In January of the year 252 AD, Emperor Jing of Wei launched a campaign against Guanqiu Jian, causing a strong wind that darkened the sky like it was night, prompting everyone to lie down. This was seen as an ominous sign, referred to as the "night demon." Liu Xiang said, "It is broad daylight but suddenly darkens, with yin energy overpowering yang energy, suggesting that the ministers were overpowering the ruler!"
In October of the year 260 AD, the capital experienced an earthquake, with the daytime darkened again, another sign of the "night demon." Ban Gu said, "The 'night demon' refers to fierce storms and darkness, much like regular storms." Liu Xiang in his "Spring and Autumn Annals" stated, "It seems heaven is warning us not to let ministers inherit their positions, but to ensure they focus on their duties. If it's dark during the day, it means the court is in decline!" These strange occurrences in Wei signaled that the Jin Dynasty would take over.
In October of the year 308 AD, the daytime suddenly turned dark and lasted for several days, once again experiencing the "night demon." The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, and the Wei army suffered repeated defeats, with the emperor even fleeing to Pingyang.
In December of the year 377 AD, a strong wind blew, darkening the sky as if it were nighttime. Later, the emperor passed away, the feudal lords became rebellious, civil war erupted continuously, and power fell into the hands of Yuan Xian. Eventually, Huan Xuan seized power, resulting in chaos across the land.
Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes Commentary," "If high-ranking officials are content with their status, seeking pleasure, they will attract pests that eat away at the roots of crops; if morality deteriorates, pests will gnaw at the leaves; if they lack ability and virtue, pests will gnaw at the stems; if they go against the farming seasons, pests will gnaw at the stems; if they conceal their sins, pests will gnaw at the heart of the crops."
In July of the year 279 AD, various counties and states suffered from locust plagues; in September, Qingzhou experienced another locust plague; during the same month, various counties and states were also hit by green worms devouring their crops. Four years later, over twenty counties and states, such as Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, faced locust plagues.
In the year 284 AD, Kuaiji was overrun with mice, causing significant damage to the rice harvest. In August of the year 289, locusts plagued twenty-four counties, and in September, insects ravaged the autumn crops. At that time, the Emperor was influenced by slander and favored Jia Chong and Yang Jun, leading to the disasters of insects and locusts as punishment for their moral failings.
In September of the year 299, locusts invaded six counties, including counties like Daifang, devouring all the leaves of the crops. In July of the year 301, the provinces of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou suffered from locusts. During the reign of Prince Qi Jiong, this was viewed as retribution for his greed and cruelty. In October, caterpillars in Nan'an, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, Beihai, and other regions consumed the leaves of crops, with five or six out of every ten plants suffering severe damage. In December, locusts plagued six counties.
In the ninth year of Emperor Wu's reign (Year 302), a speaking dead cow appeared in the northern border of Youzhou, foretelling an impending disaster. At that time, the Emperor was in poor health and concerned about his succession plans, but the chosen successors were not suitable, which may explain these strange occurrences. Just as Shi Kuang said: "When resentment breeds among the people, there will be monstrous beings making their presence known." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also states: "Unjustly taking lives will give rise to monstrous beings."
During the reign of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, there lived a man named Zhang Cheng in Jiangxia. Suddenly, the cow he was riding spoke, "The world is about to be in chaos, why am I carrying you?" Terrified, Zhang Cheng hurried home, only to have his dog say, "What’s the rush? Back already?" Before long, the cow stood up and walked! Zhang Cheng consulted a fortune teller, who predicted, "There will be a civil war in the world, and disaster won’t be confined to just one family." That year, Zhang Chang rebelled and first attacked Jiangxia. As a general, Zhang Cheng's family was wiped out, leading to chaos spreading across five provinces. The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang says, "When a cow speaks, based on what it says, one can predict good or bad fortune." The "Yi Meng Qi Shu" also states, "If a ruler does not treat talented individuals well, but allows horses to wear luxurious clothing, and dogs and wolves to eat human food, then livestock will start speaking." At that time, the emperor and lords did not prioritize caring for the people, which was why this prophecy came true.
In the first year of the Jianwu era of Emperor Yuan, in July, a cow in Jinling Chenmen gave birth to a two-headed calf. The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang says, "When a cow gives birth to a two-headed calf, it is a sign of the world splitting." At that time, Emperor Min was assassinated in Pingyang, and Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, resulting in the world splitting in two, confirming the prophecy.
In the first year of the Taixing era, a peculiar calf was born to a cow belonging to Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang. It had two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing a single belly, but it died three years later. Another cow had only one leg and three tails, and all these calves died soon after being born. According to Sima Biao, "A two-headed cow symbolizes power in the hands of private individuals, blurring the lines between ranks." The "Yi Zhuan" by Jing Fang says, "Having many legs indicates that the appointed talents are not suitable; having few legs indicates an inability to bear heavy responsibilities." Later, Wang Dun and others disrupted the political power, confirming this omen.
In December of the fourth year of the era, the sacrificial ox in the countryside died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the sacrificial ox meant: "Duke Xuan was incompetent and unjust, so the heavens did not accept his sacrifices." The resurgence of the Yuan Emperor was actually due to Wang Dao's efforts. Liu Wei won the emperor's favor through flattery, while Wang Dao was alienated, which highlights the dangers of incompetence and injustice.
In May of the year 327, a calf was born to the military's ox, and this calf was quite a sight, with two heads and six legs! That winter, Su Jun launched a rebellion. By the year 331 AD, a man named Yuan Rong also had a cow that gave birth to a monster, that had two heads, eight legs, and two tails fused together. Strange things kept happening!
When Huan Xuan was in power, he went to Jingzhou to meet the governor Yin Zhongkan. Passing by Crane's Nest, he encountered an old man driving a green ox, which had an unusual shape, unlike ordinary cows. Without hesitation, Huan Xuan swapped his own ox for the green one. Riding this green ox to Lingling Jingxi, the ox sprinted faster than an ordinary horse! When resting and letting the ox drink water, the ox leapt into the river and vanished. Huan Xuan dispatched searchers all day, but they found nothing. Eventually, Huan Xuan was defeated and executed. This green ox, its origin remains unknown.
In the year 221 AD, Liu Bei of Shu Han embarked on an eastern expedition, departing from Zigui in February and stationed his troops in Yidao. In June, a yellow mist appeared in Zigui, stretching for more than ten miles and several tens of yards wide. Over ten days later, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Xun, and the site of the yellow mist was alarmingly close to where Liu Bei faced defeat, which could also be seen as an ominous sign.
During the reign of King Qi during the Zhengshi era of the Wei Kingdom, Zhou Nan, the King of Zhongshan, served as the magistrate of Xiangyi County. One day, an old mouse scurried out of its hole and said, "Zhou Nan, you will die one day!" Zhou Nan ignored it, and the mouse retreated back into its hole. On that day, the mouse emerged again, donning a hat and black clothing, saying, "Zhou Nan, you will die at noon today!" Zhou Nan still ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. After a while, the mouse came out again and said the same thing. At noon, the mouse said, "Zhou Nan, if you keep ignoring me, what can I do!" After it spoke, the mouse performed a somersault and died, its hat and clothes falling off. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just an ordinary mouse. Ban Gu once remarked that this was a sign of Huang Xiang. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power and had conflicts with Zhou Nan, so the mouse predicted his death. In December of 299 AD, a thick fog enveloped the land. The emperor at that time was inept and left decision-making to others, which led to the emergence of such strange phenomena. In August of 317 AD, yellow fog spread in all directions, blotting out the sun with dust and miasma. In October of 318 AD, the capital was shrouded in thick fog, as black fog billowed up to the sky, obscuring the sun. On the Guisi day in January of 329 AD, yellow fog once again spread in all directions. In February, yellow fog once again spread in all directions. At that time, Wang Dun had seized power, and the conspiracy to rebel grew increasingly serious.
In March of the year 352 AD, a strong wind swept through Liangzhou, blowing down trees and filling the air with yellow mist and flying dust. At that time, Zhang Zhonghua believed the slander of evil men, dismissed Xie Ai from his position as the Prefect of Jiuquan, and appointed incompetent successors. As a result, Xie Ai passed away in the year 354 AD, and his son was also killed, which fulfilled the earlier omens. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "To hear good advice but not take it is ignorance; the appearance of yellow mist indicates that disaster is imminent, leading to a lack of successors for rulers. The yellow color refers to the spreading of turbid air throughout the world, obscuring the wise and cutting off the right path, thus causing great chaos in the world."
On the day of Guichou in February of the year 373 AD, yellow mist spread in all directions. At that time, Wang Daozi wielded power and favored treacherous and cunning individuals, and the court was rife with chaos.
On the day of Bingshen in October of the year 405 AD, on the day of the new moon, yellow mist covered the sky, dark and blurry, and it had not rained for an extended period. This signaled Huan Xuan's rebellion.
In November of the year 408 AD, there was a thick fog; in November of the year 410 AD, another thick fog appeared. At that time, the royal family was declining, the ministers held great power, and control of land and armies was almost entirely out of the emperor's hands, which too served as an omen.
Liu Xiang said, "Earthquakes are associated with the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu said, "The qi of heaven and earth operates according to its own laws; if these laws are violated, disasters will ensue in the human realm. If yang qi is suppressed and cannot rise, and yin qi is pressing down and cannot descend, earthquakes are bound to occur."
In the year 225 AD, during Sun Quan's reign, there were consecutive earthquakes in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan accepted a title from the Wei Kingdom, was appointed as Grand General and King of Wu, changed his era name to one of an emperor, ruled as a dictator, and neglected to reform the government. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Even if the actions of the ministers are correct, tyranny will lead to earthquakes. Earthquakes cause waves in water, shaking of branches in trees, and tiles falling from houses. If the government's policies are wrong and loyal ministers are dismissed, this is referred to as the manifestation of yin energy, which will lead to earthquakes and destabilize the political power. If the government's policies are unstable, this is called not following the yin energy, which will cause earthquakes, shaking mountains and causing springs to gush. If the heir lacks virtue but enjoys a salary alone, this is called not following, which will cause earthquakes, shaking hills and causing springs to gush." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the ministers is strong and they are about to cause trouble, it is a sign of impending disaster."
In November of the year 229 AD, an earthquake occurred in the capital; the earthquake originated from the east, accompanied by faint sounds, and the tiles of houses fell.
In June of the year 230 AD, another earthquake occurred in the capital. That autumn, General Zhu Ran of Wu laid siege to Jiangxia, and Hu Zhi, the Inspector of Jingzhou, successfully repelled him. In addition, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, proclaimed himself King of Yan, changed his era name to emperor, and established officials. The next year, he was defeated.
In May of the year 236 AD, an earthquake occurred in Jiangdong.
In the first month of the second year of the Chi Wu era, the earth shook again. At that time, Lv Yi held all power, and Bu Zhi wrote a memorial saying: "I have heard that the officials are nitpicking, eager to frame others to establish authority, abusing power; many innocent people are suffering heavy penalties, and even the great ministers are not trusted. If this continues, how can there be no abnormalities in heaven and earth? So the earth continues to quake; this indicates the tyranny of ministers! I hope Your Majesty will heed this warning and reflect on its implications!" Later, Lv Yi did indeed fail.
In the second year of Zhengshi during the reign of King Qi of the Wei Kingdom, in the eleventh month, there was an earthquake in Nan'an County. In the third year, in the seventh month, another earthquake struck Nan'an County. In the twelfth month, there was an earthquake in Wei County. In the sixth year, in the second month, there was another earthquake in Nan'an County. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power and moved the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace, where she tearfully bid farewell to the Emperor. The series of earthquakes over several years was an ominous sign!
In the eleventh year of Chiwu during the reign of Sun Quan of the Wu Kingdom, in the second month, another earthquake struck the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan was swayed by slander, leading to the dismissal of Zhu Ju and the deposition of the Crown Prince.
In the first year of Yanxing during the reign of Liu Chan of the Shu Kingdom, there was an earthquake in Shu. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao was in power. As Sima Biao stated, "Eunuchs lack masculine vigor, much like women." With Huang Hao in power, this prophecy came true, echoing the circumstances of Emperor Han He's reign. That winter, the Shu Kingdom fell.
In the fifth year of Taishi during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, in the fourth month, there was an earthquake. That winter, the Di and Qiang rebels revolted in Xinping. The following year, Sun Hao sent a large army to enter Guokou. In the seventh year, in the sixth month, another earthquake occurred.
In the second year of Xianning, in the eighth month, earthquakes struck Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. In the fourth year, in the sixth month, there were earthquakes in Yinping and Guangwu, and on the day of Jiazi there was another earthquake.
In the second year of Taikang, in the second month, there was an earthquake in Huainan and Danyang. On the first day of the first month in the fifth year, an earthquake shook the capital. In the sixth year, in the seventh month, another earthquake occurred. In the seventh year, in the seventh month, there were earthquakes in Nan'an and Jianwei. In the eighth month, there was an earthquake in Jingzhao. In the eighth year, in the fifth month, there was an earthquake in Jian'an. In the seventh month, there was an earthquake in Yinping. In the eighth month, there was an earthquake in Danyang. In the ninth year, in the first month, earthquakes were recorded in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing. In the fourth month, there were earthquakes in Changsha, Nanhai, and eight other counties and states. From July to August, there were four more earthquakes, three of which were thunderous. In September, there was an earthquake in Linhe, and in December there was another earthquake. In the twelfth month of the tenth year, Danyang experienced another earthquake.
In January of the year 290 AD, an earthquake struck! Starting from Jia Chong to Yang Jun, the elite of the Western Jin Dynasty were solely focused on their own gains, fighting for power and profit, plunging the country into chaos. In the later period, the officials they appointed became increasingly incompetent, leading to frequent earthquakes, which resulted from their disregard for natural laws, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Western Jin Dynasty.
In December of the year 291 AD, Luoyang experienced another earthquake. That summer, Empress Jia instigated the assassination of Prince Sima Liang of Runan and Grand Guardian Wei Guan by Prince Sima Wei of Chu, all stemming from the imbalance of yin and yang. In the year 293 AD, Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong were hit by a series of earthquakes. In May, landslides occurred in Shu County; Shouchun in Huainan experienced flooding, landslides, and the destruction of cities. In August, Shanggu experienced another earthquake, resulting in floods and claiming hundreds of lives. In October, Luoyang experienced an earthquake. In November, earthquakes occurred in Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, Nanyang, and other places. In December, Luoyang experienced another earthquake. At that time, Empress Jia's abuse of power and corruption ultimately led to the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty, which was a clear sign of retribution. Earthquakes also struck various regions during the reign of Empress Dowager Deng in the Han Dynasty. Li Gu once said, "The earth is yin in nature and should remain calm. This disregard for yin's nature and the dominance of yang is why these earthquakes occurred." This is similar to the situation of the Western Jin Dynasty. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan," "When the unscrupulous exploit the people, disasters such as landslides may occur; this is called yin overpowering yang, weakness overpowering strength." He also said, "When yin energy betrays yang energy, the earth will crack, fathers and sons will be separated, and minority groups will rebel."
In May of the year 294 AD, there was an earthquake. In June, Jincheng experienced an earthquake. In January of the year 295 AD, there was an earthquake. In January of the year 297 AD, there was an earthquake. In October of the year 299 AD, there was an earthquake, indicating Prince Sima Jiong's overreach of power. In December of the year 300 AD, there was an earthquake, indicating Prince Sima Yi of Changsha's overreach of power.
In October 307, there was an earthquake in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou, when Sima Yue was in power. In April 308, there was an earthquake in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jiji County, captured the governor Hu Chong, then crossed the Yellow River and invaded southward; these were all omens from the heavens!
In April 314, there was an earthquake. In June 315, Chang'an experienced another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was young, power was in the hands of others, and wars were breaking out everywhere; these were all signs of great chaos in the realm!
In April 318, there was an earthquake in Xiping, and springs burst forth. In December, there were earthquakes in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiling, with springs emerging and mountains collapsing. Gan Bao believed this was an omen of Wang Dun's impending rebellion.
On a certain day in May 326, there was an earthquake in Qishan, causing mountains to collapse and many deaths. At that time, Wang Bao of Nanyang was in Qishan, stating that this was a sign that the Jin king was nearing his end. "At that time, the Chancellor Wang Bao of Nanyang was in Qishan, claiming it was a sign that the Jin king would not last." This is definitely not a good sign; it seems something big is about to happen.
In May 327, there were earthquakes again in Danyang, Wujun, and Jinling. These earthquakes, one after another, really make you feel uneasy. The continuous tremors leave you wondering what might happen next.
In February 330, there was an earthquake in Jiangling; in March, there was an earthquake in Yizhou; on a certain day in April, there was an earthquake in Yuzhang. That year, Su Jun rebelled. In March 336, there was an earthquake in Kuaiji. I can't help but wonder if this earthquake is linked to Su Jun's rebellion; anyway, this time is truly a season of troubles!
On a certain day in June 345, there was another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was still young, the empress dowager was in power, and political authority was in the hands of the ministers, which probably explains the earthquakes happening every year. "At that time, the heir was young and immature, the empress dowager held power, and politics were in the hands of the ministers, hence the continuous earthquakes." Alas, this country is truly unstable! In October 346, there was an earthquake; on a certain day in January 347, there was an earthquake; in September of the same year, there was another earthquake; on a certain day in October 348, there was an earthquake. The earth shook and mountains trembled, really making you feel scared and anxious.
In the year 349, on a certain day in January, there was an earthquake. At this time, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, which led to chaos. "At that time, Shi Jilong usurped the imperial throne, which was also out of order." The world was really in a mess. In August 353, on a certain day, there was an earthquake in the capital, with sounds like thunder. "In the ninth year, in August, on Ding You, there was an earthquake in the capital, with sounds like thunder." This quake was really scary! In January 354, on a certain day, there was an earthquake, with sounds like thunder, causing both chickens and pheasants to cry out in fear. "In the tenth year, in January, on Ding Mao, there was an earthquake, with sounds like thunder, and both chickens and pheasants cried out." That was quite a ruckus! In April 355, on a certain day, there was an earthquake; in May, on a certain day, there was an earthquake. In November 358, on a certain day, there was an earthquake; in August 361, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou. These earthquakes just wouldn't stop. In April 362, on a certain day, there was an earthquake. "In the first year of Emperor Ai's Longhe reign, in April, on Jia Xu, there was an earthquake." At that time, the ministers had all the power, and the emperor was just a figurehead. "At that time, the government was in the hands of the ministers, and the ruler merely faced south." This emperor was indeed in a very constrained position. In April 363, on a certain day, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, causing the lakes to overflow. "In the first year of Xining, in April, on Jia Xu, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, and the lakes overflowed." In February 364, on a certain day, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen held absolute power. "At that time, Huan Wen was in power." Huan Wen was indeed very powerful! In February 365, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou, with water surging. "This is the response to the impending collapse of the Sea West." It seemed that trouble was brewing in Liangzhou. In October 372, on a certain day, there was an earthquake in Ancheng; that year, the emperor passed away. "In the second year of Emperor Jianwen's Xian'an reign, in October, on Xin Wei, there was an earthquake in Ancheng. That year, the emperor passed away." I wonder if this quake had anything to do with the emperor's death. In October 373, on a certain day, there was an earthquake; in February 374, on a certain day, there was an earthquake; in July of the same year, Liangzhou experienced another earthquake, causing mountains to collapse. "At that time, the heir was young and weak, and power was in the hands of the ministers, which was a response to the prevailing darkness." The emperor was still young, and power was in the hands of the ministers; this quake was probably a result of the political chaos. It really was a tough time filled with disasters!
In the year 377, in March, there was an earthquake. In May, there was another earthquake. In the year 382, in June, there was yet another earthquake. After this, the generals near the Yellow River were in continuous battles for several years, and the common people were exhausted; this was probably the reason for the earthquakes. In the year 386, in March, there was an earthquake at night. In August, there was an earthquake in the capital. In December, there was another earthquake. In the year 388, in June, there was an earthquake. In December, there was another earthquake. At that time, the incompetent were in power, and the people were anxious. In the year 389, in the first month, there was an earthquake at night. In February, there was another earthquake at night.
In the year 398, in April, there was an earthquake. In September, there was another earthquake. At that time, the young emperor was still a child and did not understand affairs; the ministers held all the power in the court. In the year 407, in the first month, there was a deafening earthquake at night. In October, there was an earthquake. In the year 408, in the first month, there was an earthquake in Xunyang, and the sound was thunderous. The following year, Lu Xun was defeated. In the year 410, from January to April, there were four consecutive earthquakes in the Nankang and Luling areas. The next year, the army marched west to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In the year 413, in March, there was an earthquake.
During Sun Quan's reign, in August of the year 240, the mountains in Danyang, Jurong, and other places like Guzhang and Ningguo collapsed, and there were floods. Liu Xiang once said: "Mountains represent the yang, symbolizing the ruler; water represents the yin, symbolizing the common people. The heavenly signs indicate that the ruler's morality is collapsing, and the people will lose their support." The collapse of Liang Mountain during the Spring and Autumn period, and the many landslides and floods in Qi and Chu during the Han dynasty, all follow the same reasoning. In ancient times, during the Three Dynasties, sacrifices were never made beyond mountains and rivers; good fortune and misfortune were not coincidental occurrences. Although the Wu state claimed the title of emperor, it was actually just one among many states; the disaster in Danyang was a sign from heaven! Liu Xin believed: "The rise and fall of a nation is intricately linked to its geography; landslides and river depletion are signs of a nation's demise." Two years later, Sun Quan passed away, and twenty-six years after that, the Wu state fell.
In February of the year 265, there was a landslide in the Taihang Mountains, which signaled the fall of the Wei state. That winter, the Jin dynasty unified the world.
In March 270 AD, Dashi Mountain collapsed. In July 271 AD, Mount Tai collapsed as well, with falling rocks rolling for three miles. Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": "The collapse from above corresponds to the stones rolling down from Mount Tai, foreshadowing the saintly king receiving his mandate and the monarch being captured." Later, the emperor passed away, power left the royal family, Emperor Hui was weak, and Emperors Huai and Min were both captured in the north, leading to the country falling into northern hands, until Emperor Yuan revitalized the south, all of which fulfilled Jing Fang's prophecy.
On May 5, 280 AD (the fifth year of Emperor Wu of Jin's Taikang era), the foundation of the temple of Emperor Xuan suddenly collapsed; this was certainly an ill omen! By the following year (the sixth year of Taikang) in October, Xinxing Mountain in Nanan experienced a landslide, releasing a large amount of spring water. Then in February 282 AD (the seventh year of Taikang), Dalu Mountain in Zhuti County also collapsed, damaging official buildings in the county, and the Qiu Pool Cliff in Yinping also experienced a landslide. By July 283 AD (the eighth year of Taikang), a heavy downpour occurred, causing the ground in front of the palace to collapse, covering an area of about five feet by five feet and a depth of several dozen feet; they even discovered a broken ship in the pit!
These strange occurrences kept piling up, truly alarming everyone. By the fourth year of Emperor Hui of Jin's Yuankang era, a landslide occurred in Shujun, resulting in loss of life. On May 10 of the same year, a landslide also happened in Shouchun, as floods broke out, city walls collapsing, and the ground sank by over thirty zhang, leading to numerous fatalities. In June, Shouchun was hit by another heavy thunderstorm, with landslides and cracks in the ground, burying many homes. Shangyong also experienced similar disasters. By August, the ground at Juyong Pass split open, creating a massive fissure, measuring eighty-four zhang long and thirty-six zhang wide, with water surging up from below, resulting in a severe famine. Various places in Shangyong also experienced continuous landslides, with ground sinking areas measuring thirty zhang wide and one hundred thirty zhang long, also bringing forth water and resulting in casualties. All these disasters were clear signs of Jia Hou's misrule!
In the year 291 AD (the first year of the Tai'an era of Emperor Huai of Jin), in April, the walls of Xiyong City fell. In March 307 AD (the first year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Huai of Jin), the foundation of Buguangli northeast of Luoyang collapsed. By the day of Yihai in August of the second year of Yongjia, the walls of Juancheng inexplicably fell, measuring over seventy zhang in height, and Sima Yue felt it was very ominous, so he moved the capital to Puyang, considering it a warning sign from the heavens! Sima Yue later faced misfortune as a result of damage to his tomb. On the day of Wuchen in July of the third year of Yongjia, three places in Changyang experienced ground fissures, with cracks that were three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. In Jingfang's "Yizhuan," it states: "When the ground cracks, it signifies that the subjects are disloyal and unwilling to cooperate." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi indeed became enemies, and the various lords dispersed, contributing to the eventual downfall of the Western Jin dynasty. In October of the third year of Yongjia, Yidu Yidao Mountain also collapsed. In April of the fourth year of Yongjia, Heishi Mountain in Ling County, East Xiang, also experienced a landslide.
In February of 317 AD (the first year of the Taixing era of Emperor Yuan of Jin), earthquakes and landslides occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. By May of the second year of Taixing, Qishan also experienced earthquakes and landslides, resulting in casualties. In the third year of Taixing, a landslide occurred in Nanping County, releasing several thousand pounds of realgar. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and overbearing, yet the emperor was indulgent and lenient towards him; this was clearly keeping a tiger as a pet! In August of the fourth year of Taixing, Changshan collapsed, releasing a large amount of water, causing the Hutuo River's water level to surge, and many large trees were washed away.
In October of 331 AD (the fourth year of the Xianhe era of Emperor Cheng of Jin), the northwest cliff of Lushan Mountain in Chaisang collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo. In September of 349 AD (the seventh year of the Yonghe era of Emperor Mu of Jin), Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb both collapsed. In November of the twelfth year of Yonghe, the court dispatched the attendant Che Guan to restore Junping Tomb, but while digging the tomb passage, the mountain gave way, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people.
In the second month of the year 7 BC, at South Ye Gate, a horse's hoof sank into the ground, and a bell was dug out, which bore four characters engraved on it. (The characters on the bell will not be translated.)
On the day of Ding Chou in April of 48 BC, a landslide struck Haowei Mountain, and Zhang Tianxi's military campaign also failed. This suggests a link between landslides and military defeats.
On the day of Ren Yin in March of 385 AD, the ground in the area of Shanyin collapsed, creating a four-zhang-wide depression, followed by a loud rumble akin to thunder. On the day of Wu Yin in May of 390 AD, the ground at the West Ming Gate collapsed, releasing a large amount of water that damaged the door panels and threshold. These phenomena are manifestations of unfavorable earth energy, indicating a lack of harmony between water and soil.
In May of 391 AD, Huoshan Mountain collapsed, unearthing six copper bells. In July of 393 AD, a loud noise echoed near the water in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, followed by the riverbank collapsing, from which twelve copper bells were excavated.
On a night in June of 299 AD, a sudden storm caused the pillars of Jia Mi's study to sink into the ground, collapsing his bed and tent. This indicates that the wood was influenced by the earth's energy, and the ground lost its usual load-bearing ability. The following year, Jia Mi was killed, implying that abnormal earth energy can influence a person's fate.
In May of 806 AD, fire burst forth from underground in Fanyang, which could even be used for cooking purposes! This again demonstrates unfavorable earth energy, with excessive fire energy. At that time, matters of state such as rites, music, and military campaigns were all in the hands of the feudal lords, signifying great chaos in the realm.
The book says that if the emperor cannot maintain balance and harmony, the country will not be stable. This failure stems from incompetence, and the consequence will be prolonged rain, ultimately leading to a decline in national strength. Sometimes, there will be incidents of slaying evil spirits; sometimes, dragons and snakes will cause chaos; sometimes, horses will harm people; sometimes, subordinates will rebel; sometimes, the movements of the sun, moon, and stars will become erratic. If the emperor cannot maintain balance and harmony, the country will not be stable. "Emperor" refers to the monarch, "extreme" refers to balance, and "establish" refers to establishment. If the monarch has issues with his appearance, speech, behavior, thoughts, and intentions, and cannot maintain balance and harmony, he won’t be able to effectively govern the country; this is caused by incompetence, hence the fault lies in incompetence. The ruler should align with the way of heaven and govern all things. Clouds rise from the mountains and eventually fill the sky; if the heavenly signs are chaotic, there will be prolonged rain, just as the book says: "If the upper leadership cannot achieve balance, the lower ranks will become strong and blind the wisdom of the monarch." The "I Ching" states: "The excessive dragon has regrets; the noble will lose his position, the high will lose the people, and the wise will be in the lower position and lose their support." If this happens, although the monarch holds a respected position facing south, he will receive no help from anyone, and thus the country will be very weak. Strong yang energy will bring recklessness and impatience. According to the rites, a large archery ceremony should be held in spring to align with the yang energy. If the upper leadership is weak, the lower ranks will be restless, resulting in incidents of slaying evil spirits. The "I Ching" says: "The cloud follows the dragon." It also says: "The hibernation of dragons and snakes is for self-preservation." When yin energy prevails, dragons and snakes will cause chaos. In the "I Ching," the "Qian" hexagram represents the monarch and also represents horses. An overreliance on military force will undermine the monarch’s authority, leading to incidents of horses harming people. Some also say that the mass deaths of horses or their transformation into monsters can be understood in the same way. If the monarch is incompetent and weak, he will face betrayal from the people and abandonment by heaven. If there is no wise monarch to punish the rebels, there will be events of usurpation and assassination, resulting in subordinates rebelling. In summary, if the monarch's way is compromised, it will affect the heavenly signs. The book does not state that the five elements are to blame for offending heaven, but rather that "the sun and moon move chaotically, and the stars move in reverse," because the lower ranks do not dare to say that heaven has disasters, just as it is said in the "Spring and Autumn" that "the royal army suffered defeat against the Maorong," without mentioning the reasons for the defeat, but rather attributing the failure to themselves, which reflects a sense of respect. Liu Xin's "Huangji Zhuan" states that there is a lower body born from the upper illness, meaning that subordinates rebel, and heavenly punishment has already occurred, no longer a matter of illness.
In the third year of Taiping, Sun Liang of Wu experienced continuous rain starting from August and did not rain for over forty days. At that time, there was a plan to execute Sun Zhen, but the plan was leaked. On September 5th, Sun Zhen surrounded the palace with troops and deposed Sun Liang, declaring him the King of Kuaiji; this was the punishment for the prolonged rain.
During Sun Hao's reign, in December of the first year of Baoding, astronomers reported that the sky was overcast and it hadn't rained for a long time, which indicated that there might be a conspiracy in the works. Upon hearing this, Sun Hao was terrified. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose Sun Hao while he was performing a sacrifice. However, the plan failed because Lu Kai had asked Liu Ping to lead the charge, and when he privately discussed the matter with Liu Ping, Liu Ping disagreed, resulting in the plan's failure. Sun Hao was extremely brutal, and those beneath him were thinking of rebellion; in the end, the State of Wu was indeed destroyed.
Deng Zhi, the general of the Shu state, went to Fuling on business and saw a monkey on the mountain, so he shot it with an arrow. The monkey pulled out the arrow and used leaves to cover the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Ah, I have gone against the laws of nature; this is it for me!" Not long after, Deng Zhi died, which people call shooting a demon! Some say that the monkey he shot was holding a baby, and the baby pulled out the arrow and used leaves to cover the wound. Deng Zhi sighed and threw his bow into the water, knowing he wouldn't live much longer.
When Emperor Gong of Jin was the King of Langya, he enjoyed playing odd games. One time, he locked a horse in a room and had people shoot arrows at it, wanting to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone nearby advised him, "That horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is inauspicious!" Only then did Emperor Gong stop, but the horse had already been shot with more than ten arrows. This can also be seen as shooting a demon! Shortly after, he abdicated the throne to Emperor Wu of Song.
In the first month of the first year of the Qinglong era under Emperor Ming of Wei, a blue dragon appeared in the Mobo Well in Ji County. Generally speaking, if an auspicious sign appears at the wrong time, it becomes an evil omen, especially when it's trapped in a well; that's definitely not a good sign! Wei changed its reign title because of this, but this response was misguided. Gan Bao said: "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearance of the blue dragon and the yellow dragon are related to the rise and fall of Wei. Wei's national destiny is associated with wood, and its color is green, but it cannot compete with gold. The appearance of the yellow dragon and the disappearance of the blue dragon symbolize the blue dragon's fall and the yellow dragon's rise. The frequent appearance of the blue dragon suggests internal strife within Wei's national destiny. Therefore, Gao Guixianggong finally died in battle." Liu Xiang's theory is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well indicates that the feudal lords will be imprisoned. Throughout the Wei Dynasty, dragons frequently appeared in wells, reflecting the suppression of rulers. This is the meaning behind the "Hidden Dragon Poem" by Gao Guixianggong.
On Wuxu day in the tenth month of the first year of Gao Guixianggong's reign, a yellow dragon appeared in a well in Ye City. On Xinchou day in the first month of the first year of Ganlu, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Zhixian. In the sixth month of Yichou, another blue dragon was spotted in a well at the border of Yuancheng County. In the second month of the second year, a blue dragon appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year, both the yellow dragon and the blue dragon appeared in the wells at the boundaries of Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year, the yellow dragon made two appearances in wells at the border of Ningling County.
On Jia Shen day in the twelfth month of the first year of Emperor Yuan of Wei, 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 Sun Hao's reign in the Wu Kingdom, a dragon gave birth to a dragon son in a household in Changsha and even ate some chicks. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" says: "When a dragon gives birth to a child in a household, it indicates that the king will become a commoner." Eventually, Sun Hao was indeed overthrown by the Jin Dynasty.
In the sixth month of the second year of Emperor Wu of Wei, two white dragons were sighted 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 delighted to see this, and all the officials were ready to congratulate him, except for Liu Yi, who submitted a memorial stating: "In the past, when a dragon appeared in the courtyard of the Xia Dynasty, the Xia Dynasty perished; when a dragon appeared at the gate of the Zheng State, Zichan did not congratulate." The emperor replied, "My virtuous governance has not yet been established, and I am not qualified to accept such auspicious signs." Thus, no one congratulated him. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are aquatic creatures; what does that have to do with humans? Zichan is right. However, when a dragon appears in the wrong place, it signals disaster. The appearance of a flying dragon is auspicious, but now it is lurking in dark places, which is not a good sign." In the second year of Emperor Hui of Han, two dragons appeared in a well in Lanling, and "Ben Zhi" believed this was a precursor to the death of King You of Zhao. The armory is where the emperor stores weapons and treasures; the structures are tall and hidden, not a place where dragons should appear. Seven years later, the princes and kings began to kill each other, and twenty-eight years later, two rebels with the surname Long seized the throne, truly fulfilling the prophecy of the dragon's appearance!
In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a Qiang ethnic prostitute from Fanghan gave birth to a dragon son, with colors resembling embroidered patterns, often feeding on his mother's milk, and could even see the divine light emanating from his body, which few could see. This also foreshadowed the emperor's impending downfall, and Emperor Min did indeed perish.
In the latter years of Lu Zuan's reign, a dragon emerged from the well in the east wing, coiled in front of his palace, and disappeared at dawn. Shortly after, a black dragon flew to his palace gate. Lu Zuan considered this to be an auspicious sign. Some remarked, "Dragons are yin creatures that appear in their own time. Now they are appearing one after another; there must be a rebellion brewing among the subordinates." Later, Lu Zuan was indeed killed by Lu Chao.
During the Xian Ning period of Emperor Wu of Han, two large snakes appeared in the Minister of Education's residence, each more than ten zhang long, coiled on the main beam, yet people were completely oblivious. For several years, children and livestock kept disappearing in the residence, until one night, a snake emerged, was injured, and couldn't escape; only then were they discovered. The residents quickly attacked and eventually killed the snakes. The Minister of Education's residence indicates the ineffectiveness of the court's policies, leading to the appearance of such monsters. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, and Yang Ci attributed it to the emperor's indulgence in women. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were numerous palace maids, particularly in Yan; the emperor's indulgence in pleasure was the cause of this. The Book of Songs says, "Only snakes and vipers, signs of women," which explains this principle.
On the gui si day of the fifth year of Emperor Hui's Yuankang reign in March, a large snake over ten zhang long appeared in Linzi, bringing two small snakes in through the north gate of the city, passing through the market, and going straight into the Han Dynasty's Chengyang Jingwang Temple, then disappeared. This serves as a warning from the heavens! Although Emperor Jing of Han accomplished great feats, he failed to maintain integrity and caution, ultimately losing his position and achievements. Now, although Prince Qi Jiong has also made achievements, he is arrogant and has invited disaster upon himself; this is a sign!
During the Tianing period of Emperor Ming, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, living within an old temple inside a hollow tree, often poking its head out to beg for food from passersby. Jing Fang stated in "Yi Yao": "When snakes appear in the city, within three years there will be a large-scale war, and the nation will suffer great disasters." Not long after, Wang Dun staged a rebellion.
In the first year of Emperor Wu Di Tai Xi, a horse with long antlers appeared in Liaodong, with antlers three inches long, growing below its two ears. According to Liu Xiang, "this is a sign of military disaster." Indeed, after the emperor's death, the royal family faced military disaster, confirming this omen. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "If ministers surpass the emperor, and politics are not smooth, strange occurrences like horses growing horns will happen, indicating a lack of virtuous scholars!" He also said, "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses will also grow horns." The "Lüshi Chunqiu" also states: "If a ruler is immoral, horses will grow horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he was incompetent and personally went to war in Chengdu, all of which were fulfilled.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang reign, when the Crown Prince was about to hold a sacrificial ceremony, Grand Tutor Zhao Lun was riding in a horse-drawn carriage. When they reached the South Gate, the horse suddenly stopped, and several strong men couldn't move it. Zhao Lun had to switch to a lighter carriage to continue. This incident was a sign of disaster! It was heaven's warning that Zhao Lun lacked understanding of propriety and righteousness, and would eventually rebel, as he was not fit to assist the emperor and oversee rituals.
In a certain year (specific year not provided), one day, a chestnut horse suddenly rushed into the interrogation hall of the magistrate, let out a mournful cry, and died. This was clearly a divine warning, as if to lament the plight of those who died unjustly! Look, this horse ran into the magistrate's interrogation hall, isn't it a sign from heaven!
For example, in the sixth year of Yongjia in February, a supernatural horse neighed at the South Gate. In the second year of Jianxing in September, a horse in Puzi County actually gave birth to a "human" child! Jing Fang mentioned in the "Book of Changes": "When the emperor dies, the vassals attack each other, strange occurrences like horses giving birth to humans will happen." At that time, the imperial family was in decline and on the brink of collapse, with the Xiongnu and Di peoples invading together and the flames of war drawing ever closer. Not long after, the emperor met his end, so such strange occurrences occurred.
In AD (specific year provided in the original text), there was an official named Puyang Yan in Danyang County. His horse gave birth to a foal with two heads, split from the neck, but it was stillborn. Sima Biao explained: "This indicates that the power of the court is in the hands of private individuals, and the two heads represent the division of power." Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
In AD (specific year provided in the original text), one day in May, a horse appeared, red as blood, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling the palace and then running away, but no one could catch it. A few days later, the emperor fell ill, and in June he passed away. This horse was a harbinger of disaster, an ominous red omen! In the same year, Zhang Chonghua in Liangzhou wanted to kill the Prefect of Xihe, Zhang Xiang, and all the horses in his stable suddenly had no tails!
In AD (specific year provided in the original text), in October, a horned horse appeared in Liangzhou, and Governor Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not have horns, just like Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan failed to heed this warning, and ultimately his entire family was wiped out.
While Shi Jilong was in Ye City, there was a horse whose tail appeared singed. It entered through Zhongyang Gate and exited through Xianyang Gate, and people from the East Palace could not enter. The horse kept running northeast and soon disappeared. The fortune teller, Fotu Cheng, sighed, "A disaster is coming!" A year later, Shi Jilong died, and his country was also destroyed.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, Huang Chu, the mother of a woman named Song Shizong transformed into a turtle and then vanished into the water.
In the year 239 AD, a peasant girl named Qiu Xi died and then came back to life; this happened under Cao Xiu's rule. At that time, a tomb of a king from the Zhou Dynasty was opened, and a woman accompanying the burial was found. After a few days, she unexpectedly started breathing again. Although she still couldn't speak months afterward, Empress Dowager Guo took her in. Additionally, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a grave and found a living woman inside the coffin. When asked what happened, she didn't know, but according to the inscription on the tombstone, she had likely lived to about thirty years old. The "Jingfang Yizhuan" says: "The ultimate yin becomes yang, the lower becomes the upper." This was a sign of the rise of Emperor Xuan of Han! Similar events occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping and Emperor Xian of Han, and people at that time believed these were omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
In 265 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died for seven days and then came back to life, crawling out of his grave. Gan Bao said, "This is similar to the case of Emperor Xuan of Han; the Marquis of Wucheng, Hao, inherited a discarded family and attained the throne. This is an auspicious sign!"
In 266 AD, a man named Xuan Qian from Danyang had an eighty-year-old mother who turned into a giant softshell turtle while bathing. Xuan Qian and his brothers quickly shut the door to keep their mother safe. They dug a large pit in the house and filled it with water, and the giant turtle went in to swim around, stretching its neck out to look outside for a day or two. When they slightly opened the door, the turtle turned around and jumped out by itself, swimming to a distant pond, never coming back. This was similar to the case of the mother of the Huang family during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, and it was an omen of the fall of the Wu kingdom.
In August of 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County reported seeing a giant over three zhang tall, with three-foot-two-inch long footprints, white hair, dressed in a yellow headscarf and yellow robe, leaning on a cane and shouting "Wang Shi," saying, "Now there will be peace!" Later, the Jin Dynasty overthrew the Wei Dynasty.
In 270 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns. This was probably a sign of Zhao Wang Lun's usurpation!
In December of the year 276 AD, Yan Ji, a resident of Langya, passed away due to illness. By the time his family had dreamt of him saying, "I am coming back to life, quickly open the coffin!" they had already buried him for a long time. So his family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji gradually regained the ability to eat, drink, move his limbs, and see, but still could not walk or talk. He passed away again two years later. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "The extreme yin turns into yang, the lower becomes the upper, the wicked person dies and is resurrected." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately overthrowing the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy of "the lower becomes the upper."
During the reign of Emperor Huide in the Yuan Kang period, there was a woman named Zhou Shinin in Anfeng. By the age of eight, she began to transition into a man, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, her demeanor became masculine. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" says: "A woman transforms into a man; this is called the flourishing of yin, the lowly becomes the king." This was also an omen of the strange and supernatural events brought about by Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le's turmoil in the world!
During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong, under the pretext of a rebellion, executed traitors and restored the emperor to power, enjoying great prestige for a while. At this time, a woman suddenly ran to the gate of the Grand Marshal's mansion, saying she wanted to leave her child there and come back after giving birth. When the gatekeeper asked her what was happening, she replied, "I will leave after the child is born." At that time, Prince Qi Jiong was lauded by everyone for his role in reinstating the emperor, but those with insight saw that he harbored ulterior motives, and indeed he was later killed.
On the day of Jiazi in December of the first year of Yongning, an old man with white hair ran to Prince Qi Jiong's Grand Marshal's mansion, shouting, "A great rebellion is about to happen, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. Consequently, on the day of Wuchen in the following year, Prince Qi Jiong met with defeat, exactly ten days later.
On the day of Guixu in April of the first year of Taian, a man claimed to have arrived from Longmen, ran to the front of the palace, bowed twice to the north, and said, "I should be the Minister of the Central Secretariat." After saying this, he was arrested and killed. Gan Bao believed: "In the imperial palace, someone was able to easily break in without being detected by the guards; this is a bad omen indicating that the palace is about to be empty, and lower-class people will surpass the upper-class people!" Later, the emperor moved the capital to Ye City, and then to Chang'an, and ultimately, the imperial palace was left abandoned.
During the Yuankang period, there was a woman in the Liang Kingdom who was engaged and had already received the bride price. However, her husband went to Chang'an to serve at the border and did not return for several years. The woman's family then arranged for her to marry another man. The woman was unwilling, but her parents insisted she marry, and she had no choice but to comply. Not long after the forced marriage, she fell ill and died. Later, her husband returned and inquired about his wife's whereabouts; his family told him what had happened. He rushed to his wife's grave, overwhelmed with grief, and dug up her grave, only to find that his wife was still alive. Thus, they returned home together. Later, the ex-husband found out about this and reported it to the authorities, who were unsure how to handle the situation. The secretary Wang Dao said, "This is an extremely rare occurrence and cannot be judged by common reasoning; the woman should be returned to her ex-husband." The court adopted his suggestion.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there was a man named Du Xi whose family had a death in the family and needed to bury the deceased. A maid in the household, for some reason, could not be buried with them. Ten years later, when the grave was reopened for her burial alongside the deceased, it turned out that the maid was still alive! At first, she looked as if she were asleep, but after a while, she woke up and, when asked what had happened, she said it felt like she had only slept for two days. She was fifteen or sixteen years old when she was buried, and when the grave was opened, she was still fifteen or sixteen. Later, she even got married and had children.
In the first year of Guangxi, there was a man named Xie Zhen in Kuaiji who had a child with a very large head, hair, and feet that pointed upwards, possessing both male and female characteristics. The child emitted a male voice at birth and died a day later. This was a sign of the emperor's moral decline and the lower classes rising against the upper classes, which led to various princes starting to revolt.
During Emperor Hui's reign, there were people in Luoyang who exhibited both male and female characteristics and could engage in sexual relationships with both men and women, leading highly promiscuous lifestyles. This was a result of the chaotic atmosphere of the era. Starting from the years of Xian Ning and Tai Kang, male favorites became prevalent, even surpassing the affection for women. High-ranking officials and nobles vied to pursue them, and people throughout the land began to imitate this, leading to the breakdown of marriages and growing resentment. Consequently, the balance of male and female energies became disrupted, and monsters and demons started to emerge.
In the first year of Yongjia, there was a maid named Wanxiang in Wuxian County, Wu Prefecture, who had a bird's head, horse hooves for legs, a single hand, no hair, and a yellow tail as big as a pillow. This was also a monstrous being, a sign of great chaos in the world. In the fifth year of the fifth month, a courtesan of Fanghan County gave birth to a dragon, a daughter, and a goose. The Book of Changes says: "When a human gives birth to non-human things, it is a sign of a large-scale war about to break out in the world." At that time, the emperor succeeded Emperor Hui, the world was in great chaos, and soon fell to Pingyang, being killed by the barbarians; this was the omen!
In the fourth year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official in Xincai County, gave birth to two daughters whose abdomens and hearts were connected, separated from the chest up and the belly button down, a phenomenon unlike any other. At that time, the Minister of the Interior, Lu Hui, reported: "According to the records of the 'Ruiyingtu', trees with different roots growing together are called 'connected branches', grains with different stems growing together are called 'good grains'; strange phenomena of plants are considered auspicious signs. Now these two girls are of one heart and one body; the Book of Changes says 'two people united in heart can accomplish great things', this should be an auspicious sign of the unity of the world!" At that time, everyone thought his words were ridiculous. Shortly after, the world fell apart, and the emperor died.
In the early years of Emperor Yuan's Taixing, there was a woman who had her genitals on her stomach, just below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, of loose morals, but unable to conceive. There was also a woman whose genitals were on her head, appearing at the ferry in Yangzhou, also of loose morals. The Book of Changes says: "When a child is born with genitals on the head, the world will be in great chaos; on the stomach, great events will occur in the world; on the back, there will be no descendants for the world." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, preparing to rebel, which was seen as an omen!
In the twelfth month of the third year, the wife of the Minister of Works, Zou Xieping, gave birth to a daughter who let out a "pipi" sound as soon as she was born and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on top of her head, her face was fused with her neck, her mouth had teeth and was all connected, her chest was like a tortoise, and her hands and feet had bird-like claws that curved downwards. This was a non-human being born to a human, an unprecedented strange occurrence. Two years later, the Stone Rebellion occurred.
In the second year of the Tianing reign of Emperor Ming, in the seventh month, the wife of the Marquis of Danyang, Ji, died and came back to life three days later.
In April of the year 339 AD, a villager named Wang He moved from Xiapi to Jiyang. His daughter, nicknamed "Ke," was twenty years old and claimed she came from the heavens, even presenting a heavenly seal and a jade stamp, saying she wanted to become the mother of the world. At that time, the Jinling Prefect believed she was a demon and imprisoned her. In November, a man dressed in red and carrying a wooden staff came to the palace gates claiming to be a sage sent to see the emperor. When asked his name, he said his name was Lv Ci and claimed that Wang He's daughter "Ke" had seven stars on the sole of her right foot, each with hair and seven inches long, and that heaven wanted to make her the mother of the world. After this was reported, Lv Ci was executed, and Wang He's daughter "Ke" was killed.
In October of the year 340 AD, while inspecting troops near the Chen Du Women's Platform, a soldier was found with the phrase "Mother of the World" inscribed on his foot. After moxibustion, the words became clearer. This news spread to the capital and caused a commotion, leading to the capture of this person. However, shortly after, he escaped from the prison in Jiankang County. The following year, the emperor passed away, and the Empress Dowager took the throne, possibly a sign of things to come.
Around the year 373 AD, in Nanchun State Ling, a woman named Tang gradually turned into a man.
In the year 405 AD, in Wuxi, a man named Zhao suddenly shot up to eight feet tall at just eight years old, developed a beard, and died three days later.
Between the years 405 and 410 AD, in Dongyang, a woman named Mo gave birth to a daughter but left her unraised. After she had buried her for a few days, the sound of a baby's cry was heard from the ground, so she was unearthed and raised. Around 410 AD, in Yuzhang, a set of twins was born one after the other. In 418 AD, in Jian'an, a pair of twins was born, one of whom was headless, but her body developed normally and eventually took on the appearance of a woman.
