The Wrongdoings of Fish

In the fourth year of Jiapin during the reign of King Qi of the Wei state, in May, two fish suddenly appeared on the roof of the armory, which was not a good omen! Wang Su looked at it and said, "Fish should live in water, but now they have come to the roof. These fish have scales and shells; haven’t they lost their proper place? This probably indicates that a military coup is about to happen!" Sure enough, later there was a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Dongguan. Gan Bao also believed this was a sign that Duke Xiang was about to encounter military disaster. Both interpretations aligned with Ban Gu's viewpoint.

Then, during the Tai Kang period of Emperor Wu, there were two more instances of carp appearing on the roof of the armory. Gan Bao analyzed, "The armory is a place for storing weapons, and fish, with their scales and shells, resemble weapons. Fish are a yin creature, while the roof is full of sunlight; the appearance of fish on the roof symbolizes a yin entity challenging the yang of the sun through military disaster. By the early reign of Emperor Hui, Yang Jun was executed, the empress dowager was deposed, and arrows were flying chaotically in the palace. During the Yuan Kang period, Jia Hou falsely accused the crown prince, who was ultimately executed and deposed as well. In a decade, there were two incidents of the empress dowager being deposed, which all came true as foretold by the earlier omens! Since then, the world has become a chaotic mess." Jing Fang also mentioned in the "Book of Changes," "When fish leave the water and fly onto the road, war is about to break out." The "Spring and Autumn Annals" recorded a situation where the insect "zhong" appeared in large numbers. Liu Xin believed that the disaster caused by this insect was similar to the fish omen.

In the third year of Huangchu during the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, there was a severe locust plague in Jizhou, leaving the people hungry. Cai Yong said, "The locust plague is caused by the greed and cruelty of those in power." At that time, Sun Quan pledged allegiance to the Wei state, and Emperor Wen, because Sun Quan had taken Xiling, led a large army to attack him, which ultimately led to Sun Quan's rebellion.

In the tenth year of Tai Shi during Emperor Wu's reign, there was another locust plague. At that time, Xun and Jia were in power; they had hardline policies and suppressed honest officials.

During the first year of Emperor Hui's Yongning reign, locust plagues occurred all over the country. In May of the fourth year of Emperor Huai's Yongjia reign, a major locust plague occurred from Youzhou to Bingzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou, all the way to Qinzhou and Yongzhou. All plants, livestock, and even their fur were completely devoured! At that time, the country was in chaos, and the people could only barely survive by fishing and hunting. Only Sima Yue and Gou Xi managed to maintain any order. However, both were cruel and ineffective rulers, contributing to the disaster. In June of the fourth year of Emperor Mindi's Jianxing reign, another locust plague occurred. Last year, Liu Yao attacked Beidi and Fengyi several times, and Qiu Yun and others led a large army to resist, but they were still defeated by Liu Yao, resulting in the fall of the Western Capital. In the fifth year of Jianxing, the emperor was in Pingyang when a large number of locusts appeared in Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Yongzhou. In June of the year 313 AD, the locust plague in the Lanling area was particularly severe, and the crops failed. On the same year's Yimao day, locusts ravaged Dongguan, spreading over an area of three hundred miles, causing heavy losses to crops. In July, Donghai, Pengcheng, Xiapu, and Linhuai four counties all suffered locust plagues, with all crops completely devoured. In August, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou also experienced locust plagues, with locusts eating up all the green grass, and the plague persisted for two years. At that time, the Central Plains descended into chaos, and various riots were escalating. In May of the year 314 AD, Huailing, Linhuai, Huainan, Anfeng, and Lujiang five counties suffered locust plagues again, and all the wheat in autumn was eaten by locusts. On the same Guichou day of the month, locust plagues also occurred in Xuzhou and Yangzhou in Jiangnan, and tragically, many people in Wu County starved to death. During that year, Wang Dun was appointed governor of Jingzhou, marking the beginning of his arrogant and tyrannical rule.

In August of the year 376 AD, a locust plague occurred in Yanzhou. At that time, the Murong clan's army was advancing on Henan, and the ongoing warfare resulted in this disaster. In May of the year 377 AD, locusts flew in from the south and gathered near Tangyi County, causing crops to be destroyed once again. In the spring of that year, the court mobilized two thousand soldiers from Jiangzhou and six to seven thousand family members to protect the court's army and the Eastern Palace, but nearly all of them eventually deserted. In addition, border generals kept conscripting soldiers, which contributed to the locust plague.

In the year 280 AD, the first year of Sun Hao's reign, a wild boar entered the camp of the Right Grand Marshal Ding Feng, signifying a bad omen. Later, Ding Feng was ordered to attack Guyang, but returned empty-handed. In a fit of rage, Sun Hao executed Ding Feng's guide. When the army retreated north, Ding Feng, Wan Yu, and others conspired in secret, saying, "If we reach Huali, we will have to flee for our lives." This plan was soon discovered, and although Ding Feng was already dead by then, Sun Hao still held Ding Feng responsible for the defeat at Guyang and killed Ding Feng's son Ding Wen, with his family being exiled, which fulfilled the omen of the wild boar's arrival in the camp. Gong Sui once said, "When wild beasts from the mountains and fields run into the palace, the palace will be empty," which is exactly the truth.

During the reign of Emperor Huai of the Jin Dynasty, in the Yongjia era, a two-headed pig was spotted in the city of Shou Chun, but it did not live long. Zhou Fu went to see it, and at that time, knowledgeable people said, "Pigs are livestock from the north, representing the northern tribes. A two-headed pig symbolizes a lack of a ruler; being born and dying immediately symbolizes bad luck. This serves as a warning from Heaven, not to engage in treachery; otherwise, destruction will be self-inflicted." Zhou Fu did not heed the advice, still wanting to welcome the emperor and command the vassals, but he was swiftly defeated by Emperor Yuan, thereby fulfilling the omen of the two-headed pig. Following that, Shi Le crossed the Huai River, and ninety-nine percent of the populace perished.

In the year 36 AD, which was the first year of the Jianwu era under Emperor Guangwu, it was said that a sow gave birth to a pig that had eight legs. This was believed to be a punishment from the heavens, a sign of impending disaster for not heeding warnings. Sure enough, the usurpation of power by Liu Kui happened shortly after.

In the year 331 AD, during the sixth month of the sixth year of Emperor Cheng's reign, there was a pig farmer in Qiantang who had a sow that gave birth to two piglets. These piglets had human faces that looked like those of Westerners, but their bodies were that of pigs. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Yao": "A pig giving birth to a pig with a human head signifies great turmoil and chaos for the country." The birth of such strange piglets was truly bizarre!

In the year 375 AD, during the fourth month of the tenth year of Emperor Xiaowu's reign, a pig with two spines and eight legs appeared in the capital. Thirteen years later, another family's pig in the capital gave birth to a monster with two bodies and eight legs, similar to the incident during the Jianwu era. Later, Prime Minister Shen Chong ignored state affairs, leading to corruption by his close advisors, gradual decay of the country's laws, and eventual collapse.

In the year 311 AD, during the twelfth month of the fifth year of Emperor Xiaohuai's reign, black mists were seen everywhere, what a bad omen! Shortly after, the emperor lost his country, and the royal family fell into ruins, fulfilling the prophecy.

In the year 314 AD, on the first day of the first month of the second year of Emperor Min's reign, a black fog covered the people like ink for several consecutive days, dispersing only after five days. This was a particularly ominous sign! Four years later, Emperor Min was defeated by Liu Yao.

In the year 318 AD, during the tenth month of the first year of Emperor Yuan's reign, a thick fog covered the capital, obscuring the sun and the moon. By the eleventh month, the emperor died.

In the year 285 AD, during the sixth month of the fifth year of Emperor Wudi's reign, the ponds in Rencheng and the region of Lu turned blood red. According to Liu Xiang, this was a sign of calamities involving water and fire, a punishment for not heeding advice. Jing Fang also mentioned in "Yi Zhuan": "When rulers are obsessed with pleasure, virtuous individuals are buried, and the country is in danger, strange phenomena like rivers turning red occur."

In the year 363 AD, in the third year of Emperor Mu's reign of Shengping in February, a fire broke out in a pond to the east of Liangzhou City. In the following year, in April, a fire broke out in the pond at Guzang Ze. These are all examples of water and fire disasters! In the year 402 AD, in the second year of Emperor An's reign of Yuanxing in October, the water in Linping Lake, Qiantang, turned red. Huan Xuan misled the officials of Wu County, saying that this was a good omen for his upcoming rise to power, but not long after, Huan Xuan faced defeat. Ancient books say, "If you can't accept things and your mind is troubled, this reflects a lack of wisdom, and the consequences are severe! Lightly, there will be repeated disasters, and severely, there will be premature death." These disasters can take various forms, sometimes clouding the mind like grease, sometimes causing abnormal growth of plants, sometimes causing strange behavior in cattle, sometimes causing internal diseases, and sometimes causing issues with the earth's energies, leading to an imbalance of metal, wood, water, and fire. As you can see, if you can't accept things and your mind is troubled, this reflects a lack of wisdom. This "thoughtful mind" refers to a person's thoughts and ideas; "acceptance" refers to tolerance. Confucius once said, "If a leader lacks tolerance, how can one truly see their virtues?" This means that if a leader is not magnanimous, it is difficult for his subordinates to flourish. In our daily lives, our observations, listening, speaking, and thinking are all guided by the mind. If these four aspects are problematic, then confusion will arise, and that’s why disasters happen.

As for the disasters of drought, flood, cold, and heat, the root cause is in the wind. That's why it faces the wrath of strong winds. Strong winds harm people and objects, resulting in early death. Injuries to humans are termed "ominous," while injuries to animals are "short-lived," and injuries to plants are described as "broken." Some people say that if an older brother dies, it's considered short-lived, and the death of a father is termed premature. If a person has too much fat on their stomach, wrapping around the heart like a layer of grease, the mind becomes clouded, inviting evil spirits. Some believe these evil spirits are akin to grease that stains clothes, unclean. Another theory is that these evil spirits are like a sudden gust of wind at night, darkening the sky, much like any typical strong wind. When the weather is warm and windy, pests such as moths tend to emerge. According to Liu Xiang in the Book of Changes, the "Xun" hexagram represents wind and wood, which is in March and April when yang energy starts to rise, governing the growth of trees. If the wind is too strong, in autumn and winter, trees will bloom again, referred to as "Hua Nie." Some say this is due to an overabundance of earth energy, leading to flowers blooming in autumn and winter. Some interpret "Hua" as relating to color, with earth symbolizing internal matters, referring to mistakes made by women. In the Book of Changes, the "Kun" hexagram represents earth and cattle. Cows have big heads but lack thought; their spirits are damaged, resulting in disasters involving cows. Some say that cows often die violently or behave strangely for this reason.

As for people, they are more likely to suffer from internal ailments, which is why there are such ailments. The earth is yellow, which is why there are yellow calamities and auspicious omens. In short, as long as the heart is troubled, it will affect the energy of the earth; if the energy of the earth is damaged, it will lead to an imbalance of metal, wood, water, and fire, and this is why it is said, "At the right time, there are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." The omission of the word "only" and the direct use of "at the right time" indicates that this is not a disaster caused by a single type of energy, highlighting its significant harm. If one can align with the will of the heavens, those premature deaths and calamities can be averted, ultimately allowing for a natural conclusion to life. Liu Xin mentioned in "Thoughts on the Heart" that there is also a type of pest, namely pests like the rice borer.

In the ninth year of King Wei Qi's reign, in November, strong winds blew for dozens of days, collapsing houses and breaking trees. On the day of Wuyou in December, the last day of the month, the winds intensified even further, shaking the eastern attic of the Taiji Hall.

After this, on the first day of the first month in the first year of the Jiaping era, the northwest wind howled, wreaking havoc on houses and trees, and the sky was choked with yellow dust, obscuring everything. Guan Lu at that time said that this was heaven's punishment for the corrupt ministers, a dire omen for the rulers! At that time, Cao Shuang was in power, arrogantly overstepping all bounds. The heavens gave him so many warnings, but he did not change; this is why he acted unwisely and faced the wrath of the fierce wind. Before long, Cao Shuang and his followers met their demise. Jing Fang noted in the "Book of Changes": "When no one listens, the highest morals become obscured, strange winds will appear. This kind of wind cannot prevail; things cannot grow well. Although it rains, it will cause damage. When politics go against morals, this is the beginning of chaos; this wind first blows without rain, then there is a big storm, strong enough to topple houses and trees. Upholding justice without progress is foolishness; this wind, along with the clouds, will snap the stalks of crops. Ministers disobeying the orders of the monarch is disobedience; this wind is a great storm, strong enough to topple houses. Unreasonable taxation is disaster; this wind will wreak havoc on everything; once it subsides, the weather warms, and insects will emerge. Princes governing independently is disunity; this wind is very strong, but the trees do not shake, and the crops do not grow well. Rulers not considering the interests of the people is lack of grace; this wind blows without stirring the trees; drought reigns without rain, leaving the crops damaged. Officials only concerned with their own interests is chaos; this wind is gentle yet warm, inviting pests that harm the crops. Abandoning politics and indulging in pleasure is confusion; this warm wind will summon pests that threaten what is beneficial. Princes not coming to pay respects is betrayal; this wind is erratic; the earth will turn red, and the rain will bring death."

In the first year of Taiyuan (太元), on the first day of the eighth month, a great wind arose in the state of Wu, causing the rivers to swell, and the water in the plains rose to a depth of eight feet. More than two thousand tall trees were uprooted, stone tablets trembled, and the city gates of Wu were blown away. Huahuo's analysis stated that this was a result of Sun Quan's heavy labor and excessive taxation, a divine punishment. The following year, Sun Quan died.

On Bing Shen day in the twelfth month of Jianxing's first year, a great wind arose, accompanied by thunder and lightning. That year, the Wei state sent three armies to attack, and Zhuge Ke defeated one of the Wei armies at Dongxing, while the other two retreated. The following year, Zhuge Ke attacked Xincheng, sustaining heavy losses, and was killed upon his return.

In the first year of Yong'an, on Jia Wu day in the eleventh month, several strong winds blew, followed by several days of thick fog. At that time, the Sun family was extremely powerful, with all five brothers holding high office and practically ruling the realm. This calamity of wind and fog mirrored the fate of the powerful Ding and Fu families during the Han dynasty! On the night of Ding Mao in December, strong winds blew again, toppling trees and whipping up sand. The next day, Sun Zhen was killed.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, in the fifth month of the fifth year of the Taishi era, a strong wind blew in the Guangping area, uprooting all the trees. In the first year of Xianning in May, a strong wind blew in the Xiapi and Guangling areas, causing the collapse of over a thousand houses and the uprooting of trees. On the day of Jiashen in the same month, Guangling, Siwu, and Xiapi were struck by strong winds again, uprooting all the trees. In the eighth month of the third year, a strong wind blew in the Hejian area, uprooting the trees. In the second year of Taikang in May, a violent storm hit the Jinan area, uprooting trees and damaging the wheat crops. In June, a strong wind in the Gaoping area uprooted trees and destroyed over forty official residences. In July, a strong wind blew in the Shangdang area, resulting in significant losses to the autumn harvest. In the sixth month of the eighth year, eight places across the country were hit by strong winds. In the first month of the ninth year, hail fell in the capital, houses were overturned, and trees were uprooted. Two years later, Emperor Wu of Jin passed away.

During the reign of Emperor Hui, in the fourth year of Yuankang in June, a strong wind and rain caused trees to fall. In the fifth year in April on the night of Gengyin, a sudden storm rose, causing huge waves in the eastern channels of the city, and many people were swept away and drowned. In July, a strong wind in the Xiapi area caused houses to collapse. In September, strong winds blew in Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and other areas, causing damage to crops. The following year, the Di and Qiang tribes rebelled, forcing the court to send a large army to suppress the rebellion.

In the ninth year of Yuankang in June, a gust of wind blew Jia Mi's court robes hundreds of feet high. The following year, Jia Mi was executed. On the day of Jiazi in November, the capital was battered by continuous strong winds, causing houses to collapse and trees to be uprooted. In December, the deposed Crown Prince was confined in Xuchang.

In February of the first year of Yongkang, a strong wind uprooted trees. In March, the death of the crown prince was mourned. On the day known as Jimo, his coffin was transported back to Luoyang from Xuchang. On that day, another strong wind blew, accompanied by thunder and lightning, ripping the canopy covering the coffin. In April, Zhang Hua's house was struck by a fierce wind, toppling trees, blowing away cloth, and breaking many door and window hinges. Zhang Hua was also murdered that month. On the day of Wuyue in November, a strong wind blew from the northwest, snapping trees and sending sand and stones flying, lasting for six days before stopping. In January of the following year, Prince Zhao Lun usurped the throne.

In August of the first year of Yongning, strong winds swept through three regions of the country. On the day of Yichou in January of the first year of Yongxing, a strong wind blew from the northwest. On the day of Guiyou in January of the first year of Jianshi after Zhao Lun became emperor, a sudden strong wind blew as Zhao Lun was making sacrifices at the ancestral temple, with dust swirling and the sky turning dark. In that year's fourth month, Zhao Lun was put to death.

In July of the first year of Yongchang, a violent wind howled, toppling trees and tearing off roof tiles. By August, the wind intensified, snapping over a hundred willow trees on both sides of the imperial road in the palace. The wind howled chaotically, as if it were coming from all directions. During that time, Wang Dun was in power and also killed the Minister of Works Diao Xie and the Supervisor Zhou Yi, resulting in a chaotic wind. This was all a result of the emperor's poor judgment in appointing officials and the vassals' disobedience, a divine punishment! In the eleventh month of the same year, the emperor died.

In the third month of Xiankang's fourth year, Chengdu was also struck by a strong wind, damaging buildings and uprooting trees. In April, Li Shou unexpectedly murdered Li Qi and declared himself emperor.

In July of the first year of Jianyuan, disasters hit Jinling and Wu counties, with strong winds blowing.

In the first year of Shengping, in August, the emperor appointed He Shi as the empress. On that day, a strong wind arose, which was a punishment for the emperor's lack of wisdom! In the fifth year, in January, there was another strong wind.

In the sixth year of Taihe, in February, a fierce wind howled, and that year, the emperor was dethroned. 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, his ambitions clear as he sought to seize power; the emperor was young, and everyone was on edge; these were all bad omens! In the third year, in March, there was another storm, the wind first blew from the east, then changed direction and blew from the north, with sand and stones flying everywhere; it was truly terrifying!

In the second year of Taiyuan, in February and the intercalary third month, there were strong winds and heavy rain, causing havoc to houses and trees. In the third year, in June, a strong wind blew in Chang'an, toppling all the trees in Fu Jian's palace. Later, Fu Jian led a campaign in the south, but suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Feishui; he was killed, leading to the fall of his kingdom. In the fourth year, in August, there was another strong wind, lifting sand and stones.

In the twelfth year, a fierce wind swept through in the dead of night; in July, another strong wind broke all the trees; in the thirteenth year, in December, a strong wind darkened the sky during the day! Later, the emperor died, the princes disobeyed, Yuan Xian seized power, Huan Xuan rebelled again, all results of the signs of the strong winds! In the seventeenth year, in June, another strong wind broke all the trees.

In the second year of Yuanxing, in February, a strong wind and heavy rain blew in the middle of the night, blowing off the roof tiles at Dahangmen. The following year, Huan Xuan seized power, making his entrance through that very gate.

In January of the year 396 AD, Huan Xuan went to Dahang Nanbian for a visit, but ended up getting caught in a strong wind that damaged his carriage. Three months later, Huan Xuan returned to Jiangling in disgrace. In May, another strong wind blew through Jiangling, uprooting many trees. In the same month, Huan Xuan met his demise on Zhengrong Island and was killed. On Dingyou Day in November, many people in Jiangling lost their lives due to another strong wind.

On the first day of the eleventh month of the year 407 AD, a strong wind blew from the northwest. On the day of Dinghai in the extra tenth month of the year 408 AD, many houses had their roofs ripped off by a strong wind. The following year, Lu Xun invaded Cai Zhou. On Renshen Day in May of the year 409 AD, a strong wind uprooted centuries-old trees in the northern suburbs and also destroyed the shooting ranges in Langye and Yangzhou. On that day, Lu Xun's large ships were all sunk by the wind. On Jiaxu Day, roofs were torn off and trees were shattered. That winter, the imperial army marched south to suppress a rebellion. In January of the year 412 AD, a strong wind destroyed the pagoda pillars of the White Horse Temple. On the first day of Jichou in April of the year 413 AD, trees were blown down by a strong wind. On the day of Xinhai in June, more trees were uprooted by the strong winds. In July, a strong wind in the Huainan region caused many houses to collapse. The following year, the imperial court marched west to suppress a rebellion against Sima Xiuzhi.

On the day of Wuxu in January of the year 240 AD, Emperor Jing marched to suppress Guanqiu Jian, but a strong wind arose, darkening the sky and causing people on the road to lie down. This was seen as an ominous sign! Liu Xiang said, "It is a bad omen when the day turns dark, with yin overpowering yang and subjects suppressing their rulers."

In October of the year 261 AD, a major earthquake occurred in the capital, transforming day into night, yet another ominous sign! Ban Gu said, "What is known as the 'night demon' appears when clouds and wind come together, causing the sky to darken, just like a normal wind." In his work "Spring and Autumn Annals," Liu Xiang said, "Heaven is warning that hereditary officials should not hold office, and they should focus on their duties. Day turning into night indicates the decline of the imperial court." The state of Wei interpreted these ominous signs as a forewarning that the Jin Dynasty was destined to unify the country.

In the year 311 AD, on the 10th day of the 10th lunar month, it became dark during the day until the day of the 7th lunar month, which was seen as an ominous sign. The following year, Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, and the imperial army faced repeated defeats, forcing the emperor to flee to Pingyang.

In the year 398 AD, on the 12th day of the 12th lunar month, a strong wind blew and the sky darkened. Later, the emperor died, the vassals rebelled, and civil war broke out. Yuan Xian was overthrown, and Huan Xuan ultimately failed.

Jing Fang's "Commentary on the I Ching" states: "Officials who are content with the status quo and only seek to preserve their own positions are greedy; disasters will gnaw at the roots of crops just as insects do. If there is neither ability nor virtue, insects will gnaw at the roots. If virtue is unstable and inconsistent, it leads to disturbances, and insects will gnaw at the leaves. Failure to cultivate in time will result in insects gnawing at the stems. Concealing evil and allowing wickedness to grow will lead to insects gnawing at the heart of the crops." This passage means that if rulers are greedy and lack virtue, it will lead to various disasters.

In the first year of the Xianning reign of Emperor Wu of Han, locust plagues occurred in various regions. In the ninth month, a locust plague struck Qingzhou. In that month, crops in many counties were eaten by locusts. Four years later, more than twenty counties in Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou suffered from locust plagues. This indicates that for several consecutive years, severe locust plagues severely impacted crop yields.

In the fourth year of the Taikang reign, Peng Qi and crabs in Kuaiji County turned into mice in large numbers, eating a large amount of rice, resulting in a significant disaster. In the eighth month of the ninth year, twenty-four counties suffered from locust plagues again. In the ninth month, pests damaged the autumn crops. At that time, the emperor was swayed by slander, favored Jia Chong and Yang Jun, leading to disasters of pests and locusts as punishment for their "lack of ability and virtue."

In the third year of Emperor Hui of the Yuan Kang era, in September, a locust plague appeared in six counties, and all the crop leaves were eaten. This shows that even with a change in emperors, locust plagues still exist, indicating the impact of a ruler's virtues on the country.

In the first year of Yongning, in July, locust plagues appeared in the three provinces of Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong was in power, and this was a consequence of his greed and cruelty. In October, in places like Nan'an, Baxi, Jiangyang, Taiyuan, Xinxing, and Beihai, locusts were consuming crop leaves, with severe areas losing 50 to 60 percent of their crops. In December, locust plagues occurred in six counties. This passage records the locust plagues in many places in the first year of Yongning, attributing them to the greed of Prince Qi Jiong.

In the ninth year of Emperor Han Wudi's Taikang era, reports of cows speaking were noted in the northern border of Youzhou, foreshadowing impending disaster. At that time, the emperor, frequently ill and anxious about the future, was unjust in his governance, a sign of impending chaos. Ancients believed that cows speaking was a sign of supernatural events, foretelling the ruler's misconduct and the instability of the country. Shi Kuang once said, "When grievances accumulate in the hearts of the people, strange phenomena that cannot be expressed in words will appear." This is consistent with Jing Fang's statement in the "Book of Changes Commentary" that "killing the innocent will lead to the appearance of monsters." This passage summarizes the emergence of these strange phenomena and connects them to the rulers' virtues and the nation's fate.

During the reign of Emperor Hui of Han in the Tai'an era, a man named Zhang Cheng from Jiangxia rode out on a cow when suddenly the cow spoke: "The world is about to be in chaos, where are you going while riding me?" Zhang Cheng was so frightened that he hurried home. Then, his dog followed up by saying, "Why are you back so soon?" Before long, the cow surprisingly stood up and walked on two legs! Zhang Cheng quickly sought out a fortune teller for an interpretation. The fortune teller said, "There will be military chaos in the world, and disaster will not stop at just one family." That year, Zhang Chang rebelled, and the first place he targeted was Jiangxia. Zhang Cheng participated as a general, and as a result, five provinces fell into turmoil, and Zhang Cheng's family was wiped out. The "Book of Changes" by Jing Fang states: "If a cow can speak, one can predict fortune and misfortune based on its words." The "Yimeng Qishu" also records: "If the ruler does not treat the scholars well but lets warhorses wear splendid brocade and allows dogs and wolves to eat human food, then the livestock will start to speak." At that time, the emperor and the feudal lords neglected to treat the common people well, so these strange phenomena came to pass.

In the first year of the Jianwu era of Emperor Yuan, in July, in Chenmen of Jinling, a cow gave birth to a calf, but this calf had two heads! Looking through Jing Fang's "Book of Changes," it states that "A cow giving birth to a calf with two heads is a sign that the world is about to split!" At that time, Emperor Min was besieged in Pingyang and was later killed by the Hu. Emperor Yuan proclaimed himself emperor in Jiangdong, and the world was indeed split in two, confirming the omen.

In the first year of the Tai Xing era, a cow owned by Wang Liang, the governor of Wuchang, gave birth to a calf with two heads, eight legs, and two tails sharing a single belly, which died three years later. There was also another cow that had only one leg but three tails, and all these calves died at birth. Sima Biao explained, "Two-headed cows symbolize power held by private individuals, with no distinction between ranks." The "Book of Changes" by Jing Fang says: "Those with many legs cannot bear heavy responsibilities; those with few legs cannot fulfill them." Later, Wang Dun and others created chaos in the regime, confirming these strange phenomena as well.

In December of the fourth year, the ox used for sacrifices to the gods died. Liu Xiang explained in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that the death of the ox used for sacrifices to the gods meant: "Duke Xuan is incompetent and corrupt, so heaven does not accept his sacrifices." The successes of Emperor Yuan’s reign were actually orchestrated by Wang Dao. Liu Wei sought to curry favor with the emperor and gained the emperor's favor, while Wang Dao was alienated, which exemplifies the consequences of incompetence and corruption! In the second year of Xianhe in the reign of Emperor Cheng, in May, the army's protector's ox gave birth to a two-headed, six-legged calf. That winter, Su Jun rebelled. Seven years later, Yuan Rong's ox from the Nine Virtues also gave birth to a two-headed, eight-legged calf with a shared belly. At that time, Huan Xuan was in Jingzhou, visiting the provincial governor Yin Zhongkan. When he reached near He Cave, he encountered an old man driving an odd-looking green ox. Huan Xuan exchanged his own ox for it without saying a word. Riding the green ox to Lingling Jingxi, the ox ran very fast. When resting, the ox drank water and then ran straight into the river and never returned. Huan Xuan sent people to search the river all day but found nothing. Later, Huan Xuan was defeated in battle and killed. In the second year of the Zhangwu era of Shu Han, Liu Bei launched an eastern campaign. In February, he set out from Zigui and camped in Yidao. In June, a yellow mist emerged in Zigui, stretching over ten miles long and several dozen yards wide. A few days later, Liu Bei was defeated by Lu Yi, which might be connected to the yellow mist.

During the Zhengshi period of King Qi of the Wei Kingdom, Zhou Nan served as the magistrate of Xiangyi County. A mouse ran out of a hole and said, "Zhou Nan, you will die on a certain day." Zhou Nan ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. On that day, the mouse came out again wearing a hat and black clothes, saying, "Zhou Nan, you will die at noon today!" Zhou Nan still ignored it, and the mouse went back into the hole. After a while, the mouse came out again and said the same thing. At noon, the mouse said, "Zhou Nan, if you don't listen to me, how can I continue!" After speaking, the mouse died, and its hat and clothes fell off. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just an ordinary mouse. Ban Gu once said that this was an ominous sign. At that time, Cao Shuang was in power and competing with each other, so the mouse came out to cause trouble.

In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Yuankang during Emperor Hui's reign, a dense fog covered the sky. At that time, the emperor was pretty inept, and political affairs were not decided by him personally, leading to such strange phenomena.

In the eighth month of the fourth year of Taixing during Emperor Yuan's reign, yellow fog spread all around, blocking out the sky.

In the tenth month of the first year of Yongchang, the capital was covered in dense fog, with black fog rising straight into the sky, making the sun completely disappear.

In the first month of the first year of Taining during Emperor Ming's reign, yellow fog spread everywhere. In the second month, yellow fog spread again. Back then, Wang Dun was in power, and the rebellion was getting worse.

In the third month of the seventh year of Yonghe during Emperor Mu's reign, a strong wind blew in Liangzhou, toppling trees and sending yellow fog mixed with dust swirling down. At that time, Zhang Chonghua fell for slander and demoted Xie Ai to be the governor of Jiuquan. The people he appointed were not suitable, and as a result, Xie Ai died nine years later, and his son was also killed, fulfilling the previous omens. Jing Fang in the Yi Zhuan said, "Ignoring good advice is considered ignorant, leading to the appearance of yellow ominous signs, which can lead to disasters that might even affect future generations. Yellow refers to the yellow turbid air spreading all over, obstructing the wise and talented, blocking the way, thus causing disasters."

In February of the year 373 AD, a yellow mist filled the sky, obscuring the sun. At that time, Daozi consolidated power, favoring treacherous officials, resulting in governmental chaos. In October of the year 402 AD, a yellow mist shrouded the land, with prolonged drought and no rain. At this time, Huan Xuan was conspiring to rebel.

In November of the year 408 AD and November of the year 410 AD, there were two instances of heavy fog. At that time, the court was in a state of decline, with powerful ministers gaining unprecedented power, and both the land and the army no longer obeying the emperor's orders—all of these were portents! Liu Xiang remarked: "Earthquakes are disruptions of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth." Boyang Fu also stated: "The qi of heaven and earth operates according to its own principles; if these principles are broken, it will cause chaos in the world. When yang qi is repressed and cannot rise, and yin qi is pressing down and cannot descend, an earthquake will occur."

In the year 225 AD, a series of earthquakes struck the Jiangdong region. During this time, Sun Quan accepted titles from the Wei Kingdom, being appointed as Grand General, King of Wu, and later Emperor, centralizing power while neglecting virtue. Jing Fang stated in the "Yi Zhuan": "Even if the actions of the subjects are correct, absolute power will lead to earthquakes. The signs of an earthquake are waves on water, swaying of trees, and falling tiles from rooftops. If the laws of the court are abolished and treacherous officials are favored, this is referred to as the disturbance of yin qi, leading to earthquakes and shaking the palace. If the laws of the court are abolished and treacherous officials are not favored, this is called going against yin qi, leading to earthquakes, shaking mountains, and springs gushing out. If the heir lacks moral conduct but enjoys wealth alone, this is called going against, leading to earthquakes, shaking hills, and springs gushing out." Liu Xiang also said: "When the power of the subjects is strong, they are about to cause trouble, which is a sign of disaster."

In November of the year 230 AD, an earthquake occurred in Luoyang, with seismic waves coming from the east and faint sounds heard, causing tiles to fall from rooftops. In June of the year 239 AD, another tremor hit Luoyang. In the autumn of that year, Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia, but was successfully repelled by Hu Zhi, the Inspector of Jingzhou. At the same time, Gongsun Yuan rebelled, declaring himself King of Yan, establishing his own rule, and appointing officials. The following year, Gongsun Yuan was subdued.

In May of the year 238 AD, an earthquake was struck in Jiangdong. In January of the year 239 AD, Jiangdong was struck by another earthquake. At that time, Lv Yi was overbearing and misused his power, and Bu Zhi submitted a memorial saying: "I’ve heard that the inspection official is overly critical and quick to frame others to show his own power. Many innocent people have suffered severe punishment, and even the high officials cannot gain trust. If this keeps up, how can there not be upheaval in the heavens and earth? Therefore, the consecutive earthquakes are a sign of the abuse of power by the officials! I hope Your Majesty can take this as a warning and think carefully about the reasoning behind it!" Later, Lv Yi ultimately failed.

In November of the year 241 AD (the second year of Zhengshi in the Wei Qi Wang era), an earthquake occurred in Nan'an commandery. In the following year (the third year of Zhengshi), on the day of Jiashen in July, Nan'an commandery experienced another earthquake. In the same year in December, Wei commandery also had an earthquake. By the day of Dingmao in the second month of the sixth year of Zhengshi, Nan'an commandery experienced another earthquake. 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 in tears. The consecutive earthquakes were likely a warning from heaven.

In February of the year 248 AD (the eleventh year of Wu Chiwu), an earthquake also occurred in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Sun Quan believed the slander of evil people, dismissed Zhu Ju, and abolished the Crown Prince.

In the year 263 AD (the first year of Yanxing in Shu), an earthquake occurred in Shu. At that time, the eunuch Huang Hao held absolute power. Sima Biao once said: "Eunuchs lack the vigor of men, much like women." Huang Hao's abuse of power closely mirrored that of the Han He Emperor’s reign. That winter, the Shu Han dynasty perished.

In April of the year 274 AD (the fifth year of Jin Wudi Taishi), an earthquake struck on the day of Xinyou. That winter, the Di and Qiang tribes in Xinping rebelled. In the following year, Sun Hao sent a large army to Wokou. On the day of Bingshen in June of the seventh year of Taishi, another earthquake struck.

In August of the year 276 AD (the second year of Xianning), earthquakes struck Henan, Hedong, and Pingyang. On the day of Dingwei in June of the fourth year of Xianning, earthquakes occurred in Yinping and Guangwu, and another earthquake struck on Jiazi day.

In the year 280 AD (2nd year of the Taikang era), on the Gengshen day of the second month, earthquakes struck Huainan and Danyang. On the Renchen day of the first month in the fifth year of Taikang, the capital also experienced an earthquake. On the Jichou day in the seventh month of the sixth year of Taikang, another earthquake struck. In the seventh year of Taikang, earthquakes struck Nan'an and Jianwei in July, and Jingzhao in August; on the Renzi day in May of the eighth year, an earthquake struck Jian'an; in July, there was an earthquake in Yinping; in August, there was an earthquake in Danyang; in the first month of the ninth year, earthquakes occurred in Kuaiji, Danyang, and Wuxing; on the Xinyou day in April, eight counties including Changsha and Nanhai experienced earthquakes; from July to August, there were four more earthquakes, three of which were as loud as thunder; in September, there was an earthquake in Linhe, and another one in December; on the Jihai day in the same year, Danyang experienced another earthquake.

In the year 289 AD (1st year of the Taixi era), another earthquake struck in January. Starting from the time of Emperor Wu, from Jia Chong to Yang Jun, these people formed factions, sought personal gain, and seized the power of the court. In the later period, the talents they employed became increasingly worse, so earthquakes persisted for several consecutive years, surpassing normal frequency, ultimately leading to the downfall of the country.

In the year 291 AD (1st year of the Huidi Yuankang era), on the Xinyou day in December, there was an earthquake in the capital. That summer, Empress Jia instructed Sima Wei, the Prince of Chu, to kill Sima Liang, the King of Runan, and Wei Guan, the Grand Guardian, due to a disturbance in the balance of yin and yang.

In the fourth year, in February, earthquakes occurred in Shanggu, Shangyong, and Liaodong. In May, there was a massive landslide in Shu County; floods and landslides devastated Shou Chun, Huainan, destroying buildings and homes. In August, there was another earthquake in Shanggu, with water gushing forth, resulting in the deaths of hundreds. In October, the capital Luoyang also experienced an earthquake. In November, places like Xingyang, Xiangcheng, Ruyin, Liangguo, and Nanyang continued to shake. In December, Luoyang experienced another earthquake. During that time, Empress Jia wielded absolute power and mismanaged the government, and these earthquakes were likely a divine warning against her misrule.

When Empress Dowager Deng was in power during the Han Dynasty, earthquakes occurred in various places. Li Gu analyzed at the time and said, "The earth belongs to yin, so it should be calm and stable. But now it goes against the nature of yin, dominated by yang, which is why earthquakes occur." This explanation is similar to later interpretations. Jing Fang also said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When wrongdoers cause chaos and houses are destroyed, disasters such as landslides occur, showing that yin has triumphed over yang, and the weak have overcome the strong." He also said, "When yin energy betrays yang energy, there will be earthquakes and landslides, father and son separation, and even ethnic uprisings."

In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty, in the first month of the lunar calendar, an earthquake occurred. In the sixth month, Jincheng also experienced an earthquake. In the sixth year, in the first month of the lunar calendar, an earthquake occurred. In the eighth year, in the first month of the lunar calendar, an earthquake occurred.

In the first year of Taian, in October, an earthquake occurred, likely a sign of Prince Qi's growing power. In the second year, in the twelfth month, an earthquake occurred. At this time, Wang Yi, the Prince of Changsha, was in power, which contributed to the instability.

In the third year of Yongjia, in October, earthquakes occurred in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. At that time, Sima Yue held power, and the court was in disarray. In the fourth year, in the fourth month, an earthquake occurred in Yanzhou. In May, Shi Le attacked Jijun, captured the prefect Hu Chong, and crossed the Yellow River southward, which may have also indicated the earthquake.

In the second year of Jianxing, in April, an earthquake occurred. In the third year, in the sixth month, Chang'an experienced another earthquake. At that time, the emperor was still young, with power concentrated among lower officials, continuous wars in various places, and people suffering. These earthquakes were signs of the chaos that was about to engulf the realm.

In the first year of Taixing, in April, an earthquake occurred in Xiping, with water erupting. In December, earthquakes occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiling, with water erupting and landslides occurring. Gan Bao believed this signaled Wang Dun's impending rebellion.

In the second year, in May, an earthquake occurred in Qishan, with many casualties due to landslides. At that time, Prime Minister Wang Bao of Nanyang was in Qishan, and some claimed this indicated that Prince Jin would not meet a peaceful end. In the third year, in May, earthquakes occurred in Danyang, Wu County, and Jinling.

In the second month of the second year of Emperor Chengdi's Xianhe reign, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. In the third month, there was an earthquake in Yizhou. On the Jiwei day of the fourth month, there was an earthquake in Yuzhang. In the same year, Su Jun rebelled. On the Dingyou day of the third month in the ninth year, another earthquake struck in Kuaiji.

In the year 346 AD, there was an earthquake in June! At that time, the young emperor's mother was in charge, and real power lay with the ministers, which led to a series of earthquakes. In October of the following year, another earthquake occurred. In January of the third year, there was an earthquake; in September, there was another earthquake! In October of the fourth year, there was an earthquake.

In January of the year 349 AD, there was another earthquake! That year, Shi Jilong usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, a clear sign of impending chaos. In August of 353 AD, there was an earthquake in the capital, with thunderous sounds. In January of 354 AD, there was an earthquake, with thunderous sounds, scaring both farm and wild fowl. In April and May of 355 AD, there were two consecutive earthquakes.

In November of 358 AD, there was an earthquake. In August of 360 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou.

In April of 366 AD, there was an earthquake. At that time, power was in the hands of generals, and the emperor was just a figurehead.

In April of 371 AD, there was an earthquake in Yangzhou, and the rivers and lakes overflowed. In the second month of the following year, there was an earthquake in Jiangling. At that time, Huan Wen held power.

In February of 372 AD, there was an earthquake in Liangzhou, and water gushed out. This was a sign of the impending removal of the Hai Xi Gong.

In October of 375 AD, there was an earthquake, and the emperor passed away that year.

In October of 376 AD, there was an earthquake. In the second month and July of the following year, there were more earthquakes, with the earthquake in Liangzhou even triggering landslides! At that time, the emperor was still naive and powerless, and power was in the hands of the ministers, a sign of decline.

In March and May of 378 AD, there were earthquakes. In June of 386 AD, there was an earthquake. Afterwards, the generals along the Yellow River engaged in yearly battles, driven by the overexertion of the populace! In March of 389 AD, there was a midnight earthquake; in August, there was an earthquake in the capital; in December, there was another earthquake! In June and December of 391 AD, there were two consecutive earthquakes. At that time, unscrupulous officials were in power, leaving the populace in a state of anxiety. In January and February of 392 AD, there were earthquakes again!

In April and September of 399 AD, there were earthquakes. At that time, the young emperor was still naive and powerless, with power in the hands of the ministers.

In the first few days of January 408 AD, there was a sudden earthquake with a loud rumbling sound. In the same year, another earthquake occurred in October. In the first few days of January 409 AD, Xunyang also felt an earthquake, sounding like thunder. The following year, Lu Xun's rebellion failed. In 412 AD, from January to April, the Nankang and Luling areas experienced four consecutive earthquakes. The following year, Wang Zhenxi marched west to Jingzhou and Yizhou. In March of 415 AD, there was another earthquake.

In August of 240 AD, Danyang, Jurong, as well as the mountains in Guzhang and Ningguo collapsed, causing widespread flooding. Liu Xiang wrote in his book: "Mountains represent the yang, symbolizing the monarch; water represents the yin, symbolizing the people. The warning from heaven is clear: when the ruler's reign collapses, the people will lose their support!" During the Spring and Autumn Period, when Liangshan collapsed, many mountains in the Qi and Chu states during the Han Dynasty experienced disasters of mountain collapse and flooding, all for the same reason. In the ancient three dynasties, when ancestors were worshiped, they dared not cross the ancestors' tombs. There are reasons behind good and bad fortune. Although Sun Quan claimed to be emperor, he was still one of the vassal states. The disaster in Danyang was a sign of fate! Liu Xin also said: "The rise and fall of a country is closely related to mountains and rivers. 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 Wu state perished.

In February 265 AD, the collapse of the Taihang Mountains signaled the impending fall of the Wei state. That winter, the Jin Dynasty unified the country.

In the first few days of March 273 AD, Dashishan collapsed. In July of 274 AD, Mount Tai collapsed, with a collapse range of about three miles. Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": "The collapse from top to bottom is called a collapse, and its corresponding sign is that the stones of Mount Tai roll down from the mountain, the sage king receives the mandate, while the monarch is captured." Later, the emperor passed away, the imperial power was usurped, Emperor Hui was weak and incompetent, Emperors Huai and Min were captured to the north, and the country fell to the north, until Emperor Yuan reestablished power in the south, which ultimately fulfilled Jing Fang's prophecy.

In May 285, the foundation of Emperor Xuan's temple collapsed. In October 286, Xinxing Mountain in Nan'an collapsed, releasing a large amount of water. In February 287, the Great Lushan Mountain in Zhu Ti County collapsed, damaging houses in the area, and the cliffs of Qiu Chi in Yinping also collapsed. In July 288, there was heavy rain, and the ground in front of the palace collapsed, creating a sinkhole five feet on each side and several zhang deep, where a broken ship was found in the collapsed area.

In 284, there was a landslide in Sichuan, causing numerous fatalities. On the ninth day of May, Shouchun also experienced a landslide, triggering a flood that brought down the city walls and creating a massive pit measuring thirty zhang on each side, resulting in many casualties. In June, there was a heavy thunderstorm in Shouchun, causing landslides and fissures, burying many homes, and a similar incident occurred in Shangyong. In August, the ground at Juyong Pass cracked open with a fissure thirty-six zhang wide and eighty-four zhang long, releasing floodwaters and causing a great famine. In Shangyong, there were landslides and sinkholes everywhere, with fissures thirty zhang wide and one hundred thirty zhang long, flooding and drowning many people. These disasters were a consequence of Jia Hou's misrule!

In April 289, the city wall of Xiyong collapsed. In March 307, the ground in Buguangli, northeast of Luoyang, sank. Two years later, on August 29, the city wall of Juancheng inexplicably fell, collapsing over seventy zhang. Sima Yue felt this was very ominous and moved to Puyang, suggesting that these disasters were a harbinger of chaos. Later, Sima Yue perished as a result of troubles related to his tomb. On July 27 of 309, there were three places in Changyang where the ground cracked, each fissure three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. Jing Fang's commentary in the Book of Changes notes: "The ground cracks open, suggesting that the subordinates were divided and unwilling to cooperate." Later, Sima Yue fell out with Gou Xi, and the various feudal lords fell into disarray, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Western Jin dynasty. In October of the same year, Yidu Yidao Mountain collapsed. In April 310, Heishi Mountain in Ling County, Xiangdong, collapsed.

In February of the year 318, earthquakes and landslides occurred in Luling, Yuzhang, Wuchang, and Xiyang. In May of the following year, an earthquake struck Qishan, causing landslides and resulting in many deaths. In the third year (319 AD), landslides occurred in Nanping County, exposing several thousand jin of realgar. During that time, Wang Dun was arrogant and overbearing, yet the emperor was very lenient towards him, which was, in fact, nurturing the signs of impending disaster! In August of the year 322, Changshan collapsed, and a flood broke out, causing the Hutuo River to swell dramatically, toppling large trees.

In October of the year 334, the cliffs northwest of Chaisang and Lushan collapsed. In December, Liu Yin was murdered by Guo Mo.

In September of the year 350, both Junping Tomb and Chongyang Tomb collapsed. In November of the twelfth year of the reign, a palace attendant named Che Guan was sent to repair Junping Tomb, and while they were excavating the tomb passage, a landslide occurred, crushing dozens of people.

In February of the year 359, a horseshoe sank into the ground at Nanye Gate, revealing a bell engraved with four characters. (Original text of poetry couplets)

On the first day of April in the year 366, Haohai Mountain collapsed, heralding the downfall of Zhang Tianxi.

On a certain day in March of the year 392, the ground in Shanyin County suddenly collapsed, creating a pit four zhang wide, accompanied by a thunder-like roar. Four years later, on a certain day in May of the year 396, the ground at Ximing Gate also collapsed, gushing forth a torrent of water that damaged the gate and threshold. All of this indicates a disturbance in the earth's energy. Two years later, in May of the year 397, a landslide occurred in the Huoshan area, revealing six copper bells. In July of the year 399, a thunderous sound was heard by the riverside in Chenggu County, Hanzhong, followed by a collapse of the riverbank, from which twelve copper bells emerged.

These strange occurrences continued one after another, truly alarming. On a night in June of the year 309, a sudden downpour occurred, accompanied by thunder. In the study room of Jia Mi's home, the pillars unexpectedly sank into the ground, collapsing his bed and tent. This suggests that even the wood had been impacted by the earth's energy, as the land lost its normal bearing capacity. The following year, Jia Mi met his demise.

In May of the year 806 AD, a fire broke out underground in the country of Fanyang, with a large blaze that was intense enough to burn things! This was a manifestation of disturbed earth energy, signaling impending disaster. At that time, the realm was in turmoil, with various feudal lords wielding control over ceremonies and military campaigns.

According to historical texts, if the emperor fails to maintain balance, the country will falter, resulting in grave consequences, ongoing misfortune, and ultimately a decline in national strength. Sometimes malevolent spirits will wreak havoc, sometimes calamities akin to dragons and serpents will occur, sometimes horses will injure people, sometimes subordinates will rebel, and sometimes the sun, moon, and stars will behave abnormally. If the emperor fails to maintain balance, the nation will falter. Here, '皇' denotes the emperor, '极' signifies balance, and '建' indicates establishment. If the emperor's words, actions, thoughts, and demeanor encounter issues in any area, and boundaries are not properly upheld, it will be impossible to govern the country well, leading to various mistakes and disasters.

A king must align with the principles of heaven and govern all things. Just like clouds rising from the mountains eventually blanket the sky, when the celestial phenomena are chaotic, this serves as a form of punishment. Another saying goes: if the emperor fails to maintain the right balance, those beneath him will grow powerful and blind the emperor's eyes. The "I Ching" states: "The overreaching dragon regrets its actions; the noble will lose their status, and the powerful will lose their followers, while the wise will be in a lower position and lose their support." If this happens, even though the emperor holds a high position and great power, he will receive no assistance, and the state will become very weak. Strong yang energy can lead to rashness and impatience. In ancient times, a grand archery ceremony was held in spring to align with the yang energy. If the emperor is weak, those beneath him will stir restlessly, resulting in the rise of demons and monsters. The "I Ching" says: "Clouds follow the dragon," and also states: "The hibernation of dragons and snakes is for self-preservation." When yin energy dominates, calamities such as dragons and snakes emerge. In the "I Ching," the "Qian" hexagram represents the ruler and also horses. Excessive reliance on military power undermines the ruler's authority, resulting in disasters involving horses. Some also say that the mass death of horses or their transformation into monsters is due to this principle.

When an emperor is foolish and weak, the people will rebel, and heaven will abandon him. If a wise ruler is absent to punish these treacherous ministers and rebels, incidents of usurpation and regicide will occur, which can lead to revolts among subordinates. In summary, as long as there are issues with the ruler's governance, it will affect celestial phenomena. The texts do not attribute the influence on celestial phenomena to the five elements, but rather state "the sun and moon behave erratically, and the stars appear to move backward." This is because subordinates dare not admit that the abnormal celestial phenomena are caused by them, similar to how the "Spring and Autumn Annals" states "the royal army suffered defeat at the hands of the Miao," not stating the army's defeat directly but using "suffered defeat" as a euphemism, which implies respect. Liu Xin's "Treatise on the Supreme Extreme" states that there are ailments arising from the lower body, indicating a rebellion among subordinates, and divine punishment has already occurred, thus it can no longer be considered a mere disease.

During Sun Liang's reign as emperor in the third year of Taiping, starting in August, there was continuous rain for over forty days without a break. At that time, Sun Liang was about to execute Sun Zhen, but the plan was leaked. On September 5th, Sun Zhen surrounded the imperial palace with troops and deposed Sun Liang, and made him the King of Kuaiji; this was interpreted as a punishment for the unending rain.

When Sun Hao was in power, in December of the first year of Baoding, the astronomers reported that the sky had been overcast for a long time without rain, fearing that a conspiracy was about to occur. Upon hearing this, Sun Hao was deeply alarmed. At that time, Lu Kai and others planned to depose Sun Hao while he was at the temple for a sacrifice. When they emerged, Liu Ping led the troops to clear the way, and Lu Kai had informed Liu Ping of this plan beforehand, but Liu Ping did not agree, so the plan ultimately failed. Sun Hao was extremely brutal, and his subjects were all harboring thoughts of rebellion, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Wu state.

In the Shu state, General Deng Zhi was campaigning in Fuling when he saw a black ape on the mountain and shot it with an arrow. The black ape pulled out the arrow and used leaves to stop the bleeding. Deng Zhi said, "Alas! I have gone against the laws of nature; I fear I will die!" Not long after, he died; this exemplifies the consequences of shooting a monstrous being! Some say that the black ape was a mother holding her child, and Deng Zhi shot the child, who then pulled out the arrow and used leaves to stop the wound. Deng Zhi sighed and cast his crossbow into the water, knowing he was going to die.

When Emperor Gong was the King of Langya, he had a penchant for bizarre games. Once, he locked a horse inside a gate and had his attendants shoot at it, wanting to see how many arrows it would take to kill it. Someone nearby advised, "The horse is a symbol of the royal family! Shooting it now is inauspicious!" So he stopped, but the horse had already been shot with over ten arrows. This might also be considered an act of shooting a monstrous being! Not long after, he abdicated the throne to the Song dynasty.

In the first month of the inaugural year of Emperor Ming of Wei, on the Jia Shen day, an azure dragon appeared in the well of Mobei in Ji County. Generally speaking, when auspicious signs appear at the wrong time, they become evil omens. Moreover, being trapped in a well is particularly ominous. Wei changed its reign title because of this incident, though it was arguably unwarranted. Gan Bao said, "From Emperor Ming of Wei to the downfall of the Wei dynasty, the appearances of the azure and yellow dragons have confirmed the fate of the rise and fall of Wei. Wei's national destiny is associated with wood, represented by azure, yet it cannot contend with gold. The appearance of the yellow dragon and the disappearance of the azure dragon symbolize the decline of the azure and the rise of the yellow. The repeated appearances of the azure dragon indicate internal strife within Wei's national destiny. Therefore, Gao Guixiangong was ultimately defeated and died in battle." Liu Xiang's interpretation is that dragons are originally symbols of nobility, but being trapped in a well signifies that nobles will face the calamity of imprisonment. During the Wei dynasty, dragons always appeared in wells, which was the consequence of rulers being suppressed. Gao Guixiangong's "Hidden Dragon Poem" encapsulates this idea. On the day of Wuxu in the tenth month of the first year of Zhengyuan of Gao Guixiangong, a yellow dragon appeared in the well of Ye City. In the first month of the inaugural year of Ganlu, a blue dragon appeared in the well of Zhixian. In the sixth month of the year, a blue dragon appeared in the well of Yuancheng County. In the second month of the second year, a blue dragon appeared in the well of Wen County. In the third year, yellow and blue dragons appeared at the same time in the wells of Dunqiu, Guanjun, and Yangxia counties. In the first month of the fourth year, a yellow dragon appeared twice in the wells of Ningling County. These records indicate that during the Ganlu period, dragons frequently appeared in wells in various places. At the time, this would have likely been seen as an auspicious sign. In the twelfth month of the first year of Jingyuan of Emperor Yuan, on the Jia Shen day, a yellow dragon appeared in the well of Huayin County. In the second month of the third year, a dragon appeared in the well of Zhixian. During the reign of Emperor Yuan, dragons also appeared multiple times. This indicates that society was relatively stable at that time, and the lives of ordinary people were relatively stable. During the reign of Sun Hao of Wu, a dragon reportedly emerged from a family's well in Changsha and even devoured a chick. Jing Fang's "Yi Yao" states, "When a dragon is born into a family, the king will fall to common status." Later, Sun Hao was indeed defeated by the Jin dynasty.

This passage tells the story of Sun Hao, the last emperor of the Wu kingdom, where the appearance of dragons in wells signifies the dynasty's downfall.

In the second year of the Xian Ning era of Emperor Wu, on the Bingwu day in June, two white dragons appeared in a well in Jiuyuan. In the fifth year of the Tai Kang era, on the Gui Mao day in January, two dragons appeared in a well in the armory. The emperor was quite pleased to see this, and all the officials were ready to congratulate him, but only Liu Yi submitted a memorial stating, "Previously, when dragons appeared in the courtyard of the Xia dynasty, it led to trouble for the Zhou dynasty; when dragons appeared at the city gates of Zheng, Zichan did not offer congratulations." The emperor said, "My virtuous governance has not yet been accomplished; I do not deserve such auspicious signs." Therefore, no congratulations were given. Sun Sheng said, "Dragons are creatures of water; what do they have to do with humans? Zichan was right. If dragons appear in places they should not be, it is an omen of calamity. Dragons flying and showing themselves is auspicious; now they are lurking in dark places, which is an ominous sign." In the second year of Emperor Hui of Han, two dragons appeared in a well in Lanling, which the "Book of Han" believed was a precursor to the death of King Zhao. The armory is where the emperor stores weapons, and its deep chambers are not places for dragons to dwell. Seven years later, the feudal lords turned against each other, and twenty-eight years later, indeed, two individuals with the surname Long rebelled and usurped the throne, indicating that the appearance of dragons truly foretold misfortune.

In this account, the emperor was pleased to see the dragons, but Minister Liu Yi raised opposing views, citing historical precedents, believing that the appearance of dragons in unusual places signified bad things. In the second year of the Jianxing era of Emperor Min, in November, a courtesan from the Qiang ethnic group gave birth to a dragon offspring, whose color resembled the patterns on brocade, often consuming his mother's milk and occasionally exhibiting divine light, though few could see it clearly. This also reflected the emperor's lack of wisdom, leading to the eventual downfall of Emperor Min.

In this account, the birth of a dragon offspring by a courtesan similarly signifies the decline of the dynasty.

In the final years of Lv Zuan, a dragon emerged from the well in the eastern chamber and lay coiled in front of his palace, disappearing at dawn. After a while, another black dragon flew to his palace gate. Lv Zuan saw this as a good omen. Some people remarked, "Dragons are associated with yin and usually appear at specific times, but now they are appearing frequently; someone must be planning a rebellion." Later, Lv Zuan was ultimately killed by Lv Chao.

In the story of Lv Zuan, the appearance of the dragon was considered auspicious, but some ministers predicted a political upheaval, and in the end, Lv Zuan was killed. During the Xianning period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, two large snakes appeared in the Grand Secretariat, each over ten zhang long, coiled on the main beam, unnoticed by anyone. For several years, children and livestock kept going missing from the Grand Secretariat. Later, one of the snakes came out at night, was injured by a person, and couldn't escape, which led to its discovery. Eventually, everyone banded together to kill the snake after a while. The Grand Secretariat is responsible for education, and this incident indicates that the court's rule was not effective, leading to such strange occurrences. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, snakes also appeared in the palace, which Yang Ci attributed to the emperor's indulgence in women. During the Wei and Jin periods, there were many palace maids, and the emperor of Yan indulged in pleasure, all of which were bad omens. The Book of Songs says, "Only snakes and serpents, the auspiciousness of women," which illustrates this point.

In the fifth year of Emperor Hui of the Western Jin Dynasty, on the Guisi day of the third month, a large snake over ten zhang long appeared in Linzi, carrying two small snakes and entered the city from the north gate, passing through the market directly into the ancestral hall of Prince Jing of Chongyang in the Han Dynasty, and then disappeared. It seemed like a divine warning: although Emperor Jing of Han had accomplished great feats, he had not remained cautious and ultimately lost his position and accomplishments. The current Prince Qi Jiong failed to learn from this; despite his achievements, he was arrogant and proud, and would ultimately bring about disaster. This is a sign!

During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, a large snake appeared in Wuchang, residing in an old temple within a hollow tree, frequently poking its head out to be fed by passersby. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Yao": "When a snake appears in the city, within three years there will be a large-scale war and the country will face a great disaster." Later, Wang Dun's rebellion indeed occurred.

In the first year of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty, a horse with a three-inch-long horn growing beneath its ear appeared in Liaodong. According to Liu Xiang, "This is a sign of military disaster." After the death of Emperor Wu, the imperial family indeed suffered military disasters, fulfilling this omen. Jing Fang wrote in "Yi Zhuan": "If ministers disobey the monarch and political affairs are in disorder, strange occurrences like horses growing horns will happen, indicating a shortage of virtuous scholars." He also said, "When the emperor personally goes to war, horses will grow horns." "The Annals of Lu Buwei" also states: "When the ruler is immoral, horses will grow horns." Later, Emperor Hui ascended the throne, was incompetent, and personally led troops to attack Chengdu, all fulfilling the previous omens.

In the twelfth month of the eighth year of Emperor Hui of the Western Jin Dynasty, the crown prince was to hold a sacrificial ceremony. The Grand Tutor, King Zhao, went in a carriage, but when they reached the south gate, the horse suddenly stopped and could not be moved no matter how hard they pushed. King Zhao had to switch to a lighter carriage to continue. This was a calamity caused by the horse. It seemed like heaven was warning: King Zhao did not understand the ways of the world and would eventually rebel; he was clearly unfit to assist the emperor.

On a day in the eleventh month of the ninth year, a stallion suddenly ran in panic into the interrogation hall of the Ministry of Justice, let out a mournful cry before collapsing, and died. It seemed like heaven was showing compassion for those who died unjustly! Look, this horse ran into the interrogation hall of the Ministry of Justice; could this not be the will of heaven?!

In the second month of the sixth year of Yongjia, a horse was neighing at the south gate. In the ninth month of Jianxing, a strange event of horses giving birth to humans unexpectedly occurred in Puzi County! Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the emperor dies, the vassals fight each other; strange phenomena, such as horses giving birth to humans, will occur." At that time, the royal family was declining, on the verge of collapse, with the Hu and Di people constantly invading, and the flames of war drawing closer every day. Soon the emperor fell, and that's why such a strange scene appeared.

In the second year of Taixing, there was an official named Puyang Yan in Danyang County. His horse gave birth to a two-headed foal, with the heads split from the neck, and it died shortly after birth. Sima Biao explained: "This heralds that power is held by private individuals; it is a double-headed monster." Later, Wang Dun did indeed rebel.

In the eighth year of Xiankang, in the fifth month of Jiaxu, a horse as red as blood appeared, running straight from Xuanyang Gate to the front of the palace, circling around the palace and then running away, with no one able to catch it. On the day of Jimao, the emperor fell ill, and by June, he had passed away. This horse was both a sign of disaster and a red omen of misfortune! In the same year, Zhang Chonghua in Liangzhou wanted to kill Zhang Xiang, the Prefect of Xihe. Several dozen horses in his stable all gave birth to tailless monsters at the same time!

In the fourth year of Long'an, in October, a horse with horns appeared in Liangzhou. The governor Guo Quan reported this to Huan Xuan. According to Liu Xiang, horses should not have horns, just like Huan Xuan should not have rebelled. Huan Xuan did not listen and ultimately faced destruction.

When Shi Jilong was in Ye City, a horse had its tail burnt; it entered by the Zhongyang Gate and exited through the Xianyang Gate. Officials from the East Palace couldn't enter, and the horse ran northeast and disappeared in a while. The fortune teller, Fotu Cheng, sighed, "Disaster is coming!" The next year, Shi Jilong died, and his country was also destroyed.

During the Huangchu era, Song Shizong's mother from Qinghe unexpectedly transformed into a turtle and swam away.

In the year 239 AD, a peasant woman named Qiu Xi died and then came back to life, which happened in a region governed by Cao Xiu. At that time, a tomb of an emperor from the Zhou Dynasty was opened, and an entombed woman was found inside. A few days later, she started to breathe, and although she could still breathe after several months, she could not speak. Empress Dowager Guo took her in and raised her. Additionally, in Taiyuan, someone dug up a tomb and found a living woman lying in a coffin. When asked what had happened, she was unsure, but according to the inscription on the tombstone, she was probably around thirty years old. The book "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" states: "Yin becomes Yang, the lower becomes the upper." This was a sign of Emperor Xuan of Han's rise to power! Similar incidents also occurred during the reigns of Emperor Ping of Han and Emperor Xian of Han, which were seen as omens of the rise of Wang Mang and Cao Cao.

In the year 261 AD, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu County died and crawled out of his grave after seven days. Gan Bao said: "This incident resembles that of Emperor Xuan of Han. Marquis Wu Chenghao inherited the family business of the deposed emperor, which is an auspicious sign for him to ascend to the throne!"

In the year 276 AD, a man named Xuan Qian from Danyang saw his 80-year-old mother turn into a giant tortoise during her bath. Xuan Qian and his brothers quickly closed the door to protect her. They dug a large pit on the ground, filled it with water, and the giant tortoise played in the pit. It would stretch its neck to peek outside for a day or two. When they slightly opened the door, the tortoise would flip over and jump out, running into a distant pond, never to return. This was akin to the incident involving Empress Huang’s mother during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, which was a sign of the impending downfall of the Wu Kingdom.

In August of the year 264 AD, someone in Xiangwu County reported seeing a giant, over three zhang in height, with footprints three chi two cun long, white hair, wearing a yellow headscarf and yellow robe, with a cane, proclaiming, "Peace is coming!" Later, the Jin Dynasty replaced the Wei Dynasty.

In the year 271 AD, a seventy-year-old man in Yuancheng grew horns. This was likely an omen of Zhao Wang Lun's usurpation!

In December of the year 276 AD, a man named Yan Ji in Langya fell ill and died. After the coffin was buried, his family dreamed that Yan Ji was telling them, "Hurry and open the coffin! I can still come back to life!" So the family opened the coffin, and he gradually regained the ability to eat, drink, move, and see, but he couldn't walk or speak. Two years later, he died again. The "Yijing Commentary" says, "The extreme yin turns into yang, the lower becomes the upper, the wicked die and come back to life." Later, Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le rebelled, and the Western Jin Dynasty fell, fulfilling the prophecy of "the lower becomes the upper."

During Emperor Hui of Jin's Yuan Kang period, there was a woman named Zhou Shining in Anfeng. At the age of eight, she gradually turned into a man, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, she had the temperament of a man. The "Yijing Commentary" says, "A woman becomes a husband, this is called yin prosperity, a lowly person becomes a king." This was also a portent of Liu Yuanhai and Shi Le's rise to power!

During the Yongning period, Prince Qi Jiong, under the guise of rebellion, executed traitors and rebels, and reinstated the emperor, enjoying great success. However, at that time, a woman ran to the gate of the Grand Marshal's Mansion and said she wanted to leave her child there. When asked why, she replied, "I will leave after giving birth." At that time, although Prince Qi Jiong was praised for supporting the royal family, some astute observers sensed that he was headed for trouble. Indeed, later, Prince Qi Jiong was killed.

On the day of Jiazi in December of the first year of Yongning, an old man with white hair burst into Prince Qi Jiong's Grand Marshal's Mansion, shouting, "There will be a rebellion with a great army, within ten days!" Prince Qi Jiong had him killed. Sure enough, on the day of Wuchen in the following year, Prince Qi Jiong met his downfall—exactly ten days later.

In the first year of Tai'an, on the day of Guichou in April, a man claimed he had come in from Longmen, ran to the front of the palace, knelt and kowtowed twice facing north, and said, "I should be the Supervisor of the Palace Library." After saying this, he was seized and executed. Gan Bao commented, "The imperial palace is an extremely noble and mysterious place. Now, a lowly person can easily enter, and the guards did not notice. This is a bad omen of the palace becoming vulnerable and subordinates rising above their superiors!" After this, the emperor first moved the capital to Ye City, and later moved it to Chang'an, and the imperial palace eventually fell into disuse.

During the Yuankang period, in the Kingdom of Liang, a woman was betrothed to someone, and the betrothal gifts were already received. However, shortly 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 did not want to, but her parents forced her, so she had no choice but to marry, and she passed away not long after. Later, when her husband returned and inquired about his wife's whereabouts, her family told him what had happened. He ran to his wife's grave, overcome with grief, and actually dug up the grave. To his astonishment, his wife was alive, so they returned home together. Later, the former husband found out and went to the government to report it, but the officials were at a loss for what to do. The secretary Wang Dao suggested, "This is a very rare occurrence and cannot be judged by common sense. She should be returned to her former husband." The court agreed with his suggestion.

During the reign of Emperor Hui, a maid in Du Xi's household died. When she was buried, due to some mishaps, her burial was delayed. Ten years later, the coffin was opened for a joint burial, and to everyone's shock, the maid was alive! At first, she appeared to be asleep, but after a while, she slowly woke up and said that it felt like she had only slept for two days. She had been fifteen or sixteen at the time of her burial, and after the coffin was opened, she was still fifteen or sixteen. Eventually, she married and started a family.

In the first year of the Guangxi era, there was a man named Xie Zhen in Kuaiji who gave birth to a child with an unusually large head, long hair, feet turned upwards, and two bodies, one male and one female. The child emitted male cries at birth and died the next day. This was a sign of the decline of imperial power and rebellion of the lower class against the upper class, which led to numerous princes rising in revolt.

During the reign of Emperor Hui, there were individuals in Luoyang who exhibited both male and female traits, were sexually active, and exhibited lewd behavior, reflecting the social unrest. From the time of Xianning and Taikang, male favorites became popular, even surpassing the love for women. Officials and nobles competed to pursue them, resulting in marital discord and chaos, which led to the emergence of monsters and demons.

In the first year of Yongjia, a maid named Wan Xiang in Wu County, part of Wu Commandery, gave birth to a creature with a bird's head, horse hooves for legs, a single hand, no hair, and a tail as large as a pillow. This was also an evil omen indicating a coming great chaos in the world.

In the fifth month of the fifth year, a prostitute under the jurisdiction of Yan Gen in Fohan County gave birth to a dragon, a girl, and a goose. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan," the birth of non-human beings is a portent of impending disaster. The emperor at the time inherited the throne from Emperor Hui, leading to unrest and eventually the calamity of Pingyang, during which he was slain by barbarian invaders, fulfilling the prophecy.

In the fourth year of Jianxing, the wife of Ren Qiao, an official in Xinchai County, gave birth to two girls connected at the abdomen and heart, separated from the chest upwards and the navel downwards, a phenomenon never before seen. The Imperial Historian Lü Hui reported, "According to the records of the 'Ruiyingtu,' connected roots are referred to as 'Lianli Branches,' and two ears of grain growing from the same plant are called 'Jiahe.' Even the strange phenomena of plants and trees are seen as auspicious signs, so two people being of one heart and mind, as the 'Yijing' says, 'When two people are of one heart and mind, their strength can break metal,' should be regarded as a promising sign of unity in the world." However, people at the time ridiculed him. Soon after, the realm descended into chaos, and the emperor perished.

In the early years of Emperor Yuan's Tai Xing, there was a woman who had her genitals in her abdomen, below her navel. She came from the Central Plains to Jiangdong, was promiscuous in nature, but could not bear children. There was another woman whose genitals were on her head, at the Yangzhou ferry, who was equally promiscuous. According to Jing Fang's "Yi Yao," "When a person gives birth to a child with genitals on the head, the world will fall into great chaos; if on the abdomen, great events will occur in the world; if on the back, there will be no descendants in the world." At that time, Wang Dun occupied the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and wanted to rebel, which was certainly an omen.

In December of the third year, the wife of Minister Zou Xie Ping gave birth to a daughter who let out a sound like "bi bi" upon birth and died shortly after. Her nose and eyes were on the top of her head, her face was like a neck, her mouth had teeth, all were connected together, her chest looked like a turtle, and her limbs had claws like a bird, all bending downwards. This was yet another case of giving birth to something non-human, an unprecedented strange occurrence. Two years later, the defeat at Shitou took place.

In July of the second year of Emperor Ming's Tai Ning, the wife of Duke Ji of Jiangning died and was resurrected three days later.

In April 340, a man named Wang He from Xia Pi moved to Ji Yang. His daughter, twenty years old, claimed to be from heaven and said she had received a heavenly seal to become the mother of the world. The governor of Jinling believed she was a monster and had her arrested and imprisoned. In November, a man dressed in crimson and carrying a staff made of zhe wood came to the palace gate, claiming to be a sage sent to meet the Son of Heaven. The guards noted his words; he introduced himself as Lü Ci. He said that Wang He's daughter's right foot had seven stars, each star covered in hair, seven inches long, and that heaven intended to appoint her as the mother of the world. After this was reported, Lü Ci was executed immediately, and Wang Ke of Jinling was executed as well.

In October of the year 344 AD, while General Wei was inspecting the Chen Du Nu Tai, he discovered a soldier's foot with the words "Mother of All" carved on it. The words became even more visible after moxibustion. The capital city was immediately stirred up, and the authorities arrested the soldier and reported him to the court. As a result, the soldier soon escaped from the prison in Jiankang. The following year, the emperor passed away, and the empress dowager assumed power, which was likely a bad omen.

Around the year 373 AD, there was a woman named Tang from Nanjun who gradually turned into a man.

In the year 401 AD, there was a man named Zhao in Wuxi who suddenly grew to eight feet tall and developed a beard at the age of eight, only to die three days later.

During the Yi Xi period, a family surnamed Mo in Dongyang had a daughter who was not raised and was buried for several days. However, cries of a baby were heard coming from the ground, so they dug her up and took care of her.

In the later period of the Yi Xi period, there was a place called Er Yang Dao in Yuzhang, where two children were born consecutively.

In the year 412 AD, there was a place called Yang Dao in Jian'an, where a headless figure appeared, but later returned to normal, taking on a woman's form.