In ancient times, many people found it strange that there was no frost in winter, yet the grass and trees remained alive. Liu Xiang and Ban Gu both commented on this, and Jing Fang also discussed it in the "Book of Changes": people perished from the summer heat, yet everything could still mature and bear fruit in winter. Let's look at some peculiar occurrences in history: in the fifth year of Shizong Zhenjun, August, the fruit trees in Hualin Garden were all in bloom; in the fifth year of Gaozu Yanxing, August, the peach and plum trees in Zhongshan also blossomed; in the first year of Chengming, September, a family named Qi Yuan in Youzhou had their mulberry trees produce fruit, which suddenly all dropped, and then flowers and leaves sprouted again, resembling spring within seven days—it was truly astonishing! In the fourth year of Shizong Jingming, November, the peach and plum trees in Dongqinghe County of Qizhou also bloomed; in the fourth year of Yanchang, in the leap month of October, the pear trees in the capital also flowered. The "Hongfan Zhuan" states: if laws are abolished, meritorious officials are marginalized, the crown prince is murdered, and a concubine is raised to the status of wife, then the fire will smolder, implying that this fire has lost its essence and will bring about disaster.
In the third month of the fifth year of Emperor Gaozong's reign, a large fire broke out in Feiru, and almost all the houses of officials and common people were burned down; only the Buddha statues in the east and west temples were spared, which was truly strange! In the fifth month of the eighth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, a fire ignited underground in Qinxian County, Henei, growing larger and spreading for over a hundred paces, taking five days to extinguish. In the third month of the first year of Emperor Shizong's reign, the ancestral hall at Hengyue caught fire; in the fifth month of the first year of Emperor Suzong's reign, the Forbidden City caught fire as well; in the summer of the second year of Emperor Xiaochang's reign, a fire ignited underground in Qiuxian County, Youzhou; in the spring of the third year, a large fire broke out in Yingzhou City, destroying over three thousand homes. In the second month of the third year of Emperor Yungxi's reign, the nine-story Buddha pagoda at Yongning Temple caught fire. Later, everyone said they saw the pagoda fly to the East Sea. The Yongning Pagoda is where the spiritual image resides, as if the heavens were warning: if Yongning faces disaster, the Wei Kingdom will be troubled. Bohai is the hometown of King Xianwu of Qi, and the spirits returning to the sea is a sign of the Qi dynasty's impending prosperity! In the third month, the south gate of the three-tiered temple in Binxian caught fire; in the autumn of the fourth year of Emperor Xiaojing's reign, the Changhe Gate and East Gate of Ye City caught fire; in the winter of the third year of Emperor Wuding's reign, a fire broke out underground in the north mountain of Xihe, Fenzhou, with hot air still rising from it! In the first month of the second year of Emperor Shizong's reign, black gas appeared in the southeast of the southern sky, one zhang wide and ten zhang long; the divination foretold a coming war. In the second month, Murong Ke's neighbor indeed rebelled in Beiping. In the first month of the third year of Emperor Xianzu's reign, black clouds appeared in the Heji area, covering several miles, shrouding Dongyang City, so dark it was like night, leading to the eventual collapse of Dongyang City. On a day in September 483 AD, the sky was filled with dark, pitch-black clouds. On another day of the same month, the Yangzhou army defeated Zhang Xiao, a general of Xiao Yan, resulting in the deaths of over 2000 people.
In the year 477 AD, on a certain night in November, three streams of white gas suddenly emerged from the ground, quickly transforming into a yellowish-red color, radiating brilliant light that illuminated the earth. In the year 484 AD, on a certain evening in September, red gas appeared in the northwest, extending 20 zhang in length and 8 to 9 feet in width, and vanished after a short time. In the year 491 AD, on a certain day in March, red gas appeared in the sky, lasting from morning until evening.
In the year 500 AD, on a certain day in November, red gas appeared in the northwest, stretching all the way to the horizon, resembling fire. It was not visible in the capital, but it was seen from Liangzhou. In the year 502 AD, on a certain night in September, red gas resembling flames appeared in the northwest, spanning over a match's length from east to west. This was a sign of the Northern Zhen Rebellion.
In the year 504 AD, on a certain day in May during the shen hour (3-5 PM), red gas appeared in the north, extending to the horizon from east to west, resembling flames. On a certain day in November of the year 507 AD, a stream of red gas appeared, similar to fog, slanting from the southwest corner of the Xiangyang Hall steps into the corridor, about one zhang high, resembling a crimson veil that reached the ground, and it remained visible from the wu hour (1-3 PM) to the xu hour (7-9 PM). The emperor was deeply troubled upon seeing it, and ultimately died suddenly as a consequence.
On a certain day in January of the year 508 AD, during the xu hour (7-9 PM), red gas appeared in the east, over three zhang long, vanishing after three hours. On a certain day in June of the year 507 AD, during the shen hour (3-5 PM), green gas emerged in the northeast, measuring four feet in width, along the mountains to the east, extending northwest into the sky. In the northwest, black, red, and yellow clouds appeared, that looked like mountain peaks, with green gas at the top, about four feet wide, extending southeast into the sky, with the two streams of gas connecting. The gas in the southeast dissipated first, followed by the gas in the northwest. This too signified the emperor's untimely death.
Ban Gu said: The strange phenomena that appear at night are because of the combination of clouds and wind, which creates a dark and unclear atmosphere, thus resembling ordinary wind phenomena. When the weather is warm and windy, it can lead to disasters such as pests and locusts.
On a certain day in June 491 AD, it was dark. On a certain day in August 491 AD, the daytime was as dark as night.
Liu Xin said: Improper behavior and demeanor signify a lack of seriousness. When the upper class oppresses the lower class and acts tyrannically, it leads to the prevalence of dark energy, causing floods that destroy crops, leading to food and clothing shortages and chaos caused by wickedness; thus, this is the worst omen. There is also a saying that when the common people endure excessive punishment, they bear ugly expressions. Ban Gu believed that abnormalities in livestock are signs of disaster, indicating that calamity is already evident; if disaster befalls a person, it will manifest as illness and an ugly appearance, signifying that the calamity is serious.
In the third year of Yongxing in the Tang Dynasty, someone in the Wulanhou area gave birth to a strange object that resembled a sheep's horn and was over a foot long. This sounds quite bizarre.
In the sixteenth year of Taihe in the Tang Dynasty, in May, the Minister Li Chong reported that in Wujixian County of Zhongshan Prefecture in Dingzhou, there was a girl named Li Banhou, who, on September 20 of last year, grew nine hairs under the nail of her right thumb, and by October 20, they had grown to a length of twelve inches. This hair growth under her nail is certainly an oddity!
On the day of Jimi in November of the second year of Xiping in the Tang Dynasty, it was reported from Bingzhou that there was a woman named Han Sengzhen in Qixian who was born from her mother's right rib. The Empress Dowager sent her to the Yeting Palace. This... is just unbelievable!
On the day of Wuxu in May of the first year of Zhengguang, giant footprints appeared in Xiacai County of Nanyanzhou, measuring a full seven steps, each step being one foot eight inches long and seven inches five tenths wide. Just how massive were those footprints!
In the autumn of the third year of Yanxing in the Tang Dynasty, a woman in Xiurong County gave birth to four sons at once, and in total, she gave birth four times, resulting in sixteen sons! That's some serious fertility!
In the third year of Yong'an during the Tang Dynasty, on the day of Dingmao in November, a family in the capital gave birth to a child who had one head, two bodies, four hands, four feet, and three ears! This... this is nothing short of a monster!
In the sixteenth year of Taihe, on the day of Yihai in November, Emperor Gaozu and the monk Daodeng were in the Shizhong Hall. At sunset, around 6 PM, they saw a ghost dressed in yellow clothes and pants, standing at the door wanting to come in. The emperor thought it was a person and shouted at it, scaring it away. The emperor asked those around him, and everyone said they hadn't seen it; only the emperor and Daodeng saw it. This emperor certainly has guts!
In the second year of Huangxing during the Tang Dynasty, in October, a plague broke out in Yuzhou, killing around 140,000 to 150,000 people. This plague is devastating!
In the third year of Yongping during the Tang Dynasty, in April, a major epidemic struck the counties of Chang and Xiangling in Pingyang, killing 2,730 people from January to April. This epidemic spread too quickly!
In June of the nineteenth year of Taihe, Xuzhou reported that a copper statue, eight zhang tall, was sweating all over the ground. Can a statue really sweat?
During the years of Yong'an, Putai, and Yongxi, in the Pingteng Temple in the capital, the golden statue of Dingguang would often sweat. Every time a major event happened in the country, it would sweat, which they interpreted as an ominous sign.
In February of the third year of Yong'an, a family in the capital had two copper statues, each over a foot long. One statue had four white hairs growing from its chin, while the other had one black hair growing from its cheek. Can a statue actually grow hair?
The "Hongfan Lun" states: Dragons are scaled creatures that live in water. Clouds are also a symbol of water; when the yin energy is strong, the appearance of clouds signals that major events are on the horizon. If a ruler goes against human ethics and disrupts the heavenly way, there will certainly be calamities of usurpation.
In the third year of Shenzong during the Tang Dynasty, in March, two white dragons appeared in a family's well in the capital.
In the sixth year of Zhenjun, on the day of Bingchen in February, a white dragon appeared again in the well of another family in the capital. Dragons are divine beings, yet they are crouching in wells; these are all ominous signs of Shenzong's violent downfall!
In August of the year 477 AD, a black dragon that looked like a dog ran from the south to Xuan Yang Gate, leapt onto the city gate tower and then passed through it. This foreshadowed the decline of the Wei Dynasty. In the year 500 AD, a dragon appeared in a well in Jinyang City and stayed there for a long time without leaving. Shortly after, Emperor Zhuang died an untimely death in Jinyang, and this dragon's appearance was also a bad omen. On Jia Yin day in April 517 AD, someone saw traces of a dragon leaving the city from the west side of Xuan Yang Gate, and then returning to the city. The next day, on Yi Mao day, the ministers all came to congratulate the emperor. The emperor said, "If the country is to prosper, the voices of the common people will be heeded; if the country is to perish, the omens will come to pass. However, as long as we, both ruler and subjects, can practice self-restraint and govern the nation diligently, these omens may not necessarily come true." According to the "Hong Fan Lun," horses symbolize the army, and strange occurrences of horses indicate imminent war. On the day of Xin Wei in November of the year 479 AD, Hengzhou reported a foal with a fleshy tail measuring over a foot long and no hair on its rear. In September of the year 477 AD, many official horses in Woye Town were infested by a type of bug that entered their ears, causing the death of fourteen or fifteen horses. This bug resembled a maggot, measuring about five inches long and as thick as a chopstick. The "Hong Fan Lun" cites the "Book of Changes," which states that "Kun represents cows," where Kun represents earth, and when the earth's energy is disturbed, unusual occurrences involving cows will occur, known as cow disasters. This foretells the destruction of ancestral temples. Others suggest that heavy transportation can also cause issues with cows. In May of the year 502 AD, Jizhou reported that in Changle County, a cow gave birth to a calf with two faces, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears. The "Hong Fan Lun" attributes this to the emperor's lack of wisdom and political missteps. In March of the year 493 AD, Sizhou reported that a sheep in Yangqu County gave birth to a lamb with two bodies—one female and one male—three ears, and eight legs. Soon after, Emperor Gaozu died, leading to six regents seizing power.
In July 501 AD, a lamb with two bodies and eight legs was brought to Shanshan Town. In January 502 AD, another eight-legged lamb was brought to Shanshan Town. In May 506 AD, it was reported in Boguluzhen Town that a lamb with six legs and two tails was born. In Jing Fang's "Commentary," it is said that any strange phenomenon with the same species but multiple limbs is due to mismanagement of officials. Jing Fang's "Book of Changes" states that if a strange phenomenon occurs, like a pig giving birth to something with a human head and pig body, it foretells chaos and destruction in that place. In September 491 AD, it was reported that the Governor of Yuzhou, Prince Rang of Linhuai, had a sow that gave birth to a piglet with two bodies and eight legs. In September 504 AD, it was reported in Liangzhou that a dog and a pig had mated. In August 434 AD, a sow in Beijing City gave birth to a creature with one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs. This is truly unprecedented! In July 457 AD, it was reported in Xuzhou that a sow in Yangping Garrison gave birth to a strange piglet with a head resembling a human, a lump on its head, and no hair on its body. This signals chaos in the court of Empress Dowager Ling and the young ruler! The "Hong Fan Lun" states that in Jing Fang's "Commentary," a chicken symbolizes a courtier, while horns symbolize the military, growing on the head to represent the king's authority. When a courtier misuses the king's authority to create chaos, it leads to disaster!
In May of the summer of 477 AD, it was reported that in Beijing, two hens appeared with crests on their heads that looked like horns, which was seen as a bad omen! In April of the year 477, in Henan, a chicken was found with four legs and four wings! This is also mentioned in the "Cui Guang Biography." In August, it was reported in Sizhou that a chicken raised by a commoner in Henan had a second head with eyes, a mouth, and wings behind each head, walking on two legs side by side. At that time, Emperor Sizong had more trust in villains, party struggles were severe, and evil men interfered in politics, all of which were bad omens!
In December of the year 457, it was reported in Luozhou that the yellow hen owned by Wei Xing's Prefect Chang Jiao grew a meat horn on its head the size of a jujube, one inch and three fen long, with hair one and a half fen long growing from the horn. In January of the year 520, the rooster and hen belonging to General Lan Dou of the Tiger Elite both grew two horns on their heads, with feathers of mixed colors, standing higher than their crests. At that time, Empress Ling was in power, which was considered an ill omen. The "Hong Fan Lun" states: This is a punishment caused by the ruler's lack of insight!
In November of the year 479, a white owl was caught in Beijing. On the Ji Mao day in August 521, a bald vulture was caught in the palace. In April of the year 527, a dead duck with one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails was presented, which was quite bizarre! In March of the year 534, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Personnel and was caught in the hall. The "Hong Fan Lun" states: Cruel punishments and the plundering of the people's resources, insatiable greed, raising armies, and constructing cities without the people's support will lead to calamities!
In July of the year 478, there was a severe locust plague in Dunhuang, and the autumn crops were almost completely devoured. In July of the year 479, crops in Qingzhou and Yongzhou were harmed by cicada infestations.
In a certain year in August, the seven provinces of Xuzhou, East Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as the four military strongholds of Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, all suffered from locust plagues, resulting in a total crop failure.
In April of a few years later, locust plagues broke out again in the provinces of Xiangzhou and Yuzhou, causing further crop damage. By March of the eighth year, the provinces of Jizhou, another province, and Xiangzhou were invaded by cicadas, leading to poor harvests. In April, the seven provinces of Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou experienced locust plagues. On the day of Yisi in June, the provinces of Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou were again harmed by cicadas. On the day of Guisi in October of the sixteenth year, a locust plague also occurred in Fohan Town, resulting in significant losses to crops.
In May of the first year of Jingming, the six provinces of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were ravaged by locusts, resulting in a total crop failure. On the day of Renwu in March of the fourth year, a large-scale armyworm disaster broke out in Hezhou, completely destroying both wheat and barley crops. In May, Guangzhou suffered from locust damage again. In June, the locust plague in Hezhou was severe. In July, Donglai County was also affected by cicadas. In June of the first year of Zhengshi, locust plagues occurred in both Xiazhou and Sizhou. In April of the fourth year, the province of Qingzhou experienced an outbreak of the walking worm, which devoured all the jujube flowers. In August, Jingzhou, Hezhou, Liangzhou, and Sizhou Hengnong County simultaneously suffered from various pests including yellow rats, locusts, and bandworms, resulting in a severe disaster.
In the first year of Yongping, on the day of Jisi in the sixth month, there was a locust plague in Liangzhou. In the fifth year of the fifth month, the locusts in Qingzhou once again harmed the jujube flowers. In July, there were locusts in the capital, and locust plagues continued in various places. In August, locusts in Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou became disasters, and two-thirds of the crops were eaten. In the first year of Xiping in June, Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were once again invaded by locusts, resulting in poor harvests.
In the first year of Tian'an in June, a spectacle occurred in Yanzhou: black ants and red ants engaged in a large-scale battle, with a battlefield that was sixty steps long and four inches wide. The red ants were ultimately defeated, their bodies strewn everywhere. Black ants occupied the north, while red ants occupied the south. In November, the Yanzhou governor, Bi Zhongjing, sent envoys to surrender to the court, and the court appointed General Weyuan to take over, defeating the rebel general Zhou Kai and others.
In the seventh month of the tenth year of Taihe, Zhang Wanshou, a farmer from Huoze County in Jianxing, submitted a memorial to the court: while farming silkworms in the fourth month, Jia Richeng discovered a silk cloth that had woven itself into a curtain, inside of which was rolled up something resembling a silk ribbon, four feet long and three inches wide, thin and with two yellow cocoons on top shaped like footprints.
In the second year of Zhengshi in March, a strange incident occurred in Xuzhou: silkworm moths actually started biting people! More than a hundred and ten people were bitten by silkworm moths, and twenty-two died as a result.
"The Sin of Caterpillars" (This is the title, no need to translate) talks about ordinary things suddenly becoming abnormal. It is said that in the year when the founding emperor ascended the throne, a tiger appeared in Henan, lying by the river for three months before leaving. The next year, ants and white deer crossed the Yellow River. The following year, the river turned blood-red. These were all omens of the downfall of the Wei Chen. Later, the founding emperor had all the members of the Wei Chen clan thrown into the river, and the place became empty.
In January of the first year of Xiaojing Yuanxiang, a wolf ran into the city and was caught near Keshi by an individual, possibly someone named Cao. In December of the fifth year of Wuding, a leopard was caught on the Copper Jue Terrace in the north city.
In the first year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, in the fifth month, on the Xin Hai day, a fox demon appeared and cut people's hair, even writing characters. At that time, Empress Dowager Wenxuan was in power, which indicated political corruption in the court.
In the second year of Emperor Suzong's reign, starting from spring, incidents of fox demons cutting people's hair appeared in the capital, striking fear into the hearts of the people. In June, on the day of Ren Chen, Empress Dowager Ling summoned those who had their hair cut and ordered Liu Teng, the imperial guard officer, to whip them outside Qianqiu Gate, which mirrored events from the Taihe period.
The "Ruitu" states: If local princes, governors, and officials of the second rank oppress the people harshly, leading to widespread complaints among the populace, white mice will appear.
In the third year of Emperor Taizong's reign, in February, a commoner named Zhao Wen in the capital presented a white mouse to the court. In the spring of that year, a white mouse was caught in the Northern Garden, and not long after, it died. Upon examination, three small white mice were discovered inside its belly. In March of the fourth year, the emperor visited the Western Palace and caught another white mouse. In August, a commoner named Zhang An from the imperial household caught yet another white mouse.
In May of the second year of Emperor Shenrui's reign, while hunting at Qielun Mountain, the emperor caught a white mouse; Pingcheng also caught three white mice. In June, Pingcheng caught another two white mice. In August, Prince Kuai of Yuzhang caught one white mouse.
In November of the first year of Emperor Taichang's reign, commoners in the capital caught a white mouse (or possibly a white worm) and presented it to the court. In June of the second year of Emperor Taichang's reign, two white mice were caught in Zhongshan. In March of the third year of Emperor Taichang's reign, a white mouse was caught in the capital. In November, another white mouse was caught in the capital.
In August of the third year of Emperor Shizu's reign, a white mouse was caught in Weijun, Shangzhou. In August of the first year of the Taiyan era, a white mouse was presented by Yanmen. In August of the twenty-third year of Emperor Gaozu's Taihe reign, a white mouse was caught in the capital. In May of the fourth year of Emperor Shizong's Jingming reign, a white mouse was caught in the capital. In June of the first year of the Zhengshi era, a white mouse was caught in the capital. In April of the first year of Emperor Suzong's Xiping reign, Sizhou reported the capture of a white mouse.
