The "Hongfan Lun" states: The dragon is a scaly creature that lives in water. Clouds are also a symbol of water, and when the yin energy is heavy, the appearance of a dragon signifies that great events are about to happen. If the emperor does not adhere to moral principles and disrupts the heavenly order, he will surely face the calamity of massacre.
In the third month of the third year of Shizong's reign, two white dragons appeared in a well in the capital. In the sixth year of the Zhenjun reign, on Bingchen day in the second month, another white dragon appeared in a well in the capital. The dragon, a divine creature, is trapped in a well; these are all omens of Shizong's sudden death!
In the first year of the Zengguang reign, in August, a black dragon resembling a dog appeared, running from the south to Xuanyang Gate, then leaping up and running out through the bottom of the city tower. This is a sign of the Wei dynasty's decline. In the second year of the Zhuangdi reign, a dragon appeared in a well in Jinyang and remained there for a long time. This is an omen of Zhuangdi's sudden death in Jinyang.
In the first year of the former emperor Puta's reign, on Jiayin day in April, traces of a dragon emerged from the west side of Xuanyang Gate and then returned to the city. The next day, on Yimao day, the ministers came to offer their congratulations, and the emperor said: "A country on the brink of prosperity must listen to its people, while a country facing ruin must pay attention to divine omens. However, both the ruler and the subjects must restrain themselves and strive to govern the country; relying solely on these omens is not enough to celebrate."
The "Hongfan Lun" states: The horse represents the army, and war is imminent, so strange phenomena occur with horses. In the second year of the Xiping reign, in November, a foal arrived from Hengzhou, with a tail a foot long but no hair on its hindquarters. In the first year of the Zhengguang reign, in September, the official horses in Woye Town had worms in their ears, resulting in the death of fourteen or fifteen horses. These worms, which look like maggots, measure less than five inches long and are about the thickness of chopsticks.
The "Hongfan Lun" quotes the "I Ching," which states, "Kun is the cow." Kun represents the earth, and when the forces of the earth become chaotic, strange phenomena will occur with cows, referred to as a cow disaster. This signifies that the ancestral shrine will be destroyed. There is also a saying that busy transportation can lead to strange occurrences with cows. In May of the second year of Emperor Shizong's reign, Jizhou reported that a cow in Changle County gave birth to a calf with two faces, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears.
The "Hongfan Lun" states: If the emperor is not wise, it will lead to political blunders. In the twenty-third year of the reign of Emperor Gaozu, in March, Sizhou reported that a sheep in Yangqu County gave birth to a lamb with two bodies, one male and one female, three ears, and eight legs. Soon after, Emperor Gaozu died, and six regents seized power. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Shizong, in July, Shanshan Town sent a lamb with 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 Yan Chang era, in May, Boguluzhen reported a lamb with six legs and two tails.
Jingfang's writings indicate that any monstrous beings with an excessive number of limbs are manifestations of malevolent spirits. Jingfang also said in the "I Ching" that a pig giving birth to a human-headed pig body signifies that cities will experience turmoil or even destruction.
In the first year of the Yanxing era, in September, someone reported that in Yuzhou, Wang Rang, the governor and Duke of Linhuai, had a sow that gave birth to piglets with only one head but two bodies and eight legs.
In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Shizong, in September, someone in Liangzhou reported that a dog and a pig mated. In the fourth year of the Zhengshi era, in August, a sow in the capital gave birth to piglets featuring one head, four ears, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the fourth year of the Yan Chang era, in July, Xuzhou reported that a sow in Yangping Garrison gave birth to piglets with human-like faces, a flesh lump on their heads, and no hair on their bodies. This foretells the impending deposition of Empress Ling and the young ruler.
The "Hong Fan Lun" states that Jing Fang wrote: a chick is like a petty official; the comb symbolizes weaponry, growing on the chicken's head and representing the majesty of the ruler. Therefore, if a petty official seizes the king's power, it will stir up trouble and create an unmanageable situation.
In April of the first year of Gaozu's Taihe, someone reported that there were two hens in the capital that could lay eggs, with combs that looked like horns, different from other chickens. At that time, Empress Wen was in power, signaling her reliance on petty officials.
In April of the first year of Shizong's Zhengshi, a chick with four legs and four wings was reported in Henan. (This incident is also recorded in the "Biography of Cui Guang.")
In August, the governor of Sizhou reported that in Hanoi, a family raised a chick that had another head near its tail, with a mouth and eyes. Both heads grew two pairs of wings from the back of the neck, and the two legs grew side by side. At that time, Shizong trusted some petty officials, and factional struggles were intense, with clear signs of wicked officials interfering in governance.
In December of the fourth year of Yanchang, Luozhou reported that a yellow hen belonging to Chang Jiao, the governor of Weixing, had a fleshy horn the size of a jujube pit on its head, measuring one inch and three-tenths long, with hair growing one and a half inches long from the horn.
In the first year of Suzong's Zhengguang, in January, a rooster and hen from the family of the general Lan Dou both grew two horns on their heads, with mottled feathers that stood taller than the comb. At that time, Empress Ling was in power.
The "Hong Fan Lun" states: This reflects the punishment for rulers whose vision is blurred and hearing impaired.
In the third year of Taizong's Taichang, a white owl was caught in the capital.
On the day of Jimao in the second year of Suzong's Zhengguang, a bald eagle was caught in the palace.
In the second year of Xiaochang, in April, someone sent a dead duckling with one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails.
In the second year of Xiaojing's Tianping, in March, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Appointments and was caught in the hall.
"The Book of Documents (洪范论)" says: If punishments are too cruel, it will only provoke resentment among the people; if greed runs rampant, it incites wars everywhere; if cities are built but fail to win the people's hearts, then disasters will come. This observation is spot on!
In the seventh month of the fifth year of the Northern Wei Dynasty, a locust plague occurred in the Dunhuang region, and almost all the crops in autumn were eaten up. When the locusts struck, the common folks really suffered; the food they had worked hard to plant for a year disappeared in an instant.
In the seventh month of the sixth year, Qingzhou and Yongzhou also faced locust plagues, causing heavy losses to crops. This locust plague spread like wildfire, making it nearly impossible to defend against. In August, the seven provinces of Xuzhou, East Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as the towns of Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, were all affected by the locust plague. It was almost locusts everywhere!
In the fourth month of the seventh year, Xiangzhou and Yuzhou were hit by locust plagues again. These locust plagues strike every year, and the common people's lives are really difficult! In the third month of the eighth year, Jizhou, Zhouzhou, and Xiangzhou were hit by locusts. These locusts are everywhere and a real headache! In the fourth month, seven provinces including Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou all experienced locust plagues. The situation is getting worse by the day! On the day of Yisi in the sixth month, Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou were hit by locust plagues again. These locusts just won’t quit!
On the day of Guisi in the tenth month of the sixteenth year, the Fanghan region also faced a locust plague, and there was no harvest of crops. This locust plague is just devastating!
In the first year of Emperor Jingming of the Northern Wei Dynasty, in May, the six states of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and Nanjingzhou suffered from locust plagues. This locust plague feels never-ending! On the day of Renwu in March of the fourth year, a large-scale outbreak of armyworms occurred in Hezhou, leading to a total loss of wheat and grain harvests. These armyworms are equally as devastating as locusts! In May, Guangzhou suffered from locusts again. The calamities just keep piling up! In June, Hezhou experienced a large locust plague. In July, Donglai County also suffered from locusts. Locusts are everywhere!
In the first year of Zhengshi, in June, Xiaozhou and Sizhou suffered from locusts. This locust plague is truly draining! In April of the fourth year, there was a locust outbreak in Qingzhou, and jujube flowers were completely eaten. The variety of pests makes prevention nearly impossible! In August, there were yellow rats, locusts, and bandworms in Jingzhou, locusts and bandworms in Hezhou, locusts in Liangzhou and Sizhou Hengnong County, and these places all suffered from severe pest disasters. The pestilence is widespread and varied, making people feel utterly helpless!
In the first year of Yongping, on the day of Jisi in June, Liangzhou suffered from locusts. This locust plague is exhausting! In May of the fifth year, Qingzhou was plagued by armyworms again, damaging jujube flowers. This pest plague recurs every year! In July, locusts and bandworms appeared in the capital. The locusts have even reached the capital! In August, Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou suffered from locust plagues, with two-thirds of the crops being eaten. The losses are staggering!
In the first year of Suzong Xiping, in June, Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Nanjingzhou suffered from locusts. This locust plague is genuinely despairing!
In June of the first year of the Xianzute Tian'an era, a spectacle of black ants and red ants fighting each other appeared in Yanzhou, with the battle stretched sixty paces long and four inches wide. The red ants ultimately lost, with many losing their heads and perishing. The black ants occupied the north, while the red ants occupied the south. This was a rare piece of good news amid the chaos!
In July 586, Zhang Wanshou, the governor of Bingzhou, reported that a silkworm farmer named Jia Richeng in Jianxing County found something wrapped in a silken web while tending to his silkworms in April. It was like a silk ribbon, four feet long, three inches wide, thin, and attached with two yellow cocoons that looked like footprints.
In March 506, an incident occurred in Xuzhou where silkworm moths injured over one hundred people, resulting in twenty-two deaths. The ancients believed that the calamity caused by caterpillars was seen as a sign of abnormal occurrences that defied common sense.
By the way, during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Tao, a massive tiger showed up in Henan and lingered 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 Yellow River's waters even turned blood-red. These were all seen as omens of the Wei Chen clan's downfall. Later, the Northern Wei court threw all the members of the Wei Chen clan into the Yellow River, and that place never had any more incidents.
In January 534, a wolf ran into the city and reached the area of Xieshi, where it was reportedly captured.
In December 541, a leopard was captured at the Copper Jue Terrace in the northern city.
On a certain day in May 586, a fox spirit appeared and started cutting people's hair. At that time, Empress Dowager Wenxuan was presiding over the court, which was seen as a sign of political unrest in the court.
In the spring of the year 577 AD, strange occurrences of fox spirits snipping people's hair began to happen in the capital city, which frightened everyone. One day in June, Empress Ling ordered those who had their hair cut to be gathered and punished by Liu Teng, the commander of the Chongxun Guards, outside the Qianqiu Gate with a whip, just like what happened in 586 AD.
The ancient book "Ruitu" records: if border officials, governors, prefects, and county magistrates harshly oppress the people, causing widespread grievances, white rats will appear.
In February of the year 507 AD, a man named Zhao Wen in the capital found a white rat in his home and presented it to the court.
That spring, a white rat was also caught in Beiyuan, but it died shortly after. An autopsy revealed three baby white rats inside it.
In March of the year 508 AD, the emperor caught yet another white rat in the Western Palace.
In August, an official named Zhang An from the imperial court also caught a white rat.
In May of the year 509 AD, the emperor caught a white rat while hunting in the Baolun Mountains; three white rats were also caught in Pingcheng. In June, two more white rats were caught in Pingcheng.
In August, Prince Kuai of Yuzhang also caught a white rat.
In November of the year 510 AD, someone in the capital caught a white rat (or something that looked like one) and presented it to the court.
In June of the year 511 AD, two white rats were caught in Zhongshan.
In March of the year 512 AD, a white rat was caught in the capital. In November, another white rat was caught in the capital.
It is said that in the third year of Emperor Shi Guang of the Northern Wei Dynasty in August, in Wei County, Xiangzhou, someone caught an old white rat. This news must have caused quite a stir back then, since white rats were pretty rare.
Then, in the first year of Emperor Taiyan of the Northern Wei Dynasty in August, a white old rat was also presented from Yanmen. This time, it was voluntarily offered; not sure if it was presented to the emperor or someone else, but it was still a unique find. The timing of these two white rat discoveries, both in August, was pretty coincidental.
Later on, in August of the twenty-third year of the Taiping era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, a white rat was caught in our capital city, which made it even more unusual since it was discovered right there. In May of the fourth year of the Jingming era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, another white rat was discovered in the capital. This time it was in May, which was different from the previous occurrences, suggesting that the appearance of this white rat was quite irregular. In June of the first year of the Zhengshi era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, another white rat was captured in the capital. This time it was in June, indicating that the timing and location of this white rat's appearances were quite random. Finally, in April of the first year of the Xiping era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, a white rat was sent from Sizhou, and it was done voluntarily. This suggests that this white rat was indeed regarded with high importance. In summary, the times and places of these white rat discoveries varied significantly and were quite intriguing.
