The "Hong Fan Lun" states: When the yang force is too strong, hail falls; when the yin force is too strong, sleet falls. This means that when the yang force is excessive and the yin force is insufficient, and the two forces cannot find balance, it results in hail. This is similar to the discord between the opinions of ministers and the thoughts of the ruler.
On Gengwu day in the fourth month of the fourth year of Gaozu's reign, a heavy hailstorm hit Jingzhou, causing damage to the crops. In the first year of Chengming, on Xinyou day in the fourth month, strong winds and hail fell in Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou. In August, on Gengshen day, a large hailstorm struck various counties in Bingzhou, with hail piling up to a foot deep on the ground, damaging grass, trees, and crops. On Guiwei day, a massive hailstorm occurred in Dingzhou, killing people, where the largest hailstones were two feet across. In June of Shizong's first year, heavy rain mixed with hail fell in Yongzhou and Qingzhou, killing deer. In the fifth month of the fourth year, heavy rain mixed with hail fell in Fenzhou. In June, on Yisi day, Fenzhou again experienced heavy rain mixed with hail, killing off grass, crops, wild chickens, and rabbits. In July, on Jiaxu day, a fierce storm blew in, bringing heavy rain mixed with hail, starting from Fenzhou and passing through Bingzhou, Xiangzhou, Sizhou, and Yanzhou, finally stopping at Xuzhou, spanning ten miles, destroying all vegetation in its path. In the second year of Zhengshi, on Dingchou day in March, a severe hailstorm occurred in Qizhou and Jizhou, accompanied by rain mixed with snow. In the third year of Yongping, on Gengzi day in May, heavy rain mixed with hail fell in Nanjin Guangye County, causing calamity to birds, beasts, and crops.
The "Hong Fan Lun" also states: The heavy rain and snow recorded in the "Spring and Autumn" are like ordinary heavy rain, but even more severe. Rain is yin force, and snow is also yin force. Heavy snow indicates that the yin force has accumulated very strongly. There's a saying that heavy snow is like heavy rain, but it falls as snow in winter.
In the second year of Shizu's reign, in October, there was a heavy snowfall several feet deep. In the eighth year of Zhenjun, in May, there was heavy snow in Beizhen, resulting in the freezing deaths of both people and livestock. The political climate was quite harsh at that time. On the first day of the ninth month in the fourth year of Gaozu's Taihe reign, a strong wind swept through the capital, and three feet of sleet fell. In the first year of Shizong's Zhengshi reign, in May, there was heavy sleet in Wuchuan Town. In the second month of the fourth year, there were violent winds in Sizhou and Xiangzhou, accompanied by heavy sleet. In September, there was heavy snowfall. In the second year of Suzong's Zhengguang reign, in April, there was heavy snow in Rouxuan Town.
The "Yizhuan" by Jing Fang states: Raising troops and wanton slaughter is against the law, leading to frost disaster; crops will freeze in summer, and wheat will freeze in winter; indiscriminate killing is inhumane, leading to early frosts in summer. In the fifth year of Taizu's Tianzi reign, in July, there was frost in Jizhou. In the first year of Shizu's Taiyan reign, on the day of Gengchen in July, there was heavy frost that froze all the grass and trees.
On the day of Yichou in the sixth year of Gaozong's Heping reign, there was frost. In the third year of Gaozu's Taihe reign, in July, there was heavy frost in Yongzhou, Shuozhou, and also in Fuhan, Tujing, Bogu, Dunhuang, and Qiuchi Town, causing all the crops to freeze to death. This was truly a year of great disaster, with not a single grain harvested.
In the sixth year of Heping, in April, there was also frost in Yingchuan County. This frost was truly widespread. In March of the seventh year, there were winds and frost in Sizhou, ruining the beans. This weather is truly unpredictable.
In April of the ninth year, there was frost in Yongzhou and Qingzhou. In June, frost also fell in Luozhou, Sizhou, Xiangzhou, as well as in Lingqiu and Guangchang Town of Sizhou. The extent of this frost is increasingly widespread, which is truly alarming.
In August of the fourteenth year, there was frost in Fenzhou. This relentless frost has continued year after year, showing no signs of stopping.
In the first year of Shizong's Jingming reign, on the day of Bingzi in April, there was frost in Xizhou, freezing all the grass. In June, on the day of Dinghai, there was frost in Jianxing County, and the grass also froze to death. This continuous frost is a significant hardship for the common people.
In August of the year of Yi Hai, there were frequent frosts in Yongzhou, Bingzhou, Shuozhou, Xiazhou, and Fenzhou, as well as in Zhengping and Pingyang in Sizhou. This is really disastrous weather.
In the second year of the third month of the Xin Hai year, there was frost in Qizhou, and mulberry trees and wheat were completely killed.
In the fourth year of the third month of the Ren Xu year, there was frost in Yongzhou, and mulberry trees and wheat were completely killed. On Xin Si day, there was also frost in Qingzhou, and mulberry and wheat were all frozen to death. This is just adding insult to injury.
In the first year of the Zhengshi era in May of the Ren Xu year, there was frost in Wuchuan Town.
In June of Xin Mao, there was frost in Huaishuo Town.
In July of Wu Chen, there was frost in East Qinzhou.
In August of Geng Zi, there was frost in Hezhou, and all the crops were frozen to death. This frost is absolutely ruthless.
In the second year of April, there was frost in Qizhou.
In May of Ren Shen, there was frost in Hengzhou and Fenzhou, and all the crops were frozen to death.
In July of Xin Si, there was frost in Binzhou and Qizhou.
On the day of Yi Wei, there was frost in Dunhuang.
On Wu Xu day, there was frost in Hengzhou.
In the third year of June of Bing Shen, there was frost in Anzhou.
In the fourth year of March of Yi Chou, there were frequent frosts in Binzhou.
In April of Yi Mao, there was also frost in Dunhuang.
In August, there was frost in Hezhou.
In the first year of Yongping in March of Yi You, there was frost in Qizhou and Binzhou.
On Ji Chou day, there was frost in Bingzhou.
In April of Wu Wu, there was frost in Dunhuang.
In the second year of April of Xin Hai, there was frost in Wuzhou Town.
In the fourth year of Yanchang in March of Gui Hai, there was frost in the eight prefectures of Henan. The scale of this is unprecedented.
In the first year of the Xiping era in July, there was frost in the eleven provinces of Henan and the north. This is truly a nationwide disaster.
In the "Hongfan Lun," it is said that: "Thunder is yang, clouds are yin. Only when there are clouds will there be thunder, only when there are subjects will there be a ruler. Thunder depends on clouds, rulers depend on subjects; this is the combination of yin and yang. Therefore, if there is thunder without clouds, it means the ruler is alone, without subjects."
In the first year of Xianzu Huangxing in July, there was a phenomenon of thunder without clouds in the northeast region. What does this foretell, leading people to think deeply and fearfully?
In a certain year in July, a rumbling sound like thunder came from the northeast.
On a certain day in February of a certain year, thunder sounded from the northeast, the sound traveled southward, deafening the air, and stopped after two booms. This phenomenon is referred to as "drum demon," which suggests a creature beating a drum. On a certain day in October of a certain year, a sound like a large drum came from the north, moving toward the northwest. According to the "Hong Fan Lun," Yang energy rules for one hundred eighty-three days, and Yin energy does the same; thunder emerges from the ground for one hundred eighty-three days, then enters the ground for one hundred eighty-three days, and then comes out again; this is a natural law. Thus, when thunder follows the natural order, all is well; but when it does not, misfortune befalls all. The same goes for a nation; when the ruler is well, the country is well; when the ruler encounters trouble, the country suffers. Thunder occurring when it shouldn't is a violation of reason.
On a certain day in October of a certain year, it rained, accompanied by thunder and lightning. In the years that followed, there were sporadic reports of thunder, with slightly different locations and times, some places also experiencing heavy rain. For example, on a certain day in November of a certain year, the Youzhou region had thunder and lightning, and the city was bathed in red light. On a certain day in November of a certain year, there was thunder in the Liangzhou region that rumbled seven times. On a certain day in December of a certain year, there was thunder at night that rumbled nine times. On a certain day in November of a certain year, thunder and lightning appeared in the four states of Qin, Qi, Jing, and Shuo. On a certain day in the first month of a certain year, there was thunder again.
The "Spring and Autumn Annals" records that the temple of Yibo was struck by lightning. Zuo Qiuming said that the Zhan family must be hiding something. Liu Xiang believed that Yibo was a hereditary minister, and this was a warning from heaven, implying that hereditary ministers should not be allowed, as it would lead to tyranny.
In April of a certain year, the eastern corridor of the Tian'an Hall was struck by lightning. The emperor was very angry and ordered the corridors on both the east and west sides of the hall to be demolished with a battering ram. Consequently, the emperor soon met an untimely death.
On a certain night in November of a certain year, there was thunder and lightning. On a certain day in May of a certain year, the finial on the roof above the east middle gate of the eastern temple was struck by lightning.
Ban Gu once said: If leaders do not show tolerance and understanding towards their subordinates, they cannot become wise rulers. A person's appearance, speech, and senses are all influenced by the heart; if these four aspects are problematic, one can become confused and ignorant, which can lead to serious consequences.
On a certain day in the first month of a certain year, mud rain fell in Luoyang, resembling fog. On a certain day in the eleventh month of a certain year, dust filled the air, obscuring the sun, and it lasted for six days, remaining thick and suffocating like smoke by the evening of a certain day.
In the third year of Jingming, in February, yellow fog fell in Qinzhou, and the ground was covered by rainwater and mud, as if covered by a thick carpet. In August, it was gloomy everywhere, with murky air making the air hard to breathe.
In August of the fourth year, Liangzhou also experienced rain mixed with mud, resembling fog. On a certain night in the first month of the second year of Zhengshi, a dense mist spread, starting out black and later turning red, which was rather alarming. In the third year of the first month, there was again dust fog everywhere, rendering visibility nearly impossible. In September, black fog enveloped everything, casting the world into complete darkness.
In the first year of Yanchang, in February, yellow fog obscured the sky and sun, obscuring all visibility. At that time, Gao Zhao was favored by the emperor because he was a royal relative, and his brothers were also granted titles, enjoying the same glory as the five marquises of the Han dynasty.
In recent years, the weather has been unusually hot. Liu Xiang and Ban Gu both remarked that there was no frost in winter and that plants did not wither, which is abnormal. The I Ching also states that intense summer heat can lead to death, while only in winter can all things thrive.
In the fifth year of Zhenjun, in August, the fruit trees in Hualin Garden were all in bloom, which is unusual for the season! In the fifth year of Yanxing, in August, the peach and plum trees in Zhongshan also bloomed. In the first year of Chengming, in September, in Youzhou, there was a family named Qi Yuan, where the osmanthus fruits were all ripe, but they all dropped overnight. Then new flowers and leaves appeared, and within seven days, it returned to a spring-like scene—what a spectacle! In the fourth year of Jingming, in November, the peach and plum trees in Qizhou Dongqinghe County also bloomed. In the fourth year of Yanchang, in the intercalary tenth month, the pear trees in the capital also bloomed; this is all chaotic! The saying goes: if a ruler abandons the law, suppresses his meritorious subjects, kills the crown prince, and makes a concubine his lawful wife, then a disaster by fire will occur. It means that fire loses its normal attributes and becomes a disaster.
In the fifth year of Taian, in the spring, a big fire broke out in Fei Ru City, almost all the officials' and people's houses were burned down; only the Buddha statues and the temples in the east and west were spared—truly a miracle! In the eighth year of Taihe, in May, the marshes in Qin County, Henai, caught fire on their own; the fire intensified and spread over a hundred paces, taking five days to put out. In the first year of Jingming, in March, the ancestral hall at Hengyue caught fire. In the first year of Zhengguang, in May, the palace armory also caught fire. In the second year of Xiaochang, in the summer, the underground area of Qiuxian in Youzhou also caught fire. In the third year, in the spring, a big fire broke out in Yingzhou City, destroying over three thousand homes.
In the third year of Yongxi, in February, the nine-story pagoda at Yongning Temple caught fire. Later, people said they saw the pagoda flying into the East Sea. The pagoda at Yongning Temple is a miraculous place, as if heaven was saying: if Yongning Temple catches fire, the Wei Kingdom will not be peaceful. Bohai was the original fief of King Qixianwu of Qi; the spirits returning to the sea signifies the impending prosperity of the Qi Kingdom! In March, the south gate of the Sanjue Temple in Binxian also caught fire.
In the autumn of 534 AD, the eastern wall of the Changhe Gate in Ye City caught fire; this is a significant event!
In the winter of the year 543 AD, a fire quietly started under the northern mountains of Xihedong, Fenzhou, with hot air rising straight up, much more terrifying than the fire above ground! On the night of the first day of the first month of the year 544 AD, a black mist appeared in the southeast sky, one zhang wide and ten zhang long; it was said by diviners to be a sign of war. Indeed, in February, Murong Ke indeed rebelled in Beiping. It seems that this celestial omen was indeed accurate! In the first month of the year 551 AD, a black cloud rose over the area of the Yellow River, several li wide, darkening the sky like night, which was truly frightening! As a result, Dongyang City was indeed breached. This black cloud was indeed an ominous sign! In September of the year 556 AD, black mist spread everywhere. After a few days, Yangzhou defeated Xiao Yan's general Zhang Xiao, resulting in the beheading of two thousand. Could this black mist be a sign of victory in war? In November of the year 557 AD, three white mist suddenly emerged from underground at night, turning into yellow-red colors in a moment, shining brightly and illuminating the earth. With the white mist turning yellow-red, it remains unclear whether this is auspicious or inauspicious! In the evening of September of the year 561 AD, a red light appeared in the northwest, twenty zhang long and eight or nine feet wide, disappearing after a while. The meaning of this flash of red light remains unknown. In March of the year 562 AD, a red light appeared in the sky, lasting from the hour of Mao to the hour of Xu. With such a long duration of this red light, could it signify a major event to happen? In November of the year 563 AD, a red light appeared in the northwest, shooting straight up into the sky like flames. The capital did not see it, but it was seen in Liangzhou. This red light could be seen from a thousand miles away, truly a spectacle! In the evening of September of the year 565 AD, a red light like flames appeared in the northwest, extending east-west for more than a few dozen bu. Later, a rebellion did indeed occur in Beizhen; this omen proved to be remarkably accurate! In May of the year 567 AD, during the hour of Shen, a red light appeared in the north, extending east-west to the edge of the sky, like flames. The scale of this red light was truly massive!
In November of 570 AD, a misty red light appeared, extending diagonally from the southwest corner of the steps of Xianyang Hall to the corridor, about one zhang high, like a red curtain, and it did not disappear from noon to dusk. The Emperor was quite displeased upon seeing it, and later indeed encountered an untimely demise. It seems that this celestial phenomenon has truly come true!
In January of 571 AD, during the hour of the Dog, a red light appeared in the east, about three zhang long, and disappeared after a while. Surely that can't be a bad omen?
In June of 570 AD, during the hour of the Monkey, a blue gas appeared in the Chen area, four feet wide, along the mountains to the east, extending northwestward, all the way to mid-air. In the northwest Xu region, a black, red, and yellow cloud appeared, shaped like a mountain peak, with blue gas at the top, about four feet wide, extending southeastward, all the way to mid-air, with the two gases connecting. The gas in the southeast dissipated first, while the gas in the northwest disappeared later. This was also a precursor to the Emperor's untimely demise.
Ban Gu once said: "Night monsters, when clouds and winds gather, appear dark and unclear, similar to ordinary wind. When the weather is warm and windy, it will cause disasters of locusts and moths." In June of 555 AD, darkness fell.
On the first few days of August, it was pitch black during the day.
Liu Xin said, if someone’s appearance is unseemly, it is not dignified. If one is rude above and cruel below, yin energy will be strong, causing floods to damage crops, leading to shortages of food and clothing, and bandits and thieves will come out together, so this is the worst situation. There is another saying, that the common people are oppressed excessively, so their appearance becomes ugly. Ban Gu believed that when livestock has problems, it is a disaster, which refers to obvious disasters; if it happens to humans, it is called... (the original text quotes: 瑑瑑), meaning a severe illness.
In the third year of Yongxing, someone in Wulan had a bone growing under their throat, resembling a sheep horn, over a foot long.
In May of the sixteenth year of Taihe, the Minister Li Chong reported: "In the county of Wuji in Zhongshan, Dingzhou, Li Banhu's daughter had nine hairs growing under the nail of her right thumb on September 20th last year, and by October 20th, they had grown to a length of one foot two inches."
In the second year of Xiping, on a day in November, the province of Bingzhou reported that Han Sengzhen's daughter from Qixian was born from her mother's right rib. Empress Dowager Ling ordered her to be sent to the Yeting Palace.
On a day in May in the first year of Zhengguang, a large footprint appeared in Xiacai County, Nanyanzhou. It left seven steps, measuring one foot eight inches long and seven inches five minutes wide.
In the autumn of the third year of Yanxing, in Xiurong County, a woman gave birth to four boys at once, totaling sixteen boys across four births.
On a day in November in the third year of Yong'an, a family in the capital gave birth to a child with one head, two bodies, four hands, four feet, and three ears.
On a day in November in the sixteenth year of Taihe, Emperor Gaozu and the monk Dao Deng went to the Shizhong Palace together. At sunset, around the sixth hour, they saw a ghost wearing yellow pleated pants standing at the door wanting to come in. The Emperor thought it was a person, scolded him, and scared him away. When asked, everyone else said they didn't see anything; only the Emperor and Dao Deng saw it.
In the second year of Huangxing, there was a plague in Yuzhou, killing fourteen to fifteen thousand people.
In the third month of the third year of Yongping, there was a major epidemic in Qingchang and Xiangling counties in Pingyang, with two thousand seven hundred and thirty deaths from January to April.
In the sixth month of the nineteenth year of Taihe, Xu Prefecture reported that an eight-foot tall bronze statue was sweating.
During the periods of Yong'an, Putai, and Yongxi, the golden statue in the Pingdeng Temple in the capital kept sweating, indicating that the country was in trouble. People were very frightened, believing it to be an ominous sign.
In the second month of the third year of Yong'an, a family in the capital had two bronze statues, each measuring over a foot tall. One had four white hairs under its chin, while the other had a black hair beside its cheek.
The "Hongfan Lun" states: The dragon is a scaly creature that lives in water. Clouds are also a symbol of water, with heavy yin energy, so the appearance of a dragon signifies that great events are about to happen. If the emperor does not adhere to human ethics and disrupts the heavenly order, there will surely be disasters of usurpation and murder.
In the third year of the reign of Emperor Shizu, in March, two white dragons were seen in a household's well in the capital. In the sixth year of Zhenjun, in February, another white dragon appeared in a well at a household in the capital. Although the dragon is a divine creature, its confinement in the well portends Emperor Shizu's sudden death!
In the first year of Suzong Zhengguang, in August, a black dragon that looked like a dog appeared, running from the south to Xuan Yang Gate, leaping suddenly and escaping through the gate tower. This is a sign of the decline of the Wei dynasty.
In the second year of Emperor Zhuang's reign, a dragon appeared in a well in Jinyang and did not leave for a long time. This is a sign of Emperor Zhuang's sudden death in Jinyang.
In the first year of the former Emperor Fei's reign, in April, a dragon's traces were seen leaving from the west side of Xuan Yang Gate before returning to the city. On the day of Yimao, ministers came to offer congratulations, and the emperor said: "If the country is to prosper, it must heed the opinions of the people; if the country is to perish, it must heed the will of heaven. As long as we, both rulers and subjects, practice self-restraint, serve the public, and govern well, these auspicious omens may not be entirely reliable."
The "Hongfan Lun" states: The horse is a symbol of war, so strange occurrences involving horses indicate that war is imminent.
In the second year of Suzong Xiping, in November, a horse foal sent from Hengzhou had a fleshy tail a foot long but was bald on its hindquarters.
In the first year of Zhengguang, in September, the official horses at Woye Town were infested with worms in their ears, resulting in the death of fourteen or fifteen horses. These worms resemble maggots, measuring less than five inches long and as thick as chopsticks.
The "Hongfan Lun" quotes the "I Ching," saying: "Kun is the cow," where Kun represents earth; when the earth's energy is chaotic, strange occurrences involving cows will appear, known as disasters involving cows. This phenomenon signifies an impending destruction of the ancestral temple, and some say it is due to busy transportation leading to these disasters.
In May of the second year of Shizong's Jingming era, a report from Jizhou stated that a cow in Changle County gave birth to a calf that had two heads, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears. The 'Hongfan Lun' states that the emperor's lack of wisdom leads to moral decay. In March of the twenty-third year of the Tahe era, a report from Sizhou mentioned that a lamb in Yangqu County gave birth to a lamb that had one head, two bodies (one female and one male), three ears, and eight legs. Shortly thereafter, the emperor passed away, and six regents took control. In July of the first year of Shizong's Zhengshi era, a lamb with one head, two bodies, and eight legs was delivered to Shanshan Town. In January of the second year, Shanshan Town brought another lamb with eight legs. In May of the fourth year of Yanchang, a report from Bogulv Town stated that a lamb with one head, six legs, and two tails was born. According to Jingfang's writings, any strange phenomena, such as animals growing many legs, are signs of impending chaos. He also said that if a pig gives birth to an offspring with a human head and a pig's body, that place will be in chaos, even facing destruction. In September of the first year of Yanxing, it was reported that a pig in Yuzhou, the governor of Linhuai, Wang Rang, gave birth to a piglet with one head, two bodies, and eight legs. In September of the fourth year of Shizong Jingming, it was reported in Liangzhou that dogs and pigs had mated. In August of the fourth year of Zhengshi, a pig in the capital gave birth to a piglet with one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs. In July of the fourth year of Yanchang, it was reported in Xuzhou that a pig in Yangping Shu gave birth to a piglet with a human-like face, a lump on the head, and no hair. This foreshadowed the Empress Dowager and the young ruler's impending loss of power. In the 'Hongfan Lun,' Jingfang writes that chicks, like courtiers; horns, which symbolize weapons and grow atop the head, represent the king's majesty. This indicates that the courtiers have seized power from the king and are about to rebel, causing uncontrollable harm. In May of the first year of Tahe, it was reported that there were two hens in the capital with crowns resembling horns on their heads, unlike other chickens. At that time, Empress Dowager Wenming was at the helm, and signs of favoring the unscrupulous were clear.
In the first year of Shizong Zhengshi, in April, there was a little chicken in Henan with four legs and four wings. (Specifically recorded in "Cui Guang Chuan") In August, a report from Sizhou stated: in Henan, a family's chicken had grown a head behind its butt, complete with a mouth and eyes. Both heads had two pairs of wings growing from behind the neck, with two legs side by side. At that time, Shizong relied heavily on petty officials, had many factions, and signs of evil petty officials interfering in politics. In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Yanchang, a report from Luozhou stated that the yellow hen of Wei Xing, the governor of Changle's family, had a jujube-sized growth on its head, measuring about one inch and three fen in length, with fluffy hair on the growth, one and a half inches long. In the first month of the first year of Suzong Zhengguang, the chicken of General Lan Dou's family in the Tiger Ben, both roosters and hens had two horns on their heads, with mixed-color feathers, protruding higher than the comb. At that time, Empress Dowager Ling was in power. In the "Hong Fan Lun," it states: this is a punishment because rulers cannot see the situation clearly and do not listen to advice. In the third year of Taichang of Taizong, in November, a white owl was captured in the capital. In the eighth month of the second year of Suzong Zhengguang, a bald eagle was captured in the palace. In April of the second year of Xiaochang, someone brought a dead duck that had one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails. In March of the second year of Xiaojing Tianping, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Personnel and was captured in the hall. In the "Hong Fan Lun," it states: if the punishment is too harsh, it will only lead to public resentment; if greed is insatiable, it will only lead to labor and financial loss; building cities and losing the people's hearts will lead to pestilence. This is the principle being talked about.
In July of the fifth year of the Taihe era of Northern Wei under Emperor Gaozu, there was a locust disaster in Dunhuang, and almost all the autumn crops were devoured. In July of the sixth year, Qingzhou and Yongzhou also suffered from locust disasters, with crops severely damaged. In August, the seven states: Xuzhou, East Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as the four towns of Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guanga, and Linji, all experienced locust disasters. In April of the seventh year, Xiangzhou and Yuzhou suffered another locust disaster. In March of the eighth year, the three states of Jizhou, Zhou, and Xiangzhou were ravaged by locusts, resulting in a complete crop failure. In April, the seven states of Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou all experienced locust disasters. On the day of Yisi in June, Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou again encountered locust disasters. On the day of Guisi in October of the sixteenth year, Fuhan also faced a locust disaster, resulting in heavy crop losses.
By May of the first year of the Jingming era under Emperor Shizong of Northern Wei, the six states of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were once again plagued by locusts, and all the crops suffered. On the day of Renwu in March of the fourth year, a large-scale pest outbreak occurred in Hezhou, resulting in no wheat harvest. In May, Guangzhou suffered another locust disaster. In June, Hezhou experienced a severe locust disaster. In July, Donglai County also suffered from locusts. In June of the first year of the Zhengshi era, Xiazhou and Sizhou experienced locust disasters, damaging the crops. In April of the fourth year, locusts in Qingzhou damaged the flowers of jujube trees. In August, Jingzhou, Hezhou, Liangzhou, and Sizhou Hengnong County were all besieged by various pests, including yellow weevils, locusts, and banded insects. On the day of Jisi in June of the first year of Yongping, a locust disaster occurred in Liangzhou. In May of the fifth year, locusts in Qingzhou harmed jujube flowers again. In July, locusts and grasshoppers appeared in the capital. In August, the locust disaster in Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou was particularly devastating, with nearly two-thirds of the crops eaten. In June of the first year of the Xiping era under Emperor Su, the four states of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were once again plagued by locust disasters.
In June of the first year of Xianzu Tian'an, a peculiar phenomenon occurred in Yanzhou: black ants and red ants fought large-scale battles, with a battlefront stretching sixty paces long and four inches wide. The red ants were completely wiped out, with the black ants occupying the north and the red ants occupying the south. In November, Bi Zhongjing, the governor of Yanzhou appointed by Liu Yu, sent someone to the court for assistance, and the court appointed General Wei Yuan to provide support, defeating the bandit leader Zhou Kai and his men.
In July of the year 586, Zhang Wanshou, the official in charge of Bingzhou, reported that a farmer named Jia Richeng in Jianxing County discovered something caught in the silkworm net while raising silkworms four months ago. It resembled a ribbon, measuring four feet long and three inches wide, thin, and covered with two yellow silkworm cocoons that resembled little feet.
In March of the year 506, in the area of Xuzhou, silkworm moths actually attacked people! More than a hundred people were bitten, and over twenty died; this was downright terrifying.
Ancient texts describe the calamity of caterpillars as referring to unusual and bizarre phenomena.
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 ran to the north bank of the Yellow River. A year later, the river ran red like blood. Legend has it that this was a portent of the destruction of the Wei Chen clan. Later, all the members of the Wei Chen clan were thrown into the river, and that place was never troubled again.
In January of the year 529, a wolf actually wandered into the city and was possibly captured near Xieshi.
In December of the year 531, a leopard was captured at the Copper Jue Platform in the northern city.
On a certain day in May of the year 586, a fox spirit came out to cut people's hair, while the Empress Dowager was presiding over the court in the reign of Emperor Wenxuan; this was definitely a sign of political instability!
In the year 528, starting from spring, there were reports of fox spirits cutting people's hair in the capital, which frightened everyone. On a certain day in June, Empress Ling called in those who had their hair cut and had Liu Teng, the commander of the Chongxun Guard, have them whipped outside Qianqiu Gate, just like what happened in 586. According to the book "Ruitu," if local officials treat the common people cruelly and there are widespread complaints, white mice will start showing up.
In February 580, a commoner named Zhao Wen in the capital caught a white mouse and brought it to the court. That spring, Beiyuan also caught a white mouse, but it soon died. When they dissected it, they found three tiny white mice inside!
In March 581, the emperor visited the Western Palace and caught yet another white mouse. In August, a palace servant named Zhang An also caught a white mouse. In May 582, while hunting at Kelong Mountain, the emperor caught a white mouse; Pingcheng also caught three. In June, Pingcheng caught two more. In August, Prince Kuai of Yuzhang also caught a white mouse.
In November 583, someone in the capital caught a white mouse (or maybe a white bug) and presented it to the court. In June 584, Zhongshan caught two white mice. In March 585, one was caught in the capital. In November, another white mouse was caught in the capital.
In August 483, in Xiangzhou, Wei County, someone caught a white mouse. This news must have been pretty rare back then. In August 477, a white mouse was also sent from Yanmen; why are these things popping up all over the place?
In August 499, our capital caught a white mouse as well. This is the third time—does it mean something? In May 501, the capital caught another white mouse. This time it was in May, unlike the previous times—could it be seasonal?
In June 240, the capital caught yet another white mouse! After all these years, why does this white mouse keep showing up in the capital?
In April 532 AD, a white mouse was delivered voluntarily from Sizhou. This time it was sent voluntarily; could this have some special significance? This white mouse, appearing in a different time and location, is quite perplexing.
