Liu Xiang said that earthquakes are caused by problems with the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Bo Yangfu also said that the workings of heaven and earth follow their own laws, and if the rules are disturbed, the order of the world will be disrupted. When the yang energy is suppressed and the yin energy is pressing upward, earthquakes will occur.
In the fourth year of Sun Quan's Huangwu reign, earthquakes occurred successively in Jiangdong. At that time, Sun Quan accepted the title from the Wei Kingdom, became the Grand Marshal and King of Wu, changed his reign to emperor, centralized political power, and showed no regard for the behavior expected of a subject. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Even if the affairs of the subjects are done correctly, tyranny will surely cause earthquakes. Earthquakes manifest as waves in water, swaying trees, and tiles falling from roofs. If the great laws are abolished and the subjects are disregarded, this indicates the activity of yin energy, and earthquakes will shake the palace. If the great laws are ignored, this goes against the principles of yin energy, and earthquakes will shake the mountains and springs will gush out. If the heir lacks virtue but enjoys a high salary, this is against the laws, and earthquakes will shake the hills and springs will gush out." Liu Xiang also said, "When the power of the ministers is strong, they will cause trouble; this is a sign of an earthquake!"
In the second year of Emperor Ming of Wei, an earthquake struck the capital, originating from the east, with faint sounds audible, shaking tiles from rooftops.
In the first year of Jingchu, in the sixth month of Wushen, there was another earthquake in the capital. In that autumn, Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia but was repelled by Hu Zhi, the Inspector of Jingzhou. Also, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, declared himself King of Yan, changed the era name, and established officials. The rebellion was quelled the following year.
In the sixth year of Jiahe of Sun Quan, in May, Jiangdong experienced an earthquake.
In the first month of the second year of Chiwu, there was another earthquake. At that time, Lv Yi was in power, and Bu Zhi submitted a memorial stating, "I have heard that the officials are nitpicking and trying to frame people in order to show their power. Innocent people are being sentenced to heavy punishments, and even the ministers are not trusted. If this continues, how can there be no change in heaven and earth! Therefore, these recurring earthquakes were indeed a warning! I hope you’ll take this seriously and reflect on it!" Lv Yi did indeed fail later.
In the second year of Zhengshi, in the eleventh month, Nan'an County experienced an earthquake. In the third year, in the seventh month, Nan'an County was struck by another earthquake. In December, Wei County experienced an earthquake. In the sixth year, in the second month, Nan'an County was hit by another earthquake. At that time, Cao Shuang held power and moved the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor bid farewell in tears. These recurring earthquakes were indeed a warning!
In the second month of the eleventh year of Chiwu, Jiangdong experienced another earthquake. At this time, Sun Quan believed slander and dismissed Zhu Ju, abolishing the Crown Prince.
In 263 AD, during the reign of Liu Shan, the last emperor of Shu Han, Sichuan was hit by an earthquake. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao held absolute power. Historical records mention that Sima Biao once remarked, "Eunuchs lack masculine energy, just like women." Huang Hao found this remark quite fitting, because he, like the eunuchs during the reign of Han He Emperor, was of the same kind. That winter, Shu Han fell.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Western Jin, on Xinyou day in the fourth month of 279 AD, an earthquake occurred. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinping rebelled. The following year, Sun Hao of Wu sent a large army to Wukou. In June of 281 AD, on Bingshen day, another earthquake occurred.
On Gengchen day in August 276 AD, earthquakes struck Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. In June of 278 AD, on Dingwei day, earthquakes hit Yinpíng and Guangwu, and there was another quake on Jiazi day.
In February 281 AD, earthquakes occurred in Huainan and Danyang. On July 7, 285 AD, there was another earthquake in the capital. In July 286 AD, earthquakes happened in Nan'an and Jianwei; in August, there was an earthquake in the Jingzhao area; in January 288 AD, there were earthquakes in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing; on April 4, 288 AD, eight counties, including Changsha and Nanhai, experienced earthquakes; from July to August, there were four more earthquakes, three of which were accompanied by thunderous sounds; in September, there was an earthquake in Linhe, and another one in December; on December 12, 289 AD, there was another earthquake in Danyang. In January 290 AD, there was yet another earthquake. From the time of Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, to the end of Yang Jun's administration, Jia Chong, Yang Jun, and other powerful ministers and party members colluded with each other for personal gain, seizing political power. In the late Western Jin period, the officials they appointed became increasingly incompetent, leading to earthquakes for several years in a row, which was not a good sign and eventually led to the downfall of Western Jin. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Western Jin, Sima Zhong, there was an earthquake in the capital. That summer, Empress Jia ordered Prince Chu, Sima Wei, to kill Prince Runan, Sima Liang, and Grand Preceptor Wei Guan. This was all a result of rampant conspiracies and the decline of virtuous conduct. In February of the fourth year, earthquakes occurred in the Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong regions. In May, there was a major landslide in Shu County; Shou Chun in Huainan experienced severe flooding, landslides, and sinkholes, destroying city walls. In August, Shanggu experienced another earthquake, along with floods that claimed hundreds of lives. In October, there was an earthquake in the capital. In November, Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, Nanyang, and other places continued to tremble. In December, the capital experienced another earthquake. During this time, Empress Jia wielded absolute power and mismanaged the state, and these earthquakes were omens of the nation's impending decline!
During Empress Dowager Deng's regency in the Han Dynasty, earthquakes also occurred in various regions. Li Gu analyzed, saying: "The earth belongs to Yin and should remain calm and peaceful. Now, however, it has violated the attributes of Yin and implemented a tyrannical Yang government, which is why earthquakes happened." This reflects the political climate of the time. The "Jingfang's Commentary on the Book of Changes" also states: "When petty officials create chaos, disasters such as landslides and earthquakes will appear, which is a manifestation of Yin energy triumphing over Yang energy, the weak triumphing over the strong." The text further states: "When Yin energy betrays Yang energy, it will lead to earthquakes and landslides, separation between father and son, and rebellions by ethnic minorities."
On Dingchou day in May of 5 AD, an earthquake occurred. In June, there was also an earthquake in Jincheng. On Dingchou day in the first month of 6 AD, there was an earthquake. On Bingshen day in the first month of 8 AD, there was an earthquake.
In October of the first year of Tai'an, there was an earthquake. This confirmed the power struggle involving King Jiong of Qi. On Bingshen day in the twelfth month of the second year, there was an earthquake. This was a sign of King Yi of Changsha's power grab.
In the third year of Emperor Xiaohua's Yongjia, in October, earthquakes occurred in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. At that time, Sima Yue held power in the region. In April of the fourth year, there was an earthquake in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, and then crossed the Yellow River southward, which also coincided with the earthquakes.
On Jiachen day in the second year of Emperor Min's Jianxing, there was an earthquake. In June of the third year, there was another earthquake in Chang'an. At that time, the emperor was young, power had slipped into the hands of others, and wars were rampant everywhere; this was a clear sign of impending chaos!
In the first year of Emperor Yuan's Taixing, in April, there was an earthquake in Xiping, and water gushed forth. In December, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, Xiling, and other places, with water gushing forth and mountains collapsing. Gan Bao believed this was a sign that Wang Dun was about to rebel.
On Jichou day in May of the second year, there was an earthquake in Qishan, causing landslides and casualties. At that time, the Chancellor, King Bao of Nanyang, was in Qishan, and some believed this was a sign that King Jin wouldn't meet a good end. In May of the third year, on Gengyin day, more earthquakes struck Danyang, Wujun, Jinling, and elsewhere.
In the second year of Emperor Cheng's Xianhe, in February, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. In March, there was an earthquake in Yizhou. In April, on Jiwuxu day, there was an earthquake in Yuzhang. As a result, that year, Su Jun rebelled. In March of the ninth year, on Dingyou day, Kuaiji experienced an earthquake.
In the year 346 AD, on a day in June, an earthquake struck. Back then, the emperor was just a child, his mother was in power, and real power lay with the ministers, leading to a series of earthquakes. In October of the following year, another earthquake hit. In January and September of the third year, two more earthquakes occurred. In October of the fourth year, there was yet another earthquake.
In January of the year 347 AD, another earthquake struck. That year, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, marking a year of frequent chaos. In August of the year 351 AD, an earthquake shook the capital, with tremors that sounded like thunder. In the following year, in January, there was another earthquake, frightening both domestic and wild fowl. In the same year, in April and May, there were two consecutive earthquakes.
In November of the year 357 AD, an earthquake struck. Five years later, Liangzhou also experienced an earthquake.
In April of the year 362 AD, an earthquake occurred. At that time, power was in the hands of military generals, and the emperor was just a figurehead.
In April of the year 363 AD, an earthquake struck in Yangzhou, causing rivers and lakes to overflow. In the following year, in February, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen held power.
In February of the year 370 AD, an earthquake struck in Liangzhou, causing water to gush out. This signaled that Haixi Gong was on the verge of being deposed.
In October of the year 374 AD, an earthquake struck in Ancheng, the year the emperor passed away.
In October of the year 375 AD, an earthquake hit. In the following year, in February and July, more earthquakes occurred, with the earthquake in Liangzhou triggering a landslide. At that time, the young emperor was a mere figurehead, with ministers holding real power—a clear sign of growing turmoil.
In March and May of the year 377 AD, there were earthquakes. Six years later, in June, another earthquake struck. In the following years, generals along the Yellow River continuously battled, and the suffering of the people also contributed to the earthquakes. In March of the year 382 AD, an earthquake struck; in August, there was an earthquake in the capital; in December, there was another earthquake. In June and December of the year 384 AD, there were two more consecutive earthquakes. At that time, petty people controlled the court, and the populace was in a state of unrest. In January and February of the year 385 AD, there were two more consecutive earthquakes.
In April and September of the year 397 AD, more earthquakes struck. Back then, the emperor was just a kid and inexperienced, and power was in the hands of the ministers.
On the evening of the first few days of the first month in 408 AD, there was a sudden earthquake with a loud rumbling sound. Another earthquake occurred in October of the same year. In the early evening of the first month of the year 409 AD, Xunyang also experienced an earthquake, with a sound like thunder. The next year, Lu Xun's rebellion was unsuccessful. In the year 412 AD, from January to April, Nankang and Luling experienced four earthquakes in a row. The following year, Wang Zhen led a campaign to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In March of the year 415 AD, there was another earthquake.
In August of the year 240 AD, Danyang, Jurong, as well as the mountains in Guzhang and Ningguo collapsed, causing widespread flooding. As Liu Xiang noted, "Mountains represent the ruler, while water represents the people. Heaven warns that when the ruler's reign collapses, the people will lose their support!" During the Spring and Autumn period, the collapse of Liangshan, and during the Han Dynasty, many mountains in the states of Qi and Chu experienced landslides and floods, all for the same reason. In the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou, the ancestors were highly respected during sacrifices, so good or bad fortune is not random. Although Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, in reality, it was still a situation of warlords, and the disaster that struck Danyang was a sign from heaven! Liu Xin also said, "The rulers of a country are closely related to the mountains, rivers, and lakes. When mountains collapse and rivers dry up, it is a sign that the country is about to perish." Two years later, Sun Quan died, and twenty-six years later, the state of Wu perished.
In February of the year 265 AD, the Taihang Mountains collapsed, signaling the impending fall of the Wei state. That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.
In the early days of March in the year 273 AD, Dashishan collapsed. In July of the year 274 AD, Mount Tai collapsed, with a collapse area of about three miles wide. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan," "When the collapse occurs from top to bottom, it is called a collapse, and the corresponding sign is that stones from Mount Tai will tumble down, the sage king will receive the mandate, and the monarch will be captured." Later, the emperor passed away, the imperial family's fortune vanished, Emperor Hui was weak and ineffective, and Emperors Huai and Min were all captured in the north. The country was fragmented until Emperor Yuan reestablished a regime in the south, fulfilling the prophecy.
In the first few days of May in the year 285 AD, the temple dedicated to Emperor Xuan collapsed. In October of the year 286, a mountain in Nan'an collapsed, unleashing a massive surge of water. In February of the year 287, Mount Dulu in Zhuti collapsed, causing damage to the county offices, and the Chouchi cliff in Yinpíng also collapsed. In July of the year 288, there was heavy rain, causing the ground in front of the palace to collapse. The collapsed area measured five feet wide and several yards deep, revealing a broken ship inside.
In the year 284, there was a landslide in Shu County, resulting in numerous fatalities. On the ninth day of May, a landslide also occurred in Shouchun, causing a flood, the collapse of the city walls, and creating a massive pit measuring thirty yards on each side, resulting in numerous fatalities. In June, a heavy rainstorm hit Shouchun, with thunder and lightning, landslides, and many households being buried. A similar disaster struck Shangyong. In August, a fissure opened in Juyong Pass, stretching 84 yards long and 36 yards wide, causing flooding and a great famine. Landslides occurred in various places in Shangyong, resulting in a large pit 130 yards long and 30 yards wide, causing floods and numerous fatalities. These disasters were all signs of the chaos caused by Empress Jia's misrule.
In April of the year 285, there was a landslide in Xiyong.
In March of the year 307, the ground sank in Buguangli northeast of Luoyang. Two years later, on August 28th, the city wall of Juancheng collapsed for no apparent reason, over seventy yards, causing great unease to Sima Yue. He then moved the capital to Puyang, indicating that the disasters foretold misfortune. Later, Sima Yue died due to damage to his tomb. On July 26th of the year 309, Dangyang experienced three ground fissures, each three yards wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the earth cracks, it indicates that the subjects are disloyal and do not cooperate with each other." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi had a falling out, the various warlords acted independently, and the Western Jin Dynasty ultimately fell. In October of the same year, the Yidu Yidao Mountain collapsed. In April of the year 310, the Lingshi Mountain in Xiangdong collapsed.
In February of 318 AD, earthquakes and landslides occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In May of the following year, an earthquake and landslide happened at Qishan, causing numerous fatalities. In 320 AD, a landslide occurred in Nanping County, and thousands of pounds of realgar (a type of mineral used in traditional Chinese medicine) gushed out from the collapsed area. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and overbearing, yet the emperor tolerated him, which was nothing short of condoning disaster! In August of 321 AD, Changshan suffered a landslide and flooding, with the water of the Hutuo River rising dramatically, toppling large trees.
In October of 334 AD, a cliff collapsed in the northwest of Chaisang and Lushan. In December, Liu Yin was murdered by Guo Mo. In September of 349 AD, both Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb experienced collapses. In November of the twelfth year, an envoy was dispatched to repair Junping Tomb, and while excavating the tomb passage, a landslide occurred, killing dozens of people.
In February of 357 AD, a horse's hoof became lodged in the ground at Nanyemmen, and a bell was excavated, bearing four characters. (Poetic couplets are not translated.) On the second day of April in 365 AD, Haowei Mountain collapsed, foreshadowing the downfall of Zhang Tianxi.
On a day in March of 402 AD, a massive sinkhole formed in Shanyin, measuring four zhang wide, accompanied by a tremendous roar, like thunder. Four years later, on a day in May of 406 AD, a large crack suddenly appeared underground near Ximingmen, spouting forth a torrent of water, damaging the door frames and threshold. This water was a disaster resulting from a disruption in the earth's energy. A year later, in May of 407 AD, a landslide occurred on Huoshan, unearthing six bronze bells. Further on, in July of 409 AD, a loud noise like thunder was heard by the riverside in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, followed by a collapse of the riverbank, from which twelve bronze bells emerged.
On a night in June of 300 AD, a sudden heavy rainstorm occurred, accompanied by thunder. In Jia Mi's study hall, the pillars sank directly into the ground, collapsing his bed and tent. The wood sinking into the soil indicated a change in the soil's characteristics, to the point where it could no longer support objects. The following year, Jia Mi met his end.
In May of the year 806, a fire unexpectedly ignited underground in the state of Fanyang, and it was quite large, enough to burn things! This fire was a disaster resulting from a disturbance in the earth's energy. At that time, the authority over national rituals, music, and military campaigns rested entirely with the feudal lords, resulting in significant chaos. The books say that if the emperor fails to adhere to the Doctrine of the Mean, it signifies he has lost his footing, and the consequences are severe, leading to ongoing misfortune and ultimately resulting in great weakness. Sometimes, there may be disturbances from demons and monsters; sometimes there will be disasters involving dragons and snakes; sometimes horses will injure people; sometimes subordinates will rebel; and sometimes the movements of the sun, moon, and stars will be abnormal. If the emperor fails to adhere to the Doctrine of the Mean, it signifies he has lost his footing. Here, "emperor" refers to the emperor, "extreme" refers to the Doctrine of the Mean, and "establish" refers to maintaining one's footing. If the emperor's words, actions, thoughts, and feelings all have problems and he does not adhere to the Doctrine of the Mean, he will be unable to handle all matters well, and because his behavior becomes erratic and defiant, this will lead to disasters.
A ruler should adhere to the principles of heaven and govern all things. Clouds rise from the mountains and spread to the sky; if the celestial phenomena are in disorder, it will result in incessant rain and punishment. It is also said that if the emperor fails to maintain moderation, those beneath him will grow powerful and obscure his vision. The Book of Changes says: "The dragon soars with regret, the noble loses his position, the high loses his people, the wise man, positioned lower, loses his support." If this is the case, although the emperor is high in power, he will not receive any help from anyone, so he will be extremely weak. During the peak of summer, the sun's energy is robust, and actions are swift. In ancient times, a grand archery ceremony was held in spring to follow the energy of the sun. If the emperor is weak, the people below will become restless, resulting in the emergence of malevolent spirits causing chaos. The Book of Changes says: "Clouds follow the dragon," and also states: "The dragon and snake hibernate to preserve themselves." When the yin energy prevails, disasters like dragons and snakes will occur. In the Book of Changes, the 'Qian' hexagram symbolizes the ruler and the horse. If there is excessive reliance on military force, the king's authority will be compromised, which can lead to incidents of horses injuring people. Some also say that if a large number of horses die or turn into monsters, it is for the same reason. If the emperor is inept and weak, he will face betrayal from his subjects and be forsaken by heaven. If there is no wise ruler to punish them, events of usurpation and regicide will occur, leading to rebellions by subordinates. In summary, if the ruler's way is flawed, it will have repercussions on the celestial phenomena. The texts do not attribute the troubles to the five elements but rather state, "the sun and moon are in chaos, and the stars are in retrograde," because those beneath dare not claim that the celestial phenomena are at fault. As noted in the Spring and Autumn Annals, it states, "the royal army was defeated by the Maorong," not acknowledging their own failure but rather expressing it more tactfully, which reflects respect. In Liu Xin's "Imperial Extreme Biography," it is said that when subordinates rebel, it signifies divine retribution, and it can no longer be attributed to illness.
During the reign of Sun Liang, in December of the first year of the Taiping era, it rained continuously from August, with no rain for over forty days. At that time, Sun Liang was planning to kill Sun Chen, but the plan was leaked. On the day of Wuyou in September, Sun Chen surrounded the imperial palace with troops, deposed Sun Liang and made him the King of Kuaiji, which was seen as a punishment for the continuous rain.
During the reign of Sun Hao, in December of the first year of the Baoding era, the astronomers reported that it had not rained for a long time, suggesting that conspiracies and schemes were afoot. Sun Hao was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. At that time, Lu Kai and others plotted to overthrow Sun Hao during his sacrificial rites. However, when Lu Kai left, he asked Liu Ping to take the lead, but Liu Ping did not agree with the plan, so the plan ultimately failed. Sun Hao became increasingly tyrannical, and many people in the court were thinking of rebellion, ultimately leading to the downfall of the state of Wu.
The General of Chariots and Cavalry of Shu, Deng Zhi, went to battle in Fuling and saw a black ape on the mountain, which he shot with an arrow from his bow. The black ape removed the arrow and plugged the wound with leaves. Deng Zhi said, "Oh no! I've violated the laws of nature; I’m probably going to die!" Not long after, he died, an event referred to as "shooting a demon." Some say that it was the mother ape holding her child, and Deng Zhi shot the child, who pulled out the arrow and plugged the wound with leaves. Deng Zhi sighed and threw the crossbow into the water, knowing he was going to die.
When Emperor Gong was still the King of Langye, he took pleasure in some peculiar and bizarre games. Once, he locked a horse behind a gate and had people shoot arrows at it, curious to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. A bystander advised, "The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now would be inauspicious!" So they stopped, but the horse had already been shot with over ten arrows. This was likely also considered "shooting a demon." Shortly after, he abdicated the throne in favor of the Song dynasty.
In the first month of Emperor Ming of Wei's Qinglong reign, a Qinglong appeared in the Mobo well in Ji County. Generally speaking, when an auspicious sign appears at the wrong time, it becomes a demon, and being trapped in a well makes it an even worse omen. Wei changed its era name because of this, but this was not the correct course of action. Gan Bao said, "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the fall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearances of the Qinglong and Huanglong corresponded to the fortunes of the Wei monarchs. Wei's national fate is associated with wood, represented by the color green, but it cannot withstand gold. When the Huanglong appears and the Qinglong disappears, it symbolizes the decline of the green color and the rise of the yellow color. The frequent appearances of the Qinglong indicate internal strife within Wei's national fate, which ultimately led to Gao Guixiangong's downfall." Liu Xiang's explanation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well is a sign that the princes are about to suffer imprisonment. In the Wei Dynasty, dragons frequently appeared in wells, symbolizing the oppression of subordinates by their superiors. Gao Guixiangong's poem "Hidden Dragon" conveys this idea.
On the day of the Wuxu in the tenth month of the first year of the Zhengyuan reign of Gao Guixiangong, a Huanglong appeared in a well in Ye City. In the first month of the first year of the Ganlu reign, a Qinglong appeared in a well in Zhixian; in the second month of the sixth year, a Qinglong appeared in a well at the border of Yuancheng County; in the second month of the second year, a Qinglong appeared in a well in Wenxian; in the third year, a Huanglong and a Qinglong appeared simultaneously at the borders of Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties; in the first month of the fourth year, a Huanglong appeared twice at the border of Ningling County.
During those years, common folk frequently spotted Qinglong and Huanglong in wells, though they were unsure of the significance. In the first month of the first year of the Jingyuan reign of Emperor Yuan, a Huanglong appeared in a well in Huayin County; in the second month of the third year, a dragon appeared in a well in Zhixian. This dragon made quite a few appearances. During the Tiance reign of Sun Hao of Wu, a dragon popped up in a family's well in Changsha and even snatched some chicks! Jing Fang's "Yiyao" states, "When a dragon appears in a family's well, it means that those in power will become common people." Later, Sun Hao was indeed destroyed by the Jin Dynasty, which turned out to be spot on!
In the second year of Emperor Wu's Xianning reign, on the day of Bingwu in the sixth month, two white dragons appeared in the Jiuyuan well. In the fifth year of the Taikang reign, in the first month on the day of Guimao, two dragons appeared in the Wuku well. The emperor was delighted to see the dragons, and the ministers were all prepared to congratulate him, except for Liu Yi, who submitted a memorial stating, "In the past, when dragons appeared in the courtyard of the Xia Dynasty, the Xia Dynasty perished; when dragons appeared at the gate of the Zheng State, Zichan did not congratulate." The emperor said, "My virtue has not yet been fully realized, and I am not qualified to accept such auspicious signs." So no one congratulated him. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are creatures of the water; what does that have to do with humans? Zichan was right! If a dragon appears where it shouldn't, it's an evil omen. Dragons appearing is auspicious; they should be flying in the sky, hiding in a well is not a good sign." In the second year of Emperor Huidi, two dragons appeared in the Lanling well; "The Records" said this was a sign of Prince Zhaoyou's impending death. Wuku is where the emperor's weapons are stored, a place that is deep and secluded, definitely not a place for dragons to stay. Seven years later, the vassal kings started turning on each other, and twenty-eight years later, indeed two people with the surname Long rebelled and seized power. This dragon was truly an ominous sign! In the second year of Jianxing reign of Emperor Mindi, in the eleventh month, a Qiang ethnic prostitute in Fanghan gave birth to a dragon child, with a color like brocade, often feeding on breast milk, and emitting a divine light, rarely seen by anyone. This indicated the emperor's reign was nearing its end, and later Emperor Mindi was indeed overthrown. In the last years of Lu Zuan's reign, a dragon appeared from the well in the eastern wing and coiled in front of his palace, vanishing the next morning. Shortly after, a black dragon flew to his palace gates. Lu Zuan thought this was a good sign. Others remarked, "Dragons are yin creatures, appearing with a pattern; now appearing one after another, someone is definitely plotting a rebellion." Later, Lu Zuan was indeed killed by Lu Chao.
During the Xianning period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, two large snakes appeared in the Grand Minister's residence, each over ten zhang long. They lived on the main beam of the residence and went undetected for years. The residence had been losing children and livestock until one night, one of the snakes emerged and was injured by a person, which revealed their presence. The residents quickly sprang into action, but it took some time to kill the snakes. The occurrence of such an incident indicates that the court is in decline, hence the presence of snake demons. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, with Yang Ci attributing it to the emperor's indulgence in women and pleasures. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were many women in the palace, particularly in Yan State, indulging in pleasure and entertainment, which were the seeds of disaster. The Book of Songs says, "Only snakes, a woman's auspicious sign," which is the reason behind this.
On the day of Guisi in the fifth year of Emperor Huidi's Yuankang period, a large snake, more than ten zhang long, appeared in Linzi, accompanied by two small snakes. It entered the city through the north gate, passed through the market, entered the Han Jing Prince's shrine, and then disappeared. This was like a divine warning: although Prince Jing of Han had achieved great merit, he was not strict with himself, lacking loyalty and caution, and eventually lost his position and achievements. Now, Prince Qi Jiong has not learned from this lesson; although he has made contributions, his pride and arrogance have led to disaster, which is a sign.
At the beginning of the Taiping period of Emperor Ming, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, residing in an old temple on a hollow tree, often poking its head out to be fed. As Jing Fang noted in "Yi Yao": "If snakes appear in the city, there will be a major war within three years, and the country will face a great disaster." Not long after that, Wang Dun staged a rebellion.
In the first year of the Tai Xi era under Emperor Wu, a long-horned horse appeared in Liaodong, with horns three inches long that grew beneath its ears. According to Liu Xiang, "This signifies war." Later, after the emperor passed away, the royal family did indeed suffer military disasters, fulfilling this omen. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "When ministers defy their ruler and political affairs are not smooth, strange occurrences like horses with long horns will appear, indicating a lack of worthy scholars." He also said, "When the Son of Heaven personally goes into battle, the horse will grow horns." The "Records of Lü Buwei" also stated: "When a ruler loses virtue, horses will grow horns." After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he was incompetent and tyrannical, and personally led troops to Chengdu, which again fulfilled the omen.
In December of the eighth year of the Yuan Kang era under Emperor Hui, the crown prince was to hold a sacrificial ceremony, and the Grand Tutor Zhao Lun rode in a carriage to the southern city gate, but the horse suddenly stopped, and several people could not push it forward no matter how hard they tried. Wang Lun had no choice but to get into the sedan chair, and only then did they continue. This was a calamity brought about by the horse! Heaven was warning that Wang Lun lacked propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, and would ultimately rebel; he was not a person who could teach others to behave properly.
On the day of the Wu Yin in November of the ninth year, suddenly a stallion ran into the court of the Taiwei in a panic, let out a mournful cry, and died. This was simply a warning from heaven, as if it were expressing sympathy for the wrongfully condemned. The horse running into the Taiwei's court, could this be the will of heaven?
In February of the sixth year of Yong Jia, a celestial horse neighed at the southern city gate. In September of the second year of Jian Xing, a bizarre incident occurred in Puzi County where horses gave birth to humans! Jing Fang had said in the "Book of Changes": "When the Son of Heaven dies, and the feudal lords fight among themselves, strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans will occur." At that time, the court was declining and precarious, with Hu and Di people constantly invading, and the flames of war drawing ever closer, not long after the emperor fell, resulting in such bizarre phenomena.
In the second year of Taixing, the horse of an official from Danyang County named Puyang Yanjia gave birth to a two-headed foal, with two heads that split from the front of its neck, which was born dead. Sima Biao explained: "This symbolizes power falling into private hands; it is an omen of a two-headed horse." Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
On the Jiaxu day in May of the eighth year of Xiankang, a horse as red as blood appeared, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling the palace and then running out, with no one able to catch up. On the day of Jimao, the emperor fell ill and passed away in June. This red horse symbolized disaster, yet it was also a strange good omen. In the same year, in Liangzhou, Zhang Chonghua sought to execute Zhang Xiang, the Prefect of Xihe, and suddenly, all the horses in his stable could not grow tails!
In the fourth year of Long'an in October, a horse with long horns was reported in Liangzhou, and the governor Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not have horns, just as Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan did not listen, and ultimately faced extermination.
While Shi Jilong was in Ye City, a horse with a burnt-looking tail appeared, entering from Zhongyang Gate and exiting from Xianyang Gate, preventing anyone from the East Palace from entering. The horse ran towards the northeast and disappeared after a while. The fortune teller Fotu Cheng sighed, saying, "Disaster is imminent!" The next year, Shi Jilong died, and his country also perished.
During the Huangchu era of Emperor Wen of Wei, the mother of a woman named Song Shizong from Qinghe unexpectedly turned into a soft-shelled turtle and ran into the water.
In the year 233 AD, a peasant girl named Qiu Xi died and was resurrected, and this occurred in the territory governed by Cao Xiu. At that time, a tomb belonging to a Zhou Dynasty emperor was opened, and a woman was discovered buried inside. After a few days, she started breathing, and although she was believed to have lived for around thirty years, Empress Dowager Guo adopted her despite her inability to speak for several months. Additionally, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a grave and found a living woman inside a coffin! When asked what happened, she didn't know either, but according to the inscription on the tombstone, she was believed to have lived for around thirty years. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" states: "Yin becomes Yang, and the lower becomes the upper," which was seen as a portent of Emperor Xuan of Han's ascendance! Similar incidents also occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian of Han, which were interpreted as omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
In the year 260 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died and emerged from his grave after seven days. Gan Bao said: "This is similar to what happened during the time of Emperor Xuan of Han; it is an auspicious omen signaling that Marquis Wucheng Hao will inherit the deposed emperor's legacy and seize control of the realm!"
In the year 265 AD, a woman from Danyang named Xuan Qian, who was eighty years old, transformed into a giant turtle during her bath! Xuan Qian's brothers quickly closed the door to protect her. They excavated a large pit in the house and filled it with water, and the giant turtle went in to play. For a day or two, it kept stretching its neck to look outside. As soon as there was a slight opening in the door, it immediately flipped over and jumped out, running to a distant pond and never came back. This was similar to what happened to Huang, the mother of Emperor Ling of Han, and was a sign of the impending downfall of the Wu state.
In August of the year 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County claimed to have seen a giant standing over three zhang tall, with footprints that were three chi two cun long, white hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and a yellow robe, leaning on a cane, calling out the name "Wang Shi," and proclaiming, "It will be peaceful now!" Later, the Jin Dynasty replaced the Wei Dynasty.
In the year 279 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns! This was likely an omen of King Luan of the Great Zhao's usurpation of the throne.
In December of the year 280 AD, Yan Ji from Langya died of illness. After being buried for some time, his family members all dreamed he said, "I am going to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So the family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji slowly regained the ability to eat, drink, bend his limbs, see, and hear, but he couldn't walk or speak. Two years later, he passed away again. The "Book of Changes" says: "The extreme of yin becomes yang, the lower becomes the upper, the monstrous person dies and is reborn." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, causing the downfall of Western Jin, 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 Shining in Anfeng who gradually became a man by the age of eight, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, she exhibited masculine traits. The "Book of Changes" says: "A woman turns into a man, this is called the rise of yin, the lowly become kings." This was also a harbinger of the chaos brought about by Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le!
During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong, under the guise of rebellion, executed traitors, restored the emperor to the throne, and enjoyed great success. However, at that time, a woman came to the gate of the Grand Marshal's mansion, asking to stay with a woman in labor. When asked what was going on, the woman replied nonchalantly, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, Prince Qi Jiong was praised by all for his efforts to support the royal family, but astute observers foresaw that he would meet with disaster. Indeed, Prince Qi Jiong was later executed.
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 rebellion coming, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him executed. As a result, on the day of Wuchen in the second year, Prince Qi Jiong was defeated, precisely ten days later.
In April of the first year of the Tai'an era, on the day of Guichou, a person claimed to have come from Longmen, ran to the front of the palace, knelt facing north, and said, "I should be appointed as the Chief of the Palace Secretariat!" After saying this, he was immediately arrested and killed. Gan Bao believed, "The imperial palace is so heavily guarded, yet this person managed to easily break in without the guards noticing. This signifies that the palace is becoming empty and that lower-ranking people are surpassing those of higher rank!" Later, the emperor first moved the capital to Ye City, then to Chang'an, and the imperial palace eventually became empty.
During the Yuankang period, in the Liang Kingdom, a woman was betrothed to someone and had already received the betrothal gifts. However, her husband was called to serve in the garrison at Chang'an and did not return for several years. The woman's family then found another husband for her. She did not want to marry, but her parents forced her to, so she had no choice but to go through with the marriage. Not long after, she fell ill and died. Later, her original husband returned and inquired about his wife's whereabouts. Her family told him what had happened. He rushed to his wife's grave, overwhelmed with grief, and dug it up, only to find his wife miraculously come back to life. They then returned home together. When the new husband found out, he reported to the authorities, who were unable to reach a decision. The Secretariat Official Wang Dao said, "This is an extremely rare occurrence and cannot be judged by common sense. The woman should be returned to her original husband." The court accepted his suggestion.
During the reign of Emperor Huidi, a maidservant in the Du Xi family passed away, and due to some reasons, she was not buried in time. Ten years later, the tomb was opened for a joint burial, and to everyone's astonishment, the maidservant had miraculously come back to life! At first, she seemed as if she were asleep, and after a while, she slowly woke up and asked what was happening. She said she felt as if she had only slept for two days. She was buried at the age of fifteen or sixteen and was still the same age when dug out. Later, she got married and had children.
In the first year of the Guangxi era, a person named Xie Zhen in Kuaiji gave birth to a child with a very large head, hair at birth, feet facing upwards, and both male and female bodies. The child emitted male cries at birth and died a day later. This was a sign of the emperor's failure and the uprising of the lower classes against the elite, so later on, the princes began to vie for power and wealth.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were people in Luoyang who had both male and female traits, could have relationships with both men and women, and had particularly strong sexual desires, all thanks to the chaotic times. Since the Xianning and Taikang eras, male favorites became all the rage, even more than favoring women, with officials and nobles competing to emulate this trend. People across the country followed suit, leading to trouble in marriages, rising resentment, and resulting in the imbalance of yin and yang between men and women, leading to all sorts of monsters and weird creatures.
During the first year of Yongjia, a servant girl named Wanxiang in Wujun, Wuxian, gave birth to a strange child with a bird's head, horse hooves for legs, only one hand, no hair, and a yellow tail the size of a pillow. This was yet another monster, a sign of the chaos engulfing the world.
In the fifth year of the fifth month, a courtesan in Fohan County gave birth to a dragon, a daughter, and a goose. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" says: "When a human gives birth to non-human things, it is a sign of a large-scale war about to occur in the world." At that time, the emperor took over the throne from Emperor Hui, and shortly after, he was defeated in Pingyang and killed by the barbarians, just like the omen warned.
In the fourth year of Jianxing during the reign of Emperor Min, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official in Xinchai County, gave birth to two daughters whose stomachs and hearts were connected, with their chests separated from the navel down, a truly unique and bizarre occurrence. At that time, historian Lv Hui reported that: "According to the records of 'Rui Ying Tu,' when different roots grow together, it is called 'Lianli Zhi,' and when different plants grow together, it is called 'Jiahe.' These oddities in plants and trees are seen as good omens. Now, these two girls are of one heart and mind, as the 'Yi Jing' says, 'When two people are of one heart, their benefits will be as strong as cutting gold.' This is definitely a good sign of unity in the world!" Back then, everyone laughed at him. Not long after that, the world fell apart, and the emperor was gone.
In the early years of the Yuan Emperor's reign, there was a woman whose genitalia was located on her abdomen, just below the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, had an intense libido, but could not bear children. There was also another woman whose genitalia was on her head, who appeared at the Yangzhou ferry, and she too had an intense libido. In Jing Fang's "Yi Yao," it is said: "If a person gives birth and their genitalia is on their head, chaos will ensue in the world; if it is on the abdomen, great events will occur; if it is on the back, there will be no descendants." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and was preparing to rebel; this was seen as an ominous sign.
In December of the third year, the wife of the Minister Zou Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter, who let out a sound resembling "bi bi" and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face resembled a neck, her mouth had teeth that were all connected, her chest resembled that of a turtle, and her hands and feet had claws like a bird, all bent downwards. This was also the birth of a creature unlike any human, an unprecedented strange occurrence. Two years later, the defeat at Shitou occurred.
In July of the second year of the Ming Emperor's reign, the wife of Ji, the Marquis of Jiangning, died and miraculously returned to life three days later.
In April of the fifth year of the Xian Kang era, a man named Wang He from Xia Pi moved to Ji Yang. His daughter, who was twenty years old, claimed to be from the heavens and brought with her a seal symbolizing good fortune, declaring her intention to become the mother of the world. The governor of Ji Yang believed her to be a supernatural entity and imprisoned her. By November, a person dressed in crimson clothing, carrying a staff of zhi wood, ran to the emperor's carriage door, claiming to be sent by a sage to meet the emperor. The gatekeeper recorded his words. This person claimed to be surnamed Lü and named Ci, saying that Wang He’s daughter had seven stars under her right foot, each star having hair and measuring seven inches, and that heaven intended to establish her as the mother of the world. This incident was brought to the emperor's attention, and Lü Ci was killed, as was Wang He’s daughter.
In the second year of Jianyuan, in October, General Wei was overseeing the camp when he saw a woman at the Chen Du Nü Tai, with the words "Mother of the World" written on her feet. The writing became even clearer after moxibustion. The news set the capital abuzz, and the authorities arrested her and reported it to the emperor. She quickly escaped from prison in Jiankang. The following year, the emperor died, and the Empress Dowager took over the government, which seemed to be an omen. In the early years of Ningkang, a woman in Nangong Prefecture, surnamed Tang, gradually became a man. In the seventh year of Yixi, a boy named Zhao in Wuxi suddenly shot up to eight feet tall and sprouted a beard at just eight years old, but died three days later. During the Yixi period, a woman named Mo in Dongyang gave birth to an unwanted daughter, buried her for several days, and heard the sound of a baby crying from the ground, so she dug her up and raised her. As the Yixi period was coming to a close, in a place called Er Yang Dao in Yuzhang, several pairs of twins were born consecutively. In the first year of Yuanxi, in a place called Yang Dao in Jian'an, a child was born headless, but gradually grew a body and eventually took on the appearance of a woman.
