1
天文中 〈(七曜雜星氣史傳事驗)〉
Astronomy, Part Two. 〈The Seven Luminaries, Miscellaneous Stars, Qi Phenomena, Historical Traditions, and Recorded Correlations〉
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○七曜
The Seven Luminaries
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日為太陽之精,主生恩德,人君之象也。 人君有瑕,必露其慝以告示焉。 故日月行有道之國則光明,人君吉昌,百姓安寧。 人君乘土而王,其政太平,則日五色無主。 日變色,有軍,軍破; 無軍,喪侯王。 其君無德,其臣亂國,則日赤無光。 日失色,所臨之國不昌。 日晝昏,行人無影,到暮不止者,上刑急,下不聊生,不去一年有大水。 日晝昏,烏鳥群鳴,國失政。 日中烏見,主不明,為政亂,國有白衣會,將軍出,旌旗舉。 日中有黑子、黑氣、黑雲,乍三乍五,臣廢其主。 日蝕,陰侵陽,臣掩君之象,有亡國。
The sun embodies the essence of great yang: it governs life-giving grace and marks the sovereign’s presence in heaven. When the ruler errs, heaven lays bare his concealed faults as a warning. Thus over a realm that follows the Way, sun and moon shine clear; the sovereign thrives and the people live at ease. When an earth-phase sovereign reigns in perfect peace, the sun may display five hues with none predominating. A change in the sun’s color: if armies are in the field, they will be shattered; if none are mobilized, great nobles or rulers will perish. When the ruler is without virtue and ministers throw the realm into chaos, the sun turns blood-red and loses its radiance. If the sun fades, the territory it casts its light upon will not prosper. Daylight dim as dusk and travelers without shadows until nightfall mean cruel punishments above and desperate subjects below; within a year come catastrophic floods. Daylong gloom with crows clamoring together signals a breakdown of governance. The crow visible within the sun means the ruler lacks clarity; administration falls into disorder; the realm sees mourning gatherings; generals march and banners rise. Black spots, murky shrouds, or clouds within the sun—appearing in threes or fives—foretell ministers overturning their sovereign. A solar eclipse represents yin overwhelming yang—the ministers eclipsing the throne—and may herald the fall of a kingdom.
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月為太陰之精,以之配日,女主之象; 以之比德,刑罰之義; 列之朝廷,諸侯大臣之類。 故君明,則月行依度; 臣執權,則月行失道; 大臣用事,兵刑失理,則月行乍南乍北; 女主外戚擅權,則或進或退。 月變色,將有殃。 月晝明,奸邪並作,君臣爭明,女主失行,陰國兵強,中國饑,天下謀僭。 數月重見,國以亂亡。
The moon is great yin’s essence, paired with the sun—emblem of the empress and palace women; it analogizes moral virtue and embodies penal justice; set amid the court, it corresponds to feudal lords and chief ministers. When the ruler is discerning, the moon keeps to its proper course; when ministers seize authority, the moon strays from its track; if powerful ministers rule while military justice fails, the moon veers erratically north and south; when empresses’ kin dominate, the moon surges forward or falls back. A shift in the moon’s hue foretells disaster. Daylight brilliance of the moon brings villains forth in droves, pits sovereign against minister for supremacy, marks wayward conduct by palace women, strengthens frontier armies while the heartland starves, and spreads rebellion across the empire. Multiple moons appearing together doom the realm to chaos and collapse.
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歲星曰東方春木,於人,五常,仁也; 五事,貌也。 仁虧貌失,逆春令,傷木氣,則罰見歲星。 歲星盈縮,以其捨命國。 其所居久,其國有德厚,五穀豐昌,不可伐。 其對為沖,歲乃有殃。 歲星安靜中度,吉。 盈縮失次,其國有憂,不可舉事用兵。 又曰,人主之象也,色欲明,光色潤澤,德合同。 又曰,進退如度,奸邪息; 變色亂行,主無福。 又主福,主大司農,主齊吳,主司天下諸侯人君之過,主歲五穀。 赤而角,其國昌; 赤黃而沈,其野大穰。
Jupiter is eastern spring-wood; among the five virtues it stands for benevolence; among the five deportments it governs bearing and appearance. When benevolence fails and demeanor collapses—spring edicts flouted and wood-phase qi injured—the punitive sign manifests as Jupiter. Jupiter’s speeding and slowing, read from the lodge it occupies, pronounce fate upon kingdoms. A prolonged stay means deep virtue there, bumper harvests, and an army should not strike that land. The sign opposite its station faces disaster that year. When Jupiter moves calmly along mid-course, the omen is favorable. Erratic motion spells trouble for the realm it watches; neither campaigns nor major initiatives should proceed. It also embodies the sovereign: hue should shine clear and lustrous, matching harmony with virtue. Steady motion true to the calendar curbs treachery; but shifting color and erratic track deny the ruler fortune. It governs prosperity, the Minister of Agriculture, the Qi and Wu regions, audits the faults of feudal rulers, and sets the year’s grain harvests. Red with rays means that kingdom will thrive; a deep orange-yellow glow promises extraordinary abundance in its fields.
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熒惑曰南方夏火,禮也,視也。 禮虧視失,逆夏令,傷火氣,罰見熒惑。 熒惑法使行無常,出則有兵,入則兵散。 以捨命國,為亂為賊,為疾為喪,為饑為兵,所居國受殃。 環繞鉤已,芒角動搖,變色,乍前乍後,乍左乍右,其為殃愈甚。 其南丈夫、北女子喪。 周旋止息,乃為死喪; 寇亂其野,亡地。 其失行而速,兵聚其下,順之戰勝。 又曰,熒惑主大鴻臚,主死喪,主司空。 又為司馬,主楚吳越以南; 又司天下群臣之過,司驕奢亡亂妖孽,主歲成敗。 又曰,熒惑不動,兵不戰,有誅將。 其出色赤怒,逆行成鉤已,戰凶,有圍軍; 鉤已,有芒角如鋒刃,人主無出宮,下有伏兵; 芒大則人眾怒。 又為理,外則理兵,內則理政,為天子之理也。 故曰,雖有明天子,必視熒惑所在。 其入守犯太微、軒轅、營室、房、心,主命惡之。
Mars is southern summer-fire; among virtues it is ritual; among the five faculties it is sight. When ritual breaks down and clear sight fails—summer’s mandate spurned and fire-phase qi wounded—the portent appears as Mars. Mars moves by no fixed rule: its appearance brings war; its disappearance disperses armies. From its lodge it pronounces fate—rebellion, robbery, plague, bereavement, famine, and arms—and the realm beneath it suffers. Looping paths, hook-shaped retrogrades, trembling rays, shifting hues, lurching ahead or astern, port or starboard—the worse its antics, the graver the disaster. South of its station men die; north of it, women. When it circles and halts, death follows; raiders ravage the countryside and territory is lost. Erratic swift motion masses soldiers below; whoever aligns with its vector wins the field. It also governs the Chief Herald, funerals, and the Minister of Works. As Marshal of State it oversees Chu, Wu, Yue, and all lands southward; it audits officials’ faults, pride, waste, ruin, chaos, and strange omens, and decrees whether the year brings triumph or collapse. When Mars stands still, armies clash nowhere—but a general faces execution. If it rises crimson and furious, loops backward in a hook, battle turns lethal and armies lay siege; hooks ending in blade-like rays forbid the ruler to leave the palace—ambush waits below; great beams mean popular fury. It is heaven’s magistrate: abroad it judges armies; at home it judges policy—the emperor’s arbiter. Hence even under a sage king one watches where Mars stands. Ingress, occupation, or trespass upon the Supreme Palace, Xuanyuan, Encampment, Room, or Heart bodes ill for the sovereign’s life.
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填星曰中央季夏土,信也,思心也。 仁義禮智,以信為主,貌言視德,以心為正,故四星皆失,填乃為之動。 動而盈,侯王不寧。 縮,有軍不復。 所居之宿,國吉,得地及女子,有福,不可伐; 去之,失地,若有女憂。 居宿久,國福厚; 易則薄。 失次而上二三宿曰盈,有主命不成,不乃大水。 失次而下曰縮,後戚,其歲不復,不乃天裂若地動。 一曰,填為黃帝之德,女主之象,主德厚安危存亡之機,司天下女主之過。 又曰,天子之星也。 天子失信,則填星大動。
Saturn is late-summer earth at the center; among virtues it is trust; among faculties it is centered thought. The four virtues hinge on good faith; bearing, words, sight, and inward power hinge on the heart—so when Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury all stray, Saturn stirs on their behalf. When it surges forward in swell, rulers cannot rest easy. When it shrinks back, armies march away and never come home. The mansion it occupies favors that kingdom—new lands, advantageous marriages, blessings; do not attack it; if it leaves, expect lost ground and women’s troubles. A long stay deepens a state’s good fortune; a quick shift thins it. Skipping ahead two or three mansions is ‘swelling’: the sovereign’s mandate founders—or vast floods follow. Dropping back is ‘fading’: the empress’s kin suffer, the year’s harvest never comes, or heaven seems to split and the earth shudders. Some say Saturn embodies the Yellow Emperor’s virtue and the empress: it holds the balance of security and ruin, and judges palace women’s conduct. Others call it the monarch’s own star. When the emperor breaks faith, Saturn shudders violently.
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太白曰西方秋金,義也,言也。 義虧言失,逆秋令,傷金氣,罰見太白。 太白進退以候兵,高埤遲速,靜躁見伏,用兵皆象之,吉。 其出西方,失行,夷狄敗; 出東方,失行,中國敗。 未盡期日,過參天,病其對國。 若經天,天下革,民更王,是謂亂紀,人眾流亡。 晝見,與日爭明,強國弱,小國強,女主昌。 又曰,太白主大臣,其號上公也,大司馬位謹候此。
Venus is western autumn-metal; it is righteousness and measured speech. Righteousness squandered and counsel twisted—autumn’s orders spurned, metal-phase qi injured—bring Venus as heaven’s reproof. Watch Venus’s motion for war: altitude, speed, calm or frenzy, visibility—all mirror campaign choices when read rightly. Erratic motion after western emergence defeats frontier peoples; after eastern emergence it destroys the heartland. If before its allotted span it crests Orion, the realm astride it falls ill with calamity. A sky-spanning Venus overturns dynasties, swaps rulers, unravels cosmic order, and sends masses fleeing. Daylight Venus rivaling the sun inverts power—empires ebb, minor states surge, and empresses rise. It commands chief ministers—styled Supreme Duke—and the Grand Marshal reads it with care.
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辰星曰北方冬水,智也,聽也。 智虧聽失,逆冬令,傷水氣,罰見辰星。 辰星見,則主刑,主廷尉,主燕趙,又為燕、趙、代以北; 宰相之象。 亦為殺伐之氣,戰鬥之象。 又曰,軍於野,辰星為偏將之象,無軍為刑事。 和陰陽,應效不效,其時不和。 出失其時,寒署失其節,邦當大饑。 當出不出,是謂擊卒,兵大起。 在於房心間,地動。 亦曰,辰星出入躁疾,常主夷狄。 又曰,蠻夷之星也,亦主刑法之得失。 色黃而小,地大動。 光明與月相逮,其國大水。
Mercury is northern winter-water; it stands for wisdom and keen hearing. When wisdom fails and judgment dulls—winter’s rule broken and water-phase qi hurt—Mercury appears as reproof. Mercury governs penal law and the Commandant of Justice, marks Yan, Zhao, and lands north beyond Dai; and symbolizes the chief counselor. It also carries killing qi and the augury of battle. In wartime it marks deputy commanders; in peace it signals criminal cases. When yin and yang fail to align and heaven’s responses misfire, the seasons turn discordant. Untimely appearance scrambles winter and summer—the realm faces famine. If it stays hidden when due, ‘striking the ranks’—major war erupts. Between the Room and Heart mansions it foretells earthquakes. Swift, jittery motion usually concerns frontier peoples. Some call it the star of outer tribes and the integrity of penal codes. A small yellow Mercury shakes the earth severely. Brightness rivaling the moon brings inundation to its kingdom.
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凡五星有色,大小不同,各依其行而順時應節。 色變有類,凡青皆比參左肩,赤比心大星,黃比參右肩,白比狼星,黑比奎大星。 不失本色而應其四時者,吉; 色害其行,凶。
The five planets vary in hue and size; each should move in step with the seasons. Colors fall into classes: green matches Betelgeuse, red Antares, yellow Bellatrix, white Sirius, black the brightest star in Legs. Keeping true tint through the four seasons is auspicious; when color clashes with motion, ill fortune follows.
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凡五星所出所行所直之辰,其國為得位。 得位者,歲星以德,熒惑有禮,填星有福,太白兵強,辰星陰陽和。 所行所直之辰,順其色而有角者勝,其色害者敗。 居實,有德也; 居虛,無德也。 色勝位,行勝色,行得盡勝之。 營室為清廟,歲星廟也。 心為明堂,熒惑廟也。 南斗為文太室,填星廟也。 亢為疏廟,太白廟也。 七星為員宮,辰星廟也。 五星行至其廟,謹候其命。
Whatever celestial seat the five planets occupy at emergence or station—that kingdom holds the advantage. A kingdom that holds the celestial seat finds Jupiter favoring virtue, Mars honoring ritual, Saturn granting fortune, Venus strengthening arms, and Mercury harmonizing yin and yang. At the lodge a planet crosses or strikes, victory goes to those whose aspect matches its hue and shows rays; defeat to those the color ill suits. Occupying a full lodge signals virtue; an empty lodge means virtue has fled. Color can outweigh station, motion can outweigh color, and perfect motion prevails over everything. The Encampment mansion is Jupiter’s ritual shrine. The Heart mansion is the Bright Hall where Mars is worshiped. The Southern Dipper is Saturn’s grand ceremonial chamber. The Neck constellation serves as Venus’s open shrine. The seven stars of the Dipper’s handle form Mercury’s round palace. Watch closely each planet’s oracle when it enters its tutelary mansion.
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凡五星盈縮失位,其精降于地為人。 歲星降為貴臣; 熒惑降為童兒,歌謠嬉戲; 填星降為老人婦女; 太白降為壯夫,處於林麓; 辰星降為婦人。 吉凶之應,隨其象告。
When the five wanderers slip their stations, their essences may fall to earth in human form. Jupiter’s fall becomes eminent ministers; Mars becomes children singing and at play; Saturn becomes aged men and women; Venus becomes brawny men in woods and glens; Mercury becomes women. Good or ill omens follow the shapes heaven sends.
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凡五星,木與土合,為內亂,饑; 與水合,為變謀而更事; 與火合,為饑,為旱; 與金合,為白衣之會,合鬥,國有內亂,野有破軍,為水。 太白在南,歲星在北,名曰牝牡,年穀大熟。 太白在北,歲星在南,年或有或無。 火與金合,為爍,為喪,不可舉事用兵。 從軍,為軍憂; 離之,軍卻。 出太白陰,分宅; 出其陽,偏將戰。 與土合,為憂,主孽卿。 與水合,為北軍,用兵舉事大敗。 一曰,火與水合,為焠,不可舉事用兵。 土與水合,為壅沮,不可舉事用兵,有覆軍下師。 一曰,為變謀更事,必為旱。 與金合,為疾,為白衣會,為內兵,國亡地。 與木合,國饑。 水與金合,為變謀,為兵憂。 入太白中而上出,破軍殺將,客勝; 下出,客亡地。 視旗所指,以命破軍。 環繞太白,若與鬥,大戰,客勝。 凡木、火、土、金與水鬥,皆為戰。 兵不在外,皆為內亂。 凡同舍為合,相陵為鬥。 二星相近,其殃大; 相遠,毋傷,七寸以內必之。
When Jupiter meets Saturn, expect civil strife and famine; with Mercury, plots twist and policies reverse; with Mars come drought and empty granaries; with Venus come mourning gatherings, joined battle, rebellion within, shattered hosts without, and floodlike ruin. Venus south and Jupiter north form the yin-yang pairing and promise bumper harvests. Venus north and Jupiter south make harvests unreliable. Mars joined with Venus flashes fire and grief—suspend campaigns and arms. Armies that march with them face calamity; breaking away brings retreat. Emerging on Venus’s dark flank splits households; on the bright flank, lieutenant generals clash. Joined with Saturn comes peril and doomed ministers. With Mercury it signals northern hosts and crushing defeat for any campaign. Another tradition: Mars with Mercury means hard tempering—no mobilization. Saturn with Mercury clogs and dams action—armies sink and hosts founder. Some read it as intrigue and policy shifts ending in drought. With Venus come plague, mourning dress, civil arms, and lost territory. With Jupiter the realm starves. Mercury with Venus breeds shifting plots and military anxiety. Entering Venus and bursting upward shatters armies and beheads generals—the invader wins; exiting downward strips the guest of land. Read the pennant’s aim to know how the army will break. Circling Venus as if in combat means pitched battle and victory for the challenger. Whenever wood, fire, earth, or metal contends with water, war follows. If no army faces outward, strife stirs within. Sharing a lodge is conjunction; crowding one another is combat. Two bodies drawn tight spell greater disaster; far apart, little harm—within seven cun the omen bites.
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凡月蝕五星,其國皆亡。 歲以饑,熒惑以亂,填以殺,太白以強國戰,辰以女亂。
Whenever the moon occults a planet, that kingdom is doomed. Jupiter brings famine, Mars rebellion, Saturn executions, Venus wars among great powers, Mercury turmoil stirred by women.
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凡五星入月,歲,其野有逐相; 太白,將僇。
When a planet slips behind the moon, Jupiter means a dismissed chief minister; Venus means a general put to death.
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凡五星所聚,其國王,天下從。 歲以義從,熒惑以禮從,填以重從,太白以兵從,辰以法從,各以其事致天下也。 三星若合,是謂驚立絕行,其國外內有兵與喪,百姓饑乏,改立侯王。 四星若合,是謂大陽,其國兵喪並起,君子憂,小人流。 五星若合,是謂易行,有德承慶,改立王者,奄有四方,子孫蕃昌; 亡德受殃,離其國家,滅其宗廟,百姓離去,被滿四方。 五星皆大,其事亦大; 皆小,事亦小。
Where all five cluster, that land becomes hegemon and the world submits. The gathered planets sway the age—Jupiter by righteousness, Mars by ritual, Saturn by gravitas, Venus by arms, Mercury by law—each shaping the empire in its own way. Three bodies joining mean alarm: armies clash within and without, mourners fill the roads, the people starve, and feudal lords are replaced. Four together form the ‘great yang’ pattern—war and mourning together, nobles in dread, commoners adrift. All five united signal changing fortunes: virtue earns blessing, dynasts rise to rule all quarters, and descendants flourish; without virtue comes calamity—throne lost, shrines razed, people scattered to the four winds. Brilliant planets foretell great events; dim ones, lesser omens.
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凡五星色,皆圜,白為喪,為旱; 赤中不平,為兵; 青為憂,為水; 黑為疾疫,為多死; 黃為吉。 皆角,赤,犯我城; 黃,地之爭; 白,哭泣聲; 青,有兵憂; 黑,有水。 五星同色,天下偃兵,百姓安寧,歌舞以行,不見災疾,五穀蕃昌。
Round haloes on the five planets: white means mourning and drought; red cores that flicker unevenly mean war; azure brings anxiety and flood; black signals plague and mass death; yellow is auspicious. Red rays assault our ramparts; yellow marks quarrels over territory; white carries the sound of lament; green warns of arms; black brings inundation. When all five share one hue, weapons rest, people rejoice in song and dance, pestilence stays away, and grain overflows the bins.
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凡五星,歲,政緩則不行,急則過分,逆則占。 熒惑,緩則不出,急則不入,違道則占。 填,緩則不還,急則過舍,逆則占。 太白,緩則不出,急則不入,逆則占。 辰,緩則不出,急則不入,非時則占。 五星不失行,則年谷豐昌。
For Jupiter, lax rule stalls motion, harsh rule overshoots, retrograde motion demands divination. Mars tardy never rises; rushed, never sets; deviate from course and read the omen. Saturn slow fails to return; swift, overshoots its lodge; contrary motion calls for judgment. Venus likewise: sluggish rise, hasty failure to set, retrograde—each requires reading. Mercury: slow to appear, swift to vanish, untimely—interpret each case. When every wanderer keeps its course, harvests thrive.
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凡五星分天之中,積於東方,中國利; 積於西方,外國用兵者利。 辰星不出,太白為客; 其出,太白為主。 出而與太白不相從,及各出一方,為格,野雖有軍,不戰。
When the five cluster east of celestial midline, the heartland profits; massed westward, border powers gain by arms. If Mercury stays hidden, Venus acts as invader; when it appears, Venus defends as lord of the field. If they rise out of step or from opposite quarters, they ‘counter’ one another—troops may mass yet never clash.
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凡五星見伏、留行、逆順、遲速應曆度者,為得其行,政合于常; 違曆錯度,而失路盈縮者,為亂行。 亂行則為天矢彗孛,而有亡國革政,兵饑喪亂之禍雲。
Appearance, disappearance, station, direct or retrograde motion matching the calendar means orderly rule; deviating from computed degrees is ‘disordered motion.’ Erratic paths breed meteors, comets, and broom stars—fallen dynasties, coups, war, famine, and plague follow.
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○雜星氣
Miscellaneous Stars and Atmospheric Omens
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圖緯舊說,及漢末劉表為荊州牧,命武陵太守劉睿集天文眾占,名《荊州占》。 其雜星之體,有瑞星,有妖星,有客星,有流星,有瑞氣,有妖氣,有日月傍氣,皆略其名狀,舉其占驗,次之於此雲。
Older chart-and-weft traditions survive; at the end of Han, Governor Liu Biao ordered Prefect Liu Rui of Wuling to compile astrological readings into the Jingzhou Prognostications. Those texts catalog auspicious stars, baleful stars, guest stars, meteors, lucky and unlucky vapors, and solar-lunar halos; here we sketch their forms and record how they were read.
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○瑞星
Auspicious Stars
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一曰景星,如半月,生於晦朔,助月為明。 或曰,星大而中空。 或曰,有三星,在赤方氣,與青方氣相連,黃星在赤方氣中,亦名德星。
The first is the ‘spectral star,’ shaped like a half-moon at new moon, lending the moon extra light. Some describe it as a large star hollow at its core. Others speak of three stars amid red and green qi with a yellow star embedded—also named the Virtue Star.
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二曰周伯星,黃色,煌煌然,所見之國大昌。
Second is Zhou Bo’s star—golden and blazing—under which whichever kingdom lies thrives.
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三曰含譽,光耀似慧,喜則含譽射。
Third is ‘Gathered Praise,’ shining like a comet; in times of joy it shoots forth.
27
四曰格澤,如炎火,下大上銳,色黃白,起地而上。 見則不種而獲,有土功,有大客。
Fourth is Geze—like leaping flame, broad below and sharp above, pale gold, mounting from the horizon. Its appearance promises harvest without sowing, great public works, and eminent visitors.
28
○妖星
Baleful Stars
29
一曰彗星,所謂掃星。 本類星,末類彗,小者數寸,長或竟天。 見則兵起,大水。 主掃除,除舊佈新。 有五色,各依五行本精所主。 史臣案,彗體無光,傅日而為光,故夕見則東指,晨見則西指。 在日南北,皆隨日光而指。 頓挫其芒,或長或短,光芒所及則為災。
The first is the comet—the ‘sweeping star.’ Its head looks stellar, its tail like a broom—tiny ones span inches, great ones sweep the whole sky. When it appears, war follows and floods rage. It sweeps away the old to clear space for the new. Its five colors align with the ruling forces of the five phases. The historians note that a comet is dark until sunlight strikes it—at dusk its tail points east, at dawn west. North or south of the solar disk, the tail always points away from the sun. When the beam stutters, long or short, disaster follows the glow.
30
二曰孛星,彗之屬也。 偏指曰彗,芒氣四出曰孛。 孛者,孛孛然非常,惡氣之所生也。 內不有大亂,則外有大兵,天下合謀,暗蔽不明,有所傷害。 晏子曰:「君若不改,孛星將出,彗星何懼乎!」 由是言之,災甚於彗。
The second type is the “bushy” star, a cometary form. A single slanted tail is a comet; bristling on every side is bushy. “Bushy” implies bristling chaos bred by foul vapors. Without civil turmoil come foreign hosts; the realm conspires in shadow until harm strikes. Yan Ying warned: “Unless you mend your ways, the bushy star will appear—then comets will be the least of your worries.” Thus the bushy star portends worse than an ordinary comet.
31
三曰天棓,一名覺星。 本類星,末銳,長四丈。 或出東北方西方,主奮爭。
Third is the celestial cudgel, also called the Awakening Star. It appears stellar at the head and needle-sharp at the tip, about forty yards long. Rising in northeast or west, it marks violent struggle.
32
四曰天槍。 其出,不過三月,必有破國亂君,伏死其辜。 殃之不盡,當為旱饑暴疾。
Fourth is the celestial lance. Within three months expect a fallen kingdom and a guilty ruler dead in hiding. If the curse lingers, drought, starvation, and plague ensue.
33
五曰天欃。 石氏曰,雲如牛狀。 甘氏,本類星,末銳。 巫咸曰,彗星出西方,長可三丈,主捕制。
Fifth is the celestial spear-shaft. Shi Shen describes a cloud shaped like an ox. Gan De says the nucleus is stellar and the tip tapers. Wu Xian records a western comet three zhang long auguring seizure and control.
34
六曰蚩尤旗,類彗而後曲,象旗。 或曰,赤雲獨見。 或曰,其色黃上白下。 或曰,若植雚而長,名曰蚩尤之旗。 或曰,如箕,可長二丈,末有星。 主伐枉逆,主惑亂,所見之方下有兵,兵大起; 不然,有喪。
Sixth is Chiyou’s banner—comet-like but hooked like a curling standard. Some report an isolated crimson cloud. Others describe yellow aloft and pale beneath. Another likens it to a tall reed—the same “Chiyou banner.” Some compare it to a dustpan two zhang long ending in a star. It punishes sedition and confusion; beneath its quarter armies surge; otherwise mourning follows.
35
七曰天沖,出如人,蒼衣赤頭,不動。 見則臣謀主,武卒發,天子亡。
Seventh is the sky-strider: a motionless figure in azure robes with a crimson head. Its sight brings ministerial plots, mobilized troops, and the emperor’s doom.
36
八曰國皇,大而赤,類南極老人星。 或曰,去地一二丈,如炬火,主內寇內難。 或曰,其下起兵,兵強。 或曰,外內有兵喪。
Eighth is the State Glory—great and red, resembling Canopus. Some place it one or two zhang high like a bonfire, auguring civil brigandage. Others say armies rise beneath it in strength. Still others read war and mourning both within and without.
37
九曰昭明,象如太白,光芒,不行。 或曰,大而白,無角,乍上乍下。 一曰,赤彗分為昭明,昭明滅光,以為起霸起德之征,所起國兵多變。 一曰,大人凶,兵大起。
Ninth is Radiant Brightness—Venus-like brilliance that hangs still. Some describe a hornless white globe bobbing up and down. One tradition splits a red comet into Radiant Brightness; its fading light signals new hegemons and shifting hosts. Another warns that magnates fall and armies march.
38
十曰司危,如太白,有目。 或曰,出正西,西方之野星,去地可六丈,大而白。 或曰,大而有毛,兩角。 或曰,類太白,數動,察之而赤,為乖爭之征,主擊強兵。 見則主失法,豪傑起,天子以不義失國,有聲之臣行主德。
Tenth is the Overseer of Peril—Venus-like but eyed. Some fix it due west, six zhang high, huge and pale. Others note fur and twin horns. Observers liken it to restless Venus; seen clearly it turns red—a portent of mutiny against hardened troops. Its appearance means collapsed justice, heroes rising, unjust rulers overthrown, and famed ministers embodying virtue.
39
十一曰天讒,彗出西北,狀如劍,長四五丈。 或曰,如鉤,長四丈。 或曰,狀白小,數動,主殺罰。 出則其國內亂,其下相讒,為饑兵,赤地千里,枯骨藉藉。
Eleventh is celestial calumny—a northwest comet like a four- or five-zhang sword. Some shape it as a hook four zhang long. Others describe a small pale jittering star marking executions. Emergence brings civil feuding, famine and war, scorched lands for leagues, and whitening bones.
40
十二曰五殘,一名五鏠,出正東,東方之星。 狀類辰,可去地六七丈。 或曰,蒼彗散為五殘,如辰星,出角。 或曰,星表有氣如暈,有毛。 或曰,大而赤,數動,察之而青。 主乖亡; 為五分,毀敗之征,亦為備急兵。 見則主誅,政在伯,野亂成,有急兵,有喪,不利沖。
Twelfth is Five Ruins, alias Five Blades, rising due east. It looks like Mercury some sixty or seventy feet high. Some trace it to a cerulean comet bursting from the Horn like Mercury. Others note a halo of gossamer around it. Some report a large red flickering body that turns blue on scrutiny. It marks rebel ruin; split five ways it augurs collapse and emergency mobilization. Its sight brings regicide, baronial rule, countryside chaos, sudden war, mourning—ill for frontal assault.
41
十三曰六賊,見出正南,南方之星。 去地可六丈,大而赤,動有光。 或曰,形如彗,五殘、六賊出,禍合天下,逆侵關樞; 其下有兵,沖不利。
Thirteen is Six Bandits, appearing due south. Roughly sixty feet up—great, red, and pulsing with light. Some liken it to a comet; when Five Ruins and Six Bandits appear together, catastrophe grips the pivot; war gathers beneath—ill for meeting the foe head-on.
42
十四曰獄漢,一名咸漢,出正北,北方之野星,去地可六丈,大而赤,數動,察之中青。 或曰,赤表,下有三彗從橫。 主遂王,主刺王。 出則陰精橫,兵起其下。 又為喪,動則諸侯驚。
Fourteenth is Prison Han, alias Total Han—northern field star six zhang high, huge and red, turning blue when studied. Some describe a red veil with three crossing tails beneath. It hunts kings and strikes them down. Emergence throws yin forces into turmoil and raises armies below. It also augurs mourning; motion alarms every prince.
43
十五曰旬始,出北斗旁,如雄雞。 其怒,有青黑,象伏鱉。 或曰,怒,雌也,主爭兵。 又曰,黃彗分為旬始,為立主之題,主亂,主招橫。 見則臣亂兵作,諸侯虐,期十年,聖人起伐,群猾橫恣。 或曰,出則諸侯雄鳴。
Fifteenth is Ten-Day Inception beside the Dipper—shaped like a cock. Wrathful, it shows blue-black like a turtle shell. Some read wrath as feminine—presiding over warfare. Others split a yellow comet into Ten-Day Inception—the omen of enthronements, turmoil, and summoned disaster. It brings ministerial revolt, cruel lords, a decade of crisis, sages rising to chastise, and rogues running wild. Some say border lords strut like crowing roosters.
44
十六曰天鋒,彗象矛鋒。 天下從橫,則天鋒星見。
Sixteenth is the sky spear-point—a comet shaped like a lance tip. When the realm churns in turmoil, the sky-edge star shines.
45
十七曰燭星,如太白。 其出也不行,見則不久而滅。 或曰,主星上有三彗上出,所出城邑亂,有大盜不成,又以五色占。
Seventeenth is the candle star—like Venus. It does not drift; when seen it quickly fades. Some report three tails above the ruler star—chaos in those districts, thwarted brigandage, with five-color readings.
46
十八曰蓬星,大如二斗器,色白,一名王星。 狀如夜火之光,多至四五,少一二。 一曰,蓬星在西南,長數丈,左右兌。 出而易處。 星見,不出三年,有亂臣戮死。 又曰,所出大水大旱,五穀不收,人相食。
Eighteenth is the fleecy star—white as two dou measures—also called the King Star. Like campfires at night—often four or five, sometimes only one or two. One places it southwest several zhang long, flanked by the Dui quarter. It appears and changes station. Within three years of its sight, traitorous ministers die by the blade. Others read vast flood or drought, crop failure, and cannibalism.
47
十九曰長庚,如一匹布著天。 見則兵起。
Nineteenth is long Venus—a bolt of silk across the sky. Its sight brings war.
48
二十曰四填,星出四隅,去地六丈餘,或曰可四丈。 或曰,星大而赤,去地二丈,常以夜半時出。 見,十月而兵起,皆為兵起其下。
Twentieth is Four Pillars—corner stars six zhang up, some say four. Some describe a huge red globe two zhang high appearing at midnight. War follows within ten months wherever it stands.
49
二十一曰地維藏光,出四隅。 或曰,大而赤,去地二三丈,如月始出。 見則下有亂,亂者亡,有德者昌。
Twenty-first is earth-warp hidden radiance at the corners. Some paint it large and red two or three zhang high like a new moon. It marks rebellion below; rebels fall and the worthy thrive.
50
《河圖》云:
The Hetu states:
51
歲星之精,流為天棓、天槍、天猾、天沖、國皇、反登、蒼彗。
Jupiter’s essence becomes the club, spear, trickster, collision, State Glory, Fan Deng, and cerulean comets.
52
熒惑散為昭旦、蚩尤之旗、昭明、司危、天欃、赤彗。
Mars breaks into bright dawn, Chiyou’s banner, Radiant Brightness, Overseer of Peril, spear-shaft, and red comets.
53
填星散為五殘、獄漢、大賁、昭星、絀流、旬始、蚩尤、虹蜺、擊咎、黃彗。
Saturn scatters into Five Ruins, Prison Han, Great Ben, shining star, Chu flow, Ten-Day Inception, Chiyou, rainbows, strike-omen, and yellow comets.
54
太白散為天杵、天柎、伏靈、大敗、司奸、天狗、天殘、卒起、白彗。
Venus fragments into pestle, prop, hidden spirit, rout, traitory overseer, sky dog, sky cripple, sudden flare, and white comets.
55
辰星散為枉矢、破女、拂樞、滅寶、繞綎、驚理、大奮祀、黑彗。
Mercury splits into bent arrow, breaker woman, brushing pivot, ruin treasure, circling girdle, startling justice, great rite, and black comets.
56
五色之彗,各有長短,曲折應象。
Five-colored comets vary in length; their twists match omens.
57
漢京房著《風角書》有《集星章》,所載妖星皆見於月旁,互有五色方雲,以五寅日見,各有五星所生云:
Han scholar Jing Fang’s Wind-Apex text lists prodigies beside the moon with five-colored clouds on the five yín stem-days—each tied to a planet:
58
天槍、天根、天荊、真若、天榬,天樓、天垣,皆歲星所生也。 見以甲寅,其星咸有兩青方在其旁。
Spear, root, thorns, True Ruo, garden, tower, wall—all Jupiter’s spawn. They appear on jiayin with paired green squares alongside.
59
天陰、晉若、官張、天惑、天崔、赤若、蚩尤,皆熒惑之所生也。 出在丙寅日,有兩赤方在其旁。
Shade, Jin Ruo, official stretch, delusion, precipice, Red Ruo, Chiyou—all Mars-born. They rise on bingyin flanked by crimson squares.
60
天上、天伐、從星、天樞、天翟、天沸、荊彗,皆填星所生也。 出在戊寅日,有兩黃方在其旁。
Above, strike, follower, pivot, pheasant, boil, Jing comet—all Saturn’s issue. It appears on the fifth stem-day wùyín, flanked by yellow squares.
61
若星、帚星、若彗、竹彗、牆星、榬星、白雚,皆太白之所生也。 出在庚寅日,有兩白方在共旁。
Brush stars, wall stars, garden stars, white reed—all Venus-born prodigies. On gēngyín it rises with paired white squares at its side.
62
天美、天欃、天杜、天麻、天林、天蒿、端下,皆辰星之所生也。 出以壬寅日,有兩黑方在其旁。
Beauty, lance, cork-tree, hemp, forest, mugwort, duan-xia—all Mercury’s offspring. On rényín it shows twin black squares beside it.
63
已前三十五星,即五行氣所生,皆出於月左右方氣之中,各以其所生星將出不出日數期候之。 當其未出之前而見,見則有水旱,兵喪,饑亂; 所指亡國,失地,王死,破軍,殺將。
Those thirty-five stars, effusions of the five phases, issue from the clouds flanking the moon; each is watched for the day its parent star should appear. A premature sighting brings flood or drought, war, bereavement, and turmoil; its vector marks fallen kingdoms, lost soil, regicide, routed hosts, and slain generals.
64
○客星
Guest Stars
65
張衡曰:「老子四星及周伯、王蓬絮、芮各一,錯乎五緯之間。 其見無期。 其行無度」。 《荊州》占云:「老子星色淳白,然所見之國,為饑為凶,為善為惡,為喜為怒。 周伯星黃色煌煌,所至之國大昌。 蓬絮星色青而熒熒然,所至之國風雨不節,焦旱,物不生,五穀不登,多蝗蟲。」 又云:「東南有三星出,名曰盜星,出則人下有大盜。 西南有三星出,名曰種陵,出則天下穀貴十倍。 西北三大星出而白,名曰天狗,出則人相食,大凶。 東北有三大星出,名曰女帛,見則有大喪。」
Zhang Heng wrote: “The four Laozi stars, Zhou Bo, Wang’s fleecy star, and Rui each wander among the five wanderers. None keeps a regular season. None follows a fixed path.” The Jingzhou text says: “The Laozi star is pure white; in the state beneath it one reads famine, ill luck, good or evil, joy or anger. Zhou Bo shines golden and splendid—the realm it visits thrives. The fleecy Pengxu glows green: rains fail, drought scorches fields, nothing sprouts, grain fails, locusts swarm.” It adds: “Three stars in the southeast are Bandits—great outlawry stirs below. Three in the southwest are Grain-Mound—grain prices soar tenfold. Three white giants in the northwest are Sky Dog—cannibal famine follows. Three in the northeast are Women’s Silk—great mourning.”
66
○流星
Shooting Stars
67
流星,天使也。 自上而降曰流,自下而升曰飛。 大者曰奔,奔亦流星也。 星大者使大,星小者使小。 聲隆隆者,怒之象也。 行疾者期速,行遲者期遲。 大而無光者。 眾人之事; 小而有光者,貴人之事; 大而光者,其人貴且眾也。 乍明乍滅者,賊敗成也。 前大後小者,恐憂也; 前小後大者,喜事也。 蛇行者,奸事也; 往疾者,往而不反也。 長者,其事長久也; 短者,事疾也。 奔星所墜,其下有兵。 無風雲,有流星見,良久間乃入,為大風,髮屋折木。 小流星百數四面行者,眾庶流移之象。
Meteors are heaven’s messengers. Downward streaks are “flows”; upward sparks are “flies.” Great strokes are bolides—still meteors. Large messengers mean great business; small ones, petty business. A rumbling trail signals wrath. Quick paths bring quick ends; slow arches delay them. A large dark meteor concerns the common people; a small bright one touches nobles; large and luminous—many nobles are involved. Flashing on and off means robbers lose then win. Large ahead and small behind—dread; small ahead and large behind—joy. Serpentine tracks mean intrigue; swift departure never returns. Long arcs mean long crises; short bursts end quickly. Where a bolide strikes, armies gather. On a clear night a lingering meteor heralds gales that rip roofs and snap trees. Scores of little streaks racing outward augur mass migration.
68
流星之類,有音如炬火下地,野雉鳴,天保也; 所墜國安,有喜。 若小流星色青赤,名曰地雁,其所墜者起兵。 流星有光青赤,長二三丈,名曰天雁,軍中之精華也; 其國起兵,將軍當從星所之。 流星暉然有光,光白,長竟天者,人主之星也; 主相、將軍從星所之。
Some meteors boom like brands striking soil while pheasants call—a blessing; the struck land stays calm and joyful. A cyan-red spark named Earth Goose mobilizes troops below. A crimson-cyan trail two or three zhang long is Sky Goose—the army’s finest energy; that kingdom raises arms and the general should march toward its landing. A white blaze spanning the sky is the sovereign’s star; chancellor and marshal follow its bearing.
69
飛星大如缶若甕,後皎然白,前卑後高,此謂頓頑,其所從者多死亡。 飛星大如缶若甕,後然皎白,星滅後,白者曲環如車輪,此謂解銜,其國人相斬為爵祿。 飛星大如缶若甕,其後皎然白,長數丈,星滅後,白者化為雲流下,名曰大滑,所下有流血積骨。
A jar-sized flyer, pale aft and tilted low fore and high aft, is “stubborn stumble”—many who pursue it die. Jar-sized, pale behind—after it vanishes rings of white coil like wheels—“bit slipped”: rivals butcher each other for titles. Another jar-sized bolt leaves white vapor pouring earthward—“great slip”: rivers of blood and mountains of bone below.
70
枉矢,類流星,色蒼黑,蛇行,望之如有毛,目長數匹,著天,主反萌,主射愚。 見則謀反之兵合射所誅,亦為以亂伐亂。
The crooked arrow: meteor-like, bluish-black, serpentine, fringed, yards of tail—auguring mutiny and punishing fools. It gathers rebel spears at the point of execution—using chaos to quell chaos.
71
天狗,狀如大奔星,色黃,有聲,其止地,類狗。 所墜,望之如火光,炎炎沖天,其上銳,其下員,如數頃田處。 或曰,星有毛,旁有短彗,下有狗形者。 或曰,星出,其狀赤白有光,下即為天狗。 一曰,流星有光,見人面,墜無音,若有足者,名曰天狗。 其色白,其中黃,黃如遺火狀。 主候兵討賊。 見則四方相射,千里破軍殺將。 或曰,五將鬥,人相食,所往之鄉有流血。 其君失地,兵大起,國易政,戒守禦。
Sky Dog looks like a giant bolide—yellow, roaring—and where it lands resembles a hound. Its impact glows like flame—sharp above, round below—like a tract of burning farmland. Some describe fur, a stub tail, and a canine footprint. Others say any red-white meteor touching earth becomes Sky Dog. Another: luminous meteor with a human visage, silent landing, feet-like trail—that is Sky Dog. White outside, yellow within—like dying embers. It signals punitive expeditions against rebels. Where it appears crossbows trade volleys for leagues—armies broken, generals slain. Some read five marshals at odds, cannibalism, and blood along its path. The ruler forfeits land, war erupts, regimes turn over—fortify every pass.
72
營頭,有雲如壞山墮,所謂營頭之星,所墮,其下覆軍,流血千里。 亦曰流星晝隕名營頭。
“Camp crest”: cloud like a shattered peak—where it crashes armies perish and blood floods a thousand li. Daytime meteor falls are also called camp crest.
73
○雲氣
Cloud Omens
74
瑞氣:一曰慶雲。 若煙非煙,若雲非雲,鬱鬱紛紛,蕭索輪困,是謂慶雲,亦曰景雲。 此喜氣也,太平之應。 二曰歸邪。 如星非星,如云非雲。 或曰,星有兩赤彗向上,有蓋,下連星。 見,必有歸國者。 三曰昌光,赤,如龍狀,聖人起,帝受終,則見。
Lucky vapors: first, the celebration cloud. Neither mist nor cloud yet both—lush, billowy, curling rings—the auspicious “celebration” or spectral cloud. It is joy-inspiring vapor—the sign of universal peace. Second is “returning prodigy.” Neither stellar nor nebulous— some describe twin red tails capped above and anchored to a star below. Its sight means exiles return home. Third is blazing glory—red dragon-form—seen when sages rise and sovereigns receive Heaven’s charge.
75
妖氣:一曰虹蜺,日旁氣也,鬥之亂精。 主惑心,主內淫,主臣謀君,天子詘,后妃顓,妻不一。 二曰雲,如狗,赤色,長尾; 為亂君,為兵喪。
Baleful vapors: first, solar rainbows—the duel’s corrupt gleam. They confuse hearts, breed palace lust, spur ministerial plots, humble the throne, empower consorts, and divide households. Second is the noxious cloud—dog-shaped, red, long-tailed; it marks tyrants and martial mourning.
76
○十煇
The Ten Halo Types
77
《周禮》眡昆氏掌十煇之法,以觀妖祥,辨吉凶。 一曰昆,謂陰陽五色之氣,浸淫相侵。 或曰,抱珥背璚之屬,如虹而短是也。 二曰象,謂雲氣成形,象如赤烏,夾日以飛之類是也。 三曰觿日傍氣,刺日,形如童子所佩之觿。 四曰監,謂雲氣臨在日上也。 五曰闇,謂日月蝕,或曰脫光也。 六曰瞢,謂瞢瞢不光明也。 七曰彌,謂白虹彌天而貫日也。 八曰序,謂氣若山而在日上。 或曰,冠珥背璚,重疊次序,在於日旁也。 九曰隮,謂暈氣也。 或曰,虹也,《詩》所謂「朝隮於西」者也。 十曰想,謂氣五色有形想也,青饑,赤兵,白喪,黑憂,黃熟。 或曰,想,思也,赤氣為人狩之形,可思而知其吉凶也。
The Rites assign the Kun observers ten halo patterns to read omens and sort fortune from doom. First, “infusion”: five-colored yin-yang mist soaking together. Some count arcs, earrings, and counter-glows—short rainbows fall here. Second, “likeness”: vapors shaped like red crows flanking the sun. Third, “picker”: side vapor piercing the sun like a boy’s jade earpick. Fourth, “overshadow”: mist resting on the disk. Fifth, “eclipse”: lunar-solar occultation—some say stolen light. Sixth, “murk”: hazy, dull radiance. Seventh, “span”: pale arc bridging sky through the sun. Eighth, “peak”: vapor like a summit astride the sun. Some bundle crowns, arcs, and layered rings flanking the orb. Ninth, “stair”: solar halo rings. Some identify it with the rainbow—“morning stair westward” in the Songs. Tenth, “semblance”: colored shapes—green hunger, red war, white death, black grief, yellow plenty. Some gloss semblance as meditation—red forms like huntsmen whose meaning you ponder.
78
凡遊氣蔽天,日月失色,皆是風雨之候也,沈陰,日月俱無光,晝不見日,夜不見星,有雲障之,兩敵相當,陰相圖議也。 日濛濛無光,士卒內亂。 又曰,數日俱出,若鬥,天下兵起,大戰。 日鬥,下有拔城。 日戴者,形如直狀,其上微起,在日上為戴。 戴者,德也,國有喜也。 一雲,立日上為戴。 青赤氣抱在日上,小者為冠,國有喜事。 青赤氣小而交於日下為纓,青赤氣小而員,一二在日下左右者為紐。 青赤氣如小半暈狀,在日上為負,負者得地為喜。 又曰,青赤氣長斜倚日旁為戟。 青赤氣員而小,在日左右為珥,黃白者有喜。 又曰,有軍,日有一珥為喜。 在日西。 西軍戰勝。 在日東,東軍戰勝。 南北亦如之。 無軍而珥,為拜將。 又日旁如半環向日為抱。 青赤氣如月初生,背日者為背,又曰,背氣青赤而曲,外向為叛象,分為反城。 璚者如帶,璚在日四方。 青赤氣長而立日旁為直,日旁有一直,敵在一旁欲自立,從直所擊者勝。 日旁有二直三抱,欲自立者不成,順抱擊者勝,殺將。 氣形三角,在日西方為提,青赤氣橫在日上下為格。 氣如半暈,在日下為承。 承者,臣承君也。 又曰,日下有黃氣三重若抱,名曰承福,人主有吉喜,且得地。 青白氣如履,在日下者為履。 日旁抱五重,戰順抱者勝。 日一抱一背,為破走。 抱者,順氣也; 背者,逆氣也。 兩軍相當,順抱擊逆者勝,故曰破走。 日抱且兩珥,一虹貫抱至日,順虹擊者勝,殺將。 日抱兩珥且璚,二虹貫抱至日,順虹擊者勝。 日重抱,內有璚,順抱擊者勝。 亦曰,軍內有欲反者。 日重抱,左右二珥,有白虹貫抱,順抱擊勝,得二將。 有三虹,得三將。 日抱黃白潤澤,內赤外青,天子有喜,有和親來降者; 軍不戰,敵降,軍罷。 色青黃,將喜; 赤,將兵爭,白,將有喪,黑,將死。 日重抱且背,順抱擊者勝,得地,若有罷師。 日重抱,抱內外有璚,兩珥,順抱擊者勝,破軍,軍中不和,不相信。 日旁有氣,員而周匝,內赤外青,名為暈。 日暈者,軍營之象。 周環匝日,無厚薄,敵與軍勢齊等。 若無軍在外,天子失禦,民多叛。 日暈有五色,有喜; 不得五色者有憂。
Drifting mist that dims both luminaries foretells storms; prolonged dusk with neither sun nor stars means clouds trap light—two armies stalk in shadow. A murky sun means mutiny in the ranks. Several suns brawling herald empire-wide war. When suns clash, cities fall below. “Cap” looks like a vertical shaft with a knob atop the solar disk. A cap means accrued virtue and celebration in the realm. Another tradition: any upright cloud perched on the sun counts as a cap. Greenish-red vapor cupping the sun in a small “cap” brings celebration to the realm. Tiny arcs crossing beneath the disk are “tassels”; pea-sized rounds flanking it are “buttons.” A rooftop parasol of russet-green atop the sun is a “parasol”; whoever gains ground rejoices. Some call a long slanting russet band beside the sun a “halberd.” Small round russet ears dangling left or right are “earrings”; pale gold ones augur glad news. During campaigns a single earring on the disk is auspicious. When it sits west of the sun the western host wins. East of the orb, the eastern army prevails. South and north follow the same rule. If no war is brewing, earrings mean a general’s promotion. A semicircle hugging the solar face is an “embrace.” Crescent russet turned away from the sun is “counter-glow”; outward-curving red-green arcs signal revolt and besieged towns. Jeweled arcs ring the orb like girdles on every side. Vertical russet pillars: one rival seeks autonomy—attack along the upright wins. Two uprights with triple embraces block self-rule; strike along the embrace and kill the commander. Triangles west of the sun are “lifting”; horizontal bands top and bottom are “blocking.” A half-ring beneath the disk is “bearing.” “Bearing” shows ministers supporting the throne. Triple yellow layers beneath like cushions—“bearing blessing”: the ruler gains joy and territory. Pale boots under the sun mean “treading.” Five stacked embraces: victory goes to whoever aligns with the cushion. One embrace versus one counter-glow means shattered retreat. Embrace is favorable vapor; counter-glow is hostile vapor. When hosts face off, attack down the embrace against the counter-glow—“routed flight.” Embrace plus twin earrings pierced by one rainbow: ride the rainbow’s vector to victory and slay the general. Add straight stones and twin rainbows—still strike with the rainbow’s path. Double cushion with inner arcs: the embrace-aligned side wins. Some read mutiny brewing inside the camp. Twin earrings with white rainbow through the embrace yields two captured commanders. Three rainbows net three generals. A glossy yellow-white embrace, red within and green without, brings imperial gladness and surrendering allies; troops stand down and foes capitulate. Yellow-green tints delight commanders; red spells quarrel among officers, white mourning, black death. Double embrace plus counter-glow: embrace-side wins ground or forces demobilize. Double embrace with arcs inside and out plus earrings means victory but mutinous, mistrustful ranks. A round collar red inside, green outside is the solar halo. The halo pictures an encampment. Even thickness shows evenly matched foes. No hostile army without means the emperor loses grip and subjects rebel. Five-colored haloes bring joy; fewer hues bring anxiety.
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凡占,兩軍相當,必謹審日月暈氣,知其所起,留止遠近,應與不應,疾遲,大小,厚薄,長短,抱背為多小,有無,虛實,久亟,密疏,澤枯。 相應等者勢等。 近勝遠,疾勝遲,大勝小,厚勝薄,長勝短,抱勝背,多勝少,有勝無,實勝虛,久勝亟,密勝疏,澤勝枯。 重背,大破; 重抱為和親; 抱多,親者益多; 背為天下不和,分離相去,背於內者離於內,背於外者離於外也。
Diviners must note haloes’ origins, duration, distance, response, speed, size, thickness, length, embraces versus backs, presence, substance, endurance, density, and sheen. Matching omens mean matched strength. Near beats far, fast beats slow, thick beats thin, long beats short, embrace beats counter-glow, plenty beats absence, solid beats hollow, endurance beats haste, dense beats sparse, lustrous beats dull. Double counter-glows mean crushing defeat; double embraces promise alliance; more embraces mean broader coalition. Counter-glows mean estrangement: inward backs split the court, outward backs sunder allies.
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○雜氣
Miscellaneous Vapors
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天子氣,內赤外黃,四方所發之處當有王者。 若天子欲有游往處,其地亦先發此氣。 或如城門隱隱在氣霧中,恆帶殺氣森森然。 或如華蓋在霧氣中,或氣象青衣人無手,在日西,或如龍馬,或雜色鬱鬱沖天者,此皆帝王氣。
Imperial vapor is red within, gold without; wherever it rises a king will arise. Wherever the sovereign plans to tour, that region shows the glow first. Some see gate-like silhouettes in fog shot through with baleful chill. Forests report canopies in mist, armless cyan figures west of the sun, dragon-horses, or many-colored plumes—each marks imperial aura.
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猛將之氣,如龍,如猛獸; 或如火煙之狀; 或白如粉沸; 或如火光之狀,夜照人; 或白而赤氣繞之,或如山林竹木,或紫黑如門上樓; 或上黑下赤,狀似黑旌; 或如張弩; 或如埃塵,頭銳而卑,本大而高。 此皆猛將之氣也。 氣發漸漸如雲,變作山形,將有深謀。
Champion’s vapor resembles dragons or beasts; or rolling smoke; or pale froth seething; or firelight glancing on men at night; or white veined with red, wooded ridges, or violet-black keeps; black banners hoisted crimson below; crossbows bent to shoot; dust plumes narrow below and broad aloft. All betoken fierce captains. Vapor rising like clouds into peaks means careful stratagems.
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凡軍勝之氣,如堤如阪,前後磨地。 或如水光; 將軍勇,士卒猛。 或如山堤,山上若林木; 將士驍勇。 或如埃塵粉沸,其色黃白; 或如人持斧向敵; 或如蛇舉首向敵,或氣如覆舟,雲如牽牛; 或有雲如鬥雞,赤白相隨,在氣中; 或髮黃氣,皆將士精勇。
Triumph looks like levees or slopes planing the ground. Sheens like rippling water; bold generals, savage troops. Ridges crowned with forest; stalwart hosts. Yellow-white dust devils; axe-wielding silhouettes; serpents striking foes, capsized boats, ox-led clouds; cockfighting clouds crimson and white within the aura; yellowish wisps mean crack troops.
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凡氣上黃下白,名曰善氣; 所臨之軍,敵欲求和退。
Yellow over white is “virtuous vapor”; foes beneath it sue for truce and retreat.
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凡負氣,如馬肝色,或如死灰色; 或類偃蓋,或類偃魚; 或黑氣如壞山墜軍上者,名曰營頭之氣; 或如群牛群豬,在氣中。 此衰氣也。 或如懸衣,如人相隨; 或紛紛如轉蓬,或如揚灰; 或云如卷席,如匹布亂穰者,皆為敗征。 氣如系牛,如人臥,如雙蛇,如飛鳥,如決堤垣,如壞屋,如驚鹿相逐,如兩雞相向,此皆為敗軍之氣。
Defeat looks liver-toned or corpse-gray; upturned umbrellas or belly-up fish; black cliffs collapsing on camps—“camp crest” vapor; herds of oxen or swine inside the mist. Such decay dooms an army. Laundry lines or bobbing figures; tumbling thistledown or blown ash; rolled mats or frayed bolts—all defeat omens. Ox-tethers, sleepers, twin snakes, birds, burst banks, ruined roofs, deer herds, cock sparring—all losing army signs.
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凡降人氣,如人十十五五,皆叉手低頭; 又云,如人叉手相向。 或氣如黑山,以黃為緣者,皆欲降伏之象也。
Surrender looks like scattered folk with folded hands and bowed heads; others see clasped hands squared off. Black masses edged in gold mean capitulation.
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凡堅城之上,有黑雲如星,名曰軍精。 或白氣如旌旗,或青雲黃雲臨城。 皆有大喜慶。 或氣青色如牛頭觸人,或城上氣如煙火。 如雙蛇,如杵形向外,或有雲分為兩彗狀者,皆不可攻。
Stubborn citadels show starlike black shrouds—“army essence.” White pennant vapors or azure and gold over the walls spell grand celebration. Emerald ox-heads butting people or smoky fires along the ramparts. Twin serpents, outward pestles, or forked comets—do not storm such towns.
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凡屠城之氣,或赤如飛鳥,或赤氣如敗車,或有赤黑氣如狸皮斑,或城中氣聚如樓,出見於外; 營上有雲如眾人頭,赤色,其城營皆可屠。 氣如雄雉臨城,其下必有降者。
Cities doomed to sack show red birds, wrecked carts, speckled pelts, or tower-like pileups spilling past walls; crimson human-headed clouds over camps mark them for slaughter. A cock-pheasant silhouette atop walls means surrender below.
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凡伏兵有黑氣,渾渾員長,赤氣在其中:或白氣粉沸,起如樓狀; 或如幢節狀,在烏雲中; 或如赤杵在烏雲中,或如烏人在赤雲中。
Ambush reads as long black tufts with red cores, or foaming white pillars like towers; or banner poles jutting from storm clouds; Red clubs in storm clouds or shadowy figures in crimson mist mark ambush.
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凡暴兵氣,白,如瓜蔓連結,部隊相逐,須臾罷而復出; 或白氣如仙人,如仙人衣,千萬連結,部隊相逐,罷而復興,當有千里兵來。 或氣如人持刀楯,雲如人,色赤,所臨城邑有卒兵至。 或赤氣如人持節,兵來未息。 雲如方虹。 此皆有暴兵之象。
Sudden-host vapors look white and vine-linked, columns chasing in pulses; or immortal shapes in linked ranks that fade and surge—hosts march from a thousand li away. Red human silhouettes with blade and shield mean sudden strikes on the town below. Crimson envoys with tallies mean relentless marching armies. Squared rainbows across the sky. Each augurs surprise attacks.
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凡戰氣,青白如膏; 如人無頭; 如死人臥; 如丹蛇,赤氣隨之,必大戰,殺將。 四望無雲,見赤氣如狗入營,其下有流血。
War-mist looks pale green like grease; headless silhouettes; corpses lying flat; vermilion snakes with trailing red vapor promise pitched battle and executed commanders. Dog-shaped red wisps diving into camp precede bloodshed.
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凡連陰十日,晝不見日,夜不見月,亂風四起,欲雨而無雨,名曰蒙,臣有謀。 霧氣若晝若夜,其色青黃,更相奄冒,乍合乍散,亦然。 視四方常有大雲五色具者,其下賢人隱也。 青雲潤澤蔽日,在西北,為舉賢良。 雲氣如亂穰,大風將至,視所從來。 雲甚潤而厚,大雨必暴至。 四始之日,有黑雲氣如陣,厚大重者,多雨。 氣若霧非霧,衣冠不濡,見則其城帶甲而趣。 日出沒時有霧氣橫截之,白者喪,烏者驚,三日內雨者各解。 有雲如蛟龍,所見處將軍失魄。 有雲如鵠尾來廕國上,三日亡。 有雲赤黃色四塞,終日竟夜照地者,大臣縱恣。 有雲如氣,昧而濁,賢人去,小人在位。
Ten sunless days with whirlwinds but no rain—“obscuration”: ministers intrigue. Twilight fog yellow-green, merging and breaking, reads the same. Five-colored thunderheads shelter hidden worthies below. Moist azure clouds veiling the sun in the northwest promote worthy officials. Chaff-like clouds signal gales—watch their bearing. Dense, slick thunderheads burst into storms. On seasonal inception days black stacked clouds bring prolonged rain. Vapor neither mist nor dew that leaves garments dry means mobilization. Bands crossing sunrise or sunset: white for mourning, crow-black for panic—rain within three days lifts them. Dragon-shaped clouds drive generals mad where they loom. Swan-tail clouds shading the capital doom it within three days. Ochre clouds sealing the vault day and night mean licentious ministers. Murky gloom lets villains replace worthies.
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凡白虹者,百殃之本,眾亂所基。 霧者,眾邪之氣,陰來冒陽。
Pale bows are the root of every evil and rebellion. Fog is cumulative malign yin veiling yang.
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凡白虹霧,奸臣謀君,擅權立威。 晝霧夜明,臣志得申。
Pale arcs and fog accompany ministerial plotters seizing authority. Daytime fog and nightly clarity mean ministers achieve their aims.
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凡夜霧白虹見,臣有憂; 晝霧白虹見,君有憂。 虹頭尾至地,流血之象。
Night fog with pale bows alarms ministers; daytime fog with pale bows alarms the sovereign. Rainbows touching earth signal rivers of blood.
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凡霧氣不順四時,逆相交錯,微風小雨,為陰陽氣亂之象。 積日不解,晝夜昏暗,天下欲分離。
Fog out of season with drizzle means cosmic imbalance. Unbroken gloom presages partition of the realm.
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凡天地四方昏蒙若下塵,十日五日已上,或一月,或一時,雨水沾衣而有土,名曰霾。 故曰,天地霾,君臣乖。
Weeks of ash-dark sky with muddy rain speckling robes is “haze.” Hence haze in heaven and earth goes with estranged ruler and ministers.
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凡海旁蜄氣象樓臺,廣野氣成宮闕,北夷之氣如牛羊群畜穹廬,南夷之氣類舟船幡旗。 自華以南,氣下黑上赤; 嵩高、三河之郊,氣正赤; 恆山之北,氣青; 勃碣海岱之間,氣皆正黑; 江淮之間,氣皆白; 東海氣如員簦; 附漢河水,氣如引布; 江漢氣勁如杼,濟水氣如黑,渭水氣如狼白尾,淮南氣如白羊,少室氣如白兔青尾,恆山氣如黑牛青尾。 東夷氣如樹,西夷氣如室屋,南夷氣如闍台,或類舟船。
Sea-mist castles, inland palace shapes, northern herds on felt, southern sails and banners—regional omens. South of Mount Hua vapor runs black below, red aloft; Mount Song and three rivers glow true crimson; north of Mount Heng reads azure; from Bohai to Haixi every vapor is ink-black; between Yangtze and Huai they shine white; Eastern Sea mist resembles round hats; Han waters trail like pulled linen; Yangtze-Han looks like shuttles, Ji like black swine, Wei like pale-tailed wolves, Huai goats, Shaoshi white hares, Mount Heng dark oxen—each river named by totemic vapor. Eastern tribes smoke like trees, western like halls, southern like towers or ships.
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陣雲如立垣。 杼軸雲類軸,搏,兩端兌。 杓雲如繩,居前亙天,其半半天; 其JH者類闕旗故。 鉤雲句曲。 諸此雲見,以五色占。 而澤摶密,其見動人,乃有兵必起,合鬥其直。 雲氣如三匹帛,廣前兌後,大軍行氣也。
Battle clouds rise sheer as ramparts. Shuttle-clouds resemble axles or beams with sharpened ends. Ladle-trails span half the firmament like ropes; their peaked stacks mimic fortress pennants. Hook-clouds curl like sickles. Read each form by its five-color palette. Moist, tight curls that stagger observers forecast pitched battle along their axis. Three silk ribbons—wide leading edge tapering aft—mark marching hosts.
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韓雲如布,趙雲如牛,楚雲如日,宋雲如車,魯雲如馬,衛雲如犬,周雲如車輪,秦雲如行人,魏雲如鼠,鄭雲如絳衣,越雲如龍,蜀雲如囷。
Each ancient state had signature clouds—from Han’s bolt of cloth to Shu’s granary dome.
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車氣乍高乍下,往往而聚。 騎氣卑而布。 卒氣搏。 前卑後高者,疾。 前方而高後銳而卑者,卻。 其氣平者其行徐。 前高後卑者,不止而返。 校騎之氣,正蒼黑,長數百丈。 遊兵之氣如彗掃,一雲長數百丈,無根本。 喜氣上黃下赤,怒氣上下赤,憂氣上下黑。 土功氣黃白。 徙氣白。
Chariot vapor bobs and clusters unevenly. Horseman mist hugs the horizon in sheets. Infantry signs form tight globes. Low leading edge and lofty stern mean swift advance. Squared crest tapering aft signals pullback. Even vapor moves leisurely. High prow and low stern bring abrupt reversal. Scout clouds stretch hundreds of zhang in slate blue. Skirmisher streaks are tailless comets hundreds of zhang long. Joy glows yellow above crimson; rage burns solid red; grief stacks black. Fortification labor reads pale yellow. Relocation haze is chalk-white.
102
凡候氣之法,氣初出時,若雲非雲,若霧非霧,仿佛若可見。 初出森森然,在桑榆上,高五六尺者,是千五百里外。 平視則千里,舉目望即五百里; 仰瞻中天,即百里內。 平望,桑榆間二千里; 登高而望,下屬地者,三千里。 敵在東,日出候之; 在南,日中候之,在西,日入候之; 在北,夜半候之。 軍上氣,高勝下,厚勝薄,實勝虛,長勝短,澤勝枯。 氣見以知大,占期內有大風雨,久陰,則災不成。
Fresh vapors hover between cloud and mist—barely visible at first. Pillars five or six feet over treetops mark foes fifteen hundred li off. Eye-level sight reaches a thousand li; squinting upward reveals enemies within a hundred. Panning between horizons scans two thousand li; hilltop vistas grasp three thousand li. Watch eastern skies at dawn for eastern foes; noon for southern, dusk for western enemies; northern foes show at midnight. Above camps compare altitude, density, substance, length, and sheen—taller, thicker, fuller, longer, damper wins. Sudden storms may erase ill omens before they ripen.
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◎史傳事驗
Historical Records and Omens Fulfilled
104
○天變
Portents in the Sky
105
惠帝元康二年二月,天西北大裂。 案劉向說:「天裂,陽不足,地動,陰有餘。」 是時人主昏瞀,妃後專制。
In the second month of 292 the northwest sky tore open. Liu Xiang explained: “A riven sky means insufficient yang; the sovereign was benighted while concubines ruled.”
106
太安二年八月庚午,天中裂為二,有聲如雷者三。 君道虧而臣下專僭之象也。 是日,長沙王奉帝出距成都、河間二王,後成都、河間、東海又迭專威命,是其應也。
In 303 the zenith split with triple thunderclaps. It mirrored feeble sovereignty and ministerial presumption. That day the Prince of Changsha defended the throne against Chengdu and Hejian—later those lines seized power in turn—precisely the reading.
107
穆帝升平五年八月已卯夜,天中裂,廣三四丈,有聲如雷,野雉皆鳴。 是後哀帝荒疾,海西失德,皇太后臨朝,太宗總萬機,桓溫專權,威振內外,陰氣盛,陽氣微。
At midnight in 361 the sky split several yards wide with thunder and crying pheasants. Afterward Ai fell ill, Haixi erred, the empress ruled, Taizong governed, Huan Wen dominated—yin swelled while yang faded.
108
元帝太興二年八月戊戌,天鳴東南,有聲如風水相薄。 京房易妖占曰:「天有聲,人主憂。」 三年十月壬辰,天又鳴,甲午止。 其後王敦入石頭,王師敗績。 元帝屈辱,制于強臣,即而晏駕,大恥不雪。
In 319 the southeast sky roared like wind lashing waves. Jing Fang’s Changes gloss: “Heaven’s voice alarms the throne.” Thunder returned in 321 on renchen and ceased on jiawu. Wang Dun then seized Stone Fort and shattered the court army. The emperor suffered mighty ministers, died shamed, unredeemed.
109
安帝隆安五年閏月癸丑,天東南鳴。 六年九月戊子,天東南又鳴。 是後桓玄篡位,安帝播越,憂莫大焉。 鳴每東南者,蓋中興江外,天隨之而鳴也。
In 401 the southeastern heavens groaned. It repeated in 402 on wuzi. Huan Xuan seized the throne and sent An fleeing—no deeper sorrow. The southeast thunder tracked the court’s exile south of the river.
110
義熙元年八月,天鳴,在東南,京房《易傳》曰:「萬姓勞,厥妖天鳴。」 是時安帝雖反正,而兵革歲動,眾庶勤勞也。
In 405 the southeast roared again—Jing Fang: “When the people toil, heaven wails.” Though An returned, war never ceased and the folk wore themselves out.
111
○日蝕
Solar Eclipses
112
魏文帝黃初二年六月戊辰晦,日有蝕之。 有司奏免太尉,詔曰:「災異之作,以譴元首,而歸過股肱,豈禹湯罪已之義乎! 其令百官各虔厥職。 後有天地眚,勿腹劾三公。」 三年正月丙寅朔,日有蝕之。 十一月庚申晦,又日有蝕之。 五年十一月戊申晦,日有蝕之。 明帝太和初,太史令許芝奏,日應蝕,與太尉于靈台祈禳。 帝曰:「蓋聞人主政有不德,則天懼之以災異,所以譴告,使得自修也。 故日月薄蝕,明治道有不當者。 朕即位以來,即不能光明先帝聖德,而施化有不合於皇神,故天上有寤之。 宜敕政自修,有以報於神明。 天之于人,猶父之于子,未有父欲責其子,而可獻盛饌以求免也。 今外欲譴上公與太史令俱穰祠之,于義未聞也。 群公卿士大夫,其各勉修厥職。 有可以補朕不逮者,各封上之。」 太和五年十一月戊戌晦,日有蝕之。 六年正月戊辰朔,日有蝕之。 見吳曆。
Under Emperor Wen of Wei, on the final day of the sixth month of Huangchu 2 (221), the sun was eclipsed. The ministry urged removing the grand commandant; the emperor refused, saying calamities reprove the ruler, not his ministers—unlike the self-blame of Yu and Tang. He ordered every officer to fulfill his charge faithfully. Future heavenly signs must never trigger automatic impeachment of the Three Dukes. On the new moon of the first month of Huangchu 3, another eclipse occurred. It happened again on the last day of the eleventh month. Huangchu 5 saw yet another eclipse on the last day of the eleventh month. Early in the Taihe era, Xu Zhi predicted an eclipse and joined the grand commandant at the Spirit Terrace for exorcism. The emperor answered: “Heaven warns wicked rule through omens so the sovereign may reform. Thus eclipses expose faults in statecraft. Since my accession I have failed to broadcast my predecessors’ virtue; my edicts displease the gods—hence heaven’s reproof. I must mend policy and answer the spirits. Heaven is to the people as a father to children—no father punishes a child who brings only rich offerings to escape blame. Blaming the grand duke and chief astrologer jointly is unheard-of propriety. Let every minister instead perfect his office. Whoever can remedy my faults should memorialize them sealed.” On the last day of the eleventh month of Taihe 5 (231), an eclipse darkened the sun. The new moon of the first month of Taihe 6 brought another. The Wu chronicle records the same.
113
青龍元年閏月庚寅朔,日有蝕之。
An eclipse fell on the intercalary new moon of Qinglong 1 (233).
114
少帝正始元年七月戊申朔,日有蝕之。 三年四月戊戌朔,日有蝕之。 四年五月丁丑朔,日有蝕之。 五年四月丙辰朔,日有蝕之。 六年四月壬子朔,日有蝕之。 十月戊申朔,又日有蝕之。 八年二月庚午朔,日有蝕之。 是時曹爽專政,丁謐、鄧颺等轉改法度。 會有日蝕之變,詔群臣問得失。 蔣濟上疏曰:「昔大舜佐治,戒在比周。 周公輔政,慎於其朋。 齊侯問災,晏子對以布惠; 魯君問異,臧孫答以緩役。 塞變應天,乃實人事。」 濟旨譬甚切,而君臣不悟,終至敗亡。 九年正月乙未朔,日有蝕之。
The seventh-month new moon of Zhengshi 1 (240) was eclipsed. Zhengshi 3: eclipse at the fourth-month new moon. Zhengshi 4: eclipse at the fifth-month new moon. Zhengshi 5: eclipse at the fourth-month new moon. Zhengshi 6: eclipse at the fourth-month new moon. That sixth year also saw an eclipse on the tenth-month new moon. Zhengshi 8: eclipse at the second-month new moon. Cao Shuang dominated the court while Ding Mi and Deng Yang rewrote the laws. The eclipse prompted an edict asking ministers for honest critique. Jiang Ji urged: “Shun warned against cliques; the Duke of Zhou feared partisan circles. When Qi asked about disaster, Yan Ying answered with mercy; when Lu asked, Zangsun urged lighter corvée. Answering heaven by fixing human policy— was Jiang Ji’s blunt point—ignored until ruin followed.” The first-month new moon of Zhengshi 9 saw an eclipse.
115
嘉平元年二月二月已示朔,日有蝕之。
Jiaping 1 recorded an eclipse on the second-month new moon (text corrupt).
116
高貴鄉公甘露四年七月戊子朔,日有蝕之。 五年正月乙酉朔,日有蝕之。 京房易占曰:「日有蝕乙酉,君弱臣強。 司馬將兵,反征其王。」 五月,有成濟之變。
An eclipse marked the seventh-month new moon of Gannu 4 (259). Gannu 5: eclipse at the first-month new moon. Jing Fang wrote: “An eclipse on yiyou means a feeble throne and mighty ministers; the Sima marshal marches against his sovereign.” That fifth month brought Cheng Ji’s coup.
117
元帝景元二年五月丁未朔,日有蝕之。 三年十一月已亥朔,日有蝕之。
Jingyuan 2 (261): eclipse on the fifth-month new moon. Jingyuan 3: eclipse on the eleventh-month new moon.
118
武帝泰始二年七月丙午晦,日有蝕之。 十月丙午朔,日有蝕之。 七年十月丁丑朔,日有蝕之。 八年十月辛未朔,日有蝕之。 九年四月戊辰朔,日有蝕之。 又,七月丁酉朔,日有蝕之。 十年正月乙未,三月癸亥,並日有蝕之。
the second year of Taishi (266): eclipse on the seventh-month last day. Another fell on the tenth-month new moon that year. the seventh year of Taishi: eclipse on the tenth-month new moon. the eighth year of Taishi: eclipse on the tenth-month new moon. the ninth year of Taishi: eclipse on the fourth-month new moon. the ninth year of Taishi also recorded a seventh-month eclipse. the tenth year of Taishi saw paired eclipses in the first and third months.
119
咸甯元年七月甲申晦,日有蝕之。 三年正月丙子朔,日有蝕之。 四年正月庚午朔,日有蝕之。
Xianning 1 (275): eclipse on the seventh-month last day. Xianning 3: eclipse at the first-month new moon. Xianning 4: eclipse at the first-month new moon.
120
太康四年三月辛丑朔,日有蝕之。 七年正月甲寅朔,日有蝕之。 八年正月戊申朔,日有蝕之。 九年正月壬申朔,六月庚子朔,並日有蝕之。 永熙元年四月庚申,帝崩。
Taikang 4 (283): eclipse at the third-month new moon. Taikang 7: eclipse at the first-month new moon. Taikang 8: eclipse at the first-month new moon. Taikang 9 paired first- and sixth-month eclipses. On yǒngxī 1’s fourth-month gēngshēn day the emperor died.
121
惠帝元庚九年十一月甲子朔,日有蝕之。 十二月,廢皇太子為庶人,尋殺之。
Yuankang 9 (299): eclipse on the eleventh-month new moon. The next month the heir was demoted to commoner status and murdered.
122
永康元年正月已卯,四月辛卯朔,並日有蝕之。
Yongkang 1 paired eclipses in spring.
123
永甯元年閏月丙戌朔,日有蝕之。
Yongning 1 (301): intercalary-month eclipse.
124
光熙元年正月戊子朔,七月乙酉朔,並日有蝕之。 十一月,惠帝崩。 十二月壬午朔,又日有蝕之。
Guangxi 1 saw spring and summer eclipses. Emperor Hui died that winter. Another eclipse closed the year on the twelfth-month new moon.
125
懷帝永嘉元年十一月戊申朔,日有蝕之。 二年正月丙子朔,日有蝕之。 六年二月壬子朔,日有蝕之。
Yongjia 1 (307): eleventh-month eclipse. Yongjia 2: first-month eclipse. Yongjia 6: second-month eclipse.
126
湣帝建興四年六月丁巳朔,十二月甲申朔,並日有蝕之。 五年五月丙子,十一月丙子,並日有蝕之。 時帝蒙塵於平陽。
Jianxing 4 paired sixth- and twelfth-month eclipses. Jianxing 5 repeated eclipses on fifth- and eleventh-month bingzi days. The emperor was a captive in Pingyang.
127
元帝太興元年四月丁丑朔,日有蝕之。
Daxing 1 (318): fourth-month eclipse.
128
明帝太寧三年十一月癸已朔,日有蝕之,在卯至鬥。 鬥,吳分也。 其後蘇峻作亂。
Taining 3: eclipse spanning mao to the Dipper. The Dipper zone mapped onto Wu. Su Jun’s revolt followed.
129
成帝咸和二年五月甲申朔,日有蝕之,在井。 井,主酒食,女主象也。 明年,皇太后以憂崩。 六年三月壬戌朔,日有蝕之。 是時帝已年長,每幸司徒第,猶出入見王導夫人曹氏如子弟之禮。 以入君而警敬人臣之妻,有虧君德之象也。 九年十月乙未朔,日有蝕之。 是時帝既冠,當親萬機,而委政大臣,著君道有虧也。
Xianhe 2: eclipse in the Well mansion. The Well governs drink and food—the empress’s token. The empress dowager died of sorrow the next year. Xianhe 6: third-month eclipse. Though adult, the emperor still visited Wang Dao’s home and honored Lady Cao like kin. A sovereign bowing to a subject’s wife bespoke flawed dignity. Xianhe 9: tenth-month eclipse. After capping he still abandoned rule to ministers—another moral lapse.
130
咸康元年十月乙未朔,日有蝕之。 七年二月甲子朔,日有蝕之。 三月,杜皇后崩。 八年正月乙未朔,日有蝕之。 京都大雨,郡國以聞。 是謂三朝,王者惡之。 六月而帝崩。
Xiankang 1 (335): tenth-month eclipse. Xiankang 7: second-month eclipse. Empress Du died that spring. Xiankang 8: first-month eclipse. The capital endured storms while provinces filed reports. Rain during the three court mornings—sovereigns dread this pairing. The emperor died within six months.
131
穆帝永和二年四月己酉,七年正月丁酉,八年正月辛卯,並日有蝕之。 十二年十月癸巳朔,日有蝕之,在尾。 燕分,北狄之象也。 是時邊表姚襄、苻生互相吞噬,朝廷憂勞,征伐不止。
Emperor Mu recorded triple eclipses across Yonghe 2, 7, and 8. Yonghe 12: eclipse in the Tail mansion. Tail stood for Yan—northern barbarians. Frontier rivals Yao Xiang and Fu Sheng devoured each other while the court warred endlessly.
132
升平四年八月辛丑朔,日有蝕之,幾既在角。 凡蝕,淺者禍淺,深者禍大。 角為天門,入主惡之。 明年而帝崩。
Shengping 4: near-total eclipse at the Horn. Shallow bites mean lighter woes; deep bites, heavier doom. The Horn gate alarms every ruler. The emperor died the following year.
133
哀帝隆和元年三月甲寅朔,十二月戊午朔,並日有蝕之。 明年而帝有疾,不識萬機。
Longhe 1 paired third- and twelfth-month eclipses. The following year the emperor fell ill and neglected governance.
134
海西公太和三年三月丁巳朔,五年七月癸酉朔,並日有蝕之。 皆海西被廢之應也。
Haixi duke’s reign saw paired eclipses in Taihe 3 and 5. They foretold his deposition from Haixi.
135
孝武帝甯康三年十月癸酉朔,日有蝕之。
Ningkang 3 (375): tenth-month eclipse.
136
太元四年閏月己酉朔,日有蝕之。 是時苻堅攻沒襄陽,執硃序。 六年六月庚子朔,日有蝕之。 九年十月辛亥朔,日有蝕之。 十七年五月丁卯朔,日有蝕之。 二十年三月庚辰朔,日有蝕之。 明年帝崩。
Taiyuan 4 (379): intercalary eclipse. Fu Jian had seized Xiangyang and Zhu Xu. Taiyuan 6: sixth-month eclipse. Taiyuan 9: tenth-month eclipse. Taiyuan 17: fifth-month eclipse. Taiyuan 20: third-month eclipse. The emperor died the next year.
137
安帝隆安四年六月庚辰朔,日有蝕之。 是時元顯執政。
the fourth year of Longan (400): sixth-month eclipse. Yuan Xian dominated policy.
138
元興二年四月癸巳朔,日有蝕之。 其冬桓玄篡位。
Yuanxing 2 (403): fourth-month eclipse. That winter Huan Xuan seized the throne.
139
義熙三年七月戊戌朔,日有蝕之。 十年九月丁巳朔,日有蝕之。 十一年七月辛亥晦,日有蝕之。 十三年正月甲戌朔,日有蝕之。 明年,帝崩。
Yixi 3 (407): seventh-month eclipse. Yixi 10: ninth-month eclipse. Yixi 11: seventh-month eclipse. Yixi 13: first-month eclipse. The emperor died the following year.
140
恭帝元熙元年十一月丁亥朔,日有蝕之。 自義熙元年至是,日蝕皆從上始,皆為革命之征。
Yuanxi 1 (419): eleventh-month eclipse. Since Yixi 1 every eclipse began at the top—tokens of dynastic change.
141
《周禮》只眡祲氏掌十煇之法,以觀妖祥,辯吉凶,有祲、象、鐫、監、闇、瞢、彌、序、隮、想凡十。 後代名變,說者莫同。 今錄其著應以次之雲。
The Rites list ten halo types—jin, image, drill, oversight, obscurity, murk, span, sequence, stair, semblance—for reading omens. Later ages renamed them inconsistently. Below follow cases that matched those readings.
142
吳孫權赤烏十一年二月,白虹貫日。 權發詔戒懼。
In 248 Sun Quan’s realm saw a white arc slash the solar disk. Sun Quan issued an anxious edict.
143
武帝泰始五年七月甲寅,日暈再重,白虹貫之。
In 269 a double halo yielded to a white bow.
144
太康元年正月已醜朔,五色氣冠日,自卯至酉。 占曰:「君道失明,醜為斗牛,主吳越。」 是時孫皓淫暴,四月降。
Taikang 1 dawn-to-dusk five-colored coronae crowned the sun. Readers said: “The sovereign misrules; chǒu ties to Wu-Yue.” Sun Hao’s cruelty ended in fourth-month surrender.
145
惠帝元康元年十一月甲申,日暈,再重,青赤有光。 九年正月,日中有若飛燕者,數日乃消。 王隱以為湣懷廢死之征。
Yuankang 1: doubled haloes with green-red fire. Yuankang 9: swallow-shaped silhouettes inside the sun for days. Wang Yin called it the heir’s doom.
146
永康元年正月癸亥朔,日暈,三重。 十月乙未,日闇,黃霧四塞。 占曰:「不及三年,下有拔城大戰。」 十二月庚戌,日中有黑氣。 京房《易傳》曰:「祭天不順茲謂逆,厥異日中有黑氣。」
Yongkang 1: triple haloes on the new moon. Yellow fog strangled the light on yiwei. Writings warned of sieges within three years. Black vapor stained the sun that winter. Jing Fang blamed irregular suburban sacrifice for black spots.
147
永甯元年九月甲申,月中有黑子。 京房易占:「黑者陰也,臣不掩君惡,令下見,百姓惡君,則有此變。」 又曰:「臣有蔽主明者。」
Black flecks appeared on the moon in Yongning 1. Jing Fang’s gloss ties lunar spots to hated rulers exposed by ministers. Some add ministers blinding the throne.
148
太安元年十一月,日中有黑氣。
Tai’an 1: solar black vapor.
149
永興元年十一月,日中有黑氣分日。
Yongxing 1: black belt splitting the disk.
150
光熙元年五月壬辰、癸巳,日光四散,赤如血流,照地皆赤。 甲午又如之。 占曰:「君道失明。」
Guangxi 1: sunlight shattered into bloody streaks painting earth red. It repeated on jiǎwǔ. Readers cried lost dao.
151
懷帝永嘉元年十一月乙亥,黃黑氣掩日,所照皆黃。 案《河圖》占曰:「日薄也」。 其說曰:「凡日蝕皆於朔晦,有不於晦朔者為日薄。 雖非日月同宿,時陰氣盛,掩日光也。」 占類日蝕。 二年正月戊申,白虹貫日,二月癸卯,白虹貫日,青黃暈,五重。 占曰:「白虹貫日,近臣為亂,不則諸侯有反者。 暈五重,有國者受其祥,天下有兵,破亡其地。」 明年,司馬越暴蔑人主。 五年,劉聰破京都,帝蒙塵於寇庭。 五年三月庚申,日散光,如血下流,所照皆赤。 日中有若飛燕者。
Yongjia 1: ochre-black veils yellowed every vista. The Hetu calls this “sun thinning.” Thinning differs from eclipse timing yet dims like one. Even without conjunction thick yin can mask daylight. Readers treat it like an eclipse. Yongjia 2 paired white bows with five-ringed haloes. Texts blame courtiers or dukes when arcs slash the sun. Five haloes doom whoever holds the mandate. Next year Sima Yue bullied the emperor. Liu Cong sacked Luoyang and captured the sovereign. Solar threads dripped crimson like blood that spring. Swallow-shaped globs returned inside the orb.
152
湣帝建興二年正月辛未辰時,日隕於地。 又有三日相承,出於西方而東行。 五年正月庚子,三日並照,虹蜺彌天。 日有重暈,左右兩珥。 占曰:「白虹,兵氣也。 三四五六日俱出並爭,天下兵作,丁巳亦如其數。」 又曰:「三日並出,不過三旬,諸侯爭為帝。 日重暈,天下有立王。 暈而珥,天下有立侯。」 故陳卓曰:「當有大慶,天下其三分乎!」 三月而江東改元為建武、劉聰、李雄亦跨曹劉疆宇,於是兵連累葉。
Jianxing 2: observers recorded the sun “falling.” Three stacked suns rose in the west and drifted east. Jianxing 5: triple suns and bows spanning the sky. Double rings flanked by earrings encircled the sun. Arcs mean martial vapors; multiple phantom suns ignite wars—counts vary like stems. Triple suns within a month pit kings against kings. Double haloes raise rival sovereigns. Haloes with earrings elevate feudal lords. Chen Zhuo cried great fortune—and tripartite empire. Within months Jiangdong renamed its reign while Liu Cong and Li Xiong carved rival realms—war dragged on for generations.
153
元帝太興元年十一月乙卯,日夜出,高三丈,中有赤青珥。 四年二月癸亥,日鬥。 三月癸未,日中有黑子,辛亥,帝親錄訊囚徒。
Daxing 1: a night sun rose three feet high with russet-green ears. Daxing 4: competing solar disks. Black flecks preceded the emperor’s personal jail review.
154
永昌元年十月辛卯,日中有黑子。 時帝寵倖劉隗,擅威福,虧傷君道,王敦因之舉兵,逼京都,禍及忠賢。
Yongchang 1: fresh solar spots. Liu Wei’s favor triggered Wang Dun’s march on the capital.
155
明帝太甯元年正月乙卯朔,日暈無光。 癸巳,黃霧四塞。 占曰:「君道失明,陰陽昏,臣有陰謀。」 京房曰:「下專刑,茲謂分威,蒙微而日不明。」 先是,王敦害尚書令刁協、僕射周顗、驃騎將軍戴若思等,是專刑之應。 敦既陵上,卒伏其辜。 十一月丙子,白虹貫日。 史官不見,桂陽太守華包以聞。
Taining 1: haloes drained of light. Yellow fog followed on guǐsì. Readers cite blinded dao and ministerial intrigue. Jing Fang ties dim suns to delegated executions. It matched Wang Dun’s murders of Ding Xie, Zhou Yi, and Dai Yuan. Wang Dun died for his treason. A white arc returned in winter. Archives missed it—Prefect Hua Bao memorialized.
156
成帝咸和九年七月,白虹貫日。
Xianhe 9: solar pierced by pale bow.
157
咸康元年七月,白虹貫日。 二年七月,白虹貫日。 自後庾氏專政,由後族而貴,蓋亦婦人擅國之義,故頻年白虹貫日。 八年正月壬申,日中有黑子,丙子乃滅。 夏,帝崩。
Xiankang 1 repeated the sign. Xiankang 2 repeated again. Yu clan rule through consorts explains yearly arcs. Xiankang 8 solar flecks faded after bǐngzǐ. The emperor died that summer.
158
穆帝永和八年,張重華在涼州,日暴赤如火,中有三足為烏,形見分明,五日乃止。 十年十月庚辰,日中有黑子,大如雞卵。 十一年三月戊申,日中有黑子,大如桃,二枚。 時天子幼弱,久不親國政。
Yonghe 8: Zhang Chonghua saw a scarlet sun bearing a three-legged crow for five days. Yonghe 10: egg-sized spots. Yonghe 11: twin peach-sized flecks. The boy emperor stayed away from affairs.
159
升平三年十月丙午,日中有黑子,大如雞卵。 少時而帝崩。
Shengping 3: egg-dark blotches again. The emperor fell ill and died soon after.
160
海西公太和三年九月戊辰夜,二虹見東方。 四年四月戊辰,日暈,厚密,白虹貫日中。 十月乙未,日中有黑子。 五年二月辛酉,日中有黑子,大如李。 六年三月辛未,白虹貫日,日暈,五重。 十一月,桓溫廢帝,即簡文咸安元年也。
Haixi saw twin bows in the east one night. Taihe 4: dense halo pierced by arc. Solar spots followed that autumn. Taihe 5: plum-sized umbra. Taihe 6 closed with arc and quintuple halo. Huan Wen’s coup in the eleventh month began Emperor Jianwen’s Xian’an reign.
161
簡文咸安二年十一月丁丑,日中有黑子。
Xian’an 2: solar spots on dīngchǒu.
162
孝武甯康元年十一月己酉,日中有黑子,大如李。 二年三月庚寅,日中有黑子二枚,大如鴨卵。 十一月己巳。 日中有黑子,大如雞卵。 時帝已長,而康獻皇后以從嫂臨朝,實傷君道,故日有瑕也。
Ningkang 1: plum-sized sunspots. Ningkang 2: twin egg-sized spots. The eleventh month on jǐsì. Chicken-egg flecks marred the disk. Though mature, the emperor let Consort Kang rule—injuring sovereignty—hence solar blemishes.
163
太元十三年二月庚子,日中有黑子二,大如李。 十四年六月辛卯,日中又有黑子,大如李。 二十年十一月辛卯,日中又有黑子。 是時會稽王以母弟幹政。
Taiyuan 13: twin plum-sized flecks. Taiyuan 14: plum shadows returned. Taiyuan 20: recurrent blotches. The Prince of Kuaiji and his full brother meddled in state affairs.
164
安帝隆安元年十二月壬辰,日暈,有背璚。 是後不親萬機,會稽王世子元顯專行威罰。 四年十一月辛亥,日中有黑子。
the first year of Longan: haloes with counter-arc. The sovereign withdrew while Yuan Xian ruled by terror. the fourth year of Longan: another sunspot.
165
元興元年二月甲子,日暈,白虹貫日中。 三月庚子,白虹貫日。 未幾,桓玄克京都,王師敗績。 明年,玄篡位。
Yuanxing 1: bow through the solar heart. A second white arc in third month. Huan Xuan seized Luoyang and crushed the host. He usurped the crown next year.
166
義熙元年五月庚午。 日有彩珥。 六年五月丙子,日暈,有璚。 時有廬循逼京都,內外戒嚴。 七月,循走。 七年七月,五虹見東方。 占曰:「天子黜。」 其後劉裕代晉。。 十年,日在東井,有白虹十餘丈在南幹日。 災在秦分,秦亡之象。
Yixi 1, fifth month, gēngwǔ. The sun sprouted colored “earrings.” Yixi 6: haloes with straight stones. Lu Xun’s rebellion put the capital on war footing. Lu Xun retreated in the seventh month. Yixi 7: five bows in the east. Soothsayers said: “The throne will fall.” Liu Yu then supplanted the Jin. Yixi 10: a southern arc stroked the sun in Eastern Well. It foretold Qin’s end.
167
恭帝元熙二年正月壬辰,白氣貫日,東西有直珥各一丈,白氣貫之交匝。
Yuanxi 2: white shafts crossed the disk with east-west ears.
168
○月變
Lunar Anomalies
169
魏文帝黃初四年十一月,月暈北斗。 占曰:「有大喪,赦天下。」 七年五月,帝崩,明帝既位,大赦天下。
Huangchu 4: lunar halo over the Dipper. Texts demanded empire-wide amnesty after great mourning. Emperor Wen died Huangchu 7; Mingdi ascended with blanket amnesty.
170
孝懷帝永嘉五年三月壬申丙夜,月蝕,既。 丁夜又蝕,既。 占曰:「月蝕盡,大人憂。」 又曰:「其國貴人死。」
Yongjia 5: total lunar eclipse deep in the night. Totality returned fourth watch. Full lunar eclipse alarms magnates. Some read death for regional lords.
171
海西公太和四年閏月乙亥,月暈軫,復有白暈貫月北,暈斗柄三星。 占曰:「王者惡之。」 六年,桓溫廢帝。
Haixi reign: chained haloes through Chariot Shaft and Dipper handle. Kings dread such signs. Huan Wen deposed him two years later.
172
安帝隆安五年三月甲子,月生齒。 占曰:「月生齒,天子有賊臣,群下自相殘。」 桓玄篡逆之征也。
the fifth year of Longan: “lunar teeth” appeared. Toothy moon means traitorous ministers cannibalizing one another. It augured Huan Xuan’s coup.
173
義熙九年十二月辛卯朔,月猶見東方。 是謂之仄匿,則侯王其肅。 是時劉裕輔政,威刑自己,仄匿之應雲。 十一年十一月乙未,月入輿鬼而暈。 占曰:「主憂,財寶出。」 一曰:「月暈,有赦。」
Yixi 9 new moon lingered east— “Parhelion moon”: princes must humble themselves. Liu Yu’s dictatorship matched the parhelion moon. Yixi 11: moon entered Ghost with halo. Readers cite treasury drainage or —alternatively general amnesty.
174
○月奄犯五緯
The Moon Occults the Five Wanderers
175
凡月蝕五星,其國皆亡。 五星入月,其野有逐相。
When the moon occults every planet, those kingdoms fall. Planetary ingress into the moon ousts chief ministers below.
176
魏明帝太和五年十二月甲辰,月犯填星。
Taihe 5: the moon crossed Saturn.
177
青龍二年十月乙丑,月又犯填星。 占同上。 戊寅,月犯太白,占曰:「人君死,又為兵。」 景初元年七月,公孫文懿叛。 二年正月,遣宣帝討之。 三年正月,天子崩。 四年三月已巳,太白與月俱加景晝見,月犯太白。 占同上。
Qinglong 2 repeated the occultation. Interpret as above. Moon crossing Venus presages regicide and war. Gongsun Yuan rebelled Jingchu 1. Sima Yi marched in Jingchu 2. The emperor died Jingchu 3. Jingchu 4: Venus and moon visible by day with occultation. Same reading as prior cases.
178
景初元年十月丁未,月犯熒惑。 占曰:「貴人死。」 二年四月,司徒韓既薨。
Moon crossed Mars. Great men perish. Minister Han Ji died that spring.
179
齊王嘉平元年正月甲午,太白襲月。 宣帝奏永甯太后廢曹爽等。
Jiaping 1: Venus struck the moon. Sima Yi secured edicts deposing Cao Shuang.
180
惠帝太安二年十一月庚辰,歲星入月中。 占曰:「國有逐相。」 十二月壬寅,太白犯月。 占曰:「天下有兵。」 三年正月乙卯,月犯太白,占同青龍元年。 七月,左衛將軍陳等率眾奉帝伐成都王,六軍敗績,兵逼乘輿。 後二年,帝崩。
Tai’an 2: Jupiter slid behind the moon. Ministers fall. Venus trespassed the lunar disk. Realm-wide war follows. Moon-Venus contact echoed Qinglong omens. Chen Zhen’s loyal army lost to the Prince of Chengdu; rebels threatened the emperor. The emperor died within two years.
181
元帝太興二年十一月辛巳,月犯熒惑。 占曰:「有亂臣。」 三年十二月己未,太白入月,在鬥。 郭璞曰:「月屬《坎》,陰府法象也。 太白金行而犯之,天意若曰,刑理失中,自毀其法。」 四年十二月丁亥,月犯歲星,在房。 占曰:「其國兵饑,人流亡。」 永昌元年三月,王敦作亂,率江荊之眾來攻,敗京都,殺將相。 又,鎮北將軍劉隗出奔,百姓並去南畝。 困於兵革。 四月,又殺湘州刺史、譙王司馬承,鎮南將軍甘卓。
Daxing 2: lunar-Mars conjunction. Traitors stir. Daxing 3: Venus entered the moon in the Dipper. Guo Pu: the moon is Kan’s yin tribunal; Venus (metal) crashing through shows justice wrecking itself. Daxing 4: moon crossed Jupiter in Room. War, famine, and refugees follow. Wang Dun’s coup slaughtered courtiers. Liu Wei fled north; farmers fled their plots. All suffered war. More executions followed.
182
成帝咸康元年二月乙未,太白入月。 四月甲午。 月犯太白。 四年四月已巳,七月乙巳,月俱奄太白。 占曰:「人君死。 又為兵,人主惡之。」 明年,石季龍之眾大冠沔南,於是內外戒嚴。 五年四月辛示,月犯歲星,在胃。 占曰:「國饑,人流。」 乙未,月犯歲星,在昴。 及冬,有沔南、邾城之敗,百姓流亡萬餘家。 六年二月乙未,太白入月。 占曰:「人主死。」 四月甲午,月犯太白。 占曰:「人主惡之。」
Xiankang 1: Venus occulted by moon. Fourth month jiǎwǔ. Lunar-Venus contact recurred. Xiankang 4: twin occultations summer and autumn. Sovereigns die. War and royal peril coincide. Shi Hu invaded south of the Han; alerts sounded empire-wide. Xiankang 5: moon crossed Jupiter in Stomach (corrupt day stem in text). Famine and refugees. Moon-Jupiter contact in Hairy Head. Winter brought defeat at Zhucheng and myriad displaced families. Xiankang 6: Venus swallowed by moon. The sovereign falls. Moon-Venus clash in fourth month. Another sovereign warning.
183
穆帝永和八年十二月,月在東井,犯歲星。 占曰:秦饑,人流亡。」 是時兵革連起。 十年十一月,月奄填星,在輿鬼。 占曰:「秦有兵。」 時桓溫伐苻健,健堅壁長安,溫退。 十二年八月,桓溫破姚襄。
Yonghe 8: moon crossed Jupiter in Eastern Well. Soothsayers warned of Qin’s famine and exodus. War flared without pause. Yonghe 10: lunar occultation of Saturn in Ghost. Qin would see battle. Huan Wen besieged Fu Jian at Chang’an, then withdrew. Huan crushed Yao Xiang in summer.
184
升平元年十一月壬午,月奄歲星,在房。 占曰:「人饑。」 一曰:「豫州有災。」 二年閏三月乙亥,月犯歲星,在房。 占同上。 三年,豫州刺史謝萬敗。 三年三月乙酉,月犯太白,在昴。 占曰:「人君死。」 一曰:「趙地有兵,胡不安。」 四年正月,暮容俊卒。 五年正月乙丑辰時,月在危宿,奄太白。 占曰:「天下靡散。」 三月丁未,月犯填星,在軫。 占曰:「為大喪。」 五月,穆帝崩。 七月,慕容恪攻冀州刺史呂護于野王,拔之,護奔走。 時桓溫以大眾次宛,聞護敗,乃退。
Shengping 1: moon occulted Jupiter in Room. People would starve. Some add disaster in Yuzhou. Shengping 2: another Jupiter contact. Same portent. Xie Wan’s army collapsed. Moon crossed Venus in Hairy Head. Royal death loomed. Northern Zhao would flare with barbarian unrest. Murong Jun died that winter. Moon swallowed Venus in Rooftop. The realm would scatter. Moon crossed Saturn in Shaft. Great mourning awaited. Emperor Mu died that summer. Murong Ke seized Yewang and routed Lü Hu. Huan Wen halted at Nanyang on news of Hu’s defeat.
185
哀帝興甯元年十月丙戌,月奄太白,在須女。 占曰:「天下靡散。」 一曰:「災在揚州。」 三年,洛陽沒。 其後桓溫傾揚州資實北討,敗績,死亡太半。 及征袁真,淮南殘破。 後慕容暐及苻堅互來侵境。 三年正月乙卯,月奄歲星,在參。 占曰:「參,益州分也。」 六月,鎮西將軍益州刺史周撫卒。 十月,梁州刺史司馬勳入益州以叛。 硃序率眾助刺史周楚討平之。
Xingning 1: lunar occultation of Venus at Weaver Maid. Another dissolution omen. Disaster in Yangzhou. Luoyang fell in the third year. Huan Wen’s northern drive bled the army. Yuan Zhen’s war ravaged Huainan. Murong Wei and Fu Jian raided the frontiers. Moon occulted Jupiter in Triaster. Triaster maps to Yizhou. Zhou Fu died in summer. Sima Xun rebelled in Liangzhou. Zhu Xu helped Zhou Chu restore order.
186
海西太和元年二月丙子,月奄熒惑,在參。 占曰:「為內亂,帝不終之征。」 一曰:「參,魏地。」 五年,慕容暐為苻堅所滅。
Haixi: moon crossed Mars in Triaster. Civil strife and regicide. Some read Wei land. Murong Wei fell to Fu Jian.
187
孝武太元十二年二月戊寅,熒惑入月。 占曰:「有亂臣死,若有相戮者。」 一曰:「女親為政,天下亂。」 是時琅邪王輔政,王妃從兄王國寶以姻昵受寵。 又陳郡人袁悅昧私苟進,交遘主相,扇揚朋黨。 十三年,帝殺悅於市。 於是主相有隙,亂階興矣。 十三年十二月戊子,辰星入月,在危。 占曰:「賊臣欲殺主,不出三年,必有內惡。」 是後慕容垂、翟遼、姚萇、苻登、慕容永並阻兵爭強。 十四年十二月乙未,月犯歲星。 占並同上。 十五年,翟遼據司兗,眾軍累討弗克,慕容氏又跨略並冀。 七月,旱。 八月,諸郡大水,兗州又蝗。 十八年正月乙酉,熒惑入月。 占曰:「憂在宮中,非賊乃盜也。」 一曰:「有亂臣,若有戮者。」 二十一年九月,帝暴崩內殿,兆庶宣言,夫人張氏潛行大逆。 又,王國寶邪狡,卒伏其辜。 十九年四月已巳,月奄歲星,在尾。 占曰:「為饑,燕國亡。」 二十年,慕容垂遣寶伐魏,反為所破,死者數萬人。 二十一年,垂死,國遂衰亡。
Taiyuan 12: Mars entered the moon. Ministers perish in internecine strife. Or consort clans usurp. Wang Guobao, the prince’s in-law, held favor. Yuan Yue bribed his way into both camps. The emperor executed Yue publicly. The court then split into factions. Mercury occulted in Rooftop. Treason within three years. Northern rivals warred in succession. Taiyuan 14: moon crossed Jupiter. Same interpretations apply. Di Liao held Yanzhou while Murong raided Bing-Ji. Drought scorched summer fields. Floods and locusts followed. Taiyuan 18: Mars entered the moon. Palace peril—secret murder or theft. Or ministers executed in purge. Emperor Xiaowu died mysteriously; rumor blamed Lady Zhang. Wang Guobao later paid for his crimes. Taiyuan 19: moon occulted Jupiter in Tail. Famine and Yan’s doom. Murong Bao’s Wei campaign ended in slaughter. Murong Chui’s death doomed Yan.
188
安帝隆安元年六月庚午,月奄太白,在太微端門外。 占曰:「國受兵。」 乙酉,月奄歲星,在東壁。 占曰:「為饑,衛地有兵。」 二年六月,郗恢遣鄧啟方等以萬人伐慕容寶於滑台,啟方敗。 三年九月,桓玄等並舉兵,於是內外戒嚴。 四年正月乙亥,月犯填星,在牽牛。 占曰:「吳越有兵喪,女主憂。」 六月乙未,月又犯填星,在牽牛。 十月乙未,月奄歲星,在北河。 占曰:「為饑,胡有兵。」 其四年五月,孫恩破會稽,殺內史謝琰。 後又破高雅之于余姚,死者十七八。 七月,太皇太后李氏崩。 元興元年,孫恩寇臨海,人眾餓死,散亡殆盡。
the first year of Longan: moon crossed Venus at the Supreme Palace gate. The realm would suffer attack. Moon occulted Jupiter in Eastern Wall. Famine and Wei’s wars. Deng Qifang lost to Murong Bao. Huan Xuan’s coalition mobilized the empire. Moon crossed Saturn in Oxherd. Wu-Yue wars and empress peril. Second Saturn conjunction that summer. Moon occulted Jupiter at North River. Famine and barbarian raids. Sun En stormed Kuaiji and slew Xie Yan. His next victory slaughtered Gao Yaji’s men. The grand empress dowager died. Sun En’s raids starved the coast.
189
元興元年四月辛丑,月奄辰星。 七月,大饑,人相食。 二年十一月辛巳,月犯熒惑。 占悉同上。 二年十二月,桓玄篡位,放遷帝、後於尋陽,以永安何皇后為零陵君。 三年二月,劉裕盡誅桓氏。 三年二月甲辰,月醃歲星于左角。 占曰:「天下兵起。」 是年二月丙辰,劉裕起義兵,殺桓修等。 明年正月,眾軍攻桓振,卒滅諸桓。
Mercury disappeared behind the moon. Cannibal famine followed. Moon crossed Mars. Same readings. Huan Xuan moved the court to exile. Liu Yu extirpated the Huans. Moon occulted Jupiter at the Horn’s eastern tip. War engulfs the realm. Liu Yu’s uprising slew Huan Xiu. Huan Zhen fell the next spring.
190
義熙元年四月己卯,月犯填星,在東壁。 占曰:「其地亡國。」 一曰:「貴人死。」 七月己未,月奄填星,在東壁。 占曰:「其國以伐己。」 一曰:「人流。」 十月丁巳,月奄填星,在營室。 占同上。 十一月,荊州刺史魏詠之卒。 二年二月,司馬國璠等攻沒弋陽。 三年,恆徒揚州刺史王謐薨。 四年正月,太保、武陵王遵薨。 三月,左僕射孔安國薨。 二年十二月丙午,月奄太白,在危。 占曰:「齊亡國。」 一曰:「強國君死。」 五年四月,劉裕大軍北討慕容超,卒滅之。 七年六月庚子,月犯歲星,在畢。 占曰:「有邊兵,且饑。」 八月乙未,月犯歲星,在參。 占曰:「益州兵饑。」 七月,硃齡石克蜀,蜀人尋反,又討之。 八年正月庚戌,月犯歲星,在畢。 占同上。 九年七月,硃齡石滅蜀。 十二年五月五月甲申,月犯歲星,在左角。 占曰:「為饑。」 十四年四月壬申,月犯填星于張。 占曰:「天下有大喪。」 其明年,帝崩。
Yixi 1: moon crossed Saturn in Eastern Wall. That territory loses its throne. Great men die. July repeated Saturn occultation. That kingdom tears itself apart. Or mass exile. October Saturn eclipse in Encampment. Same gloss. Wei Yongzhi died. Rebels seized Yiyang. Wang Mi died. Prince Sima Zun died. Grand Mentor Kong Anguo died that spring. Moon occulted Venus in Rooftop. Qi faces extinction. Powerful rulers die. Liu Yu crushed Southern Yan. Moon crossed Jupiter in Net. Frontier war plus famine. Second Jupiter contact that autumn. Yizhou starves under arms. Zhu Lingshi took Sichuan, then quelled a revolt. Another Net conjunction. Same omen. Sichuan fell for good. Text duplicates “fifth month”—moon crossed Jupiter at the Horn. Famine ahead. Saturn contact in Extended Net. Imperial-scale mourning. The emperor died the next year.
191
恭帝元熙元年七月,月犯歲星。 占悉同上。 十二月丁巳,月犯太白于羽林。 二年六月,帝遜位,禪宋。
Yuanxi 1: moon crossed Jupiter. Same readings. Moon crossed Venus in Feathered Forest guard. The Jin abdicated to Liu Yu.
192
○五星聚舍
When the Five Planets Share One Lodge
193
魏明帝太和四年七月壬戌,太白犯歲星。 占曰; 「太白犯五星,有大兵。」 五年三月,諸葛亮以大眾寇天水。 時宣帝為大將軍,距退之。
Venus crossed Jupiter. The gloss reads: “Venus trespassing planets brings war.” Zhuge Liang marched on Tianshui. Sima Yi drove him back.
194
青龍二年二月己未,太白犯熒惑。 占曰:「大兵起,有大戰。」 是年四月,諸葛亮據渭南,吳亦起兵應之,魏東西奔命。
Venus crossed Mars. Major campaigns loom. Wu joined Shu’s assault; Wei scrambled on both fronts.
195
惠帝元康三年,填星、歲星、太白三星聚于畢昴。 占曰:「為兵喪。 畢昴,趙地也。」 後賈后陷殺太子,趙王廢後,又殺之,斬張華、裴頠,遂篡位,廢帝為太上皇,天下從此遘亂連禍。
Saturn, Jupiter, and Venus clustered in Net and Hairy Head. War and death. Those mansions map to Zhao. The coup chain—Jia Nanfeng, Sima Lun, Zhang Hua’s execution—ended in chaos.
196
永寧二年十一月,熒惑、太白鬥于虛危。 占曰:「大兵起,破軍殺將。 虛危,又齊分也。」 十二月,熒惑襲太白于營室。 占曰; 「天下兵起,亡君之戒。」 一曰:「易相。」 初,齊王冏之京都,因留輔政,遂專傲無君。 是月,成都、河間檄長沙王乂討之,冏、乂交戰,攻焚宮闕,冏兵敗,夷滅。 又殺其兄上軍將軍寔以下二千餘人。 太安二年,成都又攻長沙,於是公私饑困,百姓力屈。
Mars and Venus closed in Empty and Rooftop. War crushes armies and commanders. The zone also marks Qi. Mars assaulted Venus in Encampment. Another gloss: “Realm-wide war warns of fallen sovereigns.” Ministers may turn over. Sima Jiong seized Luoyang and bullied the throne. The princes’ civil war burned the palace and destroyed Jiong. Two thousand kinsmen died with him. Renewed war starved the realm.
197
太安三年正月,熒惑犯歲星。 占曰:「有戰。」 七月。 左衛將軍陳奉帝伐成都,六軍敗績。
Mars crossed Jupiter. Battle follows. In the seventh month Chen Zhen’s loyal army lost again.
198
光熙元年九月,填星犯歲星。 占曰:「填與歲合,為內亂。」 是時司馬越專權,終以無禮破滅,內亂之應也。 十二月癸未,太白犯填星。 占曰:「為內兵,有大戰。」 是後河間王為東海王越所殺。 明年正月,東海王越殺諸葛玫等。 五月,汲桑破馮嵩,殺東燕王。 八月,苟晞大破汲桑。
Saturn crossed Jupiter. Saturn meeting Jupiter means civil war. Sima Yue’s tyranny fulfilled the omen. Venus crossed Saturn. Civil war and pitched battles. The Prince of Hejian fell to Sima Yue. Sima Yue purged rivals. Ji Sang slew Prince Sima Teng. Gou Xi crushed Ji Sang.
199
懷帝永嘉六年七月,熒惑、歲星、太白聚牛、女之間,徘徊進退。 案占曰:「牛女,揚州分」,是後兩都傾覆,而元帝中興場土。
Mars, Jupiter, and Venus hovered between Ox and Girl. Historians tie Ox-Girl to Yangzhou—the lost north yet surviving south.
200
建武元年五月癸未,太白、熒惑合于東井。 占曰:「金火合曰爍,為喪。」 是時湣帝蒙塵於平陽,七月崩於寇庭。
Venus and Mars conjoined in Eastern Well. Metal-fire conjunction means glare and mourning. Emperor Min died in captivity.
201
元帝太興二年七月甲午,歲星、熒惑會于東井。 八月乙未,太白犯歲星,合在翼。 占曰:「為兵饑。」 三年六月丙辰,太白與歲星合于房。 占同上。 永昌元年王敦攻京師,六軍敗績。 王敦尋死。
Jupiter met Mars in Eastern Well. Venus crossed Jupiter in Wings. War and famine. Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Room. Same interpretation. Wang Dun’s coup smashed the loyalists. Wang Dun died shortly after.
202
成帝咸康三年十一月乙丑,太白犯歲星于營室。 占曰:「為兵饑。」 四年二月,石季龍破幽州,遷萬餘家以南。 五年,季龍眾五萬寇沔南,略七千餘家而去。 又騎二萬圍陷邾城,殺略五千餘人。 四年十二月癸丑,太白犯填星,在箕。 占曰:「王者亡地。」 七年,慕容皝自稱燕王。 七年三月,太白熒惑合於太微中,犯左執法。 明年,顯宗崩。 八年十二月己酉,太白犯熒惑於胃。 占曰:「大兵起。」 其後庾翼大發兵,謀伐石季龍,專制上流。
Venus crossed Jupiter in Encampment. War and starvation. Shi Hu ravaged Youzhou and dragged captives south. Another fifty-thousand raid stole settlers. Cavalry took Zhucheng with heavy slaughter. Venus crossed Saturn in Basket. Thrones lose land. Murong Huang claimed the Yan title. Venus and Mars met inside Taiwei at the left officer. Emperor Ming died the following year. Venus crossed Mars in Stomach. Major campaigns stir. Yu Yi mobilized against Shi Hu from the middle Yangtze.
203
康帝建元元年八月丁未,太白犯歲星,在軫。 占曰:「有大兵。」 是年石季龍將劉甯寇沒狄道。
Venus crossed Saturn in Shaft. Great armies march. Liu Ning seized Didao for Zhao.
204
穆帝永和四年五月,熒惑入婁,犯填星。 占曰:「兵大起,有喪,災在趙。」 其年石季龍死,來年冉閔殺石遵及諸胡十萬餘人,其後褚裒北伐,喪眾而薨。 六年三月戊戌,熒惑犯歲星。 占曰:「為戰。」 七年三月戊子,歲星、熒惑合於奎。 其年劉顯殺石祗及諸胡帥,中士大亂。 十二有年七月丁卯,太白犯填星,在柳。 占曰:「周地有大兵。」 其年八月,桓溫伐苻健,退,因破姚襄于伊水,定周地。
Mars entered Bond and crossed Saturn. War, mourning, and Zhao’s doom. Shi Hu’s death unleashed Ran Min’s slaughter and Chu Pou’s failed expedition. Mars crossed Jupiter. Battle follows. Jupiter and Mars conjoined in Legs. Liu Xian’s coup plunged the north into chaos. Text may read “twelfth year”—Venus crossed Saturn in Willow. Zhou lands face war. Huan Wen’s withdrawal still yielded victory over Yao Xiang at the Yi.
205
升平二年八月戊午,熒惑犯填星,在張。 占曰:「兵大起。」 三年八月庚午,太白犯填星,在太微中。 占曰:「王者惡之。」 五年十月丁卯,熒惑犯歲星,在營室。 占曰:「大臣有匿謀。」 一曰:「衛地有兵。」 時桓溫擅權,謀移晉室。
Mars crossed Saturn in Extended Net. War escalates. Venus crossed Saturn inside Taiwei. Sovereigns dread the sign. Shengping 5: Mars crossed Jupiter in Encampment. High ministers plot in secret. Wei sees warfare. Huan Wen aimed to usurp the Jin.
206
海西公太和元年八月戊午,太白犯歲星,在太微中。 三年六月甲寅,太白奄熒惑,在太微端門中。 六年,海西公廢。
Venus crossed Jupiter inside Taiwei. Venus occulted Mars at the palace gate. The Haixi emperor was deposed.
207
簡文咸安二年正月己酉,歲星犯填星,在須女。 占曰:「為內亂。」 七月,帝崩,桓溫擅權,謀殺侍中王坦之等,內亂之應。
Jupiter crossed Saturn at Weaver Maid. Civil strife follows. Emperor Jianwen died; Huan Wen purged Wang Tanzhi—fulfilling the omen.
208
孝武甯康二年十一月癸酉,太白奄熒惑,在營室。 占曰:「金火合為爍,為兵喪。」 太元元年七月,苻堅伐涼州,破之,虜張天錫。
Venus occulted Mars in Encampment. Metal-fire conjunction brings war and mourning. Fu Jian conquered Former Liang.
209
太元十一年十二月己丑,太白犯歲星。 占曰:「為兵饑。」 是時河朔未平,兵連在外,冬大饑。 十七年九月丁丑,歲星、熒惑、填星同在亢、氐。 十二月癸酉,填星去,熒惑、歲星猶合。 占曰:「三星合,是謂驚立絕行,內外有兵喪與饑,改立王公。」 十九年十月,太白、填星、熒惑辰星合於氐。 十二月癸丑,太白犯歲星,在鬥。 占曰:「為亂饑,為內兵。 鬥吳越分。」 至隆字元年,王恭等舉兵,顯王國寶之罪,朝廷殺之。 是後連歲水旱饑。
Taiyuan 11: Venus crossed Jupiter. War and famine. Hebei still burned while winter famine struck. Three planets shared Neck and Foundation. Saturn left while Mars and Jupiter stayed conjoined. Triple conjunctions mean revolution and enthronements. Four planets met in Foundation. Venus crossed Jupiter in Dipper. Rebellion, hunger, civil war. Dipper maps to Wu-Yue. Wang Gong and allies executed Wang Guobao. Years of flood, drought, and scarcity followed.
210
安帝隆安元年二月,歲星、熒惑皆入羽林。 占曰:「中軍兵起。」 四月,王恭等舉兵,內外戒嚴。
Jupiter and Mars entered Feathered Forest guard. Palace armies mobilize. Wang Gong marched on the capital.
211
元興元年八月庚子,太白犯歲星,在上將東南。 占曰:「楚兵饑。」 一曰:「災在上將。」 二年,桓玄篡位。 三年,劉裕盡誅桓氏。 二年十月丁丑,太白犯填星,在婁。 占同上。 三年二月壬辰,太白、熒惑合于羽林。 二年十二月,桓玄篡位,放遷帝、後。 三年二月,劉裕起義兵,桓玄逼帝東下。
Venus crossed Jupiter near the Upper General star. Chu starves under arms. Calamity strikes top generals. Huan Xuan seized the throne. Liu Yu annihilated the Huans. Venus crossed Saturn in Bond. Same reading. Venus and Mars met in Feathered Forest. Text year labels conflict—Huan Xuan exiled the court. Liu Yu rose while Huan Xuan fled east with the emperor.
212
義熙二年十二月丁未,熒惑、太白皆入羽林,又合於壁。 三年正月,慕容超寇淮北、徐州,至下邳。 八月,遣劉敬宣伐蜀。 三年二月癸亥,熒惑、填星、太白、辰星聚于奎、婁、從填星也,徐州分。 是時,慕容超僭號于齊,兵連徐兗,連歲寇抄,至於淮泗,姚興、譙縱僭號秦蜀,盧循及魏南北交侵。 其五年,劉裕北殄慕容超。 其六月辛卯,熒惑犯辰星,在翼。 占曰:「天下兵起。」 八月己卯,太白奄熒惑。 占曰:「有大兵。」 其四年,姚略遣眾征赫連勃勃,大為所破。 五年四月甲戌,熒惑犯辰星,在東井。 占曰:「皆為兵。」 十二月辛丑,太白犯歲星,在奎。 占曰:「大兵起,魯有兵。」 是年四月,劉裕討慕容超。 六年二月,滅慕容超于魯地。 七年七月丁卯,歲星犯填星,在參。 占曰:「歲填合,為內亂。」 一曰:「益州戰,不勝,亡地。」 是時硃齡石伐蜀,後竟滅之。 明年,誅謝混、劉毅。 八年七月甲申,太白犯填星,在東井。 占曰:「秦有大兵。」 九年二月丙午,熒惑、填星皆犯東井。 占曰、:「秦有兵。」 三月壬辰,歲星、熒惑、填星、太白聚于東井,從歲星也。 東井,秦分。 十三年,劉裕定關中,其後遂移晉祚。 十四年十月癸巳,熒惑入太微,犯西蕃上將,仍順行至左掖門內,留二十日乃逆行。 至恭帝元熙元年三月五日,出西蕃上將西三尺許,又順還入太微。 時填星在太微,熒惑繞填星成鉤己,其年四月丙戌,從端門出。 占曰:「熒惑填星鉤己天庭,天下更紀。」 十二月,安帝母弟琅邪王踐阼,是曰恭帝。 來年,禪于宋。
Mars and Venus entered Feathered Forest and Wall. Murong Chao struck toward Xuzhou. Liu Jingxuan marched on Shu. Four planets clustered in Legs-Bond—Saturn leading—Xuzhou sector. War engulfed Xu-Yan, Huai-Si, Shu, and the coast. Liu Yu crushed Southern Yan in year five. Mars crossed Mercury in Wings. War engulfs the realm. Venus occulted Mars. Major war follows. Yao Xing sent armies against Helian Bobo and suffered crushing defeat. Mars crossed Mercury in Eastern Well. Every reading spells war. Venus crossed Jupiter in Legs. Lu faces invasion. Liu Yu attacked Murong Chao that spring. Southern Yan fell in Shandong. Jupiter crossed Saturn in Triaster. Jupiter-Saturn conjunction brings civil war. Yizhou could lose land if defeated. Zhu Lingshi conquered Shu. Xie Hun and Liu Yi died the next year. Venus crossed Saturn in Eastern Well. Qin sees major campaigns. Mars and Saturn both trespassed Eastern Well. Qin faces war (text punctuated oddly). Four planets stacked in Eastern Well led by Jupiter. Eastern Well maps to the Qin region. Liu Yu took Chang’an before ending the Jin. Mars entered Taiwei, grazed generals, lingered, then reversed. By 419 Mars exited Taiwei then re-entered. Saturn stayed in Taiwei while Mars hooked around it—then Mars left the gate. Mars ringing Saturn in the palace marks dynastic renewal. Prince Sima Dewen succeeded as Emperor Gong. The following year he abdicated to Liu Yu of Song.