In the evening of the first day of the first month in the year 423 AD, a dark mist appeared in the southeast sky, one zhang wide and ten zhang long. This foreshadowed an impending war. Indeed, in the second month, Murong Ke rebelled in Beiping.
In January of the year 424 AD, dark mist filled the air in the area of the Yellow River, covering several miles and shrouding Dongyang City in darkness as if it were night. Shortly after, Dongyang City fell.
On the sixth day of September in the year 433 AD, dark mist was everywhere. On the tenth day of September, General Zhang Xiao of the Yangzhou army was defeated, with two thousand beheaded.
On the night of November 22nd in the year 476 AD, three streams of white mist emerged from the ground, turning yellow-red in an instant, illuminating the earth.
In the evening of the eighth day of September in the year 482 AD, a red mist appeared in the northwest, twenty zhang long and eight to nine feet wide, disappearing in an instant.
On the eighteenth day of March in the year 483 AD, red mist appeared in the sky from the hour of the Rabbit to the hour of the Dog.
On November 22nd in the year 484 AD, red mist in the northwest reached the sky, resembling fire. It was not seen in the capital, but was visible in Liangzhou.
In the evening of the tenth day of September in the year 486 AD, red mist appeared in the northwest, stretching across the sky from east to west like flames for more than a zhang. This was a portent of rebellion in Beizhen.
At the hour of Shen on May 22nd in the year 488 AD, red mist appeared in the north, stretching across the sky from east to west like flames.
On November 22nd in the year 496 AD, red mist appeared, mist-like, extending diagonally from the southwest corner of the Xianyang Palace steps to the corridor, about one zhang high, connecting to the ground like a crimson curtain, remaining visible from the hour of Wei until the hour of Dog. The Emperor, feeling disgusted, eventually met a calamitous end.
At the hour of the Dog on the sixth day of the first month in the year 503 AD, red mist appeared in the east, about three zhang long, vanishing after three hours.
In the first hour of the first day of the sixth month of the year 496 AD, at the hour of Shen, a blue aura appeared in the dragon position, four feet wide, rising from the east end against the mountain, extending into the sky, reaching halfway up. In the northwest position of the dog, black, red, and yellow clouds appeared, resembling mountain peaks with a blue aura at the top, about four feet wide, extending southeast, reaching halfway into the sky, with the two auras connecting. The southeastern aura dissipated first, followed by the northwest aura. This is also a sign of the emperor's sudden death!
Ban Gu said: Nightly omens, when clouds and wind appear together, appear murky and indistinct, similar to ordinary wind. With warmth and wind, disasters such as moths and locusts will occur.
In the year 483 AD, on the fourth day of the sixth month, the sky darkened.
In the year 483 AD, on the tenth day of the eighth month, it was dark even during the day.
Liu Xin said, if one's appearance is not proper, it is not dignified. If the upper class is arrogant and the lower class is cruel, yin energy will dominate, resulting in floods that harm crops, causing food shortages, and giving rise to wicked thieves, so this is the most serious omen. Another explanation is that the common people suffer many punishments, hence their unattractive appearance. Ban Gu believed that unusual occurrences in livestock signal impending disasters, which are more obvious signs; if it occurs on humans, this condition is referred to as "chuan chuan," describing a sickly appearance, indicating a serious illness.
In the third year of Yongxing, a person in Wulan throat grew bones on their body, resembling sheep horns, over a foot long.
In the month of May in the sixteenth year of Taihe, the Minister Li Chong reported that Li Banhu's daughter from Wujixian County in Zhongshan County of Dingzhou grew nine hairs under her right thumb nail on the twentieth day of September last year, which had grown to twelve inches by October twentieth.
In the eleventh month of the second year of Xiping, the province of Bingzhou reported that Han Sengzhen's daughter Lingji was born from her mother's right rib. Empress Dowager Ling commanded that she be taken to the imperial court.
In the month of May in the first year of Zhengguang, large footprints were discovered in Xiacaixian, Nanyanzhou, spanning seven steps, each step being one foot eight inches long and seven and a half inches wide.
In the autumn of the third year of Yanxing, a woman in Xiurong County gave birth to four sons across four births, resulting in a total of sixteen sons.
In the third year of Yong'an, in the eleventh month, a family in the capital gave birth to a child who had one head, two bodies, four hands, four legs, and three ears. In the sixteenth year of Taihe, in the eleventh month, Gaozu and Shaman Dao Deng visited the Shizhong Palace together. After sunset, around midnight, they saw a ghost wearing yellow pleated pants standing at the door wanting to come in. The emperor mistook it for a person and shouted at it, causing it to retreat. When asked, everyone said they didn't see it, only the emperor and Dao Deng did. In the second year of Huangxing, in October, a plague broke out in Yuzhou, resulting in the deaths of fourteen to fifteen thousand people. In the third year of Yongping, in April, there was a major plague in Pingyang's Qinchang and Xiangling counties, where two thousand seven hundred and thirty people died from the first month until now. In the nineteenth year of Taihe, in June, Xuzhou reported that an eight-foot tall bronze statue was sweating. During the reigns of Yong'an, Putai, and Yongxi, the golden statue of Dingguang in the capital's Pingdeng Temple often dripped with sweat. Whenever a major event occurred in the realm, people felt fearful, believing it to be an ominous sign. In the third year of Yong'an, in February, a family in the capital had two bronze statues, each over a foot tall. One had four white hairs on its chin, while the other had a single black hair on its cheek. The "Hongfan Lun" says: Dragons are scaly creatures born in water. Clouds are also symbols of water, with heavy Yin energy, so the appearance of a dragon foretells a major event. If the emperor does not adhere to ethical principles, disrupting the cosmic order, disaster and usurpation are certain to follow. In the third year of Shizu Shen, in March, two mysterious white dragons appeared in a well in the capital. In the sixth year of Zhenjun, in February, another white dragon appeared in a well in the capital. Dragons are divine beings trapped in wells, all signs of the violent death of Shizu! In the first year of Zhengguang of Suzong, in August, a black dragon that looked like a dog appeared, running from the south to Xuanyang Gate, jumping through the gate tower and running out from below. This was a sign of the impending downfall of the Wei Dynasty. In the second year of Emperor Zhuang, a dragon appeared in a well in Jinyang and stayed there for a long time. This foretold Emperor Zhuang's violent death in Jinyang.
In the fourth month of the first year of the former Emperor Pu Tai, a dragon's trace went out from the western side of Xuan Yang Gate and returned to the city. On the following day, all the ministers came to offer their congratulations. The Emperor said, "If the country is to prosper, we must listen to the opinions of the people; if the country is to perish, we must heed the warnings of heaven. As long as we, the monarchs and ministers, practice self-discipline and serve the public in governing the country, these omens may not necessarily come true."
The Book of Hong Fan says: "Horses represent the army, indicating that there will be war, hence the strange occurrences involving horses. In the eleventh month of the second year of Xi Ping, a foal was sent from Hengzhou, with a tail a foot long but no hair on its rear end. In the ninth month of Zheng Guang's first year, the official horses in Wo Ye Town were found to have worms in their ears, resulting in the death of fourteen or fifteen horses. The worms were like maggots, less than five inches long and as thick as chopsticks.
The Book of Hong Fan quotes the Book of Changes, saying: "Kun represents cattle." Kun represents earth, and when the earth's energy is chaotic, strange phenomena involving cattle will occur, which are referred to as cattle disasters. This forewarns the downfall of ancestral temples. Some say that busy transportation causes these strange occurrences with cattle. In the second year of Jing Ming, in May, Ji Zhou reported that a calf was born in Changle County with two faces, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears.
The Book of Hong Fan says: The Emperor's lack of wisdom and virtue resulted in these strange occurrences. In the third month of the twenty-third year of the Taihe era, Si Zhou reported that a lamb was born in Yang Qu County with two bodies, one male and one female, three ears, and eight legs. Soon after, the Emperor died, and six regents seized power. In the first year of Zheng Shi, in July, Shanshan Town sent in a lamb with two bodies and eight legs. In the second year, in January, Shanshan Town sent another lamb with eight legs. In the fifth month of Yanchang's fourth year, Bagu Lu Town reported a lamb with six legs and two tails.
According to Jing Fang's writings, any abnormal creatures with extra limbs signal impending trouble. He also said, if a pig is born with a human head and a pig body, that place is destined for chaos and ruin.
In the first year of Gaozu's Yanxing, in September, someone reported that in Yuzhou, the governor of Yuzhou, Duke Wang Rang of Linhuai's mother pig gave birth to piglets that had one head, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of Shizong's Jingming, in September, reports came from Liangzhou that a dog had mated with a pig.
In the fourth year of Zhengshi, in August, in the capital, a mother pig gave birth to piglets that had one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of Yanchang, in July, reports from Xuzhou said that the mother pig at Yangping Post gave birth to piglets with heads resembling humans, with a flesh lump on top, and no hair on their bodies. This is a bad omen for Empress Ling and the young emperor!
The "Hongfan Lun" mentions that Jing Fang's writings state: chicks are like minor officials; the horns on a rooster's head symbolize weapons, representing the majesty of the ruler. This indicates that minor officials will misuse the ruler's authority to create chaos, which is a disaster for governance.
In the first year of Gaozu's Taihe, in May, someone reported that in the capital, there were two hens with combs resembling horns, unlike other chickens. At that time, Empress Wenming was in charge, and this was a sign of her heavy reliance on petty people and abuse of power!
In the first year of Shizong's Zhengshi, in April, there was a chick in Henan with four legs and four wings. This incident is also noted in the "Biography of Cui Guang."
In August, reports from Sizhou said: in Hanoi, a family's chick had another head growing out of its rear, complete with eyes and a mouth. Both heads grew from the neck, each having two wings and walking side by side. At that time, Shizong was heavily relying on petty people, forming factions, and those treacherous petty people were meddling in politics; these were all ominous signs!
In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Yanchang, reports from Luozhou said that the yellow hen in the household of Governor Chang Jiao of Weixing had a flesh horn as big as a jujube on its head, measuring one and three inches long, with hair growing on the horn, about one and a half inches long.
In the first year of Suzong's Zhengguang, in January, the roosters and hens in the household of Lang Dou, the Tiger Ben Zhonglang General, both had two horns on their heads, with mixed-colored feathers, standing taller than their combs. At that time, Empress Ling was in power, ruling with an iron fist.
In the "Hong Fan Lun," it is said: This is the punishment for rulers who cannot see the situation clearly and do not listen to advice! In the third year of Taizong Tai Chang, in November, a white owl was caught in the capital. In the second year of Suzong Zheng Guang, in August, a bald buzzard was caught in the palace. In the second year of Xiao Chang, in April, someone sent a dead duckling that had one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails. In the second year of Xiao Jing Tian Ping, in March, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Appointments and was caught in the hall. The "Hong Fan Lun" says: If punishments are too cruel, it will only lead to the common people’s grievances; if one is insatiably greedy, wars will break out everywhere; if one builds cities but loses the hearts of the people, then disasters will come. Look, how accurate this is! In the fifth year of Northern Wei Tai He, in July, there was a locust disaster in Dunhuang, and almost all the autumn crops were completely devoured. It is truly heartbreaking; a year’s harvest was completely ruined. By the seventh year in July, Qingzhou and Yongzhou also suffered, as the locusts completely devoured the crops. In August, the seven states of Xuzhou, East Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as the four towns of Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, all suffered from locust disasters. The extent of this disaster is overwhelming! In April of the seventh year, Xiangzhou and Yuzhou suffered from locust disasters again. In March of the eighth year, the locusts ravaged the three states of Jizhou, Zhou (here, it should be a repetition of "Zhou," understood as another state), and Xiangzhou. In April, the seven states of Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Si Zhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou all faced locust disasters. On the day of Yisi in June, the four states of Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou were again plagued by locusts harming the crops. This locust disaster is like a market day—one after another! On the day of Guisi in October of the sixteenth year, Fuhan also faced a locust disaster, with not a single crop harvested. This is simply endless!
In May of the first year of Jingming of the Northern Wei Dynasty, locusts invaded six provinces including Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou. This locust plague is truly relentless!
In the fourth year of Jingming, in March, a large-scale caterpillar disaster broke out in Hezhou, affecting both wheat and barley. In May, Guangzhou was hit by a locust plague. In June, Hezhou was hit by a locust plague. In July, locusts ravaged Donglai County. This truly feels like a year of disasters, with insect infestations all around!
In the first year of Zhengshi, in June, locust plagues also erupted in Xiazhou and Sizhou. In the fourth year, in April, Qingzhou was plagued by "Buqu" insects damaging jujube flowers. In August, locusts, rats, and caterpillars wreaked havoc in Jingzhou, while Hezhou was infested by locusts, and Liangzhou and Sizhou's Hengnong County were also plagued by locusts. The extent and variety of these calamities are truly despairing!
In the first year of Yongping, in June, Liangzhou suffered from locusts. In the fifth year, in May, Qingzhou was again plagued by "Buqu" insects damaging jujube flowers. In July, locusts ravaged the land, and even the capital city was invaded by locusts. In August, locusts plagued Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou, devouring two-thirds of the crops. This is truly a catastrophic disaster!
In the first year of Xiping of Suzong, in June, Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were invaded by locusts. It feels like we have locust plagues every year!
In the first year of Xianzu Tianan, in June, a remarkable showdown between black ants and red ants took place in Yanzhou. The battlefield was sixty steps long and four inches wide, where all the red ants were bitten to death. The black ants occupied the north, while the red ants occupied the south. This is truly a unique phenomenon! In November, Liu Yu, the governor of Yanzhou, sent messengers to surrender to the court, and the court appointed General Wuyuan as the commander to receive the surrender and defeat the rebel leaders such as Zhou Kai. But that's another story.
In July of the year 586, Zhang Wanshou, the governor of Bingzhou, reported that there was a commoner named Jia Richeng in Jianxing County. During the silkworm-raising season in April, he discovered that a silk cocoon was wrapped around something resembling a ribbon, which was four feet long and three inches wide, thin, with two yellow silkworm cocoons attached to it, shaped like footprints.
A few years later, in March of 588, there was a silkworm moth disaster in Xuzhou, where over a hundred people were bitten, and more than twenty died; it was truly tragic!
The ancients believed that these caterpillar disasters were unusual omens, indicating that great events were about to occur.
During the reign of Emperor Taizu of Northern Wei, a large tiger appeared in Henan, lying by the river for three months before leaving. The following year, many ants and white deer crossed the Yellow River. The year after that, the Yellow River actually turned blood-red! These were all signs of the downfall of the Wei Chen clan! Later, Emperor Taizu threw all the members of the Wei Chen clan into the Yellow River, and that place never had any more trouble.
In January of 540, a wolf actually ran into the city, reaching the area of Xieshi, where it was caught. (I have some doubts about whether the character "Cao" was written incorrectly.)
In December of 551, a leopard was caught on the Copper Goblet Terrace in the northern city.
On a certain day in May of 586, a fox spirit came out to steal people's hair. At that time, Empress Dowager Wenxuan was in power, which was definitely not a good sign!
Starting in the spring of 611, incidents of fox spirits stealing hair also occurred in the capital, striking fear into the hearts of the people. On a certain day in June, Empress Dowager Ling summoned those who had their hair cut and had Liu Teng, the commander of the imperial guards, give them a whipping outside the Qianqiu Gate; the situation was exactly the same as that of 586!
The book "Ruitu" states that if local officials treat the common people brutally and the people voice their grievances, white mice will appear.
In February of 618, a commoner named Zhao Wen in the capital found a white mouse in his home and presented it to the emperor.
That spring, the Northern Garden also caught a white mouse, but it died shortly after. Upon dissection, there were three tiny white mice inside! In March of 619 AD, the emperor visited the Western Palace and caught another white mouse. In August, a palace official named Zhang An also caught a white mouse in the palace. In May of 620 AD, while hunting at Mount Kelong, the emperor caught a white mouse; Pingcheng also caught three. In June, Pingcheng caught two more. In August, Prince Kui of Yuzhang also caught a white mouse. In November of 621 AD, someone in the capital caught a white mouse (or possibly a white insect) and presented it to the emperor. In June of 622 AD, Zhongshan caught two white mice. In March of 623 AD, another white mouse was caught in the capital. In November, yet another white mouse was caught in the capital. In August of 483 AD, someone in Xiangzhou, Weijun caught a white mouse. This news must have caused quite a stir at the time, as white mice were quite rare. In August of 477 AD, a white mouse was also presented from Yanmeng. This suggests that in that era, white mice were seen quite often, at least according to historical records. It’s unclear if they were the same breed of mouse, but they were all quite unusual. By August of 507 AD, the capital also caught a white mouse. This time it was in the capital, so the news surely spread wider, and it might have even been reported to the court! In May of 500 AD, the capital caught another white mouse. In less than a year, another one appeared; what incredible luck! In June of 240 AD, the capital captured yet another white mouse. This time, there was quite a long gap since the last catches, indicating that white mice were not commonly seen. In April of 572 AD, Sizhous presented a white mouse as tribute. This time it was offered voluntarily, implying that this white mouse had some special significance! Throughout the years, several emperors received "gifts" of white mice!
