Ancient people believed that celestial phenomena were warnings from the heavens, and wise men inferred good and bad fortune by observing the changes of the sun, moon, and stars. Abnormal movements of the sun, moon, and stars, such as solar and lunar eclipses and the appearance of comets, could signify important national events, which could serve as warnings to rulers or reflect their moral failings. The "I Ching" states, "Heaven presents signs that indicate fortune and misfortune," and "Observe the heavens to discern changes in time"; the "Book of Documents" also mentions, "Observe the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, and respectfully provide the people with the appropriate timing." Therefore, rulers throughout history have placed great importance on celestial phenomena, viewing them as omens of the nation's rise and fall. There have been countless instances in history where changes in celestial phenomena have led to successes or failures, many of which are recorded in historical records. Previously, historical records categorized solar eclipses and alignments of five planets in the "Astronomical Records," while records of lunar eclipses and comets were kept in the "Five Elements Records," which caused confusion even among scholars like Lu Ji. Now, we compile all celestial records together, documenting those with traceable signs and omitting those without obvious indications.
Next, let’s look at specific records of celestial phenomena. In the fifth year of the Tianxing era, in August, a strange sound known as "heavenly thunder" was heard in the sky. In September of the sixth year, the heavenly thunder occurred once again. On the day of the renchen in October of the second year of the Huangshi era, a solar halo appeared, accompanied by colorful light. The divination indicated "war is imminent." Indeed, in September of the first year of Tianxing, Zhang Chao of the Wuwan tribe gathered a band of outlaws, over three thousand households, occupied the southern shore of the Bohai Sea, and proclaimed himself the General of the Eastern Expedition and King of Wuwan, looting and burning everywhere. The court dispatched General Geng Yue to subdue him.
On the day of the gengchen new moon in June of the third year of Tianxing, a solar eclipse occurred once again. The divination indicated "foreign invasion and land division." In May of the fifth year, Yao Xing sent his brother, King Yiyang, to lead an army of forty thousand to invade Pingyang, and Qianbi City fell. On the day of the guisi new moon in April of the sixth year, another solar eclipse occurred. The divination result was "troops slightly dispatched." In October, Emperor Taizu ordered General Yi Wei to lead twenty thousand cavalry north to attack the Gaoche, securing a significant victory.
In the fifth year of Tianzi, on the first day of the seventh month in the Wuxu year, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination result indicated "death to follow." In the sixth year, in July, Madam Liu passed away and was posthumously honored as Empress Xuanmu. In the second year of Emperor Taizong's reign, on the last day of the eighth month, another solar eclipse occurred.
In the year 424, on the first day of the sixth month, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination result indicated: "The lords are not suitable candidates." In the following February, Minister Xi Jin and Inspector An Jie launched an attack against Helian Chang and captured him in Anding. Helian Chang's subordinates proclaimed his brother Helian Ding as their leader and fled back to Pingliang. Xi Jin pursued them but was captured by Helian Ding instead. General Qiu Dui abandoned his armor and fled to Puban alongside the garrison commander Gao Liang. Emperor Taiwu of Wei, Tuoba Tao, was enraged and had Qiu Dui killed.
In November 425, another solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the first month in 426, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the eleventh month in 429, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the fourth month in 430, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the last day of August in 433, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the sixth month in 436, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination result indicated: "A calamity will destroy nine clans." In the same year, in January, Emperor Wei Taiwu's chariot arrived in Dongyongzhou. On the Gengwu day in January, Emperor Wei Taiwu surrounded the camp of Xue Yongzong. Xue Yongzong went out to battle but was defeated. The Wei army pursued and routed Xue Yongzong's troops, which led to his death. His subordinates, both men and women, young and old, jumped into the Fen River to take their own lives.
On the first day of the sixth month in 437, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination result indicated: "Disloyal individuals plotting to kill the emperor." In March of the same year, King Juqu Muqian of Hexi conspired to rebel and was subsequently executed.
On the first day of the fourth month in 439, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the sixth month in 439, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination result indicated: "The ministers and generals will be killed." In June of 440, Minister Cui Hao was killed.
In December of 440, solar prominences appeared in both the northern and southern parts of the sun.
In November 441, the sunrise was blood-red.
In March 442, a stunning solar halo appeared.
On the first day of the seventh month in 443, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the ninth month in 444, a solar eclipse occurred.
In 446 AD, on the 1st day of the 2nd month, there was a solar eclipse. The divination indicated: "There will be a gathering of people in white clothing." In May of 446 AD, Emperor Taiwu of Wei, Tuoba Tao, died.
In 450 AD, on the 1st day of the 10th month, there was a solar eclipse.
In 451 AD, on the 1st day of the 4th month, there was a solar eclipse. The divination indicated: "There will be executions of ministers." In October of 451 AD, King Murong Baiyao of Jinan was executed.
In 451 AD, on the 1st day of the 10th month, there was a solar eclipse. The divination indicated: "The Empress Dowager will have concerns." Three years later, Lady Li passed away and was posthumously honored as Empress Si.
In the year before a certain number of years, on the 1st day of the 10th month, it was the day of Ding You, and there was a solar eclipse.
On Gui Mao in the 12th month of the first year of Emperor Gao's reign, there was another solar eclipse. The divination said: "There will be war." In the following year, on Yi Mao in the 1st month, the Hu people in Tongwan Town rebelled together, and the court sent General Ningnan and Duke Jiaozhi Han Ba to suppress and quell the rebellion.
In the year before a certain number of years, on Gui Mao in the 12th month, there was a solar eclipse.
In the year before a certain number of years, on Gui You in the 1st month, there was a solar eclipse. The divination said: "There will be a monarch's death, the world will change its clothing, and ministers will die." In the 12th month of Year 5, General Chengyang Wang Shou, the General of the North, passed away. In Year 6, on Xin Wei in the 6th month, Emperor Xian died.
On Bing Yin in the 7th month, solar prominences appeared, hanging like earrings on both sides of the sun.
In the year before a certain number of years, on Ding You in the 1st month, a white rainbow pierced the sun, passing directly through the solar prominences.
On Xin Mao in the 3rd month of the first year of Chengming, five solar halos appeared, along with two solar prominences.
On Xin Hai in the 10th month of the first year of Taihe, there was a solar eclipse.
In the following year, on Xin Hai in the 1st month, a solar halo appeared, with solar prominences on both the east and west sides.
On Yi You in the 2nd month (end of the month), there was a solar eclipse. The divination said: "Someone intends to rebel, within three months nearby, and within three years far away." In the 1st month of Year 4, on Gui Mao, the Qiang people in Taoyang rebelled, and the Fohan Town troops quelled the rebellion.
On the first day of the ninth month in the year Yisi, a solar eclipse occurred. Divination said: "There will be an army marching from the east." On the first day of the tenth month of the fourth year Dingwei, Huan Fu from Lanling killed their county magistrate, joined forces with Huan He from Changlu, bandits from Taishan, and others, occupied Wugu Mountain, elected Sima Lang as their leader, and the court sent Prince Weiyuan of Huaiyang and others to subdue them.
In the spring of a certain year BCE, on the day Guichou of the first month, a solar halo appeared with solar halos on both sides, as well as a sun halo in the shape of a halberd, four crescent-shaped sun halos to the north, and a white gas passing through the solar halos resembling a wheel. The capital did not see this, but it was reported in Yongzhou.
On the first day of the month Guimao in the third month, a solar eclipse occurred. Divination said: "A minister will be killed." In the fourth month, the governor of Yongzhou, Prince Mudu, committed a crime and was put to death.
On the day Xinyou of the first month of a certain year BCE, there were solar halos on both sides of the sun, and a halberd-shaped sun halo to the north, which passed between the two solar halos.
On the day Gengchen of the first month of a certain year BCE, a solar halo appeared with solar halos on both sides, white gas on the north and south sides, about one zhang long and two chi wide; there was also a ring-shaped sun halo to the north. Inside the solar halos, there was a straight beam, about three zhang long, yellow inside, green in the middle, and white on the outside. The sun halo appeared for a while, then vanished.
On the first day of the seventh month of the year Gengshen, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the first day of the twelfth month of the seventh year Yisi, a solar eclipse occurred.
In a certain year BCE, on the day Wuyin of the first month, there was a spectacle of white gas rising straight to the sun in the sky. The diviners said that this was a sign of "the unrest among close ministers." Indeed, a few years later, in the month of Dinghai of a certain year BCE, ministers including Liang Zhongbao rebelled and were beheaded.
In a certain year BCE, on the day Dinghai of the eleventh month, there was another issue with the sun, a solar eclipse. In a certain year BCE, on the day Wuxu of the third month, a white rainbow pierced through the sun in the sky. In a certain year BCE, on the first day of the month Yihai, the sun was obscured by fifteen percent, divination said it was a sign of "a gathering of those in white attire." In the same year, on the day Jiwei of the eleventh month, Prince Anfeng Meng died.
In the year BCE, on the new moon of February, at the Wei hour, the clouds in the sky were mottled, and the sun was obscured by one-fifteenth of its light. The divination indicated, "There will be a gathering of those in white clothing." In September of the same year, Empress Dowager Feng of Civilization died. On the last day of the first month, at the hour of Guihai, there was yet another solar eclipse, and the divination said, "The ruler will mobilize troops, and the world will be disturbed." Indeed, in June of that year, Emperor Gaozu marched south to battle.
In June of that year, on the new moon of Gengchen, there was another solar eclipse. In May of that year, on the new moon of Jiaxu, there was yet another solar eclipse. In September of that year, on the last day of Gengyin, there was another solar eclipse. In June of that year, on the day of Jimao, dark vapors appeared in the sun, and the divination said, "There are internal rebellious schemes." Indeed, in August, during the hour of Guihai, Shen Ling, the governor of South Xuzhou, rebelled. In December of the same year, on the day of Jiashen, dark vapors reappeared in the sun, this time much larger, roughly the size of a peach.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Shizong, on the new moon of January, at the hour of Xinchou, there was a solar eclipse. On the new moon of July, at the hour of Jihai, there was again a solar eclipse. In the second year of the reign, in April during the hour of Guiyou, the sun appeared with halos appearing from noon to the Wei hour, yellow on the inside and white on the outside. On the new moon of July, at the hour of Guisi, there was another solar eclipse. In August, during the hour of Wuchen, the sun appeared red and dimmed, featuring a black dot at its center. In the third year of the reign, on the new moon of January, at the hour of Yisi, dark vapors reappeared in the sun, roughly the size of a goose egg, and again appeared during the hours of Shen and You, with two streaks of dark vapors crossing the sun. In February, during the hour of Xinmao, dark vapors reappeared in the sun, roughly the size of a goose egg. On the new moon of July, at the hour of Dingsi, there was another solar eclipse.
In the twelfth month of the first year of Zhengshi, on the day of Bingxu, dark energy pierced through the sun. On the day of Renzi, the sun appeared crowned, yellow inside and green outside, and the divination indicated that "the world rejoices." In the first month of the third year, on the day of Dingmao, a prince was born, and the court issued a general amnesty. In the second month, on the day of Jiachen, halos appeared on either side of the sun, red inside and yellow outside. On the day of Xinhai, the sun exhibited a halo, white on the outside and yellow on the inside. In the tenth month, on the day of Yisi, the sun appeared red and dim. In the twelfth month, on the day of Yimao, the sun was surrounded by a halo, red in the middle and yellow outside, with solar prominences in the east and west directions, and a white halo spanning the sun in the north and south directions, with a complete halo.
On a certain day in the third month of the first year of Yongping, a solar prominence appeared beside the sun, blue outside and yellow inside, with an incomplete halo; in the northwest direction, a vertical gas column appeared, about a foot long; in the north, a white rainbow spanned the sun.
This is truly an extraordinary celestial phenomenon! Look, on the first day of the eighth month, there was a solar eclipse. Again, on the first day of the following year’s eighth month, there was a solar eclipse. On the morning of the day of Dingmao, a mass of black vapor appeared beside the sun, resembling the moon, rushing towards the sun from the southeast. This phenomenon lasted for about two hours before vanishing.
On a certain day in the second month of the third year, two dark masses appeared within the sun. On a certain day in the twelfth month, the sun was enveloped in a halo, red in the middle and yellow outside, with solar prominences in the east and west directions, and a white halo spanning the sun in the north and south directions, with a complete halo.
On a certain day in the eleventh month of the fourth year, two dark masses appeared within the sun, about the size of peaches. The divination foretold, "The Son of Heaven is about to die!" Indeed, on a certain day in the first month of the fourth year of Yanchang, Emperor Shizong died.
On the first day of the twelfth month, there was another solar eclipse, positioned at four degrees in the constellation Taurus. The divination warned, "The country will face rebellion and military upheaval." On a certain day in the second year of Yanchang, Xu Xuanming and others under Xiao Yan assassinated Zhang Ji, the General of the Northern Town and the Governor of Qing and Ji provinces, and then surrendered to Xiao Yan.
In the first month of the first year of Yanchang, on certain days in February, when the sun had just risen and was about to set, it was a mix of red and white, lacking brightness. On the last day of May, the sun was obscured by nine-fifteenths. The divination foretold, "There will be a great drought, and the people will be displaced for thousands of miles." In the second year of Yanchang, during spring, the people of the capital suffered from hunger, and tens of thousands died.
In the second year of Yanchang, on a certain day in the intercalary month, a black mist appeared in the sun. The divination said, "There is a conspiracy of rebellion within the court." On a certain day in November of the third year, the monk Liu Sengshao from Youzhou rallied the people to revolt, proclaiming himself the "Pure Land King of the Clear Dharma." He was later captured and executed by the local officials and soldiers.
On the first day of May, there was a solar eclipse, visible in Hengzhou but not in the capital. On a certain day in March of the third year, the sun was encircled by a halo, with red and yellow at its core and blue and white on the outer edges; there was a halo in the north and south directions like an ornament, about two zhang long, with red and yellow inside and blue and white outside; there was a white halo piercing through the sun in the west. And there was a mass of things to the east of the sun, about two zhang long, with red and yellow inside and blue outside.
On the first day of the third month in the Xiping era under Emperor Suzong, there was a solar eclipse. On the day of Dingchou, there was no light after the sun rose until evening. The divination foretold, "War is imminent!" In the first month of the first year of Shengui, the Qiang people in Qinzhou rebelled; on a certain day in the second month, the Di people in Dongyizhou rebelled; in July, the people of Hezhou gathered to revolt, declaring themselves the "Water Pool King."
On a certain day in April, during the hour of the Rabbit, a halo appeared around the sun; a halo like a back appeared in the west, red inside and yellow outside; there were solar prominences in the north and south, red inside and yellow outside; and then gradually disappeared. In December, on a specific day (the day of Jiyou), there was a halo in the sky, with a ring-shaped halo in the north, red inside and white outside, with halo-like formations resembling earrings on both sides, and a white rainbow piercing the sun in the north. What a spectacle this scene was!
In the first year of the Divine Tortoise, on Ding Chou day in March, a white rainbow appeared, spanning the sun! The diviners said, "There will be many subjects coming to submit, and it will not be more than three years." Indeed, on Yi You day in November of the same year, the rebel leader Dou Dai, along with seven hundred people, surrendered, and this was fulfilled quite quickly!
On the first day of the new year of the second year, there was a solar eclipse.
On the first day of the new year of the first year of Zhengguang, there was another solar eclipse! The diviners said, "A great minister will die." As predicted, on the day of Bing Zi in July, the Grand Tutor, the Commander-in-Chief, and King Yi of Qinghe were assassinated.
On the day of Ding You in May of the second year, there was a solar eclipse, and the state of Xia reported this occurrence.
On the first day of the new year of the third year, there was a solar halo, with a red inner ring and a blue outer ring, and a white rainbow passed through the halo; outside the halo was a straight beam of light, about two zhang long, with red inside and blue outside. These celestial phenomena were indeed occurring one after another!
On Ren Chen day in May, there was another solar eclipse! The diviners said, "The people of Qin will rebel." Indeed, in June of the fifth year, the people of Qinzhou City, under the leadership of Mo Zhe, rebelled and declared themselves King of Qin.
On Ji Si day in October, the Grand Historian reported that since August, yellow dust had been obscuring the sun, which rose only three zhang high, its color as red as ochre, lacking any brilliance.
On Ji Chou day in November, there was another solar eclipse! The diviners said, "There will be small-scale wars occurring in the northwest direction." As predicted, on Ji Mao day in February of the fourth year, the rebel leader Anagui led troops to invade the border.
On Gui Wei day in November of the fourth year, there was another solar eclipse!
On Yi You day in the intercalary month of the fifth year, a solar halo appeared; the inside was red, and the outside was blue; in the south, there was an earring-like halo, and above it was a ring-shaped halo featuring two layers, with red on the inside and blue on the outside.
On Ding Mao day in March, there was a triple solar halo; the outermost halo was blue, while the inner halo was red. The diviners warned, "Someone is plotting to harm his sovereign."
On Geng Shen day in the first month of the first year of Xiaochang, Yuan Faseng, the governor of Xuzhou, rebelled and declared himself King of Song.
On the Bing Shen day in December, there was a solar halo, with halo rings that looked like earrings in the north and south, two circular halos above, along with a back-to-back halo. On the Bing Xu day in the first year of Xiaochang, a white rainbow crossed the sun but did not fully pass through, with a back-to-back halo in the rainbow. Diviners claimed, "A minister will betray his ruler," and others said, "A city is about to rebel." On the Ji Mao day in the second year, Yuan Qinghe, the governor of Dongyu Province, rebelled from the city. On the Wu Yin day in the eleventh month of the third year, a solar halo appeared, incomplete on the eastern side, showing red on the inside and yellow on the outside; there were halo rings resembling earrings on both sides, red inside and yellow outside; in the northwest direction of the solar halo, more than a foot distant, there was a back-to-back halo, about two zhang long and three chi wide, red inside and yellow outside. These celestial phenomena were truly alarming! In the second year of Yong'an in March, on Jia Xu day, I witnessed a solar halo with three distinct layers! The innermost layer was yellow-red, and the outer two layers were bluish-white. Strangely, the east and west sides were disconnected, resembling a person cradling something. In May, on the Xin You day, another solar halo appeared, still with disconnected east and west sides. By the time of the Shen hour on the Xin Wei day, a solar prominence appeared south of the sun, approximately three feet from the sun, about three zhang long and five chi wide, red inside and blue outside. In July, on the Bing Yin day, in the due east of the sun, about three feet away, another solar prominence appeared, about two zhang long, with red inside and blue outside. After about half a day, this solar prominence slowly disappeared from the north, until only half was left, before it soon returned to its original form, still red on the inside and blue on the outside, with vivid colors.
On the first day of October in the Ji You year, the sun seemed to rise from the ground, and a solar eclipse obscured seven-fifteenths of the sun, with the gap beginning in the southwest. The diviners said, "The Western tribes will rebel, and there will be large-scale wars in the future, and the flames of war will spread westward." In April of the third year of the Ji You era, it came to pass that Er Zhu Tianguang, the governor of Yongzhou, captured Wan Qichou Nu and Xiao Baoyin in Anding and escorted them to the capital for execution.
On the fifth day of May, at the hour of Chen, a solar halo appeared again, this time featuring red on the inside and white on the outside, and there were two solar prominences inside the halo! More remarkably, there was also a white rainbow crossing the sun to the west; in the northeast, a solar prominence appeared, red on the inside and green on the outside; to the south, there was also a prominence, similarly red on the inside and green on the outside; and to the east, there was a ring-shaped halo, green on the inside and red on the outside. The capital did not witness these phenomena; only Qingzhou reported them to the court.
On the first day of June, a solar halo appeared again, and a white rainbow crossed the sun.
In the first year of Putai, on the third day of March, the sun and moon both appeared crimson, and the world was shrouded in murk.
On the first day of June, the solar eclipse began in the southwest, and at that time, dark clouds covered the sky, rendering visibility impossible; only Dingxiang and Erzhou reported to the court. The diviners said, "This is a sign of the ruler's weakness and the rise of unscrupulous individuals." At that time, the brothers Er Zhu Shilong were in power, acting with impunity.
On the second day of the second month in the second year of the revival, at the hour of Chen, there was again a solar halo, with no connection on the east and west sides, the colors remaining the same as before, red on the inside and green on the outside; there were solar prominences in the north and south directions; in the northwest, over a foot away from the halo, there was a prominence approximately two zhang long and three feet wide, also red on the inside and green on the outside.
In November, a solar halo appeared again, and this time, it featured two layers! Above it was a prominence, over three zhang long, green on the inside and red on the outside.
In the first year of Taichang, in May, a double-layer solar halo appeared again, with two prominences on top, each roughly one foot long. On the day of Gui Chou, at noon, a prominence appeared to the south of the sun; over a foot away from the sun, there was another prominence, approximately three zhang long and five feet wide, red on the inside and green on the outside.
On the first day of October, the sun rose from below the horizon, and the solar eclipse began in the southwest. The divination indicated "a large-scale war is imminent." On the 15th day of the first lunar month in the second year of Yongxi, King Xianwu of Qi set out from Jinyang to attack Er Zhu Zhao. On the 18th day of the first lunar month, he faced a crushing defeat at Chihong Ridge, and after Er Zhu Zhao fled, he took his own life.
On the first day of the fourth month of the second year of Yongxi, another solar eclipse occurred, this time in the Bing position, starting from the true south. The divination suggested "the ruler is scheming." On the eighth day of the fifth month of the third year, the emperor was manipulated by treacherous officials like Hu Si Chun, becoming suspicious of King Xianwu of Qi, and under the pretext of attacking Xiao Yan, he summoned troops from the various states of Henan in the height of summer, which sparked widespread anger among the people. This incident is documented in the "Biography of Hu Si Chun."
On the tenth day of the fourth month of the third year, another solar eclipse occurred. The divination foretold "someone will assassinate the emperor." On the fourteenth day of the seventh month, the emperor was coerced by Hu Si Chun and others to flee Chang'an.
On the eighth day of the first month of the first year of Xiaojing Yuanyang, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination foretold "a minister's death." On the eighth day of the eighth month, Minister Gao Ao Cao was killed in battle at Heyin. On the sixth day of the sixth month, a solar halo appeared, consisting of a single layer that resembled two earrings; above it was a shape resembling a back, over two zhang long. On the sixth day of the eleventh month at the hour of Chen, a solar halo appeared, incomplete on the south side, with shapes resembling earrings and backs in the east-west direction; there was also a white rainbow that vanished as it reached the earring-like shapes.
On the sixth day of the second month of the second year at the hour of Si, a solar halo appeared, with a white rainbow piercing through the sun, but not completely.
On the fourth day of the leap month of the second year of Xinghe, a solar eclipse occurred. The divination predicted "a small-scale war is likely." On the tenth day of the seventh month, Zhao Jizong, the acting governor of Guangyu in the two states, and Cui Kang, the governor of Nanjing, attacked Yangdi but were driven back by the defending general.
In the third year of Wuding, on the seventeenth day of the eleventh month of winter, a double sun halo appeared, incomplete in the southeast corner; in the southwest and northeast directions, shapes resembling earrings were observed; in the northwest direction, two shapes resembling backs were noted; white mist was seen in the northeast and northwest, with each having two shapes resembling earrings; there was also white mist in the middle, extending horizontally to the shapes resembling earrings. On the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, faint thin clouds appeared in the sky, and a halo appeared, incomplete in the southeast corner; in the southwest and northeast directions, shapes resembling earrings were present; in the northwest direction, a shape resembling a back was observed, one foot away from the sun. On the sixth day of the first month of the fifth year, a solar eclipse occurred, beginning in the southwest corner. The divination indicated that "if it’s not the monarch’s death, it’s a minister’s death, and the world will change its attire." On the twenty-third day of the first month, King Wu of Qi passed away. On the eighth day of the third month, a halo appeared, with the halo light in the northwest direction passing through the sun, and there were shapes resembling earrings and an embrace shape. On the seventh day of the sixth month, it was the first day of the lunar calendar, on the day of Gengyin, and a solar eclipse occurred. The solar eclipse began in the northwest.
