In the year 244 AD, in the eighth month of the thirteenth year of Sun Quan's reign, lands in Danyang, Jurong, and other places collapsed, resulting in catastrophic floods. Reflecting on Liu Xiang's words: "Mountains symbolize rulers; water symbolizes the people. Heaven's will warns that when a ruler's authority crumbles, the people will lose their foundation!" In the Spring and Autumn Period, Liangshan collapsed, and during the Han Dynasty, lands such as Qi and Chu also experienced mountain collapses and floods, all following the same principle. Throughout the dynasties, sacrifices were held in high regard, leaving no room for error, as fortunes were intricately linked to these rituals. Although Sun Wu claimed to be emperor, it was still merely a vassal state. The disaster in Danyang was clearly a divine warning! Liu Xin also said: "The rise and fall of a nation is intimately tied to its mountains and rivers. When mountains collapse and rivers dry up, it is a sign that the country is about to perish." Indeed, two years later, Sun Quan died, and twenty-six years later, the Kingdom of Wu fell.
In the year 264 AD, in the second month of the second year of Wei's Emperor Yuan's reign, the Taihang Mountains collapsed, signaling Wei's imminent demise! That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.
In the year 273 AD, on the day of the third month of the third year of Emperor Wu of Jin's reign, the Dashishan Mountain collapsed. In the seventh month of the fourth year, Mount Tai collapsed, spanning an area of three li. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "The collapse from the top down corresponds to the falling stones from Mount Tai, signifying the mandate of the wise king and the capture of the ruler." Later, Emperor Wu passed away, leading to a decline in imperial power. Emperor Hui proved weak and incompetent, while Emperors Huai and Min were captured in the north, resulting in the nation's downfall. Only when Emperor Yuan revitalized the nation in the south was Jing Fang's prophecy fulfilled.
In the year 285 AD, on the fifth day of the fifth month in the fifth year of the Taikang reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, the foundation of the temple dedicated to Emperor Xuan collapsed. In the tenth month of the sixth year, a mountain collapsed in Nan'an Xinxing, causing a flood. In the second month of the seventh year, Dulu Mountain in Zhuti County collapsed, causing damage to the county government buildings, and Chouchi Cliff in Yinping also collapsed. In the seventh month of the eighth year, heavy rain caused a sinkhole in the square in front of the palace, measuring five feet on each side and several feet deep, with a broken ship found inside!
In the year 294 AD, in the fourth year of the Yuankang reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, a mountain collapsed in Shu County, leading to injuries and fatalities. On the day of Renzi in May, a mountain collapsed in Shou Chun, causing flooding, the collapse of city walls, and a sinkhole measuring thirty feet on each side, resulting in casualties. In June, there was a severe thunderstorm in the Shou Chun area, causing mountain collapses, ground cracks, and house collapses, burying many people to death. Similar disasters also occurred in the Shangyong area. In August, the ground cracked at Juyong Pass, with a crack length of eighty-four feet and a width of thirty-six feet, causing flooding and leading to a severe famine. In many places in the Shangyong area, there were mountain collapses, sinkholes, and cracks measuring one hundred and thirty feet long and thirty feet wide, causing casualties. These disasters were all retribution for the chaos caused by Empress Jia!
In the year 299 AD, in the fourth month of the first year of the Taian reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Xiyong collapsed. In the third month of the first year of Yongjia, the ground suddenly collapsed in Buguanli in the northeast of Luoyang. This was not a good sign!
In August two years later, the city wall of Juancheng collapsed inexplicably by more than seventy feet, which Sima Yue found very ominous, so he quickly moved the capital to Puyang. This was a sign from above! However, Sima Yue still died, confirming the omen.
In the seventh month of the third year of Yongjia, there were three ground cracks in Dangyang, with cracks three feet wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": "The ground cracking indicates that the ministers are disloyal and lack virtue." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi had a falling out, regional lords governed independently, and the Western Jin dynasty came to an end. In the same year, in October, Yidu Yidao Mountain collapsed; in the fourth month of the fourth year, Lingheishi Mountain in Xiangdong also collapsed.
In the first year of the Tai Xing era of Emperor Yuan, in February, Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang experienced earthquakes and landslides as disasters struck one after another! Two years later, in May, there was an earthquake and landslide at Qishan, leading to casualties. In the third year, there was a landslide in Nanping County, yielding several thousand jin of realgar (a type of arsenic sulfide used in traditional Chinese medicine). At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and overbearing, yet the emperor was very lenient towards him; this was akin to raising a tiger to bite back! In August of the fourth year, Changshan collapsed, with water gushing out; the Huitao River overflowed, toppling large trees.
In October of the fourth year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe era, the cliff northwest of Chaisang, near Lushan, collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In September of the seventh year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe era, the tombs of Junping and Chongyang collapsed. In November of the twelfth year, when workers were sent to repair the Junping tomb, a landslide occurred during tunnel excavation, crushing dozens of people.
In February of the fifth year of the Shengping era, at the South Yemo Gate, a horse's hoof sank into the earth, revealing a bell with four characters inscribed on it. (Original text not translated here)
In April of the first year of Emperor Ai's Longhe era, Haowei Mountain collapsed, and Zhang Tianxi was defeated and died.
In March of the eighth year of Emperor An's Yixi era, the ground in Shanyin sank, creating a depression of four zhang in circumference, with sounds like thunder. In May of the tenth year, the ground at Ximing Gate collapsed, causing water to surge out, damaging the door leaf and threshold. This was a true water disaster! In May of the eleventh year, Huoshan collapsed, revealing six bronze bells. In July of the thirteenth year, a thunderous sound emerged from the riverside in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, followed by a collapse of the riverbank, revealing twelve bronze bells.
On a night in June of the ninth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang era, there was a violent storm with thunder and lightning, causing the pillars of Jia Mi's study to sink into the ground, collapsing his bed curtains. This indicates damage to the trees and a loss of the land's bearing capacity! The following year, Jia Mi was killed.
In May of the first year of the Guangxi era, the ground in Fanyang State caught fire, making it suitable for cooking. This was land ablaze! At that time, the feudal lords held sway over rites, music, and military actions.
In the book, it says that if the emperor does not handle things properly, nothing can be achieved, a concept known as "not establishing." The consequences can be severe, bringing about various calamities, including natural disasters and human-made ones, even causing the sun, moon, and stars to operate abnormally. This phrase, "if the emperor does not establish, it is called not establishing," means that if the emperor, that is, the monarch, cannot handle things properly in speech, behavior, thoughts, and consciousness, cannot achieve moderation, then national affairs cannot be carried out because he himself is in disarray, which leads to disasters.
The emperor should originally adhere to the principles of heaven and earth and align with the laws of nature. Just like clouds rising from the mountains and spreading across the sky. If the weather is chaotic, the emperor will definitely be punished; endless rain and gloom serve as such punishment. The book also says that if the emperor does not handle things properly, the subjects will grow powerful, potentially blinding the emperor to their actions. The Book of Changes also states, "The dragon soars too high, there will be regrets." Flying too high, there will be danger, high status yet losing the people's support, talented individuals being buried and not being utilized. Therefore, although the emperor may appear extremely noble on the surface, in reality, he may be struggling to make decisions, a situation referred to as "extremely weak."
In spring, all things grow, and yang energy is strong, so in ancient times, there were archery ceremonies in spring to conform to the yang energy. If the emperor is weak and incompetent, the people below will become restless, leading to the rise of malevolent forces. The Book of Changes says, "The clouds follow the dragon," and also states, "The dragon and snakes hibernate to preserve themselves." Disasters akin to dragons and snakes arise during periods of strong yin energy. The Book of Changes compares the Qian hexagram to the monarch, as well as to a horse. If the emperor overly depends on military might, misuses power, and undermines his own authority, it will lead to a "horse disaster," indicating military issues. Some also claim that many horses die or transform into otherworldly creatures, which also signifies this.
When the emperor is incompetent, the people will betray him, and heaven will forsake him. If there is no wise ruler to punish these treacherous subjects, there will be incidents of usurpation and regicide, known as the "affliction of the lower striking against the upper." In short, any issues in a monarch’s rule will impact celestial signs. It is written that "the sun and moon are in disorder, the stars move in reverse," rather than stating directly that the five elements have violated heaven, because those below do not dare to claim that heaven is at fault. Just like in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," it is said that "the royal army was defeated at Maorong," using a more respectful expression rather than stating directly that the army was defeated. In Liu Xin's "Imperial Extreme Biography," it is mentioned that "the lower body suffers from the upper," implying that when the lower rises against the upper, divine retribution is already decreed, and it cannot be said to be an illness.
When Sun Liang was emperor, in the third year of the Taiping era, it rained continuously from August for over forty days. At that time, there were plans to execute Sun Chen, but the plan was leaked. On Wuyou day in the ninth month, Sun Chen surrounded the imperial palace with troops, deposed Sun Liang, and made him the King of Kuaiji, which serves as an example of the "constant punishment of darkness."
When Sun Hao was in power, in the first year of Baoding in December, the astronomers reported that it had been overcast for an extended period without rain, fearing that a conspiracy was about to happen. Sun Hao was greatly frightened. At that time, Lu Kai and his associates plotted to depose Sun Hao during a sacrificial rite. After Lu Kai and others came out, they had Liu Ping lead the troops, and although Lu Kai had briefed Liu Ping on the plan beforehand, Liu Ping disagreed, resulting in the plan's failure. Sun Hao later became more and more tyrannical, and the ministers were all contemplating rebellion, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country.
The general of Shu, Deng Zhi, went to Fuling to wage war and saw a black monkey on the mountain. He shot it with an arrow. The black monkey pulled out the arrow and used leaves to cover the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Ah, I have violated the laws of nature; I am afraid I will die!" Shortly after, he died, which can be seen as having killed a monster. Another version says that Deng Zhi shot a black monkey holding its child, and the child pulled out the arrow and covered the wound with leaves. Deng Zhi sighed and threw his crossbow into the water, knowing he was going to die.
When Emperor Gong was the King of Langya, he enjoyed playing unusual games. One time, he locked a horse behind a door and had people shoot at it to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone nearby advised him, saying, "The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is inauspicious!" So he stopped, but the horse had already been shot with more than ten arrows. This too can be seen as killing a monster, and shortly after, he abdicated the throne to the Song dynasty.
On the day of Jia Shen in the first month of the first year of Emperor Ming of Wei's Qinglong era, a Qinglong appeared in the Mo Bi well in Jia County. Generally speaking, if auspicious signs appear at the wrong time, they can turn ominous, especially being trapped in a well, which is not a good omen. Therefore, the Wei dynasty changed its era name, but it ultimately proved futile. Gan Bao said, "From the time of Emperor Ming of Wei until the fall of the Wei dynasty, the appearances of the Qinglong and Huanglong are tied to the rise and fall of the Wei dynasty. The national fortune of Wei is associated with wood, represented by the color green, but it cannot compete with gold. The appearance of the Huanglong and the disappearance of the Qinglong symbolize the displacement of green and the rise of yellow. The frequent appearances of the Qinglong signal internal strife within the monarchy. Therefore, Duke Gao Gui ultimately met defeat and died in battle." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, yet being trapped in a well is a premonition of the lords suffering the fate of imprisonment. During the Wei dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, which resulted from the rulers suppressing one another. The poem "Qianlong" by Duke Gao Gui conveys this meaning.
On the Wuxu day of the tenth month in the first year of Gaogui Township, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Ye City. In the first month of Ganlu, on the day of Xinchou, a blue dragon was spotted in a well in Zhixian. In the sixth month of Yichou, another blue dragon was seen in a well in Yuancheng County. In the second year, in the second month, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year, a yellow dragon and a blue dragon appeared 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. Over the years, reports of dragons frequently appearing in wells have surfaced, but their significance remains unclear. From the first year of Ganlu to the fourth year, dragons, both yellow and blue, have emerged from wells in several different locations. In the first year of Emperor Yuanjing's reign, on the Jia Shen day of the twelfth month, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Huayin County. In the second month of the third year, a dragon appeared in a well in Zhixian. During the reign of Emperor Yuanjing and the Ganlu era, dragons appeared several times, each time in different locations. During the reign of Sun Hao of the Wu Kingdom, a dragon gave birth to dragon children in the home of a commoner in Changsha and even ate chicken chicks. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Yao" that "a dragon giving birth in someone's home means that those in power will become commoners." Later, Sun Hao was indeed overthrown by the Jin Dynasty. The appearance of dragons seems to correlate with the changes of dynasties, both in location and timing. The tale of Sun Hao is documented in historical texts, noting that a dragon giving birth at a commoner's home preceded his downfall. On the Bingwu day of the sixth month in the second year of Emperor Wudi's Xianning, two white dragons appeared in a well in Jiuyuan. In the same second year of Xianning, two white dragons were seen 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 pleased to see them, and the ministers were all set to congratulate him. However, Liu Yi was the only one who wrote a memorial saying, "In the past, when dragons appeared in the courtyard of the Xia Dynasty, the Xia Dynasty perished; when dragons appeared at the city gates of the capital of the Zheng state, Zichan did not congratulate." The emperor said, "My virtuous rule has not yet been established, and I am not worthy of receiving such auspicious signs." So he declined the congratulations. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are creatures of water; what does it have to do with humans! Zichan is right. But the location where the dragon appeared is inappropriate; it is a sign of disaster. Dragons should appear flying in the sky, and now it is hiding in a well, which is a bad omen." In the second year of Emperor Hui of Han, two dragons appeared in the well of Lanling. "Han Shu" believed this was a sign that King You of Zhao was going to die. The armory is where the imperial weapons are stored, a place that is deep and secret, not where dragons should dwell. Seven years later, the vassal kings turned on each other, and twenty-eight years later, two people with the surname Dragon rebelled and seized power. This shows that the appearance of dragons is indeed unusual and a sign of impending events. In the Taikang era, dragons appeared in the well of the armory; the emperor was pleased, but Minister Liu Yi opposed congratulations, saying that in the past, the appearance of dragons was always a bad omen. Later, as expected, trouble occurred, proving Liu Yi was right. In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a prostitute from the Qiang ethnic group in Fanghan gave birth to a dragon son, with a color resembling brocade patterns, often feeding on his mother's milk, and with a divine light on his body, but rarely seen clearly. This was also due to the emperor's incompetence, so Emperor Min was eventually overthrown. In the final years of Lü Zuan, a dragon emerged from the well in the east wing, slithered to the front of his palace, and disappeared by the next morning. Later, a black dragon flew to his palace gates. Lü Zuan took this as a good sign. Some said, "Dragons are yin creatures, appearing in a predictable manner. Now that they keep appearing, it is certain that someone is planning a rebellion." Eventually, Lü Zuan was killed by Lü Chao.
In the late years of Lu Zuan, a dragon appeared. Some said it was a good omen, while others said it was a bad omen. In the end, Lu Zuan was killed, fulfilling the prophecy of the bad omen. In the Xian Ning period of Emperor Wu of Han, two large snakes appeared in the Minister of Works' residence, each over ten zhang long, coiled on the main beam without anyone realizing it. For several years, children and livestock kept going missing from the residence until one night a snake came out, got injured and couldn't escape, revealing their existence. The people in the residence quickly attacked and killed the snake after a while. The Minister of Works' residence was responsible for education, suggesting a moral decline in the emperor that led to such strange happenings. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, which Yang Ci blamed on the emperor's obsession with women. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were many women in the palace, with the Emperor of Yan being especially immoral, all of which were bad omens. The Book of Songs says, "Only snakes and vipers, omens of women," explaining this principle.
On the Gui Si day of the fifth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang reign, a large snake over ten zhang long, accompanied by two small snakes, appeared in Linzi, entering the city through the north gate, passing through the market, and entering the shrine of Prince Jing of Chengyang in the Han Dynasty before disappearing. This was a warning from the heavens! Even though Emperor Jing of Han had great accomplishments, he did not focus on virtues and ended up losing his position and being humiliated. Similarly, Prince Jiong of Qi today, despite his achievements, is arrogant and ends up bringing disaster on himself, a premonition indeed!
In the early years of Emperor Ming's reign during Tai Ning, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, living in an old temple in a hollow tree, often sticking its head out to get fed. Jing Fang in "Yi Yao" said, "If snakes appear in the city, within three years there will be a large-scale war and great disasters for the country." Before long, Wang Dun started a rebellion.
In the first year of Emperor Wu's Tai Xi era, a horse with long horns appeared in Liaodong, with horns three inches long, growing beneath its ears. According to Liu Xiang, "This is a sign of military disaster." Indeed, after the emperor passed away, the royal family suffered military disasters, fulfilling this prophecy. Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": "When ministers deceive the emperor and governance is in disarray, strange occurrences like a horse with long horns will appear, indicating a shortage of wise ministers!" He also said, "When the Son of Heaven personally goes to war, the horse will sprout horns." The "Records of Lü's Spring and Autumn" also said, "When a ruler loses virtue, the horse will sprout horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, his incompetence and decision to lead the military campaign to Chengdu confirmed these signs.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang era, the crown prince was to hold a sacrificial ceremony, and the Grand Tutor Zhao Wang Lun took a carriage to the South City Gate. When he arrived, the horse refused to budge, and despite several people pushing with all their might, it wouldn’t move. Wang Lun had no choice but to switch to a lighter sedan chair to continue. This was a disaster foretold by the horse! Heaven was warning that Wang Lun does not understand the principles of humanity and will eventually rebel; he is not someone who teaches others to bow and pay respects.
On Wu Yin day in November, a stallion suddenly ran into the interrogation hall of the Ting Wei in a panic, let out a mournful cry, and died. This seemed like a warning from heaven, pitying those who died unjustly! The interrogation hall of the Ting Wei, could this not be the will of heaven?!
In the sixth year of Emperor Huai's Yongjia era, a horse cried out at the South City Gate.
In the second year of Emperor Min's Jianxing era, a bizarre event occurred in Puzi County: a horse gave birth to a human. Jing Fang mentioned in the "Book of Changes": "When the Son of Heaven passes away, and the feudal lords wage war against each other, strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans will appear." At that time, the royal family was in decline, precarious as a house of cards, with the Hu and Di people constantly invading, and the flames of war closing in. Not long after, the emperor fell, leading to these strange occurrences.
In the second year of Emperor Yuan's reign, a dual-headed foal was born to Puyang Yan's horse, an official from Danyang Commandery. The foal had a forked neck and was born dead. Sima Biao explained that this was a sign that power was in the hands of a private family, as indicated by the dual-headed horse. Later, Wang Dun indeed staged a rebellion.
In the eighth year of Emperor Cheng's reign, in the month of May, a blood-red horse appeared. It ran straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circled around the palace, and then ran out again. People chased after it but did not know where it went. On the day of Jimo, the emperor fell ill. In June, the emperor passed away. This red horse was a sign of disaster and a bad omen! In the same year, Zhang Chonghua in Liangzhou was about to execute Zhang Xiang, the Prefect of Xiriver. All the horses in his stable gave birth to tailless monstrosities at once.
In the fourth year of Emperor An's reign, in the month of October, a bizarre event occurred in Liangzhou where horses grew horns. The Governor, Guo Quan, reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not grow horns, just as Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan did not realize this and ultimately met his end with his family exterminated.
When Shi Jilong was ruling in Ye City, one of his horses had a burnt tail. It entered through the Zhongyang Gate and exited through the Xianyang Gate, blocking anyone from entering the East Palace. The horse ran northeast and quickly vanished. The sorcerer Fotu Cheng sighed, saying, "Disaster is about to strike!" Over a year later, Shi Jilong died, and his kingdom was also destroyed.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, in the Huangchu period, Song Shizong's mother from Qinghe transformed into a turtle and disappeared into the water.
In the year 229 AD, a peasant woman named Qiu Xi died and then miraculously came back to life. This incident took place in the territory governed by Cao Xiu. At that time, a tomb from the Zhou Dynasty was excavated, and a buried woman was found. After a few days, she surprisingly began to breathe, and after a few months, although she still couldn't speak, Empress Dowager Guo took her in and cared for her. In addition, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a grave and found a living woman lying in a coffin. When asked what had happened, she herself was unable to explain, and according to the inscription on the tombstone, she appeared to be around thirty years old. The "Jingfang Yichuan" states: "The extreme Yin transforms into Yang, and the lowly rises to the top." This was a sign of Emperor Xuan of Han's rise to power! Similar strange phenomena also happened during the reigns of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian, and people at the time believed it was a sign of Wang Mang and Cao Cao's rise to power.
In the year 260 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died and astonishingly came back to life seven days later, crawling 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 descendants, which is a good omen for his ascension."
In the year 271 AD, the mother of Xuan Qian from Danyang, who was eighty years old, turned into a soft-shelled turtle while bathing. Her sons hurriedly closed the door to keep her safe. They dug a large pit inside the house and filled it with water, and the turtle went in to play. For a day or two, it kept poking its neck out to see what was going on outside. When they slightly opened the door, the turtle turned around and jumped out on its own, running into the distant pond and never returning. This was reminiscent of the incident involving Huang's mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, a sign of the downfall of the Wu kingdom.
In August of the year 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County claimed to have seen a giant who stood over three zhang (approximately ten meters) tall, with footprints that were three chi and two cun long, white hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and yellow robe, leaning on a cane and calling out the name "Wang Shi," saying, "Now there will be peace!" Eventually, the Jin Dynasty supplanted the Wei Dynasty.
In the year 271 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns. This likely foreshadowed Zhao Wang Lun's impending usurpation of power.
In December of the year 276 AD, Yan Ji, a resident of Langye, passed away due to illness. The coffin had already been buried, but his family all dreamt of Yan Ji saying, "I want to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So the family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji gradually regained the ability to eat, drink, bend, stretch, see, and hear, but he was unable to walk or speak. Two years later, he died again. "Jing Fang Yi Chuan" says, "The ultimate yin transforms into yang, the lower person becomes the upper, the demoniac person dies and revives." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately overthrowing the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy of "the lower person becomes the upper."
During the reign of Emperor Huide in the Yuan Kang period, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng. At the age of eight, she gradually turned into a man, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, she had adopted a manly temperament. "Jing Fang Yi Chuan" says, "A woman turns into a husband, this is referred to as the flourishing of yin, the lowly person becomes a king." This was also a sign of Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping across the world.
During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong raised his troops under the banner of justice, executed traitors and rebels, and reinstated the emperor, enjoying great glory for a while. At this time, a woman suddenly rushed to the gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion, requesting to leave her newborn child there, saying, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, everyone attributed the success to Prince Qi Jiong for supporting the royal family, but those who were perceptive recognized his ulterior motives, and in the end, he was killed.
On the day of Jiazi in December of the first year of Yongning, an old man with white hair broke into Prince Qi Jiong's Grand Marshal's Mansion, shouting loudly, "There is a great rebellion coming, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. Consequently, on the day of Wuchen in the following year, Prince Qi Jiong faced defeat in battle. This day coincided with the tenth day after Jiazi, fulfilling the prophecy of the "Jiazi ten days."
In the first year of Tai'an, on the Guiyou day in April, a man claiming to have come from Longmen rushed to the front of the hall, bowed twice to the north, and declared, "I should be the Minister of the Central Secretariat." He was immediately captured and executed. Gan Bao remarked, "The imperial palace and its forbidden gardens are places of utmost nobility and mystery. Now, a lowly person can easily break in, while the guards are completely unaware; this suggests that the palace is on the verge of emptiness, and it is a sign that lower-class people will surpass the upper-class!" Later, the emperor moved north to Yecheng, and eventually, the palace was left deserted.
During the Yuan Kang period, in the Liang Kingdom, a young woman was betrothed to someone and had already received the betrothal gifts. However, not long after, her husband was conscripted to Chang'an 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 with no choice, she went. Soon after, she fell ill and died. Later, her husband returned and inquired about his wife's whereabouts; her family explained what had happened. He ran to his wife's grave, heartbroken, and dug up the grave and opened the coffin, and much to his surprise, the woman was alive! Thus, the two returned home together. Later, the woman's new husband learned of this matter and brought the matter to the authorities, but they were at a loss. The secretary Wang Dao said, "This is an extremely rare occurrence and cannot be judged by common reasoning; she should be returned to her first husband." The court accepted his opinion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maid in the Du family died. Due to some errors during the burial, she could not be buried together. Ten years later, when the grave was opened for a joint burial, the maid was astonishingly still alive! At first, she appeared to be asleep, and after a while, she slowly woke up. When asked what had happened, she replied that it felt like she had only slept for two days. When she was first buried, she was only about fifteen or sixteen years old, and when they opened the grave, she still appeared to be fifteen or sixteen. Later, she got married and had children.
In the first year of the Guangxi era, there was a man named Xie Zhen in Kuaiji who gave birth to a child with a large head, long hair, feet turned upwards, and both male and female physical characteristics. The child made a man's voice at birth and died the next day. This indicates the emperor's moral failings, and the lower class's rebellion against the upper class, resulting in signs of usurpation among the nobility.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were people in Luoyang who exhibited both male and female traits and could engage with both men and women simultaneously, possessing a particularly strong sexual desire. This was all a consequence of the chaotic times. Starting from the Xianning and Taikang periods, male favorites became more popular than female ones. The nobles all imitated this behavior, and people all over the world followed suit, leading to marital strife, ongoing grievances, and a tumultuous dynamic between genders, resulting in the appearance of monsters and demons.
In the first year of Yongjia, a servant girl named Wan Xiang in 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 the size of a pillow. This was yet another monster, a portent of the impending chaos in the world!
In the fifth year of Yongjia, in the month of May, the courtesan named Yan Gen from Fanghan County gave birth to a dragon, a daughter, and a goose. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When beings other than humans are born, it signals the great chaos that is to come." At that time, the emperor succeeded Emperor Hui, and the realm fell into great chaos. Eventually, he was killed by the Hu in Pingyang. This was the omen!
During the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Jianxing of the Ming Dynasty, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official from Xinchai County, gave birth to two daughters. Their stomachs and hearts were connected, separated above the chest and below the navel. This was an extraordinary occurrence! At that time, Lu Hui, the Minister of the Interior, reported: "According to the records in the 'Ruiyingtu,' when different roots grow together, it is called a 'connected branch,' and when different plots of land produce the same rice ear, it is called 'Jiahe.' The strange phenomena of flora are considered auspicious signs. Now, these two people are united in purpose. The Book of Changes says, 'When two people are of one mind, their benefits are as strong as breaking metal.' This is an auspicious sign of people united in purpose!" At that time, people laughed at him. Soon after, the realm was thrown into chaos, and the emperor perished.
In the early years of the Yuan Emperor Taixing, there was a woman with her genitals located on her stomach, below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, experienced intense sexual desire but was unable to conceive. Another woman had her genitals on her head, at the Yangzhou ferry crossing, and she also experienced intense sexual desire. According to Jing Fang's "Yiyao," "If a child is born with genitals on the head, the world will descend into chaos; if on the stomach, there will be trouble in the world; if on the back, the world will be without descendants." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and sought to rebel. This was a sign!
In December of the third year of Taixing, the wife of Minister Zu Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter who emitted a "pipi" sound as soon as she was born and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were located atop her head, her face resembled her neck, she had teeth in her mouth all connected, her chest was like a turtle, and her hands and feet resembled bird claws, all bent downward. This was something other than a human being. Two years later, the Battle of Shitou Mountain took place.
In July of the second year of the Ming Emperor Taining, the wife of Ji, the Marquis of Danyang Jiangning, died and returned to life three days later.
In the fourth month of the fifth year of Xiankang, there was a commoner named Wang He from Xiapi who moved to Jiyang. His twenty-year-old daughter claimed to be descended from heaven and said she had received a heavenly seal and wanted to become the mother of the world. The Jinling Prefect thought this was a supernatural phenomenon and arrested and imprisoned her. In November, a person with a ziziphus wood staff and wearing crimson clothes ran to the gate of the imperial palace, claiming to be a sage sent to see the emperor. The gatekeeper took note of his words, and this person claimed to be named Lu Ci and said that Wang He's daughter had seven stars beneath her right foot, each with seven inches of hair, and that heaven wanted to make her the mother of the world. When this was reported to the emperor, Lu Ci was executed, and Wang He's daughter was also executed.
In the tenth month of the second year of Jianyuan, the Guard's Camp Supervisor discovered a soldier with the words "Mother of the World" written on his feet. After moxibustion, the writing became more pronounced. The capital was thrown into an uproar, and the authorities apprehended him and reported it to the emperor. The soldier swiftly escaped from Jiankang County prison. The next year, the emperor died, and the Empress Dowager assumed control of the government. Was this a kind of omen?
During the Ningkang period, there was a woman named Tang in Nanjun who gradually turned into a man.
In the seventh year of Yixi, there was a man named Zhao in Wuxi who suddenly reached a height of eight feet and grew a beard at the age of eight, but died three days later.
During the Yixi period, a woman named Mo in Dongyang gave birth to a daughter, but did not care for her and buried her for several days. However, cries of the baby were heard from the ground, and she was unearthed and cared for.
Towards the end of the Yixi period, in Eryang Road in Yuzhang, people were constantly being born.
In the first year of Yuanxi, in Ji'an, there was a place called Yangdao where a headless infant was born. Later, the infant grew up and became a woman.
