In the year 284 AD (the fifth year of the Taikang reign of Emperor Wu of Western Jin), in June, the ponds in Rencheng and Lu State turned blood red, just like blood. According to Liu Xiang, this was because the water near the fire was contaminated, as a punishment for those who ignored warnings. Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Yi Zhuan" that "when a ruler is obsessed with women, the wise are hidden away, and the country is in imminent danger, strange phenomena, like water turning red, will occur." This describes the situation at that time!
In the year 363 AD (the third year of the Shengping reign of Emperor Mu of Eastern Jin), in February, a pond in the east of Liangzhou caught fire. By April of the fourth year, the water in Ganzang Marsh also caught fire. This was all due to the presence of malevolent spirits in the water! And the result? The next year, Zhang Tianxi executed the chief military officer, Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong was a high-ranking official in the imperial court at that time!
In the year 402 AD (the second year of the Yuanxing reign of Emperor An of Eastern Jin), in October, the water of Linping Lake in Qiantang turned red. Huan Xuan deliberately told the officials of Wu County that this was a good omen, appearing for him. However, not long after, Huan Xuan failed. This truly proves the saying, "Those who bring trouble upon themselves cannot survive!"
Ancient texts say that if one always holds grudges and cannot tolerate others, they will be far from being a true "sage"! The consequences can be severe, ranging from ongoing disasters to premature death. Specifically, various misfortunes may occur: sudden apparitions of demons at night that scare you; outbreaks of insect plagues leading to crop failure; crazed cattle running amok; excruciating stomach pains and gastrointestinal problems; yellow disasters, which may also be interpreted as auspicious signs; imbalances in the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth bringing various calamities.
You see, what the book refers to as "the heart is narrow and cannot accommodate others" means that the heart is narrow and cannot accept others. "Tolerance" means tolerance. Confucius once said, "If a leader lacks tolerance and magnanimity, how can I look up to him?" This means that if a leader cannot be tolerant, it will be difficult for subordinates to achieve success. What we commonly think of as seeing, hearing, thinking, and speaking are all primarily guided by the "heart." If there are problems with all four of these, then the mind becomes confused, which can invite disaster. As for climate changes such as droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, they are actually all caused by the wind. If the seasons and climate are all out of order, then naturally there will be strong winds. Strong winds can wreak havoc, which can result in premature death. "Disaster" refers to people facing disasters, "short" refers to animals and birds dying prematurely, and "break" refers to plants and trees withering. There is also another saying: "disaster" means premature death; the death of a brother is referred to as "short," and the death of a father and son is referred to as "break."
Excess fat on the stomach wraps around the heart, much like a layer of lard. When the heart feels oppressed, it’s as if it’s shrouded in shadow, leading to encounters with demons and monsters. There's also a saying that greasy foods attract demons and monsters at night, similar to how dirty clothes attract stains. Another belief is that nighttime demons and monsters manifest as fierce winds and torrential rain, dark and akin to regular gusts. In warm weather, the wind can bring forth pests, leading to potential disasters. Liu Xiang believes that in the Book of Changes, the "Xun" hexagram represents wind and wood, which occurs in March and April when the yang energy begins to grow, governing the flowering and fruiting of trees. If the wind is too strong, in autumn and winter, trees will bloom again, leading to insect disasters. Some say that an overabundance of earth energy can trigger blooming in autumn and winter. It’s also said that "Hua" signifies color, while "Tu" pertains to internal matters, hinting at misfortunes for women. In the Book of Changes, the "Kun" hexagram represents earth and oxen. Oxen are large creatures but lack thought; their spirits suffer, resulting in calamities related to them. Additionally, there’s a belief that oxen are susceptible to death or may transform into demons and monsters. If a person embodies these traits, they are likely to suffer from gastrointestinal issues. Earth is associated with the color yellow, which can signify both disasters and auspicious omens. In summary, individuals who feel oppressed in their hearts are more susceptible to earth-related ailments; when earth energy is unwell, it impacts metal, wood, water, and fire, resulting in disasters across the five elements. The text doesn’t state "only," but rather "sometimes," indicating that disasters can arise from multiple energy types, suggesting a broader scale of calamity. If these issues can be resolved, the ultimate outcome is a peaceful and long life. Liu Xin notes in "Si Xin Zhuan" that there are instances of disasters caused by pests such as moths.
In the ninth year of the Zhengshi era under King Wei of Qi, there were strong winds for several days that had damaged houses and snapped trees. On the last day of the twelfth month, known as Wuyin, the wind intensified even more, causing the Taiji Hall's eastern pavilion to sway.
After this, on the first day of Jiaping's first month, a howling northwest wind blew down houses and trees, kicking up dust and darkening the sky. Guan Lu interpreted this as a divine punishment for those in power, an ominous sign for rulers. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power, arrogant and domineering, and had already shown signs of heavenly condemnation multiple times, yet he showed no remorse. This reflected his lack of wisdom, leading to punishment by the fierce winds. Not long after, Cao Shuang was executed. Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": "When people violate the principles of unity and virtue, the highest morals are hidden, and abnormal winds will appear. This wind initially blows without rain, but suddenly escalates into a storm, blowing down houses and trees. Upholding justice yet failing to advance is termed folly; this wind appears with clouds, breaking the stems of crops. Ministers going against the monarch's commands is called disobedience; this wind is strong, blowing down houses. Unreasonable taxation is called disaster; this wind stops all growth, and then when the weather warms, pests appear. Princes monopolizing power is called disunity; this wind blows fast, but trees do not sway, and crops do not ripen. Rulers not considering the people's interests is called lack of grace; this wind causes trees not to sway, drought without rain, damaging crops. Officials only concerned with their own interests is called chaos; this wind is mild and warm, breeding pests that threaten crops. Neglecting governance for hedonism is referred to as confusion; this wind is warm, breeding pests that harm beneficial things. Princes not paying respects to the emperor is called rebellion; this wind is erratic, turning the land crimson, and even causing death when it rains."
In the first year of Taiyuan, on the first day of August, a strong wind blew, causing the waves in the rivers and seas to surge. The land was flooded to a depth of eight feet, more than two thousand tall trees were uprooted, stone tablets shook, and both city gates of Wu City were blown away. Hua He's analysis stated that this was a punishment from the heavens due to the heavy corvée and high taxes that Sun Quan imposed. The following year, Sun Quan passed away.
In the first year of Jianxing, on the day of Bingshen in the twelfth month, a strong wind accompanied by lightning blew. That year, Wei Kingdom sent three armies to attack, and Zhuge Ke defeated the Dongxing army of Wei Kingdom, causing the other two armies to retreat. The next year, Zhuge Ke attacked Xincheng again, suffering heavy casualties, and upon his return, he was killed.
During the first year of Yong'an, on the day of Jiawu in the eleventh month, the wind blew fiercely, swirling around for several days in a foggy mist. At that time, the Sun family held immense power, with five of its members appointed as marquises, surpassing the authority of Sun Xiu of Wu Kingdom. This wind disaster, reminiscent of the calamities that befell the Five Marquises of the Han Dynasty and the Ding and Fu families, came to pass. On the night of Dingmao in the twelfth month, a strong wind blew, causing trees to fall and dust to fly. The next day, Sun Chen was executed.
In the fifth year of Taishi of Emperor Sima Yan's reign, on the day of Xinmao in May, a strong wind blew in the Guangping region, causing trees to break. In the first year of Xianning in May, a strong wind blew in the areas of Xiapi and Guangling, resulting in the collapse of over a thousand households and the breaking of trees. On the day of Jiashen in the same month, a strong wind blew in Guangling, Siwu, and Xiapi, causing trees to break. In the third year of the reign, in August, a strong wind blew in the Hejian region, causing trees to break.
In the second year of Taikang, in May, a fierce storm swept through Jinan, uprooting trees and damaging wheat. In June, a strong wind blew through the Gaoping area, uprooting trees and damaging over forty official residences. In July, another strong wind struck the Shangdang area, devastating the autumn crops. In June of the eighth year, strong winds were reported in eight locations nationwide. In the first month of the ninth year, hail fell in the capital, uprooting trees and toppling houses. Two years later, the emperor died.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, Sima Zhong, in the fourth year of Yuankang, in June, a fierce wind and heavy rain uprooted trees. On the night of April of the fifth year, a storm arose, and the eastern canal overflowed, resulting in many drownings. In July, a strong wind struck the Xia Pi area, causing houses to collapse. In September, places such as Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, and Shangdang suffered from devastating winds, severely damaging crops. The following year, the Di and Qiang tribes rebelled, and the imperial court dispatched a large army westward.
In June of the ninth year of Yuankang, a gust of wind lifted Jia Mi's court robes hundreds of zhang into the air. The next year, Jia Mi was executed. On the first day of the eleventh lunar month, a relentless wind battered the capital, causing houses to collapse and trees to break. In December, the Crown Prince Minhuai was assassinated and imprisoned in Xuchang.
In the first year of Yongkang, in February, a strong wind uprooted trees. In March, the Crown Prince Minhuai was harmed. On the day of Jimao, his coffin was transported from Xuchang back to Luoyang. On that day, a strong wind with thunder and lightning arose, ripping the curtains of the hearse. In April, Zhang Hua's house was struck by fierce winds, uprooting trees, blowing away brocade, and snapping six or seven axles. This month, Zhang Hua was also harmed. On the first day of the eleventh lunar month, a strong wind blew in from the northwest, breaking trees and whipping up sand and debris, howling for six days before finally subsiding. In the first month of the following year, Zhao Wang Lun seized the throne.
In the first year of Yongning, in August, strong winds swept through three places across the country. On the day of Yichou in the first month of the first year of Yongxing, strong winds blew from the northwest. On the day of Guiyou in the first month of Zhao Wang Lun's reign, Zhao Wang Lun held a sacrificial ceremony at the ancestral temple when a sudden storm arose, with dust flying everywhere, obscuring the sky and blocking the sun. That April, Zhao Wang Lun was executed.
In July 304, strong winds swept through, damaging houses and uprooting trees. In August, another storm came, breaking over a hundred willow trees along the imperial road. The wind swirled chaotically, seemingly coming from all directions. At that time, Wang Dun was in power, causing the deaths of officials like Minister Diao Xie and Deputy Minister Zhou Yi, so this wind seemed aimless, raging everywhere. This was a sign of the emperor's incompetence, leading the lords to refrain from paying their respects! In November of the same year, the emperor passed away.
In March 340, strong winds swept through Chengdu, damaging houses and uprooting trees. In April, Li Shou killed Li Qi and declared himself emperor. In July 344, calamities occurred in Jinling and Wu County, all caused by strong winds.
In August 357, when He was made empress, strong winds arose that day. Later, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, demoting the empress to the Lady of Lingling County, all because of the emperor's poor judgment! In January 360, strong winds blew again.
In February 376, fierce and strong winds arose, and that year, the Duke of Haixi was deposed.
In March 373, strong winds swept through the capital city, and a great fire broke out. At that time, Huan Wen entered the capital, ambitious and eager to usurp power. The emperor was still young, and everyone was anxious—clear signs of the emperor's lack of wisdom! In March 376, a storm suddenly arose, first blowing from the east, then shortly after from the west, with sand and stones flying about, creating a terrifying scene.
In February and March of the year 378, violent storms swept through, breaking trees and overturning houses. In June of 380, a fierce wind howled through Chang'an, knocking down the trees in Fu Jian's palace. Later, Fu Jian went south to fight, but ended up suffering a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Feishui, resulting in his death and the downfall of his dynasty. In August of 382, another storm broke, kicking up sand and stones.
In January and July of 388, strong winds howled, snapping trees. In December of 389, a strong wind blew, darkening the day. Later, the emperor died, and the lords grew unruly, leading to Yuan Xian seizing power, ultimately culminating in Huan Xuan's usurpation—an ominous sign of things to come! In June of 395, another strong wind howled, breaking trees.
In February of 402, there were strong winds and heavy rain, blowing off the tiles from the Great Navigation Gate. The following year, Huan Xuan usurped power, entering through this gate.
In the first month of 403, Huan Xuan went out to the Great Navigation South for a leisurely outing, but a fierce wind swept through, tearing away his carriage canopy. This fierce wind persisted for three months, and Huan Xuan returned to Jiangling in disgrace. In May, Jiangling experienced strong winds again, breaking many trees. That month, Huan Xuan faced total defeat on Zhengrong Isle, and he was killed, his body mutilated. On Dingyou Day in November, another strong wind blew, causing many deaths in Jiangling.
In the year 407, on the Xinmao new moon day in November, a northwest wind began to blow fiercely. By the year 408, on the Dinghai day in the intercalary October, the strong wind was so fierce it lifted roofs off houses. The following year, Lu Xun fled to Caizhou. In the year 409, on the Renchen day in May, the fierce wind uprooted centuries-old trees in the northern suburbs and brought down the archery halls in Langya and Yangzhou. On that day, Lu Xun's large ship was also sunk. On the Jiaxu day, the wind howled again, tearing off roofs and snapping trees. That winter, the court sent troops southward. In the year 412, in the first month, a fierce wind damaged the pillars of the pagoda at the White Horse Temple. In the year 413, on the Jichou new moon day in April, the strong wind blew down trees; on the Xinhai day in June, there was another strong wind that blew down trees; in July, a strong wind swept through the Huai Bei region, damaging many houses. The following year, the court dispatched Sima Xiuzhi to the west.
In the year 260, on the Wuxu day in the first month, Emperor Jing went to attack Gan Qiu Jian, but a strong wind arose, darkened the sky, causing people on the road to lie down; it was truly a supernatural phenomenon! Liu Xiang said: "In broad daylight, the sky darkened, the yin energy overpowered the yang energy, and ministers controlled their rulers!"
In October of the year 263, a great earthquake occurred in the capital, and it was dark even during the day; this was yet another sign of the supernatural! Ban Gu said: "Night demons are when clouds and winds blow together, darkening the sky and earth, similar to an ordinary storm." Liu Xiang stated in "Spring and Autumn Commentary": "Heaven warns against hereditary positions for officials and urges them to focus on their duties. When it turns dark in the daytime, it signals the decline of the court." The Wei state saw these supernatural phenomena as a sign that the Jin dynasty was destined to rise.
On the Xinmao day in October of the year 311, it darkened during the day and lasted until Gengzi; this was yet another ominous sign! The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, and the court's army was continuously defeated, leading the emperor to flee to Pingyang.
In the year 398, on the Yuwei day in December, a strong wind blew, and the sky turned dark. Later, the emperor died, the feudal lords became rebellious, civil war erupted, leading to Yuan Xian seizing power, and Huan Xuan also caused chaos.
In the "I Ching," Jing Fang said: "Officials who are complacent with their current situation and only think about their own promotion and wealth are greedy, and disasters will gnaw at the roots of crops like insects. If virtue is inconsistent and unpredictable, this is chaos, and insects will gnaw at the leaves of crops. If mistakes are not corrected and there is no virtue, insects will gnaw at the very foundation of crops. If one rushes to farm out of season, this means farming out of season, and insects will gnaw at the stems of crops. If evil is covered up and allowed to breed, insects will gnaw at the heart of crops."
In July 276 AD, locust disasters occurred in various counties and states. In September, Qingzhou experienced another locust disaster. This month, various counties and states saw green caterpillars eating crops. By 280 AD, twenty counties including Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou had suffered from locust disasters.
In 283 AD, the crabs and a local creature called Pengqi in Kuaiji County turned into rats, which multiplied rapidly and caused devastation by consuming rice. In August 288 AD, twenty-four counties experienced locust disasters. In September, pests again harmed the autumn harvest crops. At that time, the emperor was swayed by slanderous whispers and favored Jia Chong and Yang Jun, which led to the locust disasters, a consequence of "failing to correct mistakes and lacking virtue."
In September 291 AD, locust disasters occurred in six counties, and all the rice leaves were eaten clean.
In July 292 AD, locust disasters struck the three states of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou. At that time, Prince Qi, Jiong, was in power, and this was a consequence of his greed and cruelty. In October, in places like Nanan, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, and Beihai, green caterpillars devoured the rice leaves, severely damaging up to sixty percent of the crops. In December, six counties experienced locust disasters.
In the year 288 AD, a bizarre event occurred in the northern part of Youzhou, foretelling a calamity related to cattle. At that time, the emperor was seriously ill and was concerned about his succession, but he had failed to select a suitable and upright person to pass on his legacy, a sign of impending incompetence and chaos. As Shi Kuang wisely observed, "When resentment spreads among the people, non-verbal strange phenomena will emerge to express it." This aligns with what Jing Fang stated in the "Yi Zhuan": "When innocent people are killed, strange things like cows turning into monsters will occur."
During the reign of Emperor Huidi Tai'an, there was a man named Zhang Cheng in Jiangxia who had a cow that suddenly spoke: "The world is in chaos, where are you running to on my back?" Zhang Cheng was frightened and hurried back home. Later, his dog barked: "Why did you come back so soon?" Not long after, the cow actually stood up and walked on two legs! Zhang Cheng quickly consulted a fortune teller, who said: "There will be a civil war in the world, and this disaster is one that no family can escape." Sure enough, that year Zhang Chang rebelled, targeting Jiangxia first. Zhang Cheng, as a general, found himself amidst chaos across five provinces, leading to his own downfall. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also mentioned: "Cows can speak, and based on what they say, one can predict good or bad fortune." The "Yi Meng Qi Shu" similarly notes: "If the ruler does not treat the scholars well, but instead adorns the warhorses and feeds the dogs and wolves human food, then strange incidents of livestock speaking will occur." At that time, the emperor and nobles disregarded the welfare of the common folk, so these strange incidents came true.
In the first year of Emperor Yuan's Jianwu reign, in July, in Jinling's Chenmen, a cow gave birth to a calf, but this calf was born with two heads! According to Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan," it states, "A cow birthing a two-headed calf is an omen of the world fracturing!" At that time, Emperor Min was exiled to Pingyang and later killed by the Hu people. Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, thus bringing the prophecy to fruition.
In the first year of Taixing, Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang, had a cow that gave birth to a calf that was very peculiar, with two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing one belly, and it died three years later. There was another cow with only one leg but three tails, which also died shortly after birth. Sima Biao remarked, "Two-headed cows represent power falling into private hands, with no distinction between upper and lower levels." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also states, "Those with many legs cannot bear heavy responsibilities; those with few legs also cannot bear heavy responsibilities." Later, Wang Dun and others disrupted the political power, which fulfilled these prophecies.
In the fourth year, in the twelfth month, the sacrificial cow died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the sacrificial cow indicated, "Duke Xuan was incompetent and corrupt, so heaven did not accept his sacrifices." The successes of Emperor Yuan's reign were actually due to Wang Dao. Liu Wei gained the emperor's favor by flattery, while Wang Dao was neglected, resulting in incompetence and corruption!
In May of the second year of Xianhe, the commander's cow gave birth to a calf with two heads and six legs. That winter, Su Jun rebelled. Seven years later, the cow of Yuan Rong's family in Jiude also gave birth to a strange calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing one belly.
When Huan Xuan visited the Intendant Yin Zhongkan in Jingzhou, he passed by a place called Hexiong and encountered an old man driving a strange green cow. Without a word, Huan Xuan exchanged his own cow for the green one. Riding the green cow to Lingling Jingxi, the cow sprinted. When it stopped to drink water, it ran straight into the river and never came out. After searching all day, they never found the cow. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated and killed.
In the second year of Liu Bei's reign in Shu Han, known as Zhangwu, he marched east. In February, he set up camp at Yidao after leaving Zigui. In June, a yellow mist appeared in Zigui, stretching for more than ten miles and several dozen yards wide. Ten days later, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Yi, which fulfilled the omen of the yellow mist.
During the reign of King Qi of Wei in the reign of Zheng Shi, King Zhou Nan of Zhongshan was the magistrate of Xiangyi County. One day, a mouse emerged from its hole and said, "Zhou Nan, you will die on a certain day." Zhou Nan ignored it, and the mouse returned to its hole. When that day arrived, the mouse came out again, wearing a hat and dressed neatly, saying, "Zhou Nan, you will die today at noon!" Zhou Nan still ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. After a while, the mouse came out again and repeated the same words. At noon, the mouse said, "Zhou Nan, if you don't respond to me, what more can I say!" After saying this, it died, and its hat and clothing fell away. Upon picking them up, they appeared to be just like those of an ordinary mouse. Ban Gu's book states that this is an ominous yellow sign. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power, and there was mutual competition, so the mouse foretold disaster.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Emperor Hui of Jin's Yuan Kang reign, a thick fog enveloped the land. Emperor Hui was incompetent and did not personally decide on political matters, leading to such strange celestial phenomena.
In the fourth year of Emperor Yuan of Jin's Tai Xing reign, in August, yellow mist spread everywhere, and dust obscured the sky and sun.
In October of the first year of Yong Chang, there was heavy fog in the capital, and black gas rose to the sky, making the sun invisible.
On the day of Gui Si in the first month of the first year of Emperor Ming of Jin's Tai Ning reign, yellow mist spread everywhere. In February, yellow mist appeared again. At that time, Wang Dun was in power, and the rebellion grew increasingly severe.
In the seventh year of Yong He during the reign of Emperor Mu of Jin, in March, a strong wind blew through Liangzhou, toppling trees, and yellow mist with dust fell. At that time, Zhang Chonghua believed slanderous words and dismissed Xie Ai from his position as governor of Jiuquan. The person appointed was unsuitable, resulting in Xie Ai's death nine years later and his son being killed, fulfilling the earlier omens. The "Book of Changes" states: "Hearing good advice but not adopting it is ignorance; the appearance of yellow omens leads to disaster, ultimately resulting in the extinction of descendants. Yellow gas spreads across the world, obscuring talented individuals and cutting off paths, thus bringing about catastrophic ruin."
In February of the year 379 AD, yellow fog enveloped the sky, blocking out the sun. At that time, Daozi held all the power, favored the wicked, and the court was in chaos. In October of the year 401 AD, again shrouded in yellow fog, dark and gloomy, not a single drop of rain fell. At this time, Huan Xuan was plotting a rebellion. In November of the year 408 and November of the year 410, there were two occurrences of heavy fog. At that time, the court was weak, and the ministers wielded enormous power, with land and army almost out of the emperor's control; all signs of impending disaster! Liu Xiang said: "Earthquakes are caused by the imbalance of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu also said: "The qi of heaven and earth follows its own laws; if these laws are disrupted, chaos will ensue. When yang qi is suppressed and unable to rise, while yin qi is forced upwards, earthquakes will occur." In the year 223 AD, there were consecutive earthquakes in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan accepted a title from the Wei Kingdom, became Grand General and King of Wu, proclaimed himself emperor, ruled despotically and ignored his ministers. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "Even if the actions of the ministers are correct, a concentration of power will lead to earthquakes. The manifestations of earthquakes are waves in water, swaying in trees, and roof tiles falling off houses. If the government policies are correct but the emperor easily changes his ministers, this is referred to as yin qi activity, which will cause earthquakes and shake the very foundations of the palace. If the government policies are incorrect, this is called not in line with yin qi, which will cause earthquakes, shake the mountains, and cause springs to gush forth. If the heir lacks virtue but enjoys titles and privileges, this is called disharmony, which will cause earthquakes, shake the hills, and cause springs to gush forth." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the ministers is strong and they are about to cause trouble, this is a sign of impending chaos!" In November of the year 230 AD, the capital experienced a significant earthquake, with seismic waves emanating from the east, faint sounds heard, and roof tiles rattling loose.
On an unspecified day in June 239 AD, another earthquake occurred in Kyoto. That autumn, the Wu general Zhu Ran laid siege to Jiangxia, but Hu Zhi, the governor of Jingzhou, successfully repelled him. In addition, Gongsun Yuan rebelled and declared himself the King of Yan, changed the era name, and established officials. The rebellion was not suppressed until the following year.
In May 238 AD, an earthquake struck Jiangdong.
In January 239 AD, another earthquake occurred. At that time, Lü Yi held significant power and acted arrogantly. Bu Zhi submitted a memorial stating, "I have heard that the officials responsible for examinations are nitpicking and trying to frame people everywhere to show their power. Many innocent people have faced harsh penalties, and even ministers cannot gain the emperor's trust. If this continues, how can we expect there to be no changes in heaven and earth? Therefore, the continuous earthquakes signify the ministers' usurpation of power! I hope Your Majesty can seriously consider the implications of this matter!" Later, Lü Yi indeed met with failure.
In 241 AD, the second year of the Zhengshi era of the Wei kingdom, an earthquake occurred in Nanan County in November. By the day of Jia Shen in July of the third year of Zhengshi, Nanan County shook once again. In December of the same year, Wei County also experienced an earthquake. Then, on the day of Ding Mao in February of the sixth year of Zhengshi, Nanan County shook again. During this period, Cao Shuang wielded absolute power and relocated the empress dowager to Yongning Palace, where the empress dowager and the emperor said their tearful goodbyes. These recurring earthquakes were likely a warning from heaven.
In 248 AD, in February of the eleventh year of Sun Quan's Chiwu era, an earthquake also occurred in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan was swayed by slanderous words and dismissed Zhu Ju, deposing the crown prince.
In 263 AD, in the first year of the reign of Yanxing of Shu Han, an earthquake occurred in Shu. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao was in a position of power, and as Sima Biao said, "Eunuchs lack masculine energy, similar to women." Huang Hao's rise to power closely resembled the eunuchs' dominance during the reign of Emperor He of Han. That winter, Shu Han fell.
In 274 AD, on Xin You day in April of the fifth year of the Taishi era under Western Jin Emperor Sima Yan, an earthquake occurred. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinpings revolted. The next year, Sun Hao dispatched a large army into Guokou. On Bing Shen day in June of the seventh year of Taishi, another earthquake struck.
In 276 AD, on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 2nd year of Xianning, an earthquake occurred in the three counties of Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. In the 4th year of Xianning, on the 8th day of the 6th month, earthquakes occurred in the counties of Yinping and Guangwu, and another one on the same day.
In 281 AD, on the 25th day of the 2nd month in the 2nd year of Taikang, earthquakes occurred in the counties of Huainan and Danyang. On the 1st day of the 1st month in the 5th year of Taikang, the capital city experienced an earthquake. On the 12th day of the 7th month in the 6th year of Taikang, another earthquake occurred. In the 7th month of the 7th year of Taikang, earthquakes occurred in the counties of Nan'an and Jianwei; in the 8th month, Jingzhao county experienced an earthquake; on the 29th day of the 5th month in the 8th year of Taikang, an earthquake occurred in Jian'an; in the 7th month, Yinping experienced an earthquake; in the 8th month, Danyang experienced an earthquake; in the 1st month of the 9th year, earthquakes occurred in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing; on the 28th day of the 4th month, eight counties including Changsha and Nanhai experienced earthquakes; between the 7th and 8th months, four more earthquakes occurred, with three of them sounding thunderous; in the 9th month, Linhe experienced an earthquake, and another one occurred in the 12th month; on the 24th day of the 12th month in the 10th year of Taikang, Danyang experienced an earthquake.
In 289 AD, during the 1st month of the 1st year of Taixi, another earthquake occurred. During the reign of Emperor Wu, starting from Jia Chong and ending with Yang Jun, these influential officials formed factions, sought personal gain, and seized great power in court politics. In the later period, the people they employed became even more corrupt and incompetent, resulting in earthquakes occurring more frequently than usual, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Western Jin Dynasty.
In 291 AD, on the 28th day of the 12th month in the 1st year of Huide, an earthquake occurred in the capital city. That summer, Empress Jia instructed Prince Chu, Sima Wei, to kill Prince Runan, Sima Liang, and the Grand Guardian Wei Guan. This was a consequence of the imbalance between yin and yang.
In the fourth year of Emperor's reign, in February, earthquakes occurred in the Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong regions. In May, there was a landslide in Shu County; Shouchun in Huainan suffered from floods and widespread destruction of buildings. In August, the Shanggu region experienced another earthquake, accompanied by floods, resulting in over a hundred deaths. In October, the capital also experienced an earthquake. In November, earthquakes struck in Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, Nanyang, and other places. In December, the capital experienced another earthquake. During this time, Empress Jia's autocratic rule brought chaos to the country, which can all be traced back.
During Empress Dowager Deng's regency in the Han Dynasty, earthquakes also occurred in various places. Li Gu analyzed at the time: "The earth is associated with Yin and ought to remain calm. But now, going against the nature of Yin, ruling with an overly aggressive rule, resulted in earthquakes." This is consistent with the political situation at the time. Jing Fang in the "Yi Zhuan" said: "When villains occupy people's homes, disasters like landslides will occur, indicating the triumph of Yin over Yang, and the weak overcoming the strong." He also said: "If Yin betrays Yang, it will lead to ground fissures, separation of father and son, and even rebellion by minority ethnic groups."
In the fifth year of Emperor's reign, earthquakes struck on Dingchou day in May. In June, Jincheng experienced an earthquake. In the sixth year of Emperor's reign, earthquakes struck on Dingchou day in January. In the eighth year of Emperor's reign, earthquakes struck on Bingchen day in January.
In the first year of the reign of Taian, earthquakes occurred in October, confirming the dictatorial rule of Prince Qi Jiong. In the second year of the reign of Taian, earthquakes struck on Bingchen day in December, a sign of Prince Changsha Yi's dictatorship.
In the third year of Emperor Xiaohuai's Yongjia reign, earthquakes occurred in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou in October. At that time, Sima Yue held power. In the fourth year of Emperor's reign, earthquakes occurred in Yanzhou in April. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, crossed the Yellow River, and marched south, which coincided with the earthquakes as well.
In the second year of Emperor Min's Jianxing reign, earthquakes struck on Jiachen day in April. In the third year, earthquakes struck on Dingmao day in June in Chang'an. At that time, the emperor was young, power was decentralized, chaos prevailed, and wars continued, all of which served as signs of the earthquakes.
In the first year of Emperor Yuan's Tai Xing reign, in the fourth month, an earthquake struck in Xiping, and springs gushed forth. In the twelfth month, earthquakes struck in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, Xiling, etc., with springs gushing forth and landslides occurring. Gan Bao saw this as a sign of Wang Dun's impending rebellion.
On the Ji Chou day of the second year, in May, an earthquake struck in Qishan, causing casualties due to landslides. At that time, Prime Minister Wang Bao was present in Qishan, and some interpreted this as a bad omen for the Jin prince. In the third year, on the Geng Yin day of May, earthquakes struck in Danyang, Wu County, Jinling, etc.
In the second month of the second year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe era, an earthquake struck in Jiangling. In the third month, an earthquake struck in Yizhou. On the Ji Wei day of the fourth month, an earthquake struck in Yuzhang. That year, Su Jun launched a rebellion. In the ninth year, on the Ding You day of March, an earthquake struck in Kuaiji.
In the year 346 AD, in June, an earthquake struck. At that time, the emperor was still young, while his mother held the reins of power, which led to the frequent earthquakes. In the second year, in October, there was another earthquake. In the third year, in January, an earthquake struck; in September, another earthquake struck. In the fourth year, in October, there was yet another earthquake.
In January of the year 349 AD, an earthquake struck. At this time, the notorious Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, which was also an ominous sign. In August of the year 353 AD, an earthquake struck in the capital, with a sound like thunder. In the second year, in January, an earthquake struck, with sounds like thunder, startling both domestic and wild chickens. In April of the year 355 AD, an earthquake struck; in May, another earthquake struck.
In November of the year 358 AD, an earthquake struck. In August of the year 360 AD, an earthquake struck in Liangzhou.
In April of the year 362 AD, an earthquake struck. At that time, power was in the hands of generals, and the emperor had become merely a figurehead.
In April of the year 365 AD, an earthquake struck in Yangzhou, causing rivers and lakes to flood. In the second month of the following year, an earthquake struck in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen held power.
In February of the year 370 AD, an earthquake struck in Liangzhou, with water gushing out. This signaled the impending downfall of Haixi.
In October of the year 374 AD, an earthquake struck in Ancheng. That year, the emperor died.
In the year 376 AD, in October, there was an earthquake. The following year in February, there was another earthquake; in July, there was another earthquake in Liangzhou, and the mountains crumbled. At that time, the emperor was still young, and power was in the hands of the ministers, a sign of decline.
In March of 378 AD, there was an earthquake; in May, there was another earthquake. In June of 386 AD, there was an earthquake. After that, the generals along the Yellow River engaged in warfare for several years, causing great harm to the people and the economy. In March of 389 AD, there was a midnight earthquake; in August, the capital city experienced an earthquake; in December, there was another earthquake. In June of 391 AD, there was an earthquake; in December, there was another earthquake. At that time, unscrupulous individuals held power in the court, leaving the populace in a state of fear. In January of 392 AD, there was an earthquake; in February, there was a midnight earthquake.
In April of 397 AD, there was an earthquake; in September, there was another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was young and inexperienced, and power was in the hands of the ministers.
In the year 408 AD, on the night of the first day of the first lunar month, there was a sudden earthquake, with a loud and frightening sound. In the same year, in October, there was another earthquake. On the night of the first day of the first lunar month in 409 AD, Sunyang also experienced an earthquake, with a sound like thunder. The following year, Lu Xun's rebellion was suppressed. In the year 412 AD, between January and April, there were four earthquakes in quick succession in Nankang and Luling. The following year, Wang Zhen led a campaign to the west to attack Jingzhou and Yizhou. In March of 415 AD, there was another earthquake.
In August of the year 240, the mountains in Danyang, Jurong, and such as Guzhang and Ningguo in the Kingdom of Wu collapsed, and floods became disastrous. As Liu Xiang pointed out, "Mountains symbolize the monarch, and water symbolizes the people. Heaven warns us that if the monarch's rule collapses, the people will lose their support!" During the Spring and Autumn period, Liang Mountain collapsed, and during the Han Dynasty, many mountains in Qi and Chu experienced landslides and floods; the underlying reason remains the same. In ancient times, the sacrificial sites in the Three Dynasties were limited to the ancestral temple; both good and bad fortunes have their causes and do not occur by chance. Although Sun Quan claimed the title of emperor, he was still one of the vassal states. The disaster in Danyang is truly a sign from heaven! Liu Xin also said, "The state and the mountains and rivers are interconnected; landslides and river depletion are signs that the state is about to perish." Two years later, Sun Quan died, and twenty-six years later, the Kingdom of Wu was destroyed.
In February of the year 265, the collapse of the Taihang Mountains signaled the downfall of the Wei Kingdom. That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the world.
In March of the year 273, on the day of Wuwu, Dashishan collapsed. In July of the year 274, Mount Tai collapsed, and the mountain itself fell three miles. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "The collapse from above corresponds to the stones rolling down from Mount Tai, indicating that the holy king is commanded and the monarch is captured." After Emperor Wu's death, the royal family's power diminished, and Emperors Huai and Min were both captured in the north; the entire state fell under northern control until Emperor Yuan revived it in the south, fulfilling Jing Fang's prophecy.
In May of the year 285, the temple dedicated to Emperor Xuan sank. In October of the year 286, Xinxing Mountain in Nan'an collapsed, flooding with a massive surge of water. In February of the year 287, the Great Lu Mountain in Zhuti collapsed, damaging county buildings, and the Qiu Chi Cliff in Yinping also collapsed. In July of the year 288, there was heavy rain, and the ground in front of the palace sank, measuring five feet across and several zhang deep, and astonishingly, there was even a broken ship inside!
In the year 284 AD, there was a landslide in the Shu territory, leading to numerous fatalities. On the ninth day of the fifth month, Shou Chun also experienced a landslide, followed by a major flood. The city walls collapsed, and a sinkhole that was thirty zhang wide caused many casualties. In June, Shou Chun was hit by a severe thunderstorm, triggering landslides that buried many homes. The situation in Shangyong was no different. In August, the ground cracked in Juyong Pass, with a fissure that was eighty-four zhang long and thirty-six zhang wide, causing flooding and leading to many drowning victims. Landslides occurred in various places in Shangyong, with sinkholes measuring thirty zhang wide and one hundred and thirty zhang long, resulting in many deaths due to flooding. These calamities were divine retribution for the chaos instigated by Empress Jia. In April of the year 285 AD, there was also a landslide in Xiyong. In March of the year 307 AD, the earth split open in Buguanli, northeast of Luoyang. Two years later, on the twenty-ninth day of August, the city walls of Juancheng inexplicably collapsed over seventy zhang, which prompted Sima Yue to relocate to Puyang, fearing the ominous sign. This was an extraordinary omen! After Sima Yue's death, even his tomb suffered consequences. On the twenty-second day of July in the year 309 AD, the earth split open in three locations in Dangyang, with a crevice three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang once said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the earth cracks, it is because the subjects have strayed from loyalty and righteousness, refusing to cooperate with each other." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi had a falling out, resulting in a fracturing among the feudal lords and ultimately leading to the collapse of the Western Jin Dynasty. In the same year of October, Yidu's Yidao Mountain collapsed. In April of the year 310 AD, Heishi Mountain in Ling County, Xiangdong, also collapsed. In February of the year 318 AD, there were earthquakes and landslides in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In the following year of May, Qishan experienced an earthquake and landslide, resulting in many deaths. In the year 320 AD, there was a landslide in Nanping County, with several thousand catties of realgar flowing out from the collapse. During this period, Wang Dun was notoriously arrogant and overbearing, but the emperor allowed his behavior to continue, clearly inviting trouble. In August of the year 321 AD, Changshan collapsed, causing flooding and the Hushui River surged, toppling large trees.
In October of the year 334 AD, the cliff northwest of Mount Lushan in Chaisang collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In September of the year 349 AD, both Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb collapsed. In November of the twelfth year of the reign, the court sent the Cavalier Attendant Chariot Guan to repair Junping Tomb. However, while excavating the tomb passage, a landslide occurred, killing dozens of people.
In February of the year 357 AD, near the Nanye Gate, a horse's hoof sank into the ground, revealing a bell engraved with four characters. (The poem couplet here is not translated)
On the second day of April in the year 386 AD, Haowei Mountain collapsed, a sign of Zhang Tianxi's impending downfall.
In March of the year 392 AD, on Renyin day in the lunar calendar, the ground in Shanyin County suddenly collapsed, with an area of about four zhang square, accompanied by a huge thunderous noise. Four years later, in May of the year 396 AD, on Wuyin day in the lunar calendar, the ground near Ximing Gate also cracked, gushing forth a large volume of water, damaging the door panels and thresholds. These were all signs of disturbed earth energy, indicating issues with the land. Two years later, in May of the year 397 AD, a landslide occurred in Huoshan, revealing six bronze bells as it rolled down. Another two years later, in July of the year 399 AD, there was a thunderous noise at the water's edge in Chenggu County, Hanshui, followed by the collapse of the river bank, from which twelve bronze bells emerged.
One night in June of the year 301 AD, a sudden heavy rainstorm with thunder occurred. The pillars of Jia Mi's meditation room sank into the ground, crushing his bed and canopy tent. This indicated that even wood was influenced by the earth's energy, and the land lost its normal load-bearing capacity. The following year, Jia Mi was killed.
In May of the year 806 AD, a fire broke out underground in Fanyang Country, burning fiercely enough to prepare meals. This was again a sign of unfavorable earth energy, with fire invading the land. At that time, the world was in chaos, and the power of rituals and music was in the hands of various feudal lords.
The book says, if the emperor does not practice the Doctrine of the Mean, the country will falter. This problem lies in incompetence and defiance, and the consequence is prolonged rain and a decline in national strength. At times, evil spirits may create turmoil, sometimes dragons and snakes causing trouble, sometimes horses injuring people, sometimes subordinates rebelling, and sometimes the sun, moon, and stars may behave erratically. If the emperor does not practice the Doctrine of the Mean, the country will falter. This "emperor" refers to the monarch, "extreme" is the Doctrine of the Mean, and "establish" means to establish. If the monarch encounters issues with appearance, speech, perception, thought, and intentions, and cannot maintain the Doctrine of the Mean, then important state affairs cannot be accomplished, resulting in these dire outcomes.
A ruler inherits the principles of heaven and governs all things from below. Clouds rise from the mountains and then spread to the sky. Chaotic celestial phenomena will result in prolonged rain, just as the book says: if the upper level does not achieve the Doctrine of the Mean, those below will grow strong, clouding the monarch's judgment. The Book of Changes also says: "The dragon exceeds the proper limits, and there will be regret. The noble loses his rank, and the high lose their subjects; the virtuous person in a lower position loses his support." This means that although the emperor holds high status and power, he cannot get help from anyone, leading to a weakening of national strength. The energy of the sun is upward, fast, and light. According to ritual, the Great Shooting Ceremony should be held in spring to follow the positive energy. If the emperor is weak, the subjects will become restless, leading to the rise of evil spirits creating chaos. The Book of Changes says: "The clouds follow the dragon," and also says: "The dragon and snake lie hidden, to preserve themselves." With the prevalence of yin energy, dragons and snakes causing trouble will appear. In the Book of Changes, the hexagram "Qian" symbolizes both the monarch and horses. If there is an excessive reliance on military force, the monarch's authority will be compromised, resulting in incidents where horses injure people. Others suggest that numerous horses died and transformed into malevolent spirits.
The emperor is inept and weak; the people will betray him, and heaven will forsake him. If there is no enlightened ruler to punish, incidents of usurpation and regicide will occur, resulting in rebellion among his subordinates. In short, if the ruler's way is compromised, it will have repercussions in the heavens. The books do not directly say that the five elements affect celestial phenomena, but rather mention "the sun and moon are in disarray, and the stars are in retrograde" because those below dare not say that celestial phenomena are affected. This is similar to how in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" it states "the king's army suffered defeat at Maorong" without stating the reason for the failure, but using failure to write history, which is a way of honoring the monarch. In Liu Xin's "Emperor Ji Zhuan," it is said that when the lower ranks rebel against their superiors, divine punishment has already been decided, and it cannot be called an illness anymore.
During the three peaceful years of Sun Liang's reign, relentless rain began in August and did not stop for over forty days. At that time, just as they were about to execute Sun Zhen, the plan was leaked. On the day of Wuyou in September, Sun Chen surrounded the imperial palace with his troops, deposed Sun Liang, and made him the King of Kuaiji. This was the divine retribution for the prolonged rain. "When the emperor fails to fulfill his potential, it signifies a failure to establish order. His faults are revealed, his punishment is constant darkness, his peak is weakness."
During Sun Hao's rule, in the first year of Baoding in December, the astronomical officials reported that it had not rained for a long time, indicating that conspiracies and schemes were imminent. Sun Hao was deeply alarmed upon hearing this. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose Sun Hao while he was performing a sacrifice. However, when Lu Kai sent Liuping out, Liuping refused to go along with the plan, so it ultimately failed. Sun Hao was too cruel, and many of his subordinates harbored thoughts of rebellion. Ultimately, Sun Hao's regime met its downfall.
General Deng Zhi of the Shu Kingdom went to battle in Fuling and saw a black monkey on the mountain. He shot it with his bow and arrow. The monkey pulled out the arrow and wrapped tree leaves to cover the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Oh, I have violated the laws of nature. I am probably going to die!" Not long after, Deng Zhi died; this incident is referred to as "shooting a demon." Some say that at that time the black monkey was holding a child, Deng Zhi shot it, and the child helped pull out the arrow and covered the wound with tree leaves. Deng Zhi sighed, threw his bow into the water, knowing that he was going to die.
When Emperor Gong was the King of Langya, he had a particular fondness for odd games. Once, he locked a horse in a room and had people shoot it to find out how many arrows it would take to kill the horse. Someone advised him, "A horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is not auspicious!" So Emperor Gong stopped, but the horse had already been shot with more than ten arrows. This too can be considered shooting a demon; shortly thereafter, Emperor Gong abdicated in favor of the Song Dynasty.
On the day of the first month of the first year of the Qinglong reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, a Qinglong appeared in the Mobo Well in Ji County. Generally speaking, when good omens appear at the wrong time, they become ominous, especially when trapped in a well; this 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 fall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearance of the Qinglong and the Huanglong is related to the rise and fall of the Wei Dynasty rulers. Wei's national fortune is associated with wood, represented by the color green, but it cannot compare to gold. When the Huanglong appears, the Qinglong vanishes; this symbolizes the decline of the green and the rise of the yellow. The repeated appearance of the Qinglong suggests internal strife within Wei's national fortune. Therefore, Duke Gao of Guixiang ultimately died in defeat." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well signifies disaster for the princes. During the Wei Dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, which resulted from the rulers suppressing one another. The poem "Hidden Dragon" written by Duke Gao of Guixiang conveys this meaning.
In the tenth month of the first year of the reign of Gaoguixiang Zhengyuan, on the Wuxu day, a yellow dragon was seen in a well in Ye City. In the first month of Ganlu Yuan, on the Xinchou day, a blue dragon was seen in a well in Zhixian. In the sixth month of Yichou, a blue dragon was seen in a well in Yuancheng County. In the second month of the following year, a blue dragon was seen in a well in Wen County. In the third year, both a yellow dragon and a blue dragon were seen together in wells in Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year, a yellow dragon appeared twice in wells in Ningling County. During these years, common folks frequently spotted blue and yellow dragons in wells, and it was quite the news! In the twelfth month of the first year of Emperor Yuan's reign, on the Jiashen day, a yellow dragon was seen in a well in Huayin County. In the second month of the third year, a dragon was seen in a well in Zhixian. When Sun Hao was in power in Wu, dragon milk bubbled up from a family's well in Changsha and even devoured their little chicken. Jing Fang said in "Yiyao" that "if dragon milk appears in a family, it means that the ruling king is going to become a commoner." Later, Sun Hao was indeed destroyed by the Jin Dynasty. You see, what this book says is spot on! In the second year of Xianning, on the Bingwu day in June, two white dragons were seen in a well in Jiuyuan.
In the fifth year of Taikang, in the first month of the Gui Mao year, two dragons appeared in the well of the armory. The emperor was overjoyed to see this and prepared for a grand celebration. The ministers were all ready to congratulate him, except for Liu Yi, who submitted a memorial opposing it, stating, "Dragons have appeared in the Xia Dynasty's courtyard before, and the Xia Dynasty fell; when a dragon appeared at the gate of Zheng, Zichan didn't celebrate either." The emperor said, "My virtuous governance is not yet established, and I am not qualified to accept such an auspicious sign." As a result, no celebrations took place. Sun Sheng remarked, "Dragons are creatures of the water; what relevance do they have to humans? Zichan is right. When dragons appear in inappropriate places, it is actually an omen of disaster. Dragons should manifest in the sky, but now they are hiding in a well, which bodes ill." In the second year of Emperor Hui of Han, two dragons appeared in a well in Lanling, and "Ben Zhi" said this was a precursor to the death of Prince Zhao You. The armory is a highly secretive place, not somewhere dragons should be. Seven years later, the princes killed each other, and twenty-eight years later, two usurpers with the surname Long emerged, which indeed came to pass!
In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a Qiang tribe prostitute from Fohan gave birth to a dragon child, with colors like brocade, often feeding on the mother's milk, and could even emit a divine light, and very few people were able to see him. This also indicated that the emperor was in decline, and Emperor Min was indeed overthrown later.
Towards the end of Lü Zuan's reign, a dragon emerged from the well in the east wing and coiled in front of his palace, disappearing the next morning. Then, a black dragon flew to the gate of his palace. Lü Zuan believed this to be a good omen and felt quite pleased. However, someone remarked, "Dragons are yin entities, and their appearances follow a pattern; now they are appearing one after another, someone must be plotting a rebellion." Eventually, Lü Zuan was indeed slain by Lü Chao.
During the Xianning period of Emperor Wu of Han, two large snakes appeared in the residence of the Minister of Works, each over ten zhang in length, living on the main beam of the residence without anyone realizing it. For several years, children and pigs and dogs alike kept disappearing from the residence. Later, one of the snakes came out at night, got injured and couldn't escape, and that's when they were discovered. So everyone banded together to kill the snake after some time. The Minister of Works' residence is a place to educate the people, indicating that the court's politics were failing, leading to such strange occurrences. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, with Yang Ci attributing it to the Emperor's indulgence in women. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, there were many palace maids, especially in Yan State, with the Emperor indulging in pleasure, which was considered a bad omen. The Book of Songs says, "Only snakes and vipers are the omens associated with women," which explains this.
On the day of Guisi in the third month of the fifth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign, a large snake over ten zhang in length appeared in Linzi, accompanied by two small snakes, entering the city through the north gate, passing through the market, and directly entering the ancestral hall of Prince Jing of Han in Chengyang, then disappearing. This appears to be a warning from heaven: Prince Jing of Han made great contributions in the past, but later failed to uphold his integrity, lost his position, and his achievements vanished. The current Prince Qi of Jin has not heeded this lesson; even though he made contributions, he became arrogant and ultimately brought disaster upon himself, which serves as a warning sign.
During the Taiping period of Emperor Ming, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, living in an old temple inside a hollow tree, often poking its head out as if asking for food. Jing Fang stated in "Yi Yao": "When snakes appear in the city, a large-scale war will occur within three years, and the country will face great disaster." Shortly thereafter, Wang Dun staged a rebellion.
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 two ears. According to Liu Xiang, "this is a sign of military disaster." Sure enough, after the emperor's death, the royal family was plunged into chaos, fulfilling this omen. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "If the ministers oppress the emperor, and the politics are not smooth, strange things 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." "Lv Shi Chunqiu" also said: "When the monarch behaves unrighteously, horses will grow horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, being incompetent and unjust, he personally led the troops to attack Chengdu, fulfilling the omen.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui Yuan Kang, the crown prince was going to hold a sacrificial ceremony. The Grand Tutor, Prince Zhao Lun, rode a carriage to the ceremony. When they reached the South Gate, the horse suddenly stopped, and several strong men could not move it. Prince Lun had to change to a lighter carriage to continue. This was a disaster brought by the horse! It was a warning from heaven: Prince Lun did not understand the principles of being a good person and would eventually rebel. He was clearly not fit to assist the emperor or oversee the ceremony.
On the day of Wu Yin in the eleventh month, a stallion suddenly ran in panic to the interrogation hall of the court, let out a mournful cry, and died. This seems to be a warning from heaven, mourning the loss of those who died unjustly! Look, isn't this interrogation hall of the court specially arranged by heaven?
In the second month of the sixth year of Yongjia, the celestial horse neighed at the South Gate. In the ninth month of the second year of Jianxing, a bizarre occurrence of a horse giving birth to a human was reported in Puzi County. Jing Fang mentioned in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor dies, the vassals will turn against each other, and strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans will appear." At that time, the royal family was declining, in imminent danger, with the Hu and Di people constantly invading, and the war approaching day by day. It wasn't long before the emperor fell, leading to the appearance of these strange omens.
In the second year of Tai Xing, a horse belonging to the official Pu Yang Yan of Dan Yang County gave birth to a two-headed foal that had a split neck and died upon birth. Sima Biao explained, "This signifies that power has fallen into private hands; it is a two-headed monstrosity." Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
In the eighth year of Xian Kang, on the Jia Xu day in May, a horse appeared that was as red as blood, running straight from Xuan Yang Gate to the front of the palace, made a circle before bolting out again, and no one could catch up. On Ji Miao day, the emperor felt unwell and passed away in June. This horse was a harbinger of disaster, and its red color was an ominous sign. In the same year, Zhang Chonghua in Liangzhou planned to kill the governor of Xihe, Zhang Xiang; astonishingly, dozens of horses in his stable all simultaneously gave birth to tail-less monstrosities!
In the fourth year of Long An, in October, a horse with long horns appeared in Liangzhou, and the inspector Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. Liu Xiang once said that horses should not have horns, just as Huan Xuan should not raise an army to rebel. Huan Xuan failed to heed this warning and ultimately met with disgrace.
When Shi Jilong was in Ye City, a horse's tail was found burned. It entered through the Yang Gate and exited through the Xian Yang Gate; the Eastern Palace attendants were unable to enter. This horse ran in a northeastern direction and soon disappeared. The fortune-teller Fo Tu Cheng sighed, "A disaster is imminent!" More than a year later, Shi Jilong died, and his state perished as well.
During the Huangchu period of the Wei Wen Emperor, Song Shizong's mother from Qinghe transformed into a turtle and dove into the water.
In the year 233 AD, a peasant girl named Qiu Xi died and came back to life in a region governed by Cao Xiu. At that time, a tomb from the Zhou Dynasty was opened, and a woman was found buried inside. After a few days, she began to breathe, and although she couldn't speak for several months, Empress Dowager Guo took her in and raised her. In addition, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a grave and found a living woman inside the coffin. When asked what had happened, she couldn't explain what had happened, but based on the inscription on the tombstone, she probably lived to be around thirty years old. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "The yin transforms into yang, and the lower rises to the upper." This was an omen of Emperor Xuan of Han's rise to power! Similar strange events also occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian of Han, and people at the time believed these were omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
In the year 261 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died for seven days before returning to life, climbing out of his grave. Gan Bao said: "This is similar to the situation of Emperor Xuan of Han. Marquis Wucheng Hao inherited the family business of the deposed imperial family, which was an auspicious sign of his rise to power!"
In the year 270 AD, the mother of Xuan Qian from Danyang, aged eighty, transformed into a soft-shelled turtle while she was bathing. Her sons quickly closed the door to protect her. They dug a large pit in the main room and filled it with water, and the turtle went in to play, always stretching its neck out to look outside. Whenever the door opened slightly, it immediately flipped over and jumped out, running to a distant pond and never returning. This mirrored the incident involving Huang Shi's mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, which was a sign of the downfall of the Wu state.
In August of the year 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County reported seeing a giant, over three zhang in height, with footprints measuring three chi two cun, white hair, dressed in a yellow headscarf and robe, leaning on a cane and shouting the name "Wang Shi," saying, "Now there will be peace!" Later, the Jin Dynasty replaced the Wei Dynasty.
In the year 279 AD, a seventy-year-old person in Yuancheng grew horns. This was likely an omen of Wang Lun's usurpation of the throne in the Zhao state.
In December of the year 280 AD, Yan Ji, a resident of Langye, passed away due to illness. His coffin was buried, but his family all dreamed that Yan Ji was telling them, "I am about to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" Thus, the family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji gradually regained the ability to eat and drink, bend his limbs, and see things, but he could not walk or speak. Two years later, he died again. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says, "The extreme yin becomes yang, the lower person becomes upper, the wicked person dies and is resurrected." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled and eventually overthrew the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the omen of "the lower person becomes upper."
During the Yuan Kang era of Jin's Emperor Hui, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng who gradually transformed into a man by the age of eight. By the age of seventeen or eighteen, her demeanor was entirely masculine. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says, "A woman turns into a husband, this is called yin prosperity, a lowly person becomes a king." This was also an ominous sign of Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping across the world!
During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong raised his troops under the guise of restoring the rightful emperor, exterminating traitors, and supporting the emperor's restoration, enjoying great prestige. However, at this time, a woman approached the gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion, requesting to leave her infant with them. When asked by the gatekeeper what was going on, she said, "I will leave after giving birth." Due to his efforts to support the royal family, Prince Qi Jiong was credited with all the achievements, but some perceptive individuals sensed trouble brewing. Indeed, later Prince Qi Jiong was killed.
On Jiazi day in December of Yongning's first year, a white-haired old man rushed to the Grand Marshal's Mansion of Prince Qi Jiong, shouting, "There is a rebellion brewing, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. Consequently, on Wuchen day in December of the following year, Prince Qi Jiong faced defeat in battle, exactly ten days after Jiazi.
In the first year of Tai'an, on the Guiyou day in April, someone claimed to have come in from Longmen, ran to the front of the hall, bowed twice to the north, and said, "I should be appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat." After saying this, he was captured and killed. Gan Bao believed, "The imperial palace is such a noble and mysterious place; this person could enter so easily without the guards noticing. This indicates that the palace is on the verge of emptiness, and lower-class people will rise above the upper-class as an ominous sign!" After that, the emperor first moved the capital to Ye City, then to Chang'an, and eventually the palace was left empty.
During the Yuan Kang period, there was a woman in the Liang Kingdom who was betrothed to another man and had already received the betrothal gifts. However, not long after, her husband went to Chang'an to serve in the army and did not return for several years. The woman's family then promised her to someone else. The woman was unwilling to marry, but her parents forced her, and she had no choice but to marry. Soon after, she fell ill and passed away. Later, her husband returned, inquired about his wife's whereabouts, and his family told him what had happened. He ran to his wife's grave, devastated, and actually dug up the grave and opened the coffin, only to find that his wife was still alive. Thus, the two returned home together. Later, the ex-husband found out and reported it to the authorities, but the officials were at a loss for what to do. Secretary Wang Dao said, "This is an extraordinary matter, and it cannot be judged by common sense; the woman should be returned to her ex-husband." The court adopted his suggestion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maid in the Du family died. Because of some errors, her funeral was never held, and ten years later, when the coffin was reopened for a second burial, the maid was actually still alive! At first, she seemed to be asleep, and after a while, she slowly woke up. When asked what had happened, she said it felt like she had only slept for two days. She was around fifteen or sixteen years old when she was buried, and after the coffin was opened, she still looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. Eventually, she 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 very large head, hair, feet pointing upwards, and both male and female characteristics, who let out a man's voice at birth and died after one day. This foreshadowed the decline of imperial power, a sign of rebellion by the lower classes against the elite, leading to a struggle for power among the princes and signs of rebellion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were people in Luoyang who possessed both male and female genitalia, could have relations with both men and women, and had strong sexual desires, all caused by the chaotic times. From the time of Xianning and Taikang, male favorites became prevalent, even more than their affection for women, with officials and nobles imitating each other, creating chaos across the realm, leading to separation of couples and resentment, resulting in a mix-up of male and female energies and the appearance of demons and monsters.
In the first year of Yongjia, a maid named Wan Xiang in Wujin, Wujia, gave birth to a bizarre child with a bird-like head and horse hooves for legs, bald, with a yellow tail as large as a pillow. This was yet another monster, signaling the chaotic times!
In the fifth year of Yongjia in May, the courtesan from Yan Gen's household in Fohu County gave birth to a dragon, a girl, and a goose. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When a human gives birth to something unnatural, it signals a major upheaval in the realm." At that time, the emperor inherited the position of Emperor Hui, leading to chaos throughout the realm, eventually resulting in his death at the hands of the Hu in Pingyang. All these events were harbingers of the turmoil to come!
In the fourth year of the Jianxing era of the Ming Dynasty, there was an official named Ren Qiao in Xincai County, whose wife gave birth to two daughters. Their stomachs and hearts were connected, separated from the chest upwards and the navel downwards, which was an unprecedented oddity! At that time, Neishi Lv Hui came out and said, "According to the records of 'Ruiyingtu', when different roots grow together, it is called 'lianlizhi'; when different plots grow the same stem, it is called 'jiahe'. The strange phenomena of flora are considered auspicious. Now these two girls are united in heart and mind. The 'I Ching' states, 'when two people are united in heart, their strength can cut through metal.' This is a rare auspicious sign of unity in the world!" At that time, everyone laughed at him. Shortly thereafter, chaos ensued, and the emperor perished.
In the early years of Emperor Yuan Taixing, there was a woman who had a vagina located on her stomach, below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, experienced intense sexual desire, but could not conceive. There was another woman whose genitalia were located on her head, at the ferry crossing in Yangzhou, also experiencing intense sexual desire. Jingfang's "Yi Yao" says, "If a person's child has a vagina on the head, the world will be in chaos; on the stomach, there will be major events in the world; on the back, there will be no descendants." At that time, Wang Dun controlled the upper Yangtze River and was plotting a rebellion. These were all signs!
In December of the third year of Taixing, the wife of Shangshu Zu Xieping gave birth to a daughter who emitted a "bi bi" sound upon her arrival, and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on top of her head, her face resembled her neck, her mouth had teeth all connected, her chest was like a turtle, and her hands and feet had claws like bird claws, all bent downwards. This was yet another instance of a non-human birth, an unprecedented strange phenomenon. Two years later, the Battle of Stones took place.
In July of the second year of Ming Emperor Taiping, the wife of Marquis Ji of Jiangning in Jinyang died, but three days later, she returned to life.
In the fourth month of the fifth year of the Xiankang era, Wang He, a native of Pei County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, moved to Danyang to settle. His daughter, who was twenty years old, claimed to have come down from heaven and said she had received a jade seal bestowed by the heavens, aspiring to become the world's mother. The Prefect of Danyang believed she was possessed by a demon and imprisoned her. In November, a man wearing red clothes and carrying a wooden staff ran to the gates of the imperial palace, claiming to be a saint sent to see the emperor. The gatekeeper recorded his words, and the man, who identified himself as Lu Ci, said that Wang He's daughter had seven stars beneath her right foot, each bearing hair about seven inches long, and was destined to become the world's mother. After this was reported, Lu Ci was killed and Wang He's daughter was also executed.
In the tenth month of the second year of Jianyuan, when the camp inspector of the General of the Guards was inspecting near the Chen Du Nv Tai, he found a soldier with the phrase "Mother of the World" inscribed on his foot, which became even more pronounced after moxibustion. This created quite a stir in the capital, and the authorities arrested this individual and reported to the court. Not long after, this individual escaped from the Jiankang County prison. The following year, the emperor died, and the Empress Dowager took over the government, which was indeed an omen!
During the Ningkang period of Emperor Xiaowu, there was a woman named Tang in Ling County, Nanzhou, who gradually transformed into a man.
In the seventh year of Yixi of Emperor An, there was a person named Zhao in Wuxi who, at the age of eight, suddenly shot up to eight feet tall, grew a beard, and died three days later.
During the Yixi period, there was a person in Dongyang named Mo who had a daughter he did not want. He buried her for a few days, but the sound of a baby crying emerged from the ground, so he dug her up and raised her.
In the later period of the Yixi era, there was a place called Eryang Dao in Wuping, Yuzhang, where several children were born one after another.
In the first year of Emperor Gong of Yuanxi, there was a place called Yangdao in Jian'an, where there was a headless figure who later returned to normal. It originally belonged to a woman.
