1
天符瑞命，遐哉邈矣。 靈篇祕圖，固以蘊金匱而充石室，炳契決，陳緯候者，方策未書。 啓覺天人之期，扶獎帝王之運，三五聖業，神明大寶，二謀協贊，罔不由茲。 夫流火赤雀，實紀周祚，雕雲素靈，發祥漢氏，光武中興，皇符爲盛，魏膺當塗之讖，晉有石瑞之文，史筆所詳，亦唯舊矣。 齊氏受命，事殷前典。 黃門郎蘇偘撰《聖皇瑞應記》，永明中庾溫撰《瑞應圖》，其餘衆品，史注所載。 今詳錄去取，以爲《志》云。
Heaven's talismans and the mandate of good omens — how far they recede into the past. Sacred texts and hidden charts lay sealed in golden chests and stone vaults; the writings that bind fate and read the heavens were not yet set down in the annals. They rouse the hour when Heaven and humanity meet, lift the destiny of throne and crown; the holy work of the Three and Five, the gods' great heirloom — when counsel and omen move as one, every rise begins here. The Fire Star and crimson sparrow marked Zhou's reign; cloud-carved omens and white spirits blessed Han; at Guangwu's revival the royal talisman shone brightest; Wei answered the prophecy of the road held; Jin answered the stone oracle — the brush has told it all, and the tale is old. When Qi took Heaven's charge, it kept the ancient rites of Yin. Su Kan of the Yellow Gate wrote Records of the Sage Emperor's Auspicious Responses; in Yongming, Yu Wen wrote the Chart of Auspicious Responses; other items appear in the historians' notes. What follows is chosen and set down in full as this Treatise.
2
《老子河洛讖》曰：「年曆七七水滅緒，風雲俱起龍麟舉。」 宋水德王，義熙十四年，元熙二年，永初三年，景平一年，元嘉三十年，孝建三年，大明八年，永光一年，泰始七年，泰豫一年，元徽四年，昇明三年，凡七十七年，故曰七七也。 《易》曰：「雲從龍，風從虎。」 關尹云：「龍不知其乘風雲而上天也。」
The Laozi River Chart Prophecy reads: 「Seven sevens in the years' count — water puts out the line; wind and cloud lift as one, dragon and qilin rise. 」Song held the Water Virtue: Yixi 14, Yuanxi 2, Yongchu 3, Jingping 1, Yuanjia 30, Xiaojian 3, Daming 8, Yongguang 1, the seventh year of Taishi, Taiyu 1, Yuanhui 4, Shengming 3 — seventy-seven years altogether, hence 「seven sevens.」 The Book of Changes says: 「Clouds obey the dragon; wind obeys the tiger. 」Lord Guan said: 「The dragon does not know it mounts wind and cloud to reach heaven.」
3
讖又曰：「肅草成，道德懷書備出身，形法治吳出南京。」 上卽姓諱也。 南京，南徐州治京口也。
The prophecy adds: 「Sober grass is made whole; the Way and Virtue cradle the book and step forth — by form and statute rule Wu, issue from the Southern Capital. Above stands for the imperial clan name by taboo. The Southern Capital is Jingkou, where Southern Xuzhou was administered.
4
讖又曰：「墥堨河梁塞龍淵，消除水災泄山川。」 墥堨河梁，爲路也，路卽道也。 淵塞者，譬路成也。 卽太祖諱也。 消水災，言除宋氏患難也。
The prophecy again: 「Granary rampart and river span dam the dragon deep; the flood is drained, hills and streams released. Granary dike and river bridge spell a road — and road is the Way. 「Abyss blocked」 — as when the road is finished. That points to the Founding Emperor's tabooed name. 「Clear the water plague」 means clearing the Song dynasty's woes.
5
讖又曰：「上參南斗第一星，下立草屋爲紫庭。 神龍之崗梧桐生，鳳鳥舒翼翔且鳴。」 南斗第一星，吳分也。 草屋，蕭字也。 又簫管之器，像鳳鳥翼也。
The prophecy again: 「Above, take the Southern Dipper's first star; below, a grass hut serves as the Purple Court. On the ridge of the spirit dragon the parasol tree rises; the phoenix spreads its wings, flies, and calls. 」The Southern Dipper's first star — Wu's celestial share. 「Grass hut」 — the graph Xiao. The xiao flute, too, among the eight tones — shaped like the phoenix wing.
6
讖又曰：「蕭爲二士，天下大樂。」 二士，主字也。
The prophecy again: 「Xiao splits into two 「shi」 — all under heaven rejoices. 」Two 「shi」 — the graph for 「lord.」
7
讖又曰：「天子何在草中宿。」 宿，肅也。
The prophecy again: 「Where does the Son of Heaven dwell? He lodges in the grass. Lodging (su) — sober (su), in the name Xiao.
8
《尚書中候儀明篇》曰：「仁人傑出，握表之象，曰角姓，合音之于。」 蘇偘云：「蕭，角姓也。 又八音之器有簫管也。」
The Shangshu Zhonghou, Yiming Chapter, says: 「A humane man of rare stature holds the chart-sign — the Angular surname; its sounds joined read 「yu」 「yu」. 」Su Kan said: 「Xiao is the Angular surname. And among the eight tones there is the xiao flute.」
9
史臣曰：案晉光祿大夫何禎解音之于爲曹字，謂魏氏也。 王隱《晉書》云：「卯金音于，亦爲魏也。」 《候》書章句，本無銓序，二家所稱，旣有前釋，未詳偘言爲何推據。
The historian notes: Jin's Grandee of Splendid Service He Zhen read the joined sounds 「yu」 「yu」 as the graph Cao — the house of Wei — Wang Yin's Jin Shu says: 「Mao-jin [Liu] sounded with 「yu」 — again Wei. 」The Hou text's lines were never ordered by commentary; both readings had older glosses — on what grounds Su Kan argued is not made plain.
10
《孝經鉤命決》曰：「誰者起，視名將。」 君者羣也，理物爲雄，優劣相次以期興，將，太祖小諱也。 征西將軍蕭思話見之曰：「此我家諱也。」
The Xiaojing Gouming Jue says: 「Who will rise? Read the name Jiang. 」「Jun」 is the flock; he who orders things is chief; worth ranks in turn until the age turns — 「Jiang」 was the Founding Emperor's childhood taboo. Xiao Sihua, General Who Pacifies the West, read it and said: 「That is my clan's taboo name.」
11
王子年歌曰：「金刀治世後遂苦，帝王昏亂天神怒，災異屢見戒人主，三分二叛失州土，三王九江一在吳，餘悉稚小早少孤，一國二主天所驅。」 金刀，劉也。 三分二叛，宋明帝世也。 三王九江者，孝武於九江興，晉安王子勛雖不終，亦稱大號，後世祖又於九江基霸迹，此三王也。 一在吳，謂齊氏桑梓，亦寄治南吳也。 一國二主，謂太祖符運潛興，爲宋氏驅除寇難。
Wang Zinian's song runs: 「The golden blade governs the world, then bitterness follows; thrones darken and Heaven's lord grows wroth; omens crowd the sky to warn the king; two of three turn traitor, provinces slip away; three kings at Jiujiang — one in Wu; the rest are children, orphaned young; one realm, two masters — Heaven drives them on. Golden blade — the Liu house. 「Two of three in revolt」 — the reign of Song Mingdi. 「Three kings at Jiujiang」: Emperor Xiaowu rose there; Prince Zixun of Jin'an, though he failed, still claimed the throne; later the Founding Emperor founded his rise at Jiujiang — these three kings. 「One in Wu」 — Qi's homeland, also ruled from southern Wu. 「One realm, two masters」 — the Founding Emperor's fortune stirred unseen, clearing Song's foes.
12
歌又曰：「三禾摻摻林茂孳，金刀利刃齊刈之。」 刈，翦也。 《詩》云：「實始翦商。」
The song adds: 「Three stalks, thick in the grove, the woods heavy with grain — the golden blade's edge, and Qi will reap them down. Mow — to cut away. The Odes say: 「So began the shearing of Shang.」
13
歌又曰：「欲知其姓草肅肅。 糓中最細低頭熟。 鱗身甲體永興福。」 糓，道； 熟，成：又諱也。 太祖體有龍鱗，斑駮成文，始謂是黑歷，治之甚至而文愈明。 伏羲亦鱗身也。
The song again: 「Would you know the clan name? Grass — sober, sober. The finest grain in the bin bows its head, ripe. Scaled hide, armored flesh — fortune that endures and ascends. Grain — the Way; “Ripe” means “accomplish”—and is again a taboo name. The Grand Progenitor’s body bore dragon scales, mottled into patterns. At first they were taken for black moles; treatment was pushed to the limit, and the markings only grew clearer. Fuxi too had a scaly body.
14
《金雄記》曰：「鑠金作刀在龍里，占睡上人相須起。」 又云：「當復有作肅入草。」 蕭字也。 《易》云：「聖人作之。」 記又云：「草門可憐乃當悴，建號不成易運沸。」 《詩》云不時，時也。 不成，成也。 建號，建元號也。 易運，革命也。
The Record of the Golden Male says: 「Smelting gold to make knives in Dragon Hamlet; divining sleep, superiors and inferiors alike must rise. 」It also says: 「There shall again be one who takes Su entering the grass. 」—the character Xiao. The Changes says: 「The sage made it. 」The Record also says: 「The grass gate is pitiful and about to wither; founding the title will not succeed—the dynasty’s turn boils. 」The Odes’ “not timely” means timely. “Not accomplished” means accomplished. “Founding the title” means founding the reign title. “Change the turn” means revolution.
15
武進縣彭山，舊塋在焉。 其山崗阜相屬數百里，上有五色雲氣，有龍出焉。 宋明帝惡之，遣相墓工高靈文占視，靈文先與世祖善，還，詭荅云：「不過方伯。」 退謂世祖曰：「貴不可言。」 帝意不已，遣人於墓左右校獵，以大鐵釘長五六尺釘墓四維，以爲厭勝。 太祖後改樹表柱，柱忽龍鳴，響震山谷，父老咸志之云。
Peng Mountain in Wujin county—there lay the ancestral tombs. Its ridges and mounds run on for several hundred li; five-colored clouds gather above, and dragons appear there. Emperor Ming of Song took alarm and sent the tomb geomancer Gao Lingwen to inspect. Lingwen had been friendly with Shizu; returning, he answered deceitfully: 「No more than a regional lord. 」Privately he told Shizu: 「Your nobility is beyond words. 」The emperor’s suspicion did not cease; he sent men to hunt beside the tombs and drove great iron nails five or six feet long into the four corners of the graves as averting magic. Later the Grand Progenitor replaced the boundary marker posts; a post suddenly roared like a dragon, the sound shaking the valleys—the elders all recorded it.
16
會稽剡縣刻石山，相傳爲名，不知文字所在。 昇明末，縣民兒襲祖行獵，忽見石上有文凡三處，苔生其上，字不可識。 刊苔去之，大石文曰：「此齊者，黃公之化氣也。」 立石文曰：「黃天星，姓蕭字某甲，得賢帥，天下太平。」 小石文曰：「刻石者誰？ 會稽南山李斯刻秦望之封也。」
Mount Keshi in Shan county, Kuaiji, is so called by tradition; where the inscription lay was unknown. At the end of Shengming, the county man Er Xiuzu went hunting and suddenly saw writing on the stone in three places; moss covered it and the characters could not be read. They scraped away the moss; on the great stone it read: 「This Qi is the transformed vapor of the Yellow Duke. 」On the standing stone: 「Yellow Heaven star; surname Xiao, given name so-and-so; obtaining a worthy commander, all under Heaven is at peace. 」On the small stone: 「Who carved the stone? Li Si of Kuaiji’s southern mountains carved the Qin Prospect’s feng sacrifice.」
17
益州齊后山，父老相傳，其名亦不知所起。 昇明三年，有沙門玄暢於山丘立精舍，其日，太祖受禪日也。
Qihou Mountain in Yizhou—the elders hand down the name, but its origin too is unknown. Shengming 3, the monk Xuan Chang built a monastery on the hillock—that day was the day the Grand Progenitor received the abdication.
18
嵩高山，昇明三年四月，滎陽人尹午於山東南澗見天雨石，墜地石開，有璽在其中，方三寸。 其文曰：「戊丁之人與道俱，肅然入草應天符。」 又曰：「皇帝興運。」 午奉璽詣雍州刺史蕭赤斧，赤斧表獻之。
On Song Mountain, in the fourth month of Shengming 3, Yin Wu of Xingyang saw stones rain from heaven in the southeastern ravine; when they struck the ground a stone split open, and within was a seal three inches square. Its inscription read: 「A man of wu and ding walks with the Way; solemnly entering the grass, he answers Heaven’s talisman. 」It also said: 「The emperor’s fortune rises. 」Wu presented the seal to the Inspector of Yongzhou Xiao Chifu; Chifu memorialized and presented it.
19
史臣案：昔大人見臨洮而銅人鑄，臨洮生董卓而銅人毀，有卓而世亂，世亂而卓亡，如有似也。 晉末嵩高山出玉璧三十二，宋氏以爲受命之祥。 今此山出璽，而水德云謝，終始之徵，亦有類也。
The historiographer notes: When the Grand Man appeared at Lintao, bronze men were cast; Lintao produced Dong Zhuo and the bronze men were destroyed—Dong Zhuo brought chaos, chaos ended Dong Zhuo; the parallel is close. At the end of Jin, Song Mountain yielded thirty-two jade bi; the Song house took this as an omen of receiving the mandate. Now this mountain yields a seal, and the Water Virtue’s cycle is spent—portents of beginning and end follow a similar pattern.
20
元徽四年，太祖從南郊，望氣者陳安寶見太祖身上黃紫氣屬天，安寶謂親人王洪範曰：「我少來未嘗見軍上有如此氣也。」
Yuanhui 4, the Grand Progenitor attended the southern suburb; the qi-gazer Chen Anbao saw yellow and purple vapor on his person reaching to Heaven. Anbao told his kinsman Wang Hongfan: 「From my youth I have never seen a commander with such aura.」
21
太祖年十七，夢乘青龍西行逐日，日將薄山乃止，覺而恐懼，家人問占者，云「至貴之象也」。 蘇偘云：「青，木色。 日暮者，宋氏末運也。」
At seventeen the Grand Progenitor dreamed he rode an azure dragon westward chasing the sun; as the sun neared the mountains he stopped. Waking in fear, his family asked a diviner, who said, 「A sign of the utmost nobility.」 Su Kan said: 「Azure is the color of wood. A setting sun means the Song house’s last turn.」
22
泰始七年，明帝遣前淮南太守孫奉伯往淮陰監元會。 奉伯與太祖同寢，夢上乘龍上天，於下捉龍脚不得。 覺謂太祖曰：「兖州當大庇生民，弟不見也。」 奉伯卒於宋。
the seventh year of Taishi, Emperor Ming sent the former Administrator of Huainan Sun Fengbo to Huaiyin to oversee the year-end gathering. Fengbo slept with the Grand Progenitor and dreamed of riding a dragon up to Heaven; from below he grasped the dragon’s feet but could not hold them. On waking he told the Grand Progenitor: 「Yan province will greatly shelter the people—you, younger brother, will not see it. 」Fengbo died in Song.
23
清河崔靈運爲上府參軍，夢天帝謂己曰：「蕭道成是我第十九子，我去年已授其天子位。」 自三皇五帝至齊受命君，凡十九人也。
Cui Lingyun of Qinghe, a staff officer of the Chief Office, dreamed the Lord on High told him: 「Xiao Daocheng is my nineteenth son; last year I already granted him the Son of Heaven’s throne. From the Three August Ones and Five Thearchs down to Qi’s recipient of the mandate, there have been nineteen such rulers.
24
宋泰始中，童謠云「東城出天子」，故明帝殺建安王休仁。 蘇偘云：「後從帝自東城卽位，論者謂應之，乃是武進縣上所居東城里也。」 熊襄云：「上舊鄉有大道，相傳云秦始皇所經，呼爲『天子路』，後遂爲帝鄉焉。」 案從帝實當援立，猶如晉之懷、愍，亦有徵符。 齊運旣無，巡幸路名，或是秦舊，疑不能詳。
In Song Taishi, a children’s rhyme said 「From the eastern city a Son of Heaven will arise,」 so Emperor Ming killed Prince Jian’an Xiuren. Su Kan said: 「Later the deposed emperor enthroned himself from the eastern city—commentators took this as fulfillment; but it was the eastern city ward where our sovereign’s clan dwelt in Wujin county. 」Xiong Xiang said: 「In the sovereign’s old homeland there is a great road that tradition says Qin Shihuang traveled—called 『the Son of Heaven’s Road』—and it later became the imperial clan’s homeland. 」On examination, the deposed emperor was indeed the rightful successor, like Jin’s Huai and Min—there were portents for him too. With Qi’s fortune already assured, the road name for imperial tours may be a Qin relic—the point cannot be settled in detail.
25
世祖年十三，夢舉體生毛，髮生至足。 又夢人指上所踐地曰「周文王之田」。 又夢虛空中飛。 又夢著孔雀羽衣。 庾溫云：「雀，爵位也。」 又夢鳳皇從天飛下青溪宅齋前，兩翅相去十餘丈，翼下有紫雲氣。 及在襄陽，夢著桑屐行度太極殿階。 庾溫云：「屐者，運應木也。」 臣案桑字爲四十而二點，世祖年過此卽帝位，謂著屐爲木行也。 屐有兩齒有聲，是爲明兩之齒至四十二而行卽真矣。 及在郢州，夢人從天飛下，頭插筆來畫上衣兩邊，不言而去。 庾溫釋云：「畫者，山龍華蟲也。」
At thirteen Shizu dreamed his whole body sprouted hair, hair growing down to his feet. He also dreamed someone pointed to the ground the sovereign trod and said, 「The fields of King Wen of Zhou.」 He also dreamed that he was flying through the empty sky. He also dreamed that he was clad in peacock-feather robes. Yu Wen said: 「The sparrow signifies rank and title. 」He also dreamed that a phoenix flew down from heaven before the study at his Qingxi residence, its wings spanning more than ten zhang apart, with purple cloud vapor beneath them. While at Xiangyang, he dreamed of wearing mulberry-wood clogs and walking up the steps of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate. Yu Wen said: 「Clogs signify the fortune of the Wood phase. 」I observe that the character for mulberry (sang) contains forty-two strokes; when Emperor Shizu passed that age he would take the throne—so wearing clogs signified the Wood phase. Clogs have two teeth that click as one walks—an omen of paired brightness; at forty-two he would go forth and become the true sovereign. While at Ying Province, he dreamed of a man flying down from heaven with a brush in his hair, who painted both sides of his upper garment and left without speaking. Yu Wen explained: 「Painting signifies the mountain dragon and flowery creatures [on ceremonial robes].」
26
世祖宋元嘉十七年六月己未夜生，無火，婢吹灰而火自燃。
Emperor Shizu was born on the jiwei night in the sixth month of Yuanjia 17; there was no fire, yet when a maid blew on the ashes, flame sprang up by itself.
27
世祖於南康郡內作伎，有絃無管，於是空中有篪聲，調節相應。
While Emperor Shizu was staging entertainments in Nankang commandery, there were strings but no pipes—then from the empty sky came the sound of a chi flute, perfectly in tune.
28
世祖爲廣興相，嶺下積旱水涸不通船，上部伍至，水忽暴長。 庾溫云：「易利涉大川之義也。」
When Emperor Shizu was administrator of Guangxing, prolonged drought below the ranges had dried the waters and blocked shipping; when the upper fifth convoy arrived, the water suddenly rose in flood. Yu Wen said: 「This is the meaning of the Changes line, “Favorable to cross the great stream.”」
29
世祖頓盆城，城內無水，欲鑿引江流，試掘井，得伏泉九處，皆湧出。
When Emperor Shizu halted at Pencheng, the city had no water; intending to dig channels to the Yangtze, he tried wells and found nine hidden springs, all of which gushed forth.
30
元徽三年，太祖在青溪宅，齋前池中忽揚波起浪，湧水如山，有金石響，須臾有青龍從池中出，左右皆見之。
In Yuanhui 3, Grand Progenitor was at his Qingxi residence; before the study the pool suddenly heaved into waves like a mountain, with a sound of metal and stone; presently an azure dragon rose from the pool, and all on either side saw it.
31
建元四年，青龍見從陽郡清水縣平泉湖中。
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, an azure dragon appeared in Pingquan Lake, Qingshui county, Congyang commandery.
32
永明七年，黃龍見曲江縣黃池中，一宿二日。
In Yongming 7, a yellow dragon appeared in Huangchi, Qujiang county, and stayed one night and two days.
33
中興二年，山上雲障四塞，頃有玄黃五色如龍，長十餘丈，從西北升天。
In Zhongxing 2, clouds on the mountain shut in the view on every side; presently a dragon of black, yellow, and five colors, more than ten zhang long, rose to heaven from the northwest.
34
宋泰始末，武進舊塋有獸見，一角，羊頭，龍翼，馬足，父老咸見，莫之識也。
At the end of Song Taishi, a beast appeared at the old tomb mound in Wujin—one horn, a goat's head, dragon wings, and horse's feet; the elders all saw it, but none could name it.
35
永明十年，鄱陽郡獻一角獸，麟首，鹿形，龍鸞共色。 瑞應圖云：「天子萬福允集，則一角獸至。」
In Yongming 10, Poyang commandery presented a one-horned beast with a qilin head, deer body, and the mingled colors of dragon and phoenix. The Records of Auspicious Responses says: 「When the Son of Heaven's myriad blessings are gathered, the one-horned beast arrives.」
36
十一年，白象九頭見武昌。
In the eleventh year, nine white elephants appeared at Wuchang.
37
史臣曰：《記》云，升中于天，麟鳳至而龜龍格。 則鳳皇巢乎阿閣，麒麟在乎郊藪，豈非馴之在庭，擾以成畜，其爲瑞也如此。 今觀魏、晉已來，世稱靈物不少，而亂多治少，史不絕書。 故知來儀在沼，遠非前事，見而不至，未辨其爲祥也。
The historian writes: The Records say, “When one ascends and offers in the center to Heaven, the qilin and phoenix arrive and the turtle and dragon come forth.” Then the phoenix nests in the Aqueous Chamber and the qilin ranges in the suburban marshes—are they not tamed in the courtyard and reared until they become domestic beasts? Such is their nature as portents. Looking from Wei and Jin onward, the age has proclaimed no few numinous creatures, yet disorder has been plentiful and good order scarce—the histories never cease recording them. Thus one knows that the phoenix omen at the marsh is far from the events of old; to see and yet not arrive is not yet to know it for a true auspicious sign.
38
昇明三年三月，白虎見歷陽龍亢縣新昌村。 新昌村，嘉名也。 《瑞應圖》云：「王者不暴白虎仁。」
In the third month of Shengming 3, a white tiger appeared at Xinchang village, Longkang county, Liyang. Xinchang village—a felicitous name. The Records of Auspicious Responses says: 「When the king is not cruel, the white tiger appears as benevolence.」
39
建元四年三月，白虎見安蠻虔化縣。
In the third month of the fourth year of Jianyuan, a white tiger appeared at Qianhua county, Anman.
40
中興二年二月，白虎見東平壽張安樂村。
In the second month of Zhongxing 2, a white tiger appeared at Anle village, Shouzhang, Dongping.
41
昇明二年，騶虞見安東縣五界山，師子頭，虎身，龍脚。 《詩傳》云：「騶虞，義獸，白虎黑文，不食生物，至德則出。」
In Shengming 2, a zouyu appeared at Wujie Mountain, Andong county—with a lion's head, tiger's body, and dragon's feet. The Commentary on the Odes says: 「The zouyu is a beast of righteousness, a white tiger with black markings; it does not eat living creatures and appears when supreme virtue is attained.」
42
昇明三年，太祖爲齊王，白毛龜見東府城池中。
In Shengming 3, when Grand Progenitor was Prince of Qi, a white-haired turtle appeared in the moat of the Eastern Palace.
43
建元二年，休安陵獲玄龜一頭。
In the second year of Jianyuan, a dark turtle was obtained at the Xiuan Mausoleum.
44
永明五年，武騎常侍唐潛上青毛神龜一頭。
In Yongming 5, Palace Attendant for Martial Cavaliers Tang Qian presented a blue-haired divine turtle.
45
七年六月，彭城郡田中獲青毛龜一頭。 八月，延陵縣前澤畔獲毫龜一枚。
In the sixth month of the seventh year, a blue-haired turtle was obtained in the fields of Pengcheng commandery. In the eighth month, a downy turtle was obtained on the bank of the marsh before Yanling county.
46
八年四月，長山縣王惠獲六目龜一頭，腹下有「萬歡」字，幷有卦兆。 六月，建城縣昌城田獲四目龜一頭，下有「萬齊」字。
In the fourth month of the eighth year, Wang Hui of Changshan county obtained a six-eyed turtle; on its belly were the characters “Myriad rejoicing,” together with hexagram omens. In the sixth month, a four-eyed turtle was obtained in the fields of Changcheng, Jiancheng county; on its underside were the characters “Myriad Qi.”
47
九年五月，長山縣獲神龜一頭，腹下有《巽兌》卦。
In the fifth month of the ninth year, a divine turtle was obtained in Changshan county; on its belly was the hexagram Xun over Dui.
48
中興二年正月，邏將潘道蓋於山石穴中獲毛龜一頭。
In the first month of Zhongxing 2, the frontier commander Pan Daogai obtained a downy turtle in a mountain rock cave.
49
昇明三年，世祖遣人詣宮亭湖廟還福，船泊渚，有白魚雙躍入船。
In Shengming 3, Emperor Shizu sent men to the Gongting Lake shrine to return thanks for blessings; when the boat moored at the islet, a pair of white fish leaped together into the vessel.
50
永明五年，南豫州刺史建安王子真表獻金色魚一頭。
In Yongming 5, the Prince of Jian'an, Zizhen, as Governor of South Yuzhou, memorialized and presented a golden fish.
51
建元元年八月，男子王約獲白雀一頭。 九月，秣陵縣獲白雀一頭。
In the eighth month of the first year of Jianyuan, the commoner Wang Yue obtained a white magpie. In the ninth month, Moling county obtained a white magpie.
52
二年四月，白雀集郢州府館。 五月，白雀見會稽永興縣。
In the fourth month of the second year, white magpies gathered at the Ying Province government hostel. In the fifth month, a white magpie appeared at Yongxing county, Kuaiji.
53
永明元年五月，郢州丁坡屯獲白雀一頭。
In the fifth month of Yongming 1, Dingpo garrison in Ying Province obtained a white magpie.
54
三年七月，安城王暠第獲白雀一頭。 九月，南郡江陵縣獲白雀一頭
In the seventh month of the third year, a white sparrow was obtained at the residence of Prince of Ancheng Gao. In the ninth month, Jiangling county in Nan commandery obtained a white sparrow.
55
四年七月，白雀見臨汝縣。
In the seventh month of the fourth year, a white sparrow appeared in Linru county.
56
七年六月，鹽官縣獲白雀一頭。
In the sixth month of the seventh year, Yanguan county obtained a white sparrow.
57
八年，天門臨澧縣獲白雀一頭。
In the eighth year, Linli county in Tianmen obtained a white sparrow.
58
九年七月，吳郡錢塘縣獲白雀一頭。 八月，豫州獲白雀一頭
In the seventh month of the ninth year, Qiantang county in Wu commandery obtained a white sparrow. In the eighth month, Yuzhou obtained a white sparrow.
59
十年五月，齊郡獲白雀一頭。
In the fifth month of the tenth year, Qi commandery obtained a white sparrow.
60
建元元年五月，白烏見巴郡。
In the fifth month of the first year of Jianyuan, a white crow appeared in Ba commandery.
61
永明四年三月，三足烏巢南安中陶縣庭。
In the third month of Yongming 4, a three-legged crow nested in the courtyard of Zhongtao county in Nan'an.
62
八年四月，陽羨縣獲白烏一頭。
In the eighth month of the fourth year, Yangxian county obtained a white crow.
63
隆昌元年四月，陽羨縣獲白烏一頭。
In the fourth month of Longchang 1, Yangxian county obtained a white crow.
64
建元二年，江陵縣獲白鼠一頭。
In the second year of Jianyuan, Jiangling county obtained a white rat.
65
永明六年，白鼠見芳林園。
In Yongming 6, a white rat appeared in Fanglin Garden.
66
十年九月，義陽郡獲白鼠一頭。
In the ninth month of the tenth year, Yiyang commandery obtained a white rat.
67
永明四年，丹楊縣獲白兔一頭。
In Yongming 4, Danyang county obtained a white hare.
68
昇明元年六月，慶雲見益都。
In the sixth month of Shengming 1, auspicious clouds appeared at Yidu.
69
建元元年，世祖拜皇太子日，有慶雲在日邊。
In the first year of Jianyuan, on the day the Founding Emperor was made crown prince, auspicious clouds appeared beside the sun.
70
三年，華林園醴泉堂東忽有瑞雲，周圓十許丈，高下與景雲樓平，五色藻密，光彩映山，徘徊良久，行轉南行，過長船入華池。
In the third year, an auspicious cloud suddenly appeared east of the Sweet Spring Hall in Fanglin Garden—some ten zhang around, level with the Jingyun tower, thick with five colors and light flashing on the hills. It hovered a long while, then drifted south, passed the Long Ship, and entered Huachi.
71
昇明二年，宣城臨成縣於藉山獲紫芝一枝。
In Shengming 2, Lincheng county in Xuancheng obtained a sprig of purple fungus on Jie mountain.
72
永明八年五月，陽城縣獲紫芝一株。
In the fifth month of Yongming 8, Yangcheng county obtained a plant of purple fungus.
73
隆昌元年正月，襄陽縣獲紫芝一莖。
In the first month of Longchang 1, Xiangyang county obtained a stalk of purple fungus.
74
昇明二年四月，昌國縣徐萬年門下棠樹連理。 九月，豫州萬歲澗廣數丈，有樹連理，隔澗騰枝相通，越壑跨水爲一榦。
In the fourth month of Shengming 2, crabapple trees at Xu Wannian's gate in Changguo county grew with joined trunks. In the ninth month, at Wansui Brook in Yuzhou—several zhang across—trees grew interlocking, their branches spanning the stream and merging over gullies and water into a single trunk.
75
建元二年九月，有司奏上虞縣楓樹連理，兩根相去九尺，雙株均聳，去地九尺，合成一榦。 故鄣縣楓樹連理，兩株相去七尺，大八圍，去地一丈，仍相合爲樹，泯如一木。 山陽縣界若邪村有一槻木，合爲連理。 淮陰縣建業寺梨樹連理。 建康縣梨樹耀欀一本作耀攘五圍，連理六枝。
In the ninth month of the second year of Jianyuan, officials reported interlocking maples in Shangyu county: two roots nine chi apart, twin stems rising evenly nine chi from the ground and fusing into one trunk. In Guzhang county interlocking maples stood seven chi apart, eight arm-spans around; one zhang above ground they fused into one tree, as if a single trunk. At Ruoye village on the border of Shanyang county a zelkova grew with joined interlocking parts. Pear trees at Jianye Temple in Huaiyin county grew with joined trunks. In Jiankang county pear trees—yao rao (one text reads yao rang)—five arm-spans around, bore six interlocking branches.
76
二年七月，烏程縣陳文則家槿樹連理。 七月，新冶縣槐栗二木合生異根連理，去地數尺，中央小開，上復爲一。
In the seventh month of the second year, hibiscus trees at Chen Wenzhe's home in Wucheng county grew with joined trunks. In the seventh month, in Xinye county locust and chestnut trees merged from separate interlocking roots a few chi above ground; the center gaped slightly, then closed into one above.
77
三年正月，安城縣榆樹二株連理。 二月，安陽縣梓樹連理。 九月，句陽縣之糓山槿樹連理，異根雙挺，共杪爲一。 十二月，永寧左郡樠木連理。
In the first month of the third year, two elm trees in Ancheng county grew with joined trunks. In the second month, catalpa trees in Anyang county grew with joined trunks. In the ninth month, hibiscus on Gushan in Gouyang county grew interlocking—twin roots, separate below, one crown above. In the twelfth month, trees in Yongning Left Commandery grew with joined trunks.
78
四年二月，秣陵縣喬天明園中李樹連理生，高三尺五寸，兩枝別生，復高三尺，合爲一榦。
In the second month of the fourth year, in Qiao Tianming's garden in Moling county an interlocking plum stood three chi five cun tall; two branches parted, rose three chi more, and fused into one trunk.
79
五年正月，秣陵縣華僧秀園中四樹連理。
In the first month of the fifth year, four trees in Hua Sengxiu's garden in Moling county grew with joined trunks.
80
六年四月，江寧縣北界賴鄉齊平里三成邏門外路東太常蕭惠基園楥樹二株連理，其高相去二尺，南大北小，小者傾柯南附，合爲一樹，枝葉繁茂，圓密如蓋。
In the fourth month of the sixth year, two zelkova in Director of Ceremonies Xiao Huiji's garden east of the road outside Sancheng Luo Gate, Qiping li, Laixiang on Jiangning's northern border, grew interlocking two chi apart—the southern trunk larger, the northern smaller, the smaller leaning into the larger until they became one tree, foliage thick and round as a canopy.
81
七年，江寧縣李樹二株連理，兩根相去一丈五尺。
In the seventh year, two plum trees in Jiangning county grew with joined trunks, their roots one zhang five chi apart.
82
八年，巴陵郡樹連理四株。 三月，武陵白沙戍槻木連理，相去五尺，俱高三尺，東西二枝，合而通柯。 十二月，柴桑縣陶委天家樹連理。
In the eighth year, four trees in Baling commandery grew with joined trunks. In the third month, zelkova at Baisha garrison in Wuling grew interlocking five chi apart and three chi tall; eastern and western branches fused with shared boughs. In the twelfth month, trees at Tao Weitian's home in Chaisang county grew with joined trunks.
83
永明五年，山陰縣孔廣家園檉樹十二層。 會稽太守隨王子隆獻之，種芳林園鳳光殿西。
In Yongming 5, a tamarisk in Kong Guang's garden in Shanyin county bore twelve tiers. Kuaiji Administrator Sui, Prince of Zi, presented it; it was planted west of the Phoenix Light Hall in Fanglin Garden.
84
九年，秣陵縣鬭場里安明寺有古樹，衆僧改架屋宇，伐以爲薪，剖樹木裏，自然有「法大德」三字。
In the ninth year, at Anming Temple in Douchang li, Moling county, monks rebuilding the hall cut an old tree for firewood; inside the split wood the characters Fa Da De ("Dharma of Great Virtue") appeared of themselves.
85
始興郡本無欓樹，調味有闕。 世祖在郡，堂屋後忽生一株。
Shixing commandery had no litsea trees, so condiments were wanting. While the Founding Emperor governed the commandery, one suddenly sprang up behind the hall.
86
昇明二年十月，甘露降建康縣。 十一月，甘露降長山縣。 十二月，甘露降彭山松樹，至九日止。
In the tenth month of Shengming 2, sweet dew fell in Jiankang county. In the eleventh month, sweet dew fell in Changshan county. In the twelfth month, sweet dew fell on pines at Peng mountain and continued until the ninth day.
87
建元元年九月，甘露降淮南郡桃石榴二樹。 有司奏甘露降新汲縣王安世園樹。
In the ninth month of the first year of Jianyuan, sweet dew fell on two trees in Huainan commandery—a peach and a pomegranate. Officials reported sweet dew on the trees in Wang Anshi's garden in Xinji county.
88
永明二年四月，甘露降南郡桐樹。
In the fourth month of Yongming 2, sweet dew fell on paulownia in Nan commandery.
89
四年二月，甘露降臨湘縣李樹。 三月，甘露降南郡桐樹。 四月，甘露降睢陽縣桃樹。
In the second month of the fourth year, sweet dew fell on plum trees in Linxiang county. In the third month, sweet dew fell on paulownia in Nan commandery. In the fourth month, sweet dew fell on peach trees in Suiyang county.
90
五年四月，甘露降荊州府中閤外桐樹。
In the fourth month of the fifth year, sweet dew fell on paulownia outside the inner gate of Jingzhou prefecture.
91
六年，甘露降芳林園故山堂桐樹。
In the sixth year, sweet dew fell on paulownia at the Old Mountain Hall in Fanglin Garden.
92
九年八月，甘露降上定林寺佛堂庭，中天如雨，徧地如雪，其氣芳，其味甘，耀日舞風，至晡乃止。 爾後頻降鍾山松樹，四十餘日乃止。 十月，甘露降太安陵樹。
In the eighth month of the ninth year, sweet dew fell in the Buddha hall court of Upper Dinglin Temple—from mid-heaven it poured, the ground white as snow, the air fragrant, the taste sweet, light dancing in sun and wind until dusk. After that it fell again and again on pines at Zhong mountain, and for more than forty days did not stop. In the tenth month, sweet dew fell on trees at Tai'an Mausoleum.
93
中興二年三月，甘露降茅山，彌漫數里。
In the third month of Zhongxing 2, sweet dew fell on Maoshan and spread for several li.
94
元徽四年三月，醴泉出昌國白鹿山，其味甚甘。
In the third month of Yuanhui 4, sweet spring water welled up on Bailu mountain in Changguo, and its taste was surpassingly sweet.
95
二年八月，梁郡睢陽縣界野田中獲嘉禾，一莖二十三穗。
In the eighth month of the second year, in wild fields on the border of Suiyang county in Liang commandery, men found auspicious grain—one stalk bearing twenty-three ears.
96
五年九月，莒縣獲嘉禾一株。
In the ninth month of the fifth year, Ju county obtained a stalk of auspicious grain.
97
十年六月，海陵齊昌縣獲嘉禾，一莖六穗。
In the sixth month of the tenth year, Qichang county in Hailing obtained auspicious grain—one stalk with six ears.
98
十一年九月，睢陽縣田中獲嘉禾一株。
In the ninth month of the eleventh year, a stalk of auspicious grain was found in the fields of Suiyang county.
99
昇明二年九月，建寧縣建昌村民採藥於萬歲山，忽聞澗中有異響，得銅鍾一枚，長二尺一寸，邊有古字。
In the ninth month of Shengming 2, Jianchang villagers in Jianning county were gathering herbs on Wansui mountain when a strange sound rose from the stream—they drew up a bronze bell two chi one cun long, its rim marked with ancient characters.
100
建元元年十月，涪陵郡蜑民田健所住巖間，常留雲氣，有聲響澈若龍吟，求之積歲，莫有見者。 去四月二十七日，巖數里夜忽有雙光，至明往，獲古鍾一枚，又有一器名淳于，蜑人以爲神物奉祠之。
In the tenth month of the first year of Jianyuan, at the cliff where Tiao tribesman Tian Jian of Fuling commandery dwelt, mist always hung and a sound rang through like dragon-song; men searched year after year and never saw its source. On the twenty-seventh of the fourth month past, twin lights flared in the night several li from the cliff; at dawn men went and found an ancient bell and a vessel called Chunyu—the Tiao people took them for sacred things and set them up for worship.
101
永明四年四月，東昌縣山自比歲以來，恒發異響，去二月十五日，有一巖褫落，縣民方元泰往視，於巖下得古鍾一枚。
In the fourth month of Yongming 4, the mountain in Dongchang county had given strange sounds all that year; on the fifteenth of the second month past a cliff sloughed away, and Fang Yuantai of the county went to look—beneath the rock he found an ancient bell.
102
五年三月，豫寧縣長崗山獲神鍾一枚。
In the third month of the fifth year, a divine bell was found on Changgang mountain in Yuning county.
103
九年十一月，寧蜀廣漢縣田所墾地入尺四寸，獲古鍾一枚，形高三尺八寸，圍四尺七寸，縣柄長一尺二寸，合高五尺，四面各九孔。 更於陶所瓦間見有白光，窺尋無物，自後夜夜輙復有光，旣經旬日，村民張慶宣瓦作屋，又於屋間見光照內外，慶宣疑之，以告孔休先，乃共發視，獲玉璽一鈕，璧方八分，上有鼻，文曰「帝真」。 曲阿縣民黃慶宅左有園，園東南廣袤四丈，每種菜，輙鮮異，雖加採拔，隨復更生。 夜中恒有白光，皎質屬天，狀似縣絹，私疑非常，請師卜候，道士傅德占使掘之，深三尺，獲玉印一鈕，文曰「長承萬福」。
In the eleventh month of the ninth year, plowing fields in Ningsu Guanghan county, men struck an ancient bell one chi four cun down—three chi eight cun tall, four chi seven cun around, the loop one chi two cun, five chi in all, nine holes on each face. Again white light showed between the kiln tiles; they looked and found nothing. Night after night the light returned, and after ten days Zhang Qingxuan roofed the spot with tiles—then light filled the hut inside and out. Suspicious, he told Kong Xiuxian; together they opened the ground and found a jade seal knob, a bi one cun square with a nose, inscribed Di Zhen ("True Emperor"). To the left of Huang Qing's house in Qu'a county stood a garden four zhang across on the southeast—whatever he planted grew oddly lush, and though he cut and cut again, it sprang back at once. By night white light always shone, bright as if it touched the sky, like silk hung in air; he took it for a marvel and called a diviner—the Daoist Fu Dezhan bade them dig, and at three chi they found a jade seal knob inscribed Chang Cheng Wan Fu ("Long succession, myriad blessings").
104
永明二年正月，冠軍將軍周普孫於石頭北廂將堂見地有異光照城堞，往獲玉璽一鈕，方七分，文曰「明玄君」。 十一月，虜國民齊祥歸入靈丘關，聞殷然有聲，仰視之，見山側有紫氣如雲，衆鳥回翔其間。 祥往氣所，獲璽方寸四分，獸鈕，文曰「坤維聖帝永昌」。 送與虜太后師道人惠度，欲獻虜主。 惠度覩其文，竊謂「當今衣冠正朔，在於齊國」。 遂附道人惠藏送京師，因羽林監崔士亮獻之。
In the first month of Yongming 2, General Who Vanquishes the Enemy Zhou Pusun, in the north wing of the Stone City command post, saw uncanny light on the ramparts; he went and took a jade seal knob one cun square, inscribed Ming Xuan Jun ("Luminous Mysterious Lord"). In the eleventh month, Qi Xiang of the Northern Wei, come over to surrender, entered Lingqiu Pass; a deep sound rolled above him, and on the slope purple vapor gathered like cloud, birds circling within it. Xiang went to the vapor and found a seal one cun four fen square, beast-knobbed, inscribed Kunwei Holy Emperor Eternal Prosperity. He sent it to the Hu Empress Dowager's monk Hui Du, meaning to offer it to the Wei emperor. Hui Du read the text and murmured, 「The true throne and the rites of the cap and gown now belong to Qi.」 He sent the monk Hui Zang with it to the capital, and through Feathered Forest Supervisor Cui Shiliang it reached the throne.
105
三年七月，始興郡民龔玄宣云，去年二月，忽有一道人乞食，因探懷中出篆書真經一卷，六紙，又表北極一紙，又移付羅漢居士一紙，云從兜率天宮下，使送上天子，因失道人所在。 今年正月，玄宣又稱神人授皇帝璽，龜形，長五寸，廣二寸，厚二寸五分，上有「天地」字，中央「蕭」字，下「萬世」字。
In the seventh month of the third year, Gong Xuanyuan of Shixing commandery said that last second month a Daoist begged for food, then from his robe produced a six-leaf scroll of seal-script scripture, a sheet on the North Pole, and another for the Arhat layman—saying he descended from Tusita Heaven to bring them to the Son of Heaven, and was gone. In the first month of this year Xuanyuan again claimed a spirit had given him the Emperor's seal—tortoise-shaped, five cun long, two cun wide, two cun five fen thick, bearing Heaven and Earth above, Xiao at the center, and Myriad Ages below.
106
十年，蘭陵民齊伯生於六合山獲金璽一鈕，文曰「年予主」。
In the tenth year, Qi Bosheng of Lanling obtained a gold seal knob on Mount Liuhe, inscribed Nian Yu Zhu ("The year grants the lord").
107
世祖治盆城，得五尺刀一十口，永明年曆之數。
While governing Pencheng, Emperor Shizu found ten five-chi knives—the count of years in the Yongming era.
108
昇明三年，左里村人於宮亭湖得靫戟二枚，傍有古字，文遠不可識。
In Shengming 3, a man of Zuoli village drew two leather-hilted halberds from Gongting Lake; ancient characters lay beside them, too worn to read.
109
泰始中，世祖於青溪宅得錢一枚，文有北斗七星雙節，又有人形帶劔。 及治盆城，又得一大錢，文曰「太平百歲」。
In the Taishi era, at his Qingxi residence Emperor Shizu found a coin marked with the Northern Dipper, seven stars, twin nodes, and a sword-bearing human figure. When he governed Pencheng he found another large coin inscribed Great Peace for a Hundred Years.
110
永明七年，齊興太守劉元寶治郡城，於塹中獲錢百萬，形極大，以獻臺爲瑞，世祖班賜朝臣以下各有差。
In Yongming 7, Liu Yuanbao of Qixing, repairing the commandery seat, found a million coins in the moat, huge in size; he offered them to the court as a portent, and Emperor Shizu graded gifts to ministers and all below.
111
十年，齊安郡民王攝掘地得四文大錢一萬二千七百十枚，品製如一。
In the tenth year, Wang She of Qi'an commandery dug up 12,710 large four-wen coins, all alike in type and minting.
112
建元元年，郢州監利縣天井湖水色忽澄清，出綿，百姓採以爲纊。
In the first year of Jianyuan, at Tianjingshu in Jianli county, Yingzhou, the lake water suddenly cleared and cotton floss rose to the surface; commoners gathered it for wadding.
113
永明二年，護軍府門外桑樹一株，竝有蠶絲綿被枝莖。
In Yongming 2, a mulberry outside the Protector-General's gate bore cocoons and floss along branch and stem alike.
114
史臣案：漢光武時有野蠶成蠒，百姓得以成衣服。 今則浮波幕樹，其亦此之類乎？
The historiographer notes: Under Emperor Guangwu of Han, wild silkworms spun cocoons and commoners could clothe themselves. Now floss rides the waves and mulberry trees wear silk like curtains—is this not the same kind of thing?
115
永明八年，始興郡昌樂村獲白鳩一頭。
In Yongming 8, Changle village in Shixing commandery obtained a white turtledove.
116
二年，彭澤縣獲白雉一頭。
In the second year, Pengze county obtained a white pheasant.
117
七年，鬱林獲白雉一頭。
In the seventh year, Yulin obtained a white pheasant.
118
十年，青州洍液戍獲白雉一頭。
In the tenth year, Zhiye garrison in Qingzhou obtained a white pheasant.
119
五年，望蔡縣獲白鹿一頭。
In the fifth year, Wangcai county obtained a white deer.
120
九年，臨湘獲白鹿一頭。
In the ninth year, Linxiang obtained a white deer.
121
六年，蒲濤縣亮野村獲白麞一頭。
In the sixth year, Liangye village in Putao county obtained a white elk.
122
七年，荊州獲白麞一頭。
In the seventh year, Jingzhou obtained a white elk.
123
八年，餘干縣獲白麞一頭。
In the eighth year, Yugan county obtained a white elk.
124
九年，義陽安昌縣獲白麞一頭。
In the ninth year, Anchang county in Yiyang obtained a white elk.
125
十年，司州清激戍獲白麞一頭。
In the tenth year, Qingji garrison in Sizhou obtained a white elk.
126
十一年，廣陵海陵縣獲白麞一頭。
In the eleventh year, Hailing county in Guangling obtained a white elk.
127
七年，越州獻白珠，自然作思惟佛像，長三寸。 上起禪靈寺，置剎下。
In the seventh year, Yuezhou presented a white pearl shaped by nature into a seated Buddha in meditation, three cun long. The emperor built Chanling Temple and enshrined it beneath a stupa.
128
七年，吳郡太守江斆於錢塘縣獲蒼玉璧一枚，以獻。
In the seventh year, Jiang Mie, Administrator of Wu commandery, found a green jade bi at Qiantang county and presented it.
129
七年，主書朱靈讓於浙江得靈石，十人舉乃起，在水深三尺而浮，世祖親投于天淵池試之，刻爲佛像。
In the seventh year, Zhu Lingrang of the Secretariat found a spirit stone in the Zhe River—ten men could scarcely raise it, yet in three chi of water it floated; Emperor Shizu himself cast it into the Tianyuan Pool to try it, then had it carved into a Buddha image.
130
二年，從陽丹水縣山下得古鼎一枚。
In the second year, below the mountain at Danshui in Congyang, men found an ancient tripod.
131
三年，越州南高凉俚人海中網魚，獲銅獸一頭，銘曰「作寶鼎，齊臣萬年子孫承寶」。
In the third year, Li people of southern Gaoliang in Yuezhou fished the sea and drew up a bronze beast inscribed, Making a precious tripod; Qi ministers' descendants for myriad ages shall inherit the treasure.
132
【贊】
Appraisal
133
贊曰：天降地出，星見先吉。 造物百品，詳之載述。 [1]
In praise: Heaven sends them down, earth brings them forth; when stars appear, fortune comes first. The hundred creations of the Maker are told here in full. [1] Endnote marker.
134
全文以中華書局、一九七二年一月版《南齊書》爲本校。
The entire text has been collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Southern Qi (January 1972).