← Back to 漢書

卷二十七下之上 五行志

Volume 27d: Treatise on the Five Elements 4

Chapter 34 of 漢書 · Book of Han
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 34
Next Chapter →
1
The Tradition says: "When the deliberating mind is not perspicacious, this is called lack of sagacity; its blame is obscuration, its punishment is constant wind, and its extreme is violent death, shortening, and breakage. At such times there appear omens of greasy night, floral prodigies, ox calamities, afflictions of the heart and abdomen, yellow blights and yellow portents, and metal, wood, water, and fire afflicting earth."
2
"When the deliberating mind is not perspicacious, this is called lack of sagacity." Thought-mind means the heart's faculty of deliberation and reflection. Rui means broad-mindedness. Confucius said: "If one above is not broad-minded, by what can I judge him?" This means that if those above are not broad and tolerant of ministers below, they cannot hold the position of sage-ruler. Bearing, speech, sight, and hearing take the mind as their master; when all four fail, there is dim obscurity without understanding—hence its blame is obscuration. Rain, drought, cold, and heat all take wind as root; when all four qi are disordered, therefore the punishment is constant wind. Constant wind harms things; therefore its extreme is violent death, shortening, and breakage. For humans it is violent death, for birds and beasts shortening, for plants and trees breakage. Another view: violent means untimely death; when an elder brother loses a younger it is shortening; when a father loses a son it is breakage. In a person's abdomen, the fat that wraps the heart is called zhi; when the heart is clouded, darkness follows, and thus there are omens of greasy night-obscurity. Another view: if greasy substances at night become anomalous, like greasy water staining clothes at night, it symbolizes licentiousness. Another view: night anomalies are when clouds and wind rise together into darkness, therefore sharing the same image as constant wind. Warmth plus wind generates borers and locusts; there are prodigies of naked insects. Liu Xiang held that in the Changes, Xun is wind and wood; the trigram governs the third and fourth months, continues yang, and presides over the flowers and fruit of wood. When wind qi is excessive, in autumn and winter wood flowers again, therefore there are floral prodigies. Another view: when earth qi is excessive, flowers bloom again in autumn and winter. Another view: "flower" means color; earth governs inner affairs, thus a female prodigy. In the Changes, Kun is earth and ox. Oxen have large hearts yet cannot deliberate; when the qi of the mind of thought is damaged, ox calamities therefore occur. Another view: many oxen dying or becoming strange also belongs here. For people, many have diseases of heart and belly; therefore there are heart-belly afflictions. Earth's color is yellow; therefore there are yellow blights and yellow portents. Whenever the mind of thought is damaged, the earth qi is diseased; when earth qi is diseased, metal, wood, water, and fire afflict it. Therefore the text says, "then at times there are metal, wood, water, and fire afflicting earth." It does not say "only," but specifically says "then at times," because this is not afflicted by one conflicting qi alone; it shows that the anomaly is greater. Its extreme is violent death, shortening, and breakage. Following the proper course, its blessing is to complete one's allotted span. Liu Xin's transmission on thought-mind says there are prodigies of naked insects, namely borers and locust kinds. For the common sign of constant wind, Liu Xiang held there is no corresponding case in Spring and Autumn.
3
退 退 退
In Duke Xi year sixteen: "In first month, six yi birds turned back in flight, passing over the Song capital." The Zuo Tradition says: "It was wind." Liu Xin held that wind arose elsewhere and grew strong at Song; the yi birds flew high and met it, then were driven back. The Classic records what was seen, therefore it records their retreating flight; the Tradition sets out the real correspondence, saying it was wind, punishment of constant wind. It symbolized Duke Xiang of Song's obscure self-will: he would not tolerate his ministers, rejected Marshal Ziyu's remonstrance, and competed with powerful Chu for the covenant leadership. Six years later he was captured by Chu, matching the number of the six yi birds. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, "Hidden dragon: do not act. When the masses rebel with one mind and highest virtue is submerged, the anomaly is wind. Such wind does not nourish things or foster growth; rainfall is slight yet still harmful. When governance is perverse and virtue is concealed, this is called disorder: first comes wind without rain, then a great wind suddenly rises, tearing off roofs and breaking trees. When one guards righteousness yet does not advance, this is called senility: its wind rises with clouds, snapping stalks of the five grains. When ministers alter the ruler's government, this is called noncompliance: its wind is blazing and tears roofs. When taxes and levies are mismanaged, this is called calamity: its wind cuts off order; when the wind stops, there is warmth, and warmth brings insects. When feudal lords monopolize enfeoffment, this is called lack of unity: its wind is swift, yet the trees do not sway and the grain does not ripen. When rulers give no thought to the way of benefiting others, this is called having no grace: its wind does not stir the trees, drought has no clouds, and the crops are harmed. When the duke is constantly set on profit, this is called disorder: its wind is slight and warm, breeding insects and locusts that harm the five grains. Abandoning the proper and practicing licentiousness is called delusion: its wind is warm, borers arise, and useful things to people are harmed. When feudal lords do not come to court, this is called rebellion: its wind is erratic, the earth turns red, and people die."
4
In sixth month of Emperor Wen year two, in Shouchun, capital of the Huainan king, great wind destroyed commoners' houses and killed people. Liu Xiang held that in that year Nanyue rebelled and attacked Huainan's border, and King Chang of Huainan defeated them. The next year Chang came to court, killed the former Han chancellor, the Marquis of Biyang, was pardoned by the throne, then returned home and gathered wicked men to plot rebellion, calling himself the Eastern Emperor. Even after seeing anomalies, he did not wake to them; later he was exiled to Shu and died on the road at Yong.
5
In Emperor Wen year five, in Wu there were violent winds and rains, damaging city walls, offices, and homes. At that time King Pi of Wu was plotting rebellion. Heaven's warnings appeared repeatedly, yet he never reformed or awakened, and in the end he was executed and destroyed.
6
巿 巿
In the tenth month of the fifth year, in Pengcheng, the capital of the king of Chu, a great wind came from the southeast, destroyed the market gates, and killed people. That month King Wu had just inherited the throne; later, convicted of licentiousness, he had his state reduced. He plotted rebellion with the king of Wu and executed those who remonstrated with him. Wu lay southeast of Chu. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "Do not do evil with Wu, or your markets and court will be ruined." King Wu did not awaken and eventually perished with Wu.
7
In Emperor Zhao's first Yuanfeng year, at Ji, the capital of the king of Yan, a great windstorm uprooted sixteen palace trees more than seven arm-spans around and destroyed the city towers. King of Yan Dan did not awaken; his rebellion plot was discovered, and in the end he bore his punishment.
8
使
In Duke Xi year fifteen: "On the last day, jimao, of the ninth month, thunder struck the temple of Yi Bo." Liu Xiang held that "last day" means darkness; "zhen" means thunder. Yi Bo was a hereditary grandee; the record properly writes thunder, and his temple alone was darkened. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "Do not let grandees hold hereditary office, or they will monopolize affairs in darkness." The next year Prince Jiyou died; hereditary office indeed continued, and power rested with the Ji clan. By Duke Cheng's sixteenth year, "on the jiawu day at the end of the sixth month," broad daylight became dark: yin acted as yang, and ministers controlled the ruler. Duke Cheng did not awaken; that winter the Ji clan killed Prince Yan. The Ji clan began under Duke Xi and grew great under Duke Cheng; this was its response. Dong Zhongshu held Yi Bo was a dependent of the Ji clan; dependent ministers should not have their own temple. Thunder striking his temple in dark month-end showed that usurping, deviant kinds should be cut off. Liu Xiang further held these were all so-called night anomalies. Liu Xin held that the Spring and Autumn Annals names the new moon as the new moon and month-end as month-end; where human governance cannot reach, Heaven shakes it. The Zhan clan had hidden wrongdoing, so Heaven punished their ancestor Yi Bo's temple to admonish them.
9
In Duke Cheng's sixteenth year: "On the jiawu day at the end of the sixth month, the marquis of Jin, the viscount of Chu, and the earl of Zheng fought at Yanling." All happened at month's end.
10
In Duke Yin year five: "In autumn, borers." Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang held that the duke then watched fishing at Tang; this was a response to greed for profit. Liu Xin held that he also rejected Zang Xibo's remonstrance and greedily coveted trifles, producing a prodigy of naked insects.
11
祿
In year eight: "In the ninth month, borers." At that time the earl of Zheng sought to exchange Xu fields with Bing, showing greedy intent. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When ministers rest secure in salary, this is called greed; its disaster is insects, and insects eat roots. When virtue lacks constancy, this is called vexation; insects eat leaves. Not dismissing the unvirtuous, insects eat the trunk. Competing with spring tilling is called untimely; insects eat nodes. Concealing evil breeds prodigies; insects eat the heart."
12
In Duke Zhuang year six: "In autumn, borers." Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang held that before this, Duke Shuo of Wei had fled to Qi; the marquis of Qi convened the feudal lords to restore Shuo and accepted bribes from them. Qi returned Wei treasures and Lu accepted them, a response to greed for profit.
13
In autumn of the sixth year of Emperor Wen's later period, borers appeared. That year the Xiongnu launched a major invasion of Shang and Yunzhong; beacon fires reached Chang'an, and three generals were sent to garrison the frontier and three to garrison the capital.
14
In Duke Xuan year three: "The mouth of the suburban sacrificial ox was injured; divination was redone for another ox, and that ox died." Liu Xiang held this was a near ox calamity. At that time Duke Xuan and Prince Sui plotted to kill Zichi and enthrone Xuan, and moreover married during mourning, obscured and chaotic. Disorder was completed through the mouth. Jisun Wenzi was fortunate enough to escape disaster, but Heaven still hated what had happened: while he lived, it did not accept his sacrifices, and after he died, disaster burned his temple. Dong Zhongshu's main point was roughly the same.
15
In year five of King Xiaowen of Qin, at Youquyan, someone presented a five-legged ox. Liu Xiang held this was a near ox calamity. Before this, when King Wenhui first made Xianyang the capital, he enlarged its palaces so that they faced the Wei to the south and the Jing to the north; the mind of thought failed and went against earth qi. Feet signify stopping; it warned Qin to halt extravagant grandeur, or it would bring danger and ruin. Qin never changed: by the time of three hundred detached palaces and then Afang raised again, it perished before completion. Another view: oxen serve people by strength, and feet are for movement. Later Qin greatly exploited people's labor in transport, moving burdens from the sea to the northern frontier, and all under heaven rebelled. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When corvée is raised and people's seasons are seized, its portent is an ox born with five legs."
16
退
In Emperor Jing's sixth middle year, while King Xiao of Liang was hunting in the northern mountains, someone presented an ox whose foot grew out of its back. Liu Xiang took this as a near ox calamity. Before this, King Xiao had been arrogant and extravagant, building parks three hundred li square, with palaces, halls, and elevated passages linked for more than thirty li. He accepted the plans of the wicked minister Yang Sheng, sought to become heir to Han, and had the deliberative minister Yuan Ang assassinated. When the affair was exposed, he returned carrying an axe and submitted to death. After withdrawing to his state, he still harbored resentment: inwardly his thoughts were obscured and disordered, and outwardly his earthworks exceeded proper limits. Therefore an ox calamity arose. A foot emerging from the back is the image of lower treachery against above. He still could not settle himself, then suddenly fell ill and died violently, another extreme case of lethal truncation.
17
The Zuo Tradition says: in the spring of Duke Zhao's twenty-first year, King Jing of Zhou was about to cast the Wuluan bells. Dan Zhoujiu said, "Will the king die of heart illness? The Son of Heaven examines winds to make music: small bells must not be too narrow, large bells must not be too broad. If broad, they do not harmonize; the heart is affected by this, and feeling truly gives rise to illness. Now the bells are broad; the king's heart is not constrained. How can he last long?" Liu Xiang held that at this time King Jing delighted in licentious music, failed to distinguish the legitimate from the secondary line, and had a mind of thought that was obscured and disordered; the next year he died of heart illness, an affliction close to the heart and belly and an extreme case of violent shortening.
18
In the spring of Duke Zhao's twenty-fifth year, Shusun Zhaozi of Lu went on a mission to Song. Duke Yuan hosted him at a banquet where, amid wine and music, their conversation turned to weeping. Yue Qi Zuo told others: "Will this ruler and Shusun both die this year? I have heard that to mourn in joy and rejoice in mourning are both losses of heart. The refined essence of the heart is what is called hun and po; If hun and po depart, how can one endure long?" In winter, tenth month, Shusun Zhaozi died; in eleventh month, Duke Yuan of Song died.
19
使
In the ninth month of Emperor Zhao's first Yuanfeng year, in Yan, a yellow rat held its tail in its mouth and danced inside the palace's Duan Gate; when people went to look, the rat danced as before. The king had his lady offer wine and dried meat in sacrifice; the rat danced without cease and died that night. This was a yellow omen. At that time Prince of Yan Dan was plotting rebellion and would be defeated; it was an image of death. That month the plot was discovered and he bore the penalty. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When punishments are not according to the facts, its portent is rats dancing at the gate."
20
西 西
On xinchou night of fourth month, Jianshi year one under Emperor Cheng, in the northwest there was a glow like fire. At dawn on renyin, a great wind rose from the northwest; the cloud qi was red-yellow and filled the sky on every side, and throughout the day and night yellow dust fell to the ground. That year the emperor's maternal uncle, Grand Marshal and Grand General Wang Feng, first came to power; he also enfeoffed Feng's younger full brother Chong as Marquis of Ancheng with ten thousand households; and granted rank of Marquis Within the Passes to five younger half-brothers including Tan, each with three thousand households. Then Feng's fief was increased by five thousand households and all Tan and others were enfeoffed as full marquises; these were the Five Marquises. When Emperor Ai took the throne, he enfeoffed six maternal-line relatives of the Ding, Fu, Zhou, and Zheng clans as marquises. Yang Xuan replied: "On the day the Five Marquises were enfeoffed, the weather was red-yellow; with Ding and Fu it happened again. This likely signifies ranks and lands exceeding regulation and thereby harming and disordering earth qi." Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "The Classic says,
21
"Observe their growth." This speaks of a great minister's duty: he should observe worthy men, understand their character and conduct, and recommend them. Otherwise, hearing of goodness but not giving it a place is called ignorance; its anomaly is yellow, its blame is deafness, and its disaster is having no heirs. Yellow means yellow light above the sun not dispersing like fire, with turbid yellow qi filling the world. Blocking worthies and cutting off the Way, therefore the disaster-anomaly reaches extinction of the line. The Classic says, "Good horses are driven forward." Drive means advance. It says that when a great minister receives worthy counsel, he should conspicuously advance that person; otherwise those below seize the good for themselves. This is called stealing brightness, and its blame is likewise having no heirs, extending to personal execution and family extinction."
22
The Records says: in year two of King You of Zhou, all three rivers of Zhou shook. Liu Xiang held this was metal, wood, water, and fire afflicting earth. Boyang Fu said: "Zhou is about to perish! The qi of Heaven and Earth does not exceed its order; If it exceeds its proper order, the people disorder it. When yang is submerged and cannot emerge, and yin is pressed and cannot rise, then there are earthquakes. Now the three rivers truly shook: this means yang lost its place and filled yin. If yang is lost and lies in yin, the springs must be blocked; If the springs are blocked, the state must perish. Water is what earth channels, and people use it; if earth has nothing to channel, the people lack resources. How could the state not perish? Formerly, when the Yi and Luo dried up, Xia perished; when the Yellow River dried up, Shang perished. Now Zhou's virtue is like that of the last generations of those two dynasties, and its springs too are blocked; blockage must lead to drying up. If rivers dry, mountains must collapse. A state must rely on mountains and rivers; mountain collapse and river exhaustion are signs of ruin. If the state perishes, it will be within ten years; this is the cycle of numbers."
23
That year two rivers dried up and Mount Qi collapsed. Liu Xiang held that yang losing its place within yin means fire-qi comes to scorch water dry, which is why the rivers were exhausted. Mountains and rivers are linked as one body: when below dries up, above collapses. Such is the force of things. At the time, King You was violent and abusive, punished and attacked recklessly, refused to heed remonstrance, was deluded by Bao Si, and deposed his rightful queen; the deposed queen's father, the Marquis of Shen, joined with the Quanrong to attack and kill King You. Another view: in astronomy, water is the planet Chenxing, and Chenxing represents barbarian peoples. When the moon eclipses Chenxing, a state perishes through women. In King You's defeat, women caused disorder within and barbarians attacked from without. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When ruler and ministers turn against each other, its anomaly is called waters cut off."
24
祿
In Duke Wen year nine: "On guiyou day of the ninth month, earthquake." Liu Xiang held that before this, the two hegemon-lords Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin, and the worthy ruler Duke Xi of Lu, had newly died; King Xiang of Zhou had lost the Way; King Mu of Chu killed his father; the feudal lords were all unworthy, and power tilted below. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "Powerful ministers below will move to cause harm." Afterward Song, Lu, Jin, Ju, Zheng, Chen, and Qi all killed their rulers. Most earthquake cases generally follow Dong Zhongshu's explanation. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, "Even if a minister's service is formally proper, monopolizing authority will still bring earthquakes: in water this appears as waves, in trees as shaking, and in houses as falling tiles. When the great norm lies with the ruler yet is shifted to ministers, this is called yin moving; its quake shakes government palaces. When the great norm of government is shaken, this is called non-yin; its quake shakes mountains, and surging waters emerge from mountains. When an heir-son lacking virtue monopolizes emolument, this is called noncompliance; its quake moves hills and ridges and surging waters emerge."
25
In Duke Xiang year sixteen: "On jiazi day of the fifth month, earthquake." Liu Xiang held that before this there was the assembly at Jize, where feudal lords covenanted and great officers also covenanted. That year, in the third month, at the Chouliang assembly of the feudal lords, the great officers alone covenanted with one another; by the fifth month there was an earthquake. Afterward the Cui clan monopolized power in Qi, Luan Ying threw Jin into disorder, Liang Xiao overthrew Zheng, gatekeepers killed the ruler of Wu, Yan expelled its ruler, and Chu destroyed Chen and Cai.
26
In Duke Zhao year nineteen: "On jimao day of fifth month, earthquake." Liu Xiang held that at this time the Ji clan was about to produce the upheaval of expelling the ruler. Afterward three ministers in Song and Hui of Cao all rebelled, taking territory with them; Cai and Ju expelled their rulers, and Wu defeated the central states and killed two rulers.
27
In year twenty-three: "On yiwei day of eighth month, earthquake." Liu Xiang held that at this time King Jing of Zhou died; the Liu and Shan lineages installed Prince Meng, while the Yin clan installed Prince Chao. Afterward the Ji clan expelled Duke Zhao; Heigong rebelled in Zhu; Wu killed its ruler Liao; and five grandees of Song and two grandees of Jin all rebelled, taking territory with them.
28
In Duke Ai year three: "On jiawu day of fourth month, earthquake." Liu Xiang held that at this time all the feudal lords trusted wicked ministers and none could employ Confucius; the marquis of Cai was assassinated, and Chen Qi of Qi murdered his ruler.
29
西
In first month of Emperor Hui year two, earthquake struck Longxi, burying over four hundred households. On guihai day of eighth month, Zhenghe year two under Emperor Wu, earthquake struck and crushed people to death. On the renyin day of the fourth month in Emperor Xuan's fourth Benshi year, earthquakes struck forty-nine commanderies east of Henan; in Beihai and Langya, ancestral temples and city walls collapsed, killing more than six thousand people. In winter of Yongguang year three under Emperor Yuan, earthquake occurred. On the bingchen day of the ninth month in the second Suihe year, an earthquake from the capital to the northern border commanderies and kingdoms damaged more than thirty city walls and killed 415 people in all.
30
In Duke Xi year fourteen: "On xinmao day of the eighth month in autumn, Shalu collapsed." The Guliang Tradition says: "The woods attached to a mountain are called lu; Sha is its name." Liu Xiang held this symbolized ministers below betraying and scattering, not serving above. Before this, Duke Huan of Qi practiced hegemonic leadership, convened feudal lords, and served the Zhou house. After Guan Zhong died, Duke Huan's virtue declined daily. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "The hegemonic way will be abolished, feudal lords will scatter, governance will reach great officers, attendant ministers will hold command, and ministers below will not serve those above." Duke Huan did not awaken, and the Son of Heaven became obscured. When Duke Wei of Qi died, the realm scattered and followed Chu. Prince Zha killed two grandees; Jin defeated the Son of Heaven's army; none could punish them, and from there decline accelerated. The Gongyang tradition takes Shalu to be a riverside settlement. Dong Zhongshu's explanation is broadly similar. Another view: the River symbolizes great rivers; Qi symbolizes a great state; with Duke Huan's virtue declining, hegemony would shift to Duke Wen of Jin, therefore the River was shown as moving. The Zuo Tradition takes Shalu as Jin territory; Sha is a mountain name; the earth quaked and the foothill collapsed; earthquake is not written because the graver sign is recorded. As Boyang Fu said, “
31
A state must rely on mountains and rivers; mountain collapse and river exhaustion are signs of ruin; within no more than ten years, by the cycle of numbers." By year twenty-four, Duke Huai of Jin was killed at Gaoliang. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, "When petty men strip the house, its portent is mountain collapse; this is called yin riding on yang, the weak overcoming the strong."
32
In Duke Cheng year five: "In summer, Mount Liang collapsed." The Guliang Tradition says that the Yong River stopped flowing for three days; the ruler of Jin led all his ministers in mourning cries, and only then did it flow again. Liu Xiang held that mountain is yang, the ruler, and water is yin, the people. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "The ruler's Way is collapsing, those below are in disorder, and the common people will lose their proper places." Only after they wept did the river flow again; this is an image of mourning and loss. Mount Liang was in Jin territory, beginning with Jin and extending to all under heaven. Later Jin violently killed the three high ministers; Duke Li was himself slain by regicide. At the Chouliang assembly, great officers throughout the realm all controlled state government; afterward Sun and Ning drove out Duke Xian of Wei, the Three Families expelled Duke Zhao of Lu, and Shan and Yin threw the royal house into chaos. Dong Zhongshu's explanation was broadly similar. Liu Xin held Mount Liang was a sacred peak of Jin; collapse means loosening collapse. In antiquity, under the sacrificial mandates of the three dynasties, offerings did not go beyond one's sacred bounds; auspicious and inauspicious fortune and calamity did not pass beyond this. A state is ruled through mountains and rivers; mountain collapse and river exhaustion are signs of ruin. Good and bad cycles must return. That year Jupiter was in Quail Fire; in the seventeenth year it returned to Quail Fire, and Luan Shu and Zhonghang Yan killed Duke Li and installed Duke Dao.
33
In the second year of Empress Gao, first month, Mount Wudu collapsed, killing 760 people; earthquakes continued until the eighth month before stopping. In the fourth month of Emperor Wen's first year, twenty-nine mountains in the lands of Qi and Chu all burst open and poured out water on the same day; Liu Xiang held that this came close to water violating earth. Heaven's warning seemed to say: do not magnify the rulers of Qi and Chu; now they have lost institutional order and will cause disorder. Sixteen years later, King Wen, the grandson of the emperor's elder half-brother, King Daohui of Qi, died without a son; the emperor divided the territory of Qi and established six of King Daohui's sons by concubines as kings. Jia Yi and Chao Cuo remonstrated, holding that this violated ancient institutions and feared disorder. By the third year under Emperor Jing, Qi and Chu with seven states raised armies of more than a million; Han defeated them all. In the Spring and Autumn period, four states suffered disasters on the same day; under Han, many mountains in seven states collapsed on the same day. All suffered the harm, a clear proof that they did not fear Heaven's majesty.
34
On the bingxu day of the second month in Emperor Cheng's third Heping year, Mount Baijiang and Mount Juanjiang in Qianwei both collapsed, blocking the river waters; the waters flowed backward, damaged the city, and killed thirteen people. Earthquakes accumulated over twenty-one days, with 124 tremors. On the bingyin day of the first month in the third Yuanyan year, Mount Min in Shu Commandery collapsed and blocked the river; the waters flowed backward and only became passable after three days. Liu Xiang held that in Zhou times Mount Qi collapsed and the three rivers dried, after which King You perished. Mount Qi was where Zhou had arisen. Han originally arose in Shu-Han; now, in the very place of its rise, mountains collapsed and rivers dried up, while comet signs also reached Sheti and Dajiao, from Shen to Chen. This almost certainly meant extinction. Afterward, within three generations, the line lacked heirs and Wang Mang usurped the throne.
35
The Tradition says, "When the ruler does not attain the supreme norm, this is called failing to establish; its blame is dim confusion, its punishment is constant overcast, and its extreme is weakness. Then at times there are archery anomalies, at times prodigies of dragons and snakes, at times horse calamities, at times afflictions of inferiors attacking superiors, and at times the sun and moon move in disorder while the stars go in reverse."
36
"Ruler not reaching the ultimate, this is called not establishing"; huang means ruler. Ultimate means center; establish means to set up. If the ruler's five affairs—bearing, speech, sight, hearing, and thought—all fail and miss the center, he cannot establish the myriad affairs. The fault lies in blurred perversity, so its blame is dim confusion. A true king receives from below and manages things by Heaven. Clouds rise from mountains and spread across the sky. If heavenly qi is disordered, therefore the punishment is constant overcast. Another view: if those above lose the center, those below grow strong and obscure the ruler's clarity. The Changes says, "The overbearing dragon has regret: noble yet without position, high yet without people, with worthy men below and no support." Thus, although the ruler holds the honored south-facing seat, he lacks the aid of even one person, and therefore the extreme is weakness. Flourishing yang moves forward lightly and swiftly.
37
貿
Ritually, in spring one holds the great archery ceremony to accord with yang qi. If those above are weak, those below surge into action; therefore there are archery anomalies. The Changes says, "Clouds follow dragon," and also, "Dragon and snake hibernate to preserve themselves." When yin qi stirs, therefore there are prodigies of dragons and snakes. In the Changes, Qian is ruler and horse; horses bear service and great force. When ruler-qi is damaged, therefore there are horse calamities. Another view: many horses dying or becoming strange also belongs here. When the ruler is chaotic and weak, the people rebel and Heaven abandons him. If there is no execution by an enlightened king, there will be disasters of usurpation and regicide; hence there are afflictions of inferiors attacking superiors. Whenever the ruler's Way is harmed, heavenly qi is diseased. The text does not say that the five phases afflict Heaven, but says "the sun and moon move in disorder and the stars go in reverse," because those below dare not be said to afflict Heaven. This is like the Spring and Autumn Annals saying "the royal army was defeated at Mao-Rong" without naming who defeated it, phrasing the matter as self-defeat out of reverence for the honored. Liu Xin's Huangji transmission says there are afflictions of lower body growing above. His explanation says inferiors attacking superiors means Heaven's punishment already complete, so it should not again be called an affliction. For the regular overcast of Huangji, Liu Xiang held Spring and Autumn has no matching case. Another view: prolonged overcast without rain is it. Liu Xin held it belongs to constant overcast.
38
祿 祿 祿 祿 祿
In Yuanping year one under Emperor Zhao, he died in the fourth month without heir, and King He of Changyi was enthroned. When He took the throne, the sky was overcast; day and night the sun and moon were not seen. He wished to go out. Palace Attendant Grandee Xiahou Sheng blocked his carriage and remonstrated, saying, "Heaven has long been overcast without rain; among your ministers there are some plotting against the ruler. Where does Your Majesty wish to go?" He grew angry, bound Sheng, and handed him over to officials. The officials reported to Grand General Huo Guang. At that time Guang was already plotting with General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Anshi to depose He. Guang reproached Anshi, thinking he had leaked their plan, but Anshi had in fact not leaked it; he summoned and questioned Sheng. Sheng submitted the Hong Fan Five Phases Tradition, saying, "'When the sovereign's norm is not supreme, the penalty is constant overcast; at such a time there will be subordinates attacking their superiors.' Dare not speak in minute scrutiny, hence I say ministers below are plotting." Guang and Anshi read it and were greatly alarmed; thereby they esteemed classical scholars all the more. Several days later they finally deposed He together; this was the clear efficacy of constant overcast. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "There are ni, meng, and wu. Wu means above and below joining. Meng is like dust-clouds. Ni is atmospheric qi beside the sun. Its interpretation says: when the empress has monopoly, ni appears double, red and concentrated, reaching to drought by clash. When the wife is not uniformly obedient, black ni on four sides, and white ni double appearing within the sun. When the wife uses rank to elevate her husband, this is called monopolizing yang: ni on four sides, sunlight not yang, clearing yet warm. Taking from within, this is called qin: ni like qin birds beside the sun. When rank is used to demote the consort, this is called slighting the heir: the ni is straight and blocked; after six chen it clears, and the night stars appear red. The woman does not change from the beginning, this is called riding the husband: white ni at the sun's side, black ni completing it. The qi is straight and upright. The wife is not compliant and upright, this is called monopolizing yang: ni piercing through the center while dominating outward. Husband and wife not strict, this is called licentiousness: ni meeting the sun. A woman monopolizing the state, this is called qing: white ni piercing through the sun's center, red ni on four sides. The principal not answering, this is called out of order: ni straight on the left, ni crossing on the right. Taking from what is not exclusive, this is called endangering the heir: ni embracing the sun on two sides but not reaching. The ruler licentious outward, this is called ruin: ni qi to the left of the sun crossing outward. Taking without reaching, this is called ignorance: white ni seizing brightness and great warmth, warmth then rain. When noble and base are not distinguished, this is called licentiousness: the ni appears three times and departs three times; after three chen it clears, and once it clears, the sun comes out and rain falls. When ministers privately extend emoluments to their kin, this is called deceiving the ruler: its anomaly is meng; before the meng there is first great warmth, then the meng rises and the sun is no longer seen. Doing good without petitioning above, this is called making blessings: meng five times rising and five times clearing in one day. When the ruler does not consult those below and ministers avoid the proper path, this is called not seeing: meng above and wu below; the wind changes three times, and all clear together. Establishing the heir in doubt, this is called stirring desire: meng red, the sun not bright. Virtue not in order, this is called not discerning: meng, the sun not bright, warmth and the people fall ill. Virtue not tested, empty talk of emolument, this is called the ruler weak and ministers dying young: meng rises and turns white. When the ruler delights in idle people, this is called dissipation: meng, the sun green, with black clouds flanking the sun and passing before and behind it, left and right. The lord not fulfilling office, this is called relying on emolument: meng for three days, then great wind for five days, meng not clearing. Profiting from evil to eat, this is called shutting the ruler out: meng rises greatly, white clouds like mountains moving and veiling the sun. When the lord is fearful and does not speak of the Way, this is called shutting out those below: the meng rises greatly, the sun is not seen, and it seems about to rain but does not; after twelve days it clears, and great clouds veil the sun. Emolument arising from below, this is called deceiving the ruler: meng slight and small rain, then great rain. Those below seizing one another's merit, this is called stealing brightness: meng yellow and turbid. When those below display merit and seek reward from above, this is called ignorance: the meng is slight and red, and wind sounds in the branches; it clears, and the meng returns. When those below monopolize punishment, this is called dividing authority: there is meng and the sun cannot shine brightly. When great ministers oppress lesser ministers, this is called obscuring: the meng is slight, the sun is not bright, and it seems to clear but does not; a great wind rises, and red clouds rise to veil the sun. The multitude not hating evil, this is called shutting out: meng; the noble hexagram holds power, rising after three days, the sun not seen. When words leak out without joy, this is called employing those below out of place: the meng is slight, the sun has no light, and though there are rain clouds, no rain falls. Abandoning the loyal and deluded by flatterers, this is called ruin: meng; Heaven first clear then sudden, meng slight and the sun not bright. There are reclusive people, this is called not discerning: meng turbid, seizing sunlight. When the lord does not fulfill his office, this is called not dismissing: the meng is white; when three chen stop, the sun is green, and green with cold must bring rain. When loyal ministers advance good counsel but the ruler does not test it, this is called obstruction: there is meng; first a light rain falls, then after the rain ends the meng rises, slight, and the sun is not bright. When one who deludes the multitude is in office, this is called overturning the state: the meng is slight and the sun is not bright, warmth alternates with cold, and wind raises dust. Knowing flatterers yet enriching them, this is called debasement: meng severe and warm. When ruler and ministers rely on old aides, this is called perversity: its calamity is wind, rain, and wu; wind uproots trees and disorders the five grains, and then comes great wu. Common rectifiers concealing evil, this is called producing prodigy calamity: its anomaly is wu." These all belong to the category of yin clouds.
39
In Duke Zhuang year eighteen: "In autumn, there were yu insects." Liu Xiang held yu were born in Nanyue. In the lands of Yue there were many women; men and women mingled by the rivers, with licentious women taking the lead. This creature was said to be born from disordered qi, and so the sages named it yu. Yu is akin to confusion: it lurks beside water and can shoot at people; where it strikes, sores appear, and severe cases can be fatal. In the south it is called short-bow, near an archery anomaly, image of death. At that time Duke Zhuang was about to take a licentious woman of Qi, so yu arrived. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "Do not take the woman of Qi, or there will be calamity of licentious confusion, usurpation, and regicide." Zhuang did not awaken and took her anyway. After she entered, she had illicit relations with two uncles; those two uncles died, two sons were slain, and the wife too was executed. Liu Xin held yu are generated by intense summer heat, not coming from Yue. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, "When loyal ministers advance good counsel and the ruler does not test it, its blame is the state producing yu."
40
使使
The Records says that in Duke Ai of Lu's time, a falcon landed in the court of Chen and died, pierced by a mulberry-wood arrow with a stone point, one chi and a zhi long. Duke Min of Chen sent an envoy to ask Confucius, and Confucius said, “
41
使 使
This falcon has come from far away! Formerly, when King Wu conquered Shang, he opened routes to the hundred southern tribes and had each present local tribute. The Sushen offered mulberry arrows and stone points one chi and a zhi long. The former kings apportioned different surnames to distant offices so they would not forget submission; therefore they assigned Chen with Sushen arrows." They searched the old treasury and indeed found them. Liu Xiang held the falcon was a near black portent, of greedy and violent kind; the arrow piercing it was near an archery anomaly; its death in the court was a sign of state ruin. It symbolized Chen's confused disorder: because Chen failed to serve Zhou and acted with greed and violence, it would bring calamity from distant tribes and be destroyed by them. At that time, among the central states Qi and Jin were strong, while among the southern tribes Wu and Chu were strong. Chen lay between them, was not close to Jin and not secure with Chu, and repeatedly suffered calamities from the two states. Later when Chu had the disorder of Bai Gong, Chen took advantage and invaded it, but eventually was destroyed by Chu.
42
使黿 使 西 黿
The Records says that during Xia's decline, two dragons stopped in the Xia court and said, "We are two rulers of Bao." The Xia ruler divined to kill them, drive them off, or keep them, but none was auspicious. He then divined requesting their spittle to store; only then was it auspicious. Thereupon offerings and written notice were presented. The dragons vanished but the spittle remained, so they put it in a casket and removed it. After Xia fell, the casket was passed down to Shang and Zhou; none of the three dynasties opened it. At the end of King Li's reign, it was opened and examined, and the spittle flowed through the court, impossible to remove. King Li had women strip and shout at it; the spittle transformed into a dark lizard and entered the harem. A palace woman encountered it and became pregnant; she gave birth to a child, feared it, and abandoned it. When King Xuan took the throne, girls sang a rhyme: "Mulberry bow and reed quiver will truly destroy Zhou." Later a husband and wife selling those items appeared; King Xuan ordered them seized and executed. After they left, they saw the uncanny child abandoned by that palace woman, heard it crying at night, pitied it, took it in, and fled to Bao. Later, when the people of Bao had committed an offense, they presented the uncanny child as ransom. She became Bao Si; King You saw and loved her, and she bore Bo Fu. The king deposed Empress Shen and crown prince Yijiu, and established Bao Si and Bo Fu in their place. The deposed empress's father, Marquis of Shen, with Zeng and the western Quanrong, jointly attacked and killed King You. The Book of Songs says: "Glorious ancestral Zhou—Bao Si brought it to ruin." Liu Xiang held that in the last age of Xia and under Kings You and Li of Zhou, all were perverse, disordered, and contrary to Heaven; therefore there were these strange dragon and turtle events, close to prodigies of dragons and snakes. Spittle means blood; another view says foam. Lan-bow means mulberry bow. Qi-quiver likely means arrow quiver made from qi grass, near an archery anomaly. The girls' rhyme meant disaster would be born from a woman, and the state would perish through war and banditry.
43
The Zuo Tradition says in Duke Zhao year nineteen, dragons fought outside Shi Gate of Zheng at the Wei abyss. Liu Xiang took this as a near dragon prodigy. Zheng was a small state caught between Jin and Chu, with powerful Wu added as well, and stood at the point of collision. Unable to cultivate virtue, it would contend among the three states and endanger itself. At that time Zichan held office, beneficent to the people within and skillful in diplomacy without, and thus engaged all three states; Zheng ultimately escaped disaster—an effect of dispelling the anomaly through virtue. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When people's hearts are unsettled, its portent is dragons fighting."
44
At dawn on the guiyou day of the first month in Emperor Hui's second year, two dragons appeared in Wenling Well in the eastern lane of the Lanling court and departed on the night of yihai. Liu Xiang held that dragons, symbols of nobility, trapped in a commoner's well symbolized feudal lords suffering imprisonment and death. Afterward Empress Dowager Lü imprisoned and killed three kings of Zhao, and the Lü clans were ultimately all exterminated. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When the virtuous suffer harm, its portent is dragons appearing in a well." It also says: "When punishments are violent and evil, black dragons emerge from wells."
45
使
The Zuo Tradition says that in Duke Zhuang of Lu's time, an inner snake and an outer snake fought in Zheng's South Gate, and the inner snake died. Liu Xiang took this as a near snake prodigy. Before this, Duke Li of Zheng coerced his minister Ji Zhong and expelled his elder brother Duke Zhao to take the throne. Later Duke Li fled into exile and Duke Zhao returned. After Zhao died, his younger brother Ziyi succeeded. From abroad Duke Li coerced grandee Fu Xia to execute Ziyi. This was the image of outer snake killing inner snake. Six years after the snake's death, Duke Li was established. Duke Zhuang heard this and asked Shen Xu: "Are there still portents?" He replied: "What people fear, their heated qi reaches for; anomalies are stirred up by people themselves. If people have no crack for them, anomalies do not make themselves. When people abandon constancy, therefore anomalies occur." Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When the heir is set up in doubt, its portent is snakes fighting at the state gate."
46
The Zuo Tradition says that in the summer of Duke Wen's sixteenth year, a snake came out from Quan Palace and entered the capital, matching the number of former lords. Liu Xiang took this as a near snake prodigy. Quan Palace was in the park; the duke's mother, Lady Jiang, had once lived there, and the snake came out from it—an image that the palace would no longer be inhabited. The Odes says: "Only vipers, only snakes—omens of a woman." Again, a snake entering the capital means the state will have womanly sorrow. Matching the number of former lords was an image that the duke's mother would die. In autumn the duke's mother died. The duke hated it and demolished Quan Terrace. Prodigies respond to conduct and manifest themselves; they do not harm by merely being seen. Wen did not reform his conduct, follow the right path, and help ward off the penalty, but instead performed rites contrary to propriety, thereby worsening his fault. Two years later he died; the duke's son Sui killed Wen's two sons E and Shi and installed Duke Xuan. Duke Wen's wife greatly returned to Qi.
47
In the seventh month of Emperor Wu's fourth Taishi year, in Zhao, a snake came in from outside the city walls and fought with snakes inside the district below the Temple of Emperor Xiaowen; the inner snakes died. Two years later, in autumn, there was the affair of the Crown Prince Wei, and the affair began from Jiang Chong of Zhao.
48
使
The Zuo Tradition says that in Duke Ding's tenth year, Prince Di of Song had a team of four white horses. The duke favored Xiang Tui and wanted them, so he took them, painted their tails and manes red, and gave them to Xiang Tui. Di, enraged, had his followers beat Xiang Tui and seize them back. Xiang Tui, fearful, was about to flee; the duke shut the gate and wept for him until his eyes were swollen. The duke's younger brother Chen told Di, "If you observe the propriety between ruler and minister, go no farther than the border; the ruler will surely stop you." Di fled to Chen; the duke did not stop him. Chen pleaded for him and was not heeded. Chen said: "Then I have deceived my elder brother. If I leave with the people of the state, with whom will the ruler remain?" So he and his followers also fled to Chen. The next year both entered Xiao and rebelled, causing great trouble for Song, a near horse calamity.
49
The Records says: in the twenty-first year of King Xiaogong of Qin, a horse gave birth to a human; in King Zhao's twentieth year, a stallion gave birth and then died. Liu Xiang took both as horse calamities. Xiaogong first adopted Lord Shang's offensive-defensive laws and invaded feudal lords eastward; by King Zhao, warfare was even fiercer. Its meaning is that they would push military force to the utmost and achieve success, only to destroy themselves in return. A stallion is not a birthing creature; for it to give birth unnaturally and die resembles Qin relying on force to win the realm and then destroying itself. Another saying: when livestock give birth outside their kind, among the descendants there will surely be one not of their surname. By the First Emperor's time, he was indeed Lü Buwei's son. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, “
50
When regional lords divide authority, its portent is a stallion giving birth. When there is no Son of Heaven and feudal lords attack one another, its portent is horses giving birth to humans."
51
In Emperor Wen year twelve, in Wu, a horse grew horns, positioned before the ears and pointing upward. The right horn was three cun long, the left two cun, both two cun thick. Liu Xiang held a horse should not grow horns, just as Wu should not raise troops against the superior. At that time King Pi of Wu held four commanderies and more than fifty cities; inwardly he harbored arrogance and excess, and the change appeared outwardly. Heaven's warning came early. The king did not awaken; later he indeed raised troops and was executed and exterminated. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says, "When ministers replace superiors and governance is not compliant, its portent is horses growing horns; this is called lack of worthy men." It also says: "When the Son of Heaven campaigns personally, horses grow horns."
52
In the second month of Emperor Cheng's third Suihe year, a horse in the imperial stable grew horns in front of its left ear, each two cun in circumference and length. At that time Wang Mang was Grand Marshal; from this point his harm to the throne first began. In Emperor Ai's second Jianping year, in Dingxiang, a stallion gave birth to a three-legged colt that followed the herd in eating and drinking; the governor reported it. The horse is the state's instrument of war; having three legs symbolizes inability to serve effectively. Later Attendant-in-Ordinary Dong Xian, age twenty-two, became Grand Marshal and occupied the rank of highest duke, with no support under heaven. Emperor Ai died suddenly; Empress Dowager Wang, mother of Emperor Cheng, summoned her nephew Wang Mang, Marquis of Xindu, who seized Dong Xian's seals and ribbons. Xian, afraid, killed himself. Mang then replaced him and also executed the Ding and Fu maternal families. He further deposed Emperor Ai's Empress Fu and ordered her to kill herself, exhumed the tombs of Emperor Ai's grandmother Empress Dowager Fu and mother Empress Dowager Ding, and reburied them as commoners. When disaster reaches even the highest, it is the calamity of weak great ministers.
53
In Duke Wen year eleven: "They defeated the Di at Xian." The Guliang and Gongyang Traditions say there were three Long-Di brothers, one came to Lu, one to Qi, one to Jin. All were killed, each body spanning nine mu; their heads were cut and carried, with brows visible above the chariot crossbar. Why record this? To record anomaly. Liu Xiang held that at this time the Zhou house was weak and those three states were great, thus especially blameworthy. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "If rites and righteousness are not practiced and conduct turns to that of the barbarians, danger and ruin will follow." Afterward all three states suffered disasters of usurpation and regicide, near affliction of inferiors attacking superiors. Liu Xin held it a human transformation belonging to yellow portent. Another view: it belongs to prodigies of naked insects. Another view says: in the nature of Heaven and Earth, humans are most valued; all human transformations belong under the Huangji category of inferiors attacking superiors. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When the ruler is violent and chaotic and hates the Way, its portent is Long-Di entering the state." It also says: "He enriches his halls while those below suffer alone. Long-Di are born and worldly rulers are captured."
54
西
The Records says: in the twenty-sixth year of the First Emperor of Qin, twelve giants were seen at Lintao, each five zhang tall, with feet six chi long, all wearing barbarian dress. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "Do not greatly adopt barbarian conduct, or you will suffer its calamity." That year the First Emperor had just united the six states, but he instead rejoiced and took this as an auspicious sign, melted down the weapons of the realm, and made twelve bronze men in their likeness. He then styled himself sage and worthy, burned poems and books, and buried scholars alive; extravagant, licentious, and tyrannical, intent on expanding territory; They garrisoned the Five Ridges in the south and built the Great Wall in the north to guard against Hu and Yue, cutting through mountains and filling valleys, from Lintao in the west to Liaodong in the east, a route of several thousand li. Therefore the great men appeared at Lintao, making clear where disaster and chaos would begin. Fourteen years later Qin perished, with the collapse beginning in the uprising of the conscript Chen Sheng.
55
The Records says: in year thirteen of King Xiang of Wei, there was a woman transformed into a man. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "A woman transformed into man is called yin flourishing; base people become kings; A man transformed into a woman is called yin overcoming, and its blame-sign is extinction." Another view: man becoming woman means castration penalties are abused; woman becoming man means women's governance prevails.
56
During Jianping under Emperor Ai, in Yuzhang there was a man transformed into a woman, married as a wife, and bore one son. Chen Feng of Chang'an said this was yang transforming into yin, meaning heir succession would end, an image of self-generation. Another view: marrying as wife and bearing one son means one more generation then extinction.
57
In fourth month of Jianping year four under Emperor Ai, in Shan'yang, a woman Fangyu and daughter Tian Wuse gave birth to a son. Two months before birth, the child cried in the womb; when it was born, it was not raised but was buried by the roadside. After three days, passersby heard crying, and the mother dug it up and raised it.
58
In the second month of Emperor Ping's first Yuanshi year, in Guangmu, Shuofang, a woman named Zhao Chun fell ill and died. After six days enclosed in her coffin, she emerged outside it and said she had seen her dead husband and father, who told her, "At age twenty-seven, you should not die." Governor Tan reported it. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: ""Handling father's corruption: there is a son; the deceased father has no blame. If for three years the son does not change the father's way and, in longing remembrance, is not at ease, he may again see the faults of his forebears; otherwise it becomes private attachment. Its portent is the dead returning to life." Another view: utmost yin becoming yang, inferiors becoming superiors.
59
In the sixth month, a woman in Chang'an gave birth to a child with two heads on separate necks facing each other, four arms sharing one chest and both facing forward, and an eye on the lower body about two cun long. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: ""Isolated in opposition, one sees swine covered in mud"; its portent is humans born with two heads. When those below contend over good, the portent is likewise so. If humans or livestock have head and eyes below, this is called no superior, and proper order will change. Whenever portents arise, they admonish loss of correctness, each resembling its own class. Two heads mean those below are not unified. Many feet mean what is entrusted is deviant. Few feet mean those below cannot bear responsibility, or those above do not entrust those below. Whenever lower body parts grow above, it means irreverence; Upper body parts growing below means desecration. Birth outside one's kind means licentious disorder. Being born already large means those above mature too quickly. Being born able to speak means a fondness for empty words. By this kind of reasoning for all portents, if there is no reform they become full calamity."
60
西
In ninth month of Emperor Jing year two, a man over seventy in Xiami, Jiaodong, grew horns with hair on them. At that time the four rulers of Jiaodong, Jiaoxi, Jinan, and Qi were plotting armed rebellion; the plot began with King Pi of Wu and linked Chu and Zhao, making seven states in all. Xiami county lay in the middle of those four Qi states; horns symbolize arms, pointing upward; the old man symbolized King of Wu; age seventy symbolized the seven states. Heaven's warning was as if saying, "People should not grow horns, just as feudal lords should not raise troops toward the capital;" Disaster would arise from an old man, and all seven states would be defeated. The feudal lords did not awaken. Next year the King of Wu rose first, the feudal lords followed, and all seven states were destroyed. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When the chief minister monopolizes government, its portent is people growing horns."
61
殿 殿
On dingwei day of tenth month, Jianshi year three under Emperor Cheng, the capital was alarmed by rumors that great floods were arriving. A nine-year-old girl from Sishang on the Wei River, Chen Chigong, ran through Hengcheng Gate and entered the side gate of the palace workshops in Weiyang; none of the hall gate guards saw her. She was only discovered when she reached the restricted grounds of the Gou Shield Guard. People alarming one another about floods meant yin qi was excessive. A little girl entering the palace halls symbolized inferiors using female favor to occupy palace chambers. Her name, Chi Gong (holding bow), resembled the Zhou omen of mulberry bow. The Changes says: "The benefit of bow and arrow is to overawe the realm." At that time Wang Feng, younger brother of the emperor's mother Empress Dowager Wang, had just become supreme general and taken charge of state power. Heaven knew that he would later awe the realm and enter the palace chambers, and so the sign appeared first. Afterward the Wang brothers and father-son Five Marquises held power, until Mang finally usurped the realm; likely this was the later Chen household omen. Jing Fang's Yi Tradition says: "When demagogic words stir the masses, this is called untrustworthiness; roads will lose people, and the marshal will die."
62
殿殿殿 退 殿
On the gengshen day of the eighth month in Emperor Cheng's second Suihe year, Wang Bao, a man from Zhengtong Ward, dressed in crimson robes and a small cap, with a sword at his belt, entered the eastern gate of the palace hall through North Sima Gate. He went up to the front hall, entered a restricted chamber, untied curtain cords and fastened them to himself as pendants, and beckoned office chiefs such as Ye, saying, "The Heavenly Emperor orders me to dwell here." Ye and others seized, bound, and interrogated him. Bao had formerly been an attendant in the Imperial Carriage Office; deranged, he did not know how he had entered the palace. He was imprisoned and died. At that time Wang Mang was Grand Marshal. When Emperor Ai took the throne, Mang requested permission to retire to his estate. Heaven knew he would not truly withdraw, and therefore displayed this sign through the event. His name, attire, and insignia were very clear: he went straight up into the front hall's sleeping chamber, took cords and wore them, and claimed the Heavenly Emperor's command, yet people at the time did not perceive the sign. Later Mang returned to his fief, and the realm felt wronged for him; Emperor Ai summoned Mang back to the capital. The next year the emperor died, Mang again became Grand Marshal, and by this he usurped the state.
63
稿 西 西 西
In the first month of Emperor Ai's fourth Jianping year, the people panicked and ran about, each carrying a stalk or branch and passing them to one another as "edict tally sticks." On the roads, those who encountered one another numbered in the thousands: some had loose hair and went barefoot, some broke through gates at night, some climbed over walls, and some raced in carts or on horseback, using relay stations to spread the message through twenty-six commanderies and kingdoms until it reached the capital. That summer, in the capital and the commanderies and kingdoms, people gathered in lanes and wards, set out sacrifices and gaming boards, and sang and danced to worship the Queen Mother of the West. Texts were also circulated saying, "The Mother tells the people: those who wear this text will not die. If you do not believe my words, look beneath your gate pivot; there will be white hair." It stopped by autumn. At that time the emperor's grandmother Empress Dowager Fu was arrogant and interfered in government, so Du Ye replied, "Spring and Autumn disasters and anomalies speak by symbolic indication. Tally sticks are for recording numbers. The people are yin, of water kind. Water should flow east as its proper course, but here it moved westward, an inverted and contrary ascent. It symbolizes norms and measures spilling out, recklessly passed from person to person, response to violating public sentiment. Queen Mother of the West is a title of a woman. Gaming and gambling are men's affairs. In lanes and wards it clearly moved outside gate-boundary, beyond proper bounds. Taking pleasure and revelry in the face of affairs shows overbearing yang intent. White hair symbolizes old age: high in status but weak in constitution, difficult to govern and easily thrown into disorder. The gate is where people pass; the pivot is its key point. To occupy where people pass is to control and hold their key point. Its indication is extremely clear. Now the Ding and Fu maternal clans both serve behind the curtains and are spread through the official ranks; those guilty of crimes and evils receive no punishment, while those without merit receive offices and titles. Huangfu and the Three Huan were what poets satirized and Spring and Autumn censured; nothing is more extreme than this. The symbolic signs are perfectly clear to awaken the sacred court—how can one not respond?" After Emperor Ai died, Empress Dowager Wang, mother of Emperor Cheng, ruled at court; Wang Mang, as Grand Marshal, executed and exterminated the Ding and Fu clans. Another view says the disorder caused by Ding and Fu was minor; this anomaly instead corresponded to Empress Dowager Wang and Mang.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →