Gongsun Wenyi's family raised a dog at home, and that dog climbed onto the roof wearing a hat and a red outfit. This is a bad omen! The roof is a dangerous place exposed to the sun. It seems like the heavens are warning him: the sun is already high, there is nothing higher, yet you let the dog wear a hat; this is clearly an act of arrogance! Later, Wenyi proclaimed himself as the King of Yan and was ultimately overthrown by the Wei Kingdom. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "If the ruler is not upright, the ministers will have thoughts of usurping the throne, and demonic dogs will appear outside the imperial court."
The attendant of the Wei Kingdom, Ying Qu, was on duty in his residence when he suddenly saw a white dog run out the door. He asked others, but no one saw it. After the new year, Ying Qu died, probably also due to the disaster the dog brought.
When Zhuge Ke of the Wu Kingdom returned from conquering Huainan and was about to attend court, his dog bit his clothes and wouldn't let go. Zhuge Ke said, "Is the dog trying to stop me from going?" So he sat back down. After a while, he stood up again, and the dog bit his clothes again. He had someone drive the dog away, then got into the carriage and went to the palace, only to be murdered there.
In the ninth year of the Taikang reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, a dog in Youzhou walked more than three hundred steps with its nose touching the ground. It seems like the heavens were warning: at that time, the emperor did not listen to the advice of He Qiao, eventually establishing Emperor Hui, which led to the decline of the country. This serves as a punishment for ignoring advice!
During the Yuan Kang reign of Emperor Hui, someone in Lou County, Wu County, heard the sound of puppies barking underground. They dug and found a male and female puppy. They put the puppies back in the hole, covered it with a grindstone, and the next morning, the puppies had vanished. It seems like the heavens were warning: the emperor was already weak, the princes were fighting each other, so there were strange happenings like this involving dogs.
In the first year of Yongxing, Zhu Kui, the Interior Minister of Danyang, had a dog that gave birth to three puppies without heads. Later, Zhu Kui was killed by Cao Wu, the Governor of Yangzhou.
In the fifth year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Xiaohua, a dog from the Zhang family in Jiaxing, Wu County, suddenly spoke, saying, "Everyone is going to starve!" As a result, the "Rebellion of the Two Hu" really occurred, resulting in widespread famine across the land.
In the first year of the Jianxing era of Emperor Min, dogs and pigs crossbred. The "Book of Han" records that such events also occurred during the reign of Emperor Jing, and it was believed to be an omen of great chaos in the world, a disaster brought by dogs and pigs. Dogs symbolize war, while pigs symbolize the northern Xiongnu. Breaching the natural order by mating different species will surely bring calamity! Soon after, the emperor was murdered by the Hu, fulfilling this omen.
During the Taixing era of Emperor Yuan, Zhang Mao, the governor of Wu County, heard barking from under the bed in his study and searched high and low but couldn't find it. Eventually, the ground split open, unearthing two puppies. He picked them up and raised them, but both puppies tragically died. Shortly after, Zhang Mao was harmed by Shen Chong. The "Jingfang Commentary" on the I Ching says, "When there are treacherous officials nearby, monstrous dogs will appear."
In the year 328, in the He Xu family of Han County, Lujiang Prefecture, they suddenly heard puppies barking underground. When they dug, they found a frail bluish-gray female dog. It darted into the grass and vanished, leaving behind two puppies, one male and one female, which He Xu took in and raised. The female dog later died, while the male dog survived and became quite adept at hunting wild beasts. Later, He Xu's village was raided by barbarian tribes.
After a few years, during the reign of Emperor An of the Eastern Jin in the Long'an era, there were always dogs barking at night in the Wu County area, and they all gathered on the high bridge. The number of dogs kept by local families was limited, but the barking was incessant. Someone secretly went to take a look at night and said, "It sounded like one dog had three or four heads, all barking wildly in front." Shortly after, Sun En led a rebellion in the Wu-Hui region. At that time, General Sun Wuzhong was living in Jiyang, and his family also heard the sound of small dogs barking underground. When he followed the sound and dug down, the ground cracked open, unearthing two white puppies, one male and one female. He took them home to raise, but both puppies died. Later, Sun Wuzhong was killed by Huan Xuan. The "Shizi" states, "There are dogs underground, called earth wolves." The "Xia Ding Zhi" says, "Digging underground and finding dogs is called Jia." These were likely natural phenomena; their sudden appearance foreshadowed impending canine misfortune.
Huan Xuan was about to be conferred the title of King of Chu, and the seating for the grand ceremony was already set, with the ministers sitting beside him. Before Huan Xuan appeared, a dog ran up to his seat, which surprised everyone. Huan Xuan was reputed to be suspicious and tyrannical, and no one dared to speak; they could only chase the dog away and then change seats. This felt like a divine warning, suggesting that Huan Xuan, who lacked virtue yet usurped power, had a dog run to his seat, showing the absurdity of his usurpation. Eighty days later, Huan Xuan was defeated and died.
On the Yihai day of the first month in the year 230, a meteorite fell in the Shouguang area. The "Zuo Zhuan" notes, "Meteorites are stars." Liu Xin explained, "Stars falling in the State of Song indicate that Duke Xiang of Song will gain the support of the feudal lords, but he will not have a good end." During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, there was also a meteorite fall, and Ban Gu believed, "Stones are yin objects, and white is an auspicious sign, indicating that ministers will threaten their sovereign." Later, Emperor Xuan seized control of the government.
On the Dingsi day of the fifth month in the year 285, two meteorites fell in the Wen County and Heyang areas. The following year, in the first month, three more meteorites fell in Wen County.
In May of the year 331 AD, a star fell in the Feixiang region. In the first month of the following year, two meteorites fell in the Liangzhou region. In May of the year 252 AD, in Yangxian County, a large stone stood upright on its own. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan": "The stone standing on the mountain is a good omen for those of the same surname to achieve prominence, while standing on flat ground is a sign for those of different surnames." Gan Bao believed that this was a sign of Sun Hao inheriting the legacy of the deposed emperor and gaining the imperial throne. Some also said it was an auspicious sign of Sun Xiu's imminent ascension to the throne. In 280 AD, in Yiqiuli, west of the Luoyang Palace, a stone emerged from the ground. At first, it was only three feet high, shaped like an incense burner, but later it resembled a hunched person, flat and thin, and could not be excavated. Liu Xiang interpreted this as a bad omen. The following year, the palace chariot collapsed, and the royal family fell into turmoil, ultimately leading to chaos across the realm. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "The stone stands like a person, and those of the same surname will be prominent in the world," which is very similar to the situation at that time. In December of the year 295 AD, another stone emerged from the ground in Yiniangli. In 296 AD, Xiangyang County reported the discovery of a singing stone that, when struck, could be heard seven to eight miles away. In 297 AD, a large stone appeared in Xiajia Lake in Danyang County, floating two hundred steps before coming ashore. The people were in a panic and told each other, "The stone has arrived!" Gan Bao said: shortly after this, the Stone Ice Incident occurred, with Stone Ice besieging Jianye.
Sima Teng, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, was transferred from Bingzhou to Ye City. When passing through Zhending, it had been snowing for a long time, but the snow in front of his residence had melted. Sima Teng found this strange and ordered an excavation, unearthing a jade horse about a foot tall, albeit with missing teeth. Sima Teng believed the horse to be a symbol of the state, so he presented the jade horse to the court, considering it an auspicious omen. However, a horse without teeth cannot graze, which is an ominous sign of decline. The results of the divination also indicated ill omens. Later, Sima Teng was assassinated by Jisang, resulting in chaos throughout the realm.
In May of 272 AD, white feathered rain fell in Shu, which was regarded as an ill omen. At that time, the Governor of Yizhou, Huang Fuyan, attacked the Wenshan Hu people, but was falsely accused of treason and subsequently executed by his subordinates. The "Yi Zhuan" states, "First joy, then sorrow; the heavens rain down feathers," and also states, "When the wicked advance, the wise retreat, and the heavens rain down hair," while the "Yi Yao" mentions, "The heavens rain down hair and feathers, noble men flee." All three divination results came to pass.
In 301 AD, Prince Qi Sima Jiong launched a rebellion. Among his troops was a child from Xiangcheng Fanchang County, eight years old with white hair, who was skilled in fortune-telling and knowledgeable about the "Hong Fan," which was interpreted as a positive omen.
In the early years of Emperor Chengdi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, hair sprouted from the ground, regarded as an auspicious sign. However, Sun Sheng interpreted this as a manifestation of the people's toil. Later, with Shi Le's defeat and the gradual stabilization of the Central Plains, the ministers expressed relief. However, there were frequent changes among military and political officials across various regions, and the border garrisons were constantly being relocated with large numbers of troops, resulting in the populace suffering and remaining discontented throughout the year.
In June of the third year of Xiankang, hair once again sprouted from the ground.
In the second year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xiaowu, in the fifth month, strange hair appeared on the ground in the capital, until four years later, when the Di tribe rebels launched an attack on Xiangyang, besieged Pengcheng, and advanced on Guangling, resulting in years of relentless warfare.
In the fourteenth year of Emperor Xiaowu's Taiyuan era, in the fourth month, strange hair appeared on the ground in the capital again. At this time, Fu Jian had recently fallen, and conflicts were frequent in various places, a sign of the people's suffering. In the seventeenth year, in the fourth month, strange hair appeared on the ground once more.
In the fourth year of Emperor An's Long'an reign, on the day of Yiwu in the fourth month, strange hair appeared on the ground, some were white and others were black. In the third year of the Yuanxing era, in the fifth month, strange hair appeared on the ground in Jiangling. Thereafter, Jiangling was repeatedly attacked and warfare continued.
In the third month of the third year of the Yixi era, white hair appeared on the ground. In the tenth month of the tenth year, strange hair appeared on the ground again. The following year, the court's army marched west to conquer Sima Xiuzhi. Another year later, they launched a northern expedition to the Guanzhong and Luoyang regions.
During the Zhengshi reign of Prince of Wei Qi, Li Sheng, the magistrate of Henan, was in his office when a small piece of wood suddenly fell down and hit the head of the official Shi Biao, who was in charge of conveying the imperial edicts, smashing his head open. This was an ominous sign of Wood overcoming Metal! Not long after, Li Sheng faced a defeat.
In the eighth year of the Yuankang reign of Emperor Hui, in the fifth month, the stones on the sacrificial altar outside the city inexplicably cracked in two, also a sign of Wood overcoming Metal. The sacrificial altar outside the city was a place for praying for offspring, and this inexplicable damage foreshadowed danger for the crown prince. The following year, the crown prince died.
In the tenth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xiaowu, when Xie An went to station in Guangling, the army's drums inexplicably burst just as he set out. This too was an ominous sign of Wood overcoming Metal, a warning from the heavens! It seemed like the heavens were warning that even though Xie An had great momentum, he would ultimately not achieve anything, as the drums were no longer needed, suggesting that the campaign would end in failure. A month later, Xie An died of illness.
The book says: "If you can't see clearly, this is unwise. Its fault is leniency, and its punishment manifests as relentless heat, ultimately leading to disease. Sometimes there will be grass spirits, sometimes there will be pest infestations, sometimes there will be sheep calamities, sometimes there will be eye diseases, and sometimes there will be red disasters and good omens. Only floods and fires are exceptions." If you can't see clearly, this is unwise. "Zhe" means wise. The Book of Songs says: "If your virtue is unclear, it will lead to the destruction of your ministers and officials. If your virtue is unclear, it will lead to betrayal and suspicion." This means that if the upper-level leadership is not wise, muddled, and ignorant, they will be unable to distinguish between good and evil, closeness and distance, similarity and difference. Those deserving punishment may receive rewards, and those who should be killed will not be killed; the ranks of officials will be in disarray, laws will be disregarded, and the root of the problem is leniency. The long hot summer nourishes all things, and with loose politics, its punishment is continuous heat. Heat leads to warm winters and abnormal climates in spring and summer, causing many people to suffer and fall ill, ultimately leading to disease. If punishment is not carried out, frost will not kill wild grass; if ministers are indulged, killing at the wrong time, grass spirits will appear. All spirits use clothing to deceive on the outside, use poetry to beguile in speech, and use singing to mislead in sound. If you can't see colors clearly, the five colors are crucial for distinguishing all things, related to disasters and good omens, so sages believe that grass spirits are a manifestation of losing the ability to discern. Warm, humid conditions foster insect populations, so infestations of harmful insects will arise, referring to insects like moths that should die but do not, should be born but are not, or whose numbers are excessive and become disasters. Liu Xin believes this is due to incomplete consideration. In the Book of Changes, the hexagram Li represents fire and also represents the eyes. The horns of a sheep are pointed down, hooves up, strong but containing gentleness; sheep's eyes are large but not discerning, vision impaired, so sheep calamities will occur. Another explanation is that in hot years, sheep are prone to epidemic diseases and die, then transform into strange sights, which is also the reason. When calamity strikes people, there will be many patients with eye diseases, so eye diseases will occur. Fire is red, so red disasters and good omens will occur. Those with eye injuries are all harmed by fire; those harmed by fire will be invaded by floods. Those ultimately responsible for disease must heed its warnings, and their blessing is longevity. Liu Xin also mentioned disasters caused by feathered insects, and chicken calamities in "Shi Zhuan." He explained that in astronomy, the southern Vermilion Bird star and Zhang star are bird stars, hence the reference to feathered insects. Calamities can also stem from birds, hence the reference to chickens. Chickens belong to the Xun hexagram in the Book of Changes; this interpretation is flawed.
Paragraph Two: In summary, this text mainly discusses how the unwise actions of the rulers and political leniency have led to a series of natural disasters and social issues. These disasters include harmful weeds, locust plagues, sheep-related disasters, eye ailments, and ominous signs, all of which are related to the negligence of the rulers. The author analyzes these phenomena to elucidate the principle that "failing to see clearly is considered unwise," and supports his viewpoint with theories from the Book of Songs and the Book of Changes. The text also mentions Liu Xin's different interpretation, but the author does not agree with him. The entire passage is rich with ancient philosophical reflections and reflects the unique understanding of ancient people regarding natural phenomena and social issues. It is noteworthy that terms like "harmful weeds" and "locust plagues" are not just natural phenomena but are closely tied to the socio-political context of the time.
It is said that the ancients believed that the "Spring and Autumn Annals" recorded only major events, while minor matters were not recorded. Only significant events, such as "the absence of ice," would be documented. Liu Xiang stated that there was no mention of ice in the "Spring and Autumn Annals." Jing Fang also mentioned a similar viewpoint in the "Commentary on the Book of Changes": "If officials do not fulfill their duties, this is deceit, leading to excessive warmth. This warmth manifests as cloudy skies yet warm weather. If ministers indulge in comfort and pleasure, this is chaos; excessive warmth will lead to insects. Knowing one has committed a crime yet not punishing it is leniency; excessive warmth will cause summer heat to kill people and winter to yield no fruit. Not punishing serious crimes is a sign of a nation’s demise; it should be cold, yet it is unseasonably warm, and this continues for six days."
In the first year of Jianxing in September during Sun Liang's rule in Wu, peach and plum trees unexpectedly bloomed in the autumn! At that time, under Sun Quan's rule, taxes were heavy, and the people suffered greatly. When Zhuge Ke first began to assist in governance, he reduced corvée labor, exempted back taxes, eliminated checkpoints and bridges, and implemented lenient policies, which indicated a relaxation after a period of oppressive governance. Some people also said that the out-of-season blooming of peach and plum trees was caused by evil spirits and was an ominous sign.
In the third year of the Jingyuan era of the Young Emperor of Wei, in October, the peach and plum trees bloomed out of season. At that time, the Young Emperor was diligent in governance and implemented lenient policies, which was a sign of good fortune.
In the second year of the Yuankang era of the Hui Emperor, in February, the grass in Baxi Commandery bloomed, and the fruits looked like wheat and were edible. At that time, the emperor had just ascended the throne, and the King of Chu, Sima Wei, falsely transmitted an imperial edict to execute the King of Runan and the Grand Tutor Wei Guan, yet the emperor was unaware. The out-of-season fruiting of the grass was a sign of punishment for the oppressive governance.
In the ninth year of the Yonghe era of the Mu Emperor, the peach and plum trees bloomed again! At that time, the Jianwen Emperor was assisting in governance, and the policies were relatively lenient, which was also a sign of relief.
In the twenty-fifth year of the Jian'an era of the Xian Emperor, in January, Cao Cao built the Jianshi Hall in Luoyang, cut down the Zhuanglong tree, which bled; he also dug up a pear tree, and the roots bled as well. Cao Cao was so frightened that he fell ill and died that month. This was likely the work of evil spirits and a bad omen; that year was the first year of Huangchu under Emperor Wen of Wei.
In the first year of the Wufeng era of Sun Liang in Wu, in June, the barnyard grass in Jiaozhi suddenly turned into rice. In ancient times, when the Sanmiao clan was about to be destroyed, the grains also mutated, which was another sign of evil spirits. Later, Sun Liang was deposed.
In the fifth year of the Jingyao era of Liu Shan in Shu, a large tree in the palace fell inexplicably. Qiao Zhou was very worried and didn't know whom to tell, so he wrote on a pillar: "Many and great, they come together. Complete and given, how can it revert?" This meant that the power of Cao Wei was growing stronger, and the world was about to be unified; Shu Han was already powerless to turn the tide. Indeed, Shu was destroyed, just as Qiao Zhou had said, which was also the work of evil spirits.
In the first year of the Tianxi era during Sun Hao's rule, the Linping Lake in Wu Commandery had been silted since the end of the Han Dynasty, but one night it suddenly opened up, with not a single weed present. The elders said: "When this lake is silted, the world will be in chaos; when this lake opens up, the world will be at peace." Sure enough, Wu fell, and the world was unified.
Next, in the third year of Tianji, in August, a peculiar vegetable known as "Ghost Eye Vegetable" grew under a jujube tree in the city of Jianye. It was over ten feet in length, with a stem four inches wide and two inches thick. At the same time, a vegetable called "Maicai" also sprouted in the Wu Ping household, standing four feet tall and resembling a loquat, with a round top, a diameter of one foot eight inches, a stem five inches thick, and long green leaves on both sides. The eastern atlas states that "Ghost Eye" is Zhicao and "Maicai" is Pinglu, so Huang Gou was granted the title "Zhilang," and Wu Ping the title "Pinglu Lang"; both received silver seals and blue ribbons. Gan Bao said: In the second year after Wu was pacified, Wang Jun's ship happened to be docked in Pingzhu; the names and events aligned perfectly, truly fulfilling the omen! As for Huang Gou, Wu inherited the rule of the Han Dynasty, so there was the auspicious sign of the yellow dragon at the beginning. By the end of Wu, the eerie and strange Ghost Eye emerged, coincidentally growing in Huang Gou's house. The name remained the same, but the status was completely different; this is truly a subtle reaction of the will of heaven! In the spring of the second year of Emperor Huide Yuan Kang, the bamboo in Baxi County flowered, the flowers were purple, and the fruits resembled wheat, with green skin and red and white inside, sweet in taste. In the ninth year of Yuan Kang, on the Gengzi day of June, a mulberry tree grew in the East Palace West Chamber, growing more than a foot in a day, and died on the Jia Chen day. This was akin to the bizarre occurrences during the Taiwu period of the Yin Dynasty. The Crown Prince failed to grasp the omen, so he was eventually deposed and killed. Ban Gu remarked: "Wild trees suddenly grow crazily in the court, signifying that unscrupulous individuals would take the ministers' positions; this serves as a warning that the country is on the brink of collapse, and the court will become ruins!" Eventually, Sun Xiu and Zhang Lin rose to power, and chaos indeed ensued.
In April of the first year of Yongkang, Sima Zang was established as the Crown Prince. On the Jiazi day of the fifth month, Sima Zang entered the Eastern Palace, and a mulberry tree sprouted in the West Chamber. The following year, Prince Zhao Lun usurped the throne and poisoned Sima Zang, echoing the strange events that transpired during the mourning of the Crown Prince. In the same month, the mulberry tree in Zhuangwu Kingdom transformed into a cypress tree, and Zhang Hua was killed. Zhuangwu was Zhang Hua's fiefdom.
In the winter of the second year of Yongjia, the mulberry tree in Xiang County made sounds resembling wood being chopped, and people said it was crying. Liu Xiang once said, "Mulberry" means "mourning," and this weeping sound is quite ominous. At that time, the capital was vulnerable, and barbarians invaded. In the winter of the fourth year, he marched south, and in the spring of the fifth year, he died in this city. Shi Le led his army to surround him, shot him with arrows, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred thousand people, from nobles to commoners. Shi Le also opened Yue Wang's coffin and burned his body. This defeat left the Central Plains with no hope of aid, and Luoyang was soon captured, fulfilling the prophecy of the weeping mulberry tree.
In the fifth month of the sixth year, four cornelian cherry trees appeared in Wuxi County, intertwined and growing together, resembling branches intertwined. Before this, Guo Jingchun divined for the Yanshou in Yanling, and the result was the "Yi" line of the "Lin" hexagram. He said, "There will be another ominous tree in the future, which appears auspicious but is actually a toxic tree. If this occurs, a rebellion is certain within hundreds of miles." After these trees appeared, Xu Fu indeed rebelled, another strange omen. Guo Jingchun also believed that "trees should be straight and not crooked." In the same year, in July, a camphor tree in Yuzhang County had long been dead, but suddenly burst forth with branches and leaves, echoing the omen of the dead tree's revival in Changyi during the Han Dynasty. This foreshadowed the downfall of Emperor Huaimin and the resurgence of Emperor Yuan.
In the first year of Taining, September, the magistrate of Shanyin County in Kuaiji saw a tree with patterns resembling a human face on its trunk. Later, Wang Dun rebelled with an army but was ultimately defeated. Similar strange phenomena had occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ai and Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, with the faces being very distinct, leading to significant turmoil. However, this time the face on the tree was less distinct, leading to less chaos.
On a day in May in the sixth year of Xianhe, a willow tree in Qu'a had been dead and fallen for six years, but suddenly revived and sprouted new buds. On a day in May in the ninth year of Xianhe, a dead elm tree in the house of Wu Xiong in Wu County also came back to life as a result of wind and rain, similar to the revival of a dead willow tree in the Shanglin Garden of the Han Dynasty. Wu Xiong's family lived in Qu'a, which was once part of the Wu territory, symbolizing the emperor's return to Wu. Could this also be the will of heaven?
On a day in May of the first year BC, a dead chestnut tree in the home of Xiuming in Xichang County, Luling, Jiangxi suddenly revived! At that time, Emperor Xiaowu was only four years old, and shortly after Emperor Ai died, Emperor Haixi ascended to the throne but was quickly overthrown. Emperor Jianwen then inherited the throne from the position of a prince, but his reign was brief, lasting under two years before Emperor Xiaowu ascended to the throne. Emperor Xiaowu's name was Changming, and those familiar with these matters privately remarked that Xichang Xiuming, the name of the tree, truly echoed the emperor's name! This situation was quite similar to that of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty.
In 366 BC, a strange occurrence happened in Liangzhou when a pine tree grew on a poplar tree. It seemed as if heaven was warning that the pine tree, with its straight trunk and unchanging leaves, was growing on the weak and brittle poplar tree. Could this be a sign that a long-standing and stable regime was on the verge of danger and ruin? At that time, Zhang Tianxi declared himself king in Liangzhou, but soon capitulated to Fu Jian.
In June of the year 375 AD, in Kule County, Jianning Commandery, the dead trees astonishingly reconnected after being broken! Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Abandoning the righteous path and indulging in immoral acts will lead to bizarre occurrences, such as trees reconnecting after being broken. When concubines and empresses wield power, trees will not only fall but also stand back up on their own." At that time, the court was corrupt, and later, Lady Zhang gained favor. After the emperor's death, everyone blamed Lady Zhang.
In the year 405 AD, at the border of Jingzhou and Jiangzhou, bamboo unexpectedly bore fruit that resembled wheat.
In September of the year 406 AD, in the camp of General Yangwu, a soldier named Chen Gai discovered a bitter melon plant growing at home, with a stem four feet six inches high, three feet two inches wide, and three inches thick. This was yet another strange plant! This was likely reminiscent of the downfall of the state of Wu. Those who understood these things believed that the bitter melon symbolized "buying diligence." Since then, wars have raged every year, and the people have endured hardship, embodying the concept of "buying bitterness!" Over a decade later, Yao Hong was defeated, and the war finally ended, fulfilling the omen of the bitter melon.
During the Yixi period, thistles proliferated along the palace walls and flanked both sides of the imperial road, yet another strange plant! Thistles sport long thorns that make passage impossible. Growing on the palace walls and imperial road, it appeared to be a divine warning: if those in power neglect their duties, even with grand palaces and imperial roads, they will be as neglected, hence the thistles growing everywhere.
In May of the year 223 AD, a bald eagle fell into the Lingzhi Pool. According to Liu Xiang, this is an ominous bird and a sign of misfortune. The emperor issued a decree saying, “This corresponds to the ‘polluted waters’ mentioned in the Book of Songs, and in the ‘Cao Poems’ about ‘the noble man being distanced from the petty man.’ Is it not true that capable and virtuous individuals are being overlooked in the lower ranks? Otherwise, how could this bird have flown here! We should widely recommend and promote talented gentlemen of high moral character who act independently to respond to Cao Zhi’s criticism.” Thus, people like Yang Biao and Guan Ning were recommended; this exemplifies the saying "seeing strange phenomena and being fearful." However, Emperor Wen of Wei still struggled to tolerate upright individuals and became increasingly biased. Jing Fang’s “Commentary on the Book of Changes” states, “If you exclude and avoid virtuous people, strange water birds will gather in the capital.”
In 220 AD, a swallow laid an egg that hatched into an eagle in Weiyang Palace, with red beak and claws, similar to the situation of King Zhou of Shang and King Yin of Song. In 226 AD, at the home of Li Gai in Wei, a swallow gave birth to a giant cormorant, shaped like an eagle and with a beak like a swallow; this was yet another ominous bird, a red sign of misfortune. Gao Tanglong remarked, “This is a dire omen for the Wei family; we must be wary of fierce ministers, like eagles, stirring chaos in the court.” Later, Emperor Xuan raised an army and killed Cao Shuang, allowing the Wei family to continue.
In the 23rd year of the Jian'an era (218 AD), a bald eagle fell into the pond behind the Wenchang Hall of Ye Palace. The following year, Emperor Wu of Wei, Cao Cao, passed away. In the third year of Huangchu under Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi (222 AD), a bald eagle fell again into the pond of the Fanglin Garden in Luoyang. In the seventh year (226 AD), the bald eagle reappeared. That summer, Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, passed away. At the end of the Jingchu era (239 AD), the bald eagle appeared again in the pond of Fanglin Garden. The previous two appearances were accompanied by great mourning, and the emperor held it in great disdain. That year, Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, also passed away.
In October of the year 231 AD, between Jiangyang and Jiangzhou, tens of thousands of birds flew from south to north but couldn't make it across the Wei River, falling into the water and dying. At that time, Zhuge Liang had been waging war for many years, trying to conquer the Central Plains, but he died at Weinan without achieving his goal. Moreover, the Shu Han generals fought amongst themselves, leading to significant losses among soldiers and officers. The deaths of these birds while attempting to cross the river are reminiscent of these events! Zhuge Liang ultimately failed to cross the Wei River; isn't this a kind of omen? This is very similar to the situation when the Wudou birds of the Chu State fell into the Sishui during the Han Dynasty.
In the year 134 BC, during the first year of Emperor Jing's reign, when the Lingxiao Pavilion of the imperial palace was just beginning construction, a magpie nested on it. This magpie had black and white feathers, which in ancient times was regarded as an ominous sign, but some believed it was a good omen. The Emperor asked Gaotang Long about this, and Gaotang Long replied, "In the Book of Songs, it says 'Only magpies build nests, only turtledoves dwell there.' Now that the palace is just beginning to be built and a magpie has come to nest, it symbolizes that the palace is not yet completed, and others will come to occupy it. You should give this careful thought." After hearing this, the Emperor's face changed dramatically.
In the twelfth year of the reign of Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Wu (249 AD) in April, two crows dropped a magpie in the East Hall. Sun Quan ordered Prime Minister Zhu Ju to burn the magpie and perform a sacrifice. According to Liu Xin, this was considered an ominous sign, indicating that both vision and hearing might be impaired. At that time, Sun Quan was indulgent and favored unscrupulous people, unjustly killing innocent people. His two sons were also in danger, and the ministers in the court were also at risk. Sun Quan, however, turned a blind eye to these ominous signs and even ordered the burning of the magpie, demonstrating a lack of judgment. The following year, the Crown Prince Sun He was deposed, Prince Lu Sun Ba was executed, Zhu Ju was demoted, and Lu Yi died in sorrow, all of which came to pass as foretold by the previous omens. The East Hall was the educational institution of Wu State, and the magpie's fall in the East Hall served as a warning from the heavens!
In the second year of Taiyuan (252 AD), Sun Quan deposed his crown prince, Sun He, and granted him the title of King of Nanyang, sending him to Changsha. At that time, a magpie's nest appeared on the mast of Sun He's ship. Upon hearing this news, Sun He's former court officials were very worried, believing it was an omen of the ship capsizing and impending doom. As a result, Sun He ultimately met an untimely death.
In the second year of Jianxing (253 AD), in November, five large birds appeared in Chunshen (a place name). The people of Wu believed these were phoenixes. The following year, Sun Liang renamed the era "Wufeng." During the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, five-colored birds also appeared, and Sima Biao remarked, "This is due to political corruption and a lack of virtue; they are not true phoenixes, but rather a scourge." Sun Liang did not implement any good policies, and Sun Jun was arrogant and tyrannical, which closely mirrored the situation during Emperor Huan's reign. The "Book of Auspicious Omens" recorded that many birds resembling phoenixes were actually ominous signs, so these situations all confirmed the records in the book.
In the third year of Jianheng (271 AD), Sun Hao also claimed to have seen phoenixes in the Western Garden, prompting him to change the era name, similar to Sun Liang's situation.
In the fourth year of Taishi (268 AD), in August, Jin Emperor Sima Yan saw a pheasant fly up to the Changhe Gate. This signified danger, as the Changhe Gate was an unusual place for a pheasant, similar to the omen of destruction represented by a pheasant ascending the cauldron during the Yin Dynasty.
In 291 AD, Zhao Wang Lun usurped the throne, and a strange bird appeared in the capital that no one could identify. Zhao Wang Lun sent people around the city with the bird, asking for its name. After several days, a child from west of the palace recognized it and said, "This is the 'Fuliu Bird'." The person hurried back to report to Zhao Wang Lun, who then sent people to search for it, and they indeed saw the bird again. Thus, Zhao Wang Lun locked the bird in the palace and the child in a room. The next day, both the bird and the child were gone. This was all a disaster brought by the bird! At that time, Zhao Wang Lun had developed an eye tumor, and "Fuliu" means that Zhao Wang Lun would bear the blame. Not long after, Zhao Wang Lun was assassinated.
In the Book of Songs, it says: "The magpie is strong, the quail is swift, and people are without virtue; I think of you." This is what it means! Later, King Zhao Lun was indeed defeated.
In February of the year 307 AD, the ground in Buguanli, northeast of Luoyang, sank, and two geese of different colors appeared. One green goose flew up into the sky, while a white one stayed there. This was yet another calamity heralded by birds, with the contrasting colors of black and white symbolizing both fortune and misfortune. Dong Yang of Chenliu remarked: "Buguan is the place where the alliance of the Zhou Dynasty and Di Quan took place. White symbolizes gold, representing the nation; green represents the barbarians, which is not a favorable omen!" Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled one after another, causing chaos in the world.
On the Geng Xu day in August of the year 330 AD, two huge black-gray birds appeared, with wings spanning fourteen feet. One landed at the Situ Mansion and was shot dead; the other landed on the roof of a family's house in the north of the city and was also caught. This was yet another calamity foreshadowed by birds, a dark omen. On the Wuzi day of the intercalary month, the emperor died, followed by Su Jun and Zu Yue rebelling.
In January of the year 337 AD, five seagulls landed in the palace courtyard, which heralded good fortune! At that time, Yu Liang went against everyone's opinions and wanted to summon Su Jun. Some warned that his actions would invite disaster, hence the appearance of this good omen. In February of the third year, Su Jun indeed rebelled, the palace was set ablaze and reduced to ruins, fulfilling the previous omens.
In July of the year 344 AD, a white heron landed on the roof of the palace. Emperor Kang had just ascended the throne, which signified ill fortune. Shortly thereafter, the emperor passed away. Liu Xiang once said: "When wild birds fly into the palace, the palace will be empty." This was once again fulfilled!
Shortly after Emperor Haixi ascended the throne in the second month of the third year of Xingning, a group of wild chickens gathered under the eaves of the Xiang Mansion. This was a troubling omen, foretelling disaster. Not long after, he was indeed overthrown by Huan Wen.
In June of the sixteenth year of Emperor Xiaowu's Taiyuan reign, magpies built nests on the eaves of the eastern side of the Taiji Palace and at the western side of the Guozi School. In the eighteenth year, the East Palace was completed, and in the nineteenth year, in the first month, magpies built nests at the west gate of the East Palace. This likely signaled auspiciousness, akin to similar occurrences in the early Jing Dynasty. The Guozi School was a place where education and culture converged; the west side was also an auspicious direction for metal. However, after the emperor's death, Emperor An succeeded to the throne, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, education and culture were extinguished, and metal lost its competitiveness, indicating an ominous sign.
In the third year of Emperor An's Yixi reign, General Longxiang Zhu Yi was stationed in Shouyang. A maidservant was cooking when suddenly many crows flew onto the stove, jostling for scraps, and the maidservant could not drive them away. Later, a hunting dog killed two crows, and the remaining crows pecked the dog to death and even ate the dog meat, leaving only bones. This too was a calamity brought by birds, signaling misfortune! The following year, in June, Zhu Yi died, fulfilling this omen.
In the second year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe reign, in the fifth month, a sheep in the stable of the Minister of Works Wang Dao gave birth to a lamb without hind legs, a portent of doom from the sheep. As noted in Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan": "Lack of feet, unable to support oneself." In the following year, Su Jun captured Jiankang, and Wang Dao and the emperor were trapped in the Stone City but managed to escape, fulfilling this omen.
During the reign of Gongsun Wenyi, a piece of flesh grew in the northern market of Xiangping, several feet long, with a head, eyes, and mouth, but no hands or feet, yet it could move on its own. This was an ominous red sign. The divination revealed: "Having a form but no substance, having a body but no voice, the country will perish." Gongsun Wenyi was soon executed by the Wei Kingdom.
In the State of Wu, the military commander Deng Xi sacrificed a pig to the deities. After the sacrifice, he hung the pork up, and suddenly saw a head eating the pork. Deng Xi quickly drew his bow and shot it; it made a "za za" sound, circling around the house for three days, which was an ominous sign of misfortune in red. Later, someone accused Deng Xi of plotting a rebellion, and his entire family was executed. In Jing Fang's "Commentary on the Book of Changes," it says: "The mountain sees the preservation, the river is in the city, the city has soldiers, resembling a human head, red in color."
On the day of Renzi in April of the fifth year of the Tai Kang era of Emperor Wu, the waters of the State of Lu turned red, like blood.
In October of the seventh year, two acres of red snow fell in Heyin. This too was an ominous sign. Four years later, the emperor died, and the royal family fell into chaos as a result.
In March of the year 300, a strange event occurred in Lvxian, where blood flowed on the ground, stretching over a hundred steps; this was indeed an ominous sign! By the end of the Yuan Kang era of Emperor Hui, the world was in chaos, with bodies strewn everywhere, and the scene of bloodshed became a reality. Gan Bao said this foretold that eight years later, a major rebellion would erupt in Xuzhou, leading to tens of thousands of deaths; this bloodshed indeed came to pass.
In March of the year 300 AD, Yushi was struck by a rain of blood. If the court's punishments are too lenient, such ominous red omens will appear. In the first month of that year, Emperor Hui imprisoned the mournful crown prince in Xuchang Palace. It seemed the heavens were warning Emperor Hui: one cannot be too lenient towards villains, for this would endanger the crown prince! However, Emperor Hui, being incompetent, failed to grasp the divine warning, resulting in the death of the crown prince that month. From then on, internal strife within the royal family escalated, and chaos swept across the land. It is said that on the day King Qihuan was killed by Naochi, blood rain fell from the sky as well, dyeing his clothes red. It was a warning from the heavens! Is this not akin to what happened in Lü County and Yushi? Jing Fang and the "Book of Changes" both state: "When a criminal is imprisoned without release, it signifies an investigation into guilt, and blood rain from the heavens signifies this. This shows that the court is distant from the people, with someone below harboring ill intentions; the royal family will meet its doom within three years." The book also states: "When the wicked gain power and loyal ministers are slain, blood rain will descend from the heavens."
In December of the year 314 AD, an earthquake struck the Hedong region, accompanied by a rain of flesh. Four years later, on the day of Bingyin in December, the Prime Minister's office killed the official Shu Yu Bo under a supervisory order. His blood reportedly flowed upwards, spraying onto the pillar, reaching a height of two zhang and three chi, resulting in a calamity of blood light! At that time, General Chupo was stationed in Guangling, and the Prime Minister threatened to launch a northern expedition. Shu Yu Bo was executed for supervisory delays and corruption. Shu Yu Bo protested, saying: "My supervisory work has been completed without any delay, and the charges of corruption do not warrant a death penalty. War emphasizes the importance of gaining the initiative. Currently, we are just stationing troops and have not formally started the war. Transport has been delayed for four years, but the court has not dealt with it according to military law." None of his colleagues came to his defense. Later, things changed, and a large number of officials were accused by the censor, but Emperor Yuan ignored it, leading to three consecutive years of severe drought. Gan Bao believed this was divine retribution for Shu Yu Bo's wrongful death. Guo Jingchun said: "Blood is a kind of water, belonging to the Kan hexagram in the Eight Trigrams. Kan represents the law, and water should flow downwards, not upwards. This shows that the court's policies are wrong."
In January of the year 304 AD, a major earthquake occurred in Pingyang, causing the entire Chongming Temple to collapse into a massive pit of water, with the water a deep shade of red. Crimson gas billowed into the sky, and a red dragon soared and flew away. At that moment, a meteor shot up from near the Cowherd Star, heading straight towards the Purple Star, twisting and spiraling like a dragon, casting its brilliance upon the earth, before finally landing ten miles north of Pingyang City.
Everyone went to see, and found that the fallen thing was a huge piece of meat, the stench wafted through all of Pingyang City. This piece of meat was thirty steps long and twenty-seven steps wide, massive beyond belief. Even stranger, there were constant cries coming from beside the meat, day and night without end. A few days later, Liu Cong's wife, Lady Liu, gave birth to a snake and a wild creature, both of which attacked people before fleeing. People searched high and low, eventually finding them beside the fallen meat. At that time, Liu Cong married Liu Yin's three daughters, all of whom were named queens.
This was a warning from the heavens! It meant that Liu Cong himself had the surname Liu, and the three queens were also surnamed Liu, which completely went against ethical norms and moral principles! The fallen meat and those strange things foreshadowed disaster to come. Before long, Liu Cong's queen, Lady Liu, passed away, and with that, the cries faded away.
