The Book of Changes (Yijing) says: the East. The Book of Changes (Yijing) states that the trees on the ground correspond to the "Guan" hexagram. Therefore, wood symbolizes a person's demeanor and conduct. Wood is the vibrant onset of spring and the foundation of agriculture. If one can ensure that the common people pay taxes and perform corvée for no more than three days a year, implementing a tax system of taking one-tenth, without seeking personal gain, then one can conform to the characteristics of wood. But if the ruler loses dignity, violates the growth laws of wood, indulges in hunting and playing, does not return to the palace, indulges in wine and women, disregards etiquette and laws, goes in and out without restraint, arbitrarily imposes corvée, delays the farming season, engages in conspiracies, and extorts the people's wealth, then the essence of wood will be lost. Look at the numerous failed examples of craftsmen making cart wheels and arrows; it is said that the nature of wood cannot be violated.
In the first year of Song Taiyu, the soapberry tree at Zhiyuan Temple in the capital withered. By the end of Shengming, it unexpectedly blossomed with flowers and leaves. The Jing Fang Yi Zhuan says: "If trees grow in the winter, within two years, there will be a funeral in the country, and a nobleman will also die." This omen came true, and the emperor of the Song Dynasty abdicated.
In the first year of Jianyuan, branches and leaves grew on the decorative pillars of Zhuque Bridge. In the early years of Jianyuan, the plum tree sprouted fuzz. In the second year of Jianyuan, a mulberry tree in the office of the Wuling Yuantou Wei grew leaves in winter. The Jing Fang Yi Zhuan says: "If trees bloom in winter, there will be a funeral in the world." This omen also came true, and two years later, the emperor passed away.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, the cypress pillar of a centuries-old building in west Bazhou City suddenly bloomed. In the sixth year of Yongming, a cypress tree on Shizigang grew to two feet four inches long and four and a half inches wide before turning to stone. At that time, the emperor went on outings multiple times, which confirmed the saying in the Book of Changes (Yijing) that "wood has lost its essence." During the Yongming period, a large ship sank for no reason, yet there was no water in the hold.
In the first year of Longchang, blood flowed inexplicably from the beams and pillars of the house of Prince Qing of Luling. In the early years of Jianwu, Prince Yaoguang of Shi'an repaired the temple and cut the beams from Dong'an Temple to repair the temple walls. After cutting the beams, water flowed out like tears would. "Mao Zhuan" says: If a monarch loses his dignity and becomes arrogant and indulgent, then he will be arrogant and not dignified. If subordinates are disrespectful, superiors will not have authority. If the people are disrespectful to the monarch and indulge in arrogance, this cannot continue. If the people do not respect the monarch and do not abide by the laws, then yin energy will prevail, so punishment is like continuous rain.
In the eighth year of the Yongming era, it started raining on the Jisi day in April; sometimes it would briefly clear during the day, and you could see stars and the moon at night, but the rain continued until the seventeenth day.
On the new moon day of Xinsi in November, starting from the day of Wuyin in March, there were brief sunny days in between, but it started to rain continuously from the first day of April. Occasionally, you could see the sun during the day and the moon at night, then it returned to rainy weather until July.
It started raining on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month of the first year of Yongtai, and it didn't clear up until the twenty-first day of the fifth month of the first year of Yongyuan. Jing Fang's divination said: "Rain in winter means famine in the world; rain in spring means small-scale wars." At that time, minority ethnic groups invaded Yongzhou, which aligned with ancient records. The book says: "Heavy rain and snow, although they are common signs, can also indicate serious events. Rain is yin energy, and heavy rain and snow are manifestations of accumulated yin energy. Some believe that heavy rain and snow resemble a flood, except that water is replaced with snow."
In the second year of the Jianyuan era, on the day of the leap month of Jichou, it began to rain mixed with snow. In the eleventh month of the third year, it rained and snowed again, with overcast skies and haze alternating for more than eighty days, until it finally stopped in the second month of the fourth year. The text states: "Thunder is the firstborn between heaven and earth, because it can make all things grow, interacting with all things. Therefore, when thunder roars, all things flourish; when thunder quiets, all things rest. Thunder is a symbol of the ruler; thunder striking the ground dispels harm, while thunder rising from the ground brings fortune. The subtle essence of thunder appears in the first month, thunder sounds in the second month, stops in the eighth month, and the remaining subtle essence stops in the ninth month. In the third month of winter, thunder remains silent; if the yang energy fails to contain the yin energy, thunder will sound at inappropriate times, bringing disasters and harming all things." On the night of Renwu in the first year of Jianyuan, lightning appeared, followed by thunder. On Gengxu day in the eleventh month, lightning also appeared, followed shortly by thunder, which stopped after a while. On Wushen day in the first month of the fifth year of Yongming, thunder was heard coming from the northwest. On the night of Jiasen day in the sixth year, the weather was overcast with light rain, and thunder was heard from the direction of the northwest Kun Palace. On the night of Jiazi day in the seventh year, with gloomy weather, thunder was heard from the direction of the southwest Kun Palace, rumbling once before stopping. On the night of Gengxu day in the eighth year, thunder was heard from the direction of the Kan Palace water gate, rumbling once before stopping. On Bingzi day in the ninth year of the second month, lightning appeared in the northwest, followed by rumbling thunder, which rumbled ten times before ceasing. On the night of Gengxu day in the tenth year of the second month, lightning appeared in the south, followed by rumbling thunder, which lasted until Dinghai day before stopping. On Gengzi day in the tenth month, thunder and lightning were heard from the northwest. On Dingchou day in the eleventh month, lightning appeared in the southwest, followed by faint thunder, rumbling twice before stopping, in the direction of the southwest Kun Palace. On Jiasen day in the twelfth month, with rainy weather, lightning appeared, followed by thunder from the southwest and northwest, rumbling three times in succession. On the night of Bingshen day, two consecutive rumbles of thunder were heard from the northwest. On the day of Xinhai, a thunderstorm occurred.
The book says: Hail symbolizes the imbalance in the relationship between the ruler and his subjects. Hail falls when yang energy is too strong, while sleet (霰, xiàn) falls when yin energy is too strong; sleet refers to a specific type of snow. When yang energy is excessive, it suppresses yin energy, and when yin energy is excessive, it suppresses yang energy. Hail is a sign of weak yin energy and strong yang energy, while sleet is a sign of weak yang energy and strong yin energy. The "Spring and Autumn Annals" do not mention sleet, similar to how they do not mention solar or lunar eclipses.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, on the first day of May, it hailed. In the first year of Yongming, on a certain day in September, it hailed, with hailstones as large as garlic cloves, which stopped shortly after. In the eleventh year, on a certain day in April, it hailed, with hailstones as large as garlic cloves, and then it disappeared.
The book also says: When the emperor behaves immorally, indulges in luxury and depravity, and the people below are disrespectful and negligent, breaking the rules, disrespecting the law, violating the system, and not respecting the emperor, it leads to famine. People's appearances and temperaments deteriorate, resulting in outbreaks of avian flu. Another theory is that in years of water disasters, many chickens die in large numbers and in strange ways. A lack of trust between superiors and subordinates, along with corrupt ministers and common people turning to banditry, are seen as the worst omens. Another theory is that many people being punished, having ugly appearances, arrogant customs, and changing rules overnight, while wearing strange and inappropriate clothing, results in the emergence of strange and inappropriate clothing.
During the Yongming period, the palace promoted the wearing of brocade clothing with hunting patterns, symbolizing archery and warfare. By the Jianwu period, there were large-scale invasions by minority ethnic groups from the north.
In the later period of the Yongming era, a type of hat called the "Yiquan Hat" (倚劝帽) became popular among the common people. After the deposition of Prince Hailing and the ascension of Emperor Ming, there was much anticipation for advice and support regarding his reign.
During the Jianwu period, both hats and skirts covered the head; by the time of the Donghun Marquis, it was believed that skirts should be worn below, but now they were worn above, which was seen as an ominous sign, so it was abolished. This was seen as a sign of subjects rebelling against their ruler. During the Yongyuan period, the Donghun Marquis personally designed and created banquet attire, adorned with flowers and intricate embroidery, though the specific details are hard to convey. Some unscrupulous individuals also designed four types of hats, each named for its shape: the first called "Magpies Returning to the Forest," from the Book of Songs saying "magpie nest," referring to the virtues of a lady, as the Donghun Marquis favored concubines, indulging in debauchery, so the magpies all flew back to their nests. The second was called "Rabbit Crossing the Pit," implying that there will be a chase for rabbits in the world. The third was called "Bound Yellow Lirou," referring to a yellow-billed bird, with "bound" meaning tied up. The fourth was called "Phoenix Crossing Three Bridges," with the phoenix being auspicious, and the three bridges being where the Prince of Liang lived.
The text further states that any disturbances that occur are unusual signs from heaven and earth. Trees are green, so they are called "Green Misfortune," which is considered a bad omen. Whenever bad omens appear, it signifies gold overcoming wood and wood overcoming gold, indicating a conflict between two opposing forces. Legend has it that in the first year of Yanxing, shortly after King Hailing ascended the throne, an apparition resembling a person appeared on the tomb of Crown Prince Wenhui, standing several zhang tall, green in color, soaring into the clouds, its voice booming like thunder.
The text states that fire represents the south, symbolizing brightness and splendor. A monarch should govern the country with the openness and brilliance of fire. If the monarch is wise, evil officials are kept at bay, and virtuous officials hold power, then the country will thrive like a blazing fire, with the national fortune flourishing. However, if the monarch is foolish, disregards the law, and fails to punish corrupt officials, then corrupt officials will thrive, sowing discord among family members and pushing out loyal officials, even resorting to killing the crown prince, excluding meritorious officials, and favoring concubines. In such cases, fire loses its rightful brightness, resulting in disasters from the ancestral temple to the palace, even if a million troops are mobilized, they cannot avert the disaster.
In the third year of the Yongming era, in the first month, on the night of Jia, wildfires appeared in the northwest direction, with fire apparitions manifesting in the flames. Four appeared in the northwest direction and one in the northeast direction, each approximately seven to eight feet long, of a yellow-red hue. In the third month, on the night of Gengwu, wildfires appeared in the north, with fire apparitions manifesting in the flames, six feet long; another one appeared on the night of Wuye, five feet long, of the same yellow-red hue. In the fourth year, in the first month of Dinghai, three fire apparitions appeared that evening. In the intercalary month of Dingsi, four fire apparitions appeared that evening. In the twelfth month of Xinyou, two fire apparitions appeared in the southeast direction that evening. In the twelfth month of Bingyin in the fifth year, wildfires appeared in the northwest direction that evening, with fire apparitions manifesting in the flames, one about three feet long, of a yellow-white color. In the eleventh month of Wushen in the sixth year, wildfires appeared in the southwest and north that evening, with nine fire apparitions manifesting in the flames, each two feet long, of a yellow-red hue. In the second month of Bingyin in the ninth year, on the night of Ji, wildfires appeared in the north, with two fire apparitions manifesting in the flames, and another one appeared in the northwest direction, each three feet long, disappearing soon after.
In the second year of Yongyuan, in August, a fire broke out in the palace, burning down the Xuan Yi Hall located in the West Hall, as well as the Zhao Yang Hall, Xian Yang Hall, and other palaces, burning all the way to the Hualin Wall in the north and the Secret Pavilion in the west, destroying more than three thousand houses in total. The "Jing Fang Yi Zhuan" states: "If the monarch does not think about advancing virtue and cultivating industry, evil spirits will haunt, and the palace will be burned." The Secret Pavilion and the "Spring and Autumn" Xuan Xie were burned at the same time, as if to say, without laws and regulations, what is the use of classics and documents! In the winter of the second year, the people of the capital were frightened, fearing that a fire disaster was imminent. People on the south bank often found firekindling wrapped in cloth between the fences, saying that they were used by the authorities to ward off potential disasters.
Several years ago, in the first month, a massive fire suddenly broke out in Yuzhang County, burning down more than three thousand households. Jing Fang, based on the "Book of Changes" divination, said: "The heavenly fire that consumes homes is a portent of political turmoil, violence, and war." In the same year, there were intense conflicts between the imperial forces and the rebel factions in the counties of Nanjiang.
In February, a fire broke out in the west wing of the Qianhe Hall in the imperial palace, destroying thirty rooms. At that time, the west wing had already burned down, so the emperor had to move to the east wing to live, which was the palace where Emperor Gaozong had lived. The divination result of this fire mirrored the palace fire. The Book of Changes states, "Those who commit rebellion but are not put to death are like grass that does not die after frost. Perhaps the killing is not done at the right time, the killing is not done according to the rules, so it is called 'grass demon'." Another interpretation is that "'grass demon' symbolizes losing the hearts of the people."
In the Yongyuan era, the iris flowers planted in front of the Huang Wenji family's Zhaiyuan suddenly bloomed, and the colorful flowers cast their light on the wall. Only his son saw it, and no one else saw it. Shortly thereafter, Huang Wenji was executed. Liu Xin's "Shi Zhuan" records the omen of feather insects causing trouble, referring to a calamity involving chickens. Ban Gu explained that chickens correspond to the Xun hexagram in the Book of Changes, and now using feather insects causing trouble as a metaphor also means this. Therefore, according to Liu Xin's explanation, it was included in the "Shi Zhuan."
In the second year of Jianwu, a large bird appeared in Jian'an County, resembling a water buffalo calf. That year, Jian'an County suffered a major flood. In the third year, the large bird flew to Dongyang County, and Prefect Shen Yue reported, "This bird is covered with colorful feathers, mostly red." The "Leiwei Yetu Zheng" records: "Jiaoming bird feathers are red, and its appearance indicates a flood."
In April of the second year of Yongming, a crow built a nest on the eaves of the inner hall in the east. In the third year, the large bird flew to Shangyu County in Kuaiji County. That year, Shangyu County suffered a major flood. The Book of Changes states, "Water and fire are disasters." It also says, "The red omen may signify either a bad or a good omen."
In the fourth year of Jianwu, bloodstains appeared out of nowhere on the curtain in the room where Wang Yan's son, Wang Yanzideyuan, lived; a few days later, the bloodstains vanished. Not long after, Wang Yan was executed. "Si Xin Zhuan" says: "The heart corresponds to the qualities of earth. Incomplete thoughts can lead to chaos and disorder. It's the ruler when yang energy is strong and the minister when yin energy prevails. If someone is overbearing and arrogant, they'll face punishment. The heart is the master of the five viscera, just like earth is the master of the five elements." Another perspective is: "When yin and yang are out of balance, excessive yang energy forms wind, and in extreme cases, it turns into a violent wind. Excessive yin energy leads to continuous rain, and in severe cases, it results in prolonged overcast without rain." Another perspective is: "Strong winds at night and gloomy days resemble prolonged overcast without rain."
On the Gengxu day in the first year of Jianyuan, a strong wind suddenly blew at night, with dark clouds, lightning, and thunder rolling in from the xu and hai directions.
In the eleventh month of the fourth year of Yongming, on the day of jiayin, around Xu hour (7-9 pm), a gentle breeze picked up, and in the second half of the night (1-3 am), it started snowing, with the wind shifting towards Langjin.
On the day of bingyin in the second month of the fourth year of Yongming, around the hour of si (9-11 am), the wind picked up fiercely.
On the day of jichou in the eleventh month of the fourth year of Yongming, around Xu hour (7-9 pm), the wind howled fiercely from the northwest.
On the day of bingyou in the fifth month of the fifth year of Yongming, around the hour of zi (11 pm - 1 am), the wind picked up fiercely from the northwest.
On the day of dingmao in the first month of the seventh year of Yongming, which was a yin thief day, around the hour of zi (11 pm - 1 am), the wind picked up fiercely from the north, with tremendous force, causing rolling waves, not letting up until around Yin hour (3-5 am).
In the sixth month of the eighth year of Yongming, on the day of Yiyou, between 11 pm and 1 am, the wind blew violently, with great force. The waves rolled, houses collapsed, trees snapped, and dust flew. It came from the southwest, accompanied by thunder and rain, and quickly the wind stopped and the rain ceased.
In the seventh month of the ninth year of Yongming, on the day of Jiayin, a day dedicated to Yang Yu's integrity, during the night hours (from 9 pm to 11 pm), the wind blew violently from the east. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled until gradually weakening in the early morning hours of Yimao. This fierce wind was called "Yudongyu."
In the ninth month of the ninth year of Yongming, on the day of Yichou, during the afternoon hours (from 1 pm to 3 pm), thunder and rain occurred. The wind blew violently from the northwest.
In the tenth month of the ninth year of Yongming, on the day of Renshen, a day dedicated to Yang Yu's treachery, during the early morning hours (from 1 am to 3 am), the wind blew violently from the north. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled before gradually weakening in the early morning hours of Yimao. This fierce wind was called "Yudonggong."
In the first month of the tenth year of Yongming, on the day of Xinsi, a day dedicated to Yang Shang's generosity, during the early morning hours (from 3 am to 5 am), the wind blew violently from the northwest. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled, lifting dust and breaking trees, before finally stopping in the evening hours of You.
In the second month of the tenth year of Yongming, on the day of Jiachen, a day dedicated to Yang Zheng's treachery, during the morning hours (from 7 am to 9 am), the wind blew violently from the northwest. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled until stopping in the evening hours of You.
In the third month of the tenth year of Yongming, on the day of Dingyou, a day dedicated to Yang Zheng's integrity, during the afternoon hours (from 1 pm to 3 pm), the wind blew violently from the north. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled until stopping in the evening hours of Xu.
In the seventh month of the tenth year of the Yongming Era, on the Gengshen day, it was a Yin-Greedy Wolf Day. At noon (from eleven in the morning to one in the afternoon), the wind blew from the northeast, strong and fierce, causing the waves to roll until the Xinyou hour (from nine to eleven in the morning) when it gradually weakened.
In the second month of the eleventh year of the Yongming Era, on the Gengyin day, it was a Yang-Lianzhen Day. At the hour of Hai (from nine to eleven at night), the wind blew from the northwest, with great force causing the waves to roll until the hour of Chou (from one to three in the morning) when it gradually weakened. This strong wind was referred to as "Jiao Dong Jiao."
In the early days of July, a strong wind blew; it was the day when the Lianzhen Star was in charge. The wind howled from the northeast, strong and fierce, causing houses to crumble and trees to snap. The wind gradually subsided by midnight. The next day, the wind came again, this time with the Jiaosu Star in charge. The wind blew from the northwest, even more violently than the day before, and it took a long time to stop. These sudden and fierce winds seemed like a result of an imbalance of yin and yang.
In the first month of Jianwu, on a particular afternoon, a strong wind suddenly blew from the north, with surging waves, aligning with previous records. In the second, third, and fourth years of Jianwu, every autumn in July and August, strong winds would blow, particularly severe in the Jiangnan region, causing houses to crumble, trees to snap, and even deaths. Jing Fang's divination said, "When prison guards are cruel, it will lead to disasters affecting people." The emperor at that time was known for his strictness.
In the first year of Yongyuan, on the twelfth of July, a strong wind blew in the capital, causing trees within a radius of ten miles, as well as official buildings and houses of the common people, to be blown down, aligning with previous records. The Book of History says, "Mountains are to the earth as kings are to a country. When mountains collapse, it symbolizes the loss of the king's power, the capital will be relocated, and changes will occur in the world. Tombs will turn into swamps, and the noble will be reduced to humble status."
In the second year of Jianyuan, during the summer, the Changxi River in Luling's Shiyan County washed away the foot of the mountain, causing a landslide. The landslide stretched six or seven zhang, exposing thousands of stone pillars. These stone pillars were as thick as cartwheels, ranging from one zhang to eight or nine chi in length, with ancient inscriptions on their tops that were hard to decipher. Jiang Yan took this matter to Wang Jian, who said, "There is no such ancient clerical script in the Jiangdong region. These stone pillars should be from the Qin and Han dynasties." The next year, the royal carriage met with an accident, confirming the omen of impending change.
In the second year of Yongming, during the autumn, a landslide occurred in Qujiang County, Shixing, blocking a stream and forming a pond. Jing Fang's divination said, "A landslide is an ominous sign for the ruler." The Book mentions, "Where thunder and lightning strike, it is due to induction, caused by a deficiency in the heart."
In the second year of Jianyuan, in the intercalary sixth month, thunder and lightning suddenly struck in the middle of the night. On the fifth day of the fifth month of the fourth year, hail fell, shrouding everything in darkness and unleashing deafening thunder, and the Anchang Hall in Leyou Yuan was struck by lightning, burning it to the ground. On the sixth day of the fourth month of the eighth year of Yongming, lightning struck the Baolin Temple in Shan Yin of Mount Heng in Kuaiji, wrecking the temple’s corners and setting the pagoda ablaze, while the Buddha statues and windows remained intact. During the Yongming era, lightning struck the south gate of the Eastern Palace, causing no damage but tragically killing a chef. In the eleventh year of March, lightning struck the East Chamber, causing the roof to cave in. While people wanted to fix it right away, Prince Liang of Jingling remarked, "This cannot be repaired! Let it be, this is a warning from heaven and a sign of its protection for me." The following year, Liang passed away.
As the book says, if the earth's energy is thrown into chaos, it's the doing of the elements: wood, metal, water, and fire.
In the second month of the second year of Jianwu, on the day of the Dingsi (丁巳) zodiac sign, there was an earthquake. In July of the first year of Yongyuan, there were eighteen earthquakes that shook continuously, day and night. On the nineteenth day of September, there were five more earthquakes. Gold represents the west, and after all things mature, there arises a spirit of violence. For emperors, it means fighting and conquering. If the emperor raises an army and goes to war, the energy of gold flows harmoniously. But if the emperor is always aggressive, likes to expand and fight, covets cities, and disregards the lives of the people, causing great suffering and internal and external difficulties, then the energy of gold does not flow smoothly, like improperly melted metal, which is stiff and hard; hence the saying "Gold does not yield to change," and also "Wood restrains gold."
In the fourth year of Jianwu, Emperor Ming sent Princess Sui'an into the palace as a concubine. When she returned to the palace, the golden-winged bird on her sedan suddenly fell off and broke inexplicably.
It is also said in the book that in the Book of Changes, the west is associated with the trigram representing the mouth. If the emperor acts excessively, punishes unfairly, imposes heavy taxes, or goes to war, and still squanders resources when the yang energy is at its peak, then it means his words are not reliable. If the emperor loses the people's support, his decrees become ineffective, and he struggles to rule alone. The common people fear his severe punishments, and an overabundance of yang energy can result in drought, which is considered a self-inflicted consequence.
In the third year of Jianyuan, there was a severe drought and invasion by foreign tribes. In the third year of Yongming, there was also a severe drought, and the following year, Tang Yuzhi rebelled. In the second year of Jianwu, there was also a severe drought, and at that time, there was a severe invasion by foreign tribes, all of which were the results of squandering resources and causing suffering to the people.
It is also said in the book that when the common people suffer and fear harsh punishments, they often express their grievances through songs and ballads. When the people's grievances boil over, strange stories or rumors will emerge.
During the Taishi era of the Song Dynasty, after losing Pengcheng, people in Jiangnan began to plant pear trees, which they had never planted before, and everyone eagerly rushed to grow them. Some scholars predicted, "In the future, a person with the surname Xiao will ascend to the throne." Several years later, Xiao Qi usurped the throne.
During the Yuanhui period, there was a children's rhyme that said, "Xiangyang's white bronze hooves, the man killed the children of Jingzhou." Later, Shen Youzhi rebelled, and the Governor of Yongzhou, Zhang Jing'er, attacked Jiangling, killing Shen Youzhi's son Yuan Yan and others.
On the first day of the first year of the Yongming era, a small official got drunk, grabbed a pen and scribbled, not knowing what to write, and said, "Longing for Emperor Gaozu." The emperor pardoned him for his crime.
Emperor Shizu built the old palace at Qingxi. At that time, someone mocked, "An old palace? Isn’t that just a rundown stable!" After Emperor Shizu died, the palace maids moved in.
In the early years of Yongming, the common folk sang a song, "The white horse neighs at the edge of the city, wanting to eat the grass at the edge of the city." The song also included the line "Tao Lang is coming." The white horse symbolized the army, and three years later, Tang Yuzhi's rebellion broke out, claiming that the Tang Dynasty sent troops to suppress it.
The newly built Chanling Temple by Emperor Shizu drew many visitors. Someone said, "'Chan' means to impart, and 'Ling' is not a good name. The things imparted will definitely not fall into the right hands." Later, the crown prince was deposed, proving this statement true.
During the Yongming period, except for the meals made by the imperial kitchen, everything else in the palace was labeled as guest food. Emperor Shizu felt that "guest food" did not sound like the food of his own family, so he changed it to "other food." At that time, people thought it was a bad omen. Shortly after, the emperor passed away.
When Crown Prince Wenhui was in the Eastern Palace, he wrote a poem that included the line "delicate at both ends..." and ended with "collapsing like a jade mountain." Since then, royal officials and the crown prince successively passed away, and even the imperial palace had funeral events.
Crown Prince Wenhui also wrote a seven-character poem, with the lines always ending with "sorrow and truth." Later, the event of the emperor's abdication indeed took place.
During the Yongming period, a children's rhyme circulated among the northern ethnic minorities: "Black water flows north, red fire enters Qizhou." Soon, fires suddenly broke out everywhere in the capital city, its color was redder than usual, but the temperature was low. Officials and nobles vied to use it for healing. Some people used this fire for moxibustion on peach wood boards with seven incense sticks, and they would recover in seven days. The court ordered a ban, but it could not be stopped. People in the capital city who suffered from thyroid swelling would recover in a few days using this fire for moxibustion. Neighbors joked that the illness would have healed on its own, not because of the fire. The person felt itchy on the neck, and the swelling returned the next day. Later, the Liang Dynasty thrived due to the virtue of fire.
Prince Wenhui reclaimed the eastern fields, and at the time, someone said, "There will surely be a mad child in the future." As a result, the prince was indeed deposed.
From the Qi Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, the phrase "disturbance, build martial arts" was passed down among the people. Just as the Ming Emperor ascended the throne, he killed many royal ministers, causing widespread panic in the capital.
In the first year of Yongyuan, another children's rhyme emerged: "The river water flows east for a thousand miles, flowing to the foot of the east city. Wearing black leather pants, wearing a black leather hat, seeking revenge at the stroke of three. Unable to walk due to a limp, accidentally killed an old woman." The "thousand miles flow" refers to the Yangtze River, and "east city" refers to Yaoguang. Yaoguang rose in rebellion at night, and people wearing black leather pants ran to join him. "Limp" also refers to Yaoguang, and "old lady" refers to the character "Xiao," subtly indicating Xu Xiaosi.
In the Yongyuan period, there was a children's rhyme circulating among the people: "Although the wild boar grunts, the horse guards the empty granary. Not realizing that the dragon and tiger feast in the villages of Jiangnan. Seven, nine, six, three—there's not a soul left in Guangmo City. Crows gather at the post station gate; now you can finally rest. But after the third month of the eighth year, Jingyang Tower will collapse." Experts explain that this refers to Chen Xianda being a pig, Cui Huijing being a horse, but it is actually incorrect. Dong Hunhou is the pig; who the horse's owner is remains unclear. The Prince of Liang represents the dragon, while Xiao Yingzhou represents the tiger. Cui Huijing attacked Taicheng and died in battle in front of Guangmo Gate; he was sixty-three that year. The gathering of crows at the post station means "where the crow lands, that's whose roof it rests on." Three eights equal twenty-four, from the first year of Jianyuan to the second year of Zhongxing, a total of twenty-four years. The collapse of Jingyang Tower also signifies the downfall of the high platform. It signifies that peace is about to return to the world, allowing people to finally rest.
During the Qi and Song periods, there was a popular saying called "Heqi," meaning to initiate reforms with a gentle attitude. Later, the He Emperor ascended the throne.
When Cui Huijing besieged Taicheng, a colorful flag appeared, fluttering in the air before vanishing after half a day. Everyone was puzzled and remarked to one another, "This flag signals that things are about to turn around quickly." A few days later, Huijing failed.
In "Yan Chuan," it states: "Words can hurt, leading to many disputes among the common people, so there will be diseases of the mouth. Gold is white, so there will be disasters in white; the appearance of white is an ominous sign."
In the second year of Song Shengming, a fierce wind swept through Nantang, Jiankang County, lifting a piece of cloth high into the sky. When the wind died down, the cloth landed on the imperial road. Ji Sengzhen informed the founding emperor that the abdication of the Song Dynasty came from a commoner.
Water belongs to the north, all things are dormant in winter, and its essence is of extreme yin. Ancestral sacrifices are akin to water. The spirits of the dead wander and will not return, so temples must be erected to gather their spirits, allowing filial sons to fulfill their filial duties. If they are respected, the spirits will accept, the extreme yin energy will be appeased, and the waters will flow through the channels, sparing the people. If the ruler does not pray and sacrifice, simplifies the ancestral temples, abolishes sacrifices, and goes against the will of heaven, dense fog and heavy rain will occur, rivers will flood, towns and villages will be destroyed, and people will drown; thus, water will not bring nourishment.
In the summer of the second year of Jianyuan, Danyang County and Wu County experienced a major flood.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, a major flood occurred.
In the fifth year of Yongming, summer, Wuxing County and Yixing County suffered from floods and waterlogging, causing damage to crops.
In the sixth year of Yongming, Wuxing County and Yixing County experienced a major flood.
In the winter of the second year of Jianwu, Wu County and Jinling County suffered from floods and waterlogging, causing damage to crops.
In July of the first year of Yongyuan, tidal waves surged into Shitoucheng, drowning many residents along the Huai River. This is documented in historical texts. In Jingzhou City, there was a sand pit that continuously leaked water. When Xiao Yingzhou served as chief historian, the leaking ceased; but when he died, it started leaking again. The book says: "The manifestation of extreme yin energy brings about fish disasters. Fish disasters serve as a warning of retribution for years of cold."
In the ninth year of Yongming, Shipu in Haiyan County saw sea fish surging in with the tide, but unable to return when it receded. The fish measured over thirty meters in length, black and without scales, still alive, and making a sound like a cow. Locals called it a sea swallow and even feasted on its flesh. In the first month of Yongyuan, twelve large fish swam into the river in Shangyu County of Kuaiji Prefecture. The large ones were nearly twenty meters long, while the small ones were over ten meters long. One swam into Pujiang in Shanyin County, and another swam into Yongxing River, all of them stranded on the shore, and the locals went to feast on their flesh. The text states: "When signs of ignorance arise, demons will be born from the ears, and there will be mutual induction among the same kind, hence the term 'drum demon'." Some also say that this kind of sound belongs to the drum demon. On the night of the guimao day in the eleventh month of the first year of Yongming, there were sounds in the sky in the northeast direction, continuing until the wunight. The text states: "The emperor cannot achieve the ultimate, which is called the failure to achieve greatness. Its fault lies in confusion and disorder, not listening to advice, so its fault lies in confusion. The guilt in the heart is as elusive as mist." Heaven is the beginning of all things, and the king is the beginning of all matters. If one cannot achieve moderation, it will harm the celestial phenomena, and there will be mutual induction among the same kind. Heaven spins downward before rising, clouds rise from the mountains and spread to the sky. When celestial phenomena shift, corresponding signs emerge, so punishment is often harsh. If the king fails to maintain balance, the ministers will grow powerful, clouding the king's judgment, and there will be many dark clouds obscuring the sunlight.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, on the day of Bingwu in October, after the sun set, a thick fog appeared on the ground, resembling smoke from a fire. In the second year of Yongming, on the day of Jihai in November, there was fog coming from all directions, causing discomfort to people's eyes and noses, and it did not stop until the day of Xinchou. On the day of Bingzi in November of the second year, after the sun rose and set, there was thick fog from all directions, resembling smoke from a fire. On the night of Bingye in November of the sixth year, the sky was filled with dense, dark fog, only slightly dispersing by the sixth day at the hour of Wei, then becoming dense again, like smoke from a fire, causing misery and confusion to people's eyes and noses. On the day of Renshen in October of the eighth year, the sky was filled with thick fog at night, as dense as smoke from a fire, causing discomfort to people's eyes and noses, which finally dissipated by the ninth day at the hour of Chen.
In previous years, on the day of Bingchen in some years, there was thick fog both day and night, resembling burning smoke, irritating and pungent, causing discomfort to people's eyes and noses, and the sun turned reddish-yellow, lasting until the night of Jia.
After a few years, in some years, on the day of Xinyou in the first month, during the hour of You (5-7 pm), there was thick fog everywhere, like smoke from burning, irritating and pungent, causing discomfort to people's eyes and noses.
According to the "Book of Changes," "Qian represents a horse," and this ominous celestial phenomenon predicts a significant number of horse deaths, hence the term "horse disaster." Some also say that horses represent the army, suggesting an invasion by foreign enemies, which explains the strange occurrences involving horses.
In the fourth year of Jianwu, Wang Yan went out of the city to the grass market; his horse suddenly became frightened and bolted, forcing him to walk back with the cart. Just over ten days later, Wang Yan was executed.
During the Jianwu period, a peculiar blue horse appeared along the southern bank. It chased after women on the road, causing them to hide under beds in nearby homes. However, this horse would not stop, and it even lifted the beds to eat the flesh between the women's thighs! The officials reported this incident, and the emperor ordered the horse's execution. After that, a series of thefts occurred.
In Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan," it is said: "If a person has more than two breasts, the common people will conspire against their rulers; if a person has more than three hands, ministers will plot against their monarch; if a person has more than two mouths, the country will be frightened by war; if a person has more than three ears, known as excessive listening, the nation's affairs will become unpredictable; if a person has more than two noses, the sovereign will fall ill for a long time; if a person has more than three hands and feet, the world will experience war." There are many similar omens, all divined using symbolic methods.
In the fifth year of the Yongming era, Wu Xiu's family in Wuxing Dong gave birth to a pair of twins, whose bodies were conjoined below the chest but separated above.
In Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan," it further states: "When wild beasts enter cities, those cities will fall into desolation." It also says: "If wild beasts enter cities, the imperial gates, or palaces for no reason, those cities will experience rebellion and become empty."
During the Yongming era, Prince Han of Nanhai served as the governor of Nanyanzhou. A deer ran into Guangling City and met its end by crashing into a well; there was also a large elephant that came to Guangling City. Later, Governor Prince Jing of Anlu was killed during his tenure.
In the spring of the fourth year of Jianwu, while performing sacrifices at the round mound outside the suburbs, all preparations were completed, but at night a tiger attacked people.
During the Jianwu period, a deer broke into Emperor Jing's sleeping temple, all of which foretold the emperor's impending death or abdication. Any divination that failed to materialize was due to a misinterpretation of the original signs.
In conclusion: the wooden beast Kui and the spirit Wanglei, the fire-born water deity, the earth that carries all things, and the gold that symbolizes light and majesty. These various shapes, sounds, and signs all ultimately point to the same outcome. It is because they conform to the omens that the results can be inferred.
