In the ninth year of Emperor Huidi Yuankang's reign, in the third month, a sound resembling a cow's moo suddenly appeared, coming from Xuchang City. In December, Emperor Huidi removed Crown Prince Minhui from power and imprisoned him in Xuchang Palace. In the following year, Empress Jia sent the palace eunuch Sun Lü to kill the Crown Prince by beating him with a pestle, and the sound was heard outside, confirming the earlier omen of the cow's moo.
When Su Jun was encamped outside Liyang City, the drum in his camp suddenly beat as if someone were playing it. Su Jun personally smashed the drum, saying, "If this happened back home, the city would be empty." Not long after that, he rebelled and was ultimately defeated, a punishment for ignoring advice.
When Shi Jilong was close to death, nine li northwest of Luoyang City, there was a stone ox that suddenly let out a loud moo, and the sound carried forty li away. Shi Jilong had the ox's ears and tail cut off, and its four feet nailed down with iron nails. Shortly after, Shi Jilong passed away.
On the first day of the third month of the fifteenth year of Emperor Xiaowu's Taiyuan reign, a sound like thunder came from the northeast. According to Liu Xiang's records, he stated, "If there’s thunder without clouds, it signals that the ruler is ignoring the people, and a rebellion is on the horizon." Later, the emperor died, and chaos started to unfold, with Sun En and Huan Xuan stirring up trouble near the capital.
On Xiajia Mountain of the Changcheng in Wuxing, there's a stone drum, more than a zhang long and about three chi wide, with a stone serving as its base. When it sounds, it’s like a golden drum, signaling trouble in the Three Wu regions. During the Long'an reign of Emperor An, this stone drum sounded loudly once, and soon after, Sun En rebelled.
In the fourth year of the reign of King Jia Ping of Wei, in the month of May, two fish gathered on the roof of the armory, a bad omen. Wang Su said, "Fish live in water, but they have come to the roof. These scaly creatures have strayed from where they belong. This could mean trouble on the borders!" Later, the Dongguan Battle indeed ended in defeat. Gan Bao also believed this was a sign of the disaster of the noble troops. Both of these views were consistent with Ban Gu's perspective.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Tai Kang period, two carp appeared on the roof of the armory. Gan Bao believed, "The armory is where weapons are stored; fish have scales, just like weapons. Fish belong to Yin, and the roof is a place exposed to sunlight. If fish appear on the roof, it symbolizes extremely Yin forces clashing with Yang. In the early period of Emperor Hui, Yang Jun was executed, the empress dowager was deposed, arrows filled the sky, and the palace was chaotic. In the late period of the Yuankang era, Empress Jia falsely accused and killed the crown prince, and she was later executed and deposed. Within ten years, the empress dowager faced troubles twice, which confirmed the previous omens, and from then on calamity began." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says, "When fish leave the water and fly to the road, warfare is about to occur."
The "chongsi" mentioned in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" were abundant. Liu Xin believed that the overpopulation of "chongsi" insects, just like the overpopulation of fish, were both ominous signs.
In the third year of the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, in the month of July, a great locust plague occurred in Jizhou, and the people were left hungry. Someone cited an old saying by Cai Yong, saying that the locust plague was caused by the greed and tyranny of those in power. At that time, Sun Quan paid homage to the Wei Kingdom, but due to Sun Quan's involvement in the Battle of Xiling, Emperor Wen led a large army to attack him, and as a result, Sun Quan rebelled.
In the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Taishi period, in the month of June, another locust infestation struck. At that time, Xun and Jia were in power, and they ruled with an iron fist.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Hui of the Yongning period, several prefectures and counties were hit by locust swarms.
In the fourth year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Huai, in May, a severe locust plague occurred, spreading from Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou all the way to Qinzhou and Yongzhou, devouring all the crops and the fur of cattle and horses. At that time, the country was in chaos, and the people could only survive by fishing and hunting, with only Sima Yue and Gou Xi managing to keep things under control. However, both of them ruled tyrannically and had no real governance, leading to this disaster.
In the fourth year of the Jianxing era of Emperor Min, in June, another severe locust plague occurred. The year before, Liu Yao repeatedly attacked Beidi and Fengyi, with Ju Yun and others leading a large army in resistance, but they were defeated by Liu Yao, resulting in the fall of the Western Capital. In the fifth year of his reign, the Emperor was in Pingyang, and locusts appeared in large numbers in Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Yongzhou.
In the first year of the Taixing era of Emperor Yuan, in June, the Hexiang area of Lanling was hit by a locust plague, leading to a total crop failure. On the day of Yiwei, locusts spread three hundred miles in the Dongguan area, resulting in a complete loss of crops. In July, locusts ravaged the fields in Donghai, Pengcheng, Xiapai, and Linhuai. In August, locust plagues occurred in Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou, consuming all greenery and continuing for two years. At that time, the Central Plains were in chaos, with various uprisings becoming increasingly severe.
In the second year, in May, locusts devoured the autumn wheat in Huailing, Linhuai, Huainan, Anfeng, and Lujiang. On the day of Guichou in that month, locust plagues occurred in various counties west of the Yangtze River in Xuzhou and Yangzhou, causing many people to starve to death in Wu County. That year, Wang Dun took on the role of Governor of Jingzhou, signaling the start of his brutal rule.
In the fifteenth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xianwu, a locust plague occurred in Yanzhou. At that time, the Murong clan was approaching Henan, and wars were incessant, causing this disaster. In May of the sixteenth year, locusts flew in from the south and gathered within the borders of Tangyi County, ruining the crops. In the spring of that year, the court dispatched two thousand soldiers and six or seven thousand family members from Jiangzhou to protect the army and the Eastern Palace, but most of them later scattered. Additionally, the border generals continuously recruited soldiers, leading to yet another locust plague.
During Sun Hao's rule, a wild boar burst into the camp of Grand General Ding Feng, an ominous sign indeed! Later, Ding Feng was sent to attack Guyang but returned with nothing to show for it. Sun Hao erupted in anger and killed Ding Feng's guide. Subsequently, as Sun Hao led his troops north, Ding Feng and others, including Wan Yu, whispered privately, "If we reach Huali, we will have to escape for our lives!" This scheme was leaked, and although Ding Feng had already died by that time, Sun Hao still blamed him for the Guyang campaign, killing Ding Feng's son Ding Wen and exiling the other members of the Ding family. This was all payback for the wild boar bursting into the camp! As Gong Sui once said, "When wild beasts from the mountains and fields enter the palace, the palace will fall empty," and isn't this exactly the meaning?
During the Yongjia period of Emperor Huai of Jin, a pig with two heads appeared in Shouchun City, but it didn’t last long. Zhou Fu had the pig brought over for a closer look, and those familiar with such matters said, "The pig is livestock from the north, representing the Hu people. Two heads indicate a lack of a central figure; being born only to die signifies that the matter cannot be accomplished. Heaven warns us not to make foolish calculations, or else we will bring about our own destruction!" Zhou Fu completely ignored this and instead thought about greeting the emperor and commanding the lords, only to be quickly defeated by Emperor Yuan. Wasn’t this a clear sign of that warning? Later on, Shi Le also crossed the Huai River, and ninety-nine percent of the common folk perished.
In the first year of Jianwu, a pig with eight legs was born, which served as a punishment for ignoring warnings and a portent of corrupt officials. This was followed by the rebellion led by Liu Kui.
In June of the sixth year of Xianhe during Emperor Jin Cheng's reign, a pig farmer in Qiantang reported that his sow gave birth to two piglets, both with human faces and pig bodies, resembling the Hu people, yet retaining their pig-like bodies. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" stated: "A pig born with a human head and pig body is a sign of danger and turmoil. Now that this sow has given birth to such piglets, it is a very bad omen!"
In the tenth year of Taiyuan in the reign of Emperor Jin Xiaowu, in April, a piglet with two spines and eight legs appeared in the capital. Thirteen years later, another sow in the capital gave birth to a piglet with two bodies and eight legs, similar to the strange pig that appeared in the Jianwu era. After that, Prime Minister Shen Xu neglected state affairs, only favoring his cronies, gradually destroying the country's laws, ultimately leading to the country's decline.
In the fifth year of Yongjia in the reign of Emperor Jin Xiaohuai, in December, there was black air everywhere, which was an ominous omen. Shortly after, the emperor was captured, and the royal family was destroyed, which fulfilled the ominous signs.
In the second year of Jianxing in the reign of Emperor Jin Min, on the first day of the first month, black fog enveloped the air, lingering throughout the night and dispersing after five days, also an ominous omen. Four years later, Emperor Min surrendered to Liu Yao.
In the first year of Yongchang in the reign of Emperor Jin Yuan, in October, the capital was shrouded in thick fog, with dark clouds obscuring the sky, leaving the sun and moon in darkness. In November, the emperor passed away.
Legend has it that in the sixth month of the fifth year of Taikang during Emperor Jin Wu's reign, the waters of Rencheng and the state of Lu turned blood red, just like blood. Liu Xiang's book explained that this was caused by the proximity of a fire to the water, as a punishment for those who ignore warnings. Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Yi Zhuan" that "When a ruler indulges in beauty, virtuous people retreat, and the country is on the brink of danger, strange phenomena, such as red water, will manifest." This describes the scene at that time!
In the third year of the reign of Emperor Jin Mu, in February, a fire broke out in a pond to the east of Liangzhou City. By the fourth year, in April, the water in Guzang Marsh caught fire. This was all caused by the influence of malevolent energy in the water! And what was the result? In the following year, Zhang Tianxi killed the Central Guard General, Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong was a high-ranking official in the court at that time.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Jin An, in October, the water of West Lake in Qiantang turned red. Huan Xuan took this opportunity to inform the officials of Wu County that this was a divine sign, indicating his future prosperity. And what happened? Not long after, Huan Xuan failed, proving the saying "Heaven's punishment may be slow, but it is inevitable; it arises from one's own actions."
Ancient texts state that if one cannot accept situations and fails to let go, they cannot be considered a sage, and the consequences are severe! This could lead to various misfortunes or even a short life. Specifically, strange spirits and creatures may emerge, plants may grow wildly, livestock may fall ill, one may suffer from mysterious ailments, or even face various natural disasters.
As you can see, if one cannot accept situations and fails to let go, they are not a sage. "Thinking in the heart" refers to how one thinks and considers issues, while "tolerance" means being magnanimous. Confucius once said, "How can I tell if a leader is a sage if they are not tolerant?" This implies that a leader's lack of tolerance makes it hard for their subordinates to thrive. A person's expressions, words, actions, and perceptions are all governed by their heart. If any of these four areas go awry, the mind becomes confused, resulting in misfortune.
Rain, drought, cold, and heat are all related to the wind. If the climate of the four seasons becomes chaotic, it will lead to severe wind disasters. Strong winds can destroy everything, which can cause people to have short lives. Hurting people is called "disastrous," hurting livestock is called "short," and hurting plants is called "broken." There is also a saying that "disastrous" means dying young; when an older brother dies, the younger brother's life is considered "short," and similarly, when a father dies, the son's life is seen as "broken." If a person has too much fat on their stomach, it wraps around the heart like a layer of oil, obscuring the heart's judgment, which leads to encounters with demons and monsters. Another saying is that the appearance of demons and monsters at night is like oil stains dirtying clothes, making them unclean. Yet another saying is that the appearance of demons and monsters at night is caused by strong winds and heavy rain, similar to regular wind disasters.
When the weather is warm and windy, pests like the corn borer will emerge. Liu Xiang believed that the "Xun" hexagram in the "I Ching" represents wind and wood; this hexagram appears in March and April when the yang energy starts to flourish, governing the growth and fruiting of trees. If the wind is too strong, trees may bloom again in autumn and winter, which is called "floral calamity." There is another saying that if the earth's energy is too strong, trees will bloom again in autumn and winter. Additionally, "floral" pertains to color, while "earth" signifies internal matters, often relating to women's misfortunes. In the "I Ching," the "Kun" hexagram represents earth and cattle. Cattle are large but do not think, and when their spirit is bad, disasters related to cattle may arise. There is also a saying that cattle are prone to dying or causing strange incidents. For people, this translates to being prone to heart ailments. The earth is yellow, so there will be yellow disasters and auspicious signs. In summary, if one cannot find peace of mind, it will harm the earth's energy, and when this energy is compromised, the elements of metal, wood, water, and fire will also suffer.
In the book, it says "there are times," not "only," meaning that it's not just one disaster, but rather multiple disasters occurring simultaneously, indicating a very serious situation. If you can get rid of the pessimistic mindset, you can lead a long and fulfilling life. Liu Xin mentioned in "Si Xin Zhuan" that there is another kind of pest, like the cutworm.
In the ninth year of Zhengshi of King Wei Qi, in the eleventh month, there were strong winds for several days, toppling houses and snapping trees. On the last day of the month, the winds intensified even further, causing the eastern attic of the Taiji Hall to sway.
On the first day of the first month in the first year of Jiaping, a fierce northwest wind howled, bringing down houses and snapping trees as dust swirled and the sky darkened. Guan Lu at the time said that this was heaven's punishment for the corrupt ministers, a bad omen for the rulers! At that time, Cao Shuang was outrageously arrogant and indulgent; despite so many warnings from heaven, he did not change due to his corrupt mindset, and thus faced the wrath of the fierce wind. Not long after, Cao Shuang and his followers were killed. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "When everyone does not follow the same opinion, the highest morality will be hidden, and abnormal winds will appear. This wind blows so fiercely that it makes it hard for people to walk, and crops struggle to grow. Even when it rains, it brings destruction. When politics defies morality, chaos ensues; this wind first holds back rain, then escalates into a storm, blowing down houses and trees. Upholding justice yet unable to advance is a sign of incompetence; this wind comes with dark clouds, toppling crops. Officials not obeying orders from superiors is called disobedience; this wind is powerful enough to topple houses. Unreasonable taxes lead to disaster; this wind can devastate crops, with fluctuating weather leading to pests that ravage grains. Princes exercising power independently is called disunity; this wind blows strongly, but the trees do not move, and crops do not grow well. Rulers not seeking the welfare of the people is called lack of grace; this wind blows so hard that even trees do not move, causing drought and damage to crops. Officials only caring about their own interests is called chaos; this wind may be small, but it's scorching, resulting in pests that threaten beneficial crops. Abandoning governance and indulging in pleasure is called confusion; this wind is hot, causing pests to harm things beneficial to humans. Princes not coming to pay respects is called rebellion; this wind is erratic, turning the soil red, and the rain can be lethal."
In the first year of Taiyuan under Sun Quan of Wu, on the first day of the eighth month, a strong wind arose. The rivers, lakes, and seas swelled, with water levels rising to eight feet in low-lying areas. Over two thousand tall trees were uprooted, and stone tablets were blown down. Two of Wu's city gates were also blown away. According to Hua He’s analysis, this was because Sun Quan imposed heavy corvee labor and high taxes, so it was a divine punishment! The following year, Sun Quan died.
On the day of Bingshen in the twelfth month of the Jianxing era of Sun Liang, a strong wind arose, accompanied by thunder and lightning. That year, the Wei kingdom sent three large armies to attack Wu. Zhuge Ke defeated the East Xing army of Wei, and the other two armies retreated. The next year, Zhuge Ke attacked Xincheng, suffered heavy losses and was killed shortly after returning.
In the eleventh month of Yong'an’s first year, when Sun Xiu was in power, on the day of Jiawu, several rounds of strong winds arose, accompanied by several days of heavy fog. At that time, the Sun family held immense power, with all five brothers holding marquis titles and challenging the emperor of Wu. The wind and fog disasters were similar to the fates of the five marquises and the Dingfu family during the Han dynasty. On the night of Dingshen in the twelfth month, a sudden strong wind blew, toppling trees and kicking up dust. The next day, Sun Chen was killed.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, on the first day of the fifth month of the fifth year of the Taishi era, a strong wind swept through the Guangping area, snapping trees. In the first month of Xianning’s first year, a strong wind blew through the Xiaping and Guangling areas, leading to the collapse of over a thousand homes and the breaking of trees. On the day of Jiashen that month, Guangling, Siwu, and Xiaping were hit by another strong wind that broke trees. In the eighth month of the third year, a strong wind swept through the Hejian area, snapping trees.
In May of the second year of Taikang, a violent storm raged in the Jinan area, uprooting trees and damaging crops. In June, the Gaoping area was hit by strong winds that broke trees and destroyed over forty government office buildings. In July, the Shangdang area experienced strong winds, causing severe damage to autumn crops. In the sixth month of the eighth year, strong winds swept through eight regions nationwide. In the first month of the ninth year, hail fell in the capital, overturning houses and uprooting trees. Two years later, the emperor passed away.
In June of the fourth year of Huidi Yuankang, strong winds and rain uprooted trees. In the fourth month of the fifth year, on a night in the Gengyin year, a sudden storm arose, causing huge waves in the eastern canal, and many people were swept away and drowned. In July, the Xuping area was hit by strong winds that caused houses to collapse. In September, Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and other regions were hit by disaster winds, which resulted in severe damage to crops. The following year, the Diqiang tribe rebelled, forcing the court to send a large army to suppress the rebellion.
In the sixth month of the ninth year of Yuankang, a gust of wind blew away Jia Mi's court robes, flying hundreds of yards away! The following year, Jia Mi was killed. On the first day of the eleventh month of Jiazi, the capital experienced continuous strong winds, causing houses to collapse and trees to break. In December, the deposed Crown Prince was imprisoned in Xuchang.
In the first month of Yongkang, strong winds uprooted all the trees. In March, the deposed Crown Prince was murdered. On the day of Jima, his coffin was transported from Xuchang back to Luoyang, and on that day, there were strong winds and thunderstorms, tearing the curtains of the hearse. In April, Zhang Hua's house was struck by a violent storm; trees were broken, fabrics were blown away, and numerous axles broke. In the same month, Zhang Hua was also murdered. On the first day of November in the Wuwu year, a strong wind blew in from the northwest, breaking trees, blowing sand and stones, and lasting for six days before stopping. In the first month of the following year, Prince Zhao Luen seized the throne.
In August of the first year of Yongning, there were three places across the country where strong winds blew. In the first month of Yongxing, on the day of Yichou, a strong wind blew from the northwest. On Guichou in the first month of the Jian Shi era, Prince Zhao Lun made sacrifices at the ancestral temple when suddenly a violent storm with rain and dust suddenly darkened the sky. In the fourth month of that year, Prince Zhao Lun was executed.
In July 304 AD, a strong wind hit Chengdu, damaging houses and snapping trees. In August, another storm blew down more than a hundred willow trees on both sides of the imperial road. The wind howled chaotically, as if blowing from all directions. At that time, Wang Dun held absolute power and caused the deaths of officials such as Diao Xie and Zhou Yi, so the wind blew indiscriminately. This was all a sign of the emperor's incompetence and the vassals' defiance! In November of the same year, the emperor died.
In March 340 AD, a strong wind hit Chengdu, damaging houses and snapping trees. In April, Li Shou killed Li Qi and proclaimed himself emperor. In July 344 AD, Jinling and Wu County suffered disasters due to a strong wind.
In August 357 AD, Empress He was enthroned and a strong wind blew the same day. Later, Huan Xuan usurped the throne and reduced the empress to a county lord, all because of the emperor's poor judgment! In January 360 AD, another strong wind blew. In February 366 AD, a fierce wind blew, and that year, Haixi Gong was deposed.
In March 373 AD, a strong wind and a massive fire erupted in the capital. At that time, Huan Wen entered the capital with ambitions of usurping the throne, and with the young emperor, everyone was worried and afraid, a clear sign of the emperor's poor judgment! In March 375 AD, another violent storm blew, first from the east and then changing direction to the north, with flying sand and rolling stones, a terrifying sight.
In February and March of the year 376 AD, fierce storms and heavy rain damaged houses and snapped trees. In June of the year 377 AD, a strong wind in Chang'an toppled the trees in Fu Jian's palace. Later, Fu Jian launched another campaign against Jin and faced a crushing defeat at the Battle of Feishui, which led to his death and the fall of the state. In August of the year 378 AD, another fierce storm kicked up sand and stones.
In January and July of the year 386 AD, strong winds snapped the trees. In December of the year 387 AD, a strong wind made the day as dark as night. Later, the emperor died, the nobles became unruly, power fell to Yuan Xian, and finally Huan Xuan seized power, coming through this gate. In June of the year 390 AD, strong winds snapped the trees.
In February of the year 402 AD, a strong wind and heavy rain blew away the roof tiles of the main gate. The following year, Huan Xuan seized power, coming through this gate.
In January of the year 399 AD, Huan Xuan went out for a leisure trip, took a boat to the south, encountered a strong wind, and tore the cover on the boat. Three months later, Huan Xuan returned in defeat to Jiangling. In May, a strong wind in Jiangling snapped many trees. In the same month, Huan Xuan was defeated at Zhengrongzhou, killed, and his body was dismembered. On the Dingyou day in November, a strong wind resulted in many deaths in Jiangling.
In the eleventh month of the year 407 AD, on the day of Xinyou, a fierce wind blew in the northwest. By the day of Dinghai in the intercalary tenth month of 408 AD, the strong wind blew many houses away. The following year, Lu Xun arrived at Cai Zhou. On the day of Renshen in May of 409 AD, a strong wind uprooted centuries-old trees in the northern suburbs and also blew off the roofs of the archery venues in Langye and Yangzhou. On that day, Lu Xun's large ships were all blown underwater. On the day of Jiaxu, the wind blew again, flipping houses and breaking trees. That winter, the imperial army marched south to quell the rebellion. In January of the year 412 AD, a strong wind damaged the pillars of the White Horse Temple's pagoda. On the day of Jichou in April of 413 AD, a strong wind uprooted trees. On the day of Xinhai in June, trees were uprooted again. In July, a strong wind blew in the northern Huai region, damaging many houses. The following year, the imperial court launched an expedition to the west to subdue Sima Xiuzhi.
On the day of Wuxu in January of the year 251 AD, Emperor Jing launched a campaign against Guanqiu Jian, resulting in a strong wind blowing, the sky turned dark, and people on the road lying down; this was truly a supernatural sign! Liu Xiang said, "It's daylight and it's dark, the yin energy overwhelms the yang energy; this is like a minister suppressing the monarch!"
In October of the year 261 AD, a major earthquake occurred in the capital, turning day into night; this was yet another supernatural sign! Ban Gu said, "Night demons, when clouds and wind appear together, the sky darkens, just like with ordinary winds." Liu Xiang said in his "Spring and Autumn Annals," "Heaven seems to be warning: do not allow hereditary titles for officials; let them focus on their work. Day and night are the same, signifying the court's decline." The Wei Kingdom saw this supernatural sign as a sign that the Jin Dynasty was going to unify the world.
On the day of Xinmao in October of the year 311 AD, day turned into night until the day of Gengzi; this was also a demonic phenomenon! The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luochuan, and the imperial army was repeatedly defeated by the enemy, with the emperor fleeing to Pingyang.
On the day of Yiwu in December of the year 398 AD, a strong wind blew, darkening the sky. Later, the emperor died, the vassals rebelled, internal warfare broke out, Yuan Xian was overthrown, Huan Xuan rebelled, which ultimately resulted in a catastrophic downfall.
In the "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang, it says: "When officials become complacent in their positions, it is called greed; disasters are like pests devouring the roots of crops. The absence of consistent virtue leads to chaos; pests consume the leaves of crops. Failing to correct mistakes and lacking virtue is akin to pests consuming the stems of crops. Working out of season, competing with farmers, disregards the natural timing; pests eat the stalks of crops. Concealing sins breeds calamity; pests eat the heart of crops." This reflects the circumstances of that era.
In the first year of the Xianning reign of Emperor Wu, locust plagues swept through various counties and states. That month, crops in various counties were also ravaged by locusts. Four years later, twenty counties and states including Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou were all plagued by locust disasters. During these years, crops truly suffered as insect plagues were rampant.
In the fourth year of Emperor Hui's Taikang reign, Kuaiji's fields were overrun by countless mice and crabs, resulting in widespread devastation. In the eighth month of the ninth year, locust disasters occurred in twenty-four counties and states. In September, insect disasters damaged the autumn harvest crops. During that time, the emperor was swayed by slander and showed favoritism towards Jia Chong and Yang Jun, leading to the calamities of insects and locusts as punishment for "failing to correct mistakes and lacking virtue."
In the third year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign, locust disasters occurred in six counties including Daifang, and the rice leaves were entirely devoured. This pestilence was exceptionally harsh! In the first year of the Yongning reign, locust disasters occurred in three provinces of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong held power, and this was the consequence of his greed and cruelty. In October, locusts in places like Nan'an, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, and Beihai ate the rice leaves, with as much as 50 to 60 percent of the crops consumed. In December, locust disasters occurred in six counties. This was nothing short of a continuous disaster!
In the ninth year of the Tai Kang era under Emperor Wu, a strange incident occurred in the northern frontier of Youzhou where a dead cow spoke, which foretold a disaster related to cattle. At that time, the emperor was often ill and constantly preoccupied with his legacy, but his preparations for the future were flawed, a clear sign of confusion and incompetence. As Shi Kuang said, “When resentment spreads among the people, strange phenomena that cannot be expressed in words will occur.” This aligns with what Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": “Killing the innocent will result in cattle giving birth to monsters.”
During the Tai An era under Emperor Hui, there was a man named Zhang Cheng in Jiangxia, whose cow suddenly spoke: “The world is about to be chaotic, where do you think you're going riding me?” Zhang Cheng was so startled that he rushed home. When he got home, his dog remarked, “Why are you back so soon?” Soon after, that cow actually stood up and walked on two legs! Zhang Cheng quickly invited a fortune teller for divination, and the fortune teller said, “A military rebellion is about to occur, and the calamity will not only affect your family.” Indeed, that year, Zhang Chang rebelled, and the first target of his attack was Jiangxia. As a general, Zhang Cheng found that all five provinces were plunged into chaos, and ultimately, his entire family was wiped out. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" states: “If a cow can speak, one can divine good and bad fortune based on its words.” The "Yi Meng Qi Shu" also records: “If the ruler does not value wise men, but instead adorns war horses with splendid brocade and allows dogs and wolves to eat human food, then livestock will begin to speak.” At that time, the emperor and the lords did not take the welfare of the people seriously, and the incident of the talking cow was a direct fulfillment of the prophecies in the texts.
In the first year of the Jianwu era under Emperor Yuan, in July, in Jinling, a cow gave birth to a calf, but this calf had two heads! According to Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan," it states: “A cow giving birth to a two-headed calf is a portent of the coming division of the world.” At that time, Emperor Min was trapped in Pingyang and was later slain by the Hu. Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, and from then on, the world was divided in two, which indeed came to pass.
In the first year of Taixing, Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang, had a cow that gave birth to a bizarre calf. This calf had two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing one body! It died three years later. There was another cow with only one leg, but three tails, and it also died shortly after being born. Sima Biao interpreted, "The two-headed cow symbolizes political power in the hands of private individuals, with no distinction between upper and lower levels." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also states, "Those with more legs cannot bear heavy responsibilities; those with fewer legs lack ability." Later, Wang Dun and others disrupted political power; isn't this a fulfillment of the prophecy?
In the twelfth month of the fourth year, the cow used for sacrificial offerings died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the sacrificial cow meant, "Duke Xuan was incompetent and unjust, so heaven did not accept his sacrifices." Now, the revival of the Yuan Dynasty relies heavily on Wang Dao's strategies. Liu Kui flattered the emperor and gained favor, while Wang Dao was alienated; this situation is a clear sign of incompetence and injustice!
In the second year of Xianhe, in May, the military commander's cow gave birth to a calf with two heads and six legs. That winter, Su Jun rebelled. Seven years later, in the household of Yuan Rong from Jiande, a calf was born with two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing one body.
During the time when Huan Xuan was in Jingzhou visiting the governor Yin Zhongkan, he encountered an old man driving an odd-looking green cow near Crane's Nest. Without a word, Huan Xuan traded his cow for the green one. Riding the green cow to Lingling Jingxi, the cow ran so fast that when it stopped to drink, it dashed straight into the river and never resurfaced. Huan Xuan sent out search parties, but they couldn’t find it. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated and killed in battle.
In the second year of Zhangwu in Shu Han, Liu Bei embarked on an eastern campaign. In February, they 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 closely followed the appearance of the yellow gas.
During the reign of King Qi of Wei Kingdom, Zhou Nan, the King of Zhongshan Province, became the magistrate of Xiangyi County. A mouse emerged from its hole and said, "Zhou Nan, you will die one day." Zhou Nan paid it no mind, and the mouse scurried back into its hole. On the predicted day, the mouse came out wearing a hat and black clothes, saying, "Zhou Nan, you will die at noon today." Zhou Nan still paid it no mind, and the mouse went back into its hole. After a little while, the mouse reemerged, repeating the same warning. As noon approached, the mouse came out and went back in several times, always saying the same thing. When noon arrived, the mouse exclaimed, "Zhou Nan, if you keep ignoring me, how can I go on?" After speaking, the mouse died, falling over with its hat and clothes falling off. Upon examination, it turned out to be just an ordinary mouse. According to Ban Gu, this was a disaster attributed to yellow gas. At that time, Cao Shuang held power and engaged in mutual competition, which is why the mouse came out to foretell disaster.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign, a thick fog enveloped the land. The emperor was ineffectual at the time, and governmental affairs were not decided by him personally, leading to these strange occurrences.
In the eighth month of the fourth year of Emperor Yuan's Taixing reign, yellow fog spread everywhere, blanketing the sky in dust and fog.
In the first month of the first year of Emperor Ming's Taiping reign, on the day of Guisi, yellow fog spread everywhere. In the second month, yellow fog spread once again. At that time, Wang Dun held power, and the conspiracy of rebellion became more pronounced.
In the seventh year of Emperor Mudie’s Yonghe reign, in the third month, a fierce wind swept through Liangzhou, toppling all the trees, and yellow mist filled the air, mixed with dust. At that time, Zhang Chonghua fell for slander and demoted Xie Ai to be the prefect of Jiuquan, and the officials he appointed were all unfit. As a result, Xie Ai died nine years later, and his son was killed as well, which fulfilled the earlier omens. Jing Fang in the "Book of Changes" stated: "Ignoring good advice when it is heard is ignorance; witnessing yellow omens will lead to deafness; the resulting disaster will lead to the extinction of descendants. Yellow gas refers to the yellow, murky air spreading across the land, obscuring the wise talents and blocking the way, so disasters will affect future generations." On a certain day in February 399, yellow mist enveloped the sky. At that time, Daozi held great power alone, promoted villains, and the court was in chaos. This was a true manifestation of that saying. On a certain day in October 402, yellow mist shrouded the sky, and the region had been suffering from a prolonged drought. At that time, Huan Xuan was plotting a rebellion, and this celestial phenomenon hinted at significant events to come. In November 418, dense fog blanketed the area; in November 420, dense fog appeared again. At that time, the court was weak, the ministers were powerful, and the land and army were no longer under the control of the emperor. All of these were ominous signs from the heavens! Liu Xiang said: "An earthquake is a disaster linked to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu also said: "The qi of heaven and earth follows its own natural laws; if these laws are disrupted, it can lead to chaos on earth. When yang qi is suppressed and unable to rise, and yin qi is forced and unable to descend, earthquakes will follow."
In the year 225 AD, there were consecutive earthquakes in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan received a title from the Wei Kingdom, being appointed as Grand General and King of Wu, renaming his reign to that of emperor, ruled despotically and ignored moral virtue. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "Even if the power of the ministers is legitimate, excessive tyranny will inevitably lead to earthquakes. The signs of earthquakes are turbulent waves on water, swaying trees, and falling tiles on houses. If the laws of the court are abolished and the ministers hold excessive power, this is the disturbance of Yin energy, which will cause earthquakes and shake the court. If the laws of the court are shaken and the ministers hold excessive power, this is out of alignment with heavenly principles, which will cause earthquakes, shaking mountains and gushing springs. If the heir lacks virtue but seizes power, this is not in accordance with heavenly principles, which will cause earthquakes, shaking hills and gushing springs." Liu Xiang also said: "When the ministers have grown powerful and are poised to create turmoil, this is a sign of disaster."
In November of the year 232 AD, an earthquake occurred in the capital, with tremors originating from the east, accompanied by distant rumblings, causing tiles to fall from houses.
On a day in June of the year 233 AD, the capital experienced another earthquake. That autumn, Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia, but was driven back by Hu Zhi, the governor of Jingzhou. At the same time, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, declaring himself King of Yan, changing his reign to emperor and establishing officials. The following year, Gongsun Yuan was subdued.
In May of the year 238 AD, there was an earthquake in Jiangdong.
In January of the year 239 AD, Jiangdong experienced another earthquake. At that time, Lv Yi was overbearing and tyrannical, with Bu Zhi writing a memorial saying: "I have heard that officials are nitpicking and eager to frame others to showcase their authority, leading to the harsh punishment of many innocent individuals. Even high-ranking officials cannot gain trust. If this continues, how can we expect there to be no disturbances in heaven and earth? Therefore, the series of earthquakes is a harbinger of the ministers' tyranny! I hope Your Majesty will seriously consider the significance of this matter!" Ultimately, Lv Yi met with failure.
In the year 241 AD, in the second year of King Qi's Zhengshi era in the Wei state, an earthquake occurred in Nan'an Commandery in November. On the seventh day of the seventh month in the third year, another earthquake struck Nan'an Commandery. In December of the same year, an earthquake also occurred in Wei Commandery. Then, on the dingmao day of the second month in the sixth year of Zhengshi, Nan'an Commandery experienced another earthquake. At that time, Cao Shuang held absolute power and moved the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace, where the Empress Dowager and the Emperor said their tearful goodbyes. The continuous earthquakes were probably a warning from the heavens.
In 248 AD, in the eleventh year of the Chuwu era during Sun Quan's reign, an earthquake also occurred in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan was misled by slanderous words and dismissed Zhu Ju, deposing the crown prince. It was truly a time of turmoil.
In 263 AD, during the first year of the Yanxing era under Liu Shan, the final emperor of Shu Han, an earthquake struck Shu territory. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao wielded significant power. Sima Biao once said, "Eunuchs lack masculinity, just like women." Huang Hao's rise to power mirrored the situation during the reign of Emperor He of Han. That winter, Shu Han was destroyed. This was probably also the will of the heavens.
In 274 AD, on the xinyou day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Emperor Wu's Taishi era in the Western Jin, an earthquake occurred. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes revolted in Xinping. The following year, Sun Hao marshaled a large army into Guokou. On the bingshen day of the sixth month in the seventh year of Taishi, another earthquake occurred.
In 276 AD, on the gengchen day of the eighth month in the second year of Xian Ning, earthquakes struck the three commanderies of Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. In the fourth year of Xian Ning, on the dingwei day of the sixth month, earthquakes struck Yinping and Guangwu commanderies, and there was another earthquake at the jiazi hour that same day. These earthquakes struck one after another, instilling great fear and anxiety.
In the year 280 AD, on the Gengshen day of the second month in the second year of Taikang, an earthquake occurred in Huainan and Danyang counties. On the Rencheng day of the first month in the fifth year of Taikang, an earthquake also occurred in the capital. On the Jichou day of the seventh month in the sixth year of Taikang, another earthquake occurred. In the seventh year of Taikang, earthquakes occurred in Nan'an and Jianwei counties in July; in August, Jingzhao experienced an earthquake. On the Renshi day of the fifth month in the eighth year of Taikang, Jian'an experienced an earthquake; in July, there was an earthquake in Yinpíng; in August, there was an earthquake in Danyang. In the ninth year of Taikang, Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing counties experienced earthquakes in January; on the Xinyou day of the fourth month, Changsha, Nanhai, and other counties experienced eight earthquakes; from July to August, four more earthquakes occurred, three of which sounded like thunder. In September, there was an earthquake in Linhe, and in December, there was another one. On the Jihai day of the twelfth month in the tenth year of Taikang, there was another earthquake in Danyang. These earthquakes just never seem to end!
In the year 289 AD, another earthquake occurred in the first month of the first year of Taixi. From the reign of Emperor Sima Yan to the time when Yang Jun was in power, it was a period when sycophants and greedy individuals controlled the court. As time went on, the people they appointed became worse and worse, leading to frequent earthquakes. This occurred because they did not cultivate moral virtues, which led to the wrath of both heaven and the people, ultimately leading to the downfall of Western Jin.
In the year 291 AD, the capital experienced an earthquake on the Xinyou day of the twelfth month in the first year of Yuankang during the reign of Emperor Sima Zhong. That summer, Empress Jia instructed Prince Chu, Sima Wei, to kill Prince Runan, Sima Liang, and Grand Guardian Wei Guan. This was largely attributed to the imbalance of yin and yang.
In February of 4 AD, earthquakes occurred in places such as Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong. In May, there was a large-scale displacement of the mountains in Shujun, Sichuan, as if the mountains themselves had shifted; in Huainan, Shouchun, there were severe floods, landslides, and many cities and residences were greatly damaged. By August, there was another earthquake in the Shanggu area, which also resulted in a large amount of water, leading to the deaths of over a hundred people. In October, the capital Luoyang experienced an earthquake. In November, earthquakes occurred in places such as Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, and Nanyang. By December, Luoyang was shaken again. At that time, Empress Jia was wielding power, leading to chaos in the government, and these earthquakes were a retribution for her disruption of state affairs!
During the regency of Empress Dowager Deng of the Han Dynasty, earthquakes also occurred in various places. Li Gu analyzed, "The earth is associated with Yin, and governing the country should be based on the principle of tranquility. Now, however, it goes against the nature of Yin and pursues a policy of Yang, which is why earthquakes occur." This analysis aligns with later interpretations. Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Book of Changes": "When the common people stir up trouble, houses are destroyed, and disasters manifest as landslides; this is a sign of Yin energy overcoming Yang energy, the weak triumphing over the strong." He further stated, "When Yin energy betrays Yang energy, it leads to cracks in the earth, separation of fathers and sons, and rebellions among minority groups."
On Dingchou day in May of 5 AD, an earthquake occurred. In June, there was also an earthquake in Jincheng. On Dingchou day in the first month of 6 AD, an earthquake occurred. On Bingchen day in the first month of 8 AD, an earthquake occurred.
In the first year of the Tai'an era, in October, an earthquake occurred. This signaled the downfall of Qi Wang Jiong's tyranny. On Bingchen day in December of 2 AD, an earthquake occurred. This was retribution for the tyranny of Wang Yi in Changsha.
In the third year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Xiaohuai, in October, earthquakes occurred in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. At that time, Sima Yue held power. In April of 4 AD, an earthquake occurred in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, and then crossed the Yellow River southward, which also coincided with the earthquake.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Min, on the Jiachen day in April, an earthquake occurred. In the sixth month of the third year, another earthquake struck Chang'an. At that time, the emperor was still young, and power was in the hands of lower-ranking officials, with ongoing warfare across the regions causing great chaos; these earthquakes were a reflection of that situation.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Yuan, in April, there was an earthquake in Xiping, which also caused water to gush forth. In December, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiling, with water gushing forth and landslides occurring. Gan Bao believed this was an omen of Wang Dun's impending rebellion.
On the day of Jichou in May of the second year, an earthquake struck Qishan, causing landslides and many deaths. At that time, Prime Minister Wang Bao was in Qishan, and some believed this was a sign that the King of Jin was doomed. In the fifth month of the third year, earthquakes occurred again in Danyang, Wujun, and Jinling.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Cheng, in February, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. In March, there was an earthquake in Yizhou. On the day of Jiwuwei in April, there was an earthquake in Yuzhang. That year, Su Jun rebelled. In the ninth year of the reign, on the day of Dingyou in March, there was an earthquake in Kuaiji.
In the year 346, in June, there was an earthquake! At that time, the emperor was still young, and his mother was in charge; actual power lay in the hands of the ministers, so earthquakes were frequent. In October of the following year, there was another earthquake. In the first month of the third year, there was an earthquake; in September, another earthquake occurred. In the fourth year, in October, there was yet another earthquake.
In the first month of the year 347, there was an earthquake. That year, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, which was likely another bad omen. In August of the year 351, there was an earthquake in the capital, with a thunderous sound. In the first month of 352, there was an earthquake, the sound resembling thunder, causing both domestic and wild chickens to cry out in fear. In April and May of 353, there were two consecutive earthquakes.
In November of 358, there was an earthquake; that same year, in August, there was also an earthquake in Liangzhou. In April of 360, there was an earthquake. At that time, political power was held by the generals and ministers, and the emperor was little more than a figurehead.
In April of 361, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, causing rivers and lakes to flood. In February of 362, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen wielded all the power. In February of 370, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou, with water surging forth. This likely foreshadowed the impending downfall of Haixi.
In October of the year 373, the earthquake in Ancheng occurred, and that year the emperor died. In October of 374, there was another earthquake; in February and July of 375, earthquakes occurred, and a landslide also happened in Liangzhou. At that time, the emperor was still young, and power was in the hands of the ministers, which could be seen as a sign of the decline of yang and the rise of yin.
In March and May of 376, there were earthquakes. In June of 382, there was another earthquake. After that, the generals along the Yellow River engaged in battles year after year, leading to hardship for the people, possibly contributing to the earthquakes. In March of 387, there was an earthquake at midnight; in August and December, there were two consecutive earthquakes in the capital. In June and December of 389, there were more earthquakes. At that time, petty officials were in control of the government, leaving the people in a state of panic. In January and February of 390, there were more earthquakes.
In April and September of 399, there were earthquakes. At that time, the emperor remained young and inexperienced, and the power of the court was entirely in the hands of the ministers.
In the middle of the night on the renzi day of January 408, there was a sudden earthquake, and the loud rumbling was terrifying. In October of the same year, there was another earthquake on the guihai day. On the wuxu night of January 409, Xunyang also experienced an earthquake, with the sound like thunder. The next year, Lu Xun's rebellion was crushed. From January to April of 412, four earthquakes struck consecutively in the Nankang and Luling regions. By the next year, Wang Lu had embarked on an expedition to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In March of 415, there was another earthquake.
In August of the year 240 AD, landslides occurred and floods ravaged the areas of Danyang, Jurong, Guzhang, and Ningguo in the state of Wu. According to the book by Liu Xiang, "Mountains represent yang energy, symbolizing the monarch; water represents yin energy, symbolizing the people. When disasters strike, it is like a warning: the collapse of the ruler's authority signals that the people will lose their support!" During the Spring and Autumn Period, the collapse of Liang Mountain and the occurrence of landslides and floods in many mountains of the Qi and Chu states during the Han Dynasty were all for the same reason. In the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, ancestor worship was conducted very carefully, not daring to violate the rituals, so fortunes and misfortunes all had reasons. Although Wu proclaimed itself an empire, it was essentially one of the vassal states. The disaster that occurred in Danyang was heaven's will! Liu Xin also said, "The rise and fall of a country is closely related to the mountains and rivers; the collapse of mountains and the drying up of rivers are all signs of the country's demise." Indeed, two years later, Sun Quan died, and twenty-six years later, Wu was destroyed.
In February of the year 265 AD, the collapse of Taihang Mountain was a sign that the state of Wei was on the verge of collapse! That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.
In March of the year 273 AD, the collapse of Dashishan occurred. In the following year, in July, Mount Tai collapsed, with rocks rolling for three miles. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan," "The top-down collapse corresponds to the falling rocks of Mount Tai, indicating the mandate of the sage king and the capture of the ruler." Later, the emperor died, power slipped away from the royal family; Emperor Hui was weak and incompetent, and Emperors Huai and Min were captured to the north, leading to the country's split, until Emperor Yuan revived in the south, all of which fulfilled this passage.
In May of the year 285 AD, the temple of Emperor Xuan sank. In the following year, in October, the newly formed mountain in Nan'an collapsed, releasing a large amount of water. In February of the year 287 AD, the collapse of Dalu Mountain in Zhuti caused damage to the county government, and the Chouchi Cliff in Yinping also collapsed. In July of the year 288 AD, there was a heavy rainfall, causing the ground before the imperial palace to cave in, spanning five feet wide and plunging several feet deep, inside which there was even a broken ship!
In the fourth year of Emperor Hui of Han's Yuan Kang era, there was a landslide in Sichuan, leading to many deaths. On the ninth day of the fifth month, there was also a landslide in Shouchun, accompanied by a massive flood that caused the city walls to collapse and the ground sank, measuring thirty zhang wide, leading to many casualties. In June, Shouchun experienced an exceptionally heavy thunderstorm, causing further landslides and cracking of the ground, burying many homes, and the same happened in Shangyong. In August, the ground at Juyong Pass cracked open, with a fissure thirty-six zhang wide and eighty-four zhang long, causing water to gush out, which led to a severe famine. Throughout Shangyong, landslides occurred everywhere, with sunken areas measuring thirty zhang wide and one hundred thirty zhang long, also resulting in numerous deaths. These disasters were all caused by the mismanagement by Empress Jia.
In the first year of Tai'an, in April, there was a landslide at Xiyong.
In the first year of Emperor Huai's Yongjia era, in March, the ground sank in Buguangli, northeast of Luoyang. On August 29 two years later, the city wall of Juancheng inexplicably collapsed by more than seventy zhang. Sima Yue deemed this very ominous and moved to Puyang, signifying unusual calamities. Later, Sima Yue also faced misfortune related to tomb construction. On July 27 in the third year of Yongjia, several places in Changyang cracked open, each fissure three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "When the ground cracks, it signifies disloyalty and the unwillingness of subjects to cooperate." Later, Sima Yue fell out with Gou Xi, and the various lords began to act independently, leading to the downfall of the Western Jin dynasty. In October of the third year of Yongjia, there was a landslide in Yidu. In April of the fourth year, there was also a landslide at Lingheishi Mountain in eastern Hunan province.
In the second month of Emperor Yuan's Tai Xing era, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang, and landslides occurred. In May two years later, there was an earthquake in Qishan, causing landslides that killed many people. In the third year, there was a landslide in Nanping County, which yielded several thousand pounds of arsenic sulfide. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and domineering, yet the emperor was very lenient towards him, which was actually inviting trouble by nurturing a tiger. In August of the fourth year, Changshan collapsed, and water surged out, flooding the Huotuo River, knocking down many large trees.
In October of the fourth year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe era, the cliffs northwest of Chaisang collapsed, along with those of Lushan. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In September of the seventh year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe era, both Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb collapsed. In November of the twelfth year, a team was dispatched to repair Junping Tomb, but while they were digging a tunnel, the mountain gave way, killing dozens of people.
In February of the fifth year of the Shengping era, a horseshoe sank into the ground near South Yemo Gate, and when it was excavated, a bell was found with four characters inscribed on it. (The poetry couplet here is not translated.)
On April 14 of the first year of Emperor Ai's Longhe era, Haohai Mountain collapsed, and Zhang Tianxi was defeated in battle.
On a certain day in March 402 AD, a sinkhole occurred in the Shanyin area, and that pit was a full four zhang wide! The sound at that time was like thunder, shaking the heavens.
A few years later, on a certain day in May 406 AD, the ground suddenly cracked open near the Ximing Gate, gushing out a lot of water that damaged the door panels and threshold. This water was a disaster resulting from an imbalance in the earth's energy. Two years later, in May 407 AD, there was a landslide on Huoshan, and six bronze bells were actually excavated from within! Later, in July 409 AD, there was also a thunderous roar by the riverside in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, followed by the riverbank collapsing, from which twelve bronze bells were also unearthed!
One night in June 299 AD, there was suddenly a heavy rain, accompanied by thunder! The pillars of the house where Jia Mi lived sank into the ground, directly collapsing his bed and tent. The sinking wood indicated a problem with the soil beneath; it had lost its load-bearing capacity and could no longer support weight. Interestingly, the following year, Jia Mi met his end.
In May 806 AD, there was a fire underground in the Fanyang Kingdom, and the flames were raging, hot enough to cook with! This fire was a disaster caused by the imbalance of earth energies. During this time, the world was in turmoil; the feudal lords acted independently, traditional rites and music had fallen into disarray, and wars were rampant.
The book says that if the emperor does not maintain balance, the country cannot endure. This is because the emperor himself has issues, leading to punishment, resulting in the nation's decline. Sometimes there is chaos caused by demons and monsters, sometimes there are disasters like dragons and snakes, sometimes horses injure people, sometimes subordinates rebel, and sometimes the sun, moon, and stars behave abnormally. If the emperor does not maintain balance, the country cannot endure. In this context, "皇" refers to the emperor, "极" refers to balance, and "建" refers to establishment. If the emperor's appearance, words and actions, vision and hearing, and thoughts all have problems and cannot maintain balance, then major affairs of the state cannot be accomplished, and the problem lies with him, and as a result, he will be punished. The emperor should harmonize with the will of heaven to govern the realm. Clouds rise from the mountains and spread across the sky, causing chaos in the heavenly phenomena, resulting in persistent rain as a form of punishment. Some say that if the emperor loses balance, those beneath him will grow powerful and eclipse the emperor's light. The "I Ching" states: "The dragon in excess has regret, the noble will lose his position, the high will lose the people, the virtuous will be at a low position and lose their support." Although the emperor holds a high position and great power, without support, he becomes exceedingly vulnerable. Excessive yang energy can lead to recklessness and illness. In ancient times, a grand archery ceremony was held in spring to align with the yang energy. If the emperor is weak, those below will become restless, resulting in the rise of chaos from demons and monsters. The "I Ching" says: "The cloud comes from the dragon," and also says: "The hibernation of dragons and snakes is for self-preservation." With the prevalence of yin energy, disasters like dragons and snakes will occur. In the "I Ching," the "Qian" hexagram represents the emperor and also represents horses. If there is excessive reliance on military force, the emperor's authority will be undermined, leading to incidents of horses injuring people. Some also say that the mass deaths of horses or their transformation into monsters are attributed to this. If the emperor is foolish and weak, he will lose the hearts of the people, and heaven will forsake him. If there is no wise ruler to punish, usurpation and regicide may ensue, leading to subordinate rebellions. In summary, when the emperor's governance falters, it will affect the heavenly phenomena. The book does not directly say that the five elements are in disarray, but instead says, "The sun and moon behave chaotically, the stars move in reverse." This is because those below do not dare to say that heaven is at fault, just as the "Spring and Autumn Annals" states, "The royal army suffered defeat at the hands of the Maorong," without directly mentioning the army's defeat but using the euphemistic term "defeat," to uphold the dignity of the sovereign. Liu Xin in the "Treatise on the Supreme Ultimate" says that there is a lower body born from an upper ailment, meaning that subordinate rebellions signify heaven's punishment, and it can no longer be attributed to disease.
In the third year of the Taiping era during Sun Liang's rule in Wu, starting from August, there was continuous rain for over forty days without stopping. At that time, Sun Liang was preparing to execute Sun Zhen, but the plan was leaked. On the day of Wuyin in September, Sun Zhen surrounded the imperial palace with troops, deposed Sun Liang and made him the King of Kuaiji; this was seen as punishment for the prolonged rain.
When Sun Hao was in power, in the twelfth month of the first year of Baoding, the astronomers reported that it hadn't rained for a long time, and there might be a conspiracy brewing. When Sun Hao heard this, he was greatly alarmed. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to remove him from power during a sacrificial ceremony. Afterward, they had Liu Ping lead the charge, and Lu Kai had informed Liu Ping of the plan in advance, but Liu Ping did not agree, so the plan failed. Sun Hao was notoriously brutal, and many of his subordinates were plotting rebellion; in the end, Wu was indeed destroyed.
In the Shu Kingdom, General Deng Zhi went to Fuling to fight and saw a black ape on the mountain. He shot it with an arrow. The black ape pulled out the arrow and used leaves to block the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Ah, I have gone against the natural order; I may die!" Not long after, he died, a phenomenon known as "shooting a demon." Some say it was a mother black ape holding her child, and Deng Zhi shot the child, who pulled out the arrow and used leaves to block the wound. Deng Zhi sighed and tossed his crossbow into the water, knowing he was doomed.
When Emperor Gong of Jin was the King of Langya, he enjoyed playing bizarre games. Once, he locked a horse inside a gate and had his men shoot at it, wanting to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone nearby advised him, "That horse is a royal symbol! Shooting it now is inauspicious!" So he stopped, but the horse had already been shot with over ten arrows. This could also be seen as shooting a demon. Not long after, he abdicated the throne in favor of Emperor Wu of Song.
In the first month of the first year of Emperor Ming of Wei, a green dragon appeared in the Mobo well in Ji County. Generally speaking, when auspicious signs appear at the wrong time, they turn into monsters, especially when trapped in a well, which is not a good omen. Wei changed its reign title because of this, but this was not the right approach. Gan Bao said, "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearances of green and yellow dragons reflect the rise and fall of Wei. The national fortune of Wei is associated with wood, the color is green, but it cannot compete with gold. The appearance of the yellow dragon and the disappearance of the green dragon symbolize the latter's displacement by the former. The frequent appearances of the green dragon indicate internal conflicts within Wei's national fortune. Thus, Gao Guixiangong ultimately met his defeat." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that the dragon symbolizes nobility, yet being trapped in a well foreshadows the imprisonment of nobles. During the Wei Dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, a reflection of suppressed rulers. Gao Guixiangong's "Hidden Dragon Poem" reflects this idea.
In the first month of the first year of Gao Guixiangong, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Ye City. On the day of Xin Chou in the first month of the first year of Ganlu, a green dragon appeared in a well in Zhi County. In the sixth month of Yi Chou, a green dragon appeared in a well within the boundaries of Yuancheng County. By the second month of the second year of Ganlu, a green dragon appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year of Ganlu, yellow and green dragons appeared simultaneously in wells within the boundaries of Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year of Ganlu, yellow dragons appeared twice in wells within the boundaries of Ningling County.
These records all mention the appearances of green and yellow dragons in wells at various times and places. The ancients believed these were good omens, but we can’t say for certain today. In the twelfth month of the first year of Emperor Yuan of Jin, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Huayin County. In the second month of the third year of Jingyuan, a dragon appeared in a well in Zhi County.
During the reign of Sun Hao of Wu, a dragon emerged from a household well and even ate chicks. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" states, "When a dragon appears in a household, it signifies that those in power will become ordinary citizens." Eventually, Sun Hao was overthrown by the Jin Dynasty. In the sixth month of the second year of Emperor Wudi of Xianning, two white dragons surfaced in a well in Jiuyuan.
In the fifth year of the Taikang era, in the first month of the Gui Mao year, two dragons appeared in the well of the armory. The emperor was delighted to see this, and all the officials were ready to congratulate, except for Liu Yi, who voiced his opposition, saying, "In the past, when dragons appeared in the courtyard of the Xia Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty encountered troubles; when dragons appeared at the gates of the Zheng State, Zichan did not offer congratulations." The emperor said, "My virtuous rule has not yet been established, and I am not qualified to accept such auspicious signs." So he refrained from congratulating. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are water creatures; what do they have to do with humans? Zichan is right. When dragons appear in places they shouldn't, it is actually a sign of disaster. Dragons flying in the sky is considered auspicious, but now lurking in dark places is not a good omen." In the second year of Emperor Hui of Han, two dragons appeared in the well of Lanling; "Han Shu" considered this a sign that King You of Zhao was going to die. The armory is a place where the weapons of emperors are stored, and the building is very tightly secured, not a place where dragons should stay. Seven years later, the vassal kings killed each other, and twenty-eight years later, two people with the surname Long indeed usurped the throne, indicating that these omens were predictive.
In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a prostitute from the Qiang tribe in Fanghan gave birth to a dragon son, with colors resembling brocade patterns, who often nursed from his mother and could even radiate divine light, and very few people were able to see him. This also indicated that the emperor was in decline, and later Emperor Min did indeed perish.
Toward the end of Lü Zuan's rule, a dragon emerged from the well in the east wing and lay in front of his palace, disappearing by daybreak. Soon after, a black dragon flew onto his palace gates. Lü Zuan saw this as a good omen. Some remarked, "Dragons are yin creatures, appearing in a pattern; now appearing one after another, there must be someone scheming to rebel." Later, Lü Zuan was indeed killed by Lü Chao.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin in the Xian Ning era, two large snakes appeared in the Minister's office, each more than ten zhang long, surprisingly residing on the beams of the office building without anyone noticing! For several years, children, pigs, and dogs kept going missing, which was quite odd. Later, one of the snakes came out at night and was injured by someone, unable to move, which led to them being discovered! Everyone quickly took immediate action to deal with the snake, and after quite a while, they finally succeeded in killing it. The Minister's office is a place for educating the people, and this incident shows that the court is fundamentally corrupt, which is why such monsters appear! During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, and Yang Ci said this was due to the emperor's indulgence in women. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were an overwhelming number of women in the palace, and Prince Yan was particularly addicted to drinking and pleasures, which were clear signs of disorder! The Book of Songs states, "Only the viper and the snake, the omen of women," which illustrates this idea.
On the day of Gui Si in March of the fifth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang era, a large snake appeared in Linzi, more than ten zhang long, accompanied by two smaller snakes, entering the city through the north gate, directly crossing the market, and entering the shrine of King Jing of Han, then disappearing. This is a divine warning! King Jing of Han had made great contributions in the past, but later he neglected his moral integrity, resulting in his loss of office and title; he lost all his dignity. Now, Prince Jiong of Qi is no different; although he has made achievements, his arrogance has brought disaster, which is retribution!
At the beginning of the Tai Ning era during Emperor Ming's reign, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, often residing in an old temple on a hollow tree, often poking its head out for food. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao": "If a snake appears in the city, there will surely be great military action within three years, and the country will face great difficulties." Not long after, Wang Dun rebelled, which turned out to be true!
In the first year of Emperor Wu Di Tai Xi, a horse with long horns appeared in Liaodong, with horns three inches long growing under its ears. According to Liu Xiang, "this is a sign of a military disaster." Later, the emperor passed away, and the imperial family indeed encountered disaster, fulfilling the prophecy! Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes Commentary," "If the ministers disobey the emperor and the government is in chaos, strange occurrences like horses growing horns will appear, indicating a lack of virtuous scholars!" He also said, "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses will grow horns." The "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" also said, "When the ruler loses virtue, horses will grow horns." Later, Emperor Hui ascended the throne, ruled poorly, and personally led troops to fight in Chengdu, which indeed proved to be true!
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui Yuan Kang, the crown prince was to hold a sacrificial ceremony. The Grand Tutor Zhao Wang Lun went to the South Gate by carriage, but the horse stopped, and several strong men could not move it. Zhao Wang Lun had to get off the carriage and switch to a lighter one to continue. This is a calamity brought by the horse! This is a warning from heaven! Zhao Wang Lun did not grasp the principles of proper conduct, eventually rebelled, and was not a person who taught others about etiquette!
On the day of the eleventh month of Wuyin, a chestnut horse suddenly ran into the interrogation hall of the Court of Judicial Review in panic and died with a mournful cry. This appears to be a warning from heaven, as if pitying those who died unjustly. Could the horse's entrance into the Court of Judicial Review signify the will of heaven?
In the second month of the sixth year of Yongjia, a divine horse neighed at the South Gate. In the ninth month of the second year of Jianxing, an even stranger incident occurred in Puzi County where horses were said to give birth to humans! Jing Fang mentioned in the "Book of Changes Commentary," "When the emperor dies, the feudal lords fight each other, strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans will occur." At that time, the imperial family was declining, on the brink of collapse, with the Xiongnu and Di people invading one after another, the flames of war drawing ever closer. Soon after, the emperor fell, and this strange phenomenon appeared.
In the second year of the Taixing era, an official from Danyang Commandery named Puyang Yan had a foal with two heads that split from the front of its neck, but it died shortly after birth. Sima Biao said, "This heralds power falling into private hands; it is an omen of a two-headed horse." Later, Wang Dun did indeed rebel.
In the eighth year of Xiankang, in the month of May, a horse as red as blood appeared, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling around the palace before running off, and no one could catch up. On the day of Jima, the emperor became ill, and in June, the emperor passed away. This horse was a sign of disaster and also a bad omen due to its red color. In the same year, in Liangzhou, Zhang Chonghua wanted to execute Zhang Xiang, the Prefect of Xihe. Several dozen horses in his stable all simultaneously gave birth without tails!
In the fourth year of Long'an, in October, there was a bizarre occurrence in Liangzhou where horses grew horns. Governor Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not grow horns, just like Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan did not listen and ultimately met a disgraceful end.
When Shi Jilong was in Ye City, one of his horses had its tail burnt, entered through the Zhongyang Gate, and exited through the Xianyang Gate; people from the East Palace could not enter. The horse ran off towards the northeast and quickly vanished. The sorcerer Fotu Cheng lamented, "Disaster is coming!" More than a year later, Shi Jilong died, and his kingdom also fell.
During the Huangchu era, the mother of Song Shizong from Qinghe transformed into a turtle and vanished into the water.
In the year 233 AD, there was a farmer named Qiu Xi serving Cao Xiu, whose daughter died and then came back to life, causing quite a sensation at the time. Around the same time, someone opened the tomb of a nobleman from the Zhou Dynasty and found a woman buried with him; after a few days, she unexpectedly began to breathe, and although she still couldn't speak months later, Empress Guo took her in. Additionally, in Taiyuan, a grave was dug up, revealing a living woman inside the coffin; when asked what had happened, she didn’t know what had happened either. The tombstone inscription indicated she had lived for about thirty years. The "Jingfang Yizhuan" states, "The utmost yin becomes yang, the lower becomes the upper," which foreshadowed the rise of Emperor Xuan of Han. Similar strange events also occurred during the rule of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian of Han, and people at the time believed these were signs of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
In 261 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County came back to life seven days after dying, crawling out of his own grave. Gan Bao said, "This is reminiscent of the event involving Emperor Xuan of Han; it is an auspicious sign that the Marquis of Wucheng, Hao, would inherit the legacy of the deposed emperor and seize control of the realm." In 265 AD, a man named Xuan Qian from Danyang had an eighty-year-old mother who transformed into a giant turtle 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, allowing the giant turtle to swim in it; for a day or two, it frequently stretched its neck to peer outside. When they slightly opened the door, the turtle turned and jumped out on its own, swimming into a nearby pond and never returning. This was reminiscent of the incident involving Huang's mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, which was also seen as an omen of the impending downfall of the Kingdom of Wu.
In August of the year 264 AD, people in Xiangwu County reported seeing a giant. The giant was more than thirty feet tall, with footprints measuring three feet and two inches long. He had white hair, wore a yellow headscarf and a yellow robe, leaned on a cane, and shouted the name "Wang Shi" while saying, "Now there will be peace." Eventually, the Jin Dynasty took over from the Wei Dynasty. In the year 275 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns, which likely foreshadowed the chaos that would come from Zhao Wang Lun's power grab. In December of the year 276 AD, a man named Yan Ji from Langye died of illness. He had been in the ground for quite some time, but his family dreamt that he said to them, "I am going to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So his family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji slowly regained the ability to eat, drink, bend, stretch, see, and hear, but he could not walk or speak. Two years later, he died again. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says, "The extreme of yin becomes yang, the lowly become exalted, and the monstrous man dies and is reborn." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately overthrowing the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy of "the lowly becoming exalted."
During the reign of Emperor Huai of the Yuan Kang era, there was a woman named Zhou Shinin in Anfeng. At the age of eight, she gradually transformed into a man, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, her temperament was completely masculine. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says, "A woman transforms into a man, this is referred to as yin prospering, the lowly becoming king." This was also a prelude to the ensuing chaos brought by Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping through the realm.
During the Yongning era, Prince Qi Jiong, under the guise of restoring the rightful emperor, raised an army to suppress rebels and reinstated the emperor, enjoying a brief moment of glory. At this time, a woman suddenly ran to the gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion, claiming to leave a baby there for safekeeping. When the guards asked her what was going on, she replied, "I’ll be leaving right after I give birth." Thanks to his efforts to support the royal family, Prince Qi Jiong was credited with the achievements by the people, but some perceptive individuals sensed his impending downfall. Indeed, Prince Qi Jiong was later killed.
On the day of Jiazi in December of the first year of Yongning, an old man with white hair burst into Prince Qi Jiong's Grand Marshal's Mansion, shouting loudly, "A great army is coming, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. As a result, on the day of Wuchen in December of the following year, Prince Qi Jiong indeed faced defeat, exactly ten days later.
In the first year of Tai'an, on the day of Guichou in the fourth month of the first year of Tai'an, a man claimed he had come in from Longmen, ran to the front of the palace, bowed twice to the north, and said, "I should be the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat." After saying this, he was arrested and killed. Gan Bao believed, "The Imperial Palace is a very noble place, but now a lowly person can easily enter, and the guards failed to notice. This is an ominous sign that the palace is becoming vulnerable, with commoners rising above the nobles!" Eventually, the emperor moved north to Ye City and then to Chang'an, leading to the eventual emptiness of the Imperial Palace.
During the Yuankang period, there was a woman in Liangguo who had been promised to someone, and the betrothal gifts had been received. However, not long after, her husband went to garrison the border in Chang'an and did not return for several years. Her family then arranged for her to marry someone else. The woman did not want to, but her parents insisted, leaving her no choice but to comply, and she died shortly thereafter. Later, her original husband returned and inquired about his wife's whereabouts. The family told him what had happened. He ran to his wife's grave, grief-stricken, and actually dug up the grave, only to find his wife alive. They then returned home together. Later, her second husband eventually found out and reported it to the authorities, who were unable to reach a decision. The Secretary Wang Dao said, "This is an extraordinary matter, and cannot be judged by common sense. The woman should be returned to her former husband." The court accepted his suggestion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maidservant in Du Xi's family died. When they opened the grave ten years later to prepare for a joint burial, they found the maidservant was still alive! At first, she seemed to be sleeping, but gradually woke up and said she felt like she had only slept for two days. At the time of her burial, she was just fifteen or sixteen years old. Ten years later, when she was unearthed, she still looked fifteen or sixteen, and later got married and had children.
In the first year of Guangxi, there was a woman named Xie Zhen in Kuaiji who gave birth to a child with a large head, born with hair, feet pointing upwards, and both male and female physical traits. The child let out a man's voice and died one day later. This was a sign of the decline of imperial power, with the lower classes rebelling against the elite, leading to various princes rising up in rebellion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were people in Luoyang who exhibited both male and female characteristics, had sexual relations with both men and women, and had a particularly strong sexual desire, all caused by social unrest. Beginning in the Xianning and Taikang eras, male favorites became all the rage, even overshadowing the affection for women, with officials and nobles vying for them, prompting widespread imitation across the nation, even causing marital separations and rising grievances. This disruption of male and female energies gave rise to demons and monsters.
In the first year of Yongjia, a servant girl named Wan Xiang in Wujin, Wu County, gave birth to a bizarre child with a bird's head, horse hooves for legs, a single hand, no hair, and a yellow tail roughly the size of a pillow. This too was a sign of the chaos that was about to unfold!
In May of the fifth year, a prostitute belonging to Yan Gen, the magistrate of Fanghan County, gave birth to a dragon, a girl, and a goose. The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang says: "When a person gives birth to non-human things, it is a sign of a large-scale war about to happen in the world." At that time, the emperor inherited the throne from Emperor Hui, and the realm descended into chaos, only to be defeated in Pingyang and killed by the Hu people, thus fulfilling the prophecy!
In the fourth year of the Min Emperor Jianxing's reign, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official from Xincai County, gave birth to two girls. Their stomachs and hearts were connected, but they were separated from the chest up and the navel down. This was an extraordinary occurrence! At that time, the Grand Historian Lu Hui reported, "According to the records of the 'Auspicious Response Chart,' plants with different roots growing together are called liaison branches, and rice plants with different stems growing together in one ear are called auspicious grains. The strange phenomena of plants are regarded as auspicious signs. Now, these two girls are of one mind and heart. The Book of Changes says, 'When two people are of one mind, their strength can cut through metal.' This should be a sign of unity and harmony in the world!" At the time, everyone thought he was joking. Not long after, the world soon fell into chaos, and the Emperor passed away.
In the early years of Emperor Yuan's Taixing reign, there was a woman whose female genitalia were on her stomach, below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, had a strong sexual desire, but could not conceive. There was another woman whose female genitalia were on her head, at the Yangzhou ferry, and she, too, had a strong sexual desire. According to Jing Fang's 'Yi Yao,' "If a child is born with the female genitalia on the head, the world will descend into chaos; if on the stomach, significant events will unfold in the world; if on the back, the world will end." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and was about to rebel. This was a sign!
In the twelfth month of the third year, the wife of the Shangshu Zou Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter who made a "pipi" sound as soon as she was born and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face resembled a neck, she had teeth in her mouth, all connected, her chest was like a turtle, her hands and feet had claws like a bird's, all bent downwards. This was also an unprecedented phenomenon of giving birth to something non-human. Two years later, the Stone Rebellion ended in defeat.
In the seventh month of the second year of the Ming Emperor Taiping, the wife of Marquis Ji of Jiangning died, and three days later, she was resurrected.
In the fourth month of the fifth year of Xiankang, there were common people in Xiapi, one of whom was named Wang He, who moved to Jiyang. His daughter, aged twenty, claimed to have come from the heavens and said she had received the seal bestowed by the heavens, aspiring to be the mother of the world. The Jinling Prefect believed she was a demon and had her arrested and imprisoned. In November, a person wearing red clothes and carrying a wooden staff ran to the gate of the imperial palace, claiming to be a saint sent to see the emperor. When the gatekeeper inquired, he said his name was Lv Ci and mentioned that Wang He's daughter had seven stars under her right foot, each with hair seven inches long, and that she was to be made the mother of the world by the heavens. This was reported to the emperor, and Lv Ci was killed, along with Wang He's daughter.
In the tenth month of the second year of Jianyuan, the Guard General's camp supervisor found a woman at Chendu Female Platform bearing the inscription "Mother of the World" on her feet. After moxibustion treatment, the words became clearer. This caused a commotion in the capital, and she was captured by the authorities and reported to the emperor. The woman quickly escaped from Jiankang County's prison. The following year, the emperor died, and the Empress Dowager took over the reins of power, which may have been a portent of things to come.
During the Ningkang period, there was a woman in Nanzhou Ling named Tang Shi who gradually transitioned into a man.
In the seventh year of Yixi, there was a person in Wuxi named Zhao who, at the age of eight, suddenly shot up to eight feet tall and grew a beard, only to die three days later.
During the Yixi period, a family surnamed Mo in Dongyang had a daughter who was not raised and was buried for several days. However, crying sounds were heard coming from the ground, and the child was exhumed and raised.
Towards the end of the Yixi period, in a place called Eryang Dao in Wuping, Yuzhang, people were said to have repeatedly reincarnated.
In the first year of Yuanxi, there was a place in Jian'an called Yangdao where a headless person was eventually restored to normalcy, who originally had a female body.
