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志第五五行二 〈(火木)〉
Treatise on the Five Elements, Part Two. (Fire and Wood sections).〉
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《洪範》曰:「火曰炎上。」 火不炎上,則失其性矣。 前史多以恆燠、草異、火、木、羽蟲之孽、羊禍、火災、火異、赤眚赤祥皆屬之火,今從之。
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.
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▲恆燠
▲ Persistent Warmth
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洪熙元年正月癸未,以京師一冬不雪,詔諭修省。 正統九年冬,畿內外無雪。 十二年冬,陝西無雪。 景泰六年冬,無雪。 天順元年冬,宮中祈雪。 是年,直隸、山西、河南、山東皆無雪。 二年冬,命百官祈雪。 六年冬,直隸、山東、河南皆無雪。 成化元年冬,無雪。 五年冬,燠如夏。 六年二月壬申,以自冬徂春,雨雪不降,敕諭羣臣親詣山川壇請禱。 十年二月,南京、山東奏,冬春恆燠,無冰雪。 十一年冬,以無雪祈禱。 十五年冬,直隸、山東、河南、山西無雪。 十九年冬,京師、直隸無雪。 弘治九年冬,無雪。 十五年冬,無雪。 十八年冬,溫如春,無雪。 正德元年冬,無雪。 永嘉自冬至春,麥穗桃李實。 三年冬,無雪。 六年至九年,連歲無雪。 十一年冬,無雪。 嘉靖十四年,冬深無雪,遣官遍祭諸神。 十九年冬,無雪。 二十年十二月癸卯,禱雪於神祇壇。 二十四年十二月甲午,命諸臣分告宮廟祈雪。 三十二年冬,無雪。 三十三年十二月壬申,以災異屢見,即禱雪日爲始,百官青衣辦事。 三十六年冬,無雪。 三十九年冬,無雪。 明年,又無雪。 帝將躬禱,會大風,命亟禱雪兼禳風變。 四十一年至四十五年冬,祈雪無虛歲。 隆慶元年冬,無雪。 四年冬,無雪。 萬曆四年十二月己丑,命禮部祈雪。 十六年、十七年、二十九年、三十七年、四十七年,亦如之。 崇禎五年十二月癸酉,命順天府祈雪。 六年、七年冬,無雪。
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.
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▲草異
▲ Grass Anomalies
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永樂十六年正月乙丑,同州、澄城、觔陽、朝邑雨谷及蕎麥。 正統八年十一月,殿上生荊棘,高二尺。 十四年,廣州獄竹牀逾年忽青生葉。 成化六年二月戊寅,湖廣應山雨粟。 弘治八年二月,枯竹開花,實如麥米。 苦蕒開蓮花。 六月甲子,黟縣雨豆,味不可食。 九年,黃州民家瓜大如鬥,瓤皆赤血。 萬曆四十三年四月戊寅,石首雨豆,大小不一,色雜紅黑。 崇禎四年、五年,河南草生人馬形,如被甲持矛馳驅戰鬥者然。 十三年,徐州田中白豆,多作人面,眉目宛然。
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.
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▲羽蟲之孽
▲ Calamities among Birds and Insects
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萬曆二十五年二月壬午,嶽州民家有鴨,含絮裹火,飛上屋,入竹椽茅茨中。 火四起,延燒數百家。 四十三年四月壬午,雙鶴銜火,飛集掖縣海神廟殿。 明日,廟火。 崇禎六年,汝寧有鳥,鳩身猴足。 鳳陽惡鳥數萬,兔頭、雞身、鼠足,供饌甚肥,犯其骨立死。
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.
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▲羊禍
▲ Sheep Portents
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萬曆三十八年四月,崞縣民家羊產羔,一首、二眼、四耳、二尾、八足。 三十九年四月,降夷部產羊羔,人面羊身。
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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▲火災
▲ Fire Disasters
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建文二年八月癸巳,承天門災。
Jianwen 2, eighth month, day jisi: the Chengtian Gate burned.
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永樂四年十二月辛亥,甌寧王邸第火,王薨。 十三年正月壬子,北京午門災。 十九年四月庚子,奉天、謹身、華蓋三殿災。 二十年閏十二月戊寅,乾清宮災。
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.
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宣德三年三月己亥,東嶽泰山廟火。 六年八月,武昌火,延燒楚王宮,譜系敕符俱燼。 甲辰,天津右衛北城外火,飛焰入城,燒倉廒。 九年二月庚午,京城東南樓火。
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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正統二年二月,西鎮吳山廟火。 三年八月辛酉,順天貢院火,席舍多焚,改期再試。 十二月乙亥,韓府承運殿災。 四年三月戊午,代府寢殿火。 七年正月,廣昌木廠火,焚松木八千八百餘株。 戊午,南京內府火,燔廊房六十餘間,圖籍、器用、守衛衣甲皆空。 三月辛未,趙城媧皇寢廟火。 十年正月庚寅,忠義前後二衛災。 是時太倉屢火,遣官禱祭火龍及太歲以禳之。 五月甲申,忠義後衛倉復火。 癸巳,通州右衛倉火。 十一月丁酉,御花房火。 十一年秋,武昌火。 死者數百人。 十二月乙未,周府災。 十二年六月,南京山川壇災。 十三年二月癸酉,忠義前衛倉火。 十四年六月丙辰夜,南京謹身、奉天、華蓋三殿災。
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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景泰二年六月丙子,青州廢齊府火。 三年八月戊寅,秦府火。 五年春,南京火,延燒數千家。 七年九月壬申,寧府火,延燒八百餘家。
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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成化二年九月癸未,南京御用監火。 六年十一月己亥,江浦火,延燒二百六十餘家。 九年七月庚戌,東直門災。 十一年四月壬辰夜,乾清宮門災。 十三年十一月壬辰,太倉米麥,歲久蒸浥,自焚百餘石。 十八年八月丙午,合州火,延燒千五百餘家。 乙卯,楚府火凡三發。 十一月戊午,南京國子監火。 十二月乙卯,器皿廠火。 壬辰,寧河王府火。 先有妖夜見,或爲神,或爲王侯,時舉火作欲焚狀,是夜燔府第無遺,冠服器用皆燼。 二十年正月戊戌,欽天監火。 二十二年六月,臨海縣災,延燒千七百餘家。
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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弘治元年三月庚寅,南京內花園火。 十一月丁丑夜,南京甲字庫災。 二年四月乙未,南京神樂觀火。 四年二月戊午,禮部官舍火。 六年四月甲寅,刑部官舍火。 辛酉夜,南京舊內災。 八年三月戊子,鎮東等堡躍火星如鬥,毀公館倉廒,人馬多斃。 十一年,自春徂夏,貴州大火。 毀官民房舍千八百餘所,死傷者六千餘人。 十月甲戌夜,清寧宮災。 十二年六月甲辰夜,闕里聖廟災。 十二月,建陽縣書坊火,古今書板皆燼。 十三年二月乙酉,禮部官舍火。 七月甲寅,南城縣空中有火,乍分乍合,流光下墜十餘丈,隱隱有聲,毀軍民廬舍。 庚申,永寧衛雁尾山至居庸關之石縱山,東西四十餘里,南北七十餘里,延燒七晝夜。 閏七月辛巳,福州城樓毀。 八月己未,沈府火。 十一月庚辰,寧河府火。 十六年三月庚午,遼東鐵嶺衛墜火如鬥。 丙子,火起,燒房屋二千五百餘間,死者百餘人。 四月戊午,寬河衛倉災,毀米豆四萬餘石。 九月戊寅,廣寧衛城火,燔三百餘家。 十七年四月丁巳,淮安火焚五百餘家。 五月癸巳,正陽門內西廊火,燔武功坊。
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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正德元年二月庚寅,鄖陽火,毀譙樓官舍,延百餘家。 是歲,寧夏左屯衛紅氣亙天,既而火作,城樓臺堡俱燼。 六月庚寅,大同平虜城災,燔藁百萬餘。 十一月己亥,臨海縣治火,延燒數千家。 七年三月己未,嶧縣有火如鬥,自空而隕,大風隨之,毀官民房千餘間。 火逸城外,延及丘木。 庚申,成山衛秦皇廟火,屋宇悉毀,像設如故。 是月,文登大桑樹火,樹燔而枝葉無損。 五月癸酉至閏五月丙子,遼東懿路城火三作,焚官民廬舍之半。 九月壬午,玉山火,燔學舍及民居三百餘家。 八年六月辛酉,豐城縣西南連隕火星,如盆如鬥。 既而火作,至七月初始熄,燔二萬餘家。 七月戊子,火隕龍泉縣,焚四千餘家。 十月壬寅,饒州及永豐、浮樑火,各燔五百餘家。 浮樑學舍災。 庚申,臨江火,燔官舍,延八百餘家。 九年正月庚辰,乾清宮火。 十一年八月丁丑,黔陽火,毀城樓官廨,延七百餘家。 十二年正月甲辰,清寧宮小房火。 四月,裕陵神宮監火。 八月丁卯,南昌火,燔三百家。 九月壬午,建安火,燔二百五十餘家。 十三年二月己卯,夷陵火,燔七百餘家。 八月庚辰,獻陵明樓災。 丁酉,延平火,燔五百餘家。 十四年四月乙巳,淮安新城火。 七月丙辰,泰寧火,燔五千餘家。 十五年五月辛卯,靜樂火,燔八百餘家。
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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嘉靖元年正月己未,清寧宮後三小宮災。 楊廷和言廢禮之應,不報。 二月己丑,南京針線廠火。 己亥,通州城樓火。 二年五月丙子,榮府火。 九月戊辰,秦府宮殿火。 四年三月壬午夜,仁壽宮災,玉德、安喜、景福諸殿俱燼。 五年三月乙酉,趙府家廟火。 六年三月丁亥,西庫火。 八年十月癸未,大內所房災。 十年正月辛亥,大內東偏火。 四月庚辰,兵、工二部公廨災,毀文籍。 十三年六月甲子,南京太廟火,毀前後殿、東西廡、神廚庫。 十五年四月癸卯,山西平虜衛火,盡毀神機官庫軍器。 十八年二月乙丑,趙州及臨洺鎮行宮俱火。 丁卯,駕幸衛輝,行宮四更火,陸炳負帝出,後宮及內侍有殞於火者。 六月丁酉,皇城北鼓樓災。 二十年四月辛酉夜,宗廟災。 毀成、仁二廟主。 二十五年五月壬申,盔甲廠火。 二十六年十一月壬午,宮中火,釋楊爵於獄。 三十一年八月乙丑,南京試院火。 三十五年九月戊辰,杭州大火,延燒數千家。 三十六年四月丙申,奉天、華蓋、謹身三殿,文武二樓,午門、奉天門俱災。 三十七年正月,光祿寺災。 三十八年正月癸未,前軍都督府火。 四十年十一月辛亥夜,萬壽宮災。 四十四年三月己亥夜,大明門內西千步廊火。
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.
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隆慶二年正月,浙江省城外災。 毀室廬舟艦以千計。 三月乙亥,乾清、坤寧兩宮,一時俱燼。 五年二月壬子,南京廣、惠二倉火。
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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萬曆元年十一月己亥,慈寧宮後舍火。 三年四月甲戌,工部後廠火。 五年十月丙申,禁中火。 十一月癸未,宗人府災。 十一年十二月庚午夜,慈寧宮災。 十二年二月己酉,無逸殿災。 十二月癸卯朔,又災。 十五年五月甲子,司設監火。 十八年三月辛酉,遼東寨山兒堡火,毀城堡器械,傷九十餘人。 十九年十二月甲辰,萬法寶殿災。 二十一年六月望,太倉公署後樓有砲聲,火藥器械俱燼。 二十二年五月壬寅,天火燔鐵嶺衛千餘家。 二十四年二月甲寅,潞府門火。 三月乙亥,火發坤寧宮,延及乾清宮,俱燼。 二十五年二月壬午,杭州火,燒官民房千三百餘間。 丙戌,馬湖屏山災,延燔八百餘家,斃二十四人。 三月癸卯,泗州大火。 燒民房四千餘。 盱眙火,燔民房百六十餘間。 撥漕糧二萬石以振。 六月戊寅,三殿災。 火起歸極門,延皇極等殿,文昭、武成二閣,周遭廊房,一時俱燼。 十二月甲寅,吏部文選司署火。 二十七年十一月壬申,內府火,延燒尚寶司印綬監、工部廊,至銀作局山牆而止。 二十八年三月,南陽火,延燒唐府。 二十九年正月己巳,鐵嶺衛火,車輛火藥俱燼。 八月己卯,大光明東配殿災。 三十年二月乙酉,魏國公賜第火。 十月丙申,孝陵災。 十二月庚子,南海普陀山寺災。 三十一年九月戊寅,通州漕艘火。 三十三年二月乙丑,御馬監火。 五月辛巳,洗白廠火。 九月甲午,昭和殿火。 丙申,官軍於盔甲廠支火藥,藥年久凝如石,用斧劈之,火突發,聲若震霆,刀槍火箭迸射百步外,軍民死者無數。 十一月丁卯,刑部提牢廳火。 三十五年二月乙卯,易州神器庫火。 四月丁酉,通州西倉火。 十月己卯,南京行人司署毀。 三十七年正月庚子,慶府火,燔寢宮及帑藏。 三月丙戌,武昌火,越二日又火,共燔二百六十餘家。 六月,慶府災。 十月戊午,朝日壇火。 三十八年四月丁丑夜,正陽門箭樓火。 三十九年四月戊子,怡神殿災。 四十一年五月壬戌,蜀府災,門殿爲燼。 四十三年四月壬午,黃花鎮柳溝火,延燒數十里。 甲午,蜀府殿庭災。 遼東長寧堡自二月至五月,火凡五發,毀房屋人畜無算。 閏八月辛亥,通州糧艘火。 九月丁丑,湖口稅廨毀。 四十四年十一月己巳,隆德殿災。 丁亥,南城延喜宮災。 四十五年正月壬午,東朝房火,延毀公生門。 十一月丙戌,宣禧宮災。 四十六年閏四月丁丑夜,開原殷家莊堡臺杆八同時燼。 甲申,暖閣廠膳房火。 九月壬子,茂陵火。 四十七年四月癸酉,盔甲廠火。
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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泰昌元年十月丁卯,噦鸞宮災。
Taichang 1, tenth month, dingmao: the Huiluan Palace burned.
24
天啓元年閏二月丙戌,昭和殿災。 三月甲辰,杭州火,延燒六千餘家。 八月戊子,復災,城內外延毀萬餘家。 二年五月丙申,旗纛廟正殿災,火藥盡焚,匠役多死者。 三年七月辛卯,南京大內左傍宮災。 六年五月戊申,王恭廠災,地中霹靂聲不絕,火藥自焚,煙塵障空,白晝晦冥,凡四五里。 五月癸亥,朝天宮災。 七月庚寅,登州城樓火。 七年十月庚子,寧遠前屯火,傷男婦二百餘人。
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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崇禎元年四月乙卯,左軍都督府災。 五月乙亥,鷹坊司火。 丁亥,丁字庫火。 七月己卯,公安縣火,毀文廟,延五千餘家。 二年十一月庚子,火藥局災。 三年三月戊戌,又災。 八月癸酉,頭道關災,火器轟擊無餘。 六年正月癸丑,濟南舜廟災。 七年九月庚申,盔甲廠災。 十一年四月戊戌,新火藥局災。 傷人甚衆。 六月癸巳,安民廠災,震毀城垣廨舍,居民死傷無算。 八月丁酉,火藥局又災。
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
▲火異
▲ Fire Anomalies
27
成化二十一年正月甲申朔,有火光自中天而少西,墜於下,化爲白氣,復曲折上騰,聲如雷。
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.
28
弘治三年三月庚午,儀隴空中有紅白火焰,長三丈餘,自縣治東北流,至正東六十餘里而墜,聲震如雷。 八年三月辛卯,廣寧右衛臺杆火,高五寸,杆如故。 十年四月辛丑,阜平有火光,長八九尺,大如轆軸,有聲,自東南至西南而墜。
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.
29
正德元年三月戊申夜,太原有火如斗大,墜寧化王殿前。 廣寧墩臺火發旗杆,凡六。 七月壬戌夜,火光墜即墨民家,化爲綠石,圓高尺餘。 七年三月丁卯夜,大風雷電,餘干仙居寨有光如箭,墜旗竿上,俄如燭龍,光照四野。 士卒撼其旗,飛上竿首,既而其火四散,槍首皆有光如星。 十二年五月己亥夜,火隕都察院獄,旋轉久之始滅。 十五年六月癸未夜,台州火隕三,大如盤,觸草木皆焦。
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.
30
嘉靖五年七月甲申,有火球三,大五六尺,從北墜於東,其光燭天。 二十年七月丙戌,火球如鬥,隕左軍都督府中門東,良久乃滅。
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.
31
隆慶二年三月戊午,延綏保寧堡城角旗杆出火,灼灼有聲。
Longqing 2, third month, wuwu: at Yan'an Baoning Fort the corner flagpole of the city wall emitted blazing fire with sound.
32
萬曆十四年,保定府民間牆壁內出火,三日夜乃熄。 十五年二月,綏靖邊城各堡,脊獸旗杆俱出火。 軍士以杖撲之,杖亦生火,三更乃熄。 二十年三月,陝西空中有火,大如盆,後生三尾,隕於西北。 二十一年二月庚辰夜分,大毛山樓上各獸吻俱有火,如雞卵,赤色,即時雨雪,火上嗟嗟有聲。 二十三年九月癸巳夜,永寧有火光,形如屋大,隕於西北。 永昌、鎮番、寧遠所見同。 二十四年二月戊申夜,鄠縣雷雨,遍地火光,十有餘里。 二十五年二月癸亥,平涼瓦獸口出火,水灌不滅。 八月甲申,肅、涼二州火光在天,形如車輪,尾分三股,約長三丈。
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
天啓六年五月壬寅朔,厚載門火神廟紅球滾出,前門城樓角有數千螢火,併合如車輪。
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
崇禎元年,西安有火如碾如鬥者數十,色青,焰高尺許,嘗入民居,留數日乃去。 用羊豕禳之,不爲害,自五月至七月而止。 十三年六月壬申,鎮安火光如斛,自西墜地,士木皆焦。
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
▲赤眚赤祥
▲ Red Afflictions and Red Omens
36
成化十三年二月甲午,浙江山陰涌泉如血。
Chenghua 13, second month, day jiawu: at Shanyin in Zhejiang a spring gushed blood.
37
正德元年正月乙酉夜,崇明空中有紅光,曳尾如虹,起東北至西南沒,聲如雷。 辛丑,鳳陽紅光發,與日同色,聲如雷。 二年八月己亥,赤光見寧夏,長五丈。 八年七月甲申,龍泉有赤彈二,自空隕於縣治,形如鵝卵,躍入民居,相鬥久之。
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
嘉靖三十三年四月戊子,慈溪民家涌血高尺餘。 三十七年五月戊辰,東陽民張思齊家地裂五六處,出血如線,高尺許。 血凝,犬就食之,掘地無所見。 三十九年二月己未,竹溪民家出血。
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
隆慶六年閏二月癸酉,遼東赤風揚塵蔽天。
Longqing 6, intercalary second month, day guiyou: in Liaodong a red wind raised dust and blotted out the sky.
40
萬曆六年七月丁丑,鬆門衛金鐺家涌血三尺,有聲。 十三年四月乙丑,虹民王祿投宿姚壘家,見血出於地,驚走至市,市亦流血。 鄉人擊器物噪之,乃止。 十九年六月庚戌,慈溪茅家浦涌血八處,大如盆,高尺許。 血濺船,船即出血,濺人足,足亦出血,數刻乃絕。 二十六年九月甲辰,蕭山賈九經家出血,高尺許。
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
天啓元年六月庚寅,肇慶民王體積中庭噴血,如跑突泉。
Tianqi 1, sixth month, day gengyin: at Zhaoqing commoner Wang Tiji's central courtyard sprayed blood like the Paotu Spring.
42
崇禎七年二月戊午,海豐雨血。 八年八月戊寅,宣城池中出血。
Chongzhen 7, second month, day wuwu: at Haifeng it rained blood. Chongzhen 8, eighth month, day wuyin: blood issued forth within Xuancheng city.
43
《洪範》曰:「木曰曲直。」 木不曲直,則失其性矣。 前史多以恆雨、狂人、服妖、雞禍、鼠孽、木冰、木妖、青眚青祥皆屬之木,今從之。
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
▲恆雨
▲ Incessant Rain
45
洪武十三年七月,海康大雨,壞縣治。 二十三年十一月,山東二十九州縣久雨,傷麥禾。
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
九月,久雨壞密雲中衛城。
Ninth month: prolonged rain damaged the city of Miyun Central Guard.
47
宣德元年五月,永嘉、樂清颶風急雨,壞公私廨宇及壇廟。
Xuande 1, fifth month: hurricane and violent rain at Yongjia and Yueqing damaged public and private offices and altars and temples.
48
景泰三年,永平、兗州久雨傷禾。 大嵩等二十衛所久雨壞城。 四年,南畿、河南、山東府十州一,自五月至於八月霪雨傷稼。 五年,杭、嘉、湖大雨傷苗,六旬不止。 七月,京師久雨,九門城垣多壞。 六年,北畿府五、河南府二久雨傷稼,雲南大理諸府如之。 七年,兩畿、江西、河南、浙江、山東、山西、湖廣共府三十,恆雨淹田。
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
天順元年,濟、兗、青三府大雨閱月,禾盡沒。 四年,安慶、南陽雨,自五月至七月,淹禾苗。 七年五月,淮、鳳、揚、徐大雨,腐二麥。 武昌、漢陽、荊州廬舍漂沒,民皆依山露宿。
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
成化元年六月,畿東大雨,水壞山海關、永平、薊州、遵化城堡。 八月,通州大雨,壞城及運倉。 二年,定州積雨,壞城垣及墩臺垛口百七十三。 八年七月,南京大風雨,壞天、地壇、孝陵廟宇。 鳳陽大雨,壞皇陵牆垣。 九年三月,南京大風雨,拔太廟、社稷壇樹。 十三年七月,京城大雨。 十四年八月,鳳陽大雨,沒城內民居以千計。 十七年七月乙酉,南京大風雨,社稷壇及太廟殿宇皆摧。 十八年,河南、懷慶諸府,夏秋霪雨三月,塌城垣千一百八十餘丈,漂公署、壇廟、民居三十一萬四千間有奇,淹死一萬一千八百餘人。
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
弘治二年七月,京師霪雨,求直言。 三年七月,南京驟雨,壞午門西城壇。 七年七月庚寅,南京大風雨,壞殿宇、城樓獸吻,拔太廟、天、地、社稷壇及孝陵樹。 自五月至八月,義州等衛連雨害稼。 八年五月,南京陰雨逾月,壞朝陽門北城堵。 九月,潮州諸府,颶風暴雨壞城垣廬舍。 十年七月,安陸霪雨,壞城郭廬舍殆盡。 十一年七月,長安嶺暴風雨,壞城及廬舍。 十四年六月,義、錦、廣寧霪雨,壞城垣、墩堡、倉庫、橋樑,民多壓死者。 十五年六七月,南京大風雨,孝陵神宮監及懿文陵樹木、橋樑、牆垣多摧拔者。 十六年五月,榆林大風雨,毀子城垣,移垣洞於其南五十步。 十八年三月,雙山堡大雷雨壞城。 六月至八月,京畿連雨。
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.
52
正德元年七月,鳳陽諸府大雨,平地水深丈五尺,沒居民五百餘家。 二年七月,武平大風雨,毀城樓。 長泰、南靖大風雨三日夜,平地水深二丈,漂民居八百餘家。 十二年,蘇、鬆、常、鎮、嘉、湖大雨,殺麥禾。 十三年,應天、蘇、鬆、常、鎮、揚大雨彌月,漂室廬人畜無算。 十六年,京師久雨傷稼。
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
嘉靖四年六月,登州大雨壞城。 十六年,京師雨,自夏及秋不絕,房屋傾倒,軍民多壓死。 二十五年八月,京師大雨,壞九門城垣。 三十三年六月,京師大雨,平地水數尺。 四十五年九月,鄖陽大霪雨,平地水丈餘。 壞城垣廬舍,人民溺死無算。
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
隆慶元年六月,京師霪雨,遼東自五月至七月雨不止,壞垣牆禾黍。
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
萬曆元年七月,霪雨。 十一年四月,承天大雨水。 十二年正月,喜峯口大風雨,壞各墩臺。 十五年五月至七月,蘇、鬆諸府霪雨,禾麥俱傷。 六月,京師大雨。 二十四年,杭、嘉、湖霪雨傷苗。 二十八年七月,興化、莆田、連江、福安大雨數日夜,城垣、橋樑、堤岸俱圮。 二十九年春夏,蘇、鬆、嘉、湖霪雨傷麥。 三十二年七月,京師霪雨,城崩。 三十三年五月丙申,鳳陽大風雨,損皇陵正殿御座。 三十九年春,河南大雨。 夏,京師、廣東大雨。 廣西積雨五閱月。 四十二年,浙江霪雨爲災。
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
天啓六年閏六月,大雨連旬,壞天壽山神路,都城橋樑。 是歲,遼東霪雨,壞山海關內外城垣,軍民傷者甚衆。 七年,山東州縣二十有八積雨傷禾。
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
崇禎五年六月,大雨。 八月,又雨,衝損慶陵。 九月,順天二十七縣霪雨害稼。 十一年夏,雨浹旬,圮南山邊垣。 十二年十二月,浙江霪雨,阡陌成巨浸。 十三年四月至七月,寧、池諸郡霪雨,田半爲壑。 十五年十月,黃、蘄、德安諸郡縣霪雨。 十六年二月戊辰,親祀社稷,大風雨,僅成禮而還。
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
▲狂人
▲ Madmen
59
景泰三年五月癸巳朔,以明日立太子,具香亭於奉天門。 有一人自外竟入,執紅棍擊香亭曰:「先打東方甲乙木。」 嘉靖十八年,駕將南幸,有軍人孫堂從御路中橋至奉天門下,登金臺,坐久,守門官役無知者。 升堂大呼,覺而捕之,乃病狂者。
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
▲服妖
▲ Garment Omens
61
正德元年,婦女多用珠結蓋頭,謂之瓔珞。 十三年正月,車駕還京,令朝臣用曳撒大帽鸞帶。 給事中硃鳴陽言,曳撒大帽,行役所用,非見君服。 皆近服妖也。 十五年十二月,帝平宸濠還京,俘從逆者及懸諸逆首於竿,皆標以白幟,數里皆白。 時帝已不豫,見者識其不祥。 崇禎時,朝臣好以紗縠、竹籜爲帶,取其便易。 論者謂金銀重而貴,紗籜賤而輕,殆賤將乘貴也。 時北方小民制幘,低側其檐,自掩眉目,名曰:「不認親」。 其後寇亂民散,途遇親戚,有飲泣不敢言,或掉臂去之者。
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.
62
▲雞禍
▲ Chicken Calamities
63
弘治十四年,華容民劉福家雞雛三足。 十七年六月,崇明民顧孟文家雞生雛,猴頭而人形,身長四寸,有尾,活動無聲。 嘉靖四年,長垣民王憲家雞抱卵,內成人形,耳目口鼻四肢皆具。 萬曆二十二年六月,靖邊營軍家雌雞化爲雄。 崇禎九年,淮安民家牝雞啼躍,化爲雄。 十年,宣武門外民家白雞,喙距純赤,重四十斤。 或曰此皦也,所見之處國亡。 十四年,太倉衛指揮姜周輔家雞伏子,兩頭四翼八足。
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
▲鼠妖
▲ Rat Omens
65
萬曆四十四年七月,常、鎮、淮、揚諸郡,土鼠千萬成羣,夜銜尾渡江,絡繹不絕,幾一月方止。 四十五年五月,南京有鼠萬餘,銜尾渡江,食禾稼。 崇禎七年,寧夏鼠十餘萬,銜尾食苗。 十二年,黃州鼠食禾,渡江五六日不絕。 時內殿奏章房多鼠盜食,與人相觸而不畏,亦鼠妖也。 至甲申元旦後,鼠始屏跡。 又秦州關山中鼠化鵪鶉者以數千計。 十五年二月,羣鼠渡江,晝夜不絕。 十月,榆林、定邊諸堡鼠生蝦蟆腹中,一生數十,食苗如割。
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
▲木冰
▲ Tree Ice
67
洪武四年正月戊申,木冰。 六年十二月乙丑,雨木冰。 十一年正月丁亥,雨木冰。 二十二年正月甲戌,雨木冰。 正統三年十月丁丑曉,木介。 天順七年十月甲辰,雨木冰。 八年正月乙丑,雨木冰。 成化十六年正月辛卯曉,雨木冰。 二十三年十二月戊辰曉,木介。 隆慶三年十一月癸巳,木冰。 萬曆十四年冬,蘇、松木冰。 崇禎元年十一月,陝西木冰,樹枝盡折。 其後大河以北,歲有此異。
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
▲木妖
▲ Wood Omens
69
弘治八年,長沙楓生李實,黃蓮生黃瓜。 九年三月,長寧楠生蓮花,李生豆莢。 嘉靖三十七年十月戊辰,泗水沙中涌出大杉木,圍丈五尺,長六丈餘。 隆慶五年四月,杭州慄生桃。 萬曆十八年五月丁卯,祖陵大松樹孔中吐火,竟日方滅。 二十三年十二月癸亥,皇陵樹顛火出,延燒草木。 天啓六年四月癸巳,白露著樹如垂綿,日中不散。 十月辛酉,南京西華門內有煙無火。 禮臣往視,乃舊宮材木,瘞土中久,煙自生,土石皆焦。 以水沃之,三日始滅。 崇禎六年五月癸巳,霍山縣有木甑飛墮,不知所自來。 七年二月丁巳,太康門牡自開者三,知縣集邑紳議其事,樑墮而死。
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
▲青眚青祥
▲ Blue Afflictions and Blue Auspices
71
宣德元年八月辛巳,東南天有青氣,狀如人叉手揖拜。
Xuande 1, eighth month, day xinsi: blue qi in the southeast sky was shaped like a person with hands clasped in salute.