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卷二十七 志第三 天文三

Volume 27 Treatises 3: Astronomy 3

Chapter 27 of 明史 · History of Ming
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Chapter 27
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1
Treatise on Astronomy, Part Three.
2
▲ Daytime Visibility of Stars
3
Fixed Stars: Hongwu 19/VII/guihai, 20/V/dingchou, 20/VII/renyin, and 21/XII/dingmao—all recorded the Three Luminaries visible by day. Hongzhi 18, ninth month, jiawu at the shen watch (3–5 p.m.): River Drum and the Northern Dipper appeared. On gengzi, stars were visible by day. Zhengde 1, second month, guiyou: the Dipper was visible in daylight. Tianqi 2, fifth month, renyin: a star accompanied the sun and shone by day. Chongzhen 16, twelfth month, new moon on xinyou: stars visible by day.
4
Jupiter: Jingtai 2, ninth month, jiachen—visible by day. Jingtai 3/VI/renxu through Hongzhi 14/VI/renchen–yiwei (the dates enumerated above): on each occasion Jupiter was likewise visible by day. Hongzhi 15, sixth month: Jupiter was visible by day for many consecutive days. Hongzhi 16/VII/xinmao through Zhengde 12/X/jiazi–yisi (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Jiajing 2/III/xinwei and 29/VIII/wuyin: visible by day, stationing at Well. Chongzhen 11, fourth month, renzi: visible by day.
5
Mars: Jingtai 3, eighth month, jiazi—visible by day in the Wei station.
6
Venus: Hongwu 4, second month, wuwu—visible by day. Hongwu 4/IV/wushen through 18/VI/bingshen–xinchou & xinhai (the dates enumerated above): in each case Venus was likewise visible by day. Ninth month, wuyin: Venus transited heaven and stood at the same degree as Mars. On yiyou, Venus was visible by day. On dinghai it appeared again and transgressed Mars. Tenth month, guisi through bingshen: visible by day. Wuxu through xinchou, and Hongwu 19/X/jiashen new moon through gengyin: in each case likewise. Hongwu 20, sixth month, wuxu: Venus transited heaven. Seventh month, renyin through jiachen: visible by day. Hongwu 21/IV/jisi, 21/VII/bingshen, 23/III/dinghai, 24/VIII/xinsi, 25/II/xinyou, and 26/IV/jiachen: in each case likewise. Eighth month, gengzi: Venus and the moon were both visible by day. Jianwen 4, seventh month, gengzi: Venus transited heaven. Yongle 1, fifth month, guiwei and guimao: on both dates Venus and the moon were visible by day. Sixth month, renshen: Venus and the moon were visible by day. Yongle 4, seventh month, renyin: visible by day. Yongle 5/VIII/bingshen through Zhengtong 6/V/gengxu (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Yongle 11, seventh month, jiashen: Venus transited heaven. Yongle 13, second month, xinyou: visible by day. Yongle 14/I/xinhai, 14/VIII/bingzi, Jingtai 1/X/yiyou, and Jingtai 2/V/gengzi & xinhai: in each case likewise. On renzi, Venus transited heaven. Jingtai 3, fifth month, dingsi: visible by day. Jingtai 3/XI/renxu through Chenghua 7/VIII/guimao (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Chenghua 8, first month, yimao: Venus transited heaven and vied in brightness with the sun. Chenghua 11, fifth month, jiwei: visible by day. Chenghua 12/X/bingxu and 13/XII/jiawu: in each case likewise. Chenghua 14, sixth month, gengzi: Venus and Jupiter were both visible by day. Eighth month, jiawu: visible by day. Chenghua 15/XII/bingzi, 17/III/guimao, 17/VIII/guihai, 18/IX/gengxu, and 19/IV/guihai new moon: in each case likewise. Chenghua 20, eighth month, renshen: Venus and Jupiter were both visible by day. Chenghua 21, eleventh month, bingchen: visible by day. Chenghua 22/VI/jichou through Hongzhi 10/I/jiazi–dingmao (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Sixth month, bingzi at the wei watch (1–3 p.m.): Venus transited heaven. Eighth month, guimao, and Hongzhi 11/X/xinsi: visible by day. Hongzhi 12/III/wuchen–renshen and 12/VIII/gengyin: in each case likewise. Hongzhi 13, fourth month, gengzi through yisi: Venus and Jupiter were both visible by day. Hongzhi 14/X/dingwei & jiyou, 14/XII/gengxu, 15/V/gengyin–guisi, 16/VII/renchen, 17/II/wuxu & 17/VI/guihai, and 18/II/renxu: all visible by day. Fifth month, xinhai: Venus transited heaven. Eighth month, guihai through wuchen: visible by day. Zhengde 1, tenth month, jiwei: the same. Zhengde 2, first month, gengchen: Venus transited heaven. Third month, wuchen: visible by day. Zhengde 3/V/yisi–dingwei through Jiajing 1/IX/xinwei (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Jiajing 2, third month, xinwei: Venus and Jupiter were both visible by day. Jiajing 3, fourth month, gengxu: visible by day. Jiajing 5/V/gengzi, 11/IV/guisi, 11/X/xinsi & wuzi, 11/XI/jiayin, and 13/interc. II/gengshen: in each case likewise. Fifth month, guisi: Venus and the moon were both visible by day. Jiajing 17, ninth month, xinmao: visible by day. Jiajing 18/IV/guihai through 39/I/gengyin–renchen (the dates enumerated above): in each case likewise. Jiajing 40, third month, bingzi: visible by day for twenty-four days. Eighth month, xinwei: visible by day. Jiajing 41/IX/yiwei, 42/IV/jisi–renshen, and 43/V/jiayin: in each case likewise. Tenth month, wuzi: visible by day for twenty-two days. Jiajing 45, first month, jihai: visible by day. Longqing 1/VII/xinyou and 2/I/jiayin: in each case likewise. Longqing 3/III/jiazi: visible by day for twenty-two days; Longqing 4/XI/yichou–dingmao: visible by day. Wanli 11/VII/xinchou, 12/VII/guisi, 16/IX/dingchou, 21/VIII/jiawu, and 24/X/bingyin: in each case likewise. Wanli 27, ninth month, xinmao: Venus transited heaven. Wanli 37, third month, xinchou: visible by day. Wanli 38/X/xinsi, 40/V/renyin, Tianqi 2/II/bingxu, 3/III/dingsi, 3/XII/yichou, and 5/IV/guimao: in each case likewise. Tianqi 5, seventh month, guiyou: Venus transited heaven. Chongzhen 1, seventh month, renxu: visible by day. Chongzhen 3/IV/jimao and 3/XII/bingchen: in each case likewise.
7
▲ Guest Stars
8
·
The Records of the Historian's "Heavenly Offices" names the guest star but does not describe its appearance. It treats Guohuang, Zhaoming, and other anomalous stars at length, yet nowhere distinguishes auspicious stars from baleful ones. The term guest star thus denotes an extraordinary apparition—likely a blanket label for anomalous stars rather than a fixed taxon. Li Chunfeng's treatises on Jin and Sui astronomy first classed Jing Star, Hanyu, and their kind as auspicious stars, comets, broom-stars, Guohuang, and the like as baleful stars, and Zhou Bo, Old Man, and others as guest stars—professing to follow Liu Rui's late-Han Jingzhou Prognostications. Hanyu is styled an auspicious star, yet its radiance resembles a comet; Guohuang is styled a baleful star, yet its shape recalls the Old Man of the Southern Pole. Can auspicious and baleful categories truly be fixed? Zhou Bo is a single star: classed as auspicious, it foretells great prosperity for the state; classed as a guest star, it foretells mobilization and mourning. Doctrine so contradictory cannot serve as a rule. That Sima Qian refused further subdivision was well judged. Per the Veritable Records, comets and broom-stars appeared with especial frequency; each is entered separately. The Old Man star is commonly seen south of the Yangzi; at Yanjing it ought not appear, and is therefore omitted. All remaining phenomena are classed as guest stars and arranged below.
9
Hongwu 3, seventh month: the Grand Astrologer reported the literature star had appeared. Hongwu 9, sixth month, wuzi: a star as large as a pellet, white in color. It halted at Celestial Granary, crossed Outer Screen and Curled Tongue, entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, swept Wenchang, pointed at Inner Kitchen, and entered Extended Net. Seventh month, yihai: it vanished. Hongwu 11, ninth month, jiaxu: a star appeared northeast of Five Chariots, its rays extending more than a zhang. It swept Inner Steps, entered the Purple Forbidden Palace, swept the Five Stars of the North Pole, transgressed the Eastern Rampart Lesser Steward, entered the Celestial Market Enclosure, and transgressed Celestial Market. By tenth month, jiwei, overcast clouds hid it from view. Hongwu 18, ninth month, wuyin: a star appeared in the Supreme Palace Enclosure, transgressed the Right Law Administrator, and issued from Terminal Gate. On yiyou it entered Wings, the comet trailing more than a zhang. By the tenth month, on gengyin, it struck Military Gate; the comet swept Heavenly Temple. Hongwu 21, second month, bingyin: a star rose from Eastern Wall. The omen read, "Scholars will be put to use." The Emperor rejoiced, taking it as a sign that the jinshi examination was near.
10
宿
Yongle 2, tenth month, gengchen: southeast of Imperial Carriage Way a star like a wine cup shone yellow, bright and still. Yongle 22, ninth month, xushu: a star appeared in Dipper, bowl-sized and yellow-white, lighting the earth, with a sound like gravel flung abroad.
11
西
Xuande 5, eighth month, gengyin: a pellet-sized blue-black star appeared by Southern River and was gone in twenty-six days. Tenth month, bingshen: a Peng star showed south of Outer Screen, moved southeast past Celestial Granary and Celestial Storehouse, and vanished in eight days. Twelfth month, dinghai: a pellet-sized star, yellow-white and bright, appeared by Nine Banners and faded after fifteen days. Xuande 6, third month, renwu: it appeared again. Xuande 8, intercalary eighth month, wuwu: three Auspicious Stars—blue, red, and yellow, each bowl-bright—showed at the northwestern Heavenly Gate, lingered, then gathered into a half-moon. On dingchou a yellow-red glow rose in the southeast, starlike yet not a star, cloudlike yet not a cloud—the Return-to-Evil star.
12
宿西
Jingtai 3, eleventh month, guiwei: a star appeared by the Corpse-Heap nebula in Ghost and drifted slowly west.
13
宿西 西
Tianshun 2, eleventh month, guimao: a white star appeared in Star and moved west; by bingwu it had thinned to powdered floss beside Xuanyuan. On gengxu it sprouted five-inch rays and struck Torch Stand's northwest star; by the twelfth month, renxu, it was lost in Eastern Well. Tianshun 5, sixth month, renchen: a powder-white star stood by the Chancellor of the Ancestral Temple in the Celestial Market Enclosure; by yiwei it thinned to white vapor and vanished. Tianshun 6, sixth month, bingyin: a pale star by Policy Star entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, struck Celestial Prison, and by guiwei hung faint below Central Terrace.
14
西 退
Hongzhi 3, twelfth month, dingsi: a star appeared in the Celestial Market Enclosure and moved southeast. On wuchen it showed below Celestial Granary and drifted toward Wall. Hongzhi 7, twelfth month, bingyin: a star by Celestial River crept toward Dipper; by the first month of the eighth year, gengxu, it entered Danger. Hongzhi 12, seventh month, wuchen: a star by the Ancestral Star in the Celestial Market Enclosure entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure's eastern rampart, threaded Lesser Steward and Minister, reached the crown prince's rear palace, left by the western rampart's Lesser Assistant, and vanished on jichou of the eighth month. Hongzhi 15, tenth month, wuchen: a star by Heavenly Temple ran from Extended Net to Wings, fell back to Extended Net, and on wuyin was gone.
15
西
Zhengde 16, first month, new moon jiayin: a firelike star in the southeast whitened, stretched six or seven chi east and west, curled into hooks, and at last scattered.
16
西
Jiajing 8, first month, Establishing the Sun day: a long star bridged the heavens. In the seventh month it happened again. Jiajing 11, second month, renwu: a pale star with rays showed in the southeast and faded in nineteen days. Jiajing 13, fifth month, new moon dingmao: a star in Serpent crossed Heavenly Stables, entered Flying Gallery, and was gone in twenty-four days. Jiajing 15, third month, wuwu: a star by Celestial Rope moved east past Celestial Kitchen into Celestial Han and vanished on renchen of the fourth month. Jiajing 24, eleventh month, renwu: a star rose from Celestial Rope, entered Winnowing Basket, turned northeast, and was lost after more than a month.
17
西西 西 西 西
Wanli 6, first month, wuchen: a sun-bright star rose in the west and the host of stars wheeled west around it. Wanli 12, sixth month, jiyou: a star rose from Room. Wanli 32, ninth month, yichou: a red-yellow pellet-star in the Tail allotment showed in the southwest and hid in the tenth month. Twelfth month, xinyou: it swung out to the southeast, still within Tail. The next year it dimmed through the second month; on dingmao of the eighth month it vanished at last. Wanli 37: a great star blazed in the southwest, rays thrusting four ways. Wanli 46, ninth month, yimao: a white vapor a chi wide and two zhang long ran southeast from Chariot into Wings and dispersed in nineteen days. Eleventh month, bingyin: at dawn a mottled white star showed in the east. Tianqi 1, fourth month, guiyou: a red star appeared in the east.
18
Chongzhen 9, winter: the Heavenly Dog showed in the Yu allotment.
19
▲ Comets and broom stars.
20
西
A comet's light clings to the sun: seen at dusk it must point east; seen at dawn, west. The broom star too belongs to the comet kind, its haze shooting four ways; astronomers hold its disaster graver still than a comet's.
21
Hongwu 1, first month, gengyin: a comet appeared in Hairy Head and Net. Third month, xinmao: a comet rose between Great Mound north of Hairy Head and Celestial Boat, eight chi long, aimed at Wenchang and Five Chariots; on jiyou of the fourth month it died north of Five Chariots. Hongwu 6, fourth month: three comets entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure. Hongwu 24, fourth month, bingzi: two comets—one entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure's Changhe Gate and struck Celestial Bed; the other struck Six Jia and swept the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors.
22
Yongle 5, eleventh month, bingyin: a comet appeared.
23
西
Xuande 6, fourth month, xushu: a broom star stood in Eastern Well, five chi long. Xuande 7, first month, renxu: a comet rose in the east, a zhang long, its tail sweeping Celestial Ford southeastward; it faded in the tenth month. That month, wuzi: it showed again in the west and was gone in seventeen days. Xuande 8, intercalary eighth month, renzi: a comet rose by Celestial Granary, about a zhang long. On jisi it entered Coiled Thong and swept Seven Lords. On jimao it re-entered the Celestial Market Enclosure, swept the Jin stars, and vanished in twenty-four days.
24
宿 西宿 宿西
Zhengtong 4, intercalary second month, jichou: a pellet-sized comet appeared by Extended Net. On dingyou it stretched five zhang, swept west through Wine Banner, curved north, and struck Ghost. Sixth month, wuyin: a comet by Net, a zhang long and pointing southwest, lasted fifty-five days and vanished. Zhengtong 9, seventh month, gengwu: a comet at the Supreme Palace Enclosure's eastern rampart, a zhang at first and lengthening daily; on jimao of the intercalary seventh month it entered Horn and died. Zhengtong 14, twelfth month, renzi: a comet by Market Tower in the Celestial Market Enclosure crossed the Tail degrees, two chi long, and vanished on yihai.
25
西 西 西
Jingtai 1, first month, renwu: a comet rose outside the Celestial Market Enclosure and swept Celestial Law. Jingtai 3, third month, new moon jiawu: a broom star stood at Net. Jingtai 7, fourth month, renxu: a comet showed northeast at Stomach, two chi long, tail to the southwest. Fifth month, guiyou: it slowly stretched past a zhang. On wuzi it blazed northwest at Willow, nine chi long, sweeping Xuanyuan. On jiawu it showed at Extended Net, seven chi long, swept north of the Supreme Palace Enclosure, and ran southwest. Sixth month, renyin: it entered the Supreme Palace Enclosure, a chi long. Twelfth month, jiayin: the comet returned at Net, five inches long, lengthened as it ran southeast, and vanished on guihai.
26
西 宿 西
Tianshun 1, fifth month, bingxu: a comet at Danger swayed east one degree, five-inch rays pointing southwest. Sixth month, new moon guisi: it showed at Encampment, a zhang long from Tail to Eastern Wall, striking Great Celestial General, Curled Tongue's third star, and the second star south of Well's Water Level. Tenth month, jihai: a comet at Horn, five inches long, pointed north and struck Horn's north star and Level Path's eastern star. Tianshun 5, sixth month, xushu: a comet in the east pointed southwest into the Well degrees. Seventh month, bingyin: it vanished at last.
27
西 西 西 西西 西 宿
Chenghua 1, second month: a comet appeared. Third month: it showed again in the northwest, three zhang long, and was gone after three months. Chenghua 4, ninth month, jiwei: a star at five degrees of Star moved northeast; in five days its rays reached three zhang, tail southwest, and it became a comet. Thereafter it showed at dawn in the east and at dusk in Encampment, struck south through Three Excellencies, Northern Dipper, Jade Radiance, and Seven Lords, and entered the Celestial Market Enclosure. Leaving the enclosure it waned and struck the first star west of Heavenly Screen. Eleventh month, gengchen: it vanished at last. Chenghua 7, twelfth month, jiaxu: a comet at Celestial Field pointed west, then ran north, struck Right Rearward, and swept the Supreme Palace Enclosure's supreme general, favored ministers, crown prince, and attendants; its tail swept due west through the courtier stations. On jimao its light swelled until it bridged the sky east and west. It ran north twenty-eight degrees and more, struck Heavenly Spear, swept Northern Dipper, Three Excellencies, and the Sun, entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, and shone even at noon. Emperor Star, Northern Dipper, Dipper Sceptre, Heir Apparent's Son, Rear Palace, Gouchen, Celestial Pivot, Three Preceptors, Celestial Prison, Central Terrace, Great Celestial Emperor, Upper Guard, Flying Gallery, Wenchang, Upper Terrace—it spared none. On yiyou it turned south through Bond, Celestial River, Celestial Yin, Outer Screen, and Celestial Storehouse. Chenghua 8, first month, bingwu: it skirted Kui's Outer Screen, thinned, and after long while vanished.
28
Hongzhi 3, eleventh month, xushu: a comet south of Celestial Ford pointed its tail northeast. It struck Man Star and crossed Pestle and Mortar. Twelfth month, new moon wushen: it entered Encampment Chamber. On gengshen it struck Celestial Granary. Hongzhi 13, fourth month, jiawu: a comet atop Rampart Formation, between Room and Wall, slowly stretched past three chi. It aimed at Lixing Palace, swept Zaosu, crossed the Supreme Palace Enclosure, and waned. It entered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure, neared Female Clerk, struck Minister, and on dingyou of the sixth month vanished.
29
西 西
Zhengde 1, seventh month, jichou: a pellet-sized pale star appeared outside the Purple Forbidden Enclosure's western rampart. Days later faint rays showed between Net and Well, lengthened to a two-chi broom, and ran northwest to Wenchang. On gengzi a comet blazed, streaming three chi southeast. In three days it stretched five chi, swept Lower Terrace's upper star, and entered the Supreme Palace Enclosure. Zhengde 15, first month: a comet appeared.
30
宿 西
Jiajing 2, sixth month: a broom star stood in the Celestial Market. Jiajing 10, intercalary sixth month, yisi: a comet at Eastern Well, a chi long, swept Xuanyuan's first star. Its rays lengthened; by Wings it measured seven chi. Northeast it swept Heavenly Wine Jar, entered the Supreme Palace Enclosure, swept the courtier stations, turned southeast past Horn's second star north, slowly contracted, and vanished in thirty-four days. Jiajing 11, eighth month, jimao: a comet appeared at Well, about a foot long. It then moved northeast, passing Celestial Ford, and gradually lengthened to more than a zhang. It swept stars of the Taiwei Enclosure, Horn, and Celestial Gate; on the twelfth month, jiaxu, after one hundred fifteen days in all, it vanished. Jiajing 12, sixth month, xinsi: a comet appeared at the Five Chariots, more than five chi long, sweeping Great Tomb and the Great General of Heaven. It gradually lengthened to more than a zhang, swept the Gallery Bridge, encroached upon Flying Serpent, and vanished on the eighth month, wuxu. Jiajing 18, fourth month, gengxu: a comet appeared, about three chi long, its light pointing southeast. It swept the eighth star north of Xuanyuan; after ten days it vanished. Jiajing 33, fifth month, guihai: a comet appeared beside Celestial Balance, encroached upon Wenchang, entered Near Turbid, and vanished after twenty-seven days. Jiajing 35, first month, gengchen: a comet appeared beside Advancement of the Worthies, about a foot long and pointing southwest; it gradually lengthened to more than three chi. It swept the Taiwei Enclosure, then turned northeast into the Purple Forbidden Enclosure and encroached upon the Celestial Bed; it vanished on the second day of the fourth month. Jiajing 36, ninth month, wuchen: a comet appeared beside Row of Shops in the Celestial Market Enclosure, pointing northeast; it vanished on the twenty-third day of the tenth month.
31
Longqing 3, tenth month, new moon on xinchou: a comet appeared in the Celestial Market Enclosure, pointing northeast; it vanished on gengshen.
32
西 西 西 西 西 西西 西 西 西
Wanli 5, tenth month, wuzi: a comet appeared in the southwest, pale white and several zhang long; its vapour formed a white rainbow. It passed from Tail and Winnowing Basket across Dipper and Ox and Maiden; after a month it vanished. Wanli 8, eighth month, gengshen: a comet appeared in the southeast; each night it gradually lengthened, crossing the River of Heaven for more than seventy days. Wanli 10, fourth month, bingchen: a comet appeared in the northwest, shaped like a bolt of silk with its tail pointing at the Five Chariots; after more than twenty days it vanished. Wanli 13, ninth month, wuzi: a comet issued beside the Feathered Forest, about a foot long. Each evening it moved eastward and gradually shrank; on the tenth month, guiyou, it vanished. Wanli 19, third month, bingchen: in the northwest a star like a comet appeared, more than a foot long. It passed Stomach, Encampment, and Wall; its length reached two chi. On the intercalary third month, new moon on bingyin, it entered Bond. Wanli 21, seventh month, yimao: a comet appeared at Well. On yihai it moved retrograde into the Purple Forbidden Enclosure and encroached upon the Canopy of Heaven. Wanli 24, seventh month, dingchou: a comet appeared in the northwest like a pellet. It entered Wings, was more than a foot long, and moved northwest. Wanli 35, eighth month, new moon on xinyou: a comet appeared at Well, pointing southwest and gradually shifting toward the northwest. On renwu it passed from Room through Heart and vanished. Wanli 46, tenth month, yichou: a comet issued from Root, more than a zhang long, at first pointing southeast and gradually turning northwest. It swept and encroached upon the Guardian of the Sun, entered Neck, and swept northwest past the Northern Dipper, Sighting Axis, Wenchang, and the Five Chariots, pressing the right side of the Purple Forbidden Enclosure; it vanished on the eleventh month, jiachen. Wanli 47, at the end of the first month: a comet appeared in the southeast, several hundred chi long, its radiance shooting downward and its tip curved and sharp; before long it was seen in the northeast, and before long in the west.
33
Chongzhen 12, autumn: a comet appeared at the Three Stars. Chongzhen 13, tenth month, bingxu: a comet appeared.
34
▲ Heavenly transformations.
35
西 西 西
Hongwu 21, eighth month, from renxu to jiazi: the sky drum sounded day and night without cease. Hongwu 28, third month, wuwu: at the dusk watch the sky sounded like wind and water clashing; it stopped at the first watch. Ninth month, wuxu: at the first watch the sky sounded like pouring water, from the northeast toward the south; it stopped at the second watch. Xuande 1, eighth month, wuchen: at the dusk watch the sky sounded like rain squalls arriving in succession, from the southeast toward the southwest; after a long while it ceased. On xinwei the southeast sky sounded like ten thousand drums. Zhengtong 10, third month, gengyin: the northwest sky sounded like a flock of birds in flight. Zhengde 1, second month, renzi: at night the northeast sky sounded like wind and water clashing five or seven times. Longqing 2, eighth month, jiachen: northwest of Jiang Prefecture the sky split open; from chou to yin it closed again. Wanli 16, ninth month, yichou: at Shihuigou in Gansu the sky sounded; in the clouds shapes like dogs barked wildly, with audible sound. Chongzhen 1, third month, xinsi: before dawn the sky was red like blood, and light through the windows was all red. Chongzhen 10, ninth month: every morning and evening the colour of the sky was red-yellow.
36
▲ Solar and lunar transformations.
37
Hongwu 2, twelfth month, jiazi: there was a black spot on the sun. Hongwu 3/IX/wuxu; 3/X/dingsi; 3/XI/jiachen; 4/III/wuxu; 4/V/renzi–xinsi; 4/IX/wuyin; 5/I/gengxu; 5/II/dingwei; 5/V/jiazi; 5/VII/xinwei; 6/XI/wuxu (new moon); 7/II/gengxu–jiayin; 8/II/xinhai; 8/IX/guiwei; 8/XII/guichou; 14/II/renwu–yiyou; 15/intercalary II/bingxu; 15/XII/xinsi: on each date it was the same.
38
Zhengtong 1, eighth month, guiyou–jimao: whenever the moon rose or set there was wandering vapour, red in colour and without light. Zhengtong 14, eighth month, xinwei: the moon was seen by day and vied with the sun for brightness. Tenth month, renshen: black vapour on the sun like smoke; soon it emitted red light and scattered flames like fire.
39
Jingtai 2, fourth month, jimao: the colour of the moon was like ochre. Jingtai 7, ninth month, bingzi: the colour of the sun turned red.
40
Tianshun 2, intercalary second month, jisi: the sun had no light; presently it turned red like ochre. Tianshun 3, eighth month, dingmao: the colour of the sun was like ochre. Tianshun 6, tenth month, bingzi: the sun was red like blood. Tianshun 7, fourth month, guimao: it was the same. On yiyou the colour of the sun turned white. Tianshun 8, second month, jihai: the sun had no light.
41
Chenghua 5, intercalary second month, jimao: the colour of the sun turned white. Chenghua 11, second month, jihai: the colour of the sun was like ochre. Fourth month, xinmao: it was the same. Chenghua 13, third month, renshen: the sun was white and without light. Tenth month, xinmao; Chenghua 14/III/gengwu; 16/III/bingxu: on each date it was the same. Chenghua 17, third month, dingyou: the sun was red like ochre. Chenghua 18, fourth month, renyin: the sun was red and without light. Twelfth month, guiyou: the sun was red like ochre. Chenghua 20, second month, guiyou: it was the same.
42
齿
Hongzhi 1, eleventh month, jimao: the moon grew rays like teeth, more than three chi long and pale white in colour. Hongzhi 18, eighth month, guiyou, through ninth month, jiawu: the sun had no light.
43
西
Jiajing 1, first month, dingmao: the sun was ghastly white, turned greenish, and had no light. Jiajing 28, third month, bingchen–gengzi: the colour of the sun was ghastly white. Jiajing 34, twelfth month, gengshen: on the last day of the month the sun suddenly darkened; green, black, and purple solar shadows like disks, several dozen rubbing together; after a long while there were thousands, flying and filling the sky, scattering toward the northwest.
44
Wanli 25, third month, guichou: twenty or thirty black suns circled beside the sun; after a time clouds hid them from view. Fifth month, new moon on xinmao: the sunlight whirled and turned into a black disk. Wanli 30, third month, jiashen: the sunlight shone on the ground yellow-red. Wanli 35, eleventh month, bingwu: the sun was red and without light, lighting the ground like blood. Wanli 42, third month, gengchen: for many days the sun was red-yellow like ochre and like blood. Wanli 44, eighth month, wuchen: there was black light in the sun. Wanli 46, intercalary sixth month, bingxu–wuzi: black vapour went in and out of the sun, rubbing and churning.
45
Tianqi 4, first month, guimao: the sun was red and without light; two or three black spots oscillated beside it, gradually reaching about a hundred; altogether four days. Second month, renzi: the sun was pale yellow and without light. On guichou black suns rubbed and churned beside the sun. Fourth month, guiyou: black vapour in the sun rubbed and churned. Twelfth month, xinsi: at the noon watch, neither smoke nor mist covered and pressed upon the sun, rubbing like a cover and like swallowing; all heaven turned red.
46
Chongzhen 4, first month, wuxu: the colour of the sun was like blood, illuminating people and things all red. Second month, new moon on yisi: the sun was red like blood and without light. Tenth month, bingwu: the moon was seen by day. Chongzhen 11, eleventh month, guihai: in the sun there were black spots and black, green, and white vapour. At sunset the sunlight rubbed and churned like two suns. Chongzhen 12, first month, new moon on jiwei: the sun was white and without light. On xinyou the sunlight rubbed and churned all day; vapour issued from the sun like ink from a mirror spraying flowers. Second month, gengzi: beside the sun there were red and white pellets, and white rays and black vapour crossed and masked one another; the sunlight rubbed and churned. Chongzhen 13, ninth month, jisi: two suns appeared together; at the chen watch they merged into one; at sunset they again divided into two. Chongzhen 14, first month, renyin: the sun was greenish and without light. Three years afterward, first month, guichou: a star entered the moon. Third month, renyin: the sun had no light for two weeks.
47
▲ Halos and related phenomena.
48
Hongwu 6, third month, wuchen: intersecting halos on the sun. Hongwu 10, first month, jisi: a white rainbow pierced the sun. Twelfth month, jiazi: a white rainbow pierced the moon. Hongwu 12, fourth month, gengshen: the sun showed crossing halos. Hongwu 24, first month, renzi: the sun had parhelia, and a white arc crossed them. Ninth month, jiachen: a white arc crossed the sun. Fifteenth year, dingwei; nineteenth year, third month, jisi; twenty-second year, twelfth month, wuwu: all the same. Twenty-third year, first month, renchen: a solar halo; a white arc crossed the parhelia. Twenty-eighth year, eleventh month, yihai: red vapor on the sun stretched more than five zhang; presently upright vapor and a back aura also appeared, all blue-red. A semicircular halo followed; two white arcs crossed the parhelia, then spanned the sky and crossed the sun. Thirtieth year, second month, xinhai: a white arc spanning heaven crossed the sun.
49
Yongle 18, intercalary first month, guimao: the sun showed a double semicircular halo with blue-red back aura above, parhelia left and right, and a white arc crossing them; yellow vapor and jade aura followed.
50
Hongxi 1, first month, yiwei: the sun produced two parhelia, and a white arc crossed them. Fourth month, dingwei: the same; crossing halos appeared again.
51
Xuande 1, first month, gengxu: the sun showed blue-red jade aura, then crossing halos in yellow-red. Second month, jimao: two parhelia on the sun, then crossing halos with parhelia left and right, a double semicircular halo above, and a back aura. At dusk watch the moon showed two parhelia, and a white arc crossed them. Xuande 2, twelfth month, jiaxu: the moon showed crossing halos with parhelia left and right, and a white arc crossing them. Third year, third month, gengyin: crossing halos on the sun in yellow-red, with two parhelia and one back aura and one halberd aura, all blue-red. Dingyou: a solar halo, then crossing halos and two halberd auras. Twelfth month, jimao: the sun showed crossing halos. Fifth year, first month, guihai: a solar halo, then crossing halos. Second month, jiawu: crossing halos on the sun, then a halberd aura. Fourth month, gengchen: the sun produced two parhelia, and a white arc crossed them. Sixth year, second month, jiayin: a solar halo, then crossing halos and a double semicircular halo with jade aura. Eighth year, ninth month, wuxu: at chen watch a solar halo with two parhelia and a back aura; at shen watch all the phenomena returned. Tenth year, twelfth month, xinhai: a solar halo; a white arc crossed both parhelia; jade aura appeared, then a double semicircular halo and back aura.
52
Zhengtong 1, second month, jiyou: a white arc crossed the moon. Ninth month, dingwei: the same. Twelfth month, bingxu: the moon showed a back aura with parhelia left and right, and a white arc crossing them. Third year, fourth month, gengchen: the sun produced two parhelia with a white arc crossing them, then a halo. Twelfth month, guiyou: the moon showed two parhelia with a white arc crossing them, then a back aura. Seventh year, twelfth month, xinchou: a lunar halo with a white arc crossing it. Eleventh year, first month, yiwei: the sun showed a back aura, and a white arc filled heaven. Fourteenth year, eighth month, wushen: a solar halo with a halberd aura beside it, then parhelia left and right and a cap aura; in the northeast a rainbow like a pestle.
53
Jingtai 1, second month, renwu: at you watch four black vapors on the sun, about three zhang long and one zhang above the ground, pointed at both ends and piercing the disk, shaped like fish. Twelfth month, jiawu: crossing halos on the sun, one back aura above and below, and one halberd aura on each side. Second year, first month, guimao: the sun showed parhelia left and right with a white arc crossing them, then a back aura. Second month, bingxu: the sun showed crossing halos. Third year, first month, bingchen: the sun showed parhelia left and right with back aura and a white arc. Fifth year, eleventh month, renxu: a lunar halo with parhelia and back aura left and right; a white arc then crossed the right parhelion. Seventh year, sixth month, dingchou: a solar halo, then a double semicircular halo and parhelia left and right.
54
Tianshun 1, second month, gengxu: at chen watch crossing halos on the sun with parhelia left and right; embracing aura and halberd auras left and right then appeared, and a white arc crossed the sun. At wei watch all the phenomena returned. Xinhai: crossing halos on the sun with parhelia and halberd aura left and right; a white arc crossed the sun and filled heaven for the whole day. Second year, second month, yimao: crossing halos on the sun with a back aura above, and a white arc crossing the sun. Seventh year, first month, wuxu: the moon showed interlocking halos.
55
Chenghua 2, fourth month, renyin: crossing halos on the sun with a parhelion on the right. Eleventh year, sixth month, jiyou: double halos on the sun with parhelia and a back aura left and right. Twelfth year, first month, jiazi: the sun showed crossing halos. Twentieth year, second month, jiwei: the sun showed a white arc spanning the northeast sky. Twenty-first year, tenth month, guisi: at si watch a solar halo with parhelia left and right. At wei watch they returned; embracing aura and back aura also appeared. Twenty-third year, twelfth month, guisi: a solar halo with parhelia left and right, then a back aura and semicircular halo.
56
Hongzhi 2, first month, jiaxu: at wu watch a solar halo with a white arc filling heaven. Bingxu: crossing halos on the sun with parhelia left and right, and a white arc filling heaven. Second month, renyin: the sun showed parhelia and back aura left and right, then crossing halos, a semicircular halo, and embracing and lattice auras. Eleventh month, wuchen: interlocking halos on the moon crossing the parhelia left and right. Fourth year, second month, gengxu: at wu watch crossing halos on the sun with parhelia left and right, a halberd aura below, and a white arc filling heaven. Sixth year, eleventh month, yisi: a lunar halo with parhelia left and right, crossed by interlocking halos. Eighteenth year, second month, jisi: a lunar halo with parhelia left and right, and a white arc filling heaven.
57
Zhengde 1, first month, yiyou: a solar halo with back aura above, parhelia left and right, and a white arc filling heaven. Twelfth month, xinyou: a lunar halo with a white arc filling heaven; on jiazi, the same.
58
Jiajing 1, fourth month, guimao: the moon showed interlocking halos. Second year, first month, jiyou: a lunar halo with interlocking parhelia left and right. Seventh year, first month, yihai: double halos on the sun with two parhelia and a halberd aura, and a white arc filling heaven. Thirteenth year, second month, renchen: a white arc spanning heaven, a solar halo, and parhelia and halberd aura left and right. Eighteenth year, twelfth month, renwu, at Beginning of Spring: a solar halo with a parhelion on the right and a white arc spanning heaven. Twenty-first year, eleventh month, jiazi: interlocking halos on the moon. Forty-first year, eleventh month, xinchou: a solar halo with parhelia left and right, embracing aura above and halberd aura below, and a white arc filling heaven.
59
Longqing 5, third month, xinsi: a solar halo with parhelia and a white arc spanning heaven.
60
Wanli 35, first month, gengwu: a solar halo with black vapor covering heaven. Forty-eighth year, second month, guichou: interlocking halos on the sun with back aura below, halberd auras left and right, and a white arc filling heaven.
61
Tianqi 1, second month, jiawu: crossing halos on the sun with parhelia left and right, and a white arc filling heaven. Third year, tenth month, xinsi: the sun showed a double semicircular halo with parhelia left and right.
62
Chongzhen 8, second month, bingwu: a white arc crossed the sun.
63
▲ Stellar anomalies.
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宿 耀
Hongwu 28, intercalary ninth month, xinsi: Wall Formation grew sparse, split apart, and gathered again. Twenty-ninth year, eighth month, wuzi: the Directorate of Astronomy reported that the second star northeast of Well had grown gradually dim and small, clustering hastily and out of proper alignment. Thirty-first year, fifth month, guihai: the sparse stars of Wall Formation then gathered. Zhengtong 1, ninth month, dingsi: Wolf Star trembled. Fourteenth year, tenth month, xinhai: the same. Chenghua 6, dingsi: Mars was without light. Thirteenth year, ninth month, yichou new moon: Jupiter's light was dazzling and had a jade hue. Zhengde 1, eighth month: Great Horn and the Heart-center stars trembled; within the Northern Dipper, Xuan, Ji, and Quan were not bright. Wanli 44: Quan star was dim and small; Fu star sank from sight. Forty-sixth year, ninth month: Venus's light reflected on four sides like a moon's image. Tianqi 5, seventh month, renshen: Mars was red, large-bodied, and rayed. Chongzhen 9, twelfth month: Mars was like a torch, southeast of the Supreme Palace Enclosure. Twelfth year, tenth month, jiawu: Saturn showed a dim halo. Thirteenth year, sixth month: the Grand Stairway split. Ninth month: three pillars within Five Chariots were hidden. Tenth month: the foot of Shen protruded into Jade Well. Four years later, second month: Mars showed angry horns. Third month, renchen: Ge Chengke, director of the Directorate of Astronomy, memorialized that the Imperial Star had shifted downward. Soon after, Xuanyuan stars were intermittent and irregular, now too large, now too small, missing their stations. Wenchang split, Celestial Ford split, Yaoguang split; rays and horns were black-blue.
65
▲ Stars, meteors, and meteorite falls.
66
簿
The Spirit Terrace observation records note flying streams every night without exception; the small and ordinary bear no relation to fortune or calamity—only the unusual are set down here.
67
宿
Hongwu 3, tenth month, gengchen: a red star like a peach rose from Celestial Drum to Wall Formation, reached Rosefinch Army, and burst apart with a sound. Five small stars followed; reaching Minister of Works, their light lit heaven; suddenly swelling to bowl size, they trailed a red tail to Celestial Granary and vanished; presently a sound came from the southeast. Twenty-first year, eighth month, yisi: a red star like a cup moved from the Dipper's ladle southeast more than three zhang, split in two, then after five zhang more split in three; passing Hairy Head it became two again; passing Celestial Storehouse it merged into one and vanished at Heavenly Park.
68
西 西 西
Yongle 1, intercalary eleventh month, dingmao: a blue-green star large as a dipper, its light illuminating the ground, emerged from clouds at mid-heaven. It moved southwest with a rumbling sound and entered the clouds. Yongle 2, fifth month, bingwu: a red star large as a dipper, its light illuminating the ground, rose at mid-heaven and moved northwest into the clouds. Yongle 16: a star large as a dipper, blue-red in color, its light illuminating the ground, traveled east from Willow to near the Turbid. Yongle 22, fifth month, jihai: a star like a lamp-cup, blue-white in color, its light illuminating the ground, rose from clouds in the southeast. It moved northwest into the clouds with a sound like cannon fire. Seventh month, gengyin: a star like a bowl, red and luminous, passed from Kui into Shen and burst apart, and the surrounding stars trembled.
69
Xuande 1, twelfth month, jisi: a star large as a bowl with red light rose from Rolled Tongue, traveled east past Eastern Well, fell to earth, and thundered.
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西西 西
Zhengtong 1, eighth month, yiyou: from dusk watch until dawn, more than a hundred large and small meteors. Fourth year, eighth month, guimao: several hundred large and small meteors. Fourteenth year, tenth month, guichou: a star large as a cup with red light illuminating the ground moved from Three Masters northwest to Lesser Assistant; its trail turned pale white vapor more than five chi long, winding westward. Twelfth month, wushen: a star large as a cup, blue-white in color, sounded aloud, and its light illuminated the ground. From beside Supreme One it moved southeast more than a zhang, flared to dipper size, and vanished at the western rampart of Celestial Market; four small stars followed.
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西
Jingtai 2, sixth month, bingshen: more than eighty large and small meteors. Eighth month, renwu: two red stars—one like a peach, one like a dipper—whose light illuminated the ground. One rose from the western bulwark of the Purple Forbidden Enclosure and moved north to Yin Virtue, with three small stars following; the other rose from Celestial Ford and moved southeast to the Henan asterism, with more than ten small stars following. Its trail burst apart with a sound like thunder.
72
宿
Tianshun 3, fourth month, guichou: a star large as a bowl with red light illuminating the ground moved from Left Banner southeast to Woman's Mansion, its trail bursting apart. Eighth year, second month, renzi: a star like a bowl, its light illuminating the ground, passed from Celestial Market to Celestial Ford; its tail turned pale white vapor like a serpent more than a zhang long and only slowly dispersed.
73
西 西西西
Chenghua 12, eleventh month, yichou: at Bola Fort in Yan'an Circuit two stars shaped like windlass wheels—one fell at Fanjiagou, one at the fort itself—red light lighting heaven. Twentieth year, fifth month, bingshen: a large star fell southeast of Panyu County with a thunderous sound and broke into more than ten small stars. Presently heaven and earth both darkened; only after a long while did light return. Twenty-first year, first month, new moon on jiashen, at the shen watch (3–5 p.m.): fire-light fell from slightly west of mid-heaven, turned to white vapor, then curved upward again with a sound. After a time a red star large as a bowl moved from mid-heaven west toward the Turbid, its trail turning to white vapor that wound like a serpent for a long while; due west thundered like an earthquake.
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西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西寿
Hongzhi 1, eighth month, wushen, si watch (9–11 a.m.): a southern meteor like a lamp-cup moved from the south more than a zhang, swelled to bowl size, went southwest to near the Turbid, and its tail turned white cloud that wound like a serpent and dispersed. Fourth year, tenth month, dingsi: a red star with lightning-like light passed from southwest to northeast with a drum-like sound. It fell in Guangshan County and became stone the size of a dipper. Shangcheng in Guang Prefecture also saw a large star fly through the sky, as at Guangshan. Eleventh month, jiaxu: a star fell northwest of Zhending, red light lighting heaven. The southwest sky sounded like drums, then again like rushing chariots. Seventh year, fifth month: stars fell by day in Xuanfu, Shanxi, and Henan. Eighth year, fourth month, xinwei: a star like a wheel streamed northwest and fell at Qianshan County with a thunderous sound. Ninth year, intercalary third month, wuwu: southeast of Pingliang a meteor like the moon, red light illuminating the ground, reached the northwest and halted; then the celestial drum sounded. Tenth year, first month, renzi: a star large as a dipper, yellow-white in color, with light more than thirty zhang long and one small star following, fell at the northwest corner of Ningxia. Heaven thundered several times. Ninth month, yisi: a star like a dipper, its light eclipsing the moon, streamed from the northwest and fell at Yongping with a sound. Eleventh year, first month, guihai: a meteor fell at Suzhou, large as a room, thundering as it went, and only after a long while faded. Tenth month, renshen: at dawn an eastern red star like a bowl moved more than a zhang, its light illuminating the ground as it traveled southeast, with several tens of small stars following. Fourteenth year, intercalary seventh month, xinsi: in Shandong a star large as a carriage wheel, red light lighting heaven, passed from southeast to northwest and fell at Shouguang. The celestial drum sounded. Sixteenth year, first month, jiyou: a star streamed by day over Nanjing.
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西 西 西 绿 西西西
Zhengde 1, twelfth month, gengwu: a star like a bowl fell at Zhongwei in Ningxia; in the sky red light spread over two mu. Second year, eighth month, jihai: in Ningxia a large star streamed from due south southwestward and fell; afterward a red streak three chi wide and five zhang long. Fifth year, fourth month, dinghai: in Leizhou a large star like the moon streamed from southeast to northwest, split in two with a comet-like tail, then vanished with a thunderous sound. Sixth year, eighth month, guimao: a meteor like a winnowing-basket with a tail four or five zhang long, red light lighting heaven. It turned from northwest to southeast—three heads and one tail—and fell at Chongqing Guard in Sichuan. Its color turned white, then green flame rose more than two zhang high with a sound like thunder. Fifteenth year, first month, dingwei, you watch (5–7 p.m.): a star fell on the hall of the Longzhou Valley inspection office in Shanxi; fourth month, bingxu: in Gongchang Prefecture, Shaanxi, a sun-like star, red in color, streamed from the east southwestward and fell. The celestial drum sounded.
76
Jiajing 12, ninth month, bingzi: a meteor like a lamp-cup, its light illuminating the ground, moved from Central Terrace northeast toward the Turbid, its trail turning to white vapor. From the fourth to the fifth watch meteors large and small crisscrossed on every side beyond count, ceasing only at dawn. Fourteenth year, ninth month, wuzi: at Kaifeng the celestial drum sounded in broad daylight. A star like a bowl moved southeast, many small stars following like pearls. Nineteenth year, fifth month, xinchou: a star fell at Zaoqiang and became four stones.
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西 西 西 西
Wanli 3, fifth month, guihai: in daytime at Jing Prefecture the celestial drum sounded. Two stars fell and became black stone. Fourth year, eleventh month, jiawu: four stars fell at Fei County, fire-light illuminating the ground. At daybreak a red mark fell northwest of the city, cinnabar in color, two li long and one or two chi wide. That month at Linzhang a star more than a chi long flew north in daytime. Thirteenth year, seventh month, xinsi: a star like a bowl fell at Lianhua Market in Shenqiu. The celestial drum sounded. Fifteenth year, sixth month, bingyin: a star fell by day at Pingyang. On dingmao, at the chen watch (7–9 a.m.), a star like a dipper fell at Pingyin with a thunderous crash. Seventeenth year, first month, gengshen: a star fell at Xining Guard, large as the moon. The celestial drum sounded. Twentieth year, second month, bingchen: three stars fell southeast of Min County. Twenty-second year, first month, wuxu: at Qingshankou in Baoding a large flying star left light like a comet more than twenty zhang long. Twenty-seventh year, third month, gengzi: at Gaizhou Guard the celestial drum sounded and three large stars fell in succession. Thirtieth year, ninth month, new moon on jiwei: a large star appeared in the southeast, red as blood and large as a bowl, suddenly split into five with the central star brighter still; after a long while they merged into one large as a basket. On xinsi, several hundred large and small stars crisscrossed. Tenth month, renchen, fifth watch: a meteor rose at mid-heaven, its light scattering in seven tracks with a thunderous sound. Thirty-third year, ninth month, wuzi: a star like a bowl fell at the Longjiang rear camp in Nanjing, light like fire; on the ground it wandered like fireflies and after a time went out. The next day another star like the moon streamed from the northwest to the military review platform, split in three, and struck the ground with a sound. Eleventh month: a star fell on the Nanjing drill ground and entered the earth without a trace. Thirty-fifth year, eleventh month, yisi: a star fell in Jingyang, Chunhua, and other counties, large as a carriage wheel, red, with a tail more than a zhang long and a sound like rolling thunder. Thirty-eighth year, second month, guiyou: a star large as a dipper fell northwest of Yangqu, fragment stars raining without cease. The celestial drums all sounded together. Forty-first year, first month, gengzi: at Zhending the celestial drum sounded. A meteor fell by day with a flash of light. Forty-third year, third month, wushen: in daytime a star fell at Dongliu Village in Qingfeng with a thunderous sound. Forty-sixth year, tenth month, xinyou: a star like a dipper fell outside Ande Gate in Nanjing with a thunderclap, becoming stone weighing twenty-one jin.
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Tianqi 3, ninth month, jiayin: at Guyuan Circuit stars fell like rain.
79
Chongzhen 15, summer: stars streamed thick as weaving. Two years later, third month, new moon on jichou: a star fell in the Imperial Canal.
80
▲ Cloud vapor.
81
Hongwu 4, fourth month, xinchou: five-colored clouds appeared. On wushen, yiyou, eleventh month renxu, fifth year first month gengwu and bingzi, sixth month xinsi, seventh month jiyou and renzi, eighth month jihai, sixth year sixth month dingchou and seventh month guimao, seventh year fourth month bingwu, fifth month bingxu, guisi, and jiawu, sixth month yiwei and yimao, seventh month jimao, eighth month xinyou, eighth year first month renshen, fourth month dingwei, fifth month gengwu and guimao, sixth month renchen and jihai, tenth month gengxu, ninth year eighth month guisi, fourteenth year ninth month jiashen, fifteenth year first month jiashen, fifth month gengshen, ninth month yimao and bingyin, eleventh month xinyou, eighteenth year fourth month guisi and yiwei, fifth month xinwei, jiashen, and sixth month guichou, nineteenth year ninth month renwu, twentieth year eleventh month dinghai and fifth month yiyou, and twenty-seventh year sixth month yimao: all the same.
82
Yongle 1, sixth month, jiayin: five-colored clouds appeared beneath the sun. Eighth month, renshen: solar parhelia appeared together with five-colored clouds. Eighth year, second month, gengxu: as the imperial procession halted at Yong'an Marsh, five-colored clouds appeared beneath the sun. Eleventh year, sixth month, new moon on wushen: five-colored clouds appeared atop Wudang Mountain. Seventeenth year, ninth month, bingchen, and twelfth month, guimao: auspicious clouds appeared. Twenty-second year, eleventh month, bingxu: five-colored clouds appeared beneath the moon.
83
Hongxi 1, second month, guiyou and gengchen, and third month, yiwei: on each day five-colored clouds appeared.
84
西 西
Xuande 1, eighth month, gengchen: white clouds rose in the southeast shaped like a flock of sheep fleeing in alarm. Eleventh month, bingchen: in the north pale white cloud stretched east and west across the sky. Second year, eleventh month, yiwei: five-colored clouds appeared beneath the sun. Fourth year, sixth month, wuzi: five-colored clouds appeared at night. Sixth year, second month, renzi: at dusk pale white cloud in the west stretched north and south across the sky. Tenth year, third month, dinghai: the moon produced five-colored clouds.
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西 西
Zhengtong 2, seventh month, gengzi: five-colored clouds ringed the moon. Tenth month, jichou: five-colored clouds ringed the sun. Twelfth month, guihai: the same. Year 3, seventh month, jihai, at night: pale white clouds at mid-heaven stretched north and south across the sky, piercing the Southern and Northern Dippers. Year 8, eleventh month, wuchen, at night: pale white clouds in the southeast spanned east and west across the sky. Year 9, eleventh month, jiawu: five-colored clouds ringed the moon. Year 10, ninth month, dingyou: five-colored clouds ringed the sun. Eleventh month, jiawu: five-colored clouds ringed the moon. Year 14, tenth month, gengshen: by day pale white clouds arose, then split into three stretching east, west, south, and north across the sky.
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鹿 西
Jingtai 1, sixth month, yiyou: four streaks of red cloud, both ends sharp like plow furrows, drifted slowly northeast and dispersed. Eighth month, jiaxu: black clouds like mountains took the shapes of dragons, tigers, elk, and deer. Ninth month, bingyin: pale white cloud vapor stretched north and south across the sky. Year 2, sixth month, wuyin: five-colored clouds ringed the sun. Ninth month, xinyou, at night: three pale white clouds stretched east and west across the sky. Year 3, first month, guihai: in the southeast black cloud appeared like a person in a bamboo hat making a bow. Year 4, eleventh month, dingmao: five-colored clouds ringed the moon. Tianshun 2, tenth month, renshen, and year 4, tenth month, wuwu: likewise.
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西 西
Chenghua 2, third month, xinwei: white clouds rose in the south and stretched east and west across the sky. Year 11, first month, bingyin: five-colored clouds ringed the moon. Year 18, tenth month, gengwu: five-colored clouds appeared at Taoling. Year 21, intercalary fourth month, renchen: in Kai and Pu prefectures and in Qingfeng and Jinxiang, at the wei and shen hours (1–5 p.m.) black clouds rose in the northwest, turned five-colored, and presently the sky was dark as night.
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Hongzhi 2, first month, xinsi: five-colored clouds ringed the sun. Hongzhi 14/III/jiyou new moon and Jiajing 17/IX/wuzi: the same. Jiajing 18, second month, new moon on gengzi, at noon: five-colored clouds appeared beneath the sun, more than two cun long and wide, shaped like dragon and phoenix.
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Wanli 5, sixth month, gengchen: auspicious clouds encircled the moon.
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Tianqi 4, sixth month, guisi, at the noon watch: five-colored clouds appeared in the south.
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