved the city to Puyang, indicating that the disasters were ominous. Sima Yue eventually suffered misfortune due to damage to his tomb. In the year 309 AD (third year of Yongjia), on the day of Wuchen in the seventh month, three locations in Dangyang experienced ground fissures, each three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" states, "When the earth cracks, it signifies disloyalty and lack of cooperation among subordinates." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi became enemies, and various local lords also scattered, contributing to the eventual downfall of the Western Jin Dynasty. In the same year in October, Yidu Yidao experienced a landslide; in the year 310 AD (fourth year of Yongjia) in April, the mountain of Liangheishi in Xiangdong also experienced a landslide.
In the year 318 AD (first year of the Yuan Emperor Taixing), in February, earthquakes and landslides occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In the year 319 AD (second year of Taixing), in May, Qishan experienced an earthquake and landslide, resulting in many deaths. In the year 320 AD (third year of Taixing), the mountains of Nanping County collapsed, and several thousand catties of realgar flowed out. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and domineering, but the Emperor was tolerant towards him, which was essentially enabling wrongdoing! In the year 321 AD (fourth year of Taixing), in August, Changshan experienced a landslide, and a large amount of water gushed out, resulting in the flooding of the Huluo River, toppling many big trees.
In the year 330 AD (fourth year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe era), in October, the cliff northwest of Lushan in Chaisang collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In the year 348 AD (seventh year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe era), in September, the tombs of Junping and Chongyang collapsed. In the year 352 AD (twelfth year of Yonghe), in November, the court dispatched Cavalier Attendant Chariot Guan to repair the Junping tomb; however, during the excavation of the tomb passage, a landslide occurred, claiming the lives of dozens.
A few years before Christ, specifically in the fifth year of the Shengping era, in February, at the South Ye Gate, a horse's hoof got stuck in the ground, and they dug up a bell with four characters inscribed on it. (The original four characters are omitted here.) Alas, this wasn't a good omen! On Dingchou day in April of the first year of Emperor Ai's Longhe reign, Mount Haohai suddenly gave way, and Zhang Tianxi's military campaign also fell through.
Later, in the eighth year of Emperor An's Yixi reign, on the day of Renyin in March, a sinkhole opened up in Shanyin, creating a large pit about four zhang wide, with a loud rumble like thunder. In May of the tenth year, the ground gave way at the West Ming Gate, flooding the area and damaging the door panels and threshold. This flooding was due to an imbalance in the earth's energy. In May of the eleventh year, Mount Huo gave way again, unearthing six bronze bells. In July of the thirteenth year, near the water's edge in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, a loud thunderous roar erupted, followed by a collapse of the riverbank, uncovering twelve bronze bells.
In a certain year of the Common Era, specifically one night in June of the ninth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign, a sudden heavy rain fell, accompanied by thunder. The pillars of Jia Mi's study unexpectedly sank into the earth, collapsing his bed and tent. This wood was also influenced by the earth's energy; the imbalance in the earth's energy made even objects unable to support themselves. The following year, Jia Mi was killed.
Finally, in the first year of the Common Era, specifically in May of the first year of Emperor Guangxi's reign, the land of Fanyang actually caught fire unexpectedly, which could even be used for cooking purposes! This fire was also due to an imbalance in the earth's energy. At that time, the major affairs of state, including rituals, music, and military campaigns, were all under the control of the feudal lords.
In the book, it is said that if the emperor fails to fulfill his duties, the country will not stand; this is his fault, and the punishment is a prolonged period of rain, leading to the nation's power diminishing. Sometimes there will be monsters wreaking havoc, sometimes there will be dragons and snakes causing trouble, sometimes there will be horses hurting people, sometimes there will be subjects rebelling, and sometimes the movements of the sun, moon, and stars will be disrupted. If the emperor fails to fulfill his duties, the country will not stand. "Emperor" refers to the emperor, "extreme" refers to moderation, and "establish" refers to establishment. The emperor's words, actions, thoughts, and awareness are all flawed; he fails to exercise proper judgment, and important national matters cannot be addressed because he is foolish and rebellious, which leads to these disasters.
A king inherits the heavenly principles from the people, governing all things. Clouds rise from the mountains and then spread to the sky; when the celestial order is disrupted, there will be long-term continuous rain, like the book says: "If the upper level does not handle things properly, the lower classes will rise in rebellion, obscuring the king's wisdom." The Book of Changes also says: "The dragon soars, regrets it, and loses its position. High and lose the people, the wise man is in a lower position and loses his assistance." As a result, although the emperor has the status of being honored, he does not receive help from anyone, so the country becomes extremely weak. The energy of the sun rises swiftly and brightly. According to the ritual system, large-scale archery events should be held in spring to align with the rising yang energy. If the upper level is weak, the lower classes will rise in rebellion, leading to monsters causing chaos. The Book of Changes says: "The clouds follow the dragon," and also states: "The dragon and snake hibernate to preserve themselves." With the dominance of yin energy, there will be dragons and snakes causing trouble. In the Book of Changes, the "Qian" hexagram symbolizes both the monarch and horses. If there is an overreliance on military power, the monarch's authority will be undermined, resulting in disasters of horses hurting people. Some also say that when horses die en masse, they transform into monsters, which is also the reason for this.
The emperor is incompetent and weak; the people will revolt against him, and heaven will forsake him. If there is no enlightened ruler to suppress, there will be chaos of usurpation and the killing of the emperor, leading to rebellions by the subjects. In short, when the ruler's virtue is compromised, it will lead to abnormal celestial phenomena. The books do not say that the Five Elements' energy has harmed heaven, but rather "the sun and moon are in disorder, the stars are retrograde," because the people below dare not say that heaven is harmed. This is similar to what is stated in the "Spring and Autumn," which mentions "the king's army was defeated by the barbarians," not mentioning the reason for the defeat, but treating the failure as a rhetorical device, reflecting a sense of respect. Liu Xin's "Huang Ji Zhuan" says that when the lower body is sick, it means that the subjects rebel, and divine retribution has already been set in motion, so it cannot be said to be an illness.
During the three peaceful years of Sun Liang's reign, continuous rain began in August, and it did not rain for more than forty days. At that time, they were preparing to execute Sun Chen, but the plan was leaked. On the day of September, Sun Chen surrounded the imperial palace with troops, deposed Sun Liang as King of Kuaiji, and this was a punishment for the prolonged rain.
During Sun Hao's rule, in the first year of Baoding in December, the astronomical officials reported that it had been cloudy for a long time without rain, fearing that a conspiracy was about to happen. Sun Hao was deeply alarmed upon hearing this. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose Sun Hao while he was performing sacrifices. However, when Lu Kai set out, he assigned Liu Ping to lead the troops. Lu Kai had told Liu Ping about the plan in advance, but Liu Ping disagreed, resulting in the plan's failure. Sun Hao was too cruel, and the people below were all thinking about rebellion, and ultimately, the state met its demise.
During the Shu Kingdom, General Deng Zhi went to fight in Fuling and saw a black monkey on the mountain. He shot it with his bow and arrow. The black monkey pulled out the arrow and used leaves to dress the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Oh no! I have violated the laws of nature; I am probably going to die!" Not long after, he died. This is the act of killing a monster! Another version of the story is that the black monkey was carrying a child at the time; Deng Zhi shot it, and the child helped pull out the arrow and used leaves to cover the wound. Deng Zhi sighed and threw his bow and arrow into the water; he realized he was doomed.
When Emperor Gong of Jin was the King of Langya, he liked to play some strange games. Once, he locked a horse inside a pen and had his attendants shoot it, wanting to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone advised him, "The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is not auspicious!" So he stopped, but the horse had already been shot with more than ten arrows. This too could be seen as killing a monster! Not long after, he abdicated the throne to Emperor Wu of Song.
On the day of Jia Shen in the first month of the Qinglong era of Emperor Ming of Wei, a Qinglong appeared in the Mobei well in Jia County. Generally speaking, when auspicious signs appear out of season, they turn into monsters, especially when trapped in a well; this is not a good omen. Wei changed its era name because of this, but this was an ill-advised move. Gan Bao said, "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearances of the Qinglong and Huanglong are tied to the rise and fall of Wei. Wei's national fortune is associated with wood, represented by the color green, but it cannot resist gold. When Huanglong appears and Qinglong disappears, this symbolizes the decline of the Qinglong and the rise of the Huanglong. The repeated appearances of Qinglong point to internal strife within Wei's national fortune. Therefore, Gao Guixiang ultimately died in battle." Liu Xiang's explanation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well indicates that the princes will be imprisoned. During the Wei Dynasty, dragons were often seen in wells, which was the result of the suppression of the rulers. Gao Guixiang's poem "Hidden Dragon" encapsulates this idea.
On the day of October 15th in the first year of Gao Gui Xiang (the Year of the Earth Dog), a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Ye City. On the day of the first month of Gan Lu (the Year of the Metal Ox), a green dragon appeared in a well in Zhi County. On June 15th, the green dragon appeared again in the well at the boundary of Yuan Cheng. In the second month of the second year of Gan Lu, the green dragon appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year of Gan Lu, both the yellow dragon and the green dragon appeared simultaneously in the wells at the boundaries of Dun Qiu, Guan Jun, and Yang Xia counties. In the first month of the fourth year of Gan Lu, the yellow dragon appeared twice in the well at the boundary of Ning Ling County.
The continuous appearances of dragons over these years is truly astonishing! Just think about how great an omen this must be! On December 15th in the first year of Yuan Emperor Jing Yuan, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Hua Yin County. In the second month of the third year of Jing Yuan, the dragon appeared again in a well in Zhi County.
During the reign of Sun Hao of the Wu Kingdom, there was a family in Changsha whose well spouted a dragon that even ate chicks! Jing Fang mentioned in "Yi Yao": "If a dragon appears in a family's well, it means that those in power will become commoners." Eventually, Sun Hao was indeed overthrown by the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling Jing Fang's prophecy. On June 15th in the second year of the Wu Emperor's Xian Ning, two white dragons appeared in a well at Jiu Yuan.
In the fifth year of Taikang, in the first month of the Gui Mao year, two dragons appeared in the well of the armory. The emperor was delighted to see this, and all the officials were prepared to congratulate him, except for Liu Yi, who voiced his opposition, saying, "In the past, when a dragon appeared in the Xia Dynasty's courtyard, it heralded the downfall of the Zhou Dynasty; likewise, when a dragon appeared at the gate of Zheng, Zichan refrained from congratulating." The emperor said, "My virtuous governance has not yet been established, so I am unworthy of such auspicious signs." Thus, he declined the congratulations. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are creatures of the water; what does it have to do with humans? Zichan is right! If a dragon is meant to signify auspiciousness, it should soar in the sky; its current lurking in darkness is certainly not a good omen." In the second year of Han Huidi, two dragons emerged from the well in Lanling, and the 'Ben Zhi' regarded this as a precursor to the death of King You of Zhao. The armory is where emperors store weapons and treasures, a tall and secretive building, not a place where dragons should stay. Seven years later, the princes turned against one another; twenty-eight years later, two usurpers with the surname Long appeared, truly fulfilling the prophecy!
In the eleventh month of the second year of Jianxing during Emperor Min's reign, a prostitute from the Qiang tribe in Fohan gave birth to a dragon son, whose colors were as beautiful as brocade, often nursing on breast milk and emitting a divine light from his body, though it was rarely seen clearly. This was also due to the emperor's lack of wisdom, and in the end, Emperor Min also lost his country.
In the later years of Lv Zuan's reign, a dragon emerged from the well in the east wing and coiled in front of his palace, disappearing the next morning. Shortly after, a black dragon flew to his palace gate. Lv Zuan believed this was a good omen. Some remarked, "Dragons are creatures of yin; their appearance, one after another, surely indicates a rebellion among the officials." Eventually, Lv Zuan was indeed killed by Lv Chao.
During the Xian Ning period of Emperor Wu of Han, two large snakes appeared in the Office of the Minister of Works, each over ten zhang long, nesting on the crossbeams of the hearing room, unbeknownst to anyone. For several years, there were reports of missing children, pigs, and dogs in the residence. Later, one snake came out at night, was injured by someone and unable to escape, which led to its discovery. The people in the residence quickly attacked and killed it after a while. The Minister of Works oversees education! This indicates that the court's political affairs are failing, which is why such strange things happen. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, and Yang Ci interpreted this as a sign of the emperor's indulgence in wine and women. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the palace was filled with women, especially in Yan State, who indulged in pleasure, leading to these strange occurrences. The Book of Songs states, "Only snakes, a good omen for women," which reflects this reasoning.
On the day of Guisi in the fifth year of the Yuankang period of Emperor Hui, a large snake appeared in Linzi, over ten zhang long, accompanied by two small snakes, entering the city from the north gate, passing directly through the market, and entering the temple of Prince Jing of Han, where it then disappeared. This serves as a warning from the heavens: although Prince Jing of Han made great contributions, he failed to uphold his integrity and loyalty, resulting in the loss of his position and achievements. Now, Prince Qi Jiong has failed to learn from this lesson; although he has also made contributions, he is arrogant and has brought calamity upon himself—this is a warning!
In the early period of the Taiping era of Emperor Ming, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, taking residence in an old temple within a hollow tree, frequently poking its head out to beg for food. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao": "When a snake appears in the city, a major war is likely to occur within three years, and the country will face great disasters." Shortly thereafter, Wang Dun staged a rebellion.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Wu, a horse with long horns was spotted in Liaodong, with three-inch-long horns growing beneath its ears. According to the words of Liu Xiang, "this is a sign of disaster." After the emperor's death, the imperial family indeed faced military calamities, fulfilling this omen. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "If courtiers oppress the emperor and the political situation is troubled, strange things like horses growing horns will appear, indicating a shortage of virtuous scholars!" He also said: "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses will grow horns." The "Lu Shi Chunqiu" also said: "When the monarch is immoral, horses will grow horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he ruled with folly and tyranny, and personally led a campaign to Chengdu, all of which fulfilled these prophecies.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui's reign, when the Crown Prince was about to hold a sacrificial ceremony, the Grand Tutor, Prince Zhao Lun, rode in a horse-drawn carriage. When they reached the South Gate, the horse stopped, and even strong men could not move it. Prince Lun had to change to a lighter carriage to continue. This disaster was brought by the horse! It seems like heaven is warning us: Prince Lun does not understand the ways of the world; he will eventually rebel; he is not someone who guides others in proper conduct.
On the day of the eleventh month of the ninth year of Emperor Hui, a chestnut horse suddenly galloped in panic to the interrogation hall of the Court of Judicial Review, let out a sorrowful whinny, and died. This seems to be a warning from heaven, pitying those who died unjustly! Look, this horse ran to the interrogation hall of the Court of Judicial Review; isn't this a sign from heaven?!
In the second month of the sixth year of Emperor Huai's reign, a celestial horse neighed at the South Gate.
In the ninth month of the second year of Emperor Min's reign, a bizarre event occurred where a horse gave birth to a human in Puzi County! Jing Fang mentioned in the "Book of Changes": "When the emperor dies, the vassals will attack each other, and strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans will appear." At that time, the court was in a state of decline, as if a fragile thread might snap at any moment; the barbarians and Di people invaded one after another, the war approached day by day, and soon the emperor fell, hence the appearance of such strange signs.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Yuan, in Danyang Commandery, there was an official named Puyang Yan. A horse in his family gave birth to a foal that had two heads, which split at the front of its neck and died shortly after birth. Sima Biao explained, "This signifies that power has shifted from the court to private hands, symbolized by the two-headed horse." Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
In the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Cheng, on the Jiaxu day in May, a horse of blood-red color appeared, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling around the palace and then running away without anyone being able to catch up. On the day of Jiamao, the emperor fell ill, and in June, he passed away. This red horse was both a sign of disaster and a bad omen! In the same year, in Liangzhou, Zhang Chonghua was set to execute Zhang Xiang, the governor of Xihe. Dozens of horses in his stable all gave birth to tail-less foals!
In the fourth year of Emperor An's reign, in October, a horse with long horns appeared in Liangzhou. The governor, Guo Quan, reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not have horns, just as Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan did not heed the warning and ended up being wiped out.
When Shi Jilong was in Ye City, there was a horse with a tail that looked burnt. This horse entered through Zhongyang Gate and exited through Xianyang Gate, with the guards in the East Palace unable to stop it. It ran northeast and quickly disappeared. The fortune-teller Fotucheng sighed, "Disaster is coming!" The following year, Shi Jilong died, and his kingdom was also destroyed.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei in the Huangchu era, the mother of Song Shizong from Qinghe County unexpectedly transformed into a turtle and then vanished into the water.
In the third year of the Taihe era of the Ming Dynasty, a woman named Qiu Xinnong died and then came back to life again; this happened in the camp of Cao Xiu's army. At that time, another event occurred: someone dug open the tomb of a noble family from the Zhou Dynasty and discovered a female burial companion who surprisingly began to breathe after a few days. Although she still couldn't speak months later, Empress Dowager Guo took her in as her ward. In addition, in Taiyuan, someone excavated a grave, opened the coffin, and found a living person inside. When asked what had happened, she too was unclear, but according to the inscription on the tombstone, she seemed to be about thirty years old. The book "Jingfang Yizhuan" states: "The deepest yin turns into yang; those below rise to those above." This was indeed a portent for the rise of Emperor Xuan of Han! Similar events occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping and Emperor Xian of Han, and people then believed this was a sign of Wang Mang and Cao Cao's rise.
In the fourth year of Emperor Sun Xiu's reign, a man named Chen Jiao in Anwu County came back to life seven days after dying, crawling out of his grave. Gan Bao remarked, "This is just like the incident involving Emperor Xuan of Han; Hou of Wucheng, Hao, was the heir to the deposed emperor's legacy, and this is a good omen for his ascension!"
In the first year of Emperor Sun Hao's reign, a man named Xuan Qian in Danyang had an eighty-year-old mother who transformed into a huge soft-shelled turtle during her bath. Xuan Qian and his brothers quickly shut the door to protect her. They dug a big pit in the main hall and filled it with water, and the giant turtle jumped into the pit to play, always stretching its neck out to look outside for a day or two. When they cracked the door open, the giant turtle flipped over and leaped out, running off to a distant pond, never to return. This was reminiscent of the incident involving the old mother of the Huang family during Emperor Ling of Han's reign, heralding the impending downfall of the Wu Kingdom.
In the second year of the Xianxi era of Emperor Wei Yuan, in August, someone in Xiangwu County claimed to have seen a giant over three zhang tall, with footprints over three feet long, gray hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and yellow robe, leaning on a cane and calling out the name "Wang Shi," proclaiming, "Now there will be peace!" Eventually, the Jin Dynasty took over the Wei Dynasty.
In the fifth year of the Taishi reign of Emperor Wu, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng sprouted horns. This was probably a sign of the impending power grab by Zhao Wang Lun.
In the twelfth month of the second year of Xianning, a man named Yan Ji in Langya died of illness. He had been buried for quite some time, but his family all dreamt that Yan Ji told them, "I am coming back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So they dug up Yan Ji, and he gradually regained the ability to eat, drink, move his body, see, and hear, but still couldn't walk or talk. Two years later, he died again. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" mentions, "The Yin becomes Yang, the inferior becomes superior, the wicked man dies and comes back to life." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy of "the inferior becomes superior."
During the Yuankang reign of Emperor Huidi, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng who gradually became a man, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, she completely took on a man's temperament. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" mentions, "A woman turns into a man, this is called Yin Chang, the lowly become kings." This was also a premonition of the demon Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping across the world.
During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong, under the banner of rebellion, executed traitors and restored the emperor to the throne, enjoying great glory for a while. At this time, a woman suddenly rushed to the gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion, asking to leave her child with them. When asked by the gatekeeper what was going on, she said, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, everyone attributed the credit to Prince Qi Jiong for supporting the royal family, but those with insight foresaw his misfortune. Indeed, Prince Qi Jiong was later killed.
On the day of Jiazi in the twelfth month of the first year of Yongning, a white-haired old man broke into Prince Qi Jiong's Grand Marshal's Mansion, shouting, "There is a rebellion coming, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. As a result, on the day of Wuchen in the twelfth month of the following year, Prince Qi Jiong failed, exactly ten days after the Jiazi day!
In the first year of Tai'an, on the Guiyou day of April, someone claimed to have come in from Longmen, ran to the front of the hall, knelt twice facing north, and said, "I should be the Minister of the Central Secretariat." After he said this, he was captured and executed. Gan Bao remarked, "The imperial palace's forbidden garden is a place of great nobility. Now a lowly person can easily enter, and the guards did not notice at all. This is an ominous sign that the palace will become empty, and commoners will rise above the nobility!" Later, the emperor moved north to Ye City and then to Chang'an, and the palace eventually fell into emptiness.
During the Yuan Kang period, a woman in the Liang Kingdom was promised to someone and had already received the wedding gifts. Not long after, her husband was conscripted to Chang'an and did not return for several years. Her family then arranged for her to marry someone else. The woman was unwilling to marry, but her parents forced her, and she felt she had no choice but to comply. Not long after, she fell ill and died. Later, her husband returned, inquired about his wife's whereabouts, and her family told him what had happened. He ran to his wife's grave, heartbroken, and he actually dug up the grave, and to his astonishment, his wife had come back to life. Thus, the two returned home together. Later, her new husband learned of this matter and went to the government to claim his wife, but the government could not make a decision at that moment. The Secretary Lang, Wang Dao, said, "This is a truly unique case that defies common reasoning; she should be returned to her former husband." The court adopted his opinion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maidservant in the Du family died and was buried, but for some reason, her burial was delayed. Ten years later, the family opened the grave to prepare for a joint burial, and they found that the maidservant was still alive! At first, she appeared to be asleep, but slowly woke up after a while. When asked, she replied that it felt like she had only been asleep for two days. When she was buried, the maidservant was fifteen or sixteen years old, and ten years later, when she was exhumed, she still appeared to be fifteen or sixteen. Eventually, she got married and had children.
In the first year of the Guangxi era, Xie Zhen from Kuaiji gave birth to a child with a very large head, covered in hair, with both feet facing upwards, and having both male and female bodies. Upon birth, it emitted a male voice and died a day later. This was a sign of the decline of imperial authority and the uprising of the lower classes against the elites, leading to signs of usurpation and chaos among various princes later on.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were people in Luoyang who displayed both male and female characteristics and could have relations with both men and women at the same time, showing an unusually strong sexual appetite. This was all due to the chaos of the times. From the years of Xianning and Taikang, male favorites became prevalent, even more so than the affection for women, and the high-ranking officials rushed to copy this behavior, leading the common people to follow suit, which led to marital strife and a lot of resentment. Thus, the imbalance between male and female energies led to the emergence of demons and monsters.
In the first year of Yongjia, a maid named Wan Xiang of Wu Commandery gave birth to a child with a bird's head, two legs like horse hooves, only one hand, no hair, and a tail the size of a pillow, which was also a monster and a sign of the great chaos to come!
In May of the fifth year, the prostitute of County Magistrate Yan Gen from Fuhan gave birth to a dragon, a daughter, and a goose. The "Book of Changes" by Jing Fang says: "The birth of non-human beings is a sign of great chaos ahead." At that time, the emperor was Emperor Hui's son, and the world was in turmoil, which eventually led to him being killed by the Hu people in Pingyang. All of this was a bad omen!
In the fourth year of the Ming Emperor Jianxing, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official from Xinchai County, gave birth to two daughters. Their stomachs and hearts were connected at the stomach and heart, but separated above the chest and below the navel. This was an unprecedented occurrence! At that time, Neishi Lü Hui proclaimed: "According to the records of the Auspicious Signs Chart, trees with different roots but growing together are called intertwined branches, and grains growing from the same stem but different plants are called auspicious grains. These anomalies in plants are regarded as auspicious signs. Now these two girls are united in heart and mind. The Book of Changes says, 'When two people are of one heart, they can sever metal.' This is an auspicious sign of people being of one heart and one mind in the world!" At that time, everyone found it laughable. However, not long after, the realm descended into chaos, and the emperor met his demise.
In the early years of the Yuan Emperor Taixing, there was a woman whose genitals were on her stomach, below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, had a strong sexual desire but was unable to conceive. There was another woman whose genitals were on her head, appearing at the ferry crossing in Yangzhou, also with a strong sexual desire. The text Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" states: "If a person's child has genitals on their head, the world will fall into great chaos; if on their stomach, there will be calamity in the world; if on their back, the world will be left behind." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and wanted to rebel. These were all signs!
In December of the third year, the wife of Shangshu Zou Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter who emitted a "crackling" sound upon landing and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face was neck-like, her mouth was filled with interconnected teeth, her chest was like a turtle, and her hands and feet were curved downwards like bird claws. This was also an unprecedented phenomenon of giving birth to something non-human. Two years later, the defeat of the Stone Soldiers occurred.
In July of the second year of the Ming Emperor Tianing, the wife of the Marquis of Danyang Jiangning, Ji, died and was revived three days later.
In the fourth month of the fifth year of Xiankang, there was a man named Wang He who moved to Jiyang from Xiangpi. His daughter, who was twenty years old, claimed to have come down from heaven and said she had received the seal from heaven to become the mother of the world. The Jinling Prefect thought this was misleading and had her arrested and thrown into prison. In November, a man dressed in red and carrying a wooden staff ran to the gate of the imperial palace claiming to be a sage sent to see the emperor. The gatekeeper recorded his words, and the man, who called himself Lv Ci, said that Wang He's daughter had seven stars with hair on the bottom of her right foot, each seven inches long, and that heaven wanted to appoint her as the mother of the world. When this news reached the emperor, Lv Ci was immediately killed, and Wang He's daughter was also executed.
In the tenth month of the second year of Jianyuan, the inspector at the camp of the General of the Guard found the writing "Mother of the World" on a soldier's foot at Chendu Women's Platform. After moxibustion, the writing became clearer. This news caused a stir in the capital, and the man was arrested and reported to the emperor. However, the soldier managed to escape from Jiankang County prison. The following year, the emperor passed away, and the Empress Dowager took control of the government, which might have been a sign.
In the early period of the Ningkang era, there was a woman named Tang living in Nanjunzhou Ling who gradually turned into a man.
In the seventh year of Yixi, there was a man named Zhao in Wuxi who suddenly shot up to eight feet tall and sprouted a beard at the age of eight, but died three days later.
During the Yixi era, a family surnamed Mo in Dongyang had a daughter who was not raised and was buried for several days. But then, cries of a baby were heard coming from the ground, and she was dug up and raised.
In the later period of the Yixi era, in Eryangdao in Wuping, Yuzhang, twins were often born.
In the first year of Yuanxi, in Yangdao in Jian'an, there was a headless person who eventually returned to normal and was originally a woman's body.
