Volume 23 Treatises 4: Five Elements

五行之精氣，在天為五緯，在地為五材，在人為五常及五事。五緯志諸《天文》，歷代皆然。其形質在地，性情在人，休咎各以其類，為感應於兩間者，歷代又有《五行志》焉。兩漢以來，儒者若夏侯勝之徒，專以《洪範五行》為學，作史者多采其說，凡言某征之休咎，則以某事之得失系之，而配之以五行。謂其盡然，其弊不免于傅會；謂其不然，「肅，時雨若」、「蒙，恆風若」之類，箕子蓋嘗言之。金世未能一天下，天文災祥猶有星野之說，五行休咎見於國內者不得他諉，乃匯其史氏所書，仍前史法，作《五行志》。至於五常五事之感應，則不必泥漢儒為例雲。

The refined qi of the Five Elements becomes the five planets in Heaven, the five materials on Earth, and in humanity the Five Constants and the Five Affairs. The five planets are recorded in the Astronomy treatises, as every dynasty has done. Form and substance belong to Earth, disposition to humanity; auspicious and inauspicious signs each keep to their kind—as resonances between the two realms—and dynasties have also compiled Treatises on the Five Elements. Since the Two Han, scholars such as Xiahou Sheng took the Hong Fan's Five Elements as their whole craft; historians mostly followed them—whenever they judged an omen auspicious or inauspicious, they bound it to some affair's success or failure and paired it with the Five Elements. To hold this wholly true cannot escape the fault of forced correlation; to hold it wholly false—sayings such as "With respect, seasonable rain follows" and "With obscurity, constant wind follows"—Jizi surely spoke them. The Jin age had not united the realm; celestial disaster and blessing still invoked the doctrine of stellar fields, yet Five Elements omens seen within their borders could not be blamed on others—so they gathered what their historians recorded, following earlier annalistic form, and composed this Treatise on the Five Elements. As for responses of the Five Constants and Five Affairs, there is no need to bind oneself to Han Confucian precedent.

初，金之興，平定諸部，屢有禎異，故世祖每與敵戰，嘗以夢寐卜其勝負。烏春兵至蘇東海甸，世祖曰：「予夙昔有異夢，不可親戰，若左軍有力戰者當克。」既而與肅宗等擊之，敵大敗。

When the Jin first rose and pacified the tribes, portents came again and again—so Shizu, whenever he met the enemy in battle, would read victory or defeat in his dreams. When Wuchun's army reached the Suhai pasturelands, Shizu said: "Long ago I had an uncanny dream—I must not fight in person; if someone on the left wing fights with all his strength, we shall win." Thereupon he and Suzong and others struck them, and the enemy was routed.

太祖之生也，常有五色雲氣若二千斛廩囷之狀，屢見東方。遼司天到孔致和曰：「其下當生異人，建非常之事，天以象告，非人力所能為也。」

At the Founder Ancestor's birth, five-colored cloud-qi often shaped like a two-thousand-bushel granary-bin was seen again and again in the east. Liao Director of Astronomy Dao Kong Zhihe said: "Beneath it an extraordinary man shall be born, to accomplish unheard-of deeds—Heaven announces by signs what no human hand can make."

溫都部跋忒畔，穆宗遣太祖討之，入辭，奏曰：「昨夕見赤祥，往必克。」遂與跋忒戰，殺之。

When the Wendu tribal chief Bate rebelled, Muzong sent the Founder Ancestor to subdue him; on taking leave he reported: "Last night I saw a crimson auspice—we shall win when we go." He fought Bate and killed him.

穆宗攻阿疏日，辰巳間，忽暴雨昏曀，雷電環阿疏所居，是夕有巨火聲如雷，墜阿疏城中，遂攻下之。

When Muzong besieged Ashuri, between the chen and si hours a violent rainstorm darkened the sky; lightning ringed Ashuri's dwelling; that night a great fire, loud as thunder, fell into Ashuri's town—and the place was taken.

太祖嘗往甯江，夢斡帶之禾場焚，頃刻而盡。覺而大戚，即馳還，斡帶已寢疾，翌日不起。

The Founder Ancestor once went to Ningjiang and dreamed that Wandai's threshing-floor burned to nothing in an instant. Waking, he grieved deeply and galloped back—Wandai had already taken to his bed, and the next day would not rise.

斡塞伐高麗，太祖臥而得夢，及起曰：「今日捷音必至。」乃為具於球場以待。有二麞渡水而至，獲之，太祖曰：「此休征也。」言未既，捷書至，眾大異之。

When Wosai campaigned against Goryeo, the Founder Ancestor slept and dreamed; on rising he said: "Today the news of victory must arrive." He had a feast laid on the ball-court to await it. Two roe deer crossed the water and were taken; the Founder Ancestor said: "This is an auspicious omen." He had scarcely finished when the victory dispatch arrived—and the whole camp stood amazed.

他日軍甯江，駐高阜，撒改仰見太祖體如喬松，所乘馬如岡阜之大，太祖亦視撒改人馬異常，撒改因白所見，太祖喜曰：「此吉兆也。」即舉酒酹之曰：「異日成功，當識此地。」師次唐括帶斡甲之地，諸軍介而立，有光起於人足及戈矛上，明日，至劄只水，光復如初。

Another day, campaigning at Ningjiang, they halted on a high mound; Sacai looking up saw the Founder Ancestor's body like a towering pine, his mount like a hill-crest in scale; the Founder Ancestor also saw Sacai's horse and men extraordinary. Sacai told what he had seen; the Founder Ancestor rejoiced: "This is a lucky sign." He raised wine and libated, saying: "When we succeed another day, remember this place." The army halted at Tangkuodaiwogan; the troops stood arrayed, and light rose from men's feet and from spear-points; the next day, reaching Zhazhi River, the light appeared as before.

收國元年，上在甯江州，有光正圓，自空而墜。八月己卯，黃龍見空中。十二月丁未，上候遼軍還至熟結濼，有光復見於矛端。

In the first year of Shouguo, the sovereign was at Ningjiang; a perfectly round light fell from the sky. In the eighth month, on the day jimao, a yellow dragon appeared in the sky. In the twelfth month, dingwei, the sovereign waited for Liao forces, returning to Shujie Marsh—and the light was seen again on spear-tips.

天輔六年三月，師攻西京，有火如鬥，墜其城中。是月，城降而複叛，四月辛卯，取之。

In the sixth year of Tianfu, third month, the army besieged Western Capital; a fire the size of a dipper-measure fell into its walls. That month the city surrendered then rebelled again; in the fourth month, xinmao, it was taken.

太宗天會二年，曷懶移鹿古水霖雨害稼，且為蝗所食。秋，泰州潦，害稼。三年七月，錦州野蠶成繭。九月，廣寧府進嘉禾。四年十月，中京進嘉禾。六年冬，移懶路饑。九年七月丙申，上禦西樓聽政，聞咸州所貢白鵲音忽異常，上起視之，見東樓上光明中有像巍然高五丈許，下有紅雲承之，若世所謂佛者，乃擎跽修虔，久之而沒。十年冬，移懶、曷懶等路饑。

Taizong, second year of Tianhui, at Yilanyilugu River—incessant rain harmed the crops, and locusts devoured them besides. In autumn, Taizhou flooded, ruining the harvest. Third year, seventh month—at Jinzhou wild silkworms formed cocoons. Ninth month—Guangning Prefecture presented auspicious grain. Fourth year, tenth month—Central Capital presented auspicious grain. Sixth year, winter—Yilan circuit suffered famine. Ninth year, seventh month, bingshen—the sovereign held court on the west tower and heard the white magpie presented from Xianzhou cry oddly; he rose to look and saw on the east tower, within a blaze of light, a figure towering some five zhang, red cloud beneath bearing it up like the Buddha the world knows—he raised his joined hands in reverence until it vanished. Tenth year, winter—Yilan, Yilanyilugu, and other circuits starved.

熙宗天會十三年五月，甘露降于盧州熊嶽縣。十五年七月辛巳，有司進四足雀。丙戌夜，京師地震。

Xizong, thirteenth year of Tianhui, fifth month—sweet dew fell in Xiongyue County, Luzhou. Fifteenth year, seventh month, xinsi—the authorities presented a four-footed sparrow. On the night of bingxu the capital shook in earthquake.

天眷元年夏，有龍見於熙州野水，凡三日。初，于水面見一蒼龍，良久而沒。次日，見金龍一，爪承一嬰兒，兒為龍所戲，略無懼色，三日如故。又見一人，乘白馬，紅袍玉帶，如少年官狀，馬前有六蟾蜍，凡三時乃沒，郡人競往觀之。七月丁酉，按出滸河溢，壞民廬舍。三年十二月丁丑，地震。

First year of Tianjuan, summer—a dragon was seen in the wild waters of Xizhou, for three days in all. At first an azure dragon showed on the water's face and, after a long while, sank away. The next day a golden dragon appeared, its claw bearing an infant the dragon sported with—the child showing no fear—for three days unchanged. Again a man was seen, riding a white horse in red robe and jade belt like a youthful officer, six toads before his horse; after three watch-periods all vanished, and the county folk rushed to see. Seventh month, dingyou—the Anchu River burst its banks, wrecking commoners' homes. Third year, twelfth month, dingchou—earthquake.

海陵天德二年十二月，野人采石炭，獲異香。

Hailing, twelfth month of the second year of Tiande—a countryman mining coal found a strange fragrance.

貞元三年五月癸丑，南京大內災。三年十二月己丑，雨，木冰。

Third year of Zhenyuan, fifth month, guichou—fire disaster in the Nanjing inner palace. Twelfth month, jichou—it rained, and the trees were sheathed in ice.

正隆二年六月壬辰，蝗飛入京師。秋，中都、山東、河東蝗。四年十一月庚寅，霜附木。五年二月辛未，河東、陝西地震。鎮戎、德順等軍大風，壞廬舍，民多壓死。海陵問司天馬貴中等曰：「何為地震？」貴中等曰：「伏陽逼陰所致。」又問：「震而大風，何也？」對曰：「土失其性，則地以震。風為號令，人君嚴急則有風及物之災。」六年六月壬戌，大風壞承天門鴟尾。

Zhenglong, second year, sixth month, on renchen: locusts flew into the capital. In autumn locusts struck the Central Capital, Shandong, and Hedong. Fourth year, eleventh month, on gengyin: frost clung to the trees. Fifth year, second month, on xinwei: earthquakes in Hedong and Shaanxi. At Zhenrong, Deshun, and other armies a great wind destroyed dwellings and crushed many people to death. Hailing asked Ma Guizhong of the Directorate of Astronomy and others: 「What causes an earthquake? 」Ma Guizhong and the others said: 「Submerged yang pressing yin causes it. 」He asked again: 「When earthquake comes with great wind, what does that mean? 」They replied: 「When earth loses its proper nature, the ground quakes. Wind is command; when the ruler is harsh and urgent, wind disasters reach things as well. 」Sixth year, sixth month, on renxu: a great wind destroyed the owl-tail ridge ornaments of Chengtian Gate.

是歲，世宗居貞懿皇后憂，在遼陽，一日方寢，有紅光照其室，及其龍見於室上，又夜有大星流入其邸。八月，複有雲氣自西來，黃龍見其中，人皆見之。是時，臨潢府聞空中有車馬聲，仰視見風雲杳靄，神鬼兵甲蔽天，自北而南，仍有語促行者。未歲，海陵下詔南征。

That year Shizong was mourning Empress Zhenyi at Liaoyang; one day as he slept a red light filled his chamber, a dragon appeared above the room, and by night a great star streamed into his residence. In the eighth month cloud-vapor came again from the west with a yellow dragon within it; everyone saw it. At that time Linhuang Prefecture heard chariots and horses in the sky; looking up they saw misty wind and cloud, spirit soldiers in armor filling the sky from north to south, and voices urging travelers on. Before the year was out, Hailing issued an edict for the southern campaign.

世宗大定二年閏二月辛卯，神龍殿十六位焚，延及太和、厚德殿。三年三月丙申，中都以南八路蝗。四年三月庚子夜，京師地震。七年辛丑，大風雷雨，拔木。臨潢府境禾黍穞生。嵐州進白兔二。八月，永興進嘉禾，異畝同穎。中都南八路蝗飛入京畿。十一月辛丑，尚書省火。是歲，有年。五年六月戊子，河南府進芝草十三本，得于芝田石上，薦之太廟。六月甲辰，大安殿楹產芝，有色如玉。丙午，京師地震，有聲自西北來，殷殷如雷，地生白毛。七月戊申，又震。十一月癸酉，大霧，晝晦。七年九月庚辰，地震。八月五月甲子，北望澱大風，雨雹，廣十里，長六十里。六月，河決李固渡，水入曹州。十年正月，鄧州進芝草。十一年六月戊申，西南路招討司苾裏海水之地雨雹三十餘裏，小者如雞卵，其一最大，廣三尺，長太餘，四五日始消。十二年三月庚寅，雨土。四月，旱。十三年正月，尚書省奏：「宛平張孝善有子曰合得，大定十二年三月旦以疾死，至暮復活，雲是本良鄉人王建子喜兒。而喜兒前三年已死，建驗以家事，能具道之。此蓋假屍還魂，擬付王建為子。」上曰：「若是則奸幸小人競生詐偽，瀆亂人倫。」止付孝善。八月丁丑，策試進士于憫忠寺，夜半忽聞音樂聲起東塔上，西達于宮。考官完顏蒲捏、李晏等以為文運始開，得賢之兆。十四年八月丁巳朔，次颭裏舌，是午，白龍見於禦帳之東小港中，既乘臨雷雲而上，尾猶曳地，良久北去。十六年三月戊申，雨豆於臨潢之境，其形上銳而赤，食之味頗苦。五月戊申，南京宮殿火。日歲，中都、河北、山東、陝西、河東、遼東等十路旱、蝗。十七年七月，大雨，滹沱、盧溝水溢，河決白溝。二十年四月己亥，太甯宮門火。五月丙寅，京師地震，生黑白毛。七月，旱。秋，河決衛州。二十二年五月，慶都蝗蝝生，散漫十餘裏。一夕大風，蝗皆不見。二十三年正月辛巳，廣樂園燈山焚，延及熙春殿。三月乙酉，氛埃雨土。四月庚子亦如之。五月丁亥，雨雹，地生白毛。二十四年正月辛卯朔，徐州進芝十有八莖。真定嘉禾二本，異畝同穎。二十六年正月庚辰，河南府進芝三本。秋，河決，壞衛州城。二十七年四月辛丑，京師地微震。

Shizong, Dading second year, intercalary second month, on xinmao: the sixteen spirit-tablets of Shendian Hall burned and the fire spread to Taihe and Houde halls. Third year, third month, on bingshen: locusts in the Eight Routes south of the Central Capital. Fourth year, third month, on gengzi at night: the capital was shaken by earthquake. Seventh year, xinchou: great wind, thunder, and rain uprooted trees. Within Linhuang Prefecture millet and grain put forth second growth. Lan Prefecture presented two white rabbits. Eighth month: Yongxing presented auspicious grain with different stalks sharing one ear. Locusts in the Eight Routes south of the Central Capital flew into the capital region. Eleventh month, on xinchou: fire at the Ministry of the Masters of Writing. That year brought a good harvest. Fifth year, sixth month, on wuzi: Henan Prefecture presented thirteen stalks of lingzhi found on a lingzhi-field stone; they were offered at the Grand Temple. Sixth month, on jiachen: lingzhi grew on a pillar of Da'an Hall, colored like jade. On bingwu the capital was shaken by earthquake; a sound came from the northwest, deep as thunder, and white hair grew from the ground. Seventh month, on wushen: earthquake again. Eleventh month, on guiyou: great fog darkened the day. Seventh year, ninth month, on gengchen: earthquake. Eighth year, fifth month, on jiazi: at Bei Wangdian marsh a great wind brought hail ten li wide and sixty li long. Sixth month: the Yellow River broke at Ligudu crossing and water entered Cao Prefecture. Tenth year, first month: Deng Prefecture presented lingzhi. Eleventh year, sixth month, on wushen: at the Bilhi River in Southwest Route Pacification Commission territory hail fell over more than thirty li; the small were like hen's eggs, the largest three feet wide and more than a zhang long; four or five days passed before it melted. Twelfth year, third month, on gengyin: rain of earth. Fourth month: drought. Thirteenth year, first month, the Ministry of the Masters of Writing memorialized: 「Zhang Xiaoshan of Wanping had a son named Hede; on the morning of the third month of Dading twelfth year he died of illness, but at dusk revived, saying he was Xi'er, son of Wang Jian of Liangxiang. Yet Xi'er had died three years before; Wang Jian tested him with household affairs and he could recount them in full. This is likely a borrowed corpse returning with a soul; it is proposed to assign him to Wang Jian as son. 」The emperor said: 「If so, crafty villains will vie to commit fraud and profane human relations. 」He ordered him left with Xiaoshan. Eighth month, on dingchou: the jinshi examination was held at Mianzhong Temple; at midnight music suddenly sounded, rising from the east pagoda and reaching west to the palace. Examiners Wanyan Punie, Li Yan, and others took it as literary fortune opening and an omen of obtaining worthy men. Fourteenth year, eighth month, new moon on dingsi, halting at Cifali She: at noon a white dragon appeared in a small creek east of the imperial tent; it then rode up on thunder-clouds, its tail still trailing the ground, and after long went north. Sixteenth year, third month, on wushen: beans rained in the Linhuang region; they were sharp above and red, and tasted rather bitter when eaten. Fifth month, on wushen: fire at the Nanjing palace halls. That year drought and locusts afflicted the Central Capital, Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi, Hedong, Liaodong, and the like among ten circuits. Seventeenth year, seventh month: great rain; the Hutuo and Lugou rivers overflowed and the Yellow River broke at Baigou. Twentieth year, fourth month, on jihai: fire at the gate of Taining Palace. In the fifth month, on bingyin, the capital was shaken by an earthquake and black and white hair sprouted from the ground. In the seventh month there was drought. In autumn the Yellow River burst its banks at Weizhou. In the twenty-second year, fifth month, locust nymphs appeared at Qingdu and spread over more than ten li. One night a great wind rose and every locust disappeared. In the twenty-third year, first month, on xinsi, the lamp mountain of the Broad Music Garden caught fire and the blaze reached the Halcyon Spring Hall. In the third month, on yiyou, dusty haze filled the air and earth rained down. In the fourth month, on gengzi, the same occurred again. In the fifth month, on dinghai, hail fell and white hair sprouted from the ground. In the twenty-fourth year, first month, on the xinmao new moon, Xuzhou presented eighteen stalks of lingzhi. At Zhending two stalks of auspicious grain grew, in separate fields yet sharing one ear. In the twenty-sixth year, first month, on gengchen, Henan Prefecture presented three stalks of lingzhi. In autumn the Yellow River burst its banks and wrecked Weizhou city. In the twenty-seventh year, fourth month, on xinchou, the capital was lightly shaken.

章宗大定二十九年五月丁未，地生白毛。五月，曹州河溢。十二月，密州進白鶉、白雉各一。河間府進嘉禾。日冬無雪。

In Zhangzong’s twenty-ninth year of Dading, fifth month, on dingwei, white hair sprouted from the ground. In the fifth month the Yellow River overflowed at Caozhou. In the twelfth month Mizhou presented one white crane and one white pheasant. Hejian Prefecture presented auspicious grain. That winter brought no snow.

明昌元年正月，懷州、河間等處進芝草、嘉禾。二月，地生白毛。六月庚子，都水進異卵。夏，旱。七月，淫雨傷稼。二年五月，桓、撫等州旱。秋，山東、河北旱，饑。三年秋，綏德虸蚄蟲生，旱。四年三月，御史中丞董師中奏：「乃者太白晝見，京師地震，北方有赤氣，遲明始散。天之示象，冀有以警悟聖主也。」上問：「所言天象何從得之？」師中曰：「前監察御史陳元升得之于一司天長行。」上曰：「司天臺官不奏固有罪，其以語人尤非。朕欲令自今司天有事而不奏者長行得言之，何如？」師中曰：「善。」五月，霖雨，命有司祈晴。六月，河決衛州，魏、清、滄皆被害。是歲，河北、山東、南京、陝西諸路大稔。邢、洺、深、冀及河北西路十六謀克之地，野蠶成繭。

In the first year of Mingchang, first month, Huai Prefecture, Hejian, and other districts presented lingzhi and auspicious grain. In the second month white hair sprouted from the ground. In the sixth month, on gengzi, the Directorate of Waterways presented strange eggs. That summer there was drought. In the seventh month prolonged rain damaged the crops. In the second year, fifth month, Huan and Fu prefectures suffered drought. In autumn Shandong and Hebei suffered drought and famine. In the third year, autumn, caterpillar worms appeared at Suide and drought followed. In the fourth year, third month, Vice Censor-in-Chief Dong Shizhong memorialized: "Lately Venus has shown in daytime, the capital has been shaken by earthquake, and red vapor in the north lingered until dawn was far advanced. Heaven’s signs are meant, I trust, to awaken the sage ruler." The emperor asked, "How did you learn of these celestial signs?" Shizhong said, "Former Investigating Censor Chen Yuansheng heard them from a senior clerk of the Directorate of Astronomy." The emperor said, "Directorate officials are surely guilty for not reporting, but spreading word to others is especially wrong. I wish that hereafter when the Directorate has a matter and does not report it, senior clerks may speak up—what do you think?" Shizhong said, "Good." In the fifth month prolonged rain fell and officials were ordered to pray for clear skies. In the sixth month the Yellow River burst at Weizhou and Wei, Qing, and Cang were all harmed. That year Hebei, Shandong, Nanjing, and Shaanxi circuits all enjoyed a great harvest. Across the sixteen meng’an districts of Xing, Ming, Shen, Ji, and Hebei West Circuit, wild silkworms spun cocoons.

十一月壬午，木冰。五年七月丙戌，天壽節，先陰雨連日，至是開霽，有龍曳尾於殿前雲間。八月，河決陽武故堤，灌封丘而東。六年二月丁丑，京師地震，大雨雹，晝晦，大風，震應天門左鴟尾壞。六年八月，大雨震電，有龍起於渾儀鰲趺，台忽中裂而摧。儀僕於台下。

In the eleventh month, on renwu, trees were coated with glaze ice. In the fifth year, seventh month, on bingxu, the Heavenly Longevity Festival: rain and cloud had lasted for days, but that day the sky cleared and a dragon dragged its tail through the clouds before the hall. In the eighth month the Yellow River breached the old embankment at Yangwu and poured east past Fengqiu. In the sixth year, second month, on dingchou, the capital was shaken by earthquake; great hail fell; daylight was dimmed; a great wind blew and broke the left owl-tail ornament on the Gate of Responding to Heaven. In the sixth year, eighth month, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning struck; a dragon rose from the tortoise pedestal of the armillary sphere; the terrace suddenly split and collapsed. The instrument fell beneath the terrace.

泰和二年八月丙申，磁州武安縣鼓山石聖台，有大鳥十集於臺上，其羽五色爛然，文多赤黃，赭冠雞項，尾闊而修，狀若鯉魚尾而長，高可逾人，九子差小侍傍，亦高四五尺。禽鳥萬數形色各異，或飛或蹲，或步或立，皆成行列，首皆正向如朝拱然。初自東南來，勢如連雲，聲如殷雷，林木震動，牧者驚惶，即驅牛擊物以驚之，殊不為動。俄有大鳥如雕鶚者怒來搏擊之，民益恐，奔告縣官，皆以為鳳凰也，命工圖上之。留二日西北去。按視其處，糞跡數頃，其色各異。遺禽數千，累日不能去。所食皆巨鯉，大者丈餘，魚骨蔽地。章宗以其事告宗廟，詔中外。三年四月，旱。十月己亥，大風。四年正月壬申，陰霧，木冰。三月丁卯，大風，毀宣陽門鴟尾。四月，旱。壬戌，萬甯宮端門災。十一月丁卯，陰。木冰凡三日。五年夏，旱。八年閏四月甲午，雨雹。河南路蝗。

In the second year of Taihe, eighth month, on bingshen, at the Stone Drum Mountain Sage Terrace in Wu’an County, Cizhou, ten great birds gathered on the terrace; their feathers shone in five colors, mostly red and yellow; ochre crest and chicken neck; tail broad and long like a carp’s tail and taller than a man; nine smaller young stood beside them, each four or five chi high. Myriad birds of every shape and color flew or crouched, walked or stood, all in ranks facing forward as if bowing in court. At first they came from the southeast like linked clouds, roaring like thunder; trees shook; herdsmen panicked and drove cattle and struck things to scare them, yet the birds did not stir. Soon a great bird like an eagle came furiously to strike them; the people grew more afraid and reported to the county, where all called them phoenixes and ordered artisans to paint them and submit the pictures. After two days they departed to the northwest. On inspecting the site, droppings covered several qing, each of a different color. Thousands of birds lingered and would not depart for many days. They fed on giant carp, some more than ten chi long, until fish bones carpeted the ground. Zhangzong reported the affair to the ancestral temple and proclaimed it throughout court and realm. In the third year, fourth month, there was drought. In the tenth month, on jihai, a great wind rose. In the fourth year, first month, on renshen, gloom hung low and tree ice formed. In the third month, on dingmao, a great wind broke the owl-tail finial of Xuanyang Gate. In the fourth month there was drought. On renxu fire struck the main gate of Wanning Palace. In the eleventh month, on dingmao, the sky stayed overcast. Tree ice lasted three days altogether. In the fifth year, summer brought drought. In the eighth year, intercalary fourth month, on jiawu, hail fell. Locusts appeared in Henan Circuit.

六月戊子，飛蝗入京畿。八月乙酉，有虎至陽春門外，駕出射獲之。時又有童謠雲：「易水流，汴水流，更年易過又休休。兩家都好住，前後總成留。」至貞*中，舉國遷汴。

In the sixth month, on wuzi, flying locusts entered the capital region. In the eighth month, on yiyou, a tiger reached the outside of Yangchun Gate; the emperor went out, shot it, and killed it. At the time a children's ballad ran: 「The Yishui flows, the Bian flows; the years turn easily and all grows still. Both homes may settle well; before and after all comes to stay.」 In the Zhenyou era the entire realm relocated to Bian.

衛紹王大安元年，徐、邳界黃河清五百餘裏，幾二年，以其事詔中外。臨洮人楊珪上書曰：「河性本濁，而今反清，是水失其性也。正猶天動地靜，使當動者靜，當靜者動，則如之何，其為災異明矣。且《傳》曰：'黃河青，聖人生。 '假使聖人生，恐不在今日。又曰'黃河清，諸侯為天子。 '正當戒懼，以銷災變，而複誇示四方，臣所未喻。」宰相以為妖言，議誅之，慮絕言路，即詔大興鎖銷還本管。十一月丙申，平陽地震，有聲自西北來。戊戌夜，又震，自此時複震動，浮山縣尤劇，城廨民居圮者十七八，死者凡二三千人。二年二月乙酉，地大震，有聲殷殷然。六月、七月至九月晦。其震不一。十一月，京師民周修武宅前渠內火出，高二尺，焚其板橋。又旬日，大悲閣幡竿下石隙中火出，高二三尺，人近之即滅，凡十餘日。自是都城連夜燔爇二三十處。是歲四月，山東、河北大旱，至六月，雨複不止，民間斗米至千余錢。三年二月乙亥夜，大風從西北來，髮屋折木，吹清夷門關折。三月戊午，大悲閣災，延燒萬餘家，火五日不絕。山東、河北、河東諸路大旱。是歲，有男子郝贊詣省言：「上即位之後，天變屢見，火焚萬家，風折門關，非小異也，宜退位讓有德。」有司問：「爾狂疾乎？」贊大言曰：「我不狂疾，但為社稷計，宰相皆非其才。」每日省前大呼，凡半月。上怒，誅之隱處。

In Shao Wang's first Da'an year the Yellow River ran clear along the Xu–Pi border for more than five hundred li for nearly two years, and an edict proclaimed it throughout court and realm. Yang Gui of Lintao memorialized: 「The Yellow River is naturally muddy; that it has turned clear means the water has lost its true nature. It is like heaven stirring and earth resting: if what must move is stilled and what must rest is stirred, how can order hold? The omen of calamity is plain. Moreover tradition says: 「When the Yellow River turns green, a sage is born.」 Even if a sage were born, he would hardly appear in our own time. It also says: 「When the Yellow River clears, lords become Son of Heaven.」 The court ought to be wary and dispel the portent, not boast of it to the four quarters — a point your subject cannot fathom.」 The chancellors called it demonic speech and debated execution, yet fearing to choke off remonstrance they issued an edict to Daxing to detain him in irons and return him to his home circuit. In the eleventh month, on bingshen, Pingyang quaked and a rumble rolled in from the northwest. On wuxu night it shook again, and tremors kept returning, worst in Fushan county: seven or eight dwellings in ten were ruined, and two or three thousand people died. In the second year, second month, on yiyou, a great earthquake rumbled deep and long. From the sixth and seventh months until the ninth month's last day. The tremors did not come alike. In the eleventh month fire erupted from the canal ditch before Zhou Xiuwu's house in the capital, rose two chi, and burned his plank bridge. Ten days later fire shot from a stone crack under the banner pole at Great Compassion Pavilion, two or three chi high; anyone who neared it saw the flame die — for more than ten days. After that the capital burned in twenty or thirty places each night. That year, fourth month, Shandong and Hebei suffered severe drought; by the sixth month rain would not cease, and grain in the markets reached more than a thousand cash per dou. In the third year, second month, on yihai night, a great wind from the northwest stripped roofs, snapped trees, and broke Qingyi Gate's bar. In the third month, on wuwu, fire took Great Compassion Pavilion and spread through more than ten thousand households; the flames burned five days without end. Shandong, Hebei, and Hedong circuits suffered severe drought. That year a man named Hao Zan came to the Secretariat and said: 「Since Your Majesty ascended the throne heaven's warnings have piled up — fire consumed ten thousand homes, wind broke a gate bar; these are no trifling signs. You should abdicate to one of virtue.」 The offices asked: 「Are you mad?」 Zan cried out: 「I am not mad — I speak for the realm; not one chancellor is fit for his post.」 Each day he shouted before the Secretariat; this lasted half a month. The emperor was furious and had him put to death in secret.

崇慶元年七月辛未未時，有風從東來，吹帛一段高數十丈，宛轉如龍，墜於拱辰門內。是歲，河東、陝西、南京諸路旱。二年二月，放進士榜，有狂僧公言：「殺天子。」求之不知所在。是歲，河東、陝西大旱，京兆斗米至八千錢。

Chongqing 1, seventh month, at the wei hour before noon: wind from the east lifted a bolt of silk dozens of zhang high, coiled it like a dragon, and dropped it inside Gongchen Gate. That year Hedong, Shaanxi, and the Southern Capital circuit suffered drought. In the second year, second month, when the jinshi list was posted, a mad monk shouted: 「Kill the Son of Heaven!」 They searched for him but could not find where he had gone. That year Hedong and Shaanxi suffered severe drought; in Jingzhao a dou of grain cost eight thousand cash.

宣宗貞祐元年八月戊子夜，將曙，大霧蒼黑，跂步無所見，至辰巳間始散。十二月乙卯，雨，木冰。時衛州有童謠曰：「團鸑冬，劈半年。寒食節，沒人煙。」明年正月，元兵破衛，遂丘墟矣。二年六月，潮白河溢，漂古北口鐵裹關門至老王穀。庚申，南京寶鎮閣災。壬戌，上次宜村，有黃龍見於西北。冬，黃河自陝州界至衛州八柳樹，清十餘日，纖鱗皆見。十二月己酉，雨，木冰。三年二月戊午，大風，隆德殿鴟尾壞。三月戊辰，大風，霾。四月，自去冬不雨，至於是月。五月，河南大蝗。六月，京城中夜妄相驚逐狼，月余方息。十月丙申，西北有霧氣如積土，至二更乃散。四年正月己未旦，黑霧四塞，巳時乃散，是春，河朔人相食。五月，河南、陝西大蝗。鳳翔、扶風、歧山、郿縣騑蟲傷麥。七月，旱。癸丑，飛蝗過京師。

Xuanzong, Zhenyou 1, eighth month, on wuzi night just before dawn: a dense fog, green-black; a man could not see his next step; it did not clear until the chen and si hours. In the twelfth month, on yimao, there was rain and tree ice. About then in Weizhou children sang: 「Round zuan winter—half a year split apart. Cold Food Festival—no smoke of human habitation. 」The following first month Yuan forces stormed Weizhou, and the city was left a wasteland. In the second year, sixth month, the Chaobai River burst its banks and washed from Old Northern Pass Iron-Wrapped Barrier Gate to Old King's Valley. On gengshen fire broke out at Baozhen Pavilion in the Southern Capital. On renxu the emperor was at Yicun when a yellow dragon was seen in the northwest. That winter the Yellow River from the Shaanzhou frontier to Eight Willows at Weizhou ran clear for over ten days, every fine scale visible. In the twelfth month, on jiyou, there was rain and tree ice. In the third year, on wuwu of the second month, a great wind wrecked the ridge-beast finial of Longde Hall. In the third month, on wuchen, a great wind blew with dusty haze. By the fourth month it had not rained since the previous winter. In the fifth month Henan suffered a great locust plague. In the sixth month the capital nightly erupted in false alarms as people chased supposed wolves; the uproar lasted more than a month. Tenth month, on bingchen: northwestern mist piled like earthen ramparts and did not lift until the second watch. Fourth year, first month, at jiwei dawn black mist walled the horizon and cleared only at si hour; that spring people in Hebei resorted to cannibalism. In the fifth month Henan and Shaanxi were overrun by locusts. At Fengxiang, Fufeng, Qishan, and Mei, fei insects ravaged the wheat. In the seventh month there was drought. On guichou clouds of locusts flew over the capital.

興定元年三月，宮中有蝗。四月，單州雹傷稼。陳州商水縣進瑞麥，一莖四穗。開封府進瑞麥，一莖三穗、二莖四穗。五月乙丑，河南大風，吹府門署以去。延州原武縣雹傷稼。七月癸卯，大社壇產嘉禾，一莖十五穗。秋，霖雨。十月，邠州進白兔。丹州進嘉禾。異畝同穎。二年四月，河南諸郡蝗。五月，秦、陝狼害人。六月，旱。是歲，京師屢火，遣禮部尚書楊雲翼鋋之。三年春，吏部火。四月癸未，陝右黑風晝起，有聲如雷，頃之地大震，平涼、鎮戎、德順尤甚，廬舍傾，壓死者以萬計，雜畜倍之。夏，旱。十二月壬申，雨，木冰。四年正月戊辰二更，天鳴有聲。壬子，晝晦，有頃大雷風雨。四月丁丑，大風吹河南府署飛百余步，戶案門鑰開，文牘飄散，不知所在。六月，旱。七月，河南大水，唐、鄧尤甚。十二月癸酉，火。是歲，華州渭南縣民裴德寧家伐樹，破其中有赤色「太」字，表裏吻合。有司言與唐大曆中成都瑞木有文「天下太平」者，其事頗同，蓋太平之兆也。乞付史館。五年三月，以久旱，詔中外，仍命有司祈禱。十一月壬寅，京師相國寺火。十二月丁丑，霜附木。先是，有童謠雲：「青山轉，轉山青。耽誤盡，少年人。」蓋言是時人皆為兵，轉鬥山谷，戰伐不休，當至老也。

Xingding 1, third month: locusts appeared within the palace. In the fourth month hail in Dan Prefecture destroyed the crops. Shangshui County in Chen Prefecture presented auspicious wheat with one stalk bearing four ears. Kaifeng prefecture presented auspicious wheat: one stalk with three ears and two stalks with four ears each. Fifth month, on yichou: a great wind in Henan tore the prefectural gate offices from their places. Hail at Yuanwu in Yan Prefecture destroyed the crops. Seventh month, on guimao: auspicious grain sprang up at the Grand Altar of Soil and Grain, one stalk with fifteen ears. That autumn brought unending rain. In the tenth month Bin Prefecture presented a white hare. Dan Prefecture presented auspicious grain. Different stalks shared a single ear. Second year, fourth month: locusts struck the Henan prefectures. In the fifth month wolves in Qin and Shaanxi killed people. In the sixth month there was drought. That year fires broke out again and again in the capital; Minister of Rites Yang Yunyi was dispatched to perform the halberd-clash rite. Third year, spring: the Ministry of Personnel burned. Fourth month, on guiwei: a black wind rose in broad daylight across western Shaanxi, roaring like thunder, then the earth heaved; Pingliang, Zhenrong, and Deshun suffered worst—buildings toppled and the dead ran into the tens of thousands, with livestock losses double that count. That summer brought drought. In the twelfth month, on renshen, there was rain and tree ice. Fourth year, first month, at the second watch on wuchen the sky gave forth a sounding voice. On renzi noon turned dark as night; thunder, wind, and rain followed. Fourth month, on dingchou: a gale hurled the Henan prefectural compound a hundred paces, burst doors and document chests, and scattered papers beyond recovery. In the sixth month there was drought. In the seventh month Henan flooded; Tang and Deng were hardest hit. Twelfth month, on guiyou: fire broke out. That year Pei Dening of Weinan in Huazhou cut a tree on his property, split it open, and found a red "the cited text" character within, identical inside and out. Officials said it recalled the Tang Dali auspicious tree at Chengdu inscribed 「All under Heaven at peace」—much the same sign, likely a portent of great peace. They asked that the record be sent to the Historiographical Bureau. Fifth year, third month: after long drought an edict went throughout the realm and officials were again ordered to conduct prayers. Eleventh month, on renyin: Xiangguo Temple in the capital burned. Twelfth month, on dingchou: rime frost clung to the trees. Beforehand children had sung: 「Green mountains turn—turn the mountains green. Every delay spent, the young men gone. 」Men read it as saying that everyone had become a soldier, wheeling through mountain passes in endless war until youth itself was consumed.

元光元年四月，京畿旱。十月，上獵近郊，獲白兔，群臣以為瑞。明日，禦便殿，置鈴于項，將縱之，兔驚躍不已，忽斃幾上。二年正月辛酉日午，有鶴千余翔於殿庭，移刻乃去。七月乙卯，丹鳳門壞，壓死者數人。十一月，開封有虎害人。是時屢有妖怪，二年之中，白日虎入鄭門，吏部及宮中有狐狼，鬼夜哭于輦路，烏鵲夜驚，飛鳴蔽天。

Yuanguang 1, fourth month: drought struck the capital region. Tenth month: on a suburban hunt the emperor took a white hare, and the ministers hailed it as a lucky sign. Next day at the Informal Hall a bell was tied about its neck for release, but the hare panicked and bounded until it dropped dead on the dais. Second year, first month, at wuwu noon a thousand cranes wheeled above the palace court and did not leave for a full quarter-hour. Seventh month, on yimao: Danfeng Gate gave way and several people were killed. Eleventh month: a tiger at Kaifeng killed people. Strange omens piled up: within two years a tiger walked through Zheng Gate in daylight; foxes and wolves haunted the Ministry of Personnel and the inner palace; ghosts wailed along the imperial road at night; crows and magpies exploded into flight until their clamor darkened the sky.

十二月，宣宗崩。

Twelfth month: Emperor Xuanzong died.

哀宗正大元年正月戊午，上初視朝，尊太后為仁聖宮皇太后，太元妃為慈聖宮皇太后。是日，大風飄端門瓦，昏霾不見日，黃氣塞天，仁聖又夢乞丐萬數踵其後，心惡之，占者曰：「後為天下母，百姓貧窶，將誰訴焉？」遂敕京城設粥與冰藥以應之，人以為壬辰、癸巳之兆。又有人衣麻衣，望承天門大笑者三，大哭者三，有司拘而問之，其人曰：「我先笑者，笑許大天下將相無人。後哭者，哀祖宗家國破蕩至此也。」有司以為妖言，處之重典。上曰：「近詔草澤之士並許直言，雖涉譏訕亦不治罪，況此人言亦有理。止不應哭笑闕下耳。」乃杖之。二年正月甲申，有黃黑之昆。四月，旱。京畿大雨雹。三年春，大寒。三月乙丑，有火自吏部中出，大如斛，流行輾轉，人皆驚避，逾時而滅。四月，旱、蝗。六月，京東雨雹，蝗死。四年六月丙辰，地震。八月癸亥，大風吹左掖門鴟尾墜，丹鳳門扉壞。是日，風、霜損禾皆盡。五年春，大寒。二月，雷而雪。木之華者皆敗。四月，鄭州大雨雹，桑柘皆枯。京畿旱。八月，御座上聞若有言者曰：「不放舍則何？」索之不見。七年十二月，新衛州北三里許，有影在沙上，如舊衛州城狀，寺塔宛然，數日乃滅。

Aizong, Zhengda 1, first month, on wuwu: the emperor held his first audience, raising the empress dowager to Rensheng Palace and the Grand Consort to Cisheng Palace. That day gale winds stripped Duan Gate's tiles, haze swallowed the sun, and yellow vapor choked the sky; Rensheng dreamed ten thousand beggars at her heels and shuddered; the diviner said: 「You are to become mother of the realm—when the people are penniless, whom will they beg? 」So the capital was ordered to distribute gruel and cooling draughts in response; people read it as foretelling the disasters of renchen and guisi. Another man in hemp stood before Chengtian Gate, laughed three times, then wept three times; officials seized and questioned him; he said: 「I laughed first because so great an empire lacked a single worthy minister or general. I wept afterward for the ancestral house and realm ruined to this point. 」Officials called it sorcerous talk and sought the heaviest penalty. The emperor said: 「A recent edict lets commoners speak plainly; even mockery goes unpunished—how much more when his words hold truth. Only he should not have laughed and wept beneath the palace gates. 」He was flogged with the staff. Second year, first month, on jiashen: a yellow-black insect swarm appeared. In the fourth month there was drought. The capital region was struck by great hail. Third year, spring: bitter cold. Third month, on yichou: fire burst from the Ministry of Personnel, as large as a grain measure, rolling along the ground; people scattered in terror until it died away. Fourth month brought drought and locusts. Sixth month: hail in the eastern capital and the locusts perished. Fourth year, sixth month, on bingchen: an earthquake. Eighth month, on guihai: a gale tore the ridge-beast finial from the Left Flank Gate and shattered Danfeng Gate's doors. That same day wind and frost laid the crops waste. Fifth year, spring: bitter cold. Second month: thunder with snow. Every tree that had flowered was ruined. Fourth month: great hail at Zheng Prefecture withered every mulberry and ramie plant. The capital region suffered drought. Eighth month: on the imperial seat a voice seemed to say: 「If you will not grant amnesty, then what? 」A search found no one there. Seventh year, twelfth month: three li north of new Weizhou a shadow on the sand took the shape of old Weizhou, temple towers plain as life, and faded only after several days.

Cite this Chapter