Liu Xin said that if one does not have a proper appearance, then they lack dignity. If one is arrogant on the outside and cruel on the inside, it means that evil energy is strong, which leads to water disasters that harm crops, causing shortages of food and clothing, and giving rise to evil and thieves. This is the worst omen. Another belief is that if the common people face widespread punishment, their appearances will become ugly. Ban Gu believed that strange growths on the bodies of livestock are signs of disaster, which is a clear phenomenon. If such growths appear on humans, it is called "zhuān zhuān," a sign of serious illness.
In the third year of Yongxing, there was a person in the Wulan throat area with bones growing on the body, resembling goat horns, and measuring over a foot long.
In the sixteenth year of Taihe, in May, the Minister Li Chong reported that Li Banhu's daughter from Mujixian in Zhongshan County, Dingzhou, had nine hairs growing under the nail of her right thumb on September 20th last year, and by October 20th, they had grown to twelve inches long.
In the second year of Xiping, in November, the officials in Bingzhou reported that Han Sengzhen's daughter Lingji from Qixian was born from her mother's right rib. Empress Dowager Ling ordered her to be sent to the Yeting Palace.
In the first year of Zhengguang, in May, in Nanyanzhou, Xiacaixian, giant footprints were found, spanning seven steps, each step being one foot eight inches long and seven inches wide.
In the third year of Yanxing, in autumn, a woman in Xiurong County gave birth to four boys at once, totaling sixteen boys.
In the third year of Yong'an, in November, a family in the capital city gave birth to a child with one head, two torsos, four arms, four legs, and three ears.
In the sixteenth year of Taihe, in November, Gaozu and the Buddhist monk Daodeng were together in the Shizhong Province. At sunset, around six o'clock in the evening, they saw a ghost wearing yellow clothes and pants standing at the door wanting to come in. The Emperor thought it was a person, scolded it, and scared it away. When questioned, everyone else claimed they hadn’t seen it; only the Emperor and Daodeng did.
In the second year of Huangxing, in October, a plague broke out in Yuzhou, resulting in the deaths of fourteen to fifteen thousand people.
In the third year of Yongping, in April, there was a major epidemic in Qinchang and Xiangling counties in Pingyang, where two thousand seven hundred thirty people died between January and now.
In the nineteenth year of Taihe, in June, it was reported in Xuzhou that the 18-foot-high bronze statue was frequently dripping with sweat. During the Yong'an, Putai, and Yongxi periods, the golden statue of Dingguang in the Pingdeng Temple in the capital city often dripped with sweat. Whenever a major event occurred in the country, people felt afraid, believing it to be an ominous sign.
In February of the third year of Yong'an, a household in the capital had two bronze statues, each over a foot tall. One statue had four white hairs sprouting from its chin, while the other had a single black hair near its cheek. The "Hong Fan Lun" mentions: Dragons are scaled creatures born in water. Clouds are also symbols of water, representing heavy yin energy. Therefore, the appearance of a dragon signifies that a major event is about to happen. If the emperor does not follow the moral principles of humanity, disrupting the order of heaven, disaster is sure to strike him.
In the third year of Shizu Shen, in March, two white dragons were seen in a well in the capital. In the sixth year of Zhenjun, in February, another white dragon was seen in a well in the capital. Dragons are divine creatures, yet they are trapped in wells, all signs of the emperor's impending doom!
In the first year of Sizong Zhengguang, in August, a dog-like black dragon appeared, running from the south to Xuanyang Gate, jumping through the gate tower and running out. This heralded the decline of the Wei Dynasty. In the second year of Zhuangdi Yong'an, a dragon was seen in a well in Jinyang, lingering there for quite some time. This was a sign of the emperor's imminent downfall in Jinyang.
In the first year of Qianfeidi Putai, in April, evidence of a dragon emerged from the west side of Xuanyang Gate and returned to the city. On the day of Yimao, the ministers came to pay their respects, and the emperor said, "When the nation is on the brink of prosperity, it must heed the people's opinions; when the country is about to perish, it should follow the arrangements of heaven. However, all officials must exercise self-discipline, govern with integrity, and not solely depend on these auspicious signs for celebration."
The "Hong Fan Lun" states: Horses are a symbol of war, and the appearance of strange occurrences in horses is an ill omen. In the second year of Emperor Su's Xiping era, in November, a horse foal was sent from Hengzhou, which had a tail a foot long and was hairless on its hindquarters. In the first year of the Zhengguang era, in September, the official horses in Woye Town were found to have maggots in their ears, leading to the deaths of fourteen or fifteen horses. The maggots, resembling grubs, were less than five inches long and as thick as chopsticks.
The "Hong Fan Lun" cites the words from the "I Ching": "Kun is the cow," where Kun represents earth. When the earth's energy is chaotic, strange occurrences in cows will happen, referred to as cow calamity. It symbolizes the imminent destruction of ancestral shrines, and some say that busy transportation can also lead to strange occurrences in cows. In the second year of Emperor Shizong's Jingming era, in May, Jizhou reported that a cow in Changle County gave birth to a calf with two faces, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears.
The "Hong Fan Lun" says: If the emperor is unwise and misgoverns, it will result in these strange occurrences. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Gao's Taihe era, in March, Sizhou reported that a sheep in Yangqu County gave birth to a lamb that had two bodies, one female and one male, three ears, and eight legs. Soon after, Emperor Gao died, and six regents abused their power and threw governance into chaos.
In the first year of Emperor Shizong's Zhengshi era, in July, Shanshan Town sent a lamb that had two bodies and eight legs. In the second year, in January, Shanshan Town sent another lamb with eight legs. In the fourth year of the Yanchang era, in May, Boguli Town reported a lamb that had six legs and two tails.
Jingfang's writings say that any monstrous creature with an excessive number of limbs is a sign of malevolent spirits at work. The "Jingfang Yi" also states that if a pig gives birth to a piglet with a human head, that place will descend into chaos and be doomed.
In the first year of Emperor Gao's Yanxing era, in September, someone reported that the governor of Yuzhou, Duke Wang of Linhuai, reported a pig that gave birth to a piglet with one head, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of Emperor Shizong's Jingming era, in September, Liangzhou reported that a dog and a pig were reported to have mated.
In the fourth year of Zhengshi, in August, in the capital city, a pig gave birth to a piglet that had one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs. In the fourth year of Yanchang, in July, a report from Xuzhou stated that in Yangping Garrison, a pig gave birth to a piglet with a head and face resembling a human, with a lump on top of the head and no fur on the body. This was interpreted as a portent of the Empress Dowager and the young ruler's impending downfall! The "Hongfan Lun" mentions in Jingfang's writings: a chick is akin to a subject; horns symbolize weapons, growing on top, representing the king's majesty. This indicates that when the subjects grasp the king's power, they will rebel, posing a difficult problem to govern. In the first year of Tahe, in May, a report stated that in the capital city, there were two hens with crowns on their heads resembling horns, unlike other chickens. At that time, Empress Wenming was ruling the court, and this was interpreted as a sign of her favoritism for unworthy individuals and her abuse of power! In the first year of Shizong Zhengshi, in April, a chicken was reported in Henan with four legs and four wings. (This incident is also recorded in the "Cui Guang Chuan".) In August, a report from Sizhou stated: in Henan, a family's chicken grew another head behind its backside, complete with a mouth and eyes. Both heads grew from the nape of the neck, each with two wings and two legs side by side. At that time, Shizong favored unworthy individuals more, and there was serious factional strife, with treacherous individuals meddling in politics, all of which were clear signs! In the fourth year of Yanchang, in December, a report from Luozhou stated that the yellow hen belonging to Chang Jiao, the prefect of Wei Xing, grew a meat horn the size of a jujube on its head, measuring one inch and three fen, with hair an inch and a half long on the horn. In the first month of the first year of Suzong Zhengguang, the rooster and hen of General Lang Dou's family grew two horns on their heads, with multicolored fur, standing taller than the rooster's comb. At that time, the Empress Dowager ruled the court. In the "Hongfan Lun" it is said: this serves as a warning for rulers who fail to perceive the situation clearly and do not listen to loyal advice! In the third year of Taizong Taichang, in November, a white owl was captured in the capital. In the second year of Suzong Zhengguang, in August, a bald eagle was captured in the palace.
In the second year of Xiaochang, in the fourth month, someone brought a dead duck that had one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails. In the second year of Xiaojing Tianping, in the third month, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Personnel Affairs and was caught in the hall. The "Hongfan Lun" states: If the punishment is too cruel, only focused on profiting from the common people; insatiable greed, quick to mobilize troops at any moment; building cities, but losing the hearts of the people, then a plague of locusts will come. You see, in the fifth year of Gaozu Taihe, in July, there was a locust plague in Dunhuang, and almost all the crops in the autumn were eaten up. In the sixth year of July, Qingzhou and Yongzhou also suffered locust plagues, resulting in a complete crop failure. In August, the seven states: Xuzhou, Dongxuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as the four towns of Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, all suffered locust plagues. In the fourth month of the seventh year, Xiangzhou and Yuzhou suffered locust plagues. In the third month of the eighth year, the three states of Jizhou, Zhou (this appears to be a missing state name in the original text), and Xiangzhou were ravaged by locusts. In April, the seven states: Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou all suffered locust plagues. On the Yisi day in the sixth month, Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou again faced locust disasters. On the Guisi day in the sixteenth year of October, Fohan also suffered a locust plague, suffering significant crop losses.
In May of the first year of the Shizong Jingming era, disasters struck the six regions of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou. On the Rengwu day in the third month of the fourth year, a large-scale locust disaster occurred in Hezhou, leading to a complete loss of wheat and barley harvests. In May, locusts in Guangzhou wreaked havoc on crops again. In June, Hezhou experienced a severe locust infestation. In July, Donglai County was also affected by locusts. In June of the first year of the Zhengshi era, locust plagues occurred in Xiazhou and Sizhou. In the fourth month of the fourth year, the pest known as Buquchong in Qingzhou devastated jujube flowers. In August, Jingzhou faced three calamities: yellow rats, locusts, and Ban insects. Hezhou was affected by locusts and Ban insects, while Hengnong County in Liangzhou and Sizhou also suffered locust plagues. In June of the first year of Yongping, a severe locust plague occurred in Liangzhou on the Jisi day. In May of the fifth year, the pest Buquchong in Qingzhou once again threatened jujube flowers. In July, the capital city experienced locusts and locusts flying everywhere. In August, Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou suffered locust plagues, with crop losses amounting to two-thirds. In June of the first year of the Suzong Xiping era, locust plagues occurred in Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou. In June of the first year of Xianzu Tian'an, an unusual event took place in Yanzhou, where black ants and red ants engaged in a fierce battle, resulting in a complete defeat for the red ants. The black ants occupied the north, while the red ants occupied the south. In November, Zhang Wanshou, the magistrate of Bianzhou, reported that a farmer named Jia Riche in Jianxing County discovered a rolled-up object in a silk web four months prior while tending to his silkworms. It resembled a ribbon, measuring four feet in length and three inches in width, thin, with two yellow silkworm cocoons on top, resembling footprints.
In March 506 AD, in Xuzhou, silkworm moths infested people, injuring over one hundred and resulting in twenty-two deaths. This was called the "curse of the caterpillars," meaning it was an abnormal phenomenon that foreshadowed bad events.
In 494 AD, a large tiger appeared in Henan, staying by the river for three months before leaving. The following year, a large number of ants and white deer were seen crossing the Yellow River. A year later, the Yellow River's water turned as red as blood. These were all signs of the downfall of the Wei family. Eventually, all members of the Wei family were executed and disposed of in the Yellow River, and the place became calm.
In January 528 AD, a wolf ran into the city and was captured in the area of Xieshi. (The character "Cao" here is uncertain and is not translated for now.)
In December 531 AD, a leopard was captured at the Copper Jue Platform in the northern part of the city.
On a day in May 586 AD, a fox spirit appeared to cut people's hair during the reign of Empress Wenxuan, signifying political instability.
Starting in the spring of 576 AD, incidents of fox spirits cutting people's hair appeared in the capital, instilling great fear in the populace. On a day in June, Empress Ling summoned those whose hair had been cut and ordered Liu Teng, the Wei Wei, to whip them outside Qianqiu Gate, which was exactly the same as what happened in 586 AD.
The book states: If the border princes, ministers, governors, and county magistrates cruelly oppress the common people, leading to widespread grievances, white mice will appear.
In February 507 AD, a commoner named Zhao Wen in the capital discovered a white mouse in his home and presented it to the court. That spring, a white mouse was also caught in the Northern Garden, but it died shortly thereafter. Upon dissection, three small white mice were found inside its belly.
In March 508 AD, the emperor visited the Western Palace and captured a white mouse. In August, a palace official named Zhang An caught a white mouse.
In May of 509 AD, the emperor was hunting on Mount Beilun and caught a white mouse; Pingcheng also captured three white mice. In June, Pingcheng captured two more white mice. In August, Prince Kuai of Yuzhang caught a white mouse.
In November of 510 AD, a person in the capital caught a white mouse (or possibly a white bug) and presented it to the court.
In June of 511 AD, Zhongshan captured two white mice.
In March of 512 AD, another white mouse was caught in the capital.
In November, another white mouse was caught in the capital.
In August of 423 AD, someone in Wei County, Xiangzhou, caught a white mouse. This was indeed a rare sight!
In August of 477 AD, a white mouse was also sent from Yanmen. This is the second time—is it some kind of omen?
In August of 493 AD, wow, even the capital, Chang'an, has caught a white mouse! This time it really happened under the emperor's feet.
In May of 501 AD, another white mouse appeared in Chang'an. In less than a year, how did another one show up? People started discussing it.
In June of 504 AD, a white mouse appeared in Chang'an for the third time! This is really weird—why does this white mouse keep showing up in the capital?
In April of 505 AD, Sizhou also sent a white mouse. Why are there white mice popping up everywhere? What’s going on here?
