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卷二十九 志第五 五行二

Volume 29 Treatises 5: Five Elements 2

Chapter 29 of 明史 · History of Ming
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1
Treatise on the Five Elements, Part Two. (Fire and Wood sections).〉
2
The Hong Fan states: "Fire is defined as flaming upward. When fire fails to rise and burn upward, it has forsaken its proper nature. Earlier dynastic histories grouped persistent warmth, grass anomalies, fires, wood anomalies, calamities among birds and insects, sheep portents, conflagrations, fire omens, and red afflictions and red auspices under the element Fire; this chapter follows that convention.
3
▲ Persistent Warmth
4
西 西 西
Hongxi 1, first month, day guimao: with no snow all winter in the capital, the throne issued an edict calling for moral cultivation and self-examination. Zhengtong 9, winter: no snow fell inside or outside the metropolitan region. Zhengtong 12, winter: Shaanxi had no snow. Jingtai 6, winter: no snow. Tianshun 1, winter: the palace held prayers for snow. That same year Zhili, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong all went without snow. Tianshun 2, winter: the court ordered all officials to pray for snow. Tianshun 6, winter: Zhili, Shandong, and Henan again had no snow. Chenghua 1, winter: no snow. Chenghua 5, winter: the weather was as warm as summer. Chenghua 6, second month, day renshen: with no rain or snow from winter into spring, an edict directed the ministers in person to the mountain-and-river altars to pray. Chenghua 10, second month: Nanjing and Shandong reported persistent warmth through winter and spring and no ice or snow. Chenghua 11, winter: prayers were held for lack of snow. Chenghua 15, winter: Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi had no snow. Chenghua 19, winter: the capital and Zhili had no snow. Hongzhi 9, winter: no snow. Hongzhi 15, winter: no snow. Hongzhi 18, winter: the weather was mild as spring and there was no snow. Zhengde 1, winter: no snow. From the winter solstice into spring, wheat put forth ears and peaches and plums bore fruit. Zhengde 3, winter: no snow. Zhengde 6 through 9: snow failed for four years running. Zhengde 11, winter: no snow. Jiajing 14: deep into winter there was still no snow, and the court sent officials to sacrifice widely to the gods. Jiajing 19, winter: no snow. Jiajing 20, twelfth month, day guimao: prayers for snow were offered at the Altar of the Spirits. Jiajing 24, twelfth month, day jiawu: ministers were ordered to divide among themselves and petition the palace temples for snow. Jiajing 32, winter: no snow. Jiajing 33, twelfth month, day renshen: with calamities and anomalies recurring, the court made the snow-prayer day the start of a period in which all officials were to wear blue and conduct state business. Jiajing 36, winter: no snow. Jiajing 39, winter: no snow. The following year again brought no snow. The emperor was preparing to pray in person when a great wind rose; he ordered snow prayers at once, combined with rites to avert the wind omen. Jiajing 41 through 45: every winter saw snow prayers. Longqing 1, winter: no snow. Longqing 4, winter: no snow. Wanli 4, twelfth month, day jichou: the Ministry of Rites was ordered to pray for snow. Wanli 16, 17, 29, 37, and 47 saw the same. Chongzhen 5, twelfth month, day guiyou: Shuntian Prefecture was ordered to pray for snow. Chongzhen 6 and 7, winter: no snow.
5
▲ Grass Anomalies
6
殿
Yongle 16, first month, day yichou: at Tongzhou, Chengcheng, Jinyang, and Chaoyi grain and buckwheat fell from the sky. Zhengtong 8, eleventh month: brambles sprouted on the palace hall floor, standing two chi high. Zhengtong 14: in the Guangzhou prison a bamboo bed that had stood for more than a year suddenly turned green and sprouted leaves. Chenghua 6, second month, day wuyin: at Yingshan in Huguang millet rained from the sky. Hongzhi 8, second month: withered bamboo blossomed, bearing fruit like wheat kernels. Bitter-greens plants bore lotus blossoms. Sixth month, day jiazi: at Yi County beans rained down, foul and inedible. Hongzhi 9: at Huangzhou a villager's melon grew as large as a dou, its flesh entirely red as blood. Wanli 43, fourth month, day wuyin: at Shishou beans rained down in mixed sizes and mottled red and black hues. Chongzhen 4 and 5: in Henan grass formed human and equine shapes, as though armored figures on horseback charged with spears. Chongzhen 13: in the fields of Xuzhou white beans appeared, many bearing human faces with distinct brows and eyes.
7
▲ Calamities among Birds and Insects
8
殿
Wanli 25, second month, day renwu: at Yuezhou a villager's duck carried cotton wrapped around fire, flew onto the roof, and entered the bamboo rafters and thatch. Flames erupted on every side and the blaze spread to several hundred households. Wanli 43, fourth month, day renwu: two cranes carried fire in their beaks and flew to alight on the main hall of the Sea God Temple at Ye County. The following day the temple burned. Chongzhen 6: at Runing a bird appeared with a dove's body and monkey's feet. At Fengyang tens of thousands of malign birds with rabbit heads, chicken bodies, and rat feet grew fat enough to serve as food; anyone who ate their bones died immediately.
9
▲ Sheep Portents
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Wanli 38, fourth month: at Guo County a villager's ewe bore a lamb with one head, two eyes, four ears, two tails, and eight feet. Wanli 39, fourth month: among the surrendered tribes a lamb was born with a human face on a sheep's body.
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▲ Fire Disasters
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Jianwen 2, eighth month, day jisi: the Chengtian Gate burned.
13
殿
Yongle 4, twelfth month, day xinhai: the residence of the Prince of Ouning burned and the prince perished. Yongle 13, first month, day renzi: the Meridian Gate at Beijing burned. Yongle 19, fourth month, day gengzi: the three main halls—Fengtian, Jinshen, and Huagai—burned. Yongle 20, intercalary twelfth month, day wuyin: the Qianqing Palace burned.
14
Xuande 3, third month, day jihai: the temple of the Eastern Peak at Mount Tai burned. Xuande 6, eighth month: fire at Wuchang spread into the Prince of Chu's palace, destroying genealogical registers and imperial commissions alike. Day jiachen: fire broke out north of the outer wall at Tianjin Right Guard; flying flames entered the city and burned the granaries. Xuande 9, second month, day gengwu: the southeastern tower of the capital burned.
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西 殿 殿 殿
Zhengtong 2, second month: the Wushan Temple at Xizhen burned. Zhengtong 3, eighth month, day xinyou: the Shuntian examination compound burned, many cells were destroyed, and the examinations were postponed and held again. Twelfth month, day yihai: the Chengyun Hall of the Han princely establishment burned. Zhengtong 4, third month, day wuwu: the sleeping quarters of the Dai princely establishment burned. Zhengtong 7, first month: fire at the Guangchang timber yard destroyed more than eight thousand eight hundred pine logs. Day wuwu: fire in the Nanjing inner palace burned more than sixty corridor rooms; maps, registers, utensils, and guard armor were all consumed. Third month, day xinwei: the sleeping temple of the Queen Mother of Zhao burned. Zhengtong 10, first month, day gengyin: disaster struck the front and rear Zhongyi Guards. At that time Taicang suffered repeated fires; officials were sent to pray and sacrifice to the Fire Dragon and the Grand Year Star to avert the omen. Fifth month, day jiashen: the rear Zhongyi Guard granary burned again. Day jisi: the Tongzhou Right Guard granary burned. Eleventh month, day dingyou: the imperial flower quarters burned. Zhengtong 11, autumn: fire at Wuchang. Several hundred people died. Twelfth month, day yiwei: disaster at the Zhou princely establishment. Zhengtong 12, sixth month: disaster at the Nanjing mountain-and-river altar. Zhengtong 13, second month, day guiyou: the front Zhongyi Guard granary burned. Zhengtong 14, sixth month, night of day bingchen: the three Nanjing halls—Jinshen, Fengtian, and Huagai—burned.
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Jingtai 2, sixth month, day bingzi: fire at the abolished Qi princely establishment in Qingzhou. Jingtai 3, eighth month, day wuyin: the Qin princely establishment burned. Jingtai 5, spring: fire at Nanjing spread to consume several thousand households. Jingtai 7, ninth month, day renshen: fire at the Ning princely establishment spread to consume more than 800 households.
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Chenghua 2, ninth month, day guiwei: the Imperial Workshop at Nanjing burned. Chenghua 6, eleventh month, day jihai: fire at Jiangpu spread to burn more than 260 households. Chenghua 9, seventh month, day gengxu: disaster at the Dongzhi Gate. Chenghua 11, fourth month, night of day renchen: the Qianqing Palace gate burned. Chenghua 13, eleventh month, day renchen: rice and wheat at Taicang, long stored and turned rank from damp heat, self-combusted—more than 100 shi. Chenghua 18, eighth month, day bingwu: fire at Hezhou spread to consume more than 1,500 households. Chenghua 18, day yimao: fire at the Chu princely establishment broke out three times. Chenghua 18, eleventh month, day wuwu: the Directorate of Education at Nanjing burned. Chenghua 18, twelfth month, day yimao: the Vessels Factory burned. Chenghua 18, day renchen: the Ninghe princely establishment burned. Beforehand a demon was seen by night, appearing now as a god, now as a king or noble, and would repeatedly kindle fire as though bent on burning. That night the princely residence was consumed without remnant; crowns, robes, and implements were all reduced to ash. Chenghua 20, first month, day wuxu: the Directorate of Astronomy burned. Chenghua 22, sixth month: disaster at Linhai County spread to burn more than 1,700 households.
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西 西
Hongzhi 1, third month, day gengyin: fire at the inner flower garden at Nanjing. Hongzhi 1, eleventh month, night of day dingchou: disaster at the Nanjing A-character storehouse. Hongzhi 2, fourth month, day yiwei: the Divine Music Observatory at Nanjing burned. Hongzhi 4, second month, day wuwu: the Ministry of Rites official quarters burned. Hongzhi 6, fourth month, day jiayin: the Ministry of Punishments official quarters burned. Hongzhi 6, night of day xinyou: disaster at the old inner palace at Nanjing. Hongzhi 8, third month, day wuzi: at Zhendong and other forts a leaping fire star the size of a bushel measure destroyed the official residence and granaries; many men and horses perished. Hongzhi 11: from spring through summer, great fire swept Guizhou. More than 1,800 government and civilian dwellings were destroyed, and more than 6,000 were killed or wounded. Hongzhi 12, tenth month, night of day jiaxu: disaster at the Qingning Palace. Hongzhi 12, sixth month, night of day jiachen: disaster at the sage temple at Qufu. Hongzhi 12, twelfth month: fire at the publishing workshops in Jianyang County; ancient and modern book blocks were all reduced to ash. Hongzhi 13, second month, day yiyou: the Ministry of Rites official quarters burned. Hongzhi 13, seventh month, day jiayin: fire appeared in the sky above Nancheng County, now dividing and now joining; streaming light fell more than ten zhang with a faint sound, and military and civilian dwellings were destroyed. Hongzhi 13, day gengshen: from Yanwei Mountain at Yongning Guard to Shizong Mountain by Juyong Pass—more than 40 li east to west and 70 li north to south—the blaze burned for seven days and nights. Hongzhi 13, intercalary seventh month, day xinsi: the gate tower at Fuzhou was destroyed. Hongzhi 13, eighth month, day jiwei: the Shen princely establishment burned. Hongzhi 13, eleventh month, day gengchen: the Ninghe princely establishment burned. Hongzhi 16, third month, day gengwu: at Tieling Guard in Liaodong, fire fell from the sky like a bushel measure. Hongzhi 16, day bingzi: fire broke out and burned more than 2,500 rooms; more than 100 people died. Hongzhi 16, fourth month, day wuwu: disaster at the granary at Kuanhe Guard destroyed more than 40,000 shi of rice and beans. Hongzhi 16, ninth month, day wuyin: fire at Guangning Guard city burned more than 300 households. Hongzhi 17, fourth month, day dingsi: fire at Huai'an burned more than 500 households. Hongzhi 17, fifth month, day guisi: fire in the western corridor inside the Zhengyang Gate burned the Wugong quarter.
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西
Zhengde 1, second month, day gengyin: fire at Yunyang destroyed the drum tower and official quarters and spread to more than 100 households. That year red vapor spanned the sky at Zuotun Guard in Ningxia; soon after fire broke out, and gate towers, terraces, and forts were all reduced to ash. Zhengde 1, sixth month, day gengyin: disaster at Pinglu City in Datong burned more than a million bundles of fodder. Zhengde 1, eleventh month, day jihai: fire at the Linhai county seat spread to burn several thousand households. Zhengde 7, third month, day jiwei: at Yi County fire like a bushel measure fell from the sky; great wind followed and destroyed more than 1,000 government and civilian rooms. The fire spread outside the wall and reached the trees on the hills. Zhengde 7, day gengshen: fire at the Qinhuang Temple at Chengshan Guard; the buildings were wholly destroyed, but the images were as before. That month a great mulberry tree at Wendeng burned; the trunk was charred, yet its branches and leaves were unharmed. Zhengde 7, fifth month, day guiyou through intercalary fifth month, day bingzi: at Yilu city in Liaodong fire broke out three times and burned half the official and civilian dwellings. Zhengde 7, ninth month, day renwu: fire at Yushan burned the school quarters and more than 300 civilian households. Zhengde 8, sixth month, day xinyou: southwest of Fengcheng County, fire stars fell in succession, as large as basins and bushel measures. Soon fire broke out and did not die out until the start of the seventh month, burning more than 20,000 households. Zhengde 8, seventh month, day wuzi: fire fell at Longquan County and burned more than 4,000 households. Zhengde 8, tenth month, day renyin: fire at Raozhou, Yongfeng, and Fuliang; each place burned more than 500 households. Disaster at the school quarters at Fuliang. Zhengde 8, day gengshen: fire at Linjiang burned official quarters and spread to more than 800 households. Zhengde 9, first month, day gengchen: the Qianqing Palace burned. Zhengde 11, eighth month, day dingchou: fire at Qianyang destroyed the gate tower and government offices and spread to more than 700 households. Zhengde 12, first month, day jiachen: the small rooms of the Qingning Palace burned. Zhengde 12, fourth month: fire at the Yuling Spirit Palace overseers. Zhengde 12, eighth month, day dingmao: fire at Nanchang burned 300 households. Zhengde 12, ninth month, day renwu: fire at Jian'an burned more than 250 households. Zhengde 13, second month, day jimao: fire at Yiling burned more than 700 households. Zhengde 13, eighth month, day gengchen: disaster at the Ming Tower of the Xian Mausoleum. Zhengde 13, day dingyou: fire at Yanping burned more than 500 households. Zhengde 14, fourth month, day yisi: fire at the new city at Huai'an. Zhengde 14, seventh month, day bingchen: fire at Taining burned more than 5,000 households. Zhengde 15, fifth month, day xinmao: fire at Jingle burned more than 800 households.
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殿 殿 西 殿西 西 殿 祿 西
Jiajing 1, first month, day jiwei: disaster at the three small palaces behind the Qingning Palace. Yang Tinghe said it was a response to abandoning ceremonial rites; the court made no reply. Jiajing 1, second month, day jichou: the Needle and Thread Factory at Nanjing burned. Jiajing 1, day jihai: the gate tower at Tongzhou burned. Jiajing 2, fifth month, day bingzi: the Rong princely establishment burned. Jiajing 2, ninth month, day wuchen: the palace halls of the Qin princely establishment burned. Jiajing 4, third month, night of day renchen: disaster at the Renshou Palace; the Yude, Anxi, and Jingfu halls were all reduced to ash. Jiajing 5, third month, day yiyou: the family temple of the Zhao princely establishment burned. Jiajing 6, third month, day dinghai: the Western Storehouse burned. Jiajing 8, tenth month, day guiwei: disaster at the side chambers of the great inner palace. Jiajing 10, first month, day xinhai: fire in the eastern side of the great inner palace. Jiajing 10, fourth month, day gengchen: disaster at the public offices of the Ministries of War and Works destroyed the documents. Jiajing 13, sixth month, day jiazi: fire at the Nanjing Imperial Ancestral Temple destroyed the front and rear halls, the eastern and western corridors, and the spirit kitchen storehouse. Jiajing 15, fourth month, day guimao: fire at Pinglu Guard in Shanxi wholly destroyed the firearms arsenal and military stores. Jiajing 18, second month, day yichou: Zhao prefecture and the traveling palace at Linming Town both burned. Jiajing 18, day dingmao: as the emperor visited Weihui, the traveling palace burned in the fourth watch; Lu Bing carried the emperor out, while some women of the inner palace and inner attendants perished in the fire. Jiajing 18, sixth month, day dingyou: disaster at the drum tower north of the imperial city. Jiajing 20, fourth month, night of day xinyou: disaster at the Ancestral Temple. The spirit tablets of the Cheng and Ren temples were destroyed. Jiajing 25, fifth month, day renshen: the Armor Factory burned. Jiajing 26, eleventh month, day renwu: fire in the palace; Yang Jue was released from prison. Jiajing 31, eighth month, day yichou: the examination compound at Nanjing burned. Jiajing 35, ninth month, day wuchen: great fire at Hangzhou spread to burn several thousand households. Jiajing 36, fourth month, day bingchen: the three halls—Fengtian, Huagai, and Jinshen—the civil and military towers, the Meridian Gate, and the Fengtian Gate—all burned. Jiajing 37, first month: disaster at the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Jiajing 38, first month, day guiwei: fire at the Front Military Commission. Jiajing 40, eleventh month, night of day xinhai: disaster at the Wanshou Palace. Jiajing 44, third month, night of day jihai: fire in the western Thousand-Pace Corridor inside the Great Ming Gate.
21
Longqing 2, first month: disaster outside the Zhejiang provincial city. Rooms, lodges, and boats and ships destroyed numbered in the thousands. Longqing 2, third month, day yihai: the Qianqing and Kunning Palaces burned at once. Longqing 5, second month, day renzi: fire at the Guang and Hui storehouses at Nanjing.
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殿 殿 殿 殿 殿 殿 西 殿 殿 殿 殿
Wanli 1, eleventh month, day jihai: fire at the rear quarters behind the Cining Palace. Wanli 3, fourth month, day jiaxu: fire at the rear factory of the Ministry of Works. Wanli 5, tenth month, bingshen: fire broke out within the Forbidden City. Eleventh month, guiwei: the Court of the Imperial Clan burned. Wanli 11, twelfth month, midnight of gengwu: Cining Palace burned. Wanli 12, second month, jiyou: the Hall of No Dissipation burned. Twelfth month, first day guimao: it burned again. Wanli 15, fifth month, jiazi: the Directorate for Palace Accoutrements burned. Wanli 18, third month, xinyou: fire at Zhaishan'er Fort in Liaodong destroyed the fortifications and armaments and injured more than ninety people. Wanli 19, twelfth month, jiachen: the Hall of Myriad Dharmas burned. Wanli 21, full moon of the sixth month: a report of cannon fire came from the rear tower of the Taicang government compound; gunpowder and weapons were all consumed. Wanli 22, fifth month, renyin: heaven-sent fire consumed more than a thousand households of Tieling Guard. Wanli 24, second month, jiayin: the gate of the Lu princely establishment burned. Third month, yihai: fire broke out at Kunning Palace, spread to Qianqing Palace, and both were reduced to ash. Wanli 25, second month, renwu: fire at Hangzhou destroyed more than thirteen hundred government and civilian dwellings. Bingxu: disaster at Pingshan in Ma Hu spread to consume more than eight hundred households and killed twenty-four people. Third month, guimao: a great fire broke out at Sizhou. More than four thousand civilian houses burned. Fire at Xuyi burned more than one hundred sixty civilian dwellings. Twenty thousand shi of transport grain were allocated for relief. Sixth month, wuyin: the Three Halls burned. The fire began at Guiji Gate and spread through the Huangji Halls and the Wenzhao and Wucheng Pavilions; surrounding corridor rooms were all consumed at once. Twelfth month, jiayin: the Ministry of Personnel Selection Office burned. Wanli 27, eleventh month, renshen: fire in the inner palace spread through the Shangbao Directorate Seal and Credential Office and Ministry of Works corridors, stopping only at the mountain wall of the Silver Works. Wanli 28, third month: fire at Nanyang spread to the Tang princely establishment. Wanli 29, first month, jisi: fire at Tieling Guard; carts and gunpowder were all consumed. Eighth month, jimao: the eastern side hall of the Great Brightness Hall burned. Wanli 30, second month, yiyou: the granted residence of the Duke of Wei burned. Tenth month, bingshen: Xiaoling burned. Twelfth month, gengzi: the Putuo Temple on the South Sea burned. Wanli 31, ninth month, wuyin: transport grain barges at Tongzhou burned. Wanli 33, second month, yichou: the Imperial Horse Directorate burned. Fifth month, xinsi: the Bleaching Works burned. Ninth month, jiawu: Zhaohua Hall burned. Bingshen: troops drew gunpowder at the Armor Factory; powder stored so long it had congealed like stone was split with axes, whereupon fire burst out with a thunderous roar and swords, spears, and rockets flew more than a hundred paces; soldiers and civilians died beyond counting. Eleventh month, dingmao: the Ministry of Punishments detention hall burned. Wanli 35, second month, yimao: the Yizhou Arsenal of Divine Weapons burned. Fourth month, dingyou: the Tongzhou West Granary burned. Tenth month, jimao: the Nanjing Messenger Office compound was destroyed. Wanli 37, first month, gengzi: fire at the Qing princely establishment burned the sleeping quarters and treasury stores. Third month, bingxu: fire at Wuchang; two days later fire broke out again; in all more than two hundred sixty households burned. Sixth month: the Qing princely establishment burned. Tenth month, wuwu: the Altar of the Rising Sun burned. Wanli 38, fourth month, night of dingchou: the Zhengyang Gate arrow tower burned. Wanli 39, fourth month, wuzi: Yishen Hall burned. Wanli 41, fifth month, renxu: the Shu princely establishment burned; gate halls were reduced to ash. Wanli 43, fourth month, renwu: fire at Liugou in Huanghua Fort spread for several tens of li. Jiawu: the hall court of the Shu princely establishment burned. From the second to the fifth month at Changning Fort in Liaodong, fire broke out five times; houses, people, and livestock were destroyed beyond counting. Intercalary eighth month, xinhai: grain transport barges at Tongzhou burned. Ninth month, dingchou: the Hukou tax office was destroyed. Wanli 44, eleventh month, jisi: Longde Hall burned. Dinghai: Yanxi Palace in the Southern City burned. Wanli 45, first month, renwu: fire at the Eastern Morning Quarters spread to destroy the Gong Sheng Gate. Eleventh month, bingxu: Xuanxi Palace burned. Wanli 46, intercalary fourth month, night of dingchou: at Kaichang Yin Family Village Fort eight beacon poles burned at once. Jiashen: the Warm Pavilion Works kitchen burned. Ninth month, renzi: Maoling burned. Wanli 47, fourth month, guiyou: the Armor Factory burned.
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Taichang 1, tenth month, dingmao: the Huiluan Palace burned.
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殿 殿
Tianqi 1, intercalary second month, bingxu: Zhaohua Hall burned. Third month, jiachen: fire at Hangzhou spread to consume more than six thousand households. Eighth month, wuzi: fire struck again; within and beyond the walls more than ten thousand households were destroyed. Tianqi 2, fifth month, bingshen: the main hall of the Banner and Pennant Temple burned; gunpowder was all consumed and many craftsmen and laborers died. Tianqi 3, seventh month, xinmao: the left-side palace beside the Nanjing inner palace burned. Tianqi 6, fifth month, wushen: disaster at the Wanggong Works; thunderclaps rolled unceasing from underground as gunpowder ignited of itself; dust and smoke blocked the sky until broad daylight turned dim for four or five li. Fifth month, guihai: Chaotian Palace burned. Seventh month, gengyin: the Dengzhou city tower burned. Tianqi 7, tenth month, gengzi: fire at Qiantun before Ningyuan injured more than two hundred men and women.
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Chongzhen 1, fourth month, yimao: the Left Military Commission burned. Fifth month, yihai: the Hawk Works Directorate burned. Dinghai: the Dingzi Storehouse burned. Seventh month, jimao: fire at Gong'an county destroyed the Confucian temple and spread to more than five thousand households. Chongzhen 2, eleventh month, gengzi: the Gunpowder Office burned. Chongzhen 3, third month, wuxu: it burned again. Eighth month, guiyou: disaster at the First Pass; firearms detonated until nothing remained. Chongzhen 6, first month, guichou: the Shun Temple in Jinan burned. Chongzhen 7, ninth month, gengshen: the Armor Factory burned. Chongzhen 11, fourth month, wuxu: the New Gunpowder Office burned. Very many people were injured. Sixth month, guisi: disaster at the Anmin Works; the blast wrecked city walls and government offices, and among the residents the dead and injured were beyond counting. Eighth month, dingyou: the Gunpowder Office burned again.
26
▲ Fire Anomalies
27
西
Chenghua 21, first month, first day jiashen: a blaze of light appeared in mid-heaven slightly to the west, fell below and turned into white vapor, then wound upward again with a sound like thunder.
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西
Hongzhi 3, third month, gengwu: red and white flames more than three zhang long appeared in the sky over Yilong, flowed from northeast of the county seat to due east for more than sixty li, and fell with a thunderous roar. Hongzhi 8, third month, xinmao: fire appeared on a beacon pole of Guangning Right Guard five cun high; the pole itself was unharmed. Hongzhi 10, fourth month, xinchou: at Fuping fire-light eight or nine chi long and large as a windlass drum, with sound, fell from southeast to southwest.
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殿 竿 竿
Zhengde 1, third month, night of wushen: at Taiyuan fire the size of a dou fell before the hall of the Prince of Ninghua. At Guangning beacon platforms fire broke out on flagpoles; six in all. Seventh month, night of renxu: fire-light fell on a civilian house in Jimo and turned into green stone, round and more than a chi high. Zhengde 7, third month, night of dingmao: amid great wind, thunder, and lightning, at Yugan Xianju Stockade light like an arrow fell on a flagpole and soon blazed like the Candle Dragon, illuminating the four quarters. Soldiers shook the flag; it flew to the top of the pole; then its fire scattered in four directions, and every spear tip bore star-like light. Zhengde 12, fifth month, night of jihai: fire fell at the Censorate prison and revolved a long while before it went out. Zhengde 15, sixth month, night of guiwei: three fires fell at Taizhou, large as platters; whatever plants they touched were scorched.
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Jiajing 5, seventh month, jiashen: three fire-balls five or six chi across fell from the north toward the east, their light lighting the sky. Jiajing 20, seventh month, bingxu: a fire-ball the size of a dou fell east of the middle gate of the Left Military Commission and after a long while went out.
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Longqing 2, third month, wuwu: at Yan'an Baoning Fort the corner flagpole of the city wall emitted blazing fire with sound.
32
西西 西
Wanli 14: fire issued from within civilian house walls in Baoding prefecture and went out only after three days and nights. Wanli 15, second month: at Suijing and the border forts, ridge beasts and flagpoles all emitted fire. Soldiers beat them with staves; the staves also caught fire; at the third watch it went out. Wanli 20, third month: in the sky over Shaanxi there was fire large as a basin; afterward three tails grew, and it fell in the northwest. Wanli 21, second month, night of gengchen: on the tower of Great Mao Mountain each beast finial bore fire like a red chicken egg; at once rain and snow fell, and the flames sizzled audibly. Wanli 23, ninth month, night of day guisi: at Yongning fire light the size of a house fell in the northwest. The same phenomenon was seen at Yongchang, Zhenfan, and Ningyuan. Wanli 24, second month, night of day wushen: thunder and rain struck Hu County, and fire light spread across the ground for more than ten li. Wanli 25, second month, day guihai: at Pingliang the mouths of the ceramic roof-beast ornaments emitted fire that could not be quenched even when water was poured on them. Eighth month, day jiashen: at Su and Liang prefectures fire light appeared in the sky shaped like a carriage wheel, its tail splitting into three strands about three zhang long.
33
Tianqi 6, fifth month, new moon of day renyin: at the Houzai Gate Fire God Temple a red ball rolled out, and at the corner of the front gate tower several thousand fireflies merged into a shape like a carriage wheel.
34
西 西
Chongzhen 1: at Xi'an several dozen fires shaped like millstones and dippers appeared, blue in color with flames a chi or more high; they sometimes entered private homes and lingered for days before departing. Sheep and pigs were offered to avert the omen; it did no harm, and from the fifth month to the seventh month it ceased. Chongzhen 13, sixth month, day renshen: at Zhen'an fire light the size of a hu fell from the west to the ground, scorching earth and timber alike.
35
▲ Red Afflictions and Red Omens
36
Chenghua 13, second month, day jiawu: at Shanyin in Zhejiang a spring gushed blood.
37
西
Zhengde 1, first month, night of day yiyou: red light trailed like a rainbow across the sky at Chongming, rising from the northeast to the southwest before vanishing with a sound like thunder. Day xinchou: at Fengyang red light burst forth the same color as the sun, with a sound like thunder. Zhengde 2, eighth month, day jihai: red light appeared at Ningxia, five zhang long. Zhengde 8, seventh month, day jiashen: at Longquan two red balls fell from the sky at the county seat, shaped like goose eggs; they leaped into private homes and fought one another for a long while.
38
Jiajing 33, fourth month, day wuzi: at a commoner's house in Cixi blood gushed more than a chi high. Jiajing 37, fifth month, day wuchen: at Dongyang the ground at commoner Zhang Siqi's house split in five or six places and blood issued in threads a chi or more high. The blood congealed; a dog came and ate it, yet digging in the ground revealed nothing. Jiajing 39, second month, day jiwei: blood issued forth at a commoner's house in Zhuxi.
39
Longqing 6, intercalary second month, day guiyou: in Liaodong a red wind raised dust and blotted out the sky.
40
祿宿
Wanli 6, seventh month, day dingchou: at the Jindang household in Songmen Guard blood gushed three chi high, with sound. Wanli 13, fourth month, day yichou: the Hong commoner Wang Lu lodged at Yao Lei's house and saw blood issue from the ground; startled, he ran to the market, and the market too bled. Villagers struck vessels and raised a clamor; only then did it stop. Wanli 19, sixth month, day gengxu: at Maojiapu in Cixi blood gushed in eight places, as large as basins and a chi or more high. Blood splashed a boat, and the boat too issued blood; it splashed a man's foot, and the foot too issued blood; after several quarters of an hour it ceased. Wanli 26, ninth month, day jiachen: at the household of Jia Jiujing in Xiaoshan blood issued forth a chi or more high.
41
Tianqi 1, sixth month, day gengyin: at Zhaoqing commoner Wang Tiji's central courtyard sprayed blood like the Paotu Spring.
42
Chongzhen 7, second month, day wuwu: at Haifeng it rained blood. Chongzhen 8, eighth month, day wuyin: blood issued forth within Xuancheng city.
43
The Hong Fan states: "Wood is defined as curve and straight. When wood fails to bend and stand straight, it has forsaken its proper nature. Earlier dynastic histories grouped incessant rain, madmen, portentous dress, chicken omens, rat calamities, tree ice, tree anomalies, and green afflictions and green auspices under the element Wood; this chapter follows that convention.
44
▲ Incessant Rain
45
Hongwu 13, seventh month: great rain at Haikang damaged the county seat. Hongwu 23, eleventh month: prolonged rain in twenty-nine prefectures and counties of Shandong harmed wheat and grain.
46
Ninth month: prolonged rain damaged the city of Miyun Central Guard.
47
Xuande 1, fifth month: hurricane and violent rain at Yongjia and Yueqing damaged public and private offices and altars and temples.
48
西西
Jingtai 3: prolonged rain at Yongping and Yanzhou harmed the grain crop. At Dasong and twenty guards and posts prolonged rain damaged the cities. Jingtai 4: in the southern metropolitan region, Henan, and Shandong—eleven prefectures and one department—from the fifth month to the eighth month incessant rain harmed the crops. Jingtai 5: great rain at Hang, Jia, and Hu harmed seedlings and did not stop for sixty days. Seventh month: prolonged rain at the capital damaged many of the Nine Gates city walls. Jingtai 6: prolonged rain in five prefectures of the northern metropolitan region and two prefectures of Henan harmed crops; Dali and other prefectures in Yunnan suffered likewise. Jingtai 7: incessant rain flooded fields in thirty prefectures across the two metropolitan regions, Jiangxi, Henan, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shanxi, and Huguang.
49
宿
Tianshun 1: at Ji, Yan, and Qing prefectures great rain lasted a month and grain was entirely submerged. Tianshun 4: rain from the fifth month to the seventh month at Anqing and Nanyang flooded grain seedlings. Tianshun 7, fifth month: great rain at Huai, Feng, Yang, and Xu rotted the second crop of wheat. At Wuchang, Hanyang, and Jingzhou dwellings were swept away and submerged; the people all camped in the open on the hills.
50
殿
Chenghua 1, sixth month: great rain in the eastern metropolitan region damaged the castles of Shanhai Pass, Yongping, Jizhou, and Zunhua. Eighth month: great rain at Tongzhou damaged the city and transport granaries. Chenghua 2: accumulated rain at Dingzhou damaged the city wall and one hundred seventy-three crenellations of beacon towers and parapets. Chenghua 8, seventh month: great wind and rain at Nanjing damaged the altars of Heaven and Earth and the temples of the Xiaoling Mausoleum. At Fengyang great rain damaged the wall of the imperial mausoleum. Chenghua 9, third month: great wind and rain at Nanjing uprooted the trees of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the altars of the soil and grain. Chenghua 13, seventh month: great rain at the capital. Chenghua 14, eighth month: great rain at Fengyang submerged thousands of dwellings within the city. Chenghua 17, seventh month, day yiyou: great wind and rain at Nanjing destroyed the altars of the soil and grain and the halls of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Chenghua 18: in Henan, Huaqing, and other prefectures incessant rain from summer to autumn for three months collapsed more than 1,180 zhang of city walls, swept away more than 314,000 government offices, altars, temples, and private dwellings, and drowned more than 11,800 people.
51
西 殿
Hongzhi 2, seventh month: incessant rain at the capital; the throne sought forthright remonstrance. Hongzhi 3, seventh month: sudden rain at Nanjing damaged the western altar outside the Meridian Gate. Hongzhi 7, seventh month, day gengyin: great wind and rain at Nanjing damaged halls and city-tower beast ornaments and uprooted the trees of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the altars of Heaven, Earth, and the soil and grain, and the Xiaoling Mausoleum. From the fifth month to the eighth month continuous rain at Yizhou and other guards harmed crops. Hongzhi 8, fifth month: overcast rain at Nanjing for more than a month damaged the northern parapet outside Chaoyang Gate. Ninth month: hurricane and violent rain in the prefectures of Chaozhou damaged city walls and dwellings. Hongzhi 10, seventh month: incessant rain at Anlu nearly destroyed all city walls and dwellings. Hongzhi 11, seventh month: violent wind and rain at Chang'an Ridge damaged the city and dwellings. Hongzhi 14, sixth month: incessant rain at Yi, Jin, and Guangning damaged city walls, beacon forts, storehouses, and bridges; many commoners were crushed to death. Hongzhi 15, sixth and seventh months: great wind and rain at Nanjing uprooted or destroyed many trees, bridges, and walls at the Xiaoling Spirit Palace Directorate and the Yiwen Mausoleum. Hongzhi 16, fifth month: great wind and rain at Yulin destroyed the outer city wall and shifted the wall opening fifty paces to the south. Hongzhi 18, third month: great thunder and rain at Shuangshan Fort damaged the city. From the sixth month to the eighth month the metropolitan region had continuous rain.
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Zhengde 1, seventh month: great rain in the prefectures of Fengyang left level ground one zhang five chi deep in water and submerged more than five hundred households. Zhengde 2, seventh month: great wind and rain at Wuping destroyed the city tower. At Changtai and Nanjing great wind and rain for three days and nights left level ground two zhang deep in water and swept away more than eight hundred households. Zhengde 12: great rain at Su, Song, Chang, Zhen, Jia, and Hu ruined wheat and grain. Zhengde 13: great rain for a full month at Yingtian, Su, Song, Chang, Zhen, and Yang swept away dwellings, livestock, and people beyond count. Zhengde 16: prolonged rain at the capital harmed crops.
53
Jiajing 4, sixth month: great rain at Dengzhou damaged the city. Jiajing 16: rain at the capital from summer to autumn did not cease; houses collapsed and many soldiers and commoners were crushed to death. Jiajing 25, eighth month: great rain at the capital damaged the city walls of the Nine Gates. Jiajing 33, sixth month: great rain at the capital left level ground several chi deep in water. Jiajing 45, ninth month: great incessant rain at Yunyang left level ground more than one zhang deep in water. City walls and dwellings were damaged, and people drowned beyond count.
54
Longqing 1, sixth month: incessant rain at the capital; in Liaodong rain from the fifth month to the seventh month did not stop, damaging walls and grain.
55
殿 西
Wanli 1, seventh month: incessant rain. Wanli 11, fourth month: great rain at Chengtian. Wanli 12, first month: great wind and rain at Xifeng Pass damaged the various beacon towers. Wanli 15, fifth month to seventh month: incessant rain at Su, Song, and other prefectures harmed both grain and wheat. Sixth month: great rain at the capital. Wanli 24: incessant rain at Hang, Jia, and Hu harmed seedlings. Wanli 28, seventh month: great rain for several days and nights at Xinghua, Putian, Lianjiang, and Fu'an destroyed city walls, bridges, and dikes. Wanli 29, spring and summer: incessant rain at Su, Song, Jia, and Hu harmed wheat. Wanli 32, seventh month: incessant rain at the capital; the city wall collapsed. Wanli 33, fifth month, day bingshen: great wind and rain at Fengyang damaged the imperial seat in the main hall of the imperial mausoleum. Wanli 39, spring: great rain in Henan. Summer: great rain at the capital and in Guangdong. At Guangxi accumulated rain lasted five months. Wanli 42: incessant rain in Zhejiang became a disaster.
56
Tianqi 6, intercalary sixth month: great rain for ten days in succession damaged the spirit road of Tianshou Mountain and the bridges of the capital. That year incessant rain in Liaodong damaged the city walls inside and outside Shanhai Pass, and very many soldiers and commoners were harmed. Tianqi 7: accumulated rain in twenty-eight prefectures and counties of Shandong harmed the grain crop.
57
Chongzhen 5, sixth month: great rain. Eighth month: rain fell again and damaged Qing Mausoleum. Ninth month: incessant rain in twenty-seven counties of Shuntian harmed the crops. Chongzhen 11, summer: rain lasted more than ten days and the southern mountain border wall collapsed. Chongzhen 12, twelfth month: incessant rain in Zhejiang turned fields and paths into a vast flood. Chongzhen 13, fourth month to seventh month: incessant rain in Ning, Chi, and other prefectures turned half the fields into gullies. Chongzhen 15, tenth month: incessant rain at Huang, Qi, De'an, and other prefectures and counties. Chongzhen 16, second month, day wuchen: the emperor personally sacrificed at the altars of soil and grain amid great wind and rain, barely completing the rites before returning.
58
▲ Madmen
59
Jingtai 3, fifth month, new moon of day guisi: with the crown prince to be installed the next day, incense pavilions were set up at Fengtian Gate. A man from outside rushed straight in, seized a red staff, struck the incense pavilion, and cried: "Strike the eastern jia and yi wood first! Jiajing 18: as the imperial procession was about to travel south, the soldier Sun Tang walked from the middle of the imperial route bridge to below Fengtian Gate, ascended the Golden Terrace, and sat for a long while, while gatekeepers and attendants remained unaware. He ascended the hall and shouted loudly; once discovered he was seized—a man deranged by illness.
60
▲ Garment Omens
61
竿 便
Zhengde 1: women widely wore pearl-knotted veils called yingluo. Zhengde 13, first month: when the imperial procession returned to the capital, court officials were ordered to wear yisan, large hats, and luan belts. Supervising Secretary Zhu Mingyang protested that yisan and large hats were attire for runners and laborers, not for appearing before the ruler. All were regarded as near to garment omens. Zhengde 15, twelfth month: when the emperor pacified the Prince of Ning's rebellion and returned to the capital, captives who had followed the rebellion and rebel leaders hung on poles were all marked with white banners, and for several li everything was white. The emperor was already unwell at the time, and onlookers recognized the ill omen. In the Chongzhen era court officials favored gauze, fine silk, and bamboo splints as belts for their convenience. Commentators said gold and silver were heavy and noble while gauze and splints were base and light—perhaps the base would overcome the noble. At the time northern commoners made caps with brims lowered to one side to cover their eyes and brows, calling them "won't recognize kin." Afterward, when bandit turmoil scattered the people, some who met kin on the road wept and dared not speak, or swung their arms and walked away.
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▲ Chicken Calamities
63
Hongzhi 14: at Huarong the commoner Liu Fu's household hen hatched a chick with three legs. Hongzhi 17, sixth month: at Chongming the commoner Gu Mengwen's household hen hatched a chick with a monkey's head and human form, four cun long, with a tail, active yet soundless. Jiajing 4: at Changyuan the commoner Wang Xian's household hen brooded an egg containing a human form with ears, eyes, mouth, nose, and all four limbs. Wanli 22, sixth month: at Jingbian Garrison a soldier's household hen transformed into a rooster. Chongzhen 9: at Huai'an a commoner's household hen crowed and leaped, transforming into a rooster. Chongzhen 10: outside Xuanwu Gate a commoner's household white hen had a wholly red beak and spurs and weighed forty jin. Some said this was the jiao bird; wherever it appears the state perishes. Chongzhen 14: at Taicang Guard Commander Jiang Zhoufu's household a hen brooded chicks with two heads, four wings, and eight feet.
64
▲ Rat Omens
65
殿
Wanli 44, seventh month: in Chang, Zhen, Huai, Yang, and other prefectures earth rats in tens of millions formed groups that at night bit one another's tails and crossed the river in an unbroken stream for nearly a month before stopping. Wanli 45, fifth month: at Nanjing more than ten thousand rats bit one another's tails and crossed the river, devouring the grain crops. Chongzhen 7: at Ningxia more than one hundred thousand rats bit one another's tails and ate the seedlings. Chongzhen 12: at Huangzhou rats ate the grain crops, crossing the river for five or six days without cease. At the time many rats in the inner palace memorial office stole food and touched people without fear—also rat omens. By the New Year's Day after the jiashen year the rats at last vanished. Also in the passes and mountains of Qinzhou rats transformed into quail in numbers of thousands. Chongzhen 15, second month: groups of rats crossed the river day and night without cease. Chongzhen 15, tenth month: at Yulin, Dingbian, and other forts rats were born in toads' bellies, several tens from one birth, eating seedlings as if reaped.
66
▲ Tree Ice
67
西
Hongwu 4, first month, day wushen: tree ice. Hongwu 6, twelfth month, day yichou: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Hongwu 11, first month, day dinghai: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Hongwu 22, first month, day jiaxu: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Zhengtong 3, tenth month, day dingchou, at dawn: tree armor ice. Tianshun 7, tenth month, day jiachen: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Tianshun 8, first month, day yichou: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Chenghua 16, first month, day xinmao, at dawn: freezing rain coated the trees with ice. Chenghua 23, twelfth month, day wuchen, at dawn: tree armor ice. Longqing 3, eleventh month, day guisi: tree ice. Wanli 14, winter: tree ice at Su and Song. Chongzhen 1, eleventh month: tree ice in Shaanxi broke all the tree branches. Afterward this anomaly occurred every year north of the Great River.
68
▲ Wood Omens
69
綿 西
Hongzhi 8: at Changsha a maple bore plums and a yellow lotus bore cucumbers. Hongzhi 9, third month: at Changning a nan tree bore lotus flowers and a plum bore bean pods. Jiajing 37, tenth month, day wuchen: at Sishui a great fir emerged from the sand, one zhang five chi in circumference and more than six zhang long. Longqing 5, fourth month: at Hangzhou chestnut trees bore peaches. Wanli 18, fifth month, day dingmao: at the Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum a great pine tree spat fire from a hole and burned until day's end. Wanli 23, twelfth month, day guihai: at the Imperial Mausoleum fire issued from the tops of trees and spread to burn grass and wood. Tianqi 6, fourth month, day guisi: white dew clung to trees like hanging silk and did not disperse at midday. Tianqi 6, tenth month, day xinyou: inside the Xihua Gate at Nanjing there was smoke without fire. Ritual officials inspected it and found old palace timber long buried in the earth, from which smoke arose of itself; earth and stone were all scorched. Water was poured on it, yet only after three days did it cease. Chongzhen 6, fifth month, day guisi: at Huoshan County a wooden steamer flew down from nowhere known. Chongzhen 7, second month, day dingsi: at Taikang the gate bolt opened itself three times; the magistrate gathered local gentry to discuss the matter, and a beam fell and killed him.
70
▲ Blue Afflictions and Blue Auspices
71
Xuande 1, eighth month, day xinsi: blue qi in the southeast sky was shaped like a person with hands clasped in salute.
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