When Sun Hao was in power, a wild boar broke into the military camp of Grand Marshal Ding Feng, which was a bad omen. Later, Ding Feng was ordered to attack Guyang but ended up losing and had to retreat. Sun Hao was furious and had Ding Feng's guide executed. After that, Sun Hao led a large army northward. Ding Feng, Wan Yu, and the others conspired, saying, "If we make it to Huali, we’ll have to save ourselves." Their plan got out, and even though Ding Feng was already dead, Sun Hao still pursued the matter of the Guyang battle, killing Ding Feng's son Ding Wen. Ding Feng's entire family was exiled to a distant place, which fulfilled the omen of the wild boar in the camp! Gong Sui once said, "When wild beasts from the mountains and fields enter the palace, the palace will be empty." This is quite similar to Ding Feng's situation.
In the Yongjia era of Jin's Emperor Huai, a pig was born in Shouchun City, but it didn’t last long and died. Zhou Fu went to check them out, and those who understood these things said, "Pigs are northern livestock, a symbol of the barbarians. Two pigs, without a leader, they’re born dead, and things cannot be accomplished. This is a warning from above, don’t scheme for your own gain, or you’ll end up ruining yourself!" Zhou Fu did not listen and still wanted to welcome the emperor and command the vassals, but he was quickly defeated by Emperor Yuan, proving the warning right. Then, Shi Le crossed the Huai River, and ninety-nine percent of the common people died.
In the first year of Jianwu of Emperor Yuan of Jin, an eight-legged pig was born, a punishment for ignoring warnings and a sign of being controlled by evil forces. Then, Liu Kui's rebellion broke out.
In the sixth month of the sixth year of Xianhe of Emperor Cheng of Jin, there was a pig farmer in Qiantang who had a sow give birth to two piglets with human faces that looked like barbarians, but still had pig bodies. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao," "A pig with a human head and a pig body is a sign of trouble and disorder. Now, this sow having piglets like that is really strange!"
In the tenth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, in April, a small pig with two spines and eight legs appeared in the capital. Thirteen years later, a family's sow in the capital gave birth to a piglet, which also had two bodies and eight legs, as bizarre as the incident during the Jianwu era. Later, Prime Minister Shen Xu was indifferent to state affairs, and those close to him wielded power and disrupted governance, leading the country gradually toward chaos and ultimately toward collapse.
In December of the fifth year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Xiaohuai of Jin, black mist enveloped the city, an ominous sign. Soon after, the emperor was captured, and the royal family was overthrown; did this not come to pass?
On the first day of the first month in the second year of the Jianxing era of Emperor Mindi of Jin, thick black fog blanketed the capital, with black mist casting a shadow over day and night. This lingered throughout the night and dissipated only after five days; this was also an ominous sign. Four years later, the emperor ultimately surrendered to Liu Yao.
In October of the first year of the Yongchang era of Emperor Yuandi of Jin, the ponds in Rencheng and the state of Lu turned a deep blood-red. According to Liu Xiang, this was due to a nearby fire, resulting in the water turning foul, a punishment for not heeding loyal advice. Jing Fang in the "Book of Changes" also stated: "When a ruler is obsessed with women and the wise retreat, the state is on the brink of disaster, such a phenomenon of red water will appear." This indicates that the red water serves as a divine warning to the ruler!
In February of the year 360, a fire erupted in a pond east of Liangzhou City. By April of the year 361, the water in the Guzang Marsh also caught fire. These were all disasters affecting the water, resulting in strange phenomena. The following year, Zhang Tianxi assassinated the Central Guard Commander Zhang Yong, who was a high-ranking official!
In October of the year 402, the water of Linping Lake in Qiantang also turned red. Huan Xuan suggested to the officials of Wu Commandery that this was a good omen for him, and they should celebrate it. However, not long after, Huan Xuan was defeated, which truly reflected the saying "joy often leads to sorrow"!
The book says, if you can't move on and feel trapped, then you cannot be considered a saint, and the consequences are very serious! On the lighter side, various misfortunes may follow you, and on the heavier side, you might meet an early death. For example, you might experience bizarre occurrences, such as demons appearing at night, abnormal plant growth, strange happenings with cattle, suffering from heart pain, a yellowing complexion, or being influenced by the energies of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
You see, if you can't move on and feel trapped, then you cannot be considered a saint. "Thinking" here refers to a person's thoughts and ideas. "Tolerance" refers to being understanding. Confucius once said, "How can I see him if the leader is not forgiving?" This means that if a leader is not tolerant and magnanimous, subordinates will find it difficult to attain the position of a sage. The way we see, hear, think, and speak is all guided by the heart. If these four aspects go wrong, the mind will become confused, leading to misfortune.
Whether it's windy, rainy, cold, or hot, it's all related to the wind. If these four types of weather go awry, disaster will strike. Strong winds can ruin crops, causing early deaths for both humans and animals. Injuries to humans are called "fierce," premature death of livestock is called "short-lived," and withered plants are called "broken." Some say that "fierce" refers to premature death; if an older brother dies, it's considered short-lived, and the death of a father's son is called premature death. If a person has a lot of fat around their belly, covering up their heart like grease, their heart will be clouded, resulting in strange experiences. Others say that nighttime demons are like oil stains on clothes, symbolizing bad luck. Another saying is that demons appearing at night are like a storm, dark and foreboding, resembling typical wind-related disasters.
When the weather is warm and windy, pests such as moth larvae will emerge. Liu Xiang believes that in the Book of Changes, the "Xun" hexagram signifies the period in March and April when yang energy begins to rise, governing the flowering and fruiting of trees. If the wind is too strong, in autumn and winter, the trees will bloom again, which indicates abnormal growth patterns in plants. Some believe this occurs when the earth's energy is excessively strong, causing trees to bloom again in autumn and winter. Another interpretation suggests that "Hua" refers to color, and soil represents internal matters, suggesting that it reflects women's errors.
In the Book of Changes, the "Kun" hexagram represents earth and oxen. Oxen have big heads but lack intelligence, and when they are ill-tempered, unusual occurrences take place. Some people say that oxen often die inexplicably or exhibit strange phenomena, which is also the reason. When people get sick, most of the time it is due to heartache, resulting in heart-related issues. Soil is yellow, which can lead to a yellowing of the body.
In conclusion, if a person cannot let go of their worries, it will negatively impact the earth's energy. When the earth's energy is disturbed, metal, wood, water, and fire will invade it, leading to the influence of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It is not just one type of energy attacking, but multiple factors working together, signifying a serious condition. If a person can release their worries, misfortunes can be avoided, and they will eventually live a long life. Liu Xin said in the "Si Xin Chuan" that there is another type of pest, which is pests like moth larvae.
In November of the year 248 AD, in the Wei Kingdom, following several days of fierce winds, houses collapsed and trees were blown down. By the 12th day of the twelfth lunar month, the wind was even stronger, even causing the east wing of the Taiji Hall to sway.
This is truly a natural disaster! On the first day of the Lunar New Year the following year, the northwest wind blew again, damaging houses and trees, with yellow dust swirling in the air and visibility extremely low. Mr. Guan Lu said that this was a punishment from the heavens for the powerful ministers, a bad omen for the rulers. At that time, Cao Shuang was exceedingly arrogant and indulgent, and despite several warnings from the heavens, he refused to change, showing himself to be utterly stubborn and ignorant; therefore, he suffered this great wind disaster. Not long after, Cao Shuang was executed—he got what he deserved! In the "Yi Zhuan," Jing Fang also stated: "When the common people rise up and morality declines, unusual wind disasters will occur. These wind disasters block roads, crops do not grow, and a little rain causes great losses. Political violations of morality harbor signs of chaos; these wind disasters manifest as strong winds without rain, which suddenly escalate into storms that blow down houses and trees. Upholding justice yet unable to make progress is a sign of incompetence; these wind disasters manifest as wind and clouds appearing together, breaking the stems of crops. Ministers disobeying the monarch's orders is called disobedience; these wind disasters manifest as strong winds blowing down houses. Unreasonable taxation is called calamity; these wind disasters are characterized by the wind stopping and then warming up, leading to pests. Princes governing independently is called lack of control; these wind disasters manifest as strong winds but trees remain still and crops do not grow. Rulers not considering the interests of the people is called lack of grace; these wind disasters manifest as wind not blowing on trees, drought without rain, and damaged crops. Officials only concerned with personal interests is called chaos; these wind disasters are characterized by warm winds that breed pests, endangering crops. Abandoning political duties to indulge in pleasure is known as decadence; these wind disasters manifest as warm winds, breeding pests that harm beneficial things to humans. Princes not paying respects to the emperor is called betrayal; these wind disasters manifest as unpredictable winds, red soil, and rain causing harm." This is truly an accurate prediction of the political climate of that era!
In August of the year 249, a great wind swept through the state of Wu under Sun Quan's rule. The rivers rose, and the water in the low-lying areas reached a depth of eight feet. Over two thousand large trees were uprooted, stone tablets were blown down, and the city gates of Wu were damaged. Mr. Hua He suggested that this was a result of the heavy corvée labor and excessive taxes imposed by Sun Quan, which the common people could no longer bear, leading to divine retribution. The following year, Sun Quan died.
On December 12 of the year 252, while Sun Liang was in power, another great wind blew, accompanied by thunder and lightning. That year, the state of Wei launched a three-pronged attack on Wu. Zhuge Ke managed to defeat a Wei army unit at Dongxing, while the other two forces retreated. However, the next year, Zhuge Ke launched an attack on Xincheng, sustained heavy losses, and was killed upon his return.
In the first year of Sun Xiu's reign, specifically on November 11 of the first year of Yong'an, the wind howled fiercely, blowing repeatedly for four or five times without letting up, and there was fog for several days. At that time, all five members of Sun Zhen's family held high positions, holding power that surpassed even the emperor's. This wind disaster mirrored the fate of the powerful families like the Five Hou, Ding, and Fu during the Han Dynasty. On the night of December 4, a great wind picked up, knocking down trees and sending sand swirling everywhere. The next day, Sun Zhen was killed.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Western Jin, in the fifth year of the Taishi era, on the first day of the fifth month, a strong wind swept through the Guangping area, resulting in the collapse of over a thousand homes and uprooting trees. In the first year of Xianning, in the month of May, a strong wind blew through Xiapi and Guangling areas, resulting in trees being blown down. On the day of Jia Shen in the same month, Guangling, Siwu, and Xiapi experienced another strong wind, resulting in trees being blown down. In the eighth month of the third year, a strong wind swept through the Hejian area, uprooting trees. In the second year of Taikang, in the month of May, Jinan was struck by a storm, causing damage to trees and crops. In June, a strong wind blew through the Gaoping area, uprooting trees and damaging more than forty government offices. In July, Shangdang area was hit by a strong wind, inflicting severe damage on the autumn harvest. In the sixth month of the eighth year, eight regions across the country experienced strong winds. In the first month of the ninth year, hail fell in the capital, resulting in houses being overturned and trees being uprooted. Two years later, the emperor passed away.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, in the fourth year of Yuankang, in the month of June, a strong wind and rain swept through, uprooting trees. In the fourth month of the fifth year, on the night of Gengyin, a storm blew through, causing waves in the eastern channel to surge, and many people were swept away. In July, Xiapi was hit by a strong wind, resulting in houses collapsing. In September, Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, and Shangdang areas were hit by disastrous strong winds, causing damage to crops. The following year, the Di and Qiang tribes rebelled, and the court sent a large army to suppress them. In the sixth month of the ninth year, a gust of wind blew Jia Mi's court attire hundreds of feet high. The following year, Jia Mi was killed. On the first day of the eleventh month of Jiazi, the capital experienced continuous strong winds, resulting in houses collapsing and trees being blown down. In December, the Crown Prince was overthrown and confined in Xuchang.
In February of the first year of Yongkang, a strong wind uprooted trees. In the third month, the Crown Prince was murdered, and the nation mourned. On the day of Jimao (the 21st day of the Chinese lunar calendar), his coffin was transported back from Xuchang to Luoyang. On that day, there was another strong wind and thunderstorm, which ripped the canopy covering the coffin. In the fourth month, Zhang Hua's house was struck by a fierce wind, breaking trees, blowing away fabrics, and damaging many doors and windows. That same month, Zhang Hua was murdered as well. On the day of Wuwu in the eleventh month, a fierce wind swept in from the northwest, breaking trees and causing sand and stones to fly everywhere, which lasted six days before finally subsiding. In the second year, in the first month, Prince Zhao Lun seized the throne.
In the eighth month of the first year of Yongning, strong winds blew in three places across the country. In the first month of the first year of Yongxing, a strong wind blew from the northwest. During Zhao Lun's first year in power, on the day of Guichou in the first month of Jianshi, when Zhao Lun was offering sacrifices at the ancestral temple, a sudden gust kicked up sand and stones, obscuring everything in sight. In April of that year, Zhao Lun was executed.
In the seventh month of the first year of Yongchang, a strong wind blew, toppling trees and sending roof tiles flying in all directions. By the eighth month, a storm struck, toppling over a hundred willow trees on both sides of the imperial road. The wind howled from every direction, as if it were coming at them from all sides. At that time, Wang Dun held absolute power and also killed officials such as Diao Xie and Zhou Yi, thus the wind howled so fiercely, as if it were coming from multiple sources. This chaos stemmed from the emperor's incompetence and the feudal lords' defiance. Later that year, in November, the emperor passed away.
In the third month of the fourth year of Xiankang, a strong wind swept through Chengdu, damaging houses and breaking trees. In the fourth month, Li Shou killed Li Qi and declared himself emperor. In the first year of Jianyuan, in July, Jinling and Wu counties also suffered disasters, with strong winds. In the first year of Shengping, in August, He Shi was made empress, and on that day, a strong wind blew. Later, Huan Xuan usurped the throne and demoted the empress to the Countess of Lingling, which was a sign of the emperor's poor judgment. In the fifth year of Shengping, in January, another strong wind blew. In the sixth year of Taihe, in February, a fierce wind blew, and that year, the emperor was deposed. In the first year of Ningkang, in March, a strong wind and a fire broke out in the capital. At that time, Huan Wen entered the capital with intentions of usurpation; the emperor was young, and everyone was worried. These were all signs of the emperor's poor judgment. In the third year, in March, a fierce storm blew in, first from the east and then unexpectedly from the west, with flying sand and rolling stones, creating a terrifying scene. In the second month and intercalary third month of the second year of Taiyuan, violent winds and heavy rains damaged houses and trees. In the sixth month of the third year, a strong wind blew in Chang'an, knocking down the trees in Fu Jian's palace. Later, Fu Jian went to fight in the south and faced a crushing defeat at the Battle of Feishui; he was killed and the country perished. In the eighth month of the fourth year, another strong wind blew, raising sand and stones. In the twelfth year of Taiyuan, a strong wind blew in the middle of the night; in July, the wind broke the trees; in the twelfth month of the thirteenth year, the wind turned the sky dark. Later, the emperor died, the princes disobeyed, Yuan Xian seized power, and Huan Xuan usurped the throne; these were all bad omens. In the sixth month of the seventeenth year, a strong wind blew, breaking trees. In the second month of the second year of Yuanxing, a strong wind blew in the middle of the night, followed by heavy rain, and the roof tiles of Dahaomen, the palace gate, were blown away. The following year, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, entering through that very gate.
In January of the year 393 AD, Huan Xuan set off on a grand journey south but was caught in a fierce storm that wrecked his carriage canopy. Three months later, Huan Xuan returned to Jiangling in disgrace. In May, a powerful wind swept through Jiangling, snapping many trees. In the same month, Huan Xuan met his complete downfall on Zhengrong Island, leaving no trace of his body. On November 11th, another fierce wind struck Jiangling, causing numerous fatalities.
In November of the year 397 AD, a fierce wind blew from the northwest. In 398 AD, on the day of the leap tenth month, many houses had their roofs blown off by a strong wind. The following year, Lu Xun arrived at Caizhou. On May 19th in the year 399 AD, a strong wind blew down centuries-old trees in the northern suburbs, as well as the archery halls of Langye and Yangzhou. On that day, Lu Xun's grand ship was also sunk. On Jiaxu day, another fierce wind tore off roofs and uprooted trees. That winter, the court dispatched troops on a southern campaign. In January of the year 402 AD, a strong wind damaged the pillars of the White Horse Temple's pagoda. On April 1, 403 AD, a strong wind blew down trees. On June 20th, another strong wind blew down trees. In July, the northern Huai region was ravaged by strong winds, destroying many houses. The following year, the court dispatched Sima Xiuzhi on a western campaign.
On January 25th in the year 252 AD, Emperor Jing launched a campaign against Guanqiu Jian, leading to a fierce wind and darkening skies, making people on the road lie down, thinking it was a sign of evil spirits appearing at night. Liu Xiang said, "It is daytime but turned dark, indicating that yin energy had overpowered yang, a sign of ministers usurping the monarch's power."
In October of the year 260 AD, a major earthquake occurred in the capital, making the day as dark as night, which was also interpreted as a sign of evil spirits. Ban Gu said, "Night demons appear when clouds and wind come together, causing the sky to darken, similar to ordinary winds." Liu Xiang in "Spring and Autumn Annals" said, "Heaven warns that hereditary positions should be abolished, urging officials to focus on their duties. The day turning into night signals the court's decline." The Wei Kingdom interpreted these ominous signs as a portent that the Jin Dynasty was poised to unify the realm.
In the year 311 AD, on the Xinmao day in October, it became dark during the day and remained so until the Gengzi day, which was an ominous sign. The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luochuan, and the imperial troops suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the rebel forces, forcing the emperor to flee to Pingyang.
In the year 388 AD, on the Yiwei day in December, a strong wind arose, and the sky turned dark. Later, the emperor died, the feudal lords became disobedient, and civil wars broke out continuously. Power shifted to Yuan Xian, and ultimately, the chaos was caused by Huan Xuan.
In Jing Fang's "Commentary on the I Ching," it is said: "Officials who are content with the status quo and only think about promotion and wealth are considered greedy, and disasters will gnaw at crops' roots like worms do. If virtue is unstable and erratic, it is called chaotic, and disasters will gnaw at the leaves of crops like worms. Lacking ability and virtue is called ineptitude, and disasters will gnaw at the stems of crops like worms. Not farming according to the seasons is called going against the seasons, and disasters will gnaw at the stalks of crops like worms. Covering up evil and allowing wickedness to flourish is called deep sin, and disasters will gnaw at the hearts of crops like worms."
In the first year of the Xian Ning era of the Western Jin Dynasty, in July, locust swarms ravaged various regions. By September, Qingzhou experienced another locust plague. In that month, crops across many states and counties were ravaged by caterpillars. Four years later, more than twenty states and counties, including Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, suffered locust plagues again.
In the fourth year of Tai Kang, the locusts and crabs in Kuaiji County transformed into an overwhelming number of mice, which multiplied greatly and devoured a large amount of rice, causing widespread devastation. By August of the ninth year, locust plagues occurred again in twenty-four states and counties. In September, insect plagues harmed the autumn harvest crops. At that time, the emperor trusted slanderous words and favored Jia Chong and Yang Jun, which led to the locust disaster; this was the consequence of their "lack of ability and virtue."
In the third year of the Yuan Kang era of Emperor Hui, in September, six counties including Daifang experienced locust plagues, and the grain leaves were completely stripped bare.
In July of the first year of Yongning, there was a locust plague in the three provinces of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong was in power, and this was the consequence of his greed and cruelty. In October, locusts in Qingcheng, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, Beihai, and other places gnawed on the leaves, resulting in severe losses of fifty to sixty percent of the crops. In December, locust plagues occurred in six more counties.
In the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, the strange phenomenon of cows speaking in northern Youzhou indicated that a disaster involving cows was about to happen. "Cows give birth to monsters!" At that time, the emperor was very ill and constantly thinking about his successor, but the matter of choosing a successor was handled unfairly, which was a retribution for his incompetence and injustice. As Shi Kuang once said: "When the people's grievances spread, strange things will happen among the people." This echoes the saying in the Book of Changes: "Without guilt, monsters are born." The Book of Changes says: "Unjust killings will lead to monsters."
During the reign of Emperor Hui, there lived a man named Zhang Cheng in Jiangxia, whose cow suddenly spoke, saying, "The world is about to be in chaos, where are you riding me to escape?" Zhang Cheng was frightened and quickly turned back home. Then his dog barked, "Why are you back so soon?" Not long after, the cow stood up and walked on its hind legs! Zhang Cheng quickly found a fortune teller to divine, and the fortune teller said: "There will be a war in the world; this disaster is not just a matter of one or two families." That year, Zhang Chang rebelled, and the first target of his attack was Jiangxia. Zhang Cheng was a general at the time, and as a result, the five provinces descended into chaos, and Zhang Cheng's family was wiped out. The Book of Changes by Jing Fang says: "Cows can speak, and their words can predict good or bad fortune." The Book of Ye Mengqi Shu also says: "If those in power do not treat talents well, adorn horses with luxurious clothing, and feed dogs and wolves with human food, then livestock will start speaking." At that time, the emperor and the nobles ignored the welfare of the common people, so these strange occurrences were fulfilled.
In the first year of the Jianwu era under Emperor Yuan, in the seventh month, a cow in Jinling Chenmen gave birth to a calf with two heads. According to the Book of Changes by Jing Fang, it is written: "If a cow gives birth to two heads, it is a sign of the world splitting apart!" At that time, Emperor Min was trapped in Pingyang and later killed by the Hu people. When Emperor Yuan declared himself emperor in Jiangdong, the world was split in two, fulfilling the prophecy.
In the first year of the Taixing era, a cow from the home of Wang Liang, the Prefect of Wuchang, gave birth to a calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails on one body, and it died three years later. There was also a cow with only one leg but three tails, and they all died shortly after birth. Sima Biao said, "A cow with two heads symbolizes power in private hands, with no distinction between upper and lower levels." The Book of Changes by Jing Fang states: "Having many legs signifies the inability to bear responsibility; having few legs signifies insufficient ability." Later, Wang Dun and others disrupted the political power, which was a premonition of the political turmoil.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year, the ritual cow died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the ritual cow signified, "Duke Xuan was incompetent and unjust, so heaven did not accept his sacrifices." The success of Emperor Yuan's revival was actually a plan devised by Wang Dao. Liu Wei flattered the emperor and gained his favor, while Wang Dao was alienated, which led to disastrous incompetence and injustice.
In the second year of the Xianhe era of Emperor Cheng, in the fifth month, a cow from the household of the army protector gave birth to a calf with two heads and six legs. In that winter, Su Jun rebelled. Seven years later, a cow from the household of Yuan Rong in Jiude also gave birth to a calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails on one body.
Huan Xuan went to Jingzhou to visit Governor Yin Zhongkan. On his way past He Xue, he encountered an old man driving a strikingly colored green ox. Huan Xuan immediately exchanged his own riding ox for the green ox from the old man. Riding this green ox, he arrived at Lingling Jingxi, where the ox ran like the wind. When they stopped to let the ox drink water, it ran straight into the river and wouldn’t come out. Huan Xuan sent out a search party, but after a full day, they still hadn’t found it. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated and killed.
In the second year of Liu Bei's Zhangwu era in the Shu Han, he launched an eastern expedition. In February, he set out from Zigui and camped at Yidao. In June, yellow mist appeared in Zigui, stretching over ten miles and wide for dozens of zhang. More than ten days later, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Yi, which was significant as it coincided with the appearance of the yellow mist.
During the Zhengshi years of King Qi of Wei, King Zhou Nan of Zhongshan served as the magistrate of Xiangyi County. A mouse came out of its hole and said, "Zhou Nan, you will die on a certain day." Zhou Nan paid it no mind, and the mouse went back into its hole. On that day, the mouse came out wearing a hat and dressed in black, saying, "Zhou Nan, you will die at noon today!" Zhou Nan still paid it no mind, and the mouse went back into its hole again. After a while, the mouse came out again and repeated the same words. As noon approached, the mouse came out and went back in several times, saying the same thing. At noon, the mouse said, "Zhou Nan, you don’t pay attention to me, what else can I say?" After saying this, it died, falling to the ground, its hat and clothes falling off. Upon picking it up, it looked just like an ordinary mouse. Ban Gu's book states that this was an ominous sign of bad luck. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power, and they were competing with each other, so the mouse foreshadowed this change.
In the fourth year of the Yuankang era of Emperor Hui, in December, a thick fog enveloped the area. The emperor was foolish and ineffectual, and political affairs were not decided by himself, which led to this strange phenomenon.
In the fourth year of the Taixing era of Emperor Yuan, in August, yellow mist spread everywhere, and dust obscured the sky and sun.
In the first year of Yongchang, in October, there was heavy fog in the capital, with black mist rising straight to the clouds, hiding the sun.
In the first year of the Ming Emperor's reign, Tai Ning, on the day of Gui Si in the first month, yellow mist spread everywhere. In the second month, the yellow mist reappeared. At that time, Wang Dun held power, and the rebellion grew increasingly serious.
In the seventh year of the Yong He era of the Mu Emperor, in the third month, a fierce wind swept through Liangzhou, toppling trees and bringing down yellow mist mixed with dust. At that time, Zhang Chonghua heeded slander and demoted Xie Ai to the governorship of Jiuquan, and the officials he appointed were ill-suited. As a result, Xie Ai died nine years later, and his son was also killed, which fulfilled the earlier omen. The "Book of Changes" states: "Hearing good advice but not adopting it is called ignorance; the omen is yellow mist, the consequence is ignoring good counsel, and the disaster is the loss of future generations. The yellow mist refers to yellow, murky air spreading throughout the land, obscuring the virtuous and blocking the roads, thus the disaster will affect future generations."
On a certain day in February 378, yellow mist enveloped the sky, shrouding the sun. At that time, Daozi held absolute power, relying heavily on treacherous advisors, and the court had descended into chaos. This scene truly resonated with the saying, "The mountain rain is about to come, the wind fills the building!"
On a certain day in October 402, once again, yellow mist enveloped the area, dark and devoid of rain. At this time, Huan Xuan was secretly plotting rebellion! This ominous sign foretold that significant events were on the horizon!
In November 408 and November 410, there were two instances of thick fog. At that time, the court was weak, with officials wielding significant power, and land and armies were almost out of the emperor's control. This was clearly a sign of impending chaos! Liu Xiang noted, "Earthquakes are disasters arising from the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Bo Yangfu remarked, "The qi of heaven and earth follows its own rules; if these rules are disrupted, chaos will ensue."
In the year 223 AD, there were consecutive earthquakes in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan accepted the title from the Wei Kingdom, declared himself Grand General and King of Wu, changed his title to Emperor, and ruled dictatorially, failing to act as a loyal vassal. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes Commentary": "Even if the vassal does things properly, excessive power can lead to earthquakes. The manifestation of earthquakes is waves on water, swaying of trees, and falling tiles on houses. If there is a deviation in the court's policies and the ministers hold too much power, it will lead to a disruption of yin energy, causing earthquakes that shake the palaces. If the court's policies are unstable and the ministers hold too much power, it will lead to insufficient yin energy, causing earthquakes, shaking mountains, and spring water surging. If the heir lacks virtue but seizes power, this will lead to disasters, shaking hills, and spring water gushing out." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the ministers is strong and they are about to cause trouble, it is a sign of disaster!"
In November of the year 230 AD, an earthquake occurred in the capital, with the shaking coming from the east and a faint sound heard, causing the roof tiles to fall off. In June of the year 231 AD, another earthquake occurred in the capital. That autumn, Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia, but was defeated by Hu Zhi, the Inspector of Jingzhou. Additionally, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, declared himself King of Yan, changed his title to Emperor, and established officials. The court managed to restore order the following year.
In May of the year 231 AD, earthquakes occurred in Jiangdong; and in January of the year 233 AD, there were earthquakes again in Jiangdong. At this time, Lv Yi was acting with arrogance and abusing his power. Bu Zhi wrote a memorial saying: "I've heard that officials are being nitpicky and trying to frame others to assert their power. Many innocent people have been sentenced to heavy punishments, and even the ministers cannot gain the Emperor's trust. If this keeps up, how can there not be disturbances in the heavens and earth? Therefore, the consecutive earthquakes are a sign of the ministers' abuse of power! I hope Your Majesty will take this as a warning and reflect on the situation!" Ultimately, Lv Yi faced defeat.
In 241 AD (the second year of Wei Qi Wang's Zhengshi reign), an earthquake occurred in Nanan County in November. In 242 AD (the third year of Zhengshi), another earthquake struck Nanan County on the Jia Shen day in July. In December of the same year, an earthquake also happened in Wei County. In 245 AD (the sixth year of Zhengshi), another earthquake occurred in Nanan County on the Ding Mao day in February. At that time, Cao Shuang held absolute power and moved the Empress Dowager to Yongning Palace, where the Empress Dowager and the Emperor bid farewell tearfully. The series of earthquakes were likely a sign of divine omens.
In 258 AD (the eleventh year of Wu Sun Quan's Chiwu), an earthquake also occurred in the Jiangdong region in February. At that time, Sun Quan was swayed by slander and deposed the crown prince Zhu Ju.
In 263 AD (the first year of Shu Liu Shan's Yanxing), an earthquake occurred in Shu. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao was in power. As Sima Biao said, "Eunuchs lack masculine energy, much like women." Huang Hao's dominance was reminiscent of the eunuchs' power during Emperor He of Han's reign. That winter, the Shu Han dynasty fell.
In 275 AD (the fifth year of the reign of Western Jin Wu Di), an earthquake occurred on Xin You day in April. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinping launched a rebellion. The next year, Sun Hao dispatched a large army to Guokou. In 277 AD (the seventh year of Tai Shi), another earthquake occurred on Bing Shen day in June.
In 278 AD (the second year of Xian Ning), an earthquake occurred in the three counties of Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang on Geng Chen day in August. In 280 AD (the fourth year of Xian Ning), an earthquake hit the counties of Yinping and Guangwu on Ding Wei day in June, and another quake occurred on Jia Zi day.
In the year 282 AD (2nd year of the Taikang era), on the 15th day of the second month, an earthquake struck in Huainan and Danyang commanderies. In the year 285 AD (5th year of the Taikang era), on the 1st day of the first month, there was an earthquake in the capital city. In the year 286 AD (6th year of the Taikang era), on the 7th day of the seventh month, another earthquake occurred. In the year 287 AD (7th year of the Taikang era), in July, there were earthquakes in Nan'an and Jianwei commanderies; in August, there was an earthquake in Jingzhao commandery. In the year 288 AD (8th year of the Taikang era), on the 20th day of the fifth month, there was an earthquake in Jian'an commandery; in July, there was an earthquake in Yinping commandery; in August, there was an earthquake in Danyang commandery. In the year 289 AD (9th year of the Taikang era), in January, there were earthquakes in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing commanderies; on the 28th day of April, there were earthquakes in Changsha, Nanhai, and eight other commanderies. From July to August, there were four more earthquakes, three of which sounded like thunder; in September, there was an earthquake in Linhe commandery, and another in December. In the year 290 AD (10th year of the Taikang era), on the 12th day of the twelfth month, there was an earthquake in Danyang commandery. In the year 290 AD (1st year of the Taixi era), in January, there was another earthquake. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Western Jin, from Jia Chong to Yang Jun's administration, factions misled the court, motivated by personal gain, seizing control of the court. Over time, the quality of appointed officials declined, leading to a series of earthquakes over several years, surpassing the usual pattern, ultimately leading to the downfall of Western Jin. In the year 291 AD (1st year of the Huide era), on the 28th day of the twelfth month, there was an earthquake in the capital city. That summer, Empress Jia ordered the King of Chu, Sima Wei, to kill the King of Runan, Sima Liang, and the Grand Tutor Wei Guan. This was a consequence of the imbalance between yin and yang.
In the fourth year of the era, in the second month, there were earthquakes in Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong. In May, the mountains in Shu County surprisingly shifted! Shouchun in Huainan was flooded, mountains collapsed, and cities were destroyed. In August, Shanggu had another earthquake, with water surging forth, and over a hundred people lost their lives. In October, the capital Luoyang also experienced an earthquake. In November, Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, and Nanyang were all shaken. In December, Luoyang was hit by another earthquake. At that time, Empress Jia held power, leading to chaos in the court, and these earthquakes were a sign of her corrupt rule! When Empress Dowager Deng ruled the court, earthquakes also occurred in various places. Li Gu analyzed and said, "The earth belongs to Yin and should be calm. But now it goes against the Yin nature, practicing a policy of masculinity, hence the earthquakes." This interpretation holds some merit. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan," "When the wrongdoers cause chaos, disasters such as mountains collapsing and the earth splitting will occur, indicating that Yin has triumphed over Yang and the weak have prevailed over the strong." He also said, "When Yin betrays Yang, the earth will split, mountains will collapse, fathers and sons will be separated, and barbarians will rebel." In the fifth year of the era, in May, there was an earthquake. In June, Jincheng experienced an earthquake. In the sixth year of the era, in the first month, there was an earthquake. In the eighth year of the era, in the first month, there was an earthquake. In the first year of the reign of Taian, in October, there was an earthquake. This was a portent of Prince Qi Jiong's rule! In the second year of the era, in December, there was an earthquake. At that time, Prince Changsha Yi was in power, who was also known for his unruliness. In the third year of the reign of Emperor Xiaohuai, in October, there were earthquakes in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. At that time, Sima Yue was in power, and the court was in disarray. In the fourth year of the era, in April, there was an earthquake in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the governor Hu Chong, and then crossed the Yellow River to the south, which could also be interpreted as a portent of an earthquake. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Min, in April, there was an earthquake. In the third year, in June, Chang'an was hit by another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was still young, and power lay in the hands of lower officials, and there were continuous wars and chaos everywhere; these earthquakes were all omens of turbulent times.
In April of the first year of Emperor Yuan's Tai Xing era, there was an earthquake in Xiping, with water surging out and mountains collapsing as well. Gan Bao interpreted this as a sign of Wang Dun's impending rebellion.
On the day of Ji Chou in May of the second year, there was an earthquake in Qishan, causing mountains to collapse and many people to die. At that time, Wang Bao, the Prime Minister from Nanyang, was in Qishan, and some believed this indicated that the Jin royal family was doomed. On the day of Geng Yin in May of the third year, additional earthquakes struck Danyang, Wu County, and Jinling.
In February of the second year of the Xianhe era of Emperor Cheng, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. In March, there was an earthquake in Yizhou. On the day of Ji Wei in April, there was an earthquake in Yuzhang. That year, Su Jun rebelled. In March of the ninth year, on the day of Ding You, there was an earthquake in Kuaiji.
In 346 AD, on a day in June, there was an earthquake. At that time, the emperor was still young, and his mother held the reins, while actual power was held by the ministers, leading to frequent earthquakes. In October of the following year, there was another earthquake. In the first month of the third year, there was an earthquake; in September, there was again an earthquake. In October of the fourth year, there was another earthquake.
In the first month of 347 AD, there was another earthquake. At this time, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, which likely served as another ominous sign. In August of 351 AD, there was an earthquake in the capital, with thunderous sounds. In the first month of the following year, there was an earthquake, with sounds like thunder that frightened both chickens and wild chickens into crowing. In April of 353 AD, there was an earthquake; in May, there was another earthquake.
In November of 358 AD, there was an earthquake. In August of 360 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou.
In April of 362 AD, there was an earthquake. At that time, power was in the hands of the generals and ministers, and the emperor was nothing more than a figurehead.
In April of 365 AD, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, resulting in rivers and lakes overflowing. In February of the following year, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen held all power.
In February of 372 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou, with water surging out. This signaled the imminent downfall of the Sea West.
In October of 374 AD, there was an earthquake in Ancheng. That year, the emperor passed away.
In October of 375 AD, there was an earthquake. In February of the following year, there was an earthquake; in July, there was another earthquake in Liangzhou, causing mountains to collapse. At that time, the emperor was still young, and power rested with the ministers. This indicated a decline of yang and a rise of yin.
In the year 377 AD, there was an earthquake in the third lunar month, followed by another in May. In June of 386 AD, there was another earthquake. After that, the generals along the Yellow River fought for several years, causing great hardship for the people, which was probably also due to the earthquakes. On the first night of the lunar month in 389 AD, there was an earthquake; in August, the capital city was shaken; and in December, there was another earthquake. In June of 391 AD, there was an earthquake; in December, there was another earthquake. At that time, corrupt officials held power, leading to widespread fear among the populace. On the first day of January in 392 AD, there was an earthquake; and on a night in February, there was another earthquake.
In April of 399 AD, there was an earthquake; in September, there was another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was young and inexperienced, with power in the hands of the ministers.
In the first few days of January in 408 AD, there was a sudden earthquake with a loud rumble. Later in the same year, there was another earthquake in October. On a certain night in January of 409 AD, there was an earthquake in Xunyang, with a sound like thunder. The following year, Lu Xun's failed rebellion occurred. In 412 AD, from January to April, there were four consecutive earthquakes in the Nankang and Luling areas. The following year, Wang Zhen led an unsuccessful rebellion in Jingzhou and Yizhou. On a certain day in March of 415 AD, there was another earthquake.
In August of 240 AD, the mountains in Danyang, Jurong, Guzhang, and Ningguo caved in, causing devastating floods. As noted in the writings of Liu Xiang, "Mountains represent the positive energy, symbolizing the ruler; water represents the negative energy, symbolizing the people. The heavens warn that if the ruler's rule collapses, the people will lose their support!" The collapse of Liangshan during the Spring and Autumn Period, and the occurrence of landslides and floods in many mountains of the Qi and Chu states during the Han Dynasty, all follow the same principle. In ancient times, the sacrificial rituals to ancestors were never beyond the scope of their tombs. Good and bad fortunes have their reasons and do not happen by chance. Although Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, he was merely a feudal lord, and the disasters in Danyang were all part of divine will. Liu Xin also said, "The rise and fall of a country is closely related to its mountains and rivers. When mountains collapse and rivers dry up, it signals that the country is on the verge of collapse." Two years after Sun Quan's death, the Wu state was destroyed twenty-six years later.
In February 265 AD, the Taihang Shan collapsed, a sign that the Wei Kingdom was on the brink of collapse! That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.
In March 274 AD, the Dashishan collapsed. In July 275 AD, Mount Tai collapsed, with a collapse area spanning three miles. Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "Collapse from top to bottom, the corresponding sign is the stones rolling down from Mount Tai, the sage king receives the mandate, and the ruler is captured." Later, the emperor passed away, and the imperial power was usurped; Emperor Hui was weak and ineffective, and both Emperor Huai and Emperor Min were captured to the north. The country fell until Emperor Yuan reestablished political power in the south, all fulfilling Jing Fang's prophecy.
On a day in May 285 AD, the temple of Emperor Xuan collapsed. In October 286 AD, the Xinxiang Mountains in Nan'an collapsed, which resulted in flooding. In February 287 AD, the Dulu Mountains in Zhuti collapsed, damaging houses in the county, and the Chouchi Cliff in Yinping also collapsed. In July 288 AD, heavy rain fell, causing the ground in front of the imperial palace to collapse, measuring five feet wide and several feet deep, containing a broken ship.
In 211 AD, a landslide occurred in Sichuan, resulting in many fatalities. On the ninth day of the fifth month, Shouchun also experienced a landslide, causing a flood, the city walls collapsed, and the ground collapsed over an area of about thirty meters, resulting in many fatalities. In June, heavy rain fell in Shouchun, accompanied by thunder, landslides and cracks occurred, burying many households; a similar incident occurred in Shangyong. In August, a large crack opened in Juyongguan, thirty-six meters wide and eighty-four meters long, as underground water gushed out, resulting in a severe famine. Landslides and ground collapses were reported across various locations in Shangyong, thirty meters wide and one hundred thirty meters long, causing floods and many fatalities. These disasters stemmed from the Empress Dowager's tyranny and mismanagement!
In April 212 AD, the walls of Xizhong fell.
In March of the year 307 AD, Buguanli, located northeast of Luoyang, collapsed unexpectedly. Two years later, on August 27, the city wall of Juancheng collapsed, over seventy zhang long. Sima Yue felt it was an omen of disaster, so he moved to Puyang. Sima Yue later suffered misfortune while repairing his tomb. In July 309 AD, three locations in Dangyang experienced ground fissures, each measuring three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the earth cracks, it represents the subjects' disloyalty and lack of virtue, unwilling to cooperate with each other." Later, Sima Yue and Gou Xi quarreled, and the governors of various regions acted independently, leading to the ultimate downfall of the Western Jin Dynasty. In October of the same year, Yidu Yidao Mountain experienced a landslide. In April of 310 AD, Heishi Mountain in Ling County, Xiangdong, experienced a landslide.
In February of 318 AD, earthquakes and landslides occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In May of the following year, Qishan experienced an earthquake and landslide, resulting in many deaths. In 320 AD, there was a landslide in Nanping County, exposing several thousand catties of realgar. At that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and domineering, but the emperor was very tolerant of him, which was akin to raising a tiger that would eventually become a threat! In August of 321 AD, Changshan experienced a landslide, followed by a flood, causing the waters of the Huhe River to surge and many large trees to be washed away.
In October of 334 AD, the northwest cliff of Lushan in Chaisang collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was killed by Guo Mo.
In September of 350 AD, Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb both collapsed. In November of the twelfth year of his reign, the court sent the Cavalier Attendant Chen Guan to repair Junping Tomb, but during the excavation of the tomb passage, the mountain gave way, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people.
In February of 359 AD, near the South Yamen, a horse's hoof sank into the ground, revealing a bell bearing four inscribed characters.
On April 22, 366 AD, Haowei Mountain experienced a landslide, foretelling the downfall of Zhang Tianxi.
In the year 402 AD, on a day in March, the Shanyin region suddenly collapsed, with a collapsed area of approximately sixteen square meters. At that time, a loud noise was heard, like thunder. Four years later, in May of 406 AD, the ground at Ximing Gate collapsed as well, gushing forth a large volume of water, damaging the gate leaves and threshold. These events are all signs of disturbing earth energy. A year later, in May of 407 AD, there was a landslide in Huoshan, and six bronze bells rolled out of the mountain. In July of 409 AD, there was a thunderous roar near the river in Chenggu County, Han Zhong, followed by the collapse of the river bank, from which twelve bronze bells emerged.
These incidents are quite frightening, right? One night in June of 300 AD, a sudden heavy rain and thunder occurred. The pillars of Jia Mi's fasting house sank into the ground, crushing his bed and canopy. This indicates that even wood is affected by the earth's energy, and the soil's properties have changed, making it impossible for objects to be supported. Strangely, the following year, Jia Mi was killed.
In May of 805 AD, there was a fire underground in the Fanyang region, and the fire was so intense that it could be used for cooking. This is another sign of unfavorable earth energy, suggesting that fire has encroached upon the land. During that time, chaos ensued; the feudal lords acted independently, rituals and music were in ruins, and wars continued.
It is said in books that if the emperor behaves improperly, the country cannot stand firm, a concept referred to as "not establishing." The consequences are severe, and punishment from the heavens will be received, resulting in a decline of national strength and suffering for the common people. Sometimes demons and monsters appear, dragons and snakes cause trouble, horses injure people, subordinates rebel, and the sun, moon, and stars behave abnormally. If the emperor behaves improperly, the country cannot stand, with "emperor" referring to the monarch, "extreme" referring to moderation, and "establish" referring to establishment. If the monarch deviates from the right path in speech, behavior, thoughts, and consciousness, and cannot achieve moderation and harmony, then major national matters cannot be effectively managed. The issue stems from incompetence and erratic behavior, leading to such consequences.
The king must emulate the heavenly way and align with the will of the people. Like clouds rising from the mountains, the clouds eventually spread across the sky. If the heavenly signs are abnormal, there will be ongoing punishment from above, just as the book states, "When the ruler behaves improperly, his subordinates will grow strong and obscure his vision." The "I Ching" also says: "The soaring dragon has regrets; the noble loses his position, the high lose their people, and the wise are in lower positions and lose their support." This means that if the king, despite his high status and power, cannot gain anyone's assistance, he will be very weak. The vigorous energy of summer is swift, light, and fierce. In ancient times, a grand archery ceremony was held in spring to align with the rising yang force. If the ruler is weak, the subordinates will be restless, leading to chaos caused by monsters and demons. The "I Ching" states: "Clouds follow the dragon," and also says: "The hibernation of dragons and snakes serves for self-preservation." With the prevalence of yin energy, dragons and snakes will cause disturbances. In the "I Ching," the "Qian" hexagram represents the ruler and also represents horses. If the ruler excessively relies on military force, jeopardizing his own fortune, disasters involving horses harming people will occur. Some say this is due to the mass death of horses, which turn into monsters that wreak havoc.
If the ruler is foolish and incompetent, the people will betray him, and heaven will abandon him. If there is no wise king to punish these treacherous ministers, incidents of usurpation and regicide will occur, which represents rebellion by the subordinates. In short, if the path of the ruler is compromised, it will affect the heavenly signs. The book does not directly say that the five elements lead to abnormal heavenly signs, but rather states, "The sun and moon move chaotically, and the stars move in reverse," suggesting that the subordinates hesitate to directly call it divine punishment, just as "The royal army suffered defeat at the hands of the Maorong" in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" does not explicitly mention the army's defeat but uses implicit language to express it, which signifies respect. Liu Xin's "The Transmission of the Supreme Pole" states that the rebellion of subordinates is a punishment from heaven, which can no longer simply be described as a disease.
During Sun Liang's reign, in the third year of Taiping, it rained continuously starting in August, and it hadn't rained for over forty days. At that time, there was a plan to execute Sun Zhen, but the plan was leaked. On September 5, Sun Zhen surrounded the imperial palace with troops and deposed Sun Liang, making him the King of Kuaiji; this was a relentless punishment from heaven.
When Sun Hao was in power, in the first year of Baoding, in December, the astronomers reported that the weather had been gloomy and there had been no rain for a long time, fearing that a conspiracy was about to occur. Sun Hao was terrified when he heard this. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose Sun Hao during his sacrificial rites. However, when Lu Kai and his group set out, they had Liu Ping lead the charge. Lu Kai had informed Liu Ping about the plan in advance, but Liu Ping disagreed, so the plan ultimately failed. Sun Hao later became increasingly tyrannical, and many ministers harbored rebellious thoughts; in the end, Sun Wu indeed perished.
Deng Zhi, Shu's General of Chariots and Cavalry, went to Fuling to fight and saw a black ape on the mountain, so he shot it with an arrow. The black ape pulled out the arrow and used leaves to staunch the wound. Deng Zhi said, "Ah, I have gone against the natural order; I fear I will die!" Not long after, he died, which is considered an act of shooting a demon. There are also claims that the black ape was a mother holding her child, and Deng Zhi shot the child, who pulled out the arrow and used leaves to staunch the wound. Deng Zhi sighed and threw his crossbow into the water, knowing he was going to die.
When Emperor Gong of Jin was the King of Langya, he enjoyed playing strange games. One time, he locked a horse inside a door and had people shoot it to see how many arrows it would take to bring it down. Someone nearby advised him, saying, "The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now would be bad luck!" So he stopped, but the horse had already taken over ten arrows. This was likely another sign of shooting a demon. Not long after, he abdicated in favor of Emperor Wu of Song.
In the first month of the first year of the Qinglong era during the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, a Qinglong appeared in Mobei Well in Jiaxian. Generally, when auspicious signs appear at the wrong time, they bodes ill, especially when trapped in a well. Emperor Ming of Wei changed the era name because of this, but this was not the correct response. Gan Bao said, "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the appearances of Qinglong and Huanglong are related to the rise and fall of the Wei Dynasty. The national fortune of Wei is associated with wood and is represented by the color blue, but it cannot withstand metal. The appearance of Huanglong and the disappearance of Qinglong symbolize the decline of blue and the rise of yellow. The frequent appearance of Qinglong indicates internal strife within Wei's national fortune. Therefore, Gaoguixianggong ultimately met his demise in battle." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that the dragon is a symbol of nobility, but being trapped in a well is a sign that the princes will suffer imprisonment. During the Wei Dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, which was the result of rulers suppressing each other. The "Hidden Dragon Poem" written by Gaoguixianggong conveys this meaning.
On Wuxu day in the tenth month of the first year of Zhengyuan under Gaoguixianggong, a Huanglong appeared in a well in Ye City.
In the first month of the first year of Ganlu, a Qinglong appeared in a well in Zhixian. In the sixth month, a Qinglong appeared in a well in Yuancheng County. In the second year, a Qinglong appeared in a well in Wen County. In the third year, a Huanglong and a Qinglong appeared together in wells in Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year, a Huanglong appeared twice in wells in Ningling County.
Over the years, reports of dragons appearing in wells have been frequent across various locations, but their significance remains unclear.
In the first month of the first year of the Jingyuan era under 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.
These dragons really do seem to show up quite often.
During the reign of Sun Hao of the Wu Kingdom, dragon milk bubbled up from a well in Changsha, and they even consumed chicken embryos. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Yao," "If dragon milk shows up in someone's home, it signifies that those in power will become ordinary folks." Later, Sun Hao was indeed overthrown by the Jin Dynasty. This interpretation turned out to be spot on.
In the second year of Emperor Wu's Xianning reign, in the sixth month on the day of Bingwu, two white dragons appeared in the well of Jiuyuan. The dragons appeared at different times and places; some consider it auspicious, while others view it as an omen of disaster. In the fifth year of Taikang, in the first month on the day of Guimao, two dragons appeared in the well of the armory. The emperor was delighted by this, and all the officials were ready to congratulate him, except for Liu Yi, who submitted a report: "In the past, when dragons appeared in the courtyard of the Xia Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty faced troubles; when dragons appeared at the gates of the Zheng State, Zichan did not congratulate." The emperor replied, "My governance is not yet fully established; I am not worthy of such auspicious signs." Therefore, he did not congratulate. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are creatures of water; what does it have to do with people? Zichan is right. But the location of the dragon's appearance is inappropriate; it signifies disaster. Dragons should fly and appear to be considered auspicious, but now they are lurking in dark places, which is not a good sign." In the second year of Emperor Hui's reign, two dragons appeared in the well of Lanling; the "Book of Han" considered this as a precursor to the death of Prince Zhao You. The armory is where the emperor stores weapons; the building is heavily fortified, not a fitting place for dragons. Seven years later, the princes began to kill each other, and twenty-eight years later, two individuals with the surname Long rebelled and seized power, which indeed came to pass. These dragons, appearing at different times and places, can really predict some events. In the second year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, in the eleventh month, a prostitute from the Qiang tribe in Fuhang gave birth to a dragon child, with colors like patterns on brocade, often nursing from the mother, and a divine light could be seen on his body, but rarely clearly. This was also because the emperor did not do well, so Emperor Min ultimately failed. This dragon child sounds quite miraculous. When Lv Zuan was close to death, a dragon emerged from the well in the eastern wing and coiled in front of his palace, disappearing by dawn. Shortly after, a black dragon flew over his palace gates. Lv Zuan took this as a good omen. Some remarked, "Dragons are yin creatures that appear at regular intervals; their frequent appearances now suggest someone must be planning a rebellion." Later, Lv Zuan was indeed killed by Lv Chao. The frequent appearances of these dragons are indeed not a good sign.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in the Xian Ning era, two large snakes appeared in the residence of the Minister of Education, each over ten zhang long, coiled on the beams of the hearing hall, yet surprisingly, no one noticed them. For several years, children, pigs, and dogs often went missing from the residence. Later, one snake came out at night, was injured by a person, and could not escape, which led to their discovery. Consequently, everyone joined forces, and after considerable effort, they finally killed the snake. The Minister of Education's residence is responsible for overseeing education, indicating that the court's political situation was failing, resulting in such strange occurrences. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace; Yang Ci said this was due to the emperor's indulgence in wine and women. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the palace was filled with women, and the Yan kingdom was even worse, indulging in pleasure all day long; all these chaotic phenomena led to this. The Book of Songs states, "Only the viper, only the snake, is a sign of women," which illustrates this principle.
On the Gui Si day of the fifth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang era, a large snake over ten zhang long appeared in Linzi, accompanied by two smaller snakes, entering the city through the north gate, passing directly through the market, and entering the shrine of King Jing of Han, before disappearing. This is a heavenly warning! Although King Jing of Han had achieved great merit, he failed to uphold integrity and loyalty, ultimately losing his position and his accomplishments. Now, King Jiong of Qi also does not learn from this lesson; despite having made contributions, he is arrogant and proud, ultimately inviting disaster—this is a clear omen!
In the early years of Emperor Ming's Tai Ning reign, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, residing in an old temple on a hollow tree, often poking its head out to beg for food. Jing Fang stated in "Yi Yao": "When a snake appears in the city, within three years there will be a large-scale war, and the nation will face a significant crisis." Later, the rebellion of Wang Dun indeed occurred.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Wu Di Tai Xi, a horse with long antlers appeared in Liaodong, with antlers three inches long under its ears. According to Liu Xiang, "this is a sign of military disaster." Later, following the emperor's death, the imperial family indeed suffered a military disaster, confirming this omen. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "If subordinates oppress their superiors and the politics are not smooth, strange things like horses growing horns will happen, indicating a lack of virtuous scholars!" He also said: "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses will grow horns." "The Lüshi Chunqiu" also said: "When the ruler loses virtue, horses will grow horns." Later, Emperor Hui ascended the throne, was incompetent, and personally led troops to Chengdu, all of which were fulfilled.
In the eighth year of Emperor Hui's Yuan Kang, in December, the crown prince was to hold a sacrifice ceremony. The Grand Tutor, Prince Zhao Lun, went by carriage. When he reached the south gate, the horse suddenly stopped, and several people could not move it no matter how hard they tried. Wang Lun had to change to a small carriage before continuing. This was a calamity heralded by the horse! This was a warning from the heavens: Wang Lun did not understand the principles of dealing with people and would eventually rebel and cause chaos, not being a qualified person to assist the monarch and preside over ceremonies.
On a certain day in November of an unspecified year, a horse suddenly ran into the courtyard of the Ministry of Justice, neighed mournfully before collapsing, and died. It seemed like a warning from the heavens, pitying those who died unjustly! Look, this horse ran into the courtyard of the Ministry of Justice, isn't that a sign from the heavens?
In the second month of the sixth year of Emperor Huai's Yongjia, a divine horse neighed at the south gate.
In the ninth month of the second year of Emperor Min's Jianxing, there was a strange event in Puzi County where a horse gave birth to a human-like creature. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor dies, the vassals will fight each other, leading to strange phenomena like horses giving birth to humans." At that time, the imperial family was declining, in danger, with the Xiongnu and Di people constantly invading, and the flames of war getting closer day by day. Shortly thereafter, the emperor fell, resulting in these bizarre occurrences.
In the second year of the Yuan Emperor's reign, there was an official named Puyang Yan in Danyang Commandery. His horse gave birth to a two-headed foal, split from the front of the neck, but it was stillborn. Sima Biao explained, "This indicates that power in the court is held by private individuals; it is a sign of the 'two-headed horse.'" Later, Wang Dun indeed rebelled.
In the eighth year of Emperor Cheng's reign during the Xiankang era, on a day in May, a horse as red as blood appeared, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling around the palace and running away, and no one could catch up. A few days later, the emperor fell ill and died in June. This horse was a harbinger of disaster, and its red color was an ominous sign. That same year, in Liangzhou, Zhang Chonghua was about to execute Zhang Xiang, the Prefect of Xihe. Suddenly, all the horses in his stable lost their tails!
In the fourth year of Emperor An's Long'an reign, in October, a horse with long horns appeared in Liangzhou. Governor Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. Referring to Liu Xiang's explanation, horses are not supposed to have long horns, just as Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan failed to comprehend this and was ultimately exterminated.
While Shi Jilong was in Ye City, a horse's tail was burned. It entered through Zhongyang Gate and exited through Xianyang Gate; people from the East Palace were unable to enter, and it ran straight to the northeast and disappeared shortly thereafter. The fortune teller Fotu Cheng sighed, "Disaster is on the way!" More than a year later, Shi Jilong died, and his kingdom was also destroyed.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei in the Huangchu period, Song Shizong from Qinghe transformed into a turtle and swam away.
In the third year of the Taiping era under Emperor Ming, a peasant girl named Qiu Xi died and, after seven days, came back to life. This happened in the camp of Cao Xiu's troops. At that time, a tomb of an emperor from the Zhou Dynasty was opened, and a buried woman was found inside. A few days later, she began to breathe again. Though she couldn't speak for several months, Empress Dowager Guo adopted her. Moreover, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a grave and found a living woman inside her coffin. When asked what had happened, she herself didn't know. According to the inscription on her tombstone, she was probably around thirty years old. The "Jingfang Yichuan" says, "Yin becomes Yang, and the lower becomes the upper." This was a sign of Emperor Xuan of Han's rise to power! Similar events also occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping and Emperor Xian of Han, which were seen as omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
In the fourth year of the Yong'an era of Sun Xiu, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died and, after seven days, crawled out of his grave. Gan Bao remarked, "This is akin to what occurred during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han. Wucheng Marquis Hao inherited the family business of the deposed imperial descendants, which is an auspicious sign of gaining power!"
In the first year of Baoding of Sun Hao, a man named Xuan Qian in Danyang saw his eighty-year-old mother turn into a giant turtle while bathing. Xuan Qian and his brother quickly closed the door to keep her safe. They dug a large pit in their living room and filled it with water, and the giant turtle went in to swim. It kept stretching its neck to look outside for a day or two. When the door was slightly opened, it turned around, jumped out on its own, and ran to a distant pond, never returned. This was reminiscent of the incident involving Huang's mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, a sign of the downfall of the Wu Kingdom.
In the second year of the Xianxi era of Emperor Yuan of Wei, in August, someone in Xiangwu County claimed to have seen a giant man over three meters tall, with footprints more than a meter long, white hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and a yellow robe, leaning on a cane and shouting the name "Wang Shi," saying, "It will be peaceful now." Eventually, the Jin Dynasty succeeded the Wei Dynasty.
In the fifth year of the Tai Shi reign of Emperor Wu, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns. This likely signaled that Zhao Wang Lun was about to usurp power and create chaos.
In the second year of Xian Ning, in December, a man from Langya named Yan Ji fell ill and died. The coffin was already buried, but his family all dreamed that Yan Ji told them, "I want to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" So the family opened the coffin, and Yan Ji gradually could eat and drink, could bend and stretch, could see things, but he could neither walk nor speak. Two years later, he died again. The "Jingfang Yi Zhuan" states: "The deepest yin transforms into yang, the lower becomes the upper, the evil spirit causes death and resurrection." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, ultimately destroying the Jin Dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy of "the lower becoming the upper."
During the reign of Emperor Hui in the Yuan Kang period, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng who gradually became a man at the age of eight, and by seventeen or eighteen, she had taken on a man's character. The "Jingfang Yi Zhuan" states: "A woman transforms into a husband, this signifies the flourishing of yin, the lowly become kings." This was also a portent of Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le sweeping the world!
During the Yong Ning period, Qi Wang Jiong, under the banner of rebellion, executed corrupt officials and reinstated the emperor, enjoying great glory for a time. At this moment, a woman suddenly ran to the gate of the Grand Marshal's residence, saying she wanted to leave her child there. The guard stopped her. The woman replied, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, Qi Wang Jiong was credited with restoring the royal family, but wise individuals had foreseen his impending misfortune. Sure enough, later Qi Wang Jiong was killed.
On the day of the Jiazi in December of the first year of Yong Ning, an old man with white hair burst into Qi Wang Jiong's Grand Marshal's residence, shouting loudly: "There are great troops planning to rebel, within ten days!" Qi Wang Jiong had the old man killed. As a result, on the day of Wuchen in December of the following year, Qi Wang Jiong failed, which was exactly ten days after the Jiazi!
In the first year of Tai'an, on the Guiyou day in April, someone claimed to have come from Longmen, ran to the front of the hall, bowed twice facing north, and said, "I should be appointed as the Minister of the Central Secretariat." He was promptly captured and executed. Gan Bao remarked, "The palace and its forbidden gardens are extremely noble and mysterious places; now a lowly individual can easily enter, and the guards did not notice. This is a sign that the palace is about to become empty, and the lower ranks are surpassing the higher ranks!" Later, the emperor moved north to Ye City, then to Chang'an, and the palace eventually fell into emptiness.
During the Yuan Kang period, a woman from the Liang Kingdom was promised to someone, and the betrothal gifts had already been exchanged. However, not long after, her husband was conscripted to Chang'an and did not return for several years. Her family then arranged for her to marry someone else. The woman was unwilling to marry, but her parents forced her, and with no other choice, she reluctantly complied. Soon after, she fell ill and died. Later, her husband returned, inquiring about his wife's whereabouts, and his family informed him of the situation. He ran to his wife's grave, heartbroken, and even dug up her grave, which miraculously brought his wife back to life! He took his wife home with him. Later, her ex-husband found out and reported it to the authorities to reclaim his wife, but the officials were unsure of what to do. The secretary Lang Wang Dao said, "This is an extremely rare occurrence; it cannot be judged by common sense, and she should be returned to her ex-husband." The court took his advice.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maidservant in the Du family died, and due to a mistake, she was not buried together. Ten years later, the family opened the grave for a joint burial, only to discover that the maidservant was miraculously still alive! At first, she appeared to be asleep, and after a while, she woke up. When asked, she replied that it felt like she had only slept for two days. The maidservant was fifteen or sixteen years old when buried, and when dug up, she was still fifteen or sixteen, and later she got married and had children.
In the first year of the Guangxi era, in Kuaiji, a woman named Xie Zhen gave birth to a child with a very large head, who was born with hair, and with its feet turned upward. Remarkably, the child exhibited both male and female physical characteristics and let out a man's cry at birth, dying a day later. This was a sign of the decline of imperial power and the lower classes rebelling against their rulers, leading to a series of uprisings by various kings.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, some individuals in Luoyang simultaneously possessed male and female characteristics and could engage in relations with both men and women, displaying exceptionally strong sexual appetites. These were strange occurrences brought on by the chaotic times. Beginning in the Xian Ning and Tai Kang eras, male favorites became prevalent, even surpassing the affection for women. High-ranking officials and nobles took pride in having male favorites, which led to a nationwide trend, resulting in broken marriages and widespread grievances. Thus, the relationships between men and women became chaotic, and demons and monsters began to appear.
In the first year of Yongjia, in Wu County of Wu Prefecture, a maid named Wan Xiang gave birth to a strange child with a bird's head, two legs like horse hooves, only one hand, no hair, and a tail as large as a pillow. This was also another sign of abnormality, a portent of great turmoil in the world.
In May of the fifth year, a prostitute of the county magistrate Yan Gen in Fuhan gave birth to a dragon, a girl, and a goose. The "Book of Changes" by Jing Fang states: "The birth of beings that are not human is a sign of impending large-scale war." At that time, the emperor succeeded Emperor Hui's throne, resulting in widespread chaos, and he soon found himself in Pingyang, where he was killed by the Hu people, which was indeed a portent.
In the fourth year of the Ming Emperor Jianxing, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official from Xinchai County, gave birth to two daughters. Their abdomens and hearts were connected, but separated from the chest upwards and the belly button downwards. This was truly an unprecedented phenomenon! At that time, historian Lv Hui reported: "According to the records of the Auspicious Response Chart, plants with different roots but growing together are called 'connected branches', and rice grains from different plants but in the same ear are called 'auspicious grains'. Even the strange phenomena of plants are considered auspicious signs. Now, these two girls are united in heart and body. The Book of Changes says, 'Two people with the same heart can break metal.' This is truly an auspicious sign of unity and virtue in the world!" At that time, everyone thought he was joking around. Not long after, the world fell into chaos and the emperor died.
In the early years of the Yuan Emperor Taixing, there was a woman whose genitals were on her abdomen, near the navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, who had a strong sexual desire but was unable to conceive. Another woman had her genitals on her head and appeared at the Yangzhou ferry terminal, also with a strong sexual desire. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" said: "If a child is born with genitals on their head, the world will be in great chaos; if on the abdomen, great events will occur in the world; if on the back, the family line will be cut off." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and attempted to rebel, which served as a sign of impending turmoil.
In December of the third year, the wife of the Minister Zu Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter who let out a "puffing" sound upon being born and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face resembled a neck, her mouth had teeth all connected, her chest was like a turtle shell, her hands and feet had claws like bird claws, all bent downwards. This was also an unprecedented phenomenon of giving birth to a non-human entity. Two years later, the defeat of the Stone Rebellion occurred.
In July of the second year of the Ming Emperor Taiping, the wife of Ji, the Marquis of Danyang Jiangning, died and came back to life three days later.
In the fourth month of the fifth year of Xiankang, Wang He, a man from Xiapi, moved to Jiyang to live. His daughter, twenty years old, claimed to have come back from the heavens and said she had received the seal bestowed by the heavens, wanting to become the mother of all under heaven. The Prefect of Jiyang thought this was misleading the public and had her arrested and imprisoned. In November, a person wearing red clothes and holding a wooden staff ran to the palace gate, claiming to be sent by a sage to see the emperor. The gatekeeper recorded his words, and this person claimed to be named Lu Ci, saying that Wang He's daughter had seven stars under her right foot, each star with hair and seven inches long, and that the heavens wanted to make her the mother of all under heaven. This incident was reported to the emperor, and Wang He's daughter was killed, and the Prefect of Jiyang was held accountable.
In October of the second year of Jianyuan, the Camp Commander under General Wei inspected near the Nü Tai in Chendu and discovered a soldier with the phrase "Mother of the World" inscribed on his foot, which became even clearer after moxibustion. This news spread to the capital, causing a stir, and the authorities arrested this person and reported the case to the court. Shortly after, this person escaped from the prison in Jiankang County. The following year, the emperor passed away, and the Empress Dowager assumed control of the government, which was probably a sign.
During the Ningkang period, in Nanjun Zhoul, there was a woman named Tang who gradually turned into a man.
In the seventh year of Andi Yixi, there was a person named Zhao in Wuxi who suddenly grew to eight feet tall at the age of eight, grew a beard, and died three days later.
During the Yixi period, a family surnamed Mo in Dongyang gave birth to a daughter, did not raise her, buried her for several days, and they heard the cry of a baby coming from the ground. They dug her out, and she was miraculously alive.
Towards the end of the Yixi period, in Eryang Dao in Wuping, Yuzhang, people there often gave birth to twins.
In the first year of Yuanxi, there was a place called Yangdao in Jian'an, where a child was born without a brain, but later miraculously grew one, and the body that was originally meant to be female.
