In the "Five Elements Chronicle," it is said: "If the governance of the palace and the decoration of pavilions are in place, but within the palace there is debauchery, rebellion against authority, and disrespect towards parents and siblings, then the crops will fail." This means that disorder in the earth's nature leads to disasters. The book also states: "If one cannot tolerate others in their heart, this is not saintly. Its consequences are floods, and the punishment is fierce winds, which ultimately results in premature death. Sometimes facing disasters like locust plagues, sometimes encountering misfortunes involving cattle, sometimes suffering from internal diseases, sometimes experiencing yellow disasters or auspicious omens, are all caused by the restraint of metal, water, wood, and fire over earth." "Hua Nie," which Liu Xin noted refers to disasters caused by pests like locusts.
In the twenty-second year of the Jianwu era under Emperor Guangwu, earthquakes struck in forty-two counties and states nationwide, with Nanyang being particularly severe, causing landslides that resulted in many deaths. Subsequently, barbarians in Wuxi rebelled, spreading chaos throughout the region, reaching as far as Nanjun. The court mobilized the military from various counties in Jingzhou, sending General Liu Shang of Wuwei to suppress the rebellion. However, Liu Shang was surrounded by the barbarians and, despite court reinforcements, he was killed in battle.
In the first year of Jianchu during Emperor Zhang's reign, earthquakes struck Shanyang and Dongping in March.
In the fourth year of the Yongyuan era of Emperor He, in June, earthquakes occurred in thirteen counties and states across the country. The "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Han" states: "If women hold power and ministers monopolize authority, earthquakes and rebellions will occur." At that time, Empress Dowager Dou was in power, and her brother Dou Xian held authority. The earthquake likely occurred as a sign of their impending retribution. Five days after the earthquake, the court ordered the seizure of Dou Xian's seal, and the two were sent back to their fiefs and ultimately forced to take their own lives. In the second month of the fifth year of Yongyuan, an earthquake occurred in Longxi. Some said that the people's complacency with the status quo signaled that major changes were imminent, hence the occurrence of a major earthquake. In the ninth month of the same year, the Xiongnu chieftain Yu Chujian rebelled, and the court dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion. In the ninth month of the seventh year of Yongyuan, an earthquake occurred in the capital city. Some said that this was because the rulers lacked assertiveness and were seen as weak. At that time, Emperor He colluded with the eunuch Zheng Zhong to usurp power from the Dou clan. Emperor He greatly appreciated Zheng Zhong and promoted him, while also favoring another eunuch, Cai Lun, and the two of them began to jointly wield great power. In the third month of the ninth year of Yongyuan, another earthquake occurred in Longxi. In the intercalary month of the same year, the Qiang people from the frontier invaded, killing officials and civilians, and the court dispatched General Liu Shang to suppress them.
In the first year of the Yongchu era of Emperor An, eighteen earthquakes occurred across the country. Li Gu analyzed at that time: "The earth is associated with yin, which should remain calm. But now it goes against the nature of the yin and follows a policy of masculinity, hence the earthquakes." At that time, Empress Dowager Deng held power, and it wasn't until the Jian Guang era that Empress Dowager Deng died, and Emperor An truly took control of the government. Due to the dominance of yin and the decline of yang, a rebellion broke out in the Western Qiang region, lasting for more than ten years.
The following year, twelve earthquakes occurred nationwide. In the third year, on the day of Xinyou in December, there were nine earthquakes. In the fourth year, on the day of Guisi in the third month, there were four earthquakes. In the fifth year, on the day of Bingxu in the first month, there were ten earthquakes. In the seventh year, on the day of Rengin in the first month and on the day of Bingwu in the second month, there were eighteen earthquakes. These earthquakes kept coming, leaving people truly terrified!
In the first year of the Yuan Chu era, there were fifteen earthquakes throughout the country. In the second year, on the day of Gengshen in November, there were ten earthquakes; in the third year in February, there were ten earthquakes; on the day of Guimao in November, there were nine earthquakes. In the fourth year, there were thirteen earthquakes; in the fifth year, there were fourteen earthquakes; in the sixth year, on the day of Yisir in February, there were an astonishing forty-two earthquakes in Kyoto and various parts of the country! Many places cracked open, water gushed out, city walls and houses collapsed, resulting in many casualties. In winter, there were eight more earthquakes. This was indeed a continuous series of calamities!
In the first year of Yongning, there were twenty-three earthquakes throughout the country. In the first year of Jianguang, on the day of Jichou in September, there were thirty-five earthquakes throughout the country! Many places cracked open, city walls and houses collapsed, crushing people. At that time, Emperor An was incompetent and listened to the slander of court ladies and his mother, attacking and retaliating against the family of Empress Dowager Deng, and favoring the eunuchs and officials. Chief Eunuch Jiang Jing, along with Fan Feng and others, held significant power.
On the day of Guimao in the first year of Yanguang, there were thirteen earthquakes in Kyoto and various parts of the country; on the day of Wushen in September, there were twenty-seven earthquakes; in the second year, there were thirty-two earthquakes; in the third year, there were twenty-three earthquakes. During this time, Emperor An, due to his credulity towards slander, dismissed Grand Marshal Yang Zhen and even abolished the Crown Prince. On the day of Dingsi in November of the fourth year, there were sixteen earthquakes in Kyoto and various parts of the country. After Emperor An's death, Empress Yan took over the court, and her brother Yan Xian and others also wielded power, marginalizing Emperor An's son in an attempt to install a new ruler. Before the new ruler could arrive, the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate executed Yan Xian and his brothers.
In the third year of Yongjian of Emperor Shun, on the day of Bingzi in January, there was an earthquake in Kyoto and Hanyang. Houses in Hanyang collapsed, crushing people, and the ground cracked open, water gushed out. During this period, Emperor Shun's mother, Song E, along with Chief Eunuch Zhang Fang and others, dominated the court, leading to corruption and abuse of power.
In April of the year 133 AD, Luoyang experienced an earthquake, and at that time, Song E was named Lady of Shanyang. Two years later, in December, Luoyang experienced another earthquake.
In April of the year 136 AD, Luoyang experienced another earthquake! At this time, Song E hatched some schemes and framed others. By May, the truth came to light; she was stripped of her official seal and sent back home to tend to her fields. In November, Luoyang was hit by another earthquake. During this earthquake, General Wang Gong believed that the eunuch Zhang Fang and his associates were manipulating the court and wanted to report to the emperor to have them killed. However, Wang Gong's relatives persuaded him to act like Yang Zhen did, and in the end, Wang Gong did not persist. In February of the year 137 AD, Luoyang, Jincheng, and Longxi were all hit by earthquakes, leading to landslides, the collapse of city walls, and the destruction of houses, with many people crushed to death. In the leap month and October of the same year, Luoyang experienced two more earthquakes. In October, over two thousand Xiqiang cavalry invaded Jincheng, bringing calamity to Liangzhou. In March of the year 138 AD and February of the year 139 AD, Luoyang was hit by earthquakes again. In January of the year 140 AD, several counties in Liangzhou experienced earthquakes. From September of last year to April of this year, there were more than 180 earthquakes in total! Valleys cracked open, city walls and temples collapsed, and many people and livestock were affected. In March, the Protector of the Qiang people, Zhao Chong, was killed by rebellious Hu people. In September, Luoyang was hit by another earthquake. During this earthquake, Emperor Shun of Han died, and Empress Dowager Liang took over the government, wanting to build a grand tomb for Emperor Shun, which sparked public outrage, leading to the desecration of many common graves. The Minister Lu Ban strongly cautioned against it, but Empress Dowager Liang was furious and ordered Lu Ban's arrest, intending to execute him. That same day, another earthquake struck! Empress Dowager Liang was frightened and quickly released Lu Ban, stripped him of his official position, and let him return home as a commoner. In April and September of the year 147 AD, Luoyang experienced earthquakes again twice. During the September earthquake, Empress Dowager Liang was in power, and her brother Liang Ji also held great power. By the year 150 AD, Empress Dowager Liang had passed away, but Liang Ji still controlled the court, misusing his power until he was finally brought to justice in the year 152 AD. In September of the year 153 AD, Luoyang experienced earthquakes for two consecutive days.
In November 420, as well as January and October 421, earthquakes occurred in Jiankang (now Nanjing). In February 422, Jiankang experienced an earthquake. In December 424, Jiankang experienced another earthquake. In 151 AD, during the fourth year of Emperor Huan of Han's Yanxi era, earthquakes occurred in the capital city, Youfufeng, and Liangzhou. In September of the fifth year of the Yanxi era, the capital city experienced another earthquake. At that time, Emperor Huan of Han and the eunuch Danchao and others were plotting to overthrow Liang Ji, but their plan failed. Additionally, Empress Deng, who came from humble origins and had an unstable personality, was made empress because of her beauty. However, she was later deposed for superstitious reasons and ultimately died of depression. In September of the eighth year of the Yanxi era, the capital city experienced another earthquake.
In 167 AD, on Guimao day in February of the fourth year of Emperor Ling of Han's Jianning era, an earthquake occurred. At that time, the eunuchs Cao Jie and Wang Fu wielded power in the court. In June 168, there was another earthquake. On Xinchou day in October 172, another earthquake occurred. In February 178, there was another earthquake. In April, there was yet another earthquake. During Emperor Ling of Han's reign, the eunuchs wielded unchecked power and acted with impunity. In March 179, there was an earthquake in Jingzhao. From the autumn of 179 to the following spring, there were over eighty earthquakes in the area of Bieshi in Jiuquan commandery, causing water to surge from the ground and leading to the collapse of government offices, temples, and houses in the city. Local authorities were forced to relocate the county seat and rebuild the city walls.
In the year 190 AD, during the second year of Emperor Xian of Han's Chuping reign, an earthquake occurred on the sixth month, bingxu day. In the year 191 AD, on the sixth month, dingchou day, another earthquake occurred. In the year 97 AD, during the first year of Emperor He of Han's Yongyuan reign, in the seventh month, a mountain in Kuaiji, known as South Mountain, collapsed. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the mountain collapses, the yin overcomes the yang, meaning the weak triumph over the strong." Liu Shang believed that the mountain represents yang, which is the ruler; water represents yin, which is the people; if the ruler's morality collapses, the people will be left in turmoil. Liu Xin believed that "collapse" means "slack," which indicates relaxation. At that time, Empress Dowager Dou and her brother Dou Xian were in power. In the seventh month of the seventh year of Yongyuan, Yiyang County in Zhao experienced a split in the ground. Jing Fang stated in the "Yi Zhuan": "When the earth splits, the subjects become divided and refuse to follow one another." At that time, the Southern Xiongnu faced significant internal conflicts, and the Han army was pursuing them. In the twelfth year of Yongyuan, on the wuchen day of the fourth month, a four hundred zhang high mountain collapsed in Zigui County in Nanjun, blocking the mountain stream and killing over a hundred people. In the following winter, the Wu barbarians rebelled, and the court dispatched envoys to recruit more than ten thousand officials and civilians from Jingzhou to quell the rebellion.
In the year 190 AD, during the first year of Emperor Xian of Han's Yuanxing reign, on the guiyou day of the fifth month, the ground split in Yong County in Fufeng. After that, the Western Qiang launched a major attack on Liangzhou. In the year 189 AD, during the first year of Emperor Shang of Han's Yanping reign, on the rengchen day of the fifth month, Yuanshan in Hedong collapsed. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng was in power. In the autumn of the same year, in the eighth month, Emperor Shang of Han passed away. In the year 116 AD, during the first year of Emperor An of Han's Yongchu reign, on the dingsi day of the sixth month, the ground collapsed in Yang County in Hedong, measuring one hundred and forty steps in length from east to west, one hundred and twenty steps in width from north to south, and three zhang five chi in depth. In the sixth year of Yongchu, on the renchen day of the sixth month, Yuanxi Mountain in Yuzhang commandery collapsed, with mountain collapses reported at sixty-three different locations.
In the year 118 AD, in March, a major earthquake struck the southern region, creating a crack in the ground that stretched one hundred and eighty-two li; it was a truly terrifying sight! Three years later, in January of the year 121 AD, a large group of bandits suddenly emerged in the Cangwu, Yulin, and Hepu regions, robbing the common people everywhere and bringing immense suffering to the people. In June of the year 120 AD, an earthquake also occurred in the new city of Luoyang in Henan, resulting in the ground splitting.
In July of the year 122 AD, a landslide struck Danyang Mountain, resulting in the collapse of forty-seven locations. In June of the year 123 AD, Langzhong Mountain in Bajun also suffered a collapse. In October of the year 124 AD, Yuexi Mountain in Sichuan also collapsed, claiming the lives of over four hundred people, on the day the emperor was making sun sacrifices! At that time, Empress Yan was ruling the court. In November of the same year, Sun Cheng and others from the Central Yellow Gate killed Jiang Jing, installed Emperor Shun, and also executed Empress Yan's brothers. The following year, Empress Yan passed away.
In June of the year 125 AD, the ground split near Xuan De Pavilion in Luoyang, with a crack measuring eighty-five zhang long, in the suburbs of Luoyang. At that time, a man named Li Gu analyzed and said, "This signifies excessive yin energy and an impending rift! The ground cracking occurred outside the city in the suburbs; this is a warning from the heavens to Your Majesty!" At that time, Song E and the eunuchs were vying for power and profit, and later the eunuchs Zhang Kui and Qu Zheng fought for power with General Liang Shang, even spreading rumors to frame Liang Shang.
In April of the year 142 AD, several counties experienced earthquakes, with the ground cracking, water gushing out, wells overflowing, temples and houses collapsing, and many people perishing. At that time, Empress Liang was in charge of the court, and her brother Liang Ji was indiscriminately killing, including Li Gu and Du Qiao. Three years later, more landslides struck several counties.
In July of the year 147 AD, a landslide occurred in Zitong Mountain in Guanhan. In June of the year 148 AD, Xushan Mountain in Donghai also collapsed. In December of the same year, there were rampant thieves in the Taishan and Langye areas.
In July of the year 149 AD, an earthquake struck the Hedong region, causing the ground to split. At that time, Empress Liang's brother Liang Ji held great power, and Emperor Huan wanted to break free from his control, resulting in ongoing internal strife within the court.
In July of the year 150 AD, an earthquake struck the Yunyang region of Left Fenyi. In May of the year 152 AD, a landslide occurred in Hanzhong Mountain. At that time, the emperor particularly favored the eunuch Shanchao and others. In June of the year 153 AD, both Taishan and Boyoulai Mountains collapsed. In June of the year 156 AD, an earthquake hit the Goushi region, splitting the ground.
In May of the year 157 AD, there were earthquakes in Yongshouting in Gaoping, Luoyang, and the Xuan family region in Shangdang, causing the ground to crack. At that time, the ministers in the court were worried about the overreach of the eunuchs, particularly Wang Fu and his associates. In the winter of the same year, Emperor Huan died. The following year, Dou and others plotted to eliminate the eunuchs and palace attendants, but they were unsuccessful and instead were killed.
In May of the fourth year of Jianning under Emperor Ling of Han, there were twelve ground cracks in the Hedong region, with long and wide cracks. The longest crack stretched one hundred and seventy paces, the widest part was over thirty paces, and it was so deep that the bottom could not be seen, which was truly terrifying!
In the fifth year of Yongyuan during the reign of Emperor He of Han, on the day of Wuyin in May, a fierce wind swept through the Nanyang region, knocking down all the trees. In the first year of Yongchu during the reign of Emperor An of Han, another fierce wind swept through, knocking down all the trees. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng held power, and because Prince Qinghe was young yet seemed astute and capable, she made him the emperor, who became Emperor An. Although the Crown Prince was more qualified, Empress Dowager Deng thought Emperor An was more obedient and would be grateful to the Deng family in the future. However, Emperor An was later swayed by slander, deposing one member after another of the Deng family, and local officials faced intense pressure, with seventy to eighty percent perishing and their homes confiscated. This truly exemplified the saying, "you reap what you sow!" Following that, the Western Qiang tribes also revolted, and the Liangzhou region experienced ongoing wars and unrest for over a decade. In June of the second year of Yongchu, a fierce wind swept through the capital and more than forty other regions nationwide, knocking down all the trees. On the day of Guiyou in May of the third year of Yongchu, a fierce wind swept through the capital, toppling ninety-six Chinese catalpa trees along South Suburb Avenue. On the day of Bingyin in August of the seventh year of Yongchu, a fierce wind blew in the capital once again, knocking down trees.
In February of the second year of Yuanchu, on the Guihai day, a strong wind swept through the capital, knocking down trees. In the fourth month of the summer of the sixth year, a strong wind blew in the Pei and Bohai areas, which knocked down over thirty thousand trees. On the Bingshen day in the second year of Yanguang, a strong wind blew in the Hedong and Yingchuan regions, resulting in fallen trees. On the Renwu day in June, a strong wind swept through eleven counties, causing trees to fall. At that time, Emperor An had a particular fondness for slander and struggled to tell right from wrong. In the third year of Yanguang, a strong wind swept through the capital and thirty-six other regions nationwide, resulting in fallen trees.
On the Guisi day in the second year of Jianning of Emperor Ling of Han, the capital was hit by a strong wind, rain, and hail, knocking down over a hundred large trees, each with a diameter of over ten feet, on the outskirts. Later, when going to the western suburbs for sacrifices, they encountered a storm again at the Luoshui West Bridge, causing the canopies of the ceremonial procession to be blown off and officials to get wet. As a result, the ceremony was left unfinished, and they had to ask the relevant departments to reschedule the ceremony. The same situation occurred for ceremonies in the western suburbs.
On the Bingyin day in the fifth year of Chunping of Emperor Xian of Han, a strong wind knocked down trees. In the sixth month of the fourth year of Chunping, a strong wind blew in the Youfufeng region, causing houses and trees to fall.
Since the Han Dynasty's revival, there have been no records of supernatural events in historical texts. During the seventh and eighth years of Emperor Zhang of Han, there was a large-scale locust plague in various regions, recorded in the "Lu Gong Zhuan" but absent from official histories. At that time, Emperor Zhang was swayed by Empress Dou's slander, causing the death of two noblewomen and the removal of the crown prince.
In the sixth month of the fourth year of Xiping of Emperor Ling of Han, locusts ravaged the Hongnong and Sanfu regions. At that time, Emperor Ling believed the slander of the eunuch Cao Jie and others, resulting in the arrest of talented and upright individuals across the nation, accusing them of forming factions and engaging in private activities.
In July of 186 BC, the Guanzhong region, also known as Sanfu, faced a severe locust plague, leading to a total crop failure and immense suffering for the populace.
In the year 65 AD, there was a large-scale cattle disease, and many cows died. In the same year, the court sent Dou Gu and his team to the Western Regions to suppress the rebellion and also established the positions of Protector General and Wujixiaowei. Just after Dou Gu and his team returned, there was another rebellion in the Western Regions, and Protector General Chen Mu and Wujixiaowei Guan Chong were both killed. The emperor was furious and was preparing to send troops again, but in the autumn, Emperor Han Ming passed away, so the military expedition was postponed, truly a twist of fate!
In the winter of 79 AD, the capital also faced a significant outbreak of cattle disease. At that time, Empress Dou was particularly fond of Lady Song and even made Lady Song's son the crown prince. She secretly investigated Lady Song's petty faults and spread rumors to slander her. Emperor Zhang was still unaware of Empress Dou's evil intentions; how oblivious he was! Some claimed that Empress Ma died in June that year due to ongoing construction, which went against the auspicious timing, leading to these disasters.
