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卷六十三 志第十六 五行二上

Volume 63 Treatises 16: Five Elements 2a

Chapter 63 of 宋史 · History of Song
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Chapter 63
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1
To blaze upward is the nature of Fire. When Fire loses its nature, disaster and portents follow. Earlier authorities assigned enduring heat, grass prodigies, calamities among winged creatures, sheep portents, red aberrations, and red omens of that sort to Fire; this chapter follows that classification.
2
宿
In the first year of Jianlong (960), Suzhou caught fire and burned more than ten thousand household compounds. In the third month of the second year (961), the imperial brewery within the palace caught fire, destroying one hundred eighty buildings and killing more than thirty brewers. In the first month of the third year (962), the armor and weapons depot at Huazhou caught fire. The blaze consumed the ceremonial gate and military supply depot—one hundred ninety structures in all—and destroyed every weapon, coin, and length of silk stored there. Fire broke out among the homes of Tongxu town in Kaifeng prefecture. More than three hundred forty dwellings were burned. In the second month, fire broke out at the home of Shi Yan'ye, a clerk of the Anzhou military commission. The fire consumed more than six hundred structures, including private homes and the Xianyi Army barracks. In the fifth month, Xiangguo Temple in the capital caught fire and burned several hundred structures. Haizhou caught fire; several hundred homes were burned and eighteen people perished.
3
In the second month of the fourth year of Qiande (966), fire struck the yamen and state granary at Yuezhou, consuming nearly all the shops and homes in the city; officials escaped over the wall with their lives barely intact. In the third month, Chenzhou caught fire and burned several dozen household compounds. Tanzhou caught fire and burned more than five hundred household compounds; A month later, fire broke out at the home of Zhou Ze, a local resident, and again consumed the granaries and hundreds of dwellings, killing thirty-six people. That spring, reports of fire poured in from prefectures across the realm. In the eighth month, Hengzhou caught fire, destroying nearly a thousand structures among the government offices, warehouses, and private homes. In the fifth year, the Jianlong Abbey in the capital burned.
4
In the eighth month of the third year of Kaibao (970), fire struck the yamen at Chenzhou and destroyed the military supply depot. In the seventh month of the fifth year (972), Zhongzhou caught fire and the warehouses were nearly all consumed. In the ninth month of the seventh year (974), Yongcheng county caught fire and burned more than eighteen hundred household compounds. In the fourth month of the eighth year (975), Yangzhou caught fire, destroying the prefectural offices and seventeen hundred private dwellings. Yongcheng county caught fire again, consuming nineteen hundred eighty structures between the barracks and private homes and killing nine people.
5
西
In the eighth month of the seventh year of Taiping Xingguo (982), the western granary at Yizhou was destroyed by fire.
6
In the second month of the first year of Duangong (988), the Weizhuo camp at Yun'an Army post caught fire. In the third month of the second year (989), Hengzhou caught fire and burned more than three hundred structures among the prefectural and county offices, warehouses, and barracks. In Chongxian ward as well, birds burst into flame in dozens of spots, and the fires burned for seven days without dying out.
7
西
In the tenth month of the third year of Chunhua (992), fire broke out at the Huaiqing Army camp in Caizhou, destroying more than three thousand homes and government buildings near the Ru River bridge and killing several people. In the twelfth month, fire swept the western part of Jian'an Army city, nearly consuming all private homes and government buildings. In the second month of the fourth year (993), the Bao'an ferry station at Yongzhou caught fire; flames leaped the river and burned the prefectural gate and more than three hundred homes.
8
In the fourth month of the second year of Xianping (999), the granary at Chizhou caught fire and destroyed eighty-seven thousand hu of grain.
9
In the first month of the first year of Jingde (1004), the Pinglu Army camp caught fire and destroyed a great many civilian homes. In the eleventh month of the fourth year (1007), Yingzhou caught fire and the warehouses were completely destroyed.
10
殿
In the first month of the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008), the armor and weapons depot at Guizhou was destroyed by fire. In the fourth month of the second year (1009), Shengzhou caught fire and nearly all the barracks and private homes were consumed. In the eighth month of the fourth year (1011), the hay depot at Xuzhou caught fire. In the tenth month, the city tower and siege sheds at Zhenzhou burned. In the seventh month, the armor and weapons depot at Xiongzhou caught fire. On jiayin in the second month of the eighth year (1015), the Court of the Imperial Clan caught fire. On the night of renshen in the fourth month (1015), fire broke out at the palace of Prince Yuan Yan; from the third watch a fierce north wind drove the flames until they died at noon on guiyou, having spread to the Left Chengtian Xiangfu Gate, the Inner Treasury, Chaoyuan Hall, Qianyuan Gate, the Chongwen Institute, the Secret Archives, the repository of Heavenly Writ ritual objects, and the Inner Incense Treasury. On jiazi in the fifth month of the ninth year (1016), the hay depot of the Left Heavenly Stables Ward caught fire.
11
使
On wuyin in the second month of the second year of Tianxi (1018), fire broke out at the courtyard of Defu, regimental commander of Caizhou in the Northern Residence, and spread to destroy several hundred structures. That spring in the third year (1019), fires broke out repeatedly in the capital. In the sixth month, fire at the Yongzhou barracks spread to more than four hundred private dwellings. On dingsi in the fourth month of the fifth year (1021), the Building Materials Yard caught fire.
12
On dingmao in the second month of the third year of Tiansheng (1025), the state monopoly office at Qizhou caught fire. On renchen in the fourth month of the fifth year (1027), Shouning Abbey burned. On dingwei in the sixth month of the seventh year (1029), the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace was destroyed by fire. The palace had been ordered built in the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008) to house the Heavenly Writs. It was finished in the seventh year (1014), with twenty-six hundred and ten bays in all. When fire broke out at midnight amid a violent thunderstorm, the entire complex was gone by dawn.
13
殿 殿
On renxu in the eighth month of the first year of Mingdao (1032), the Xiuwende Hall was completed. That same night, fire broke out inside the palace and spread through eight halls: Chongde, Changchun, Zifu, Huiqing, Yanqing, Chonghui, Tianhe, and Chengming.
14
殿 西
On gengzi in the seventh month of the third year of Jingyou (1036), fire started in the pagoda of Taiping Xingguo Temple and spread to the Kaixian Hall and several hundred monastery buildings. That evening a storm of rain and hail struck. On siyou in the tenth month, the supply depot on the west bank of Henglong Ford at Chenzhou caught fire and destroyed more than 1.9 million bundles of fuel and fodder.
15
On dingchou in the sixth month of the second year of Baoyuan (1039), Yizhou caught fire and destroyed more than two thousand homes.
16
殿
On yiwei in the sixth month of the first year of Kangding (1040), the Spirit Portrait Hall of Hongqing Palace at Nanjing burned.
17
On dingsi in the first month of the fifth year of Huangyou (1053), Huiling Abbey burned.
18
殿
On xinchou in the fourth month of the first year of Zhihe (1054), Xiangyuan Abbey burned. In the second year (1055), the Spirit Portrait Hall of Emperor Taizong at Bingzhou burned.
19
In the first month of the third year of Jiayou (1058), Wenzhou caught fire, destroying fourteen thousand rooms and killing fifty people.
20
On the night of renzi in the twelfth month of the fourth year of Zhiping (1067), Mujin Palace caught fire and destroyed more than nine hundred rooms. On jiayin, Guangqin Palace burned as well.
21
On bingshen in the second month of the sixth year of Xining (1073), fire struck the upper palace at Yongchang Mausoleum and burned the eastern gate tower. On renzi in the ninth month of the seventh year (1074), the Three Departments caught fire; from mid-morning until evening it consumed eighteen hundred bays of buildings and nearly all the archives. In the eleventh month, Dongzhen Palace burned. In the tenth month of the ninth year (1076), the palaces of the Prince of Lu and the Prince of Pu burned. In the first month of the tenth year (1077), the Xianchao Court caught fire. Two hundred fifty bays of structures were demolished. On bingzi in the third month, Kaifeng prefecture caught fire.
22
In the third month of the first year of Yuanyou (1086), the palace compound of the imperial clan burned. In the twelfth month of the sixth year (1091), Kaifeng prefecture caught fire.
23
殿
On the seventh day of the third month of the third year of Shaosheng (1096), the Inner Secretariat caught fire but was quickly put out. The emperor told his chief ministers, "Fires have broken out again and again within the palace. We are performing rites of supplication, have canceled the spring banquet, and will not hold court at the Chui'gong Hall for three days." On jiazi in the seventh month of the fourth year (1097), fire broke out inside the palace.
24
In the fourth month of the first year of Yuanfu (1098), the palace compound of the imperial clan burned.
25
On renyin in the sixth month of the first year of Jianzhong Jingguo (1101), Jixi Abbey caught fire and burned for a long time in pouring rain before it was finally put out.
26
In the sixth month of the second year of Chongning (1103), the Central Great Ultimate Palace burned. On xinchou in the third month of the third year (1104), fire broke out in the inner palace.
27
In the fourth month of the third year of Zhenghe (1113), Suzhou caught fire, spreading to more than one hundred seventy public and private buildings. In the fifth month, Fengzhou caught fire, spreading to six hundred eighty-two public and private buildings. On xinchou in the fifth month, the Daying Granary in the capital caught fire. That year, Daci Temple in Chengdu, and Wenzhou and Jiangzhou, all suffered fires.
28
In the ninth month of the first year of Zhonghe (1118), a great fire broke out in the Rear Palace. From the first watch until dawn, rain poured in torrents yet the flames only grew; more than five thousand rooms were consumed, the Guangshèng Palace in the rear garden and the women's quarters were nearly all destroyed, and a great many perished in the blaze.
29
On the night of bingzi in the twelfth month of the first year of Jingkang (1126), the Secretariat caught fire and spread through the ministries of Rites, Sacrifices, Works, Punishments, and Personnel; officials tore down the Secretariat placard and cast it into the flames as a ritual offering before the fire finally died out. On wuxu in the third month of the second year (1127), Tianhan Bridge caught fire and destroyed more than a hundred homes. Soon afterward, the Duting post station burned as well. On jiyou, Baokang Gate caught fire.
30
On yiyou in the tenth month of the first year of Shaoxing (1131), great fires broke out in Lin'an and Yuezhou, leaving countless people shelterless in the open. On xinwei in the twelfth month, Yuezhou caught fire and destroyed the archives of the Ministry of Personnel; on yiyou the court moved its residence to Qiantang. On dingsi in the first month of the second year (1132), Xuanzhou caught fire and destroyed nearly half the city's homes. On gengchen in the fifth month, a great fire swept Lin'an for six or seven li and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. On jiawu in the twelfth month, a great fire broke out in the temporary capital. The blaze consumed the ministries of Personnel, Punishments, and Works, the Censorate, government offices, private homes, and military camps alike, and did not die out until dawn on yiwei. On gengshen in the ninth month of the third year (1133), fire broke out beyond the Que Gate of the temporary capital and destroyed many homes. On wuyin in the first month of the fourth year (1134), fire in the temporary capital destroyed several thousand homes. In the second month of the sixth year (1136), fires broke out repeatedly in the temporary capital, destroying more than a thousand homes. In the twelfth month, a great fire broke out in the temporary capital, destroying more than ten thousand homes and killing some of the inhabitants. At the time Emperor Gaozong was personally leading a campaign against Liu Yu, and many residents of the capital who had been left shelterless in the open froze to death. On xinwei in the first month of the seventh year, Pingjiang prefecture caught fire. On xinchou in the second month, Zhenjiang prefecture and the prefectures of Chu, Zhen, Yang, and Taiping all caught fire. That same year, Lin'an prefecture caught fire. On dingyou in the second month of the eighth year, a great fire swept Taiping prefecture, destroying the Pacification Commission, government offices, private homes, treasury stores, and every archive on the premises. The dead were very numerous, including recording secretary Lü Yingzhong and Dangtu county assistant magistrate Li Zhixu. On jimao in the second month of the ninth year, the temporary capital caught fire. On renyin in the seventh month, fire broke out again. In the tenth month of the tenth year, fire in the temporary capital destroyed private homes and spread to the provincial ministries. On dingsi in the eleventh month, a great fire swept Wenzhou, destroying the prefectural school, the liquor and merchant-ship tax office, the Yongjia county yamen, and more than a thousand private homes. On guihai in the seventh month of the eleventh year, a great fire swept Wuzhou, consuming the prefectural prison, granary yards, temples and monasteries, and nearly half the city's homes. On jiayin in the ninth month, Jiankang prefecture caught fire, destroying more than thirty sections of the prefectural offices and more than three thousand private homes. On xinsi in the second month of the twelfth year, Zhenjiang prefecture caught fire, destroying tens of thousands of shi of stored grain, sixty thousand bundles of fodder, and a very great number of private homes. That same month, Taiping, Chizhou, and Wuhu county all caught fire. On bingshen in the third month, the temporary capital caught fire. In the fourth month, the temporary capital caught fire again. On jiazi in the first month of the fourteenth year, the temporary capital caught fire. In the fifteenth year, the Daining Directorate caught fire, destroying its government offices, treasury stores, and archives. On bingzi in the ninth month, fire broke out in the temporary capital and burned through the night, drawing ever closer to the Great Chamber before it finally died out. In the eighth month of the seventeenth year, Jiankang prefecture caught fire. On xinhai in the twelfth month, Jingjiang prefecture caught fire and destroyed a very great number of private homes. On renwu in the first month of the twentieth year, fire in the temporary capital destroyed every archive of the Ministry of Personnel. In the twenty-fifth year, the palace halls of Bianjing were entirely consumed by fire. The twenty-sixth year. The Southern Marchmount Temple at Tanzhou caught fire. In the fourth month of the twenty-ninth year, Zhenjiang prefecture caught fire, destroying military camps and private homes. On bingzi in the twelfth month, a great fire swept Kuizhou, destroying government offices, private homes, and temples and monasteries, and some people perished.
31
In the first month of the first year of Qiandao, Taizhou caught fire and nearly all private homes were destroyed. That spring, the relay station stables at Yingcheng county in De'an prefecture caught fire. In the winter of the second year, the Wufeng Army camp at Liuhe county in Zhen prefecture caught fire. In the twelfth month, Wuzhou caught fire. From this time fires never ceased, for they were caused by human agency. In the fifth month of the third year, Quanzhou caught fire. On renshen in the twelfth month of the fifth year, fire broke out among private homes outside the northeastern wall of the Great Chamber. On dinghai in the eleventh month of the seventh year, fire broke out at private homes of eunuchs beyond the palace walls and spread to private dwellings. In the ninth month of the ninth year, Taizhou caught fire and burned through the night until midday of the following day, destroying the prefectural prison, county yamen, liquor monopoly office, and more than seven thousand homes.
32
殿
On dingsi in the twelfth month of the first year of Chunxi, Quanzhou caught fire, destroying the city gate tower and more than fifty homes. On wuwu in the sixth month of the second year, the Southern Marchmount Temple at Tanzhou caught fire. In the eighth month, Yan prefecture caught fire. On guihai in the eleventh month, the eastern gallery inside the Lizheng Gate was destroyed by fire. That year Luzhou caught fire, and the local official was demoted for falsely reporting the extent of damage to private homes. In the ninth month of the third year, the archery hall within the inner palace caught fire and spread to the Eastern Palace Gate. On xinyou in the eleventh month of the fourth year, fire broke out in the southern market at Ezhou; a violent wind blew all night and destroyed more than a thousand homes. On gengyin in the fourth month of the fifth year, the sand market at Xing prefecture caught fire, destroying more than three hundred forty homes and killing some of the inhabitants. In the eleventh month, the pasturage camp at He prefecture caught fire and destroyed one hundred sixty compounds. In the second month of the seventh year, a great fire swept the sand market in Jiangling prefecture, destroying several thousand homes, spreading to the boats moored there, and killing very many people. In the eighth month, while Wenzhou was examining candidates for office, fire broke out in the examination hall. In the first month of the eighth year, Yangzhou caught fire. On yihai in the ninth month, the temporary capital caught fire. In the ninth month of the ninth year, a great fire broke out in He prefecture. Private homes were nearly all destroyed, and only a few government offices were spared. On xinyou in the second month of the eleventh year, the Yisheng Army barracks at Xingyuan prefecture caught fire. In the eighth month of the twelfth year, Wenzhou caught fire, destroying the city gate tower and more than four hundred homes. In the tenth month, a great fire swept Ezhou and destroyed more than ten thousand homes. A violent wind blew up on the river, and those who had pitched shelters on the embankment or moored boats below the shore were burned or drowned without a trace. In the fifth month of the fourteenth year, the armory within the inner palace caught fire, but the weapons of war were not harmed. On gengyin in the sixth month, fire broke out among private homes at Baolian Mountain in the temporary capital, spread to destroy more than seven hundred homes, and killed some of the officers and soldiers who fought the blaze. In the fifth month, fire broke out in the market at Chengdu prefecture and destroyed more than ten thousand homes. In the ninth month of the sixteenth year, a great fire swept Nanjian prefecture, and few private homes were left standing.
33
On renyin in the eighth month of the first year of Shaoxi, Chuzhou caught fire and destroyed several hundred homes. On wushen in the twelfth month, Pucheng county in Jianning prefecture caught fire. At the time the Chadong bandit Zhang Hai was in rebellion and burned more than five hundred homes. In the fourth month of the second year, the Dharma-transmission Temple in the temporary capital caught fire and spread to private homes. Memorialists argued that building projects undertaken by the imperial in-laws were an evil cause and the reason fires kept breaking out. That same month, a great fire swept Huizhou. By night it had destroyed the prefectural offices, gate tower, government offices, prisons, and coin and treasury yards—nineteen sites in all, more than five hundred twenty compounds—and spread to burn fifteen hundred homes before it finally died out between gengzi and renyin. On jisi in the fifth month, Jin prefecture caught fire, destroying the prefectural offices, government offices, treasury stores, the Baosheng armory, and a very great number of private homes inside and outside the city. On jisi in the first month of the third year, fire broke out in the temporary capital and burned through the night into the next day, destroying half the markets and shops. In the eleventh month, fire broke out again and destroyed more than five hundred homes. On jiachen in the twelfth month, Ezhou caught fire and burned into the next day, destroying eight hundred homes.
34
On jiyou in the eighth month of the second year of Qingyuan, Yongzhou caught fire and destroyed three hundred homes. On jiashen in the intercalary month of the third year, the central army barracks of the Jin prefecture Commandant's office caught fire and destroyed more than thirteen hundred compounds. On yiyou in the sixth intercalary month, fire broke out again. It destroyed more than two thousand compounds. That winter, a Buddhist monastery in Shaoxing prefecture caught fire and spread to destroy several hundred homes. On wuxu in the eighth month of the sixth year, Huizhou caught fire. It destroyed the prefectural prison and government offices and spread to more than eight hundred private homes.
35
On wuyin in the third month of the first year of Jiading, a great fire broke out in the temporary capital and burned until xinsi in the fourth month, destroying the Censorate, Ministry of Revenue, Directorate of Palace Maintenance and Armory, Memorial Transmission and Literary Refinement and Imperial Chariot Directorate, Astronomical Bureau, Army Head and Imperial City Office, ritual objects depot, imperial kitchen, and duty-shift military camps, and spreading to destroy fifty-eight thousand ninety-seven homes. Inside and outside the city the blaze stretched more than ten li. Fifty-nine people died in the fire, and those trampled to death in the panic were beyond counting. Seven tenths of the dwellings in the city were destroyed, and many officials took to renting boats for shelter. The fire had started at the home of Censorate clerk Yang Hao on Baolian Mountain, and remonstrance official Cheng Song asked that Hao be put to death to appease the people of the capital. Only after further memorials were submitted was Hao finally tattooed and exiled to Wan'an Army, and even then he was spared the beating. From this time alarming rumors spread among the people, and ruffians took advantage of the panic by setting fires for illicit profit. On jimao in the sixth month of the second year, Lin'an prefecture caught fire. On dingyou in the first month of the third year, fire broke out in Xiangyang prefecture as a violent wind rose. Xuanfeng Army officer Yu Youzhi died fighting the blaze, and in the end the fire spread to only about sixty homes. The military commissioner and transport commissioner memorialized his merit, and the court posthumously promoted him two ranks and granted office to two of his sons. On jiawu in the eleventh month, Fuzhou caught fire. It destroyed more than four hundred homes. On dingmao in the third month of the fourth year, a great fire broke out in the temporary capital, destroying the Secretariat-Chancellery, Bureau of Military Affairs, Six Ministries, the right grand councilor's residence, the Edict and Ration Grain Office, the personal guard camp, and the Directorate of Palace Maintenance, and spreading to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, the inner liquor depot, and the inner palace gate galleries. That night the palace guard was summoned to fight the blaze. The Great Chamber dismantled its temple galleries and moved the spirit tablets, together with the regalia scrolls and imperial seal, to Shouci Palace. At dawn on wuchen the following day, the fire reached the roof-ridge ornament of He'ning Gate. Palace guard Zhang Long climbed a flying ladder and chopped it away, so the gate itself was not burned. When the fire broke out, it divided into several paths and destroyed more than two thousand seventy homes. On jisi the day after that, the spirit tablets were returned to the Great Chamber. At the time the provincial ministries were all conducting affairs from relay stations and temples. On bingshen in the fourth month, Fantian Temple in Lin'an prefecture caught fire. In the sixth month, the palace army camp at Tianchang county in Xuyi Army caught fire, and every piece of armor and weaponry was destroyed. On renchen in the eighth month, fire broke out in the outer southern market at Ezhou and destroyed more than five hundred homes.
36
On guichou in the second month of the second year of Kaixi, Shouci Palace was destroyed by fire. On renzi in the fourth month, fire in the temporary capital destroyed several hundred homes.
37
西
On jisi in the eighth month of the second year of Jiading, Xin prefecture caught fire and destroyed two hundred homes. On dingyou in the ninth month, Ji prefecture caught fire and destroyed more than five hundred homes. That same year, Luzhou caught fire and destroyed more than a thousand homes. On dinghai in the eleventh month, fire broke out in Zhenghe county, Jianning prefecture, and destroyed more than a hundred homes. On jimao in the intercalary second month of the fourth year, fire at Puqiao in Sheng county, Shaoxing prefecture, destroyed more than a hundred homes. In the third month, Chuzhou caught fire and destroyed a great many private homes. In the tenth month, Fuzhou caught fire. On xinmao, Fuzhou caught fire twice in a single night, destroying the city gates and Buddhist temples, spreading to burn more than a thousand homes and killing several people. On jiwei in the fifth month of the fifth year, He prefecture caught fire. The blaze destroyed two thousand homes. On xinchou in the eighth month of the eighth year, Huzhou caught fire, destroying temples and shrines and spreading to burn three hundred homes. On jiaxu in the seventh month of the ninth year, fire broke out in Shaxian, Nanjian prefecture, destroying the county gate, government offices, and more than eleven hundred homes; some of the inhabitants perished. In the second month of the eleventh year, the temporary capital caught fire. The blaze destroyed several hundred homes. On jisi in the ninth month, fire broke out among the common dwellings outside the forbidden enclosure at Wansong Ridge and destroyed more than four hundred eighty homes. On gengyin in the second month of the thirteenth year, fire swept Gubu garrison in Anfeng army, destroying more than a thousand homes and killing more than fifty people. On gengwu in the eighth month, Qingyuan prefecture caught fire, destroying government offices, mansions, temples and shrines, and a great many private homes. On renzi in the eleventh month, fire broke out in the temporary capital, destroying tens of thousands of homes inside and outside the city walls and one hundred twenty sections of the forbidden ramparts. On dingmao in the fourth month of the seventeenth year, military ramparts and more than two thousand private homes at Xihe prefecture were burned in a fire caused by human agency. The defending official Shang Zhenwu, mistaking the blaze for a Jurchen attack, fled. On dinghai in the sixth month, Yue prefecture caught fire, destroying Yueyang Tower, the prefectural prison, and the treasury, and spreading to eighty homes. On jichou fire broke out again and destroyed more than a hundred homes.
38
In the third month of the first year of Shaoding, fire in the temporary capital destroyed more than six hundred homes.
39
In the sixth month of the first year of Jiaxi, Lin'an prefecture caught fire and destroyed thirty thousand homes.
40
In the first year of Chunyou, Huizhou caught fire. On bingshen in the eleventh month of the twelfth year, fire broke out in the temporary capital and burned until the night of dingyou before it finally died out.
41
In the fourth year of Jingding, Shaoxing caught fire. In the fifth year, a great fire swept Lin'an prefecture.
42
In the first year of Deyou, the Genealogy Office was destroyed by fire.
43
That winter of the second year of Qiande brought no snow. That winter of the fifth year brought no snow.
44
That winter of the first year of Kaibao, the capital saw no snow. That winter of the second year brought no snow.
45
That winter of the second year of Chunhua, the capital formed no ice.
46
That winter of the first year of Zhidao brought no snow. That winter of the second year brought no snow.
47
In the second year of Dazhong Xiangfu, the capital had a warm winter and formed no ice.
48
In the fifth year of Tiansheng, summer and autumn brought intense heat, and poisonous vapors afflicted the people.
49
That winter of the sixth year of Jiayou, the capital formed no ice.
50
That winter of the fourth year of Zhiping brought no snow.
51
That winter of the eighth year of Yuanfeng brought no snow.
52
That winter of the first year of Yuanyou brought no snow. That winter of the fourth year, the capital saw no snow. That winter of the fifth year brought neither snow nor ice.
53
In the fifth month of the fifth year of Shaoxing, oppressive heat endured for more than forty days; grass and trees withered to ash, rocks scorched anyone who touched them, and very many people died of heatstroke. That winter of the thirty-first year brought no snow.
54
In the third year of Qiandao, the winter was warm, with little snow and no ice. In the fifth year, the winter was warm and brought no snow. In the sixth year, the winter was warm and brought neither snow nor ice.
55
That winter of the third year of Shaoxi, Tongchuan circuit received no rain; the air hung oppressively hot as in midsummer, sun and moon both turned red, and Rong prefecture suffered most severely.
56
That winter of the first year of Qingyuan brought no snow. That winter of the second year brought no snow. That winter of the fourth year brought no snow. The following year, spring brought oppressive heat and thunder. In the sixth year, the winter hung oppressively hot and brought no snow; peach and plum trees bloomed, and insects failed to hibernate.
57
That winter of the third year of Kaixi brought little snow.
58
In the first year of Jiading, spring was as oppressively hot as summer. That winter of the sixth year hung oppressively hot and thunder rolled; no ice formed, and insects failed to hibernate. In the fifth month of the eighth year, oppressive heat scorched the land; grass and trees withered, every spring ran dry, a hu of water in the temporary capital sold for a hundred cash, a cup of water along the Yangzi and Huai for several tens of cash, and very many people died of heatstroke. That winter of the ninth year brought no snow. That winter of the thirteenth year brought neither snow nor ice. The following year, spring brought sudden oppressive heat; the soil dried and springs failed.
59
In the ninth month of the second year of Jianlong, Bozhou presented one stalk of lingzhi as tribute.
60
In the intercalary eighth month of the fourth year of Qiande, purple lingzhi sprouted on a house pillar belonging to Duan Zan, a commoner of Huanggang county, one plant bearing two stems; Prefect Zheng Shouzhong presented it as tribute. In the twelfth month, Deng prefecture presented five stalks of lingzhi as tribute.
61
殿使
In the fourth year of Kaibao, lingzhi appeared at the home of Luo Da, a commoner of Chengdu prefecture. In the first month of the sixth year, Zhao Yantong, prefect of Zizhou, presented one plant of lingzhi as tribute. Lingzhi sprouted in the hall of Daming Abbey in Hezhong prefecture, and Military Commissioner Chen Siliang reported the prodigy. In the seventh month of the seventh year, Chenzhou Military Commissioner Dang Jin presented two plants of lingzhi from the home of Sun Hong, a soldier of the Crane-Control Garrison. In the eighth month, he again presented one plant of lingzhi bearing forty-nine stalks. In the ninth month, lingzhi sprouted on a pillar of the Macheng county yamen, and Prefect Wang Ming presented it as tribute. In the tenth month, Zizhou presented lingzhi as tribute.
62
殿 使
In the eighth month of the second year of Taiping Xingguo, a single bamboo stalk at a commoner's home in Qingcheng county forked into two stems at the top. In the sixth month of the third year, Wang Yuanzheng, magistrate of Xiangcheng county, presented lingzhi as tribute. In the seventh month, Guangzhou presented lingzhi as tribute. In the eighth month, two plants of lingzhi sprouted on a pillar of the Hall of Meritorious Ministers; Prefect Fan Min painted a picture and presented it as tribute. In the eighth month of the fourth year, Guangzhou presented lingzhi as tribute. In the ninth month, the Mount Hua Daoist Ding Shaowei presented one vessel of white lingzhi and one vessel of dark lingzhi. In the fifth month of the fifth year, a bamboo stalk in Meishan county bore fourteen nodes and forked at the top into two branches fourteen chi long. In the ninth month, lingzhi sprouted on a beam of the traveling-palace hall in Zhending prefecture. Shaped like a lotus flower, it was sent up to the throne in a picture forwarded by Prefect Zhao Xian. In the tenth month, at Huayan Temple in Longshui county, bamboo cut long ago for water pipes still stood in the temple grounds. Suddenly it put forth branches and leaves and grew to more than two zhang; Prefect Jiang Xuan reported the prodigy. In the third month of the sixth year, Guangzhou presented one plant of yellow lingzhi with nine stalks as tribute. In the seventh month, a bamboo stalk in Zhao Feng village, Xinjin county, bore twelve nodes and forked into two branches at the top; Prefect Cui Xian reported the prodigy. In the sixth month of the seventh year, Pei Renfeng, prefect of Huangzhou, presented lingzhi as tribute. In the seventh month, Chen Tan, magistrate of Luojiang county, gathered four plants of lingzhi on Mount Luojun and presented them as tribute. At the pine roots of Wanshou Temple in Xiangyin county, two plants of lingzhi sprouted, and Transport Vice-Commissioner Zhao Chang presented them as tribute. In the eighth month, four more plants appeared, and Zhao Chang again presented them as tribute. Three plants of lingzhi appeared in the gardens of Ouyang Jin and Xiahou Min, commoners of Tan prefecture. Lingzhi sprouted at the home of Zhangsun Yu, a commoner of Yixing county, with purple stems and yellow caps. In the tenth month, lingzhi sprouted among the bamboo at Shixin Abbey in Xiong prefecture; the monk Zhiren gathered it and it grew again, and all was presented to the throne. In the second month of the eighth year, He Yunzhao, prefect of Fuzhou, presented two plants of lingzhi as tribute. In the fifth month, Han prefecture presented lingzhi as tribute. On yiyou in the tenth month, Shuzhou presented one auspicious bamboo stalk of sixteen nodes that forked into two branches at the top. Shi Zhaowen, prefect of Lian prefecture, presented two stalks of lingzhi as tribute. In the eleventh month, Wang Hua, a commoner of Wuyuan county, found one plant of purple lingzhi on a rock at Mount Wangling, five stalks growing in a cluster. Three plants of lingzhi sprouted at the military supervisor's yamen in Jin prefecture. In the tenth month of the ninth year, Jin prefecture presented three plants of lingzhi as tribute and Yongkang army presented nine stalks of lingzhi as tribute; both offerings reached the court on the same day. In the eleventh month, Shen Hu, prefect of Zizhou, obtained three stalks of lingzhi.
63
殿使
In the seventh month of the second year of Yongxi, lingzhi sprouted in Ling prefecture; Prefect Hou Yun carved wood in its likeness and presented it as tribute. In the third month of the third year, Palace Front Commissioner Zhang Simin, returning from a mission to Chu and Si, presented five plants of lingzhi he had gathered. In the fourth month, Meishan county presented an illustrated record of anomalous bamboo. In the eighth month, peonies at the home of Song Qi, Minister of Justice, bore three blossoms.
64
In the fifth month of the first year of Duangong, Hao Zheng, prefect of Xiang prefecture, presented five plants of lingzhi. In the eighth month, phoenixes gathered beneath a silk tree in Guang prefecture, where three plants of lingzhi were found. In the seventh month of the second year, anomalous bamboo sprouted at a commoner's home in Pengshan county. Lingzhi grass sprouted in Shu prefecture, and Prefect Zhao Fu presented it as tribute. In the tenth month, Mi prefecture presented lingzhi grass as tribute.
65
In the fourth month of the first year of Chunhua, lingzhi grass sprouted at the military supervisor's yamen in Yong prefecture, and Prefect Ke Xian reported it to the court. In the eighth month, Wei Pi, prefect of Huang prefecture, presented lingzhi grass as tribute. In the second month of the second year, at Anguo Temple in Shehong county, two bamboo stalks grew from a single root. In the sixth month, conjoined bamboo appeared in Shu prefecture, and Prefect Yue Shi reported it to the court. In the eleventh month, at the home of Zhao Chong, a commoner of Ling prefecture, two stalks of sweet bamboo about six feet tall bore separate roots and bases above them, then split into ten branches more than ten feet long; Another plant had three stalks rising together from the same base. In the tenth month of the third year, anomalous bamboo sprouted in Lang prefecture. At Taiping Xingguo Temple in the capital, peonies bloomed, and divination read the sign as: "There will be a bereavement." That same month, the Filial and Respectful Crown Prince died. In the first month of the fourth year, Feng Liang, military commissioner of Xinghua Army, presented lingzhi grass as tribute. In the tenth month, lingzhi grass sprouted at Pengmen. In the twelfth month, Rong prefecture presented an illustrated record of anomalous bamboo. In the first month of the fifth year, Mi prefecture presented four plants of lingzhi grass with luxuriant, spreading branches and leaves. In the second month, He Shizong, prefect of Wen prefecture, presented five plants of lingzhi grass; In the tenth month, he presented ten more plants.
66
竿 使
In the eleventh month of the first year of Zhidao, a single bamboo plant sprouted at the military supervisor's yamen in Tan prefecture; barely two feet tall, it bore more than ten thousand branches and leaves—an especially remarkable prodigy. In the sixth month of the second year, at Helong Monastery in Longquan county, Gan prefecture, one bamboo culm forked into two branches. Lingzhi grass sprouted at the home of Zhang Zhiyuan, a commoner of Henan county, and Vice-Prefect Lü Mengzheng submitted a memorial reporting it. In the intercalary seventh month, Mi prefecture presented two plants of lingzhi. In the second month of the third year, Kang Jian, transport commissioner of Guangdong, presented purple lingzhi.
67
In the twelfth month of the first year of Xianping, at Baosheng Mountain in Xuanhua county, one stalk of auspicious bamboo forked into two branches. In the intercalary second month of the second year, arrow bamboo in Xuan, Chi, She, Hang, Yue, Mu, Qu, and Wu prefectures bore grain like rice. The people were then in famine and gathered it to eat. In the ninth month, lingzhi grass sprouted on a beam in the relay station hall at Jian prefecture; one stalk bore three caps, yellow and white in hue, and Prefect Li Renheng drew its likeness and presented it as tribute. In the first month of the fourth year, Tan prefecture presented one plant of lingzhi grass shaped like a Buddha image. In the twelfth month, Wang Li, military commissioner of Huaiyang Army, presented three plants of lingzhi grass. In the fifth month of the sixth year, lingzhi sprouted in Pan Ju's field in Daojiang county; it had three tiers, was yellow and purple in color, and stood about five inches tall. In the ninth month, one stalk of lingzhi sprouted at the Muyu Dragon Kennels in Xiang prefecture; purple and yellow in color and more than a foot long, it split into seven branches shaped like the five fingers of a hand. Its uppermost branch resembled a phoenix, and Prefect Zhang Jian presented it as tribute.
68
In the eighth month of the third year of Jingde, Cai prefecture presented lingzhi grass as tribute. In the tenth month of the fourth year, Wang Qi, military commissioner of Guang'an Army, submitted an illustrated record of lingzhi grass. In the twelfth month, Peng prefecture submitted an illustrated record of auspicious bamboo.
69
使 殿 西 綿 西 使使 鹿 使 使 西
In the fourth month of the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu, Wen prefecture presented an illustrated record of auspicious bamboo. On xinwei in the fifth month, in preparation for the eastern feng rite, the court dispatched Planning and Regulatory Commissioner Wang Qinruo to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Cultured and Propagated King; in Confucius's grove he found five plants of lingzhi, yellow and purple like clouds and shaped like a person wearing cap and regalia. An edict ordered Palace Attendant Yang Huaiyu to offer sacrifices in thanksgiving. Four more plants of lingzhi were found, pale yellow and shaped like drifting clouds. On guiwei, Palace Attendant Jiang Deming found one plant of purple-yellow lingzhi on a rock at White Dragon Pool and presented it as tribute. In the sixth month, Song Gu, a commoner of Xiaqiu county, obtained nine plants of yellow-purple lingzhi before the Shrine of Yao, four of them conjoined; Another county commoner, Cai Zhen, also obtained one plant of lingzhi, which Wang Qinruo presented as tribute. Qinruo obtained twenty-two more plants of lingzhi at Mount Dai and again before the Shrine of Yao. Two were conjoined, and some pierced through grass and stone. In the seventh month, Qinruo personally obtained eleven plants of lingzhi, while the prefect and commoners obtained twenty-six more, including double-tiered and conjoined forms and specimens white outside and purple within; he also reported: "Since the summer solstice, lingzhi grass has sprouted on Mount Tai, and soldiers and civilians are scrambling to gather it—please grant silk and cash." The request was granted. The prison at Yan prefecture stood empty, and when Judicial Assistant Guo Baorang swept it out, he found four plants of lingzhi. In the eighth month, lingzhi grass sprouted at a commoner's home in Xucheng county. Lingzhi sprouted on a roof pillar at a commoner's home in Qianfeng county. It spread and grew without break, its colors fresh and bright as though painted. Qinruo presented eight thousand one hundred thirty-nine plants of lingzhi grass, including specimens that pierced through grass and trees, clung to rocks, grew conjoined, or were arranged to form jeweled mountains. Huang prefecture presented anomalous bamboo, one plant with twin stalks. In the ninth month, Zhao Anren came to present eight thousand seven hundred eleven plants of multicolored jade-gold cinnabar-purple lingzhi. At the firewood office in Gong county, peonies bloomed. In the tenth month, lingzhi grass regenerated on Mount Tai in great numbers. On xinchou, when the imperial carriage halted at Yan prefecture, Prefect Ma Yuanfang presented five plants of lingzhi grass. On jiachen, Qinruo and others again presented thirty-eight thousand fifty plants of lingzhi grass from Mount Tai, including specimens joined in fives and conjoined in threes, with five-colored layered halos like jeweled canopies and linked stems below—altogether six hundred forty-two shaped like jeweled mountains, auspicious birds, or miraculous beasts among grasses, trees, and grain. An edict ordered that on the day of the feng and shan rites they be arrayed before the imperial carriage bearing the Celestial Writings, and also sent to famous mountains and scenic sites along the routes and granted to the chancellors. That same month, Fu prefecture presented lingzhi grass shaped like immortals and Buddha images. Lingzhi sprouted on a beam in the wine brewery at Hezhong prefecture; one plant had twelve leaves, jade-like in color. At Duan Zan's home in Anyang county, conjoined purple lingzhi more than a foot long sprouted, and at commoner Li Zhao's home three plants sprouted on a roof pillar. In Huoqiu county, purple lingzhi sprouted both at the River Pavilion and at Shenghui ward. In the twelfth month, conjoined purple lingzhi sprouted on a longan tree in Huai'an county, Fuzhou. Wen prefecture presented an illustrated record of spirit lingzhi. In the first month of the second year, two plants of conjoined lingzhi sprouted on a lychee tree in Fuzhou. In the second month, Raozhou presented four plants of lingzhi grass. In the seventh month, lingzhi grass sprouted at Huangze Temple in Suizhou—fifty plants in all. In the ninth month, two plants of lingzhi sprouted in the courtyard of the yamen at Rong prefecture. In the tenth month, Qingju Mountain in Guo prefecture presented golden-halo conjoined lingzhi grass. In the eleventh month, two plants of purple lingzhi sprouted on a rock in Zhangchao Valley on Mount Hua. Fifty plants of lingzhi grass sprouted on Mount Song. Lingzhi grass sprouted on a hall pillar at the Temple of the Cultured and Propagated King in Shishou county. Also, at the garden of Zong Yongchang, a resident of Wanfu Lane on Longgai Mountain, lingzhi grass sprouted on a vine, one plant with twin stalks. In the twelfth month, lingzhi grass sprouted in Han prefecture. In Qian prefecture, one stalk of lingzhi grass bore twelve branches shaped like mountain peaks. In the first month of the third year, ten plants of lingzhi grass sprouted at Sanhui Temple in Jingyan county. In the second month, four plants of lingzhi sprouted on a hall pillar at the yamen of Chang prefecture. In the intercalary second month, lingzhi grass sprouted in Raozhou. In the third month, lingzhi grass sprouted both at Qinglian Pagoda Monastery and at Taiping Abbey in Xichong county. In the fourth month, bamboo in the capital bloomed, and divination read the sign as: "The harvest will not be plentiful." In the sixth month, lingzhi grass sprouted in Mian, Shao, and E prefectures alike. In the seventh month, three plants of lingzhi grass sprouted at the Abbey of the Holy Maiden in Guo prefecture. In the eighth month, a commoner of Ying county obtained twelve field-grown plants of lingzhi. Lingzhi grass sprouted in Shu prefecture; one stalk bore nine leaves. At the home of Zhang Zhong, a commoner of Jiangling county, bamboo split into trunks from the root, one trunk further dividing into three stalks; in the ninth month, at Yongtai Temple in Jiangling prefecture, bamboo emerged from the ground in seven nodes and split into two stalks more than ten feet long, and Prefect Chen Yaozi reported it to the court. Hou Yuanze, a commoner of Fushui in Hua prefecture, entered a crevice in Huayang Valley and obtained one plant of lingzhi, which Prefect Gu Duan presented as tribute. In the tenth month, Palace Attendant Ren Wenqing went to Mount Mao, set up an altar offering in a cave, and obtained twenty-eight plants of lingzhi grass, some shaped like human hands. In the eleventh month, twenty-two plants of lingzhi were obtained at Xie Mountain in Anxiang county, seven of them shaped like coral and purple in color. In the twelfth month, four plants of lingzhi were obtained in Shenquan county. In the first month of the fourth year, Cui Duan, prefect of Hua prefecture, presented lingzhi grass shaped like a cactus. Li Dao'an, a commoner of Xucheng county, obtained one plant of lingzhi grass on the terrace of Yellow Immortal Lord's Cave and presented it as tribute. In the second month, Cui Duan again presented ten plants of lingzhi grass. Ren Zhongzheng, prefect of Yi prefecture, presented twenty-two plants of lingzhi grass. Wu Binggu, prefect of Suizhou, presented lingzhi grass. In the fourth month, at a monk's dwelling in Gutian county, one bamboo plant split into three stalks at the top. At the home of Li Rang, a commoner of Duanchang county, one stalk of thin bamboo about five feet above the ground split into two stalks, and Prefect Fan Yingchen reported it to the court. In the sixth month, lingzhi grass sprouted in the granary office at Kuizhou. In the seventh month, Xu Bi, prefect of Bozhou, and Wang Wenzhen, prefect of Jiangzhou, both presented lingzhi grass to the court. Yuan Yanqing, prefect of Chenzhou, presented ten plants of lingzhi grass. In the eighth month, five plants of lingzhi grew on a cypress at Yunfeng Temple in Yongzhou, and Prefect Liu Zhijie presented them to the court. At the Temple of the Prince of Guangchuan in Xichong county, ten plants of lingzhi appeared, three of them conjoined in pairs. In the eighth month, Li Fang, prefect of Xinzhou, presented three illustrated records of auspicious bamboo. In the eleventh month, Hezhong prefecture presented lingzhi grass. One plant of lingzhi grew at the home of each of two commoners in Zhenyuan county, Wang Shunci and Situ Jie. Yuezhou and Daozhou both presented lingzhi grass. Commissioner Xue Ying, bearing the southern marchmount investiture, and Vice Commissioner Qian Weiyan obtained lingzhi grass on the sacred grove stone at Jingmen Army and presented it to the court. In the twelfth month, a twin-branched plant of lingzhi grass one foot eight inches long grew at the Renshou monk's dwelling in Qianshan county. In the sixth month of the fifth year, twin purple lingzhi plants sprouted in the dharma hall of the Sixth Patriarch's Monastery in Xunzhou, and Prefect Gao Zhining reported it to the court. In the eighth month, Bozhou presented lingzhi grass. In the tenth month, twenty-four plants of lingzhi with white stems and purple caps grew on a beam in the main hall at Ze prefecture. In the intercalary tenth month, lingzhi grass appeared in Changzhou. In Xiaoshan county as well, eleven plants of lingzhi grew on a plum tree. In the eleventh month, Guangzhou presented two hundred thirty-seven plants of lingzhi grass. One plant of lingzhi grass grew at a monk's dwelling in Jinyuan county. In the twelfth month, lingzhi grass appeared in Suizhou. Bozhou presented four plants of lingzhi grass that commoners of Luyi county had obtained. Fifty-four plants of lingzhi grass grew on a mountain in Houguan county. Ten plants of lingzhi grass grew at Wangquan Temple in Min county. Fifteen plants of lingzhi grass grew on the rocks of Zhití Mountain in Ningde county. In the second month of the sixth year, nine plants of lingzhi grew at Chongsheng Monastery on Mount Lu in Jiangzhou, and Prefect Wang Wenzhen presented them to the court. In the fourth month, four plants of lingzhi with conjoined leaves grew on East Mountain at Chengtian Monastery in Raozhou. In the sixth month, one plant of purple-stemmed golden lingzhi was found in Shouqiu county. Thirty plants of lingzhi were found in the Guanyang Mountain forest of Jingling county. In the seventh month, Palace Attendant Shi Yanfu climbed Shouqiu in Yanzhou and found one plant of lingzhi growing up through the grass, then thirty more nearby. Gao Hanying, regimental commander of Bozhou, presented eight plants of lingzhi. One plant of lingzhi grew beneath a gate pillar in Dingzhou. In the eighth month, one plant of lingzhi with a purple stem and yellow cap grew in the Hall of Continued Illumination. When Ding Wei, Commissioner for Sacrificial Rites and Planning and Regulatory Affairs, arrived at Zhenyuan county, Taoist priests of the Grand Purity Palace and commoners of Laiyang township successively found eighty plants of lingzhi and presented them to the court. On yichou, two hundred fifty more were found; one plant had three stalks, one of them shaped like a Buddha image formed from cloud vapor. In the ninth month, fifty more plants of lingzhi that commoners of Songcheng county had obtained were presented to the court. In the tenth month, Ding Wei came to court and presented thirty-seven thousand one hundred eight plants of lingzhi grass, fashioned into the shapes of immortals, precious birds, and exotic beasts; In the eleventh month, he presented ninety-five thousand one hundred more. The next year, when the imperial carriage reached Zhenyuan, commoners who came to the travel lodge to present tribute offered another eighteen thousand plants. That winter, lingzhi grass appeared at Jingling Palace in Yanzhou. Two plants of golden lingzhi grew at the imperial-inscription stele pavilion of Daning Temple in Qingcheng Army. Lingzhi grass appeared at Zishou Temple on Longyue Mountain in Shaozhou. One plant of lingzhi grew on a pillar of the prefectural office in Xunzhou, splitting into two at the top and then sprouting two more above that, three tiers in all. At the home of Cao Shen, a commoner of Wuxi county, lingzhi grew on a dining table, red-yellow and glowing, about a foot long. Zhang Deyi, military commissioner of Nan'an Army, also presented lingzhi grass. In the first month of the seventh year, Mingzhou presented one four-stalked plant of lingzhi grass growing on a rock at Ruhou Mountain. In the second month, Ouyang Zhi, prefect of Xinzhou, presented seven plants of lingzhi grass, and Zhongzhou presented five. In the fourth month, Fuzhou presented two plants of lingzhi grass. In the fifth month, fifteen plants of purple lingzhi grew on a cliff west of Qixian. In the seventh month, a commoner of Hua prefecture entered Mount Hua and found lingzhi grass on white stone, with twin stalks and conjoined caps. In the eighth month, Junzhou and Xianzhou together presented one thousand two hundred twenty-seven plants of lingzhi. In the tenth month, twin-stalked lingzhi grew on a stone at Daning Temple in Qingcheng Army with merged trunks above, and lingzhi grass appeared in Ming and Ying prefectures. In the eleventh month, two plants of lingzhi grass grew from bamboo roots in Shuzhou. In the second month of the eighth year, one plant of lingzhi grew on a pillar of the Temple of the Martial Completion King in Qingzhou, and Prefect Zhang Zhibai presented an illustration to the court. In the third month, three plants of purple lingzhi grew at an Amitabha monk's dwelling in Yingling county, Rongzhou; one had twin trunks topped like caps. In the fourth month in Changzhou, lingzhi grew on stone; one plant had four yellow-white stalks. In the fourth month, at a commoner's home in Zhangming county, one bamboo stalk forked into two branches at the top across thirteen nodes. At Kaiyuan Temple as well, one stalk of peach bamboo forked at the top into eighteen nodes, all paired opposite one another. In the fifth month, twenty-one plants of lingzhi grew beside the Shrine of Shun in Daozhou. In the sixth month, at a commoner's home in Zhifei county, lingzhi grass had three stalks sharing one leaf, and one plant of stone lingzhi appeared as well. In the tenth month, at the home of Bai Yi, a commoner of Jinyuan county, three stalks of lingzhi grew and merged into one plant. In the seventh month of the ninth year, Dong Wen, prefect of Xinzhou, presented twelve plants of lingzhi. In the eighth month, Yu Xianqing, prefect of Luzhou, presented two plants of lingzhi. In the ninth month, one plant of lingzhi grew on a stone cliff in Fucheng county. In the eleventh month, in the bamboo garden of He Wenhua, a commoner of Wugang county, two plants grew from one root and forked into four stalks at the top. In the twelfth month, at the home of Li Yantao, a commoner of Jinyuan county, one bamboo plant had twin stalks with paired nodes, and Prefect Wang Shichang presented an illustration to the court.
70
殿 殿 殿
In the third month of the first year of Tianxi, lingzhi grass grew beneath the Pinggai canopy and the Jade Emperor altar in Xinjin county. Lingzhi grass appeared in the Hall of the Sacred Ancestor at Tianqing Abbey in Ezhou. In the fourth month, in Shaoyang and other counties bamboo produced grain-like spikes; the people, suffering famine, ate them. In Fuliang county as well, bamboo produced grain-like spikes. In the seventh month, at Taiping Xingguo Temple in Hanyang Army, one extraordinary bamboo plant produced two stalks with all nodes paired opposite one another. On gengwu in the twelfth month. From within the palace, lingzhi grass shaped like the image of the True Warrior was presented. On gengzi in the first month of the second year, the palace showed the chief ministers illustrated records of lingzhi grass on beams from the Halls of True Wandering and Honored Insignia. In the fifth month, two plants of golden lingzhi grew in the Zhaqing Hall of Jingling Palace in Yanzhou. In the sixth month of the third year, more than one hundred fifty plants of lingzhi grass appeared in Hanyang Army. In the seventh month, one hundred plants of lingzhi grass were found at Chongfu Palace on Mount Song, some double-decked and conjoined and some growing up through the grass, and Feng Zheng, prefect of Henan prefecture, presented them to the court. In the fourth month of the fourth year, five plants of purple lingzhi ringed with golden halos grew in the bamboo garden of Wang Chongyi, a commoner of Liangshan Army. In the eleventh month, three plants of lingzhi grass grew in the garden of Wang Shou, a commoner of Shangrao county; all bore golden halos, and two were conjoined.
71
In the sixth month of the first year of Qianxing, sacred grain appeared in the lake fields of Su and Xiu prefectures, and the residents gathered it to eat. In Xingzhou bamboo bore seed the size of barley, and the people gathered it to eat. The omen interpretation says: "Great famine." In the eighth month, Li Yong, a commoner of Yang prefecture, carried earth to complete his mother's grave mound, and lingzhi grew upon it.
72
殿 西
In the fifth month of the first year of Tiansheng, bamboo in Xingzhou bore seed like barley, and the people gathered it to eat. The omen interpretation says: "When bamboo bears seed, great famine." On jiayin in the eighth month, lingzhi grew on a pillar of the Hall of Heavenly Peace, and the emperor summoned the chief ministers to view it. On wuwu in the ninth month, lingzhi grass appeared at the lumber yard below the west wall of the city. In the seventh month of the third year, two plants of lingzhi grew at the city gate of Zizhou. In the first month of the fourth year. Four plants of lingzhi grew at a commoner's home in Zizhou. In the ninth month, lingzhi appeared in Rongzhou.
73
In the seventh month of the first year of Mingdao, lingzhi appeared in both Rongzhou and Lianzhou.
74
殿
In the ninth month of the second year of Jingyou, lingzhi grass appeared in Jiazhou. On bingyin in the fifth month of the fourth year, lingzhi grew on a pillar of the Hall of Transformation.
75
On bingwu in the second month of the first year of Qingli, medicine rained down in the capital. In the eighth month of the second year, lingzhi grass appeared in Zizhou. In the eighth month of the fifth year, lingzhi grass grew on a hall pillar at Zhangjiang Chan Monastery in Hongzhou, one foot three inches tall with twenty-one layers of white-yellow foliage ringed by a purple halo; a smaller lingzhi grew beside it with nine layers of foliage, and vapor like smoke rose above it.
76
In the seventh month of the first year of Huangyou, twelve plants of lingzhi appeared in Fuzhou. In the tenth month, lingzhi grass appeared in Huzhou. On dinghai in the sixth month of the third year, Wuwei Army presented three hundred fifty plants of lingzhi grass in all. The emperor said: "I regard abundant harvests as the highest auspice and worthy ministers as treasures; as for oddities among plants, trees, fish, and insects, what is there to esteem in them!"
77
In the intercalary seventh month of the fifth year, lingzhi grass appeared in Rongzhou.
78
In the eleventh month of the third year of Jiayou, lingzhi grass appeared in Henan prefecture. In the first month of the sixth year, lingzhi grass grew at the Temple of Emperor Guangwu of Han in Qingchuan county—one plant forked in three. In the eighth month, four plants of lingzhi appeared at Gela Stockade in Shizhou. In the tenth month, five plants of lingzhi grew at the Xinzhai patrol inspector's headquarters in Ruzhou.
79
In the first year of Xining, thunder split a mountain in Yiyang county and rice poured forth—several hundred thousand hu in all. The grain was sent to the capital. It was real rice, but black as charcoal. In the seventh month of the eighth year, Dingzhou produced three plants of lingzhi; one resembled coral, its branches and leaves intricately intertwined. In Yanguan county, from the third month the earth yielded pearl-like growths that could be eaten; the waters yielded fungus-like greens fit for pickling, and starving people lived on them. In the fifth month of the ninth year, Liujiang county produced twenty-one plants of lingzhi.
80
殿
In the fourth month of the second year of Yuanfeng, auspicious bamboo appeared in Meizhou. In the sixth month, beans rained down in Zhongzhou—a grass prodigy portent. On jiawu in the seventh month, beans rained down in Nanbin county as well. In the eleventh month, twelve plants of lingzhi appeared in Quanzhou. In the sixth month of the third year, twenty-nine plants of lingzhi grew in Anzhou, one with joined trunks. Forty-three plants of lingzhi appeared in Linjiang Army. In the tenth month of the fourth year, a single stalk of auspicious bamboo grew at Tianqing Abbey in Qixian county; from the ninth node two stems sprang up side by side. In the seventh month of the fifth year, nine plants of purple lingzhi appeared in Yongkang county. In the eleventh month, Langzhong county produced six purple lingzhi and seven golden lingzhi. Nine purple lingzhi appeared in Yongkang county. In the eighth month of the sixth year, thirty-three plants of lingzhi appeared in Jizhou. In the twelfth month, a strange plant sprang up in the government offices of Teng county and did not decay for a full month. In the fourth month of the seventh year, six plants of lingzhi grew at the gate of the Hall of Heavenly Origin in the Jingling Palace. In the fifth month, nine plants of lingzhi appeared in Kaihua county in yellow, white, and purple. In the eighth month, one plant of lingzhi grew at the lower palace of Yong'an Mausoleum. In the tenth month, twenty-one plants of lingzhi appeared in Qingzhou.
81
穿
In the ninth month of the third year of Shaosheng, lingzhi grass grew in Zichuan county where ten grain stalks pierced the plant and two lingzhi branches sprouted from it. In the tenth month, lingzhi grass appeared within the inner precincts of Henan prefecture.
82
In the first month of the second year of Yuanfu, auspicious bamboo sprang up in a commoner's field in Chuzhou. In the second month, Luzhou produced one plant of lingzhi grass with a shared root and paired trunks that merged again into a single cap. At the commandery hall of Hengzhou as well, one purple lingzhi grew with sixteen leaves.
83
宿
In the eighth month of the first year of Chongning, joined-trunk lingzhi grass appeared in Panshi county. In the tenth month of the third year, lingzhi grass appeared in Fuzhou and Zezhou. In the first month of the fourth year, lingzhi grass appeared in Rongzhou and Suzhou. In the seventh month, lingzhi grass and auspicious bamboo appeared in Luzhou. In the winter of the fifth year, lingzhi grass appeared in Cizhou and Anzhou.
84
殿 殿 竿 使
In the first month of the first year of Zhenghe, lingzhi grass appeared in Laizhou. In the eleventh month, lingzhi grass appeared at the Hall of the Sacred Ancestor in Qianzhou. On wuzi in the second month of the second year, lingzhi grass sprouted on the back of a toad in Xin'an county, Henan prefecture. From then on, reports of auspicious portents came in day after day. Jade lingzhi appeared within the Forbidden City nearly every year without exception—in palace halls, gardens, and the quarters of consorts alike. Outside the palace, the Secretariat-Chancellery offices, the Imperial College, and the Medical College also produced purple lingzhi. In the eighth month of the fourth year, bamboo throughout Jianzhou bore grain in amounts reckoned at tens of millions of shi. On guiyou in the eleventh month of the fifth year, a single stalk of auspicious bamboo with seven branches appeared at Chengtian Temple in Yuezhou; the stems matched one another, the leaves were round and fine, and the plant flowered and bore fruit. An edict ordered it sent to the Secretariat, and officials submitted a memorial of congratulation. In the fifth month of the fifth year, plantain trees with joined trunks appeared within the Forbidden City. On jiazi in the eighth month, Qizhou presented eleven thousand six hundred sprigs of lingzhi grass, including one purple specimen with nine stems. On jiwei in the twelfth month, Ruzhou presented sixty thousand plants, of which one thousand eight hundred eighty bore joined trunks or paired branches—the authorities could not keep up with the tally. At first officials still submitted congratulatory memorials; later the reports became routine, and not every case received congratulations. At that time Zhu Shengfei, commissioner for educational affairs in the Jingdong circuit, was on an inspection tour when he reached the border of Mizhou and saw the county magistrate mustering several hundred laborers to enter the mountains and gather lingzhi. They filled the valleys and hills—nothing but lingzhi fungi. Some clung to trees and stones, others sprang from level ground; single plants bore dozens of leaves, layered and towering, every color represented. The prefect Li Wenzhong collected as many as three hundred thousand plants and sent tribute in batches of ten thousand. Wenzhong was soon promoted and appointed transport commissioner for the circuit.
85
On guimao in the ninth month of the second year of Jianyan, Du Yan, acting prefect of Mizhou, presented lingzhi grass of five leaves shaped like a human palm, crimson and lustrous. Chief Minister Huang Qianshan memorialized: "The color matches the virtue of Fire, and the form resembles an omen of the emperor's supporting arms." Emperor Gaozong would not even open it to look and refused the gift.
86
西使 簿
On yiwei in the seventh month of the first year of Shaoxing, Liu Guangshi, grand coordinator of Zhexi, memorialized as an auspicious sign dry stalks that had sprouted grain heads. Emperor Gaozong said: "When I was in my princely residence, lingzhi grew between the rafters. The officials all wished to report it, but I crushed it with my own hand—I did not wish to treasure such strangeness." And he refused the offering. On xinwei in the first month of the sixteenth year, beans rained from the sky in Luzhou—a grass prodigy portent. In the sixteenth year, lingzhi appeared at the Temple of Confucius in Meizhou. In the twenty-first year, lingzhi grew beneath the imperial calligraphy at the Shaoxing prefectural school. At a commoner's home in Shimen, Poyang county, hedge bamboo bore a double-petaled peony; at another home a golden lotus sprang from a cooking hearth. Daylilies appeared at the foot of Cai Mountain below the seat of government in Fangzhou. Lotuses grew in the life-release ponds of Wanzhou and Qianzhou, all sharing one stem with separate calyxes. In the sixth month of the twenty-third year, lotuses appeared in Tingzhou; twelve bore a shared stem with separate calyxes. In the fifth month of the twenty-fifth year, nine stalks of lingzhi grew on a pillar of the Grand Chamber. Qin Hui led the officials to view them and offered congratulations. Gou Longlian and Shen Zhongli were promoted for presenting eulogies, and Zhou Linzhi requested that it be painted on the imperial procession banners. Qin's grandson Sun, vice minister of rites, asked that the banners also depict sweet dew descending on plants in Lizhou, joined-trunk trees in Daozhou, the auspicious melon of Zhenjiang prefecture, the auspicious lotus of Nan'an army, and auspicious lingzhi from Yan and Xin prefectures. That winter Qin Hui died. Emperor Gaozong said: "In recent years the four quarters have reported auspicious signs, dressing up words to please their superiors—as when Lin Ji of Xin prefecture memorialized that lingzhi grew at the ancestral temple of Qin Hui's father; such sycophancy was especially gross." In the fourth month of the following year, on jiawu, an edict forbade the commanderies and kingdoms to present auspicious portents.
87
西
In the eighth month of the fifth year of Qingyuan, white lingzhi of four leaves grew on a pillar in the side chamber northwest of the Grand Chamber; earlier histories had taken white lingzhi as an omen of mourning. In the eighth month of the following year, the state suffered one great funeral after another.
88
殿
In the eleventh month of the second year of Jiatai, two stalks of lingzhi grew on a pillar of the Youwen Hall in the Secretariat.
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