The book by Jingfang states that any animals that resemble demons or monsters, especially those with numerous limbs, are ominous signs, indicating that evil events are about to occur. Jingfang also mentioned in the "I Ching" that if a pig is born with a human head and a pig's body, it signifies impending chaos or even destruction in that place.
In the first year of the Yanxing era of Emperor Gaozu, in September, someone reported that in Yuzhou, the governor Wang Rang had a pig that birthed a monster with one head, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of the Jingming era of Emperor Shizong, in September, there was a report from Liangzhou that a dog had mated with a pig.
In the fourth year of the Zhengshi era, in August, a pig in the capital gave birth to a monster with one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of the Yanchang era, in July, Xuzhou reported that a pig in Yangping Guard gave birth to a monster with a head resembling a human, a fleshy lump on top of its head, and no hair on its body. This foreshadowed the impending downfall of Empress Ling and the young ruler.
The "Hongfan Lun" states that Jingfang wrote in his book: chicks are like minor officials; a chicken with horns on its head symbolizes weapons, representing the majesty of the king. This indicates that minor officials will cause chaos relying on the king's authority, which is a difficult disaster to govern.
In the first year of the Taihe era of Emperor Gaozu, in May, someone reported that in the capital, there were two hens with combs resembling horns, different from other chickens. At that time, Empress Wen was in power, indicating her reliance on petty officials.
In the first year of the Zhengshi era of Emperor Shizong, in April, there was a report from Henan of a chick with four legs and four wings. (This incident is also recorded in the "Biography of Cui Guang.")
In August, there was a report from Sizhou that in Hanoi, a family raised a chick that had another head growing out of its rear, with eyes and a mouth. Both heads had two pairs of wings growing from the back of their necks, and the two legs walked side by side. At that time, Emperor Shizong placed greater trust in petty officials, and factional struggles were severe, with unscrupulous petty officials meddling in politics; all of this was a sign.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Yanchang, it was reported in Luozhou that the yellow hen belonging to Wei Xing, the Prefect of Weixing, had a fleshy horn on its head as big as a jujube, one inch and three tenths long, with a one and a half inch long hair on the horn.
In the first month of the first year of the Zhengguang era of Suzong, the two chickens owned by Lan Dou, the General of the Imperial Guards, both had two horns on their heads, with the feathers in disarray, standing taller than a rooster's comb when raised. At that time, Empress Dowager Ling was in power.
The "Hongfan Lun" states: This is a punishment for rulers with poor eyesight and hearing.
In the eleventh month of the third year of Taichang, a white owl was captured in the capital.
In the eighth month of the second year of Zhengguang, a bald buzzard was captured in the palace.
In the fourth month 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 the third month of the second year of Xiaojingtianping, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Personnel and was captured in the hall.
The "Hongfan Lun" states: If the punishment is too cruel, only thinking of profiting from the common people; being insatiable, always eager to start wars; building cities and towns, but losing the people's hearts, then disasters will come. See how accurate this is!
In the seventh month of the fifth year of the Gaozu Taihe era, Dunhuang experienced a locust plague, and nearly all the autumn crops were devoured. In the seventh month of the sixth year, Qingzhou and Yongzhou also suffered from locusts, resulting in a total crop failure. In the eighth month, the seven states of Xuzhou, Dongxuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as four towns including Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, were affected by locusts. In the fourth month of the seventh year, Xiangzhou and Yuzhou were once again plagued by locusts. In the third month of the eighth year, Jizhou, Zhou, and Xiangzhou were plagued by locusts. In the fourth month, locusts plagued seven states including Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou. On the Yisi day of the sixth month, Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou were attacked by locusts again. On the Guisi day of the tenth month of the sixteenth year, Fanghan was also hit by locusts, devastating all the crops.
In the first year of Shizong Jingming, in May, the six states of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were once again plagued by locusts. On the day of Renwu in the third month of the fourth year, a large-scale outbreak of locusts occurred in Hezhou, leading to a total crop failure of wheat and barley. In May, locusts struck Guangzhou again. In June, there was a severe locust plague in Hezhou. In July, Donglai County also suffered from locust infestations. In June of the first year of Zhengshi, Xiazhou and Sizhou faced locust plagues. In the fourth month of the fourth year, Qingzhou experienced an invasion of locusts that completely devoured the jujube flowers. In August, a disaster struck Jingzhou as locusts, rats, and beetles wreaked havoc, with Liangzhou and Hengnong County in Sizhou also suffering from severe locust plagues. In June of the first year of Yongping, Liangzhou faced a severe locust plague. In May of the fifth year, locusts ravaged the land, even reaching the capital. In August, Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou were plagued by locusts, with at least two-thirds of the crops devoured. In June of the first year of Suzong Xiping, locusts again ravaged Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou. In June of the first year of Xianzu Tianan, an unusual phenomenon took place in Yanzhou: black ants and red ants fought a large battle, with the battlefield measuring sixty steps long and four inches wide. The red ants were completely defeated, suffering heavy losses. In November, the governor of Bianzhou, Zhang Wanshou, reported that a silkworm farmer named Jia Riche from Jianxing County had discovered something resembling a silk ribbon on the silk web four months prior, measuring four feet in length and three inches in width, thin and light, with two yellow silkworm cocoons on top that resembled footprints.
In March 507 AD, an incident involving harmful silk moths occurred in Xuzhou, resulting in over 110 injuries and 22 deaths. These were strange phenomena signifying abnormal conditions in society at that time.
It is said that when Emperor Taizu of Northern Wei ascended to the throne, a tiger appeared in Henan and stayed by the river for three months before leaving. The following year, a large number of ants and white deer crossed the Yellow River. A year later, the water of the Yellow River turned red, resembling blood. This foretold the downfall of the Wei Chen family. Later, Emperor Taizu ordered the execution of the Wei Chen family members and had their corpses disposed of in the Yellow River, after which no similar incidents occurred in that area.
In January 528 AD, a wolf ran into the city and was captured in Xiashi. In December 531 AD, a leopard was caught on the Copper Goblet Terrace in the northern city.
On a certain day in May 586 AD, a fox spirit appeared to cut people's hair, along with other strange occurrences. At that time, Empress Dowager Wenxuan was in power, and these were signs of her inept governance and chaotic court affairs.
Starting in the spring of 577 AD, strange incidents of fox spirits cutting people's hair emerged in the capital, causing great fear among the populace. On a certain day in June, Empress Dowager Ling summoned those who had their hair cut and ordered Liu Teng, the commander of the guards, to whip them outside Qianqiu Gate, which was strikingly similar to events that occurred in 586 AD.
Records state: if the princes, governors, and other officials in the border regions mistreat the common people, leading to widespread grievances, white mice will appear.
In February 508 AD, a man named Zhao Wen in the capital found a white mouse in his home and presented it to the emperor. That spring, a white mouse was also caught in the Northern Garden, but it died shortly after. Upon dissection, three small white mice were found in its stomach.
In March 509 AD, when the emperor went to the Western Palace, a white mouse was caught. In August, another white mouse was caught by a palace resident named Zhang An.
In May of the year 510 AD, the emperor caught a white mouse while hunting in Penglun Mountain; Pingcheng also caught three white mice. In June, Pingcheng caught two more white mice.
In August, Prince Kuai of Yuzhang caught a white mouse.
In November of the year 511 AD, someone in the capital caught a white mouse (or white insect) and presented it to the emperor.
In June of the year 512 AD, Zhongshan caught two white mice.
In March of the year 513 AD, the capital caught a white mouse.
In November, the capital caught another white mouse.
In August of the year 478 AD, in Weijun, Xiangzhou, someone caught a white mouse. This is really a rare occurrence!
In August of the year 479 AD, a white mouse was sent from Yanmen too, and this news spread widely.
By August of the year 493 AD, wow, even the capital caught a white mouse! What's going on with all these white mice?
In May of the year 501 AD, another white mouse arrived in the capital, this time in May, unlike the previous ones. People started discussing it; is this a sign?
In June of the year 504 AD, the capital caught a white mouse for the third time, this time in June. This frequency is starting to make people uneasy.
In April of the year 514 AD, Sizhou also sent a white mouse; white mice are popping up everywhere! It's been several years now, and white mice keep appearing; it's really starting to feel strange.
