The Book of Changes says: "The celestial phenomena reveal good and bad fortunes, and the sages took inspiration from them; the River Chart emerged in the Yellow River, and the Luo Book emerged in the Luo River, and the sages follow them." Liu Xin believed that Fu Xi inherited the rule of the Heavenly Emperor, accepted the River Chart, and then drew the Eight Trigrams based on it; after Yu the Great successfully managed the floods, he obtained the Luo Book and formulated the Great Plan based on it. The sages follow these principles and hold them in high regard.
During the Yin and Shang dynasties, Ji Zi acted as a kind of teacher and advisor, responsible for safeguarding these classics. After the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang dynasty, Ji Zi was brought back to the Zhou dynasty, and King Wu humbly sought advice from Ji Zi. The historical records state: "In the thirteenth year of King Wu's reign, he went to visit Ji Zi and said, 'Ji Zi, I'm at my wit's end! The heavens secretly bless the people, harmonizing their living conditions, but I do not know how to govern the country to maintain social order.' Ji Zi replied, 'I have heard that long ago, Gun failed to control the floods, throwing the five elements into disarray and leading to widespread chaos, angering the heavens, which did not grant him the nine chapters of the Great Plan to govern. Therefore, social order was chaotic. Gun was executed, and after Yu succeeded him, the heavens bestowed upon Yu the nine chapters of the Great Plan, and social order was restored.'" This passage describes King Wu asking Ji Zi about the Luo Book, and Ji Zi explaining the process by which Yu obtained the Luo Book.
"The first is the Five Elements; the second is Five things to avoid; the third is the Eight Policies for Agriculture; the fourth is the Five Standards for Marriage; the fifth is the Construction of the Imperial Pole; the sixth is the Three Virtues of Ai; the seventh is the Inquiry into Doubts; the eighth is the Exhortation to the Masses; the ninth is the Five Blessings of the Village and the Six Extremes to be Feared." These sixty-five words are all from the original text of the Luo Book, which outlines the nine chapters of governance methods bestowed upon Yu by the heavens. The River Chart and Luo Book were seen as the fundamental principles, while the Eight Trigrams and Nine Chapters represented their outward manifestations. When the rule of the Shang dynasty declined, King Wen interpreted the Book of Changes; when the rule of the Zhou dynasty declined, Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. Thus, the principles of yin and yang, and the interconnectedness of heaven and man, were revealed through these ancient texts.
After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, it inherited the suppression of scholarship from the Qin Dynasty. During the reigns of Emperors Jing and Wu, Dong Zhongshu studied the *Gongyang Chunqiu* and began to promote the Five Elements and Yin and Yang cosmology, becoming a leader among Confucian scholars. Under Emperors Xuan and Yuan, Liu Xiang studied the *Guliang Chunqiu*, discussing the fortunes and misfortunes within it and spreading the ideology of *Hongfan*, differing from Dong Zhongshu's views. His son, Liu Xin, then studied the *Zuo Zhuan*, and his interpretation of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* was already diverging from the norm; his elaboration of the Five Elements was even more divergent from previous views. Therefore, in order to clarify these different viewpoints, the book separately records the teachings and deeds of Dong Zhongshu, Liu Xiang, Liu Xin, as well as Sui Meng, Xiahou Sheng, Jing Fang, Gu Yong, Li Xun, and others, compiling the views of twelve generations spanning this period to explain the meaning of the *Spring and Autumn Annals*.
The text begins: "First, the Five Elements. The Five Elements are: one is water, two is fire, three is wood, four is metal, five is earth. Water flows down, fire burns up, wood bends and grows, metal transforms, and earth nourishes crops."
The scripture commentary states: "Failure to return from hunting promptly, disregard for proper etiquette in eating and drinking, uncontrolled comings and goings, encroachment on the farmers' time, or engaging in deceitful plots—all these signify 'wood not being straight.'"
Further explanation states: "Wood represents the east. In the *Yi Jing*, the earth's wood corresponds to the *Guān* hexagram. In terms of royal politics, one's dignity and appearance should be as upright and beautiful as the *Guān* hexagram. Therefore, walking should reflect proper courtly bearing. Carriage travel should be measured and dignified. Hunting should follow established protocols. Meals should observe ritual propriety. All comings and goings must have a clear purpose. The people must be allowed to farm undisturbed. The focus should be on encouraging agriculture and ensuring the people's well-being. This is how to embody the characteristics of 'wood.'
If hunting or pursuing leisure activities do not return to the palace on time, overindulging and disregarding court regulations, arbitrarily levying taxes and commandeering labor, engaging in fraudulent practices that harm the populace, then it is a corruption of the natural order. Just like a craftsman making wheels and arrows, if the craftsmanship is rough, it will cause a lot of damage, which is like a perversion of the natural order. "The Spring and Autumn Annals" records that in the sixteenth year of Chengong's reign, it rained, and there was ice on the trees. Liu Xin explained that this was because the balance of yin and yang was disrupted, leading to rain and causing the trees to freeze; the cold mist prevented the branches from stretching. Liu Xiang's explanation was different; he believed that the ice was the result of excessive yin qi and poor water flow. Trees represent those associated with the lesser yang, symbolizing the noble ministers and court officials. If these people were to suffer calamity, yin qi would invade the trees, causing them to become cold prematurely, which is why they would freeze when it rained. That year, Shusun Qiao fled, and Gongzi Yan was killed. Some interpreted this as a grave insult, pointing to Jin's detention of both Jisun Xingfu and the ruler of the state of Lu. Some also said that the elders called this phenomenon *mu jie* (木介), literally "wooden armor," suggesting impending warfare. That year, the state of Jin and the state of Chu fought the Battle of Yanling; the king of Chu was injured in the eye and ultimately defeated. The rains persisted throughout that period.
An old saying goes, "Abandon the law, sideline the deserving, kill the crown prince, and elevate a concubine to the status of wife, then the fire will not burn upwards." The meaning of this sentence is that fire, representing the south, symbolizes the emperor's righteous rule and the prosperity of the nation. For rulers, governing justly is the way to manage a country well. The Book of Documents states, "Wise rulers know how to use talent, and even better, how to place officials effectively." So, during the time of Yao and Shun, they were able to recommend talents, have them assist in court, keep them away from treacherous villains, and banish them to the outer regions. Confucius said, "Those who whisper lies while feigning innocence, their malicious words will not succeed; this is true wisdom." Wise men and treacherous villains can be distinguished. The arrangement of officials' duties should be orderly, following the old regulations, respecting the achievements of the meritorious, and treating the legitimate and illegitimate differently. In this way, the fire can maintain its characteristics and burn upwards.
However, if one does not follow the right path, or is deceitful and self-aggrandizing, treacherous villains gain power, and wickedness prevails, then the fire will lose its characteristics. Corruption festers from the highest ranks to the lowest. The ancestral temple and palaces will be consumed by fire. Even a massive firefighting effort will be futile. This is why the saying "fire does not burn upwards" holds true.
According to the *Chunqiu*, back in Duke Huan's fourteenth year, on August Ren Shen, a fire broke out in the palace granary. "The palace granary went up in flames." Dong Zhongshu believed that before this, the states of Qi, Song, Chen, and Cai had jointly attacked the state of Lu, really messing them up at Longmen. The people were still hurting and angry from the attack. As a result, the ruler and his court were slacking off, ignoring their duties, and leaving the borders undefended – basically blowing off their responsibilities to their ancestors. So, the heavens burned down the granary to send a message. Liu Xiang had a different explanation, stating that the "imperial granary" was where the Duke's wives and concubines pounded rice for the ancestor worship ceremonies. At that time, the Duke's wife was acting shady, and it was a divine warning that she wasn't fit to serve the ancestors. Ignoring the warning, he and his wife went to Qi, where she ratted him out to Duke Huan of Qi, who then had him killed. Liu Xin provided another interpretation, believing that the "imperial granary" was actually the land the Duke himself farmed to grow offerings. The fire was a consequence of the Duke ignoring the rules and neglecting the proper rituals.
"The Spring and Autumn Annals" also records that in the twentieth year of Duke Yan's reign in Lu, a great disaster occurred in the state of Qi during the summer. "In summer, there was a great disaster in Qi." Liu Xiang believed that Duke Huan of Qi was lustful, listened to the words of women, and constantly replaced his wife with concubines, which led to the great disaster. Duke Huan of Qi did not learn from this lesson. After his death, the wife and concubines fought fiercely over the inheritance, and their bodies lay unburied for nine months. "The Gongyang Commentary" says that this "great disaster" refers to an epidemic. Dong Zhongshu believed that the women of Lu had relations with the people of Qi, and there were still seven princesses of Qi who had not been married off. The ruler is like a father and mother to his people, and the husband and wife are the foundation of all living things. When the foundation is in trouble, the branches and leaves naturally wither, so heaven sends down disasters.
"The Spring and Autumn Annals" records that on the day of Yisi in the fifth month of the twentieth year of Duke Li of Lu, the West Palace caught on fire. "In the fifth month of Yisi, there was a disaster in the West Palace." "The Gu Liang Commentary" believed that the "West Palace" referred to the palace of Duke Min, and using the posthumous title to address it seemed somewhat distant, hence it was called the "West Palace." Liu Xiang believed that Duke Li made the mother of his concubine his wife and allowed her to enter the ancestral temple for worship, so heaven burned down the West Palace as a warning, saying that promoting someone of low birth to a high position would harm the orthodox rituals of the ancestral temple. Dong Zhongshu believed that Duke Li married a woman from the state of Chu as his wife, and the state of Qi sent another woman as a dowry, forcing Duke Li to make this dowry woman his wife. The West Palace was a small sleeping palace where the main wife resided. Heaven was saying, "No concubine belongs here!" Because it was a natural disaster, the place where the fire occurred was referred to as the "West Palace" to emphasize its severity. "The Zuo Commentary" believed that the "West Palace" referred to the ruler's palace, and saying "West" indicated that there was also an "East." The East Palace was where the crown prince resided, and the use of "Palace" suggests a widespread fire.
So, in the sixteenth year of Duke Xuan's reign, summer rolled around and the Xuan Pavilion in Chengzhou caught fire. This Xuan Pavilion was used to store musical instruments, and the name itself carries the character "Xuan," which is quite a sophisticated name. Both Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed that this was because in the fifteenth year, Wang Zhazi killed Duke Zhao and Duke Mao, and the king couldn't do a thing about them. This was a warning from heaven, probably meaning: if you can't even enforce your own commands, why bother with rituals and music, or keep musical instruments? The Left Classic also mentioned: "When the Xuan Pavilion in Chengzhou caught fire, it was set by humans. Fires set by humans are called human error, while fires sent by heaven are called acts of God." This Xuan Pavilion was also a place for military exercises.
In the third year of Duke Cheng's reign, on the first day of the second month, the new palace caught fire. The Guliang Zhuan stated that it was Duke Xuan's palace, without mentioning his posthumous title, which was a sign of respect. Liu Xiang believed that this was because at that time, descendants of the Three Huan families began to control the court. Duke Xuan wanted to deal with them but was afraid he couldn't handle it, so he sent the official Gongsun Guifu to seek help from the state of Jin. Before Gongsun Guifu returned, Duke Xuan passed away. The Huan clan took advantage of this opportunity to slander Gongsun Guifu in front of Duke Cheng. Duke Cheng, who had just lost his father and hadn't been buried yet, swallowed the lies hook, line, and sinker and drove away his father's old ministers, forcing them to flee to the state of Qi. So, heaven burned down his old man's palace – a clear warning! Some also said that this was because the Huan clan was close to Duke Cheng but ignored all the rules, just like Duke Xuan killing his own son Chi and appointing another son. They disregarded proper conduct but were close to Duke Cheng, so heaven burned the temple to warn Duke Cheng to deal with the Huan clan. Dong Zhongshu believed that Duke Cheng showed no grief during the mourning period and kept fighting, so heaven burned his father's temple as a warning, as he was not filial and did not honor their ancestors properly. Besides, Duke Xuan got where he was by killing the king – no place for him among the ancestors!
In ancient China, disasters were often interpreted as signs of divine displeasure. In the spring of 709 BC, a devastating fire swept through the State of Song. Liu Xiang believed that the fundamental cause of this disaster was that the Duke of Song believed in slander and drove away the minister Hua Ruo, causing him to flee to the State of Lu. The "Zuo Zhuan" records that when the fire occurred in the State of Song, Le Xi served as the city magistrate. He took a series of proactive measures: ordering people to demolish small houses before the fire spread, reinforce large houses, and prepare essential supplies such as firefighting equipment, store water, pile up mud, repair city defenses, mark escape routes, and organize personnel for emergency response. The residents outside the city walls were safely evacuated to areas far from the fire. He also ensured that all officials at all levels performed their duties diligently.
After hearing about this incident, the Duke of Jin asked Shi Ruo, "Song had a fire. This shows Heaven's got a plan. What do you think this is?" Shi Ruo replied, "In ancient times, fire officials either worshipped the Heart Star or the Quail Fire constellation to control the use of fire. They believed the Quail Fire's position related to fire usage in the mouth (cooking, etc.), and the Heart Star's position to its use in the heart (health, etc.). The legendary fire official of the Tao Tang clan, E Bo, lived in Shangqiu, worshipped the Great Fire, and used it to control time. Xiang Tu inherited his duties, so the Shang dynasty also valued the Great Fire. The Shang learned a hard lesson and found that disasters in their country often began with fires, so they understood that there is a way of Heaven." The Duke of Jin asked, "Is that for sure?" Shi Ruo replied, "It depends on how things are going. If the country's a mess, you can't predict stuff like that." Back then, fire officials oversaw fire-related rituals and regulations. On spring evenings, you see the Heart Star in the east, the Quail Fire and others in the south – time to use fire. In fall, they're gone – time to put the fire out. It's all about following the seasons. During the reign of Emperor Ku, there was Zhu Rong, and during the reign of Emperor Yao, there was E Bo. People looked up to them, and after they died, they became fire gods, worshipped alongside Mars, hence the saying, "some worship the Heart Star, some worship the Quail Fire." Xiang Tu, Qi's great-grandson, took over E Bo's job, overseeing fire rituals. Song was a Shang descendant, and for generations, they were masters at predicting fires. Good rulers adapt and govern well, avoiding disaster. Bad rulers are blind to the signs, so Heaven doesn't warn them – no guarantees there.
In May of 679 BC, a fire occurred in the state of Song. Dong Zhongshu believed that this was because Princess Boji of Song had lived in Song for five years, and after the death of Duke Gong of Song, she remained in mourning for over thirty years and worried about the country's misfortunes, causing the accumulation of pent-up grief that eventually led to the fire. Liu Xiang, on the other hand, believed that this was because Duke Gong of Song listened to slander and killed Crown Prince Zuo, leading to the punishment of "the fire backfired."
In June of 534 BC, a major fire broke out in the state of Zheng on the day of Bing Xu. It is said that in the spring of that year, in March, the people of Zheng began to forge instruments of punishment with various legal texts inscribed on them. A man named Shi Wenbo said, "Hey, could this fire be related to the forging of instruments of punishment in Zheng this time? Even before the fire occurred, they were recklessly using fire to forge instruments of punishment, clearly defying the natural order of things! Using fire to forge instruments of punishment is just like acting in a way that was akin to playing with fire, isn't it? If they weren't provoking the fire, why would they use fire?" He explained that while the planet Mars usually appears in the fifth month of the Zhou calendar, Zheng used fire to forge a large cauldron and inscribed legal texts in March, intending to constrain the common people, clearly competing with Mars! Therefore, when Mars appeared, it clashed with the fire element, ultimately causing the fire disaster, which they brought on themselves! Furthermore, they didn't consult the oracles about the legal texts and did not foresee the disaster in advance.
This story isn't in the official records, and Zheng did not inform the state of Lu in advance. In the 5th century BC, a major fire occurred in the state of Chen, with various explanations given. Dong Zhongshu believed that the downfall of Chen was due to the murder of Duke Ling of Chen, where the state of Chu pretended to help Chen by attacking the rebels, but instead, Chen welcomed them and was destroyed by Chu. The people of Chen were seething with resentment, leading to this major fire.
Liu Xiang thought differently. He believed that the main reason for the destruction of the Chen Kingdom was that the Marquis of Chen's brother murdered Crown Prince Yan Shi. This was an internal affair, unrelated to the palace fire; hence his brevity. In the 5th century BC, on October's Renwu day, Chu destroyed Chen. The *Spring and Autumn Annals* didn't record barbarian conquests of the Central Plains, so it only mentioned the great fire that occurred in the Chen Kingdom. The *Zuo Zhuan* calls it the "Chen Disaster" and also mentions an oracle diviner in the Zheng Kingdom named Bi Zao who predicted, "Five years later, the Chen Kingdom will be restored, and it will be completely destroyed fifty-two years after restoration." When asked for the reason, Bi Zao explained, "The Chen Kingdom belongs to water, and fire is the wife of water, while the Chu Kingdom symbolizes fire. Now that the Chen Kingdom has experienced a fire, it means that the Chu Kingdom will destroy Chen, then reestablish the Chen Kingdom. Five, being the number associated with wives, explains the five-year prediction. Five years later coincides with the appearance of the Quail Fire star, and only then will the Chen Kingdom finally perish, with the Chu Kingdom occupying it. That was heaven's design!"
So the fortune teller goes, "Zhuanxu was the water god, and Chen was his kingdom, see?" Back then, it was the Xingji star's turn, then five years later, the Daliang star (which is the same as the Pleiades). See, Daliang is the Pleiades, and gold's the source of water. The Chen kingdom getting that water source meant good things, so the prediction was, "Chen'll be back in five years!" It's all about the five elements: water from heaven, fire from earth, wood from heaven, gold from earth, and earth from heaven. It's all about the five elements and the yin and yang balance, hence the "five Fei."
Water is assigned the number six, fire the number seven, wood the number eight, gold the number nine, and earth the number ten. So, in this system: water corresponds to heaven's first position, fire to heaven's second, wood to heaven's third, earth to heaven's fourth, and gold to heaven's fifth. The masculine number is associated with the male principle, while the feminine number represents the Fei principle. So it is said, "Water is the male of fire; fire is the Fei of water."
It's all based on the I Ching. Kan is water, the male principle, and Li is fire, the female principle. Four years after the Pleiades, it's the Chunhuo star's turn. That's a four-year cycle, so after five cycles (20 years), that's 52 years total, and boom – Chen's gone. Fire wins, water loses – that's just how it goes. And that's how, in July 479 BC, Chu snuffed out Chen.
In the eighteenth year of King Zhao, on the day of Renwu in the fifth month, the states of Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng all experienced calamities simultaneously. Dong Zhongshu believed this heralded impending turmoil within the royal family, with no one able to intervene, leading to disasters that foreshadowed their downfall. He noted that the rulers of Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng were decadent, neglecting their duties, and mirroring the Zhou royal family's depravity. When the balance of yin and yang is disrupted, calamities will occur, which explains why these four states suffered disasters on the same day. Liu Xiang, on the other hand, argued that Song and Chen were descendants of the royal family, while Wei and Zheng shared the same ancestry as the Zhou dynasty. At that time, King Jing of Zhou was elderly, and the crown prince Liu and Shan both relied on Prince Meng, while Yin, Zhao, and Mao were aligned with Prince Chao, who was from the state of Chu. The four states of Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng actively aligned themselves with Chu, thus undermining the Zhou dynasty. Three years later, King Jing passed away, resulting in chaos within the royal family, which led to the heavens punishing these four states. Heaven's message was clear: their alliance with Chu, the disregard for the rightful heir, and the overall weakening of the Zhou dynasty were all equally culpable.
In the second year of Duke Ding, in the fifth month, a fire broke out at Zhi Gate and Liangguan in the state of Lu. Both Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed this was due to the excessive extravagance and hubris in the state of Lu. Prior to this, the powerful Ji clan expelled Duke Zhao, who died abroad. After Duke Ding ascended the throne, he was unable to punish the Jis; instead, he heeded their pernicious counsel, indulged in women, and even rejected Confucius. The warning from the heavens was clear: to abandon the arrogant and decadent. Furthermore, the fire at the palace gate symbolized the erosion of legitimate authority. Now that the saints have been discarded and sinners indulged, what authority can still be issued? As the *Yi Jing* states, "When the ruler forgets the Way, calamity will consume the palace."
In the third year of Duke Ai, on the Xinmao day of the fifth month, a fire broke out in the Huan Palace and Li Palace of the state of Lu. Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed that these two palaces should not have been built, as it broke with tradition. Duke Ai also ignored Confucius's advice due to the influence of the Ji family. When Confucius heard about the fire in Lu, he said, "It's probably the Huan and Li Palaces!" He believed that the Huan Palace was built by the ancestors of the Ji family, and the Li Palace was built to keep the Ji family in power.
In the fourth year of Duke Ai, on the Xinchou day of the sixth month, a fire broke out in the Haoshe of Lu. Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed that this was a heavenly warning, as if to say: the country is in danger of destruction, but there is no warning. During the Spring and Autumn period, Lu experienced several fires during the reigns of Duke Ding and Duke Ai, because ignoring wise counsel and indulging arrogant ministers would lead to the destruction of the country; isn't that obvious? It can also be said that it was Heaven's will that Confucius came to the world, not for Duke Ding and Duke Ai, but because they were disrespectful of tradition, leading to the fires as a natural phenomenon.
On the day of Bingshen in May of 187 BC, a massive fire swept through the state of Zhao. Liu Xiang believed that this was because at that time, a woman from the Lü family was the queen of the Zhao king; jealous, she spread rumors to bring down the king. The Zhao king did not realize the danger and was eventually imprisoned and killed.
In October of 193 BC, on the day of Yihai, the imperial pantry in the Wei Yang Palace caught fire; on the day of Bingzi, the weaving hall also caught fire. Liu Xiang believed this was due to Empress Dowager Lü's actions the previous year when she killed Prince Zhao Ruyi and cruelly murdered his mother, Consort Qi. On the day of Renyin in the same year, the Empress Dowager named the daughter of Princess Lu Yuan as the empress. The fire in the imperial pantry was seen as a divine omen, indicating that the Empress had neglected her duties to the ancestral temple, foreshadowing the cessation of sacrifices. Later, the Empress did not bear a son, but one of the palace beauties did. The Empress Dowager forced the Empress to name the child, then had the mother executed. After Emperor Hui's death, his son succeeded him, but this caused much dissatisfaction, leading to the deposition of the emperor and the installation of Lü Hong as the young emperor. Only through the ministers' concerted efforts to eliminate the Lü clan was Emperor Wen installed, and Empress Hui was also imprisoned and deposed.
In June of 178 BC, on the day of Guiyou, the eastern gatehouse of the Wei Yang Palace caught fire. Liu Xiang believed that the eastern gate was where the vassal lords paid homage to the emperor, and Fusai, located outside the gate, symbolized the vassal lords. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, many vassal kings were appointed, with their fiefdoms extending over dozens of cities. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Jia Yi and others believed this contravened ancient precedents and would lead to rebellion. Prior to this, the Kings of Jibei and Huainan had plotted rebellions, and later, the rebellion of the seven states, including Wu and Chu, indeed occurred but was eventually suppressed.
In August of 150 BC, on the day of Jiyin, the eastern gatehouse of the Wei Yang Palace caught fire again. Prior to this, Crown Prince Li was deposed as the King of Linjiang, falsely accused and imprisoned in the Commandant's Office, and eventually committed suicide. Prime Minister Zhou Yafu, the Marquis of Tiao, resigned due to disagreements with the emperor and was imprisoned and executed two years later.
In the sixth year of Emperor Wu of Han, in the sixth month of Ding You, the High Temple in Liaodong caught fire. In the fourth month of Ren Zi, the annex of Gaoyuan also burned down. Dong Zhongshu said, "The Spring and Autumn Annals uses past events to illuminate the present, so any event happening in the world can be understood by referring to similar events recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Careful study reveals its deeper meaning and underlying principles. The changes of heaven and earth, national affairs, are clearly manifested in it, and there is nothing that is not understood.
Looking at the records of Duke Ding and Duke Ai of Lu in the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Ji clan's misdeeds were already very serious, while the sage wisdom of Confucius was flourishing. With the sage wisdom of Confucius, it was possible to eliminate the abuses of the Ji clan. Although the power of the Ji Sun clan was strong and the ruler of Lu was weak, this matter could still succeed. Therefore, in the second year of Duke Ding of Lu, in May, the two observatories caught fire. The two observatories were structures built in violation of ritual, and the disaster from heaven signified that officials who violated ritual should be dismissed. First, the signs of the crime were revealed, and then it was announced that they could be removed; this is the will of heaven. However, Duke Ding did not realize this.
In the third year of Duke Ai of Lu, in May, Huan Palace and Li Palace caught fire. These two palaces were similar in nature and function, as if to purge the injustice by burning down these prestigious buildings. Duke Ai still did not understand, so in the fourth year of June, Hao She caught fire. The two observatories, Huan Palace, Li Palace, and Hao She—these four places should not exist, and heaven burned down these places that should not exist as a warning to Lu, hoping that Lu would remove the corrupt officials and appoint wise and saintly officials. The Ji clan's wicked rule had long endured, and the reason why disasters did not come down from heaven before was that Lu did not have wise officials. Even if they'd wanted to remove the Ji Sun clan, they lacked the power, as was the case during the reign of Duke Zhao. It was only during the reigns of Duke Ding and Duke Ai that this situation arose; the time was right. Heaven sends disasters only when the time is right; that's the way of things.
The high temple should not be built in Liaodong now, and the High Garden Palace should not be constructed next to the tomb. According to ritual, they shouldn't exist, just like the fire that occurred in the State of Lu. These buildings should have been absent for a long time, but during Your Majesty's reign, the fire happened—likely because the conditions were finally right. In the past, the State of Qin suffered from the aftermath of the Zhou Dynasty's downfall, unable to change it; the Han Dynasty faced similar issues after the Qin Dynasty's collapse, also without the means to change. Inheriting the faults of two dynasties and enduring their negative influences makes governance extremely difficult. Moreover, there are many relatives and close connections involved, indulging in extravagance and wrongdoing. This is what we call a crisis. Your Majesty is currently facing significant disadvantages and encountering these heavy difficulties, which is truly concerning.
Therefore, disasters from the heavens seem to be telling Your Majesty: "In today's world, although there are numerous flaws and challenges, only by implementing the righteous path of peace and prosperity can the country be governed well. For those close relatives and nobles who commit serious crimes among the vassals, they must be summarily punished, just like I burned down the high temple in Liaodong; for those high-ranking officials in the court who wield significant power but act improperly, they must be swiftly dealt with, just like I burned down the High Garden Palace. Those who act improperly outside, even if they are as esteemed as the high temple, will be destroyed—let alone the vassals! Those who act improperly inside, even if they are as esteemed as the High Garden Palace, will also be destroyed—let alone the ministers! This is the will of heaven. Crimes committed outside lead to external disasters; crimes committed inside lead to internal disasters; the more severe the crime, the greater the disaster; the lighter the crime, the smaller the disaster. This is how we align with the will of heaven."
It is said that King Huainan Liu An went to the capital to meet the Emperor, but from the beginning, he clashed with the Emperor's uncle, the Grand Commandant Tian Fen. Later, King Jiaoxi, King Zhao Jingsu, and King Changshan Xian all committed crimes multiple times, some even killed off whole families and used poison to kill many high-ranking officials. What is even more serious is that King Huainan and King Hengshan actually plotted a rebellion! Kings Jiaodong and Jiangdu knew about their plan and were secretly stockpiling weapons and crossbows to support them. It was not until the sixth year of Yuanshuo that the plot was uncovered, and all the participants were executed. Unfortunately, by that time, Tian Fen was already dead, so the Emperor couldn't punish him. Remembering what Dong Zhongshu had said before, the Emperor sent Dong Zhongshu's student, Lv Bushu, to investigate King Huainan's case, allowing him to independently judge according to the principles of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* without having to seek approval for everything. After Lv Bushu reported back, the Emperor approved.
On the eleventh month's Yiyu, the Bailiang Terrace in the Weiyang Palace caught fire. Prior to this, a fierce wind ripped the roof off the Bailiang Terrace. Xiahou Shichang had foreseen the disaster. Later, Jiang Chong framed the Crown Prince using witchcraft.
It is said that in the spring of the second year of Zhenghe during the reign of Emperor Zhaodi of Han, when the iron officials of Zhuo commandery were smelting iron, the molten iron actually shot into the sky! That must've been some evil spirit or demon at work!
In March, the Governor of Zhuojun, Liu Quli, was promoted to Prime Minister. Not long after, the witchcraft scandal broke out. The Emperor's daughters, Princess Zhu Yi and Princess Yang Shi, Prime Minister Gongsun He, his son Grand Commandant Jingsheng, and Marquis Cao Zong of Pingyang, among many others, were all arrested and eventually died. In July, the Emperor sent the envoy Jiang Chong to search for witchcraft in the Crown Prince's palace. The Crown Prince and his mother, the Empress, discussed the hopeless situation and decided to kill Jiang Chong before launching a rebellion against Prime Minister Liu Quli. The battle was fierce, with countless dead. The defeated Crown Prince killed himself by the lake. The following year, they got Liu Quli, too. Accused of cursing the Emperor, he was beheaded, and his wife was publicly executed.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, in the first month, the ironworkers of Pei County were casting iron. The molten iron refused to flow, and there was a booming sound like thunder and drums, scaring away the workers. When the sound stopped, they found that the ground had sunk several chi (about 2.3 meters) and the furnace had split into ten pieces. One of the furnaces had molten iron flying into the air like fiery meteors, just like what happened in Zhuo Commandery in the second year of Zhenghe. That summer, the emperor's five uncles were all appointed as lords, known as the "Five Lords." The emperor's uncle, Wang Feng, called the shots in court, becoming the Grand Marshal and Grand General, controlling the government. Two years later, the Prime Minister Wang Shang fell out with Wang Feng, who accused Wang Shang and had him ousted. Wang Shang ultimately committed suicide. The following year, the Prefect of Jingzhao, Wang Zhang, criticized Wang Feng's abuse of power, but Wang Feng turned the tables on him and accused Wang Zhang of high treason, imprisoning him. Wang Zhang also died, and his wife and children were exiled to Hepu. Later, Empress Xu was deposed due to a witchcraft incident, and Zhao Feiyan became empress, with her sister becoming the imperial concubine. They even killed the prince, leading to Emperor Cheng having no heir. Eventually, both the empress and the concubine were executed. Some say that iron flying to the sky is a sign that the Mandate of Heaven is failing!
In the first year of Emperor Zhao of Han, the south gate of Yancheng caught fire. Liu Xiang believed this was because the King of Yan was using crooked officials to conspire with the Han Dynasty and plot rebellion. The south gate was the route from Yan to the Han Dynasty, and it was a sign from heaven that crooked officials were plotting conspiracies in the Han Dynasty, leading to destruction. The King of Yan did not heed the warning and ultimately paid the price.
In May of the fourth year of the Yuanfeng era, on the Dingchou day, the Xiaowen Temple's main hall burned down. Liu Xiang saw the Xiaowen Temple fire—Xiaowen being Taizong's ancestor—as a bad omen, echoing the palace fire under King Xuan of Chengzhou. Prior to this, the Empress's father, General Shangguan An, and his father Shangguan Jie (Left General) conspired to rebel, but were wiped out by Grand General Huo Guang. Huo Guang's granddaughter, the Empress, was too young to understand what was happening, so she kept her position. Huo Guang wanted the Empress to have a child, so under the pretext of the Emperor's illness, he ordered that only the Empress could sleep with the Emperor; all other concubines were forbidden. The Empress became Empress at the age of six, and when she was thirteen, Emperor Zhao died, leaving the throne without an heir! Huo Guang took control of the court, like Zhou Gong supporting King Cheng. In the first month of that year, the Emperor had just come of age, starting to study the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, showing a brilliant mind. However, Huo Guang did not have the virtue of Zhou Gong. He ruled for nine years—longer than Zhou Gong—and refused to relinquish power even after the Emperor came of age, a national catastrophe! So, the Emperor's coming of age in January and the temple fire in May were seen as acts of God! In ancient times, temples were located inside the city, but the Xiaowen Temple was built outside the city, like a divine warning: steer clear of powerful, corrupt officials!
In the first year of Emperor Xuan's reign, in the fourth month of Bing Shen, the temple of the Zhongshan Taishang Emperor caught fire. On the day of Jia Chen, the Xiaowen Imperial Ancestral Temple also caught fire. By the third year of Emperor Yuan's reign, in the fourth month of Yi Wei, the Baihe Pavilion of Emperor Xiaowu also caught fire. Liu Xiang believed that the former general Xiao Wangzhi and the high-ranking official Zhang Kan assisted in court affairs but were framed by the corrupt officials Shi Xian and Xu Zhang. Xiao Wangzhi committed suicide, and Zhang Kan was dismissed. The following year, the Baihe Pavilion caught fire. This Baihe Pavilion was a five-li-long horse racing track, which should not have been built near the imperial tomb! It was like a message from Heaven: stay away from those who hold high positions but are idle and plot against loyal officials! Later, Xu Zhang was dismissed for riding recklessly at the imperial stables.
In the fourth year of Yongguang, in the sixth month of Jia Xu, on that day, a fire broke out in the eastern gate of the Du Ling Garden of Emperor Xiaoxuan. Liu Xiang analyzed that the emperor had reappointed Zhou Kan as the Grand Master, and Zhou Kan's student Zhang Meng became a Taizhong Grand Master. However, Shi Xian and his cronies once again started to falsely accuse Zhou Kan, leading to both Zhou Kan and Zhang Meng being sent away. That year, the emperor recalled Zhou Kan to serve as a Shangshu and Zhang Meng as a Geshi Zhong. Still, Shi Xian and his cronies continued to plot against them. The Du Ling Garden, unlike the court, had its gate tower within the Sima Gate, much like Shi Xian's position within the court. Emperor Xiaoxuan was extremely powerful; the gate tower was where decrees were issued. It was as if Heaven was warning: if laws were abandoned and court officials were allowed to wield excessive power, the country would suffer. Eventually, Zhou Kan had the chance to see the emperor, but decisions had to go through Shi Xian, and Zhou Kan was unable to speak due to illness. Shi Xian accused Zhang Meng, who ultimately committed suicide. It was only when Emperor Cheng ascended the throne that Shi Xian finally got what he deserved.
In the first month of the first year of Chengdi's reign, a fire broke out in the emperor's ancestral temple. Emperor Xuan had first served as Empress Dowager to Emperor Zhao before establishing his father's temple, which was not appropriate according to ritual and law. At that time, General Wang Feng held unchecked power and was even more ruthless than Tian Fen, posing a threat to the country. This was the ominous sign on New Year's Day. Later, the Wang clan's influence grew stronger, with five generals taking turns in power, ultimately leading to the country's downfall.
In the eighth month of the third year of Hongjia, a fire occurred in the north gate of Emperor Xiaojing's temple. In the eleventh month, Empress Xu was deposed.
In the first month of the first year of Yongshi, a fire broke out in an official's residence. On the day of Wuwu, the south gate of Empress Li's garden also caught fire. At that time, Zhao Feiyan was the emperor's favorite, and just after Empress Xu was deposed, the emperor was about to make Zhao Feiyan his empress. This mirrored the events of the fourth year of Huide's reign. Originally a concubine of the Prince of Wei, Empress Li was granted a posthumous title by Emperor Xuan due to the witchcraft scandal, which was also inappropriate according to ritual and law. Moreover, Empress Li came from humble origins, similar to Zhao Feiyan. It was as if Heaven itself was warning that people of humble birth and wicked nature should not be worshipped in ancestral temples, as it would lead to the cessation of sacrifices and bring about calamities. In the sixth month of Bingyin, Zhao Empress was finally appointed as empress, but she and her sister were arrogant, jealous, and even murderous towards the princes, ultimately facing punishment.
In the fourth year of Yongshi, on the day of Guimai in the fourth month, both the Linhua Hall of Changle Palace and the East Sima Gate of Weiyang Palace caught fire. In the sixth month of Jiawu, the South of the East Que of Emperor Xiaowen's Baling Garden also caught fire. Changle Palace was where Empress Dowager Wang lived, Weiyang Palace was where the Emperor resided, and Baling was the Imperial Garden of Great Virtue. At that time, the Empress Dowager's three brothers successively gained power, completely dominated the court, and their entire family held official positions. Those royal relatives were practically running the country into the ground, and it was a clear sign of divine displeasure. The following year, the Marquis of Chengdu died, and his brother, the Marquis of Quyang, succeeded him as Grand Sima, continuing to control the court. Four years later, the Marquis requested retirement, recommending his nephew, the Marquis of Xindu, to take his place, and that sealed the fate of the Han Dynasty.
In the third year of Jianping of Emperor Ai, on the day of Guimao in the first month, the Hongning Hall of the Guigong caught fire, which was where Empress Dowager Fu lived. At that time, Empress Dowager Fu wanted to be as honored as Empress Dowager Wang, so the ministers Kong Guang and Shi Dan, who were in power, thought that was a step too far. Therefore, Empress Dowager Fu was stripped of her title, but eventually regained her honor. Three years later, Emperor Ai died, and the Fu family was exterminated.
In the fifth year of Yuanshi of Emperor Ping, on the day of Jihai in the seventh month, the original temple gate of Emperor Gaozu was completely destroyed. The temple of Emperor Gaozu was in Chang'an City, but later, due to criticism from Sun Sun Tong, it was rebuilt north of the Wei River, though it was no longer authentic. At that time, Emperor Ping was still young, and Empress Dowager Wang, the mother of Emperor Cheng, reigned as regent. She trusted Wang Mang, who was planning to usurp the throne and destroy the Han Dynasty. He even burned the ancestral temple of Emperor Gaozu, and this was clearly a sign from heaven. That winter, Emperor Ping died. The following year, Wang Mang seized power, then usurped the throne, and was eventually exterminated.
The ancients said, "If the palace is built too luxuriously, the pavilions are decorated too exquisitely, the imperial court is rife with debauchery, and family members are plotting against each other, disrespecting elders, then the crops will not yield a good harvest."
In other words, soil is the center, the foundation that nurtures all things. For the emperor, the palace, his family, and his relations are all interconnected. In ancient times, palaces and temples were built to specific dimensions for emperors and nobles; the number of concubines and attendants, and their conduct, were strictly regulated. The nine generations of the imperial family observed strict rules of hierarchy and propriety. Confucius said, "Rather than extravagance, simplicity and frugality are better." So Yu the Great's palace was austere, and King Wen had only a few consorts; these are examples that saints used to educate the people. This way, the soil can maintain its nature. If there is extravagance, chaos, and arrogance, then the soil will lose its nature. Droughts and floods will follow, resulting in crop failure; this is "when the crops fail."
In the twenty-eighth year of Duke Yan's reign, there was no harvest in winter, causing a severe famine. Dong Zhongshu believed that this was because Aijiang's improper conduct was seen as a violation of the natural order, bringing about the great flood. Liu Xiang believed that historical records mention water disasters, but here it only mentions a catastrophic wheat and grain failure, indicating that the land lacked nutrients and the crops could not grow. At that time, Aijiang was involved in scandalous affairs with two of her uncles, causing chaos inside and outside the palace, coupled with a severe famine. Three high platforms were constructed within a year, a further sign of the kingdom's decline and the ensuing crop failure. This construction was seen as a reflection of the moral decay. Aijiang's death brought no repentance, and her actions brought ruin upon her descendants for two generations, all because of her extravagance and debauchery.
The book says: "If you like to fight, disregard the common folk, build lavish palaces, invade neighboring borders, then things will go wrong." This means: Gold, representing the West, only shows its military might after a time of peace and prosperity. Therefore, eagles start hunting at the beginning of autumn, and a light frost appears at the autumn equinox. In national affairs, going to war, wielding their command staffs and axes, swearing to the soldiers, and showing a mighty force is to crush rebellions. In the Book of Songs, it says: "Hold the battle-ax devoutly, fierce as a wildfire." It also says: "Sheathe your swords, ready your bows." You gotta be sensible, using words to reassure the people and give them the courage to fight, so that gold can play its role. But if greedy and cruel, only seeking to show power for a moment, regardless of the life and death of the people, then gold will lose its effectiveness. Because craftsmen smelt gold and iron, sometimes the metal will become unworkable, even developing strange properties; this is gold not obeying orders.
In the Zuo Zhuan, it is recorded that in the eighth year of Duke Zhao's reign, stones started talking in springtime. Duke Ping of Jin asked Shi Kuang what the reason was, and Shi Kuang replied: "Stones themselves cannot speak; maybe some spirit's gotten into them. If things are done out of season, with the people worn out and their anger boiling over, there will be non-verbal things making sounds. Now the construction of the palace is too luxurious, nobody thinks this is normal, so it is not surprising that stones speak!" At that time, the Duke of Jin was about to build the Siqi Palace. Shuxiang said: "A gentleman always speaks the truth, and his words can be checked." Liu Xin believed that gold and stone are kindred spirits, so when stones speak, it is also gold not obeying orders, losing its nature. Liu Xiang believed that white stones are a good omen.
Back in the third year of Emperor Chengdi's reign, one May day – Yihai, to be exact – a big ol' rock went "boom," like a clap of thunder, on the mountains of Jinnan in Tianshui. You could hear that thing for miles and miles – two hundred and forty, to be precise; even wild chickens started crowing. It was thirteen feet long, give or take, and just as wide and thick, stuck on the edge of a cliff over two hundred feet above the ground, and folks called it the "Stone Drum."
When the "Stone Drum" sounded, it meant trouble was brewing. Indeed, that year, there was this guy, Qianzi, in Guanhan, who teamed up with some other crooks like Zheng Gong, stole a bunch of government weapons, robbed people blind, decked himself out in fancy embroidered clothes, called himself "Mountain Lord," and gathered a whole gang. By the following winter, the whole thing was put down, with over three thousand surrendering.
Four years later, Fan Bing and others in Weishi rebelled again. They killed the Prefect of Chenliu, Yan Pu, declared themselves generals, and joined forces with some fugitives from Shanyang, like Su Ling and others, gathering hundreds of people, stealing weapons from the government, and causing chaos in several counties for over a year before being subdued.
They were building Changling then, a huge project that needed tens of thousands of workers and over five thousand families brought in from all over. Five years later, and it was still a mess. They gave up, and everyone went home. Just like that old Jin legend about talking rocks, the Stone Drum's boom proved Shi Kuang right about the people being worn out and ignored. The palace was forty miles from the capital, and Changling was also on the outskirts, both gobbling up land. You know, city walls are metal, palaces are earth – it's all about that Yin and Yang stuff.
Like the old folks used to say, "If you mess with the temples and don't pray right, the crops will fail!"
So, water, a northern phenomenon, can eventually contain all things. This is similar to human nature. After a person dies, the body returns to the earth, but the spirit can transcend. Sages built temples to house the souls of the deceased, offering sacrifices in spring and autumn to honor their ancestors. When an emperor ascends the throne, they have to have a big ceremony to worship the heavens and earth, pray to the spirits, revere the mountains and rivers, and appease the gods—no one neglects these matters. They'd fast and bathe carefully to please the spirits and get their blessings. This is how a sage king works with the natural order and goes with the flow. Even when issuing orders, one must follow nature's rhythm, going by the seasons, keeping things in balance to ultimately succeed. In this way, water can maintain its essence.
If one disrespects the spirits and goes against the will of the heavens, then water will lose its essence. Thick fog, heavy rain, floods, destruction of cities and villages, drowning of the people, and continuous downpours will occur, damaging crops. This is the manifestation of water not nourishing the lower reaches. The "Book of Changes" says, "If you act arbitrarily, ignore reasoning, and abuse punishments, it will lead to floods. These floods, with heavy rain, hail, strong winds, and yellowing skies, will bring continuous famine. If there's no repentance, it will lead to even greater floods, drowning people. If you treat good people badly, like a tyrant, that will also lead to floods, washing away lives. After the floods, the land will breed pests. If you don't investigate properly, it's like accusing innocent people, which will lead to cold waves, freezing people to death. If you punish people without a fair trial, it's like being unreasonable, which will lead to poor harvests. If you don't deal with a defeat properly, you'll blame it on bad luck. Amnesty means pardoning. After a great defeat, the emperor should execute the ringleaders and pardon the others; if not, you'll have floods and hailstorms."
In the first year of Duke Huan of Lu, there was a massive autumn flood. Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed this happened because the people hated Duke Huan for killing Duke Yin and looked down on him. Later, the lord of the Song state was killed, and the other lords wanted to attack the Song state. Duke Huan accepted a bribe from Song, promised to help them, but then reneged on his promise. The other lords then attacked Lu, leading to continuous warfare, deepening hatred, with bodies piled high and rivers of blood— it was a right mess. The people were full of resentment, which caused another major flood in the summer of the thirteenth year. Another explanation was that Duke Huan's wife was arrogant and licentious, wanting to kill him, and things were really bad. Duke Huan didn’t realize this and was eventually killed by his wife. Liu Xin thought this was because Duke Huan was too free with promises of land and neglected the sacrifices to Duke Zhou.
In the autumn of 137 BC, Lu state experienced a major flood that wiped out the harvest. Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang had different interpretations of this flood. Dong Zhongshu thought it was because Lady Wenjiang, the mother of Duke Zhuang of Lu, was sleeping with her brother Duke Qixiang, and together they killed Duke Huan of Lu. Duke Zhuang of Lu sought revenge by marrying a woman from the Qi state, but even before the wedding, he cheated on her. He cheated on his wife twice a year, and even on the road, leading the people to despise him and bringing down punishment from heaven.
Liu Xiang had a different view, thinking the flood was due to Duke Zhuang of Lu's disgraceful conduct, which made life hell for the people and caused them to resent him, ultimately triggering the flood.
In the autumn of 133 BC, the state of Song also experienced a major flood. Dong Zhongshu believed this was because Lu and Song had been at war for several years over Chengqiu and Qi, driving the people crazy and accumulating heavy grievances, resulting in floods in both states. Liu Xiang, on the other hand, thought that Duke Min of Song was too stuck-up and, even in the face of disaster, didn’t repent. The following year, he showed off to his ministers and even gave Song Wan a mouthful, which got him killed. Serves him right!
In 117 BC, the state of Lu experienced major flooding again. Dong Zhongshu believed this was because Ai Jiang, the Duchess Ai, was a bit of a wild child and didn't exactly play by the rules, leading to too much Yin. Liu Xiang, on the other hand, thought that when Ai Jiang first entered the household, Duke Ai had ministers and women of the court go to see her and even gave gifts. Ai Jiang also slept with two of her uncles, which Duke Ai couldn't control. The ministers thought Duke Ai was a joke, so there were floods that year and the following year. Liu Xin believed this was because Duke Ai had gone all out decorating the ancestral temple, carving the beams of the house, and painting the pillars red to show off his new wife. This was seen as insulting the ancestors, leading to punishment.
In the autumn of 107 BC, during the tenth year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the state of Lu experienced flooding again, along with famine. Dong Zhongshu believed this was because Lu had previously attacked the state of Zhu and seized their cities, resulting in karma. All that war bred resentment and anger among the people. Liu Xiang believed this was because Duke Xuan had killed his own son, Chi, who was a descendant of the Liu clan. Therefore, Duke Xuan was afraid and paid off Qi with western lands. The Zhu king was also connected to Qi, and Duke Xuan went to war with Zhu. The ministers feared Qi's power and the calamity from Zhu, and they all thought Duke Xuan was a moron for his actions.
In the autumn of 95 BC, during the fifth year of Duke Cheng of Lu, the state of Lu experienced flooding again. Both Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang believed this was because Duke Cheng was still young, and the nobles ran the show. In the previous year, Lu had gone to war twice, and the following year they built Yun city to boost his own power. Zhongsun Mie, Shusun Qiao, and Zhuanyu were in cahoots with Song and Jin, causing everything to be all out of balance and leading to the flooding.
In the autumn of 540 BC, there was a devastating flood. Dong Zhongshu believed that this was all because the previous year the state of Qi attacked the state of Jin, and our small country, with its weak military, sent troops to rescue Jin before turning to attack Qi. The people were up in arms, the air thick with resentment—that's what caused the flood, they said. Liu Xiang, on the other hand, believed it was because King Xiang of Chu rubbed his neighbors the wrong way, resulting in the state of Zhu attacking our south, Qi attacking our north, and Ju attacking our east. Panic gripped the people as we picked a fight with powerful Qi, triggering a cascade of disasters: floods, famine, and complete crop failure. Things were dire.
Three years later in the summer, there was massive flooding in Hanzhong and Nanjun, which submerged more than four thousand households. In the autumn of the fourth year, there were catastrophic deluges in Henan, with the Yi River and Luo River submerging more than 1600 households, and the Ru River submerging over 800 households. In the summer of the eighth year, Hanzhong and Nanjun experienced another great flood, submerging more than six thousand households, while the Mian River in Nanyang inundated tens of thousands of homes. At that time, Empress Dowager Lü and her clan ran the show.
Three years later in the autumn of Emperor Wen of Han, there was heavy rain for 35 days without stopping. Lantian was hit by flash floods, swallowing up 900+ homes, while the Han River raged, destroying more than 8000 houses and killing over 300 people. Prior to this, a man named Xinyuan Ping from the state of Zhao gained the emperor's favor by observing celestial phenomena and built a temple for the Five Emperors in Weiyang. He even tried to get his hands on the Zhou Dynasty's tripod and planned to offer sacrifices to the gods outside the capital in the fourth month of summer. Over a year later, fearing for his life, he plotted a rebellion, which was exposed. He was sentenced to death, and his whole family was wiped out. At that time, the court sent a princess to marry the Xiongnu, with a mountain of gifts. As a result, the Xiongnu went on the rampage, invading the north and slaughtering tens of thousands. The Han Dynasty sent troops multiple times to defend the borders.
During the summer and autumn of the fifth year of the Yongguang era, Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty experienced heavy flooding. Floods ravaged Yingchuan, Runan, Huaiyang, and Lujiang, destroying houses and causing casualties among the people. Last year, they started tearing down temples in various counties and commanderies, and in the following year, they ordered the demolition of temples in rotation. Even the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xiaohui's ancestral temples were torn down and left to rot, leading many Confucian scholars to believe this went against ancient traditions. That's when the powerful minister Shi Xian was calling the shots.
During the third year of the Jianshi era of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, heavy flooding occurred in the summer. The Three Adjuncts were drenched for over 30 days, flooding nineteen counties and commanderies across the empire. Flash floods killed over 4,000 and wiped out over 83,000 buildings. In Jianshi's first year, they tried to move the Ganquan Taizhi and Hedong Houtu temples to Chang'an's northern and southern suburbs. The next year, they shut down six more places – the Yongdi Wuzhi and a few other old sacrificial sites around the empire.
