In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Yongjia, the sky was thick with dark clouds, an ominous sign indeed! Not long after, the emperor lost his throne, and the royal family met its demise, just as predicted. In the first month of the second year of Jianxing, a black mist covered everything like ink, lasting for five days before dissipating, yet another bad omen. Four years later, the emperor surrendered to Liu Yao. In the tenth month of the first year of Yongchang, a thick fog covered the capital, blocking out the sun and moon. By November, the emperor had died. In the sixth month of the fifth year of Taikang, the waters of the ponds in Rencheng and Lu turned blood red. According to Liu Xiang's book, this signaled impending fire and water disasters, a punishment for ignoring wise counsel. Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Yi Zhuan" that when rulers indulge in women and drive away wise men, the country is on the brink of danger; strange occurrences, like water turning red, will occur. In the second month of the third year of Shengping, a pond in the east of Liangzhou caught fire. In the fourth month of the fourth year, the waters of the Guzang Marsh also caught fire. These were all ominous signs of calamities involving water and fire! The following year, Zhang Tianxi assassinated the Chief Military Officer Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong was a powerful minister! In the tenth month of the second year of Yuanxing, the waters of the West Lake in Qiantang turned red. Huan Xuan even went so far as to tell officials from Wu County that this was a good omen for him, but not long after, Huan Xuan faced defeat.
In ancient books, it is said: "If one's mind is unclear and repressed, it reflects a lack of wisdom, and the consequences are severe! Lightly, one will be plagued by various disasters, and heavily, one will die young. Sometimes one may encounter evil spirits, sometimes unexpected accidents, sometimes misfortunes, sometimes heart disease, sometimes jaundice, and sometimes various natural disasters." If one's mind is unclear and repressed, this is not the behavior of a sage. "Thinking heart" refers to one's thoughts and ideas, while "tolerance" refers to being tolerant. Confucius once said: "If a leader is not tolerant, how can I tell if he can be considered a sage?" This means that if a leader is not tolerant and magnanimous, subordinates will find it difficult to reach the level of a sage. A person's expression, speech, vision, and hearing are all controlled by their inner self. If these four things go wrong, the mind will become confused, resulting in disasters. Droughts, floods, cold, and heat are all related to the wind. If the climate of the four seasons is chaotic, one will suffer the punishment of strong winds. Strong winds can devastate everything, leading to danger and premature death. Harming humans is termed "evil," while harming animals is referred to as "short-lived," and harming plants is called "broken." There is another saying that "evil" means premature death; if an elder brother dies, it is called a short life, and if a father dies, it is called a shortened lifespan. Excess fat around a person's abdomen envelops the heart, similar to a layer of grease. If one's heart feels blocked and heavy, they may become dazed, inviting the influence of malevolent spirits. Another saying suggests that a greasy body may attract evil spirits at night, appearing lascivious. Another saying is that night demons appear with clouds and wind, dark and similar to ordinary strong winds. Warm weather and wind will breed moths, causing a plague of insects. Liu Xiang believed that in the Book of Changes, the "Xun" hexagram symbolizes wind and wood. This hexagram in March and April, with the growth of yang energy, governs the flowering and fruiting of trees. When the wind is strong, in autumn and winter, trees will bloom again, leading to misfortune. There is another saying that when the earth's energy is strong, flowers will bloom in autumn and winter. Another saying is that "Hua" refers to color, and "Tu" represents internal affairs, indicating misfortune for women. In the Book of Changes, the "Kun" hexagram symbolizes earth and oxen. Oxen have large heads but do not think, causing damage to their spirits, leading to misfortune. There is another saying that oxen often die violently or turn into monsters, which is the reason. In humans, this often manifests as abdominal ailments, hence the term "abdominal illness." Earth is yellow, so jaundice may occur. Anyone whose mind is unclear will harm their spleen and stomach; when the spleen and stomach are damaged, they will be affected by various natural disasters of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The omission of "only" and the use of "sometimes" indicates a range of significant disasters rather than a single one. If one can follow the will of heaven, dangerous and short-lived events will not occur, and the blessing of longevity is referred to as "long life." Liu Xin said in "Si Xin Zhuan": "Sometimes there may be disasters caused by lice, referring to pests like moths."
No text has been provided for translation. If the absence of text is intentional, please note that for clarity.
In November of the year 248, strong winds blew for several days, damaging houses and snapping trees. On Wuwu day in December (the last day of the lunar month), the wind had intensified even further, even shaking the attic on the east side of the Tai Chi Hall.
This is serious; just thinking about it gives me chills! With winds this fierce, something major is bound to happen!
In the year 249 AD, on the day of Renchen (壬辰日), the northwest wind picked up again, just like before, damaging the houses and trees, and the sky darkened, filled with swirling dust clouds. Mr. Guan Lu said that this is heaven punishing those in power, a sign that the rulers are doomed! At that time, that fellow Cao Shuang was tyrannical and arrogant, living in extreme extravagance. Heaven had already warned him several times, but he stubbornly refused to change! This is his self-inflicted punishment, facing this great wind's wrath! Not long after, Cao Shuang was killed. Jing Fang wrote in the "Book of Changes": "When the ministers are not harmonious and morality declines, unusual wind disasters will occur. This kind of wind makes it impossible for people to move, and crops do not grow well; even if it rains, it is only a light rain, which can cause damage. Political corruption and moral decay mark the beginning of chaos; strong winds arise and topple houses and trees. Upholding justice but being unable to make progress is foolishness; when the winds and clouds gather, crops are blown down. When ministers do not heed the commands of the monarch, that's disobedience; strong winds topple houses. Unreasonable taxation leads to disaster; the wind blows fiercely, the weather fluctuates between hot and cold, and when it gets cold, pests emerge. Feudal lords govern independently, and that's disunity; the wind blows violently, but the trees remain still, and the crops do not grow well. Rulers do not seek the welfare of the people, and that's a lack of benevolence; the wind blows, and the trees remain still, drought occurs without rain, and crops are damaged. Officials only care for their own interests, which is chaos; the wind is light and warm, leading to pests that harm the grains. Abandoning governance for pleasure leads to confusion; the warm wind lets pests thrive, harming things beneficial to people. When feudal lords fail to pay tribute, that's rebellion; the wind blows unpredictably, the land turns red, and rain can bring death."
In August of the year 249 AD, during the reign of Sun Quan in the state of Wu, a strong wind blew, causing the rivers, lakes, and seas to swell. The low-lying areas were flooded to a depth of eight feet, over two thousand large trees were uprooted, stone tablets were blown down, and the city gates of Wu were torn down! Master Hua He suggested that this was due to Sun Quan's heavy conscription and high taxes, leading the common people to their breaking point, and this was a punishment from heaven! The following year, Sun Quan died.
On the Bing Shen day in December of the year 251 AD, another strong wind blew, accompanied by thunder and lightning. That year, the state of Wei sent three large armies to attack Wu, and Zhu Ge Ke defeated Wei's Dongxing army, causing the other two armies to retreat. However, the following year, Zhu Ge Ke went to attack Xincheng, suffering heavy losses, and upon his return, he was killed.
In the first year of Yong'an during the reign of Sun Xiu, on the Jia Wu night in November, the wind blew particularly fiercely, blowing several times, and there were several days of heavy fog. At that time, the Sun Chen family held immense power, with all five brothers holding high positions, effectively controlling everything. This wind disaster mirrored the calamities faced by the powerful families of the Five Marquises, Ding, and Fu during the Han Dynasty, truly exemplifying the saying "Heaven's sins can be forgiven, but one's own sins cannot be survived." On the Ding Mao night in December, another strong wind blew, knocking down all the trees and sending sand swirling everywhere. The following day, Sun Chen was executed.
During the reign of Emperor Jinwu, on the first day of the fifth month in the fifth year of Taishi, a strong wind swept through the Guangping area, uprooting trees. In the first month of the first year of Xianning, a strong wind swept through Xiapi and Guangling, leading to the collapse of over a thousand homes and uprooting of trees. On Jia Shen day of the same month, Guangling, Siwu, and Xiapi were hit by another strong wind, uprooting trees. In the eighth month of the third year of Taishi, a strong wind also swept through the Hejian area, uprooting trees. In the fifth month of the second year of Taikang, a storm struck Jinan, uprooting trees and damaging crops. In the sixth month, Gaoping experienced a strong wind that uprooted trees and tore off the roofs of more than forty government offices. In the seventh month, there was another strong wind in Shangdang, resulting in severe damage to the autumn harvest. In the sixth month of the eighth year, eight regions nationwide were hit by strong winds. In the first month of the ninth year, hail fell in the capital, overturning houses and uprooting trees. Two years later, the emperor died.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, in the sixth month of the fourth year of Yuankang, a heavy wind and rain swept through, causing trees to fall. In the fourth month of the fifth year, during the night of Gengyin, a storm hit the city with waves surging in the eastern channels, leading to many people being swept away and drowning. In the seventh month, Xiapi experienced a strong wind, causing houses to collapse. In the ninth month, strong winds struck Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and other areas, damaging crops. The following year, the Di and Qiang tribes rebelled, prompting the court to dispatch a large army to quell the rebellion. In the sixth month of the ninth year, a gust of wind lifted Jia Mi's court robes hundreds of feet into the air. In the following year, Jia Mi was killed. On the first day of the eleventh month, the capital was hit by continuous strong winds, causing houses to collapse and uprooting trees. In the twelfth month, the Crown Prince was deposed and held captive in Xuchang.
In February of the first year of Yongkang, a strong wind uprooted trees. In March, the Crown Prince was killed, leading to a period of mourning. On the day of Jimao (己卯), his coffin was transported back to Luoyang from Xuchang. That day, a thunderstorm swept in with another strong wind, tearing the curtains of the funeral carriage. In April, Zhang Hua's house was struck by a fierce wind; trees snapped, fabric flew away, and many doors and windows were damaged. Zhang Hua was murdered that month. On the first day of the eleventh month, a fierce wind blew in from the northwest, breaking trees and sending sand and stones flying, lasting for six days before stopping. In the first month of the following year, Zhao Wang Lun seized the throne.
In the eighth month of the first year of Yongning, strong winds blew in three places across the country. On the day of Yichou in the first month of Yongxing, a strong wind blew from the northwest. On the day of Guichou in the first month of Jianshi, Zhao Wang Lun sacrificed at the ancestral temple, and suddenly a strong wind blew, causing sand and stones to fly, and dust to cover the sky. In April of that year, Zhao Wang Lun was executed.
On the day of Bingyin in July of 304 AD (first year of Emperor Yuan's Yongchang), a strong wind blew, toppling trees and tearing off roof tiles. In August, a storm blew, breaking over a hundred willow trees on the imperial road. The wind was swirling wildly, as if coming from every direction. At that time, Wang Dun held power and killed high officials such as Diao Xie and Zhou Yi, so the wind blew aimlessly everywhere. This was all due to the incompetence of the emperor and the punishment for the defiance of the feudal lords. In November of the same year, the emperor passed away.
In March of 340 AD, during the fourth year of Xiankang, Chengdu faced a strong wind, causing houses to collapse and trees to break. In April, Li Shou attacked and killed Li Qi, declaring himself king.
In July of the first year of Jianyuan (343 AD), Jinling and Wu counties faced disasters caused by strong winds.
In the year 357 AD (the first year of Emperor Mu's reign), on the day of Dingwei in August, He Shi was established as the empress. On this day, a fierce wind arose. Later, Huan Xuan usurped the throne and demoted her to the Lady of Lingling, which was also the emperor's unwise retribution! In the year 360 AD (the fifth year of Shengping), on the day of Wuxu in January, a fierce wind arose again.
In the year 366 AD (the sixth year of Duke Haixi's reign), in February, a violent wind blew, and that year, Duke Haixi was deposed.
In the year 373 AD (the first year of Emperor Xiaowu's reign), in March, a strong wind blew throughout the capital, and a great fire broke out. At that time, Huan Wen entered the court, ambitious and wanting to usurp the throne; the emperor was too young, and everyone was on edge, all signs of the emperor's unwise rule! In the year 375 AD (the third year of Ningkang), on the day of Wushen in March, a storm arose, first blowing from the east, then shortly after reversing direction from the west, with flying sand and rolling stones; the sight was extremely terrifying.
In the year 376 AD (the second year of Taiyuan), on the day of Yichou in February, the storm knocked down trees. In the intercalary month of March, on the day of Jiazi, a storm and heavy rain struck together, causing houses to collapse and trees to fall. In the year 378 AD (the third year of Taiyuan), in June, a strong wind blew throughout Chang'an, knocking down the trees in Fu Jian's palace. Later, Fu Jian marched south again to attack Jin, ultimately suffering a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Feishui, leading to his death and the fall of his state. In the year 380 AD (the fourth year of Taiyuan), on the day of Yiwei in August, a storm raised sand and stones.
In the year 388 AD (the twelfth year of Taiyuan), on the night of Renzi in January, a storm arose. In July, on the day of Jiachen, a strong wind broke trees. In the thirteenth year, on the day of Yiwei in December, a great wind blew, making the day as dark as night. Later, the emperor passed away, the feudal lords refused to accept authority, power fell into Yuan Xian's hands, and ultimately Huan Xuan usurped the throne; all of this was a bad omen! In the year 393 AD (the seventeenth year of Taiyuan), on the day of Yimao in June, a strong wind broke trees.
In the year 402 AD (the second year of Emperor An's reign), on the night of Jiachen in February, a strong wind and heavy rain blew, blowing off the tiles of the Grand Entrance (palace gate). The following year, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, entering through the Grand Entrance.
In the first month of the year 397, Huan Xuan went out for some leisure, taking a boat to Dahangnan. As a result, a strong wind blew, ripping the sails off the boat. Three months later, Huan Xuan returned to Jiangling in shame. In May, Jiangling was struck by yet another strong wind, uprooting many trees. In that same month, Huan Xuan was defeated at Zhengrongzhou and was killed, his body and head severed. On the Dingyou day in November, a strong wind blew again, causing many deaths in Jiangling.
On the Ximai day in November 407, a fierce wind blew in from the northwest. On the Dinghai day in the intercalary tenth month of 408, the strong wind tore off many roofs. The following year, Lu Xun arrived at Caizhou. On the Renshen day in May 409, a strong wind uprooted centuries-old trees in the northern suburbs and collapsed the archery halls of Langya and Yangzhou. On that day, Lu Xun's large ships were also sunk by the fierce winds. On the Jiaxu day, the winds picked up again, overturning houses and breaking trees. That winter, the court dispatched troops south. In the first month of 412, a strong wind knocked down the pillars of the Baima Temple pagoda. On the Jichou day in April 413, the winds blew down more trees. On the Xinhai day in June, the winds again knocked down trees. In July, a strong wind swept through Huaibei, damaging numerous houses. The following year, the court sent troops west under Sima Xiuzhi.
On the Wuxu day in the first month of 254, Emperor Jing launched a campaign against Ganqiu Jian, resulting in a strong wind that arose, casting darkness over the sky and prompting everyone to take cover; it was a clear omen of disaster! Liu Xiang said, “In broad daylight, the sky turned dark; yin overcomes yang, and subjects control the ruler.”
In October 260, a great earthquake struck the capital, turning day into night, which was yet another ominous sign! Ban Gu said, “Night calamity occurs when clouds and wind appear together, shrouding the sky and earth in darkness, thus resembling ordinary winds.” Liu Xiang stated in "Spring and Autumn Commentary": “Heaven warns us not to allow the nobles to inherit official positions, but to have them focus on their duties. The darkening of the day signifies the court's decline.” The Wei dynasty saw these calamities as omens that the Jin dynasty was destined to unify the realm.
In the year 311 AD, on the Xinmao day in October, it was dark both day and night until the day of the Gengzi. It was a disaster! The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luochuan, and the imperial troops were repeatedly defeated, with the emperor fleeing to Pingyang.
In the year 395 AD, on the Yiwei day in December, a strong wind blew and darkened the skies. Later, the emperor died, the vassals were disobedient, internal strife continued, Yuan Xian took control, leading to chaos caused by Huan Xuan.
Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "Officials who are content in their positions yet still greedy are called greedy; calamities are like pests devouring the roots of crops; unstable virtues are called annoying, insects eat the leaves; lacking ability and virtue are called useless, insects eat the stems of crops; working out of season is considered untimely, insects eat the stems; covering up sins and breeding disasters are called concealing evil, insects eat the hearts of crops." This passage means that rulers who are greedy and lacking in virtue will bring about calamities.
In July of the year 276, locust plagues occurred in various counties and states; in September, another locust plague occurred in Qingzhou. In the same month, locusts also ate crops in various counties and states. Four years later, twenty counties and states including Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou all experienced locust plagues.
In the year 283 AD, Peng Qi and crabs in Kuaiji County turned into mice in large numbers, causing great damage by devouring rice. In August of the year 288, twenty-four counties and states experienced locust plagues; in September, insect plagues invaded the crops of the autumn harvest. At that time, the emperor was misled by slander, favored Jia Chong and Yang Jun, resulting in insect and locust disasters as retribution for his lack of virtue.
In September of the year 297 AD, locust plagues occurred in six counties including Daifang, and the leaves of the crops were entirely devoured.
In July of the year 301 AD, there was a locust plague in the three provinces of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Gansu. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong was in power, and this served as his greedy and cruel retribution. In October, locusts in Nan'an, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, Beihai, and other places were eating rice leaves, causing severe damage to crops, with losses of 50 to 60 percent of the fields. In December, locust plagues occurred in six counties.
In the year 288 AD, strange incidents of dead cows speaking occurred in the north of Youzhou, foreshadowing a disaster involving cattle. At that time, the emperor was gravely ill and anxious about the future, yet he entrusted matters to others unfairly, which was also a sign of chaos. Just as Shi Kuang said: "When resentment spreads among the people, strange phenomena beyond words will emerge." This is similar to what Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When innocent people are killed, cows will turn into monsters."
During the reign of Emperor Hui during the Tai'an era, there was a man named Zhang Cheng in Jiangxia. His cow suddenly spoke, saying, "The world is going to be in chaos. Where are you taking me?" Zhang Cheng was terrified and hurried home. As a result, his dog followed him and exclaimed, "Why did you come back so soon?" Not long after, the cow suddenly stood up and walked on its hind legs! Zhang Cheng quickly found a fortune teller to divine, and the fortune teller warned, "A large-scale war is coming, and this disaster is not just a matter of one or two families." Sure enough, that year Zhang Chang rebelled, and the first place he attacked was Jiangxia. As a general, Zhang Cheng's family ultimately met a tragic fate. The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang states: "Cows can speak, and based on what they say, one can predict good or bad fortune." The "Yi Mengqi Shu" also records: "If those in power do not treat talents well, but instead dress horses in fancy clothes and allow dogs and wolves to eat human food, then livestock will speak." At that time, the emperor and the nobles did not take the well-being of the people seriously, and the incident of the talking cow fulfilled the prophecies recorded in the texts.
In the first year of Emperor Yuan's reign, in July, a cow in Jinling Chenmen gave birth to a calf with two heads. According to the Yi Jing, "A cow giving birth to a two-headed calf is a sign that the world will split apart." At that time, Emperor Min was trapped in Pingyang and later killed by the barbarians. When Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, the world split into two halves, fulfilling the prophecy in the book.
In the first year of Taixing, a cow in the household of Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang, gave birth to a calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails with a shared body, and it died three years later. Another cow was born with only one leg but three tails, and both cows died shortly after birth. Sima Biao said, "A two-headed cow symbolizes power in private hands, with no distinction between ranks." The Yi Jing also states, "Those with many legs cannot bear heavy responsibilities; those with few legs lack ability." Later, Wang Dun and others upheaved the political order, fulfilling the prophecy of the cows' anomalies.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year, the cow meant for sacrifice died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the sacrificial cow meant, "Duke Xuan was incompetent, so heaven did not accept his sacrifices." Now, Emperor Yuan is thriving, thanks to Wang Dao. Liu Kui flattered the emperor and gained his favor, while Wang Dao was alienated, which led to the disaster brought on by incompetence.
In the second year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe reign, in the fifth month, a cow in the household of a guard gave birth to a calf that had two heads and six legs. That winter, Su Jun rebelled. Seven years later, a cow in the home of Yuan Rong in Jiude also gave birth to a calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails with a shared body.
Huan Xuan was in Jingzhou at that time, going to visit the provincial governor Yin Zhongkan. When he reached near Hexue, he met an old man driving a strange-looking green ox. Without saying a word, Huan Xuan exchanged his own ox for the green ox. Riding the green ox to Lingling Jingxi, the ox galloped away, stopped to drink water, and then it bolted into the river, never to return. Huan Xuan sent people to search but they searched all day and found nothing. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated and killed in battle.
In the second year of the Zhangwu era of the Shu Han dynasty, Liu Bei went on an expedition to the east. In February, he set off from Zigui and camped at Yidao. In June, a yellow gas appeared in Zigui, stretching over ten miles long and several dozen yards wide. A few days later, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Yi, which was close to the time when the yellow gas appeared.
During the reign of Emperor Qi of Wei, Zhounan, the King of Zhongshan, became the magistrate of Xiangyi County. A mouse came out of a hole and said, "Zhounan, you will die one day!" Zhounan ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. On the day predicted, the mouse came out again wearing a hat and black clothes, saying, "Zhounan, you will die at noon today!" Zhounan still ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. After a while, the mouse came out again and repeated the same thing. As noon approached, the mouse said, "Zhounan, you don't listen to me, so why should I say more!" Then it died, fell over, and its hat and clothes fell off. Upon examination, it was just an ordinary mouse. Ban Gu's book says that this was a calamity caused by the yellow gas. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power, competing for power and profit with others, which led the mouse to emerge as an omen of disaster.
In the fourth year of Yuankang of Emperor Hui, in December, there was a thick fog. The emperor was rather incompetent, not handling state affairs personally, which led to the appearance of this strange phenomenon.
In August of the fourth year of Taixing under Emperor Yuan, yellow fog was everywhere, dust was flying, and the sky was covered.
In the first year of Yongchang, in October, there was a thick fog in the capital city, with black gas rising to the sky, with the sun completely obscured.
In the first month of the first year of Emperor Ming's Taiping era, on the day of Guisi, yellow mist hung in the air everywhere. In the second month, yellow mist hung in the air again. At that time, Wang Dun was consolidating his power, and his rebellion plot was intensifying.
In the seventh year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe reign, in the third month, a strong wind blew in Liangzhou, blowing down all the trees, and yellow mist mixed with dust fell. At that time, Zhang Chonghua was swayed by slander and demoted Xie Ai to be the prefect of Jiuquan, appointing incompetent officials, which fulfilled the earlier omens. In the "Book of Changes Commentary," Jing Fang said: "Ignoring good advice is ignorance; the emergence of yellow disasters signals that calamity is near, leading to the end of one's lineage. Yellow disasters refer to the yellow, murky air spreading across the land, obscuring wise talents, blocking the way, so calamity will affect future generations."
In the eighth year of Taiyuan, in the second month, yellow mist filled the air, and everywhere was filled with hazy yellow mist. At that time, Daozi wielded power alone, associating with sycophants, and the court was in chaos.
In the first year of Yuanxing, in October, the sky was once again shrouded in gloomy yellow mist, with not a drop of rain. At this time, Huan Xuan was secretly plotting a rebellion.
In the fifth and tenth years of the Yixi era, there were also heavy fogs. At that time, the emperor's authority was waning, while the ministers grew increasingly powerful, and the military and land were almost out of the emperor's hands, all of which were ominous signs!
Liu Xiang once said: "Earthquakes stem from the imbalance among the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu also said: "The qi of heaven and earth follows its own laws. If these laws are disrupted, chaos will ensue in the world. When the yang energy is suppressed and cannot come out, and the yin energy is forced up, earthquakes will occur."
In the fourth year of Huangwu under Sun Quan, a series of earthquakes occurred in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan was granted a title by the Wei state, became the Grand General and King of Wu, and changed the era name, consolidating power while disregarding his actions. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "Even if a minister's actions are just, excessive power concentration can lead to earthquakes. Earthquakes manifest as waves in water, shaking in trees, and tiles falling from houses. If the court's major policies are inappropriate and treacherous officials are appointed, this is caused by the disturbance of yin energy, leading to political unrest and earthquakes. If the court's major policies are inappropriate yet treacherous officials are not appointed, this is an imbalance of yang energy, which can also lead to mountain tremors and springs gushing forth. If an heir lacks virtue but enjoys the salary alone, it goes against heavenly principles, causing hills to tremble and springs to gush." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the ministers is strong, it is a sign that trouble is brewing!"
In November of the second year of Qinglong under Wei Mingdi, an earthquake occurred in the capital, coming from the east, with faint sounds heard; the tiles on the rooftops were dislodged. In June of the first year of Jingchu, another earthquake struck the capital. That autumn, Wu's general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia, but the governor of Jingzhou, Hu Zhi, defeated him. Additionally, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, declared himself King of Yan, changed the era name, and appointed officials. The following year, he was subdued.
In May of the sixth year of Jiahe under Sun Quan, an earthquake occurred in Jiangdong. In the first month of the second year of Chiwu, another earthquake happened. At that time, Lü Yi was overbearing and wielded significant power, and Bu Zhi submitted a memorial saying: "I have heard that the officials in charge of examinations are nitpicking and seeking to frame others to display their power, causing many people to suffer severe punishments for no reason; even ministers are not trusted. If this continues, how can there be no changes in heaven and earth! Therefore, the continuous earthquakes are a sign of ministerial usurpation! I hope Your Majesty will seriously consider the implications of this situation!" Ultimately, Lü Yi did indeed fall from power.
In November of 241 AD, there was an earthquake in Nan'an County. In the following year, in July, Nan'an County experienced another earthquake. In December of the same year, there was an earthquake in Wei County. Then in February of 244 AD, Nan'an County experienced yet another earthquake. At that time, Cao Shuang held absolute power and relocated the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace, where the mother and son bid tearful farewells. These consecutive earthquakes were likely a warning from above!
In February of 248 AD, there was an earthquake in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan was swayed by slander and dismissed Zhu Ju, deposing the Crown Prince. This really proved the old saying, "Disaster comes from within the family!"
In 263 AD, there was an earthquake in Shu Han. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao held power. Sima Biao once said, "Eunuchs lack the masculine energy, just like women." Huang Hao’s grip on power mirrored the eunuch dominance during Emperor Han He’s reign. That winter, Shu Han fell.
In April of 270 AD, there was an earthquake. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinping rebelled. The following year, Sun Hao sent a large army to enter Guokou. In June of 272 AD, there was another earthquake.
In August of 276 AD, there were earthquakes in Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. In June of 278 AD, there were earthquakes in Yinpíng and Guangwu, with another quake occurring that same day.
In February of 281 AD, there were earthquakes in Huainan and Danyang. On the first day of the first month of 284 AD, there was an earthquake in Luoyang. In July 285 AD, there was an earthquake. In July 286 AD, earthquakes struck Nan'an and Jianwei, followed by another in Jingzhao in August. In May of the same year, there was an earthquake in Jian'an; in July, there was an earthquake in Yinpíng; and in August, there was an earthquake in Danyang. In January of 287 AD, there were earthquakes in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing; in April, eight counties including Changsha and Nanhai experienced earthquakes; from July to August, there were four more earthquakes, three of which roared like thunder. In September, there was an earthquake in Linhe, and in December, there was another earthquake. In December of 288 AD, there was an earthquake in Danyang.
In January 289 AD, another earthquake occurred. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, from Jia Chong to Yang Jun, they formed factions, embezzled and perverted the law, and stole from the court. As time went on, the talents they employed became increasingly worse, resulting in frequent earthquakes. This was their own doing, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Western Jin.
In December 291 AD, an earthquake occurred in Luoyang. That summer, Empress Jia ordered Prince Sima Wei of Chu to kill Prince Sima Liang of Runan and the Grand Guardian Wei Guan. This indicates the rise of darkness over light, resulting in chaos across the land.
In the second month of the fourth year, earthquakes occurred in the Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong regions. In May, there were major landslides in Shu County; in Huainan Shouchun, floods and landslides devastated cities and homes. In August, Shanggu experienced another earthquake, causing over a hundred deaths. In October, the capital Luoyang also experienced an earthquake. In November, earthquakes occurred in Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, Nanyang, and other places. In December, Luoyang was shaken again. At that time, Empress Jia's tyrannical rule led to political chaos. These earthquakes were harbingers of the impending disasters facing the country.
During Empress Dowager Deng's regency in the Han Dynasty, earthquakes also occurred in various places. Li Gu analyzed, "The earth belongs to yin and should remain calm. But now, going against the nature of yin, the government is enforcing a tyrannical yang policy, leading to earthquakes." This was consistent with the political situation at the time. Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Book of Changes Commentary," "When wrongdoers seize people's homes, disasters like landslides will occur, signifying the triumph of yin over yang and the weak overcoming the strong." He further stated, "When yin betrays yang, it will lead to cracks in the earth, separation of fathers and sons, and even uprisings of minority groups."
On Dingchou day in the fifth year of AD, an earthquake occurred. In June, Jincheng also experienced an earthquake. On Dingchou day in January of the sixth year AD, another earthquake occurred. On Bingchen day in January of the eighth year, another earthquake occurred.
In the first year of the Taian era (AD 200), in October, an earthquake occurred. This foreshadowed the rule of Prince Qi Jiong. In the second year of the Gregorian calendar, on the 12th day of the 12th month, another earthquake occurred, this time as a precursor to the rule of Prince Changsha Yi.
In the third year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Xiaohuai in the Gregorian calendar, in October, earthquakes struck Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. Sima Yue was in power at that time. In the fourth year of the Gregorian calendar, in April, an earthquake occurred in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, then crossed the Yellow River and headed south, which corresponded with the earthquakes.
In the second year of the Jianxing era of Emperor Min in the Gregorian calendar, on the first day of the fourth month, an earthquake occurred. In the third year, on the second day of the sixth month, Chang'an experienced another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was young, and power was waning, with continuous wars and chaos throughout the country, indicating the impending chaos.
In the first year of the Taixing era of Emperor Yuan in the Gregorian calendar, an earthquake struck Xiping, along with flooding. In December, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiling, which also involved floods and landslides. Gan Bao believed this foreshadowed Wang Dun's rebellion.
In the second year of the Gregorian calendar, on the fifth day of the fifth month, Qishan experienced an earthquake, causing casualties due to landslides. At that time, the Prime Minister, Prince of Nanyang, was in Qishan, and some believed this foreshadowed the downfall of the Jin prince. In the third year, on the fifth day of the fifth month, earthquakes occurred in Danyang, Wu County, and Jinling.
In the second year of the Xianhe era of Emperor Cheng in the Gregorian calendar, Jiangling experienced an earthquake in February, followed by another in Yizhou in March. On the sixth day of the fourth month, Yuzhang experienced an earthquake. That year, Su Jun instigated a rebellion. In the ninth year, on the third day of the third month, an earthquake struck Kuaiji.
In the year 345 of the Gregorian calendar, in June, an earthquake occurred. At that time, the emperor was still a child, with his mother in power and real authority held by the ministers, resulting in a series of earthquakes. The following year, in October, another earthquake struck. In the third year, earthquakes occurred in January and September. In the fourth year, another earthquake struck in October.
In January 346 AD, there was an earthquake. At this time, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and became the emperor, a sign of bad things to come. In August of 350 AD, the capital shook with thunderous sounds during an earthquake. The following year, in January, there was another earthquake with thunderous sounds, scaring both domestic and wild chickens. In April and May of 352 AD, there were two more consecutive earthquakes.
In November of 358 AD, there was an earthquake. In August of 360 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou. In April of 362 AD, there was an earthquake. At that time, military officials held the real power, leaving the emperor as nothing more than a figurehead.
In April of 365 AD, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, resulting in flooding. In February of the following year, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At this time, Huan Wen held great power.
In February of 370 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou, with water gushing out. This was a sign that Haixi Gong faced imminent deposition.
In October of 374 AD, there was an earthquake in Ancheng, and that same year the emperor died. In October of 375 AD, there was an earthquake. In the following year, in February and July, there were more earthquakes, with the Liangzhou quake triggering a landslide. At that time, the young emperor was overshadowed by the ministers, signaling a decline in imperial authority.
In the intercalary months of March and May of 377 AD, there were earthquakes. In June of 386 AD, there was an earthquake. In the following years, the generals along the Yellow River engaged in continuous warfare, causing hardship for the people, which were also linked to the earthquakes. On the night of the first day of March in 389 AD, there was an earthquake; in August, the capital city experienced an earthquake; in December, there was another earthquake. In June and December of 391 AD, there were more earthquakes. At that time, corrupt officials controlled the court, and people were filled with anxiety. In January and February of 392 AD, there were more earthquakes.
In April and September of 397 AD, there were earthquakes. At that time, the emperor was still young and inexperienced, with ministers holding the power.
On the night of Wuzi in January 408 AD, there was a sudden earthquake, with a deafening sound that sent people into a panic. On the Guihai day in October of the same year, another earthquake occurred. On the night of Wuxu in January 409 AD, Xunyang also shook with an earthquake, with a thunderous sound like thunder. The following year, Lu Xun's rebellion failed. From January to April 412 AD, the regions of Nankang and Luling were struck by four consecutive earthquakes. The next year, Wang Lu marched his troops westward to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In March 414 AD, during Wuyin, there was yet another earthquake.
In August of the year 240 AD, there were landslides and floods in the areas of Danyang, Jurong, Guzhang, and Ningguo in the state of Wu. Liu Xiang's writings state: "Mountains represent the Yang, symbolizing the monarch; water represents the Yin, symbolizing the people. This serves as a warning from heaven that if the monarch's rule collapses, the people will be displaced!" During the Spring and Autumn period, landslides occurred in Liangshan, and during the Han Dynasty, many mountains in the states of Qi and Chu experienced landslides and floods, all for the same reason. In ancient times, the ancestral sacrifices of the three dynasties were held in Feng Shui sites rich in mountains and water, and fortune and misfortune were closely related to the orientation of the sacrificial location. Although Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, he was essentially just one of the feudal lords. The disaster happened in Danyang; this was a clear warning from the heavens! Liu Xin also said: "The rise and fall of a nation is closely tied to the fortunes of its mountains and rivers. When the mountains collapse and the rivers dry up, it is a sign that the country is about to perish." Indeed, just two years later, Sun Quan passed away, and twenty-six years after that, the state of Wu fell.
In February of the year 265 AD, the Taihang Mountains collapsed, which signaled the impending downfall of the state of Wei. That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the entire country.
In March 273 AD, Dashishan collapsed. In July of the year 274 AD, Mount Tai collapsed, affecting an area within a three-mile radius. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "The collapse from above corresponds to the stones rolling down Mount Tai, indicating the appointment of a saintly king and the capture of the monarch." Later, Emperor Wu of Jin died, the imperial authority waned, Emperor Hui was weak and incompetent, and Emperors Huai and Min were captured to the north. The country fractured until Emperor Yuan restored order in the south, all fulfilling Jing Fang's prophecy.
In May of the year 285 AD, the temple of Emperor Xuan collapsed into the ground. In October of the year 286, there was a landslide in Nan'an Xin Xing Mountain, resulting in a significant surge of water. In February of the year 287, Dulu Mountain in Zhuti collapsed, damaging houses in the county, and the Chouchi cliff in Yinping also collapsed. In July of the year 288, heavy rain caused the ground in front of the palace to collapse, forming a hole five feet in diameter and several feet deep, where an old, broken ship was unexpectedly found.
In the year 284 AD, there was a landslide in the Shu region, resulting in many deaths. On the ninth day of May, Shou Chun also experienced a landslide, causing a flood, collapsing city walls, and creating a giant hole thirty zhang square, which also caused casualties. In June, Shou Chun was hit by heavy thunderstorms, landslides, and many households were buried, with a similar disaster occurring in Shangyong. In August, Juyongguan cracked open, with a crack measuring eighty-four zhang long and thirty-six zhang wide, leading to floods and a severe famine. Landslides and collapses continued to occur in Shangyong, with a length of one hundred and thirty zhang, a width of thirty zhang, and casualties caused by flooding. These disasters were seen as omens of the chaos brought on by Empress Jia's misrule.
In April of the year 285, there was a landslide in Xixiong.
In March of the year 307, a land subsidence occurred in Buguanli in the northeast of Luoyang. Two years later, on August 29, the city wall of Juancheng inexplicably collapsed by over seventy zhang, causing unease to Sima Yue, who then moved the capital to Puyang, suggesting that these anomalies were ominous signs. Sima Yue ultimately faced disaster due to the damage to his tomb. On July 26 of the year 309, Dangyang experienced three ground cracks, each crack measuring three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the earth cracks open, it indicates that the ministers have lost their loyalty and are unwilling to cooperate with each other." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi became enemies, the various princes ruled independently, and the Western Jin Dynasty eventually perished. In October of the same year, there was a landslide in Yidu, Yidao. In April of the year 310, a landslide occurred in Linghei Mountain in Xiangdong.
In February of the year 318 AD, there were earthquakes and landslides in the areas of Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In May of the following year, there were earthquakes and landslides in Qishan, causing casualties. In the year 320 AD, there was a landslide in Nanping Prefecture, and thousands of pounds of realgar (a type of arsenic sulfide) gushed out from the collapsed area. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and overbearing, but the emperor turned a blind eye to him, which was considered a sign of indulging evil and leading to disaster. In August of the year 321 AD, there was a landslide in Changshan, followed by a flood; the Hupo River surged, and large trees were uprooted.
In October of the year 334 AD, the cliffs of Lushan in Chaisang collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In September of the year 349 AD, the tombs of Junping and Chongyang collapsed. In November of the twelfth year of the Yixi reign, the court sent the Palace Attendant Che Gan to repair the Junping Tomb. While they were excavating the tomb passage, a landslide struck, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people.
In February of the year 357 AD, near the Nanye Gate, a horseshoe sank into the ground, and a bell was unearthed, with four characters engraved on it. (This poem couplet is not translated here).
On the second day of April in the year 365 AD, there was a landslide in Haowei Mountain, foreshadowing the downfall of Zhang Tianxi.
On the day of Renyin in March of the year 402 AD (the eighth year of the Yixi reign of the Eastern Jin Dynasty), the ground suddenly collapsed in the Shanyin area, covering an area of about four zhang (approximately 133 square meters). It made a huge thunder-like sound. On the day of Wuyin in May of the year 406 AD (the tenth year of the Yixi reign), the ground near Ximing Gate also cracked open, gushing out a large amount of water, which damaged the city gate and threshold. These events all signify a disharmony between the earth and water!
In May of the year 407 AD (the eleventh year of the Yixi reign), there was a landslide in Huoshan, and six bronze bells were unearthed from the collapsed mountain. In July of the year 409 AD (the thirteenth year of the Yixi reign), a thunderous noise echoed near the river in Chenggu County, Han Zhong, which led to the collapse of the riverbank, where twelve bronze bells were unearthed.
In the year 300 AD (9th year of the reign of Emperor Huai of the Western Jin Dynasty), one evening in June, a sudden heavy rainstorm broke out with thunder. In Jia Mi's home, the hall's pillars suddenly sank into the ground, crushing his bed and canopy. This was a sign of the wood being affected by the earth’s energy, and the land had lost its ability to bear weight! The following year, Jia Mi was executed.
In the year 805 AD (1st year of the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty), in May, an underground fire broke out in the Fanyang area, and the fire was so intense it could even be used for cooking! This was clearly an underground fire spreading, signaling a disturbance in the earth's energy! At that time, major matters like court rituals, music, and military campaigns were decided by the various vassals.
According to historical texts, if the emperor fails to fulfill his duties, it means he has not stood firm, with serious consequences, including prolonged rain and a weakening of the nation's strength. Sometimes there would be malevolent spirits causing chaos, sometimes dragons and snakes causing harm, sometimes horses injuring people, sometimes subordinates rebelling, and sometimes even strange movements of the sun, moon, and stars. When the emperor neglects his duties, it indicates he is not standing firm. "Huang" refers to the emperor, "Ji" means moderation, and "Jian" means to establish. If the emperor's words, actions, thoughts, and feelings are all in disarray and the balance is not maintained, then the nation's major affairs cannot be carried out, and the issues stem from incompetence and erratic behavior, leading to such serious consequences.
The king is the one who receives heavenly principles from below and governs all things above. Clouds rise from the mountains and then spread to the sky; when the celestial qi is disrupted, there will be long periods of rain, which means that if those above do not maintain proper balance, the lower level will become strong, obscuring the king's wisdom. The Book of Changes says: "The dragon soars with regret, the noble loses his position, the high loses his people, the wise man is in a lower position and loses his assistance." If this is the case, although the emperor has the position of honor facing south, he will not receive any help from anyone, so he will be very weak. When the vigorous yang energy is stirred, it will be light, fast, and vigorous. According to the ritual system, a grand archery ceremony should be held in spring to follow the yang energy. If those above are weak, the lower level will become restless, resulting in the emergence of chaos and malevolent forces. The Book of Changes says: "The clouds follow the dragon," and also says: "The dragon and snake lie dormant to preserve themselves." When yin energy stirs, dragons and snakes will cause trouble. In the Book of Changes, the "Qian" hexagram represents the monarch and the horse. If one relies too much on military force, the monarch's authority will be undermined, resulting in incidents of horses attacking people. Some say it is because a large number of horses died and turned into monsters causing mischief. If the emperor is incompetent and weak, the people will turn against him, and heaven will forsake him. If there is no wise ruler to punish, there will be incidents of usurpation and regicide, leading to rebellions among his subordinates. In short, when the monarch's path is compromised, it will affect the celestial phenomena. The books do not say that the five elements' energies encroach upon heaven, but rather "the sun and moon are disorderly, and the stars are retrograde," because the people below dare not say that heaven has been invaded. Just like in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" where it says "the king's army was defeated by the Mao Rong," without specifying who defeated whom, but using self-defeat to express it indirectly, this is a more respectful way to express it. In Liu Xin's "Huang Ji Zhuan," it is said that when subordinates rebel, divine retribution is already predetermined, and it cannot be said to be an illness.
Sun Liang ruled for three years during the Taiping era. Starting from August, there was a continuous downpour that did not stop for over forty days. At that time, there was a plan to execute Sun Zhen, but the plan was leaked. On September 5th, Sun Zhen surrounded the palace with troops and deposed Sun Liang, declaring him King of Kuaiji. This was a punishment for the prolonged rain.
When Sun Hao was in power, in December of the first year of Baoding, astronomers reported that the weather had been gloomy and there had been no rain for a long time, fearing that a conspiracy might be afoot. Sun Hao was terrified. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose him while he went to perform sacrifices. However, when Lu Kai went out, he allowed Liu Ping to take the lead, and he had informed Liu Ping of this beforehand, but Liu Ping disagreed, so the plan failed. Sun Hao was tyrannical and unprincipled, and many officials in the court had ulterior motives, ultimately leading to the downfall of the state.
Deng Zhi, the Shu General of Chariots and Cavalry, went to Fuling to fight and saw a black ape on the mountain, so he shot it with an arrow. The black ape pulled out the arrow and used leaves to stop the bleeding. Deng Zhi said, “Ah! I have gone against the laws of nature; I must be nearing my end!” Not long after, he died, an event referred to as "shooting a demon." Some say that at that time, the black ape mother was holding her child, and Deng Zhi shot the child, who pulled out the arrow and used leaves to stop the bleeding. Deng Zhi sighed and threw his crossbow into the water, knowing he was going to die.
When Emperor Gong of Jin was the King of Langya, he liked to play bizarre games. Once, he locked a horse inside a stable and had people shoot at it, wanting to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone nearby advised him, saying, “The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is inauspicious!” So he stopped, but the horse had already been shot with over ten arrows. This might also be seen as "shooting a demon!" Not long after, he abdicated in favor of Emperor Wu of Song.
In the first month of the first year of the Qinglong era under Emperor Ming of Wei, a blue dragon appeared in the Mobo Well in Ji County. Generally speaking, if an auspicious sign appears at an inappropriate time, it can turn into a malevolent omen. Moreover, being trapped in a well is not a good omen. The Wei Dynasty changed its reign name because of this, which was, in fact, misguided. Gan Bao said: "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearances of the blue dragon and yellow dragon are all related to the rise and fall of the Wei Dynasty. The national fortune of Wei is associated with wood, represented by the color blue, but it is overshadowed by gold. When the yellow dragon appears and the blue dragon disappears, it symbolizes the blue dragon being displaced and the yellow dragon taking its place. The frequent appearances of the blue dragon indicate internal conflicts in the national fortune of Wei. Therefore, Gao Guixiangong ultimately met his demise in battle." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well is a sign that the princes are about to be imprisoned. During the Wei Dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, which indicated the oppression of the people by their rulers. The poem "Hidden Dragon" written by Gao Guixiangong conveys this meaning.
On the tenth day of the tenth month of the first year of Gao Guixiangong's reign, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Ye City. In the first month of the first year of Ganlu, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Zhixian; in the sixth month, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Yuancheng County. In the second year, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year, both a yellow dragon and a blue dragon appeared in wells in Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year, a yellow dragon appeared twice in wells in Ningling County.
Over the years, dragons have consistently appeared in wells, which is indeed a remarkable phenomenon! The sporadic appearances of the yellow and blue dragons make it difficult to discern whether they signify good or bad omens. In the twelfth month of the first year of Emperor Yuan's reign, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Huayin County. In the second month of the third year, a dragon appeared in a well in Zhixian. These dragons have been spotted in wells across various counties, and it's uncertain whether their presence is auspicious or ominous, leaving people in a state of confusion.
During Sun Hao's reign in the Wu dynasty, a dragon gave birth to a dragon child in the home of the common people in Changsha, and even ate chicklings. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao": "When a dragon gives birth to offspring in someone's home, it means that those in power will become commoners." Later, Sun Hao was indeed overthrown by the Jin dynasty. This truly validated Jing Fang's words, with the dragon giving birth to offspring in someone's home, actually foreshadowing a change in political power, truly miraculous!
In the second year of the Xian Ning reign of Emperor Wu, in the sixth month on the day of Bing Wu, two white dragons appeared in a well in Jiuyuan. In the fifth year of the Tai Kang reign, in the first month on the day of Gui Mao, two dragons appeared in a well in the armory. The emperor was overjoyed and prepared to celebrate with his ministers. However, Liu Yi spoke up and said, "Dragons have appeared in the courtyard of the Xia dynasty before, and the Xia dynasty was later overthrown; when dragons appeared at the gates of the Zheng state, Zi Chan did not celebrate." The emperor replied, "I have not yet established good governance, so I do not deserve to enjoy such auspicious signs." So there was no celebration held. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are water creatures; what do they have to do with humans? Zi Chan is right. But if dragons appear in the wrong place, that is an evil omen. Dragons should manifest in the sky, not hide in wells; that's not a good omen." In the second year of Emperor Han Hui, two dragons appeared in a well in Lanling, "Ben Zhi" said this was a precursor to the death of Prince Zhao You. The armory is where the emperor stores weapons; it is deep and secret, not a place for dragons to stay. Seven years later, the princes fought each other, and twenty-eight years later, two people with the surname Long rebelled and seized power. The time and place of the dragons' appearance truly came to pass!
The appearance of dragons in the armory resulted in internal strife among the princes and usurpation; these dragons really can't just appear anywhere. In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a Qiang ethnic prostitute from Fuhans gave birth to a dragon child, whose colors resembled brocade, often feeding on its mother's milk, and could sometimes be seen glowing with divine light, though rarely clearly. This was also because the emperor did not do well, so Emperor Min eventually lost his country. The appearance of this dragon child also foreshadowed the emperor's failure, truly unbelievable.
In the final years of Lü Zuan, a dragon emerged from the well in the eastern wing of the palace and coiled in front of his palace, but disappeared the next morning. Soon after, a black dragon flew past his palace gate. Lü Zuan believed this was a good omen. Some people said, "Dragons are yin creatures, and their appearances are regular; now that they keep appearing, it surely means someone is going to rebel." Later, Lü Zuan was indeed killed by Lü Chao.
This dragon appeared so frequently, and it was a black dragon; this was definitely not a good omen, and it indeed foreshadowed Lü Zuan's death.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in the Xian Ning era, two large snakes appeared in the Minister of Education's office, each over ten zhang in length, residing on the beams of the office. The people were completely unaware. For several years, the household inexplicably lost children, pigs, and dogs. Later, one of the snakes came out at night and was injured by someone, unable to move, and that was when they were discovered. Everyone joined in to attack, and it took a long time to finally kill it. The Minister of Education was responsible for overseeing education! This shows that the court's politics were in decline, leading to such strange occurrences.
During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, and Yang Ci said this was a result of the emperor's obsession with women. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were particularly many palace maids, and the state of Yan was even worse; the emperor indulged in hedonism, and this was retribution! The Book of Songs says: "Only the viper and the snake, an omen related to women," which conveys this principle.
On the day of Gui Si in the fifth year of the Yuan Kang era of Emperor Hui, a large snake over ten zhang long appeared in Linzi, accompanied by two small snakes, entering through the north gate of the city, passing through the marketplace, and directly into the shrine of King Jing of Han, then disappearing. This was a divine warning! Although King Jing of Han achieved great merit, he failed to uphold integrity, loyalty, and prudence, ultimately losing his position and his achievements. Now, King Jiong of Qi fails to learn from this lesson; although he has also achieved merit, his arrogance invites disaster, and this is a clear portent!
During the reign of Emperor Ming, a giant snake appeared in Wuchang, residing in an old temple within a hollow tree, often poking its head out to be fed by passersby. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Yao": "When a snake appears in the city, within three years there will be a large-scale war and the country will suffer a great disaster." Shortly after, Wang Dun rebelled.
In the first year of Emperor Wudi Taixi, a long-horned horse appeared in Liaodong with horns three inches long under its two ears. According to Liu Xiang, "This is a sign of war." Later, after the emperor's death, the imperial family indeed faced the calamity of war, which fulfilled this omen. "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" states: "If the ministers go against the will of the heavens, politics will not be smooth; strange occurrences like horses growing horns will happen, indicating a lack of capable officials." It also says: "If the emperor personally goes to battle, horses will grow horns." "Lu Shi Chunqiu" also states: "If the ruler is immoral, horses will grow horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, being incompetent and leading troops to attack Chengdu himself, all these prophecies came true.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign, the crown prince was to hold a sacrificial ceremony. The Grand Tutor, Prince Zhao Lun, went in a carriage to the south gate. When they arrived, the horse suddenly stopped, and even strong men could not move it. Prince Lun had to switch to a lighter cart to continue. This was a portent of disaster caused by the horse! It was a warning from heaven: Zhao Lun did not understand propriety and righteousness and would eventually rebel, making him unfit to assist the emperor or preside over the ceremony.
On the day of the eleventh month of the ninth year of Wuyin, a panicked bay horse suddenly ran into the interrogation hall of the Court of Judicial Review, let out a mournful cry, and died. This was clearly a warning from above, as if lamenting: Pity those who died unjustly! Is the Court of Judicial Review a place destined by heaven?
In the sixth year of Yongjia, in February, it was heard that a divine horse was neighing at the South City Gate. In the second year of Jianxing, in September, a strange event occurred in Puzixian where a horse gave birth to a human-like creature. Jing Fang mentioned in the "Book of Changes": "When the emperor dies and the princes attack each other, strange phenomena such as horses giving birth to humans will appear." At that time, the royal family was in decline and on the brink, with Hu and Di people invading in turns, the flames of war drawing closer each day, and not long after, the emperor fell, which is why such eerie phenomena occurred.
In the second year of Taixing, an official from Danyang, Pu Yang, had a horse that gave birth to a foal, but this foal had two heads that split from the front of its neck and died at birth. Sima Biao explained, "This signifies that power has fallen into private hands; it symbolizes the 'two heads'!" Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
On the eighth year of Xiankang, on the day of Jiaxu in May, a horse appeared that was entirely bright red, like blood, and ran straight from the Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling the palace once before running away, and no one could catch up. A few days later, the emperor fell ill and died in June. This red horse was both a sign of disaster and a dire omen! In the same year, Zhang Chonghua in Liangzhou was about to execute Zhang Xiang, the governor of Xihe, when all the horses in his stable suddenly lost their tails!
In the fourth year of Long'an, in October, a horse with horns appeared in Liangzhou, and the Inspector Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. Liu Xiang stated that horses shouldn't grow horns, just as Huan Xuan shouldn’t have raised an army to rebel. Huan Xuan did not heed this, resulting in his own downfall and disgrace.
When Shi Jilong was in Ye City, there was a horse whose tail looked burnt. It entered through one of the Yang Gates of the palace and exited through the Xianyang Gate, and the guards of the Eastern Palace couldn’t stop it; it ran northeast and disappeared shortly after. The fortune teller Fotucheng sighed, "Disaster is coming!" Over a year later, Shi Jilong died, and his state was also brought to ruin.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei in the Huangchu era, Song Shizong's mother from Qinghe turned into a tortoise and disappeared into the water. In 239 AD, a peasant woman named Qiu Xi died and returned to life, which took place in Cao Xiu's jurisdiction. At that time, a tomb of a noble from the Zhou dynasty was opened, and a woman buried with her was found inside. She had been dead for several days but was still breathing. After a few months, she was still breathing but could not speak. Empress Dowager Guo raised her. Additionally, in Taiyuan, someone unearthed a tomb and discovered a living woman in the coffin. When asked what had happened, she couldn't explain it. The tombstone records suggested she was about thirty years old. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "Yin becomes Yang, and lower people become upper." This was seen as a sign of Emperor Xuan of Han’s ascent! Similar incidents occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian of Han, which were interpreted as omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao. In 261 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died and returned to life seven days later, crawling out of his grave. Gan Bao said: "This is reminiscent of the incident involving Emperor Xuan of Han. Wucheng Marquis Hao is a descendant of a deposed family, so his ascension is an auspicious sign!" In 270 AD, in Danyang, Xuan Qian's eighty-year-old mother transformed into a giant tortoise while bathing. Xuan Qian and his brothers quickly closed the door to protect their mother. They dug a large pit in the main room and filled it with water, and the giant tortoise played in the pit, constantly stretching its neck to look out for a day or two. When the door crack opened slightly, it turned around and jumped out by itself, running to a distant pond and never returning. This was similar to what happened to Huang's mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han and was seen as an omen of the Wu state's downfall. In August of 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County reported seeing a giant over three zhang tall, with footprints measuring over three chi long, white hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and yellow robe, leaning on a crutch, calling out "Wang Shi" and proclaiming, "Peace is at hand!" Later, the Jin dynasty succeeded the Wei dynasty.
In the year 279 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng sprouted horns. This was likely a sign of Zhao Wang Lun's power grab.
In December 280 AD, a man named Yan Ji in Langya died of illness; the coffin had already been buried, but his family all dreamed of Yan Ji saying, "I am going to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So the family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji slowly became able to eat and drink, bend his limbs, see and hear, but he could not walk or speak. Two years later, he passed away again. The "Jingfang Yizhuan" states: "The ultimate yin turns to yang, the lowly rise to the top; the dead come back to life." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately destroying the Jin Dynasty, and this prophecy of "the lower becoming the upper" was fulfilled.
During the reign of Emperor Hui in the Yuan Kang era, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng who, at the age of eight, gradually turned into a man, and by seventeen or eighteen, her temperament was like that of a man. The "Jingfang Yizhuan" states: "A woman transforms into a husband, this is called yin flourishing, the lowly become kings." This was also a sign of the impending doom brought by Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping the world!
During the Yongning era, King Qiao of Qi raised the banner of rebellion, killing treacherous ministers and usurpers, and was hailed for restoring the royal family, enjoying a moment of unlimited glory. At this time, a woman suddenly ran to the door of the Grand Marshal's residence, requesting to leave her baby there. The doorkeeper asked her what was going on, and she said, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, King Qiao was credited with restoring the royal family, but astute observers sensed he was headed for trouble, and indeed, he was killed later.
On the day of Jiazi in December of the first year of Yongning, an old man with white hair burst into King Qiao's Grand Marshal's residence, shouting loudly: "There are great soldiers planning to rebel, within ten days!" King Qiao had him killed. As a result, on the day of Wuchen in the following December, King Qiao was defeated, which was exactly ten days after the Jiazi day!
In the first year of Tai'an, on the Guiyou day in April, a man claiming to have come from Longmen rushed to the front of the hall, bowed deeply twice to the north, and said, "I should be appointed as the Minister of the Central Secretariat." After saying this, he was captured and killed. Gan Bao analyzed, "The imperial palace and the forbidden garden are extremely noble and mysterious places. Now, a lowly person can easily enter, and the guards did not notice. This indicates that the palace is destined to become empty, and the lower class will surpass the upper class, an omen of disaster!" Indeed, later the emperor first moved the capital to Ye City, then to Chang'an, and the palace eventually became empty.
During the Yuan Kang period, a woman in the Liang Kingdom was promised to someone and had already received the betrothal gifts. However, shortly thereafter, her husband was conscripted to Chang'an and did not return for several years. Her family then forced her to marry someone else. The woman was unwilling, but her parents pressured her, and she had no choice but to marry. Not long after, she fell ill and passed away. Later, her husband returned, inquiring about his wife's whereabouts, and his family told him what had happened. Heartbroken, he actually dug up her grave, and to his surprise, his wife was alive! The couple returned home together. Later, the ex-husband heard about this and went to the authorities to report it, but the officials were unsure how to rule. The secretary Wang Dao said, "This is an extremely rare occurrence, and it cannot be judged by common reasoning; the woman should be returned to her ex-husband." The court accepted his opinion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maidservant in the family of Du Xi died, and due to some errors, she was not buried together. Ten years later, when the grave was opened for joint burial, to everyone's astonishment, the maidservant was still alive! At first, she appeared to be in a deep sleep, and after a while, she woke up. When asked what had happened, she said it felt as if she had only slept for two days. She was fifteen or sixteen when buried, and remained the same age when the grave was opened. Eventually, she married and started a family.
In the first year of the Guangxi Era, a child named Xie Zhen was born in Kuaiji, with a large head, hair, feet pointing upwards, and both male and female genitalia. He cried like a man at birth and died the next day. This was seen as a portent of the decline of imperial authority and the rebellion of commoners against the aristocracy, leading to usurpation and chaos among the princes.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there was a person in Luoyang who possessed both male and female genitalia, engaged in sexual relations with both men and women, and had a strong sexual desire, which indicated a breakdown of social order. From the time of Xianning and Taikang, male concubines became prevalent, even surpassing the love for women. Officials and nobles competed for them, prompting widespread imitation across the nation, resulting in marital strife and widespread discontent. This imbalance between men and women led to the appearance of monsters and demons.
In the first year of Yongjia during the reign of Emperor Huai, a maidservant named Wan Xiang in Wu County, Wu Commandery, gave birth to a creature with the head of a bird, legs like horse hooves, a single hand, no hair, and a yellow tail as large as a pillow. This too was regarded as a portent of impending chaos. In the fifth month of the fifth year, a prostitute of Yan Gen, the magistrate of Fanghan County, gave birth to a dragon, a girl, and a goose. The Book of Changes by Jing Fang states: "The birth of non-human beings is a harbinger of impending chaos." Emperor Huai, who succeeded Emperor Hui, soon faced defeat and death amid the chaos, all of which were ominous signs of what was to come.
In the fourth year of Jianxing during the reign of Emperor Min, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official from Xincai County, gave birth to two girls who were conjoined at the abdomen and heart, separated only above the chest and below the navel. This was truly an extraordinary phenomenon! At that time, the Interior Minister, Lu Shihui, reported, saying: "According to the records in the 'Ruiying Tu', trees with different roots growing together are called 'lianlizhi', and ears of wheat sprouting from different places but growing together are called 'jiahe'. Such strange phenomena in plants and trees are considered auspicious signs. Now, these two girls are of one heart and one body. The 'Book of Changes' states, 'When two people share the same heart, their benefits can cut through metal.' This is indeed a good omen for unity and harmony in the world!" Everyone found his remarks rather amusing. Shortly after, chaos ensued across the land, and Emperor Min also died.
In the early years of Emperor Yuan's reign during the Tai Xing period, there was a woman whose genitalia were located on her abdomen, below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, had a strong sexual desire, but could not bear children. Another woman had her genitalia located on her head and appeared at the Yangzhou ferry, also with a strong sexual desire. Jing Fang's 'Yi Yao' states: "When a child is born with genitalia on the head, the world will fall into chaos; if on the abdomen, great events will occur; if on the back, there will be no descendants in the world." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and sought to rebel, which were all ominous signs.
In December of the third year, the wife of the minister Zou Xieping gave birth to a girl who let out a "bi bi" sound upon delivery and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face resembled a neck, and she had teeth in her mouth, all conjoined. Her chest resembled that of a turtle, and her hands and feet had claws like those of a bird, all bent downwards. This was yet another instance of giving birth to something inhuman, an unprecedented oddity. Two years later, the defeat at Shitou occurred.
In July of the second year of Emperor Ming's reign during the Tai Ning period, the wife of Ji, the Marquis of Jiangning, died but miraculously came back to life three days later.
In the fifth year of Xian Kang, in April, Wang He from Xia Pi moved to Ji Yang. His daughter, twenty years old, claimed to be sent from heaven and said she had received the heavenly seal and jade seal, and would become the mother of all under heaven in the future. The governor of Jinling thought this was a case of heretical words misleading the public and had her arrested and imprisoned. By November, a man dressed in red, carrying a staff made of zhi wood, ran to the palace gate, claiming to be a sage sent to see the emperor. When the guards asked his name, he said his surname was Lu and his given name was Ci. He also mentioned that Wang He's daughter had seven stars on the sole of her right foot, each star having hair, seven inches long, and that heaven intended to appoint her as the mother of all under heaven. This matter was reported to the emperor, and Lu Ci was immediately executed, along with Wang He's daughter.
In October of the second year of Jian Yuan, the camp inspector of General Wei discovered a soldier near Chen Du's female platform with the words "Mother of All Under Heaven" written on his foot. After applying moxa, the writing became even more apparent. The capital was suddenly in an uproar, and the authorities quickly arrested the man and reported him to the emperor. As a result, the soldier soon escaped from the prison in Jian Kang County. The following year, the emperor died, and Empress Xian took over the administration, which was probably an omen.
In the early years of Ning Kang, there was a woman named Tang in Nan Jun Prefecture who gradually transformed into a man.
In the seventh year of Emperor An's Yi Xi, there was a man named Zhao in Wu Xi who, at the age of eight, suddenly grew to eight feet tall and grew a beard, dying three days later.
During the Yi Xi period, there was a family with the surname Mo in Dong Yang who had a daughter but did not raise her; they buried her for a few days, and as a result, the sound of a baby crying could be heard from the ground. The family dug her up, and to their astonishment, she was alive.
Near the end of the Yi Xi period, in a place called Er Yang Dao in Yu Zhang, people repeatedly reincarnated.
In the first year of Emperor Gong's Yuan Xi, in a place called Yang Dao in Jian An, there was a person without a head who later returned to a normal state and took on the appearance of a woman.
