In the second year of the Jingchu era under Emperor Ming of Wei, there was an incident in the Court of the Chief Justice where a hen turned into a rooster, but it neither crowed nor laid eggs. Gan Bao remarked, "That year, Emperor Xuan pacified Liaodong, and the common people began to have the ability to participate in state affairs. This hen turning into a rooster is a sign of that! However, the three empresses of the Jin Dynasty ultimately ended their lives as subjects, and this hen not crowing or laying eggs is also the will of heaven!"
In the sixth year of the Yuankang era under Emperor Hui, in the state of Chen, a hen gave birth to a rooster without wings, which, upon growing up, fell into a pit and died. Wang Yin analyzed, "The rooster symbolizes the heir, and the pit symbolizes the mother. Now this rooster has no wings and died in the pit; doesn’t this suggest that this heir has no support and was harmed by the mother?" Later, Empress Jia falsely accused and killed Prince Minhuai, which turned out to be the case, didn't it?
During the Tai'an era, there was a man named Zhou Xi whose hen ran into the drainage ditch under the eaves and stayed there for six or seven days. After coming out, it flapped its wings, crowed, and laid eggs, though its feathers had not changed. Later, an incident involving Chen Min took place. Although Chen Min controlled the Jiangzhou area, he ultimately had no proper governance or achievements, which likely symbolizes the fate of this hen! In the end, he was destroyed by Zhou Xi. The strange occurrences involving the chicken at Zhou Xi's home were also seen as the will of heaven! The "Yizhuan" by Jing Fang states, "When a hen crows, the family will not prosper."
During the Tai Xing era under Emperor Yuan, Wang Dun was stationed in Wuchang, and a hen turned into a rooster. Heaven seemed to be sending a warning: a hen turning into a rooster suggests that a minister is about to rebel! Later, Wang Dun indeed attacked the capital.
In the thirteenth year of the Taiyuan era under Emperor Xiaowu, in April, at the home of Yan Song in Gao Ping, Guangling, a hen laid a chick without a right wing, while a chicken from Liu Xiang's family in Pengcheng had three legs. The "Yizhuan" by Jing Fang states, "If a ruler listens to women's words, strange occurrences will happen." At that time, the court was overly influenced by some old women's words, resulting in excessive rewards, which led to these strange occurrences.
In the first year of the Long'an era under Emperor An, in August, a blue hen in the household of Wang Daozi from Langya turned into a red rooster, neither crowing nor laying eggs. Huan Xuan wanted to usurp the throne but could not succeed; that is probably what it means. Four years later, a chicken in Jingzhou grew a horn, which later dropped off. At that time, Huan Xuan began to dominate the Western Xia region, becoming arrogant and conceited, which led to strange happenings with chickens. It seemed that heaven was warning: horns symbolize weapons, and when the horn falls off, it signifies a fleeting rise that ultimately leads to failure! Later, all of this came true. In the second year of the Yuanxing period, a hen in Hengyang turned into a rooster, and after eighty days, its feathers had withered. It seemed that heaven was warning: Hengyang is within Huan Xuan's sphere of influence in Chu. After Huan Xuan usurped the throne, he indeed came to pass after eighty days; this was fulfilled! On a certain day in August 276 AD, a strong wind snapped the Taisha tree, and green mist rose from beneath it. This was seen as a good omen! The diviners said, "A king will appear in the Dongguan area!" The next year, Emperor Yuan was born. At that time, Emperor Yuan's grandfather, King Wu, was enfeoffed in Dongguan and later moved to Langya. Historian Sun Sheng interpreted this as a sign of the Eastern Jin's restoration. However, later the Jin dynasty fell into chaos, and none of King Wu's descendants survived; thus, the snapping of the Taisha tree by the wind can also be viewed as fulfilled, and it was perhaps heaven's punishment against the Jin dynasty. Around 300 AD, in the southern mountains near Luoyang, a horsefly was buzzing, and its sound resembled "Han shishi." Those who understood said, "The Han family is finished; that 'shishi' sound means they’re all doomed." Later, Han Mi was killed, and the Han family was exterminated; this can also be seen as a good omen, albeit a bit creepy.
In January of the year 221 AD, Emperor Wen of Wei traveled to Xuchang to conduct an inspection. Unexpectedly, the southern gate of Xuchang city collapsed for no reason, which left Emperor Wen feeling quite unsettled, so he turned back to Luoyang directly. This was a sign of metal overcoming wood, indicating damage to the wood. As a result, Emperor Wen passed away in May. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When the upper and lower go against the will of heaven, disasters will occur, and even the city gates will collapse."
In June of the year 318 AD, the rice granary in Wu County inexplicably collapsed. It appeared that the heavens were sending a warning: the granary is where food is stored, and its collapse for no reason indicates that food prices will soar and people will not be able to buy food. That year, a severe famine struck, resulting in many deaths.
In the year 329 AD, Zhou Yi allied with Wang Dun, and just after building a house with five rooms and six beams, it suddenly all came crashing down, leaving only the crossbeam hanging on the pillar. This was yet another sign of metal overcoming wood! In the following May, Qian Feng rebelled, and Zhou Yi's family was wiped out, and soon the Hushu area turned into ruins.
On a specific day in January 402 AD, the Crown Prince Yuan Xian of Kuaiji was preparing to attack Huan Xuan, and he erected a command flag at the south gate of Yangzhou. However, the flagpole leaned eastward and wouldn’t stand straight no matter how hard they tried, and it took a lot of effort to set it upright. This foreshadowed the impending disaster! Indeed, Yuan Xian was later captured by Huan Xuan.
In May of the year 405 AD, the Hall of Joyous Virtue collapsed. At that time, the emperor was incompetent and did not cherish talents, so the collapse of this hall was also inevitable.
In May of the year 413 AD, the Hall of Sacred Learning collapsed. It seemed like the heavens were warning everyone: the Hall of Sacred Learning is the foundation of rites and music, and its collapse for no reason foreshadows the decline of the country. Indeed, within a decade, the emperor abdicated.
