Volume 23 Treatises 13: Astronomy 1

志第十三天文一

Treatise Thirteen: Astronomy, Part One

言天者有三家，一曰宣夜，二曰蓋天，三曰渾天，而天之正體，經無前說，馬《書》、班《志》，又闕其文。漢靈帝議郎蔡邕于朔方上書曰：「論天體者三家，宣夜之學，絕無師法。《周髀》術數具存，考驗天狀，多所違失。惟渾天僅得其情，今史官所用候台銅儀，則其法也。立八尺圓體，而具天地之形，以正黃道；占察發斂，以行日月，以步五緯，精微深妙，百世不易之道也。官有其器而無本書，前志亦闕而不論。本欲寢伏儀下，思惟微意，按度成數，以著篇章。罪惡無狀，投畀有北，灰滅雨絕，勢路無由。宜問群臣，下及岩穴，知渾天之意者，使述其義。」時閹官用事，邕議不行。

Writers on the cosmos fall into three traditions—Xuanye, Gaitian, and Huntian—yet the classics never settled the true shape of the sky, and neither Ma Rong's Shangshu commentary nor Ban Gu's astronomical monograph preserves an earlier account. From exile in Shuofang, Cai Yong—Consultation Gentleman under Emperor Ling of Han—wrote that cosmology had three schools, but the Xuanye tradition had no living teachers and no line of transmission. The Zhou bi arithmetic is still extant, but when held against observation it fails in many places. Only the Huntian scheme comes close to the facts; the bronze armillary on the observatory terrace in use among historians today is built on that design. An eight-foot globe models Heaven and Earth together and fixes the ecliptic; tracks the seasons, carries sun and moon, and steps the five wanderers—a fine, durable system that has not gone out of date for a hundred generations. The bureau owns the hardware without the foundational manuals, and earlier monographs leave the matter undocumented as well. I had meant to work under the armillary itself, work out its fine principles, derive the numbers from the degrees, and commit them to writing. Guilt beyond words has sent me to the northern frontier; like ashes scattered in rain, every avenue is closed. The court should consult its ministers and reach down to scholars in seclusion—whoever grasps Huntian cosmology should be asked to set out its doctrine." Eunuch power was ascendant at the time, and Yong's proposal went nowhere.

漢末吳人陸績善天文，始推渾天意。王蕃者，盧江人，吳時為中常侍，善數術，傳劉洪《乾象曆》。依《乾象法》而制渾儀，立論考度曰：

Near the end of Han, Lu Ji of Wu, an expert in astronomy, was the first to work out the Huntian theory in full. Wang Fan came from Lujiang; under Wu he served as Regular Palace Attendant, excelled in mathematical astronomy, and carried on Liu Hong's Supernal Signs Calendar. On the Supernal Signs method he built an armillary sphere and drafted a treatise on measurement that begins:

前儒舊說，天地之體，狀如鳥卵，天包地外，猶殼之裹黃也。周旋無端，其形渾渾然，故曰渾天也。周天三百六十五度五百八十九分度之百四十五，半露地上，半在地下。其二端謂之南極、北極。北極出地三十六度，南極入地亦三十六度，兩極相去一百八十二度半強。繞北極徑七十二度，常見不隱，謂之上規；繞南極七十二度，常隱不見，謂之下規。赤道帶天之紘，去兩極各九十一度少強。黃道，日之所行也。半在赤道外，半在赤道內，與赤道東交於角五少弱，西交於奎十四少強。其出赤道外極遠者，去赤道二十四度，斗二十一度是也。其入赤道內極遠者，亦二十四度，井二十五度是也。

Earlier scholars held that Heaven and Earth form a bird's egg—Heaven wraps Earth on the outside as a shell wraps the yolk. It turns without break in a perfectly round form—hence the name Huntian, spherical heaven. Heaven's full circuit is 365 degrees plus 145 parts in 589—half the sphere stands above the earth, half below. Its two pivots are the South Pole and the North Pole. The North Pole stands 36 degrees above the horizon; the South Pole lies 36 degrees below it; the poles are 182-odd degrees apart. Within 72 degrees of the North Pole stars never set—the upper visibility circle; within 72 degrees of the South Pole they never rise—the lower visibility circle. The equator belts the celestial equator, roughly 91 degrees from either pole. The Yellow Road—the ecliptic—is the sun's path. Half lies north of the equator, half south; it crosses the equator east at Horn 5° slightly less and west at Stride 14° slightly more. Its farthest point north of the equator stands 24 degrees away—at Dipper 21°. Its farthest point south of the equator is likewise 24 degrees—at Well 25°.

日南至在斗二十一度，去極百一十五度少強是也。日最南，去極最遠，故景最長。黃道斗二十一度，出辰入申，故日亦出辰入申。日晝行地上百四十六度強，故日短；夜行地下二百一十九度少弱，故夜長。自南至之後，日去極稍近，故景稍短。日晝行地上度稍多，故日稍長；夜行地下度稍少，故夜稍短。日所在度稍北，故日稍北，以至於夏至，日在井二十五度，去極六十七度少強，是日最北，去極最近，景最短。黃道井二十五度，出寅入戌，故日亦出寅入戌。日晝行地上二百一十九度少弱，故日長；夜行地下百四十六度強，故夜短。自夏至之後，日去極稍遠，故景稍長。日晝行地上度稍少，故日稍短；夜行地下度稍多，故夜稍長。日所在度稍南，故日出入稍南，以至於南至而復初焉。斗二十一，井二十五，南北相覺四十八度。

The winter solstice sun stands at Dipper 21°, 115-odd degrees from the pole. The sun stands at its southernmost and farthest from the pole, so shadows reach their greatest length. At Dipper 21° the ecliptic rises in Dragon and sets in Monkey, so the sun does likewise. By day it travels 146-odd degrees above the horizon, so daylight is short; by night 219-odd degrees below, so the night is long. After the winter solstice the sun creeps nearer the pole and shadows shorten bit by bit. Its daytime arc lengthens slightly, so days grow a little longer; its nighttime arc shortens, and nights ease accordingly. The sun's position drifts northward, and with it sunrise and sunset; at the summer solstice it stands at Well 25°, only 67-odd degrees from the pole—its northernmost, closest approach, when shadows are shortest. At Well 25° the ecliptic rises in Tiger and sets in Dog, and the sun follows suit. By day it travels 219-odd degrees above the horizon, so daylight is long; by night only 146-odd degrees below, so the night is short. After the summer solstice the sun retreats from the pole and shadows lengthen again. Daytime arcs shrink, so days shorten; night arcs expand, and nights lengthen in turn. The sun's station drifts south, carrying sunrise and sunset southward until the winter solstice restores the cycle. Dipper 21° and Well 25° mark extremes 48 degrees apart on the ecliptic.

春分日，在奎十四少強；秋分日，在角五少弱，此黃赤二道之交中也。去極俱九十一度少強，南北處斗二十一井二十五之中，故景居二至長短之中。奎十四，角五，出卯入酉，故日亦出卯入酉。日晝行地上，夜行地下，俱百八十二度半強。故日見之漏五十刻，不見之漏五十刻，謂之晝夜同。夫天之晝夜，以日出入為分；人之晝夜，以昏明為限。日未出二刻半而明，日已入二刻半而昏，故損夜五刻以益晝，是以春秋分之漏晝五十五刻。

At the spring equinox the sun stands at Stride 14° slightly more; at the autumn equinox at Horn 5° slightly less—where the ecliptic crosses the equator. Both stand 91-odd degrees from the pole, halfway between the solstitial limits, so shadows fall midway between winter and summer lengths. At Stride 14° and Horn 5° the sun rises in Hare and sets in Cock. Day and night arcs each span 182-odd degrees above and below the horizon. Visible and invisible portions each fill fifty clepsydra marks—true parity of day and night. Astronomical day and night follow the sun's rising and setting; human reckoning uses twilight and dawn as its bounds. Twilight begins two and a half marks before sunrise and ends two and a half after sunset, so five marks shift from night to day—at the equinoxes the daylight clepsydra reads fifty-five marks.

三光之行，不必有常，術家以算求之，各有同異，故諸家曆法參差不齊。《洛書甄耀度》、《春秋考異郵》皆云周天一百七萬一千里，一度為二千九百三十二里七十一步二尺七寸四分四百八十七分分之三百六十二。陸績云：天東西南北徑三十五萬七千里，此言周三徑一也。考之徑一不啻周三，率周百四十二而徑四十五，則天徑三十三萬九千四百一里一百二十二步三尺二寸一分七十一分分之九。

Sun, moon, and stars do not move by fixed rules; mathematicians derive their paths by calculation, and schools disagree—hence calendars diverge. The Radiance of Degrees and the Examination of Strange Correspondences both give Heaven's circuit as 1,071,000 li and one degree as 2,932 li plus 71 paces, 2 chi, 7 cun, 4 fen, and 362/487 of a fen. Lu Ji held that Heaven's diameter is 357,000 li, assuming the classic ratio of circumference three to diameter one. On examination, the ratio is not three to one; with circumference 142 to diameter 45, Heaven's diameter comes to 339,401 li, 122 paces, 3 chi, 2 cun, 1 fen, and 9/71 of a fen.

《周禮》：「日至之景，尺有五寸，謂之地中。」鄭眾說：「土圭之長，尺有五寸。以夏至之日，立八尺之表，其景與土圭等，謂之地中，今潁川陽城地也。」鄭玄云：「凡日景於地千里而差一寸，景尺有五寸者，南戴日下萬五千里也。」以此推之，日當去其下地八萬里矣。日邪射陽城，則天徑之半也。天體圓如彈丸，地處天之半，而陽城為中，則日春秋冬夏，昏明晝夜，去陽城皆等，無盈縮矣。故知從日邪射陽城為天徑之半也。

The Rites of Zhou states: "At the solstice the shadow measures one chi and five cun—that marks the center of the realm." Zheng Zhong explained that the earth gnomon is one chi and five cun long. At the summer solstice, an eight-chi post cast a shadow equal to the gnomon—that defined the center of the land, now Yangcheng in Yingchuan." Zheng Xuan held that shadows shift one cun per thousand li; a shadow of one chi and five cun implies the observer stands 15,000 li south of the subsolar point." On that basis the sun lies 80,000 li above the ground below. The sun's slanting rays on Yangcheng mark half Heaven's diameter. Heaven is a perfect sphere; Earth sits at its center with Yangcheng as the pivot—so in every season, at every hour, the sun's distance from Yangcheng is uniform, without variation. Thus the slanting ray on Yangcheng yields half Heaven's diameter.

以句股法言之，傍萬五千里，句也；立八萬里，股也；從日邪射陽城，弦也。以句股求弦法入之，得八萬一千三百九十四里三十步五尺三寸六分，天徑之半，而地上去天之數也。倍之，得十六萬二千七百八十八里六十一步四尺七寸二分，天徑之數也。以周率乘之，徑率約之，得五十一萬三千六百八十七里六十八步一尺八寸二分，周天之數也。減《甄耀度》、《考異郵》五十五萬七千三百一十二里有奇。一度凡千四百六里百二十四步六寸四分十萬七千五百六十五分分之萬九千三十九，減舊度千五百二十五里二百五十六步三尺三寸二十一萬五千一百三十分分之十六萬七百三十分。黃赤二道，相與交錯，其間相去二十四度。以兩儀推之，二道俱三百六十五度有奇，是以知天體圓如彈丸。而陸績造渾象，其形如鳥卵，然則黃道應長於赤道矣。績云天東西南北徑三十五萬七千里，然則績亦以天形正圓也。而渾象為鳥卵，則為自相違背。

In right-triangle terms, the 15,000-li horizontal leg is the gou; the 80,000-li vertical leg is the gu; the slanting ray to Yangcheng is the hypotenuse. By the Pythagorean method the hypotenuse comes to 81,394 li, 30 paces, 5 chi, 3 cun, 6 fen—half Heaven's diameter, the height from Earth to the sun. Doubled, that gives 162,788 li, 61 paces, 4 chi, 7 cun, 2 fen for Heaven's full diameter. Multiplying by pi and reducing by the diameter ratio yields 513,687 li, 68 paces, 1 chi, 8 cun, 2 fen for Heaven's circumference. That is 557,312-odd li less than the figures in those two texts. One degree equals 1,406 li, 124 paces, 6 cun, 4 fen, and 19,039/107,565 of a fen—1,525 li, 256 paces, 3 chi, 3 cun, and 167,030/215,130 of a fen shorter than the older reckoning. The ecliptic and equator cross at an angle of 24 degrees. Both circles measure 365-odd degrees by the two-armillary method—proof that Heaven is a perfect sphere. Yet Lu Ji's globe was egg-shaped, which would make the ecliptic longer than the equator. Lu Ji gave Heaven a diameter of 357,000 li, so he too treated the sky as a true sphere. An egg-shaped globe contradicts that assumption.

古舊渾象以二分為一度，凡周七尺三寸半分。張衡更制，以四分為一度，凡周一丈四尺六寸。蕃以古制局小，星辰稠穊；衡器傷大，難可轉移。更制渾象，以三分為一度，凡周天一丈九寸五分四分分之三也。

Older globes used two fen per degree and measured seven chi, three and a half cun around the rim. Zhang Heng rebuilt his at four fen per degree, one zhang four chi six cun in circumference. Wang Fan found the ancient globe too cramped, its stars crowded together; Zhang Heng's was unwieldy and hard to rotate. He built a new globe at three fen per degree, one zhang nine cun five fen and three-quarters of four fen around.

御史中丞何承天論渾象體曰：「詳尋前說，因觀渾儀，研求其意，有以悟天形正圓，而水周其下。言四方者，東暘穀，日之所出，西至濛汜，日之所入。莊子又云：'北溟之魚，化而為鳥，將徙于南溟。 '斯亦古之遺記，四方皆水證也。四方皆水，謂之四海。凡五行相生，水生於金，是故百川發源，皆自山出，由高趣下，歸注於海。日為陽精，光耀炎熾，一夜入水，所經燋竭，百川歸注，足於補復，故旱不為減，浸不為益。徑天之數，蕃說近之。」

Censor-in-Chief He Chengtian wrote on the globe's design: "Reviewing earlier accounts and inspecting the armillary, I grasped that Heaven is a true sphere with water circling beneath. The four quarters are defined by Yang Valley in the east, where the sun rises, and Misty Ford in the west, where it sets. Zhuangzi tells how the fish of the Northern Deep becomes a bird and migrates to the Southern Deep— another ancient record that all four quarters are water. Water on every side—the Four Seas. In the five-phase cycle metal generates water; rivers rise in mountains, run downhill, and empty into the sea. The sun, yang's essence, burns hot; each night it passes through the waters and scorches them, while rivers refill the seas—so drought does not shrink the ocean nor floods swell it. Wang Fan's figure for Heaven's diameter comes closest to the truth."

太中大夫徐爰曰：「渾儀之制，未詳厥始。王蕃言：'《虞書》稱「在璿璣玉衡，以齊七政」。則今渾天儀日月五星是也。鄭玄說：「動運為機，持正為衡，皆以玉為之。視其行度，觀受禪是非也。」渾儀，羲和氏之舊器，歷代相傳，謂之機衡，其所由來，有原統矣。而斯器設在候台，史官禁密，學者寡得聞見；穿鑿之徒，不解機衡之意，見有七政之言，因以為北斗七星，構造虛文，托之讖緯，史遷、班固，猶尚惑之。鄭玄有贍雅高遠之才，沈靜精妙之思，超然獨見，改正其說，聖人復出，不易斯言矣。 '蕃之所云如此。夫候審七曜，當以運行為體，設器擬象，焉得定其盈縮，推斯而言，未為通論。設使唐、虞之世，已有渾儀，涉曆三代，以為定準，後世聿遵，孰敢非革。而三天之儀，紛然莫辯，至揚雄方難蓋通渾。張衡為太史令，乃鑄銅制範。衡傳云：'其作渾天儀，考步陰陽，最為詳密。 '故知自衡以前，未有斯儀矣。蕃又云：'渾天遭秦之亂，師徒喪絕，而失其文，惟渾天儀尚在候台。 '案既非舜之璿玉，又不載今儀所造，以緯書為穿鑿，鄭玄為博實，偏信無據，未可承用。夫璿玉，貴美之名；機衡，詳細之目。所以先儒以為北斗七星，天綱運轉，聖人仰觀俯察，以審時變焉。」

Grand Master Xu Yuan wrote: "The armillary's origins are obscure. Wang Fan cited the Book of Yu: 'He attended the jade armillary and jade balance to align the seven regulators.' That is the present armillary tracking sun, moon, and the five planets. Zheng Xuan explained that the rotating part is the ji and the fixed standard the heng, both of jade. By watching their motions one judges whether a transfer of the Mandate is legitimate." The armillary descends from the Xihe astronomers, passed down as ji and heng—a lineage with real roots. Yet it sits on the observatory terrace under historians' lock and key, so few scholars ever see it; pedants who never grasped ji and heng seized on 'seven regulators' and invented a tale of the Big Dipper's seven stars, dressing it in prophecy—deceiving even Sima Qian and Ban Gu. Zheng Xuan, with his ample elegance and subtle penetration, saw through the error alone and set the record straight—a judgment no later sage would overturn. That was Wang Fan's account. Observing the seven luminaries requires tracking their motion, not a model globe—how can a device fix their waxing and waning? On that logic the argument fails. Had the armillary existed under Yao and Shun and served three dynasties as standard, who would dare alter it? Yet the three cosmologies remained tangled until Yang Xiong finally challenged canopy theory and linked it to the sphere model. As Grand Astrologer, Zhang Heng cast the bronze armillary. His biography says he built the Huntian armillary with the most meticulous yin-yang calculations. So the instrument did not exist before Zhang Heng. Wang Fan added that Qin's chaos wiped out Huntian texts and teachers, leaving only the armillary on the observatory terrace. It was neither Shun's jade instrument nor does any record name the maker; forcing meaning from apocrypha and treating Zheng Xuan as authoritative rests on no evidence and cannot stand. Xuan and yu are terms for precious jade; ji and heng are technical terms for its parts. Hence earlier scholars mistook them for the Big Dipper's seven stars, the pivot of heaven's motion, through which sages read the seasons."

史臣案：設器象，定其恆度，合之則吉，失之則凶，以之占察，有何不可。渾文廢絕，故有宣、蓋之論，其術並疏，故後人莫述。揚雄《法言》云：「或人問渾天於雄。雄曰：'落下閎營之，鮮于妄人度之，耿中丞象之，幾乎莫之違也'。」若問天形定體，渾儀疏密，則雄應以渾儀答之，而舉此三人以對者，則知此三人製造渾儀，以圖晷緯。問者蓋渾儀之疏密，非問渾儀之淺深也。以此而推，則西漢長安已有其器矣。將由喪亂亡失，故衡復鑄之乎？王蕃又記古渾儀尺度並張衡改制之文，則知斯器非衡始造，明矣。衡所造渾儀，傳至魏、晉，中華覆敗，沈沒戎虜；績、蕃舊器，亦不復存。晉安帝義熙十四年，高祖平長安，得衡舊器，儀狀雖舉，不綴經星七曜。

The historiographer notes: A model with fixed degrees that match heaven brings good fortune and mismatch brings ill—why should observation be impossible? With Huntian texts lost, Xuanye and Gaitian theories survived, but both are crude and later scholars abandoned them. Yang Xiong's Fayan records someone asking him about Huntian. He answered: 'Luo Xiahong designed it, Xianyu Wangren measured it, Censor Geng modeled it—hardly a point of dispute.'" Had the question been Heaven's shape or the instrument's scale, he would have described the armillary itself; naming these three men shows they built it to map the gnomon shadow and the celestial warp. The question concerned the instrument's precision, not cosmological depth. On this basis the armillary existed in Western Han Chang'an. Did Zhang Heng recast it only because war had destroyed the original? Wang Fan's record of earlier dimensions and Zhang Heng's redesign proves Heng did not invent the armillary. Heng's armillary passed to Wei and Jin, then was lost when China fell to the barbarians; and the globes of Lu Ji and Wang Fan vanished as well. In Yixi year 14 the High Ancestor took Chang'an and recovered Heng's armillary, but its fixed stars and planets no longer aligned.

文帝元嘉十三年，詔太史令錢樂之更鑄渾儀，徑六尺八分少，周一丈八尺二寸六分少，地在天內，立黃赤二道，南北二極規二十八宿，北斗極星，五分為一度，置日月五星于黃道之上，置立漏刻，以水轉儀，昏明中星，與天相應。十七年，又作小渾天，徑二尺二寸，周六尺六寸，以分為一度，安二十八宿中外宮，以白黑珠及黃三色為三家星，日月五星，悉居黃道。

In the thirteenth year of Yuanjia Emperor Wen ordered Qian Lezhi to cast a new armillary six chi eight fen in diameter and one zhang eight chi around, with Earth at the center, ecliptic and equator, polar rings, twenty-eight lodges, the Dipper and pole star, five fen per degree, sun moon and planets on the ecliptic, clepsydra drive, and stars matching the sky at every hour. In year 17 he added a small globe two chi two cun across, one fen per degree, with inner and outer palaces marked in white, black, and yellow for the three schools, all luminaries on the ecliptic.

蓋天之術，云出周公旦訪之殷商，蓋假託之說也。其書號曰周髀。髀者，表也，周天之數也。其術云：「天如覆蓋，地如覆盆，地中高而四隤，日月隨天轉運，隱地之高，以為晝夜也。天地相去凡八萬里，天地之中，高於外衡六萬里；地上之高，高於天之外衡二萬里也。」或問蓋天於揚雄。揚雄曰：「蓋哉！蓋哉！」難其八事。鄭玄又難其二事。為蓋天之學者，不能通也。劉向《五紀》說，《夏曆》以為列宿日月皆西移，列宿疾而日次之，月最遲。故日與列宿昏俱入西方；後九十一日，是宿在北方；又九十一日，是宿在東方；九十一日，在南方。此明日行遲於列宿也。月生三日，日入而月見西方；至十五日，日入而月見東方；將晦，日未出，乃見東方。以此明月行之遲於日，而皆西行也。向難之以《鴻範傳》曰：「晦而月見西方，謂之朓。朓，疾也。朔而月見東方，謂之側匿。側匿，遲不敢進也。星辰西行，史官謂之逆行。」此三說，《夏曆》皆違之，跡其意，好異者之所作也。

Gaitian theory claims the Duke of Zhou learned it from the Shang—a likely fabrication. The text is called the Zhou Bi. Bi means the gnomon—the measure of Heaven's circuit. It holds that heaven is an inverted lid and earth an upturned bowl, highest at the center and sloping outward; sun and moon ride heaven's rotation and hide behind earth's rim to make day and night. Heaven and Earth stand 80,000 li apart; at the world's center the land rises 60,000 li above the outer winter circle; the central plain stands 20,000 li above heaven's outer ring." Someone asked Yang Xiong about canopy heaven. Yang Xiong replied: "A canopy indeed! A canopy indeed!" He refuted it in eight arguments. Zheng Xuan added two more objections. Gaitian scholars could not answer them. Liu Xiang's Five Regulators reports that the Xia Calendar held stars, sun, and moon all drift westward—stars fastest, sun slower, moon slowest. At dusk sun and stars set together in the west; ninety-one days later that lodge stands in the north; another ninety-one days and it is in the east; ninety-one days more, in the south. This proves the sun moves slower than the fixed stars. Three days after new moon the sun sets while the moon appears in the west; by the fifteenth the sun sets as the moon rises in the east; near last quarter it appears in the east before sunrise. This shows the moon moves slower than the sun, yet all drift westward. Xiang objected with the Hongfan Commentary: "A moon visible in the west at last quarter is called tiao—swift. Tiao means swift. A moon seen in the east at new moon is ce ni—hiding shyly. Ce ni means slow, reluctant to advance. When planets appear to move westward, historians call it retrograde motion." All three contradict the Xia Calendar and bear the marks of contrarian theorizing.

晉成帝咸康中，會稽虞喜造《安天論》，以為「天高窮於無窮，地深測於不測。地有居靜之體，天有常安之形。論其大體，當相覆冒，方則俱方，圓則俱圓，無方圓不同之義也。」喜族祖河間太守聳又立《穹天論》云：「天形穹隆，當如雞子幕，其際周接四海之表，浮乎元氣之上。」而吳太常姚信造《昕天論》曰：「嘗覽《漢書》云：冬至日在牽牛，去極遠；夏至日在東井，去極近。欲以推日之長短，信以太極處二十八宿之中央，雖有遠近，不能相倍。」今《昕天》之說，以為「冬至極低，而天運近南。故日去人遠，而斗去人近；北天氣至，故冰寒也。夏至極起，而天運近北，而斗去人遠，日去人近，南天氣至，故炎熱也。極之立時，日行地中淺，故夜短；天去地高，故晝長也。極之低時，日行地中深，故夜長；天去地下淺，故晝短也。然則天行寒依于渾，夏依于蓋也。」按此說應作「軒昂」之「軒」，而作「昕」，所未詳也。凡三說，皆好異之談，失之遠矣。凡天文經星，常宿中外宮，前史已詳。今惟記魏文帝黃初以來星變為《天文志》，以續司馬彪云。

Under Emperor Cheng's Xiankang reign, Yu Xi of Kuaiji wrote the Secure Heaven Treatise, arguing that heaven rises without limit and earth sinks beyond measure. Earth rests motionless while heaven holds its shape in peace. In substance they must match—both square or both round, not one of each." Xi's kinsman Song, Administrator of Hejian, proposed Vault Heaven: heaven arches like an eggshell over the Four Seas, floating on primordial vapor." Wu's Yao Xin wrote Dawn Heaven, citing the Book of Han: at winter solstice the sun stands in Lead Ox, farthest from the pole; at summer solstice in Eastern Well, nearest the pole. To explain seasonal length he placed the pole at the center of the twenty-eight lodges, holding that distances could not differ by half." Dawn Heaven holds that at winter solstice the pole is lowest and heaven's motion leans south, so the sun stands far from observers while the Dipper draws near; northern qi arrives and brings ice and cold. At summer solstice the pole rises, heaven leans north, the Dipper recedes and the sun draws near, southern qi brings blazing heat. When the pole stands high the sun's underground path is shallow and nights are short; heaven stands far above earth and days are long. When the pole is low the underground path deepens and nights lengthen; heaven lies close above and days shorten. Thus winter follows Huntian theory and summer follows Gaitian." The title should use xuan, "lofty," not xin—an unexplained substitution. All three are contrarian fantasies, wide of the mark. Fixed stars and the inner and outer palaces are fully treated in earlier histories. This treatise records only stellar anomalies from Wei Emperor Wen's Huangchu reign onward, continuing Sima Biao's work.

魏文帝黃初三年九月甲辰，客星見太微左掖門內。占曰：「客星出太微，國有兵喪。」十月，孫權叛命，帝自南征，前驅臨江，破其將呂範等。是後累有征役。七年五月，文帝崩。

In the third year of Huangchu, on the jiachen day of the ninth month, a guest star appeared inside the Left Screen Gate of the Supreme Subtlety constellation. Prognostication reads: "A guest star in Supreme Subtlety foretells war and mourning for the state." In the tenth month Sun Quan rebelled; the Emperor marched south in person, his vanguard reaching the Yangzi and defeating Lü Fan and other generals. Campaigns followed one after another. In the fifth month of year seven Emperor Wen died.

黃初四年三月癸卯，月犯心大星。十二月丙子，月又犯心大星。占曰：「心為天王，王者惡之。」七年五月，文帝崩。黃初四年六月甲申，太白晝見。五年十一月辛卯，太白又晝見。案劉向《五紀論》曰：「太白少陰，弱，不得專行，故以己未為界，不得經天而行。經天則晝見，其占為兵，為喪，為不臣，為更王。強國弱，小國強。」是時，孫權受魏爵號，而稱兵距守。七年五月，文帝崩。八月，吳遂圍江夏，寇襄陽，魏江夏太守文聘固守得全。大將軍司馬懿救襄陽，斬吳將張霸。

the fourth year of Huangchu, third month, day guimao: the moon crossed the great star of Heart. Twelfth month, day bingzi: the moon again crossed the great star of Heart. Prognostication reads: "Heart is the celestial king—rulers dread its violation." In the fifth month of year seven Emperor Wen died. the fourth year of Huangchu, sixth month, day jiashen: Venus appeared in daylight. In the fifth year, on the xinmao day of the eleventh month, Venus again appeared in daylight. Liu Xiang's Five Regulators Treatise explains: "Venus is lesser yin and weak, unable to travel alone; bounded by ji and wei it cannot cross the sky. When it crosses the sky it appears by day, portending war, mourning, treason, and dynastic change. Great powers weaken while lesser ones grow strong." Sun Quan had accepted Wei titles yet took up arms and held his ground. In the fifth month of year seven Emperor Wen died. In the eighth month Wu besieged Jiangxia and raided Xiangyang; Wei's Wen Pin, Administrator of Jiangxia, held the city intact. Grand General Sima Yi relieved Xiangyang and killed Wu's Zhang Ba.

黃初四年十一月，月暈北斗。占曰：「有大喪，赦天下。」七年五月，文帝崩，明帝即位，大赦天下。黃初五年十月，歲星入太微，逆行積百三十九日乃出。占曰：「五星入太微，從右入三十日以上，人主有大憂。」一曰：「有赦至。」七年五月，文帝崩，明帝即位，大赦天下。

the fourth year of Huangchu, eleventh month: a lunar halo encircled the Big Dipper. Prognostication reads: "Great mourning follows; amnesty for the realm." In the fifth month of year seven Emperor Wen died; Emperor Ming ascended and proclaimed a general amnesty. the fifth year of Huangchu, tenth month: Jupiter entered Supreme Subtlety, retrograded for 139 days, then emerged. Prognostication reads: "When a planet enters Supreme Subtlety from the right for more than thirty days, the ruler faces grave anxiety." Another reading: "Amnesty will follow." In the fifth month of year seven Emperor Wen died; Emperor Ming ascended and proclaimed a general amnesty.

黃初六年五月十六日壬戌，熒惑入太微，至二十六日壬申，與歲星相及，俱犯右執法；至二十七日癸酉，乃出。占曰：「從右入三十日以上，人主有大憂。」又「日月五星犯左右執法，大臣有憂。」一曰：「執法者誅。金火尤甚。」十一月，皇子東武陽王鑒薨。七年正月，驃騎將軍曹洪免為庶人。四月，征南大將軍夏侯尚薨。五月，文帝崩。《蜀記》稱：「明帝問黃權曰：'天下鼎立，何地為正？ '對曰：'當驗天文。往熒惑守心，而文皇帝崩，吳、蜀無事，此其微也。」案三國史，並無熒惑守心之文，宜是入太微。黃初六年十月乙未，有星孛於少微，曆軒轅。案占，孛、彗異狀，其殃一也。為兵喪除舊佈新之象，餘災不盡，為旱凶饑暴疾。長大見久災深；短小見速災淺。是時帝軍廣陵，辛丑，親禦甲胄，跨馬觀兵。明年五月，文帝崩。

the sixth year of Huangchu, fifth month, day 16 renxu: Mars entered Supreme Subtlety; by day 26 renshen it met Jupiter, both crossing the Right Enforcer; On the twenty-seventh day, day guiyou, it finally emerged. Prognostication reads: "When it enters from the right for more than thirty days, the ruler faces grave anxiety." Also: "When the sun, moon, or planets cross the Left or Right Enforcer, senior ministers face danger." Another reading: "Those who enforce the law are put to death. Venus and Mars made the omen especially grave." In the eleventh month Prince Jian of Dongwuyang died. In the first month of year seven Fast Cavalry General Cao Hong was stripped of rank and reduced to commoner status. In the fourth month General Who Conquers the South Xiahou Shang died. In the fifth month Emperor Wen died. The Records of Shu report that Emperor Ming asked Huang Quan: "Three kingdoms divide the realm—which land holds legitimate sovereignty? He answered: "Examine the heavens. When Mars last held Heart, Emperor Wen died while Wu and Shu were untouched—that is the subtle point." Checking the Three Kingdoms records, none mention Mars guarding Heart; he likely meant Mars entering Supreme Subtlety. the sixth year of Huangchu, tenth month, day yiwei: a comet appeared at Lesser Restraint and passed through Chariot Pivot. Per astrological texts, comets and broom stars differ in shape yet share the same portents. They signal war and mourning, overturning the old and installing the new; if the augury is not fully spent, drought, disaster, famine, and plague follow. A large, long-lasting apparition means deeper, longer calamity; a small, brief one means swift and shallow harm. The emperor was camped at Guangling; on day xinchou he donned armor, mounted his horse, and inspected the troops. The following fifth month Emperor Wen died.

魏明帝太和四年十一月壬戌，太白犯歲星。占曰：「太白犯五星，有大兵；犯列宿，為小兵。」五年三月，諸葛亮以大眾寇天水，遣大將軍司馬懿距退之。太和五年五月，熒惑犯房。占曰：「房四星，股肱臣將相位也。月五星犯守之，將相有憂。」七月，車騎將軍張郃追諸葛亮，為其所害。十二月，太尉華歆薨。太和五年十一月乙酉，月犯軒轅大星。占曰：「女主憂。」十二月甲辰，月犯鎮星。占曰：「女主當之。」六年三月乙亥，月又犯軒轅大星。青龍二年十一月乙丑，月又犯鎮星。三年正月，太后郭氏崩。

Wei Emperor Ming, Taihe 4, eleventh month, day renxu: Venus crossed Jupiter. Prognostication reads: "When Venus crosses a planet, major war erupts; crossing a constellation lodge means lesser conflict." Taihe 5, third month: Zhuge Liang attacked Tianshui with a large force; Grand General Sima Yi was dispatched and drove him back. Taihe 5, fifth month: Mars crossed Encampment. Prognostication reads: "Encampment's four stars govern the ruler's chief ministers and the posts of general and chancellor. When the moon or planets cross or hold it, generals and chancellors face danger." In the seventh month Chariots-and-Cavalry General Zhang He pursued Zhuge Liang and was slain. In the twelfth month Grand Commandant Hua Xin died. Taihe 5, eleventh month, day yiyou: the moon crossed the great star of Chariot Pivot. Prognostication reads: "The empress faces danger." Twelfth month, day jiachen: the moon crossed Saturn. Prognostication reads: "The empress will suffer the blow." Taihe 6, third month, day yihai: the moon again crossed the great star of Chariot Pivot. Qinglong 2, eleventh month, day yichou: the moon again crossed Saturn. Qinglong 3, first month: Empress Dowager Guo died.

明帝青龍二年二月己未，太白犯熒惑。占曰：「大兵起，有大戰。」是年四月，諸葛亮據渭南，吳亦起兵應之，魏東西奔命。九月，亮卒，軍退，將帥分爭，為魏所破。案占，太白所犯在南，南國敗，在北，北國敗，此宜在熒惑南也。青龍二年三月辛卯，月犯輿鬼。輿鬼主斬殺。占曰：「民多病，國有憂，又有大臣憂。」是年夏，大疫；冬，又大病，至三年春乃止。正月，太后郭氏崩。四年五月，司徒董昭薨。青龍二年五月丁亥，太白晝見，積三十餘日。以晷度推之，非秦、魏，則楚也。是時諸葛亮據渭南，司馬懿與相持。孫權寇合肥，又遣陸議、孫韶等入淮、沔，帝親東征。蜀本秦地，則為秦、晉及楚兵悉起應占。青龍二年七月己巳，月犯楗閉。占曰：「天子崩，又為火災。」三年七月，崇華殿災。景初三年正月，明帝崩。青龍二年十月戊寅，月犯太白。占曰：「人君死，又為兵。」景初元年七月，公孫淵叛。二年正月，遣司馬懿討之。三年正月，明帝崩。

Emperor Ming, Qinglong 2, second month, day jiwei: Venus crossed Mars. Prognostication reads: "Major war erupts; a great battle follows." That year in the fourth month Zhuge Liang held the south Wei River; Wu mobilized in support, and Wei rushed troops east and west. In the ninth month Liang died; the army retreated, its commanders turned on one another, and Wei crushed them. Per the texts, when Venus strikes a target in the south the southern state falls, in the north the northern state falls—and here Venus should have lain south of Mars. Qinglong 2, third month, day xinmao: the moon crossed Carriage Ghost. Carriage Ghost governs execution and slaughter. Prognostication reads: "The people sicken widely; the state and its senior ministers face disaster." That summer a great plague struck; in winter another wave of disease raged until it abated in the spring of year three. In the first month Empress Dowager Guo died. Qinglong 4, fifth month: Minister of Works Dong Zhao died. Qinglong 2, fifth month, day dinghai: Venus appeared in daylight for more than thirty days. By gnomon reckoning the omen fell not on Qin or Wei but on Chu. Zhuge Liang held the south Wei River while Sima Yi locked horns with him. Sun Quan attacked Hefei and sent Lu Xun, Sun Shao, and others against the Huai and Han; the emperor marched east in person. Shu lay in the old Qin domain, and armies of Qin, Jin, and Chu all took the field in fulfillment of the omen. Qinglong 2, seventh month, day jisi: the moon crossed Door Bolt. Prognostication reads: "The emperor dies; fire disaster follows." Qinglong 3, seventh month: Chonghua Palace burned. Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died. Qinglong 2, tenth month, day wuyin: the moon crossed Venus. Prognostication reads: "The ruler dies; war follows." Jingchu 1, seventh month: Gongsun Yuan rebelled. Jingchu 2, first month: Sima Yi was dispatched to suppress him. Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died.

蜀後主建興十二年，諸葛亮帥大眾伐魏，屯于渭南，有長星赤而芒角，自東北，西南流投亮營，三投再還，往大還小。占曰：「兩軍相當，有大流星來走軍上及墜軍中者，皆破敗之征也。」九月，亮卒於軍，焚營而退。群帥交惡，多相誅殘。

In Jianxing 12 the Shu emperor's general Zhuge Liang marched a great army against Wei and camped on the south Wei River; a long red star with blazing rays swept from the northeast toward the southwest into his camp—three times it plunged in and twice retreated, each pass diminishing. Prognostication reads: "When armies face each other, a great meteor racing over the lines or falling into camp always presages defeat." In the ninth month Liang died in camp; the army burned its fortifications and retreated. The generals fell to feuding and killed one another in droves.

魏明帝青龍三年六月丁未，鎮星犯井鉞。四年閏四月乙巳，復犯。戊戌，太白又犯。占曰：「凡月五星犯井鉞，悉為兵起。」一曰：「斧鉞用，大臣誅。」景初元年，公孫淵叛，司馬懿討滅之。青龍三年七月己丑，鎮星犯東井。四年三月癸卯，在參，又還犯之。占曰：「鎮星入井，大人憂。行近距為行陰，其占大水，五穀不成。」景初元年夏，大水，傷五穀。九月，皇后毛氏崩。三年正月，明帝崩。青龍三年十月壬申，太白晝見在尾，曆二百餘日恆見。占曰：「尾為燕，燕臣強，有兵。」青龍四年三月己巳，太白與月俱加丙，晝見。月犯太白。景初元年七月辛卯，太白又晝見，積二百八十餘日。占悉同上。是時公孫淵自立為燕王，署置百官，發兵距守，遣司馬懿討滅之。青龍三年十二月戊辰，月犯鉤鈐。占曰：「王者憂。」景初三年正月，明帝崩。

Wei Emperor Ming, Qinglong 3, sixth month, day dingwei: Saturn crossed Well Axe. Qinglong 4, intercalary fourth month, day yisi: it crossed again. Day wuxu: Venus crossed it again. Prognostication reads: "Whenever the moon or planets cross Well Axe, war erupts." Another reading: "The axes are drawn; great ministers are put to death." In Jingchu 1 Gongsun Yuan rebelled and Sima Yi crushed him. Qinglong 3, seventh month, day jichou: Saturn crossed Eastern Well. Qinglong 4, third month, day guimao: while in Three Stars it swung back and crossed again. Prognostication reads: "When Saturn enters the Well, exalted persons face disaster. Drawing near is called traveling in yin, portending great floods and failed harvests." Jingchu 1 summer brought catastrophic floods that ruined the crops. In the ninth month Empress Mao died. Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died. Qinglong 3, tenth month, day renshen: Venus appeared by day in Tail and remained visible for more than two hundred days. Prognostication reads: "Tail corresponds to Yan—Yan's ministers grow strong and war follows." Qinglong 4, third month, day jisi: Venus and the moon both reached the bing quadrant and shone by day. The moon crossed Venus. Jingchu 1, seventh month, day xinmao: Venus again appeared by day for more than 280 days. The prognostications matched those above. Gongsun Yuan had declared himself King of Yan, installed a full court, and mobilized for defense until Sima Yi was sent and destroyed him. Qinglong 3, twelfth month, day wuchen: the moon crossed Hooked Halberd. Prognostication reads: "The ruler faces disaster." Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died.

青龍四年五月壬寅，太白犯畢左股第一星。占曰：「畢為邊兵，又主刑罰。」九月，涼州塞外胡阿畢師侵犯諸國，西域校尉張就討之，斬首捕虜萬許人。青龍四年七月甲寅，太白犯軒轅大星。占曰：「女主憂。」景初元年，皇后毛氏崩。青龍四年十月甲申，有星孛於大辰，長三尺。乙酉，又孛於東方。十一月己亥，彗星見，犯宦者天紀星。占曰：「大辰為天王，天下有喪。」劉向《五紀論》曰：「《春秋》星孛於東方，不言宿者，不加宿也。」宦者在天市為中外有兵，天紀為地震。孛彗主兵喪。景初元年六月，地震。九月，吳將硃然圍江夏，荊州刺史胡質擊走之。皇后毛氏崩。二年正月，討公孫淵。三年正月，明帝崩。

Qinglong 4, fifth month, day renyin: Venus crossed the first star of Net's left thigh. Prognostication reads: "Net governs frontier warfare and punishment." In the ninth month the Liangzhou tribesman Abi Shi raided the western kingdoms; Protector of the Western Regions Zhang Jiu crushed him, killing or capturing some ten thousand men. Qinglong 4, seventh month, day jiayin: Venus crossed the great star of Chariot Pivot. Prognostication reads: "The empress faces danger." Jingchu 1: Empress Mao died. Qinglong 4, tenth month, day jiashen: a comet appeared at Great Aries, three feet long. Day yiyou: another comet appeared in the east. Eleventh month, day jihai: a comet appeared crossing the Eunuchs star of Celestial Regulation. Prognostication reads: "Great Aries is the celestial king—mourning falls on the realm." Liu Xiang's Five Regulators Treatise notes: "When the Spring and Autumn Annals records a comet in the east without naming its lodge, it means the lodge was not yet fixed." The Eunuchs star in Celestial Market foretells armies at court and abroad; Celestial Regulation foretells earthquakes. Comets presage war and mourning. Jingchu 1, sixth month: an earthquake struck. In the ninth month Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Jiangxia; Jing's provincial inspector Hu Zhi repulsed him. Empress Mao died. Jingchu 2, first month: the court marched against Gongsun Yuan. Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died.

景初二年二月癸丑，月犯心距星，又犯中央大星。五月己亥，又犯心距星及中央大星。閏月癸丑，月又犯心、中央大星。按占，「大星為天王，前為太子，後為皇子。犯大星，王者惡之。犯前星，太子有憂。犯後星，庶子有憂。」三年正月，帝崩，太子立，卒見廢為齊王。正始四年，秦王詢薨。景初二年八月彗星見張，長三尺，逆西行，四十一日滅。占曰：「為兵喪。張，周分野，洛邑惡之。」其十月，斬公孫淵。明年正月，明帝崩。景初二年十月甲午，月犯箕。占曰：「軍將死。」正始元年四月，車騎將軍黃權薨。景初二年，司馬懿圍公孫淵于襄平。八月丙寅夜，有大流星長數十丈，色白有芒鬣，從首山北流墜襄平城東南。占曰：「圍城而有流星來走城上及墜城中者破。」又曰：「星墜，當其下有戰場。」又曰：「凡星所墜，國易姓。」九月，淵突圍，走至星墜所被斬，屠城坑其眾。景初二年十月癸巳，客星見危，逆行在離宮北，騰蛇南。甲辰，犯宗星。己酉，滅。占曰：「客星所出有兵喪。虛危為宗廟，又為墳墓。客星近離宮，則宮中將有大喪，就先君於宗廟，皆王者崩殞之象也。」三年正月，明帝崩。正始二年五月，吳將硃然圍樊城，司馬懿率眾距卻之。

Jingchu 2, second month, day guichou: the moon crossed Heart's margin star and then crossed its central great star. Fifth month, day jihai: it crossed Heart's margin star and central great star again. Intercalary month, day guichou: the moon again crossed Heart and its central great star. Per the prognostications: "The central star is the celestial king; the star in front is the crown prince; the star behind is an imperial son. Crossing the great star—rulers dread it. Crossing the front star—the crown prince faces danger. Crossing the rear star—imperial sons face danger." Jingchu 3, first month: the emperor died and the crown prince took the throne, only to be deposed as Prince of Qi. Zhengshi 4: Prince of Qin Xun died. Jingchu 2, eighth month: a comet appeared in Extended Net, three feet long, moving retrograde westward; it faded after forty-one days. Prognostication reads: "War and mourning follow. Extended Net marks Zhou's domain—Luoyang bears the omen." That tenth month Gongsun Yuan was executed. The following first month Emperor Ming died. Jingchu 2, tenth month, day jiawu: the moon crossed Winnowing Basket. Prognostication reads: "An army commander will die." Zhengshi 1, fourth month: General of Chariots and Cavalry Huang Quan died. Jingchu 2: Sima Yi besieged Gongsun Yuan at Xiangping. On the night of the eighth month's day bingyin a great meteor tens of fathoms long—white, with blazing rays—swept north from Mount Shou and fell southeast of Xiangping. Prognostication reads: "When a city is under siege, a meteor racing over its walls or falling inside means the city will fall." Also: "Where a star falls, a battlefield lies below." Also: "Wherever a star falls, a dynasty changes hands." In the ninth month Yuan broke out, fled to the place where the star had fallen, and was killed; the city was sacked and its people put to the sword and buried in mass graves. Jingchu 2, tenth month, day guisi: a guest star appeared in Rooftop, moving retrograde between Retirement Palace to the north and Coiled Serpent to the south. Day jiachen: it crossed the Ancestor star. Day jiyou: it vanished. Prognostication reads: "Where a guest star appears, war and mourning follow. Emptiness and Rooftop govern the ancestral temple—and also tombs. A guest star near Retirement Palace foretells great mourning within the palace and rites for departed sovereigns at the ancestral temple—all omens of royal death." Jingchu 3, first month: Emperor Ming died. Zhengshi 2, fifth month: Wu general Zhu Ran besieged Fancheng; Sima Yi led an army and repulsed him.

正始二年九月癸酉，月犯輿鬼西北星。西北星主金。三年二月丁未，又犯西南星。西南星主布帛。占曰：「有錢令。」一曰：「大臣憂。」三年三月，太尉滿寵薨。四年正月，帝加元服，賜群臣錢各有差。

Zhengshi 2, ninth month, day guiyou: the moon crossed the northwest star of Ghost. The northwest star governs gold. Zhengshi 3, second month, day dingwei: it crossed the southwest star again. The southwest star governs cloth and silks. Prognostication reads: "A monetary edict will issue." Alternatively: "Grand ministers face danger." Zhengshi 3, third month: Grand Commandant Man Chong died. Zhengshi 4, first month: the emperor came of age, and the court granted cash to the ministers in varying sums.

正始九年七月癸丑，鎮星犯楗閉。占曰：「王者不宜出宮下殿。」明年，車駕謁陵，司馬懿奏誅曹爽等，天子野宿，於是失勢。

Zhengshi 9, seventh month, day guichou: Saturn crossed Door Bolt. Prognostication reads: "The sovereign should not leave the palace or step down from the throne hall." The next year the emperor went to pay respects at the tombs; Sima Yi moved to execute Cao Shuang and his faction; the emperor camped in the open—and from that moment lost all real power.

魏齊王嘉平二年十月丙申，月犯輿鬼。占曰：「國有憂。」一曰：「大臣憂。」三年四月戊寅，月犯東井。占曰：「軍將死。」一曰：「國有憂。」五月，王淩、楚王彪等誅。七月，皇后甄氏崩。

Under Wei emperor Cao Fang, Jiaping 2, tenth month, day bingshen: the moon crossed Ghost. Prognostication reads: "The realm faces trouble." Alternatively: "Grand ministers face danger." Jiaping 3, fourth month, day wuyin: the moon crossed Eastern Well. Prognostication reads: "An army commander will die." Alternatively: "The realm faces trouble." In the fifth month Wang Ling, Prince of Chu Biao, and others were put to death. In the seventh month Empress Zhen died.

嘉平三年五月甲寅，月犯距星。占曰：「將軍死。」一曰：「為兵。」是月，王淩誅。四年三月，吳將硃然、硃異為寇，鎮東將軍諸葛誕破走之。嘉平三年七月己巳，月犯輿鬼。九月乙己，又犯。四年十一月丁未，又犯鬼積屍。五年七月丙午，月又犯鬼西北星。占曰：「國有憂。」正元元年，李豐等誅，皇后張氏廢。九月，帝廢為齊王。齊王嘉平三年十月癸未，熒惑犯亢南星。占曰：「大臣有亂。」正元元年二月，李豐等謀亂誅。嘉平三年十一月癸未，有星孛于營室，西行積九十日滅。占曰：「有兵喪。室為後宮，後宮且有亂。」四年二月丁酉，彗星見西方，在胃，長五六丈，色白，芒南指貫參，積二十日滅。五年十一月，彗星又見軫，長五丈，在太微左執法西，東南指，積百九十日滅。按占，「胃，兗州之分，參白虎主兵，太微天子廷，執法為執政，孛彗為兵，除舊佈新之象。」正元元年二月，李豐、豐弟兗州刺史翼、後父光祿大夫張緝等謀亂，皆誅，皇后亦廢。九月，帝廢為齊王，高貴鄉公代立。

Jiaping 3, fifth month, day jiayin: the moon crossed the margin star. Prognostication reads: "A general will die." Alternatively: "War follows." That very month Wang Ling was put to death. Jiaping 4, third month: Wu generals Zhu Ran and Zhu Yi raided the border; General Who Pacifies the East Zhuge Dan routed them. Jiaping 3, seventh month, day jisi: the moon crossed Ghost. Ninth month, day yiji: it crossed again. Jiaping 4, eleventh month, day dingwei: it crossed Ghost's Heap of Corpses. Jiaping 5, seventh month, day bingwu: the moon again crossed Ghost's northwest star. Prognostication reads: "The realm faces trouble." Zhengyuan 1: Li Feng and his allies were executed and Empress Zhang was deposed. In the ninth month the emperor was deposed to become Prince of Qi. Under the deposed Prince of Qi, Jiaping 3, tenth month, day guiwei: Mars crossed Neck's southern star. Prognostication reads: "Grand ministers will rebel." Zhengyuan 1, second month: Li Feng and his co-conspirators were executed for treason. Jiaping 3, eleventh month, day guiwei: a comet appeared in Encampment, moving westward for ninety days before it faded. Prognostication reads: "War and mourning follow. Encampment governs the inner palace—and turmoil within the harem is at hand." Jiaping 4, second month, day dingyou: a comet appeared in the west in Stomach, five or six fathoms long and white; its tail pointed south through Triaster and it remained visible for twenty days. Jiaping 5, eleventh month: another comet appeared in Chariot Shaft, five fathoms long, west of the Left Enforcer in Supreme Subtlety and pointing southeast; it lingered for one hundred ninety days. Per the prognostications: "Stomach marks Yanzhou; Triaster, seat of the White Tiger, governs war; Supreme Subtlety is the imperial court and the Enforcer the chief minister; comets herald armies—the omen of sweeping away the old and installing the new." Zhengyuan 1, second month: Li Feng, his brother Yanzhou inspector Yi, the empress's father Zhang Ji, and their co-conspirators were executed for treason, and the empress was deposed as well. In the ninth month the emperor was deposed as Prince of Qi and the Duke of Gaoguixiang ascended the throne.

嘉平五年六月庚辰，月犯箕。占曰：「軍將死。」正元元年正月，鎮東將軍母丘儉反，兵敗死。嘉平五年六月戊午，太白犯角。占曰：「群臣謀不成。」正元元年，李豐等謀泄，悉誅。嘉平五年七月，月犯井鉞。正元元年二月，李豐等誅。蜀將薑維攻隴西，車騎將軍郭淮討破之。嘉平五年十一月癸酉，月犯東井距星。占曰：「軍將死。」至六年正月，鎮東將軍豫州刺史毋丘儉、前將軍揚州刺史文欽反，被誅。

Jiaping 5, sixth month, day gengchen: the moon crossed Winnowing Basket. Prognostication reads: "An army commander will die." Zhengyuan 1, first month: General Who Pacifies the East Guanqiu Jian rebelled, was defeated, and died. Jiaping 5, sixth month, day wuwu: Venus crossed Horn. Prognostication reads: "Court conspiracies will fail." Zhengyuan 1: Li Feng's conspiracy was exposed and all were executed. Jiaping 5, seventh month: the moon crossed Well Axe. Zhengyuan 1, second month: Li Feng and his allies were executed. Shu general Jiang Wei attacked Longxi; General of Chariots and Cavalry Guo Huai defeated him. Jiaping 5, eleventh month, day guiyou: the moon crossed Eastern Well's margin star. Prognostication reads: "An army commander will die." By Jiaping 6, first month: General Who Pacifies the East and Yu provincial inspector Guanqiu Jian, together with Former General and Yang provincial inspector Wen Qin, rebelled and were put to death.

魏高貴鄉公正元元年十一月，有白氣出斗側，廣數丈，長竟天。王肅曰：「蚩尤之旗也，東南其有亂乎！」二年正月，毋丘儉等據淮南以叛，大將軍司馬師討平之。案占，「蚩尤旗見，王者征伐四方。」自後又征淮南，西平巴蜀。是歲，吳主孫亮五鳳元年，斗牛，吳、越分。案占：「有兵喪，除舊佈新之象也。」太平三年，孫綝盛兵圍宮，廢亮為會稽王，孫休代立，是其應也。故國志又書于吳。由是淮南江東同揚州地，故于時變見吳、楚之分。則魏之淮南，多與吳同災，是以毋丘儉以孛為己應，遂起兵而敗，又其應也。後三年，即魏甘露二年，諸葛誕又反淮南，吳遣硃異救之。及城陷，誕眾吳兵死沒各數萬人，猶前長星之應也。高貴鄉公正元二年二月戊午，熒惑犯東井北轅西頭第一星。占曰：「群臣有家坐罪者。」甘露元年，諸葛誕族滅。

Under Wei emperor Cao Mao, Zhengyuan 1, eleventh month: white vapor rose beside the Dipper, several fathoms wide, streaking the length of the sky. Wang Su said: "That is Chiyou's banner—surely the southeast will erupt in rebellion!" Zhengyuan 2, first month: Guanqiu Jian seized Huainan in revolt; Grand General Sima Shi crushed the rebellion. Per the prognostications: "When Chiyou's banner appears, the sovereign marches to war on every front." Thereafter the court campaigned again in Huainan and pacified Ba and Shu in the west. That same year Sun Liang of Wu entered his Wufeng reign: the Dipper and Ox govern Wu and Yue's domain. Per the prognostications: "War and mourning follow—the omen of sweeping away the old and installing the new." In Taiping 3, Sun Chen marched on the palace, deposed Sun Liang as King of Kuaiji, and installed Sun Xiu in his place—the omen fulfilled. Hence the Records of the Three Kingdoms places the entry under Wu as well. Because Huainan and Jiangdong both lay within Yang Province, the portents of that era clustered in the Wu and Chu domains. Wei's Huainan and Wu often suffered the same omens; Guanqiu Jian read the comet as his personal sign, rose in revolt, and was crushed—yet another fulfillment. Three years on—in Wei Ganlu 2—Zhuge Dan rebelled again in Huainan, and Wu dispatched Zhu Yi to his aid. When the city fell, tens of thousands on both sides—Dan's men and Wu's relief force—were killed, fulfilling the earlier comet's warning. Under Cao Mao, Zhengyuan 2, second month, day wuwu: Mars crossed the westernmost star at the northern yoke of Eastern Well. Prognostication reads: "Ministers will see their families punished for capital offenses." In Ganlu 1, Zhuge Dan's entire clan was annihilated.

吳孫亮太平元年九月壬辰，太白犯南斗，《吳志》所書也。占曰：「太白犯斗，國有兵，大臣有反者。」其明年，諸葛誕反。又明年，孫琳廢亮，吳、魏並有兵事也。

Under Wu's Sun Liang, Taiping 1, ninth month, day renchen: Venus crossed Southern Dipper, according to the Wu Annals. Prognostication reads: "When Venus strikes the Dipper, armies rise and high ministers turn traitor." The following year Zhuge Dan rebelled. The year after that Sun Chen deposed Sun Liang, and both Wu and Wei were at war.

魏高貴鄉公甘露元年七月乙卯，熒惑犯井鉞。壬戌，月又犯鉞星。二年八月壬子，歲星犯井鉞。九月庚寅，歲星又逆行乘鉞星。三年，諸葛誕夷滅。甘露元年八月辛亥，月犯箕。占曰：「軍將死。」九月丁巳，月犯東井。占曰：「軍將死。」二年，諸葛誕誅。

Under Wei emperor Cao Mao, Ganlu 1, seventh month, day yimao: Mars crossed Well Axe. On day renxu the moon crossed the Axe star again. Ganlu 2, eighth month, day renzi: Jupiter crossed Well Axe. Ninth month, day gengyin: Jupiter retrograded and overtook the Axe star. In Ganlu 3 Zhuge Dan and his clan were annihilated. Ganlu 1, eighth month, day xinhai: the moon crossed Winnowing Basket. Prognostication reads: "An army commander will die." Ninth month, day dingsi: the moon crossed Eastern Well. Prognostication reads: "A field commander will die." In Ganlu 2 Zhuge Dan was put to death.

甘露三年三月庚子，太白犯東井。占曰：「國失政，大臣為亂。」是夜，歲星又犯東井。占曰：「兵起。」至景元元年，高貴鄉公敗。甘露三年八月壬辰，歲星犯輿鬼質星。占曰：「斧質用，大臣誅。」甘露四年四月甲申，歲星又犯輿鬼東南星。占曰：「鬼東南星主兵。木入鬼，大臣誅。」景元元年，高貴鄉公敗，殺尚書王經。

Ganlu 3, third month, day gengzi: Venus crossed Eastern Well. Prognostication reads: "The realm falls into misrule and great ministers rise in rebellion." That same night Jupiter crossed Eastern Well again. Prognostication reads: "Arms will be raised." By Jingyuan 1 the Duke of Gaoguixiang had fallen. Ganlu 3, eighth month, day renchen: Jupiter crossed the Execution star in Carriage Ghost. Prognostication reads: "The executioner's block will be used and great ministers will die." Ganlu 4, fourth month, day jiashen: Jupiter again crossed the southeastern star of Carriage Ghost. Prognostication reads: "The southeastern star of Ghost presides over war. When Jupiter enters Ghost, great ministers are put to death." In Jingyuan 1 the Duke of Gaoguixiang was overthrown and Master of Writing Wang Jing was executed.

甘露四年十月丁丑，客星見太微中，轉東南行，曆軫宿，積七日滅。占曰：「客星出太微，有兵喪。」景元元年，高貴鄉公被害。

Ganlu 4, tenth month, day dingchou: a guest star appeared in Supreme Subtlety, drifted southeast through Chariot Shaft, and vanished after seven days. Prognostication reads: "A guest star rising from Supreme Subtlety brings war and mourning." In Jingyuan 1 the Duke of Gaoguixiang was murdered.

景元二年四月，熒惑入太微，犯右執法。占曰：「人主有大憂。」又曰：「大臣憂。」後四年，鄧艾、鐘會皆夷滅。五年，帝遜位。

Jingyuan 2, fourth month: Mars entered Supreme Subtlety and crossed the Right Enforcer. Prognostication reads: "The sovereign will face grave peril." It adds: "Great ministers will suffer calamity." Four years on Deng Ai and Zhong Hui were both annihilated, clans and all. In Jingyuan 5 the emperor abdicated the throne.

景元三年十一月壬寅，彗星見亢，色白，長五寸，轉北行，積四十五日滅。占為兵喪。一曰：「彗見亢，天子失德。」四年，鐘會、鄧艾伐蜀克之。會、艾反亂，皆誅。魏遜天下。

Jingyuan 3, eleventh month, day renyin: a white comet five inches long appeared at Neck, swung northward, and faded after forty-five days. The prognostication reads war and mourning. Another text says: "A comet at Neck means the sovereign has lost the Mandate." In Jingyuan 4 Zhong Hui and Deng Ai invaded Shu and took the kingdom. Both men then rebelled and were put to death. Wei surrendered the realm.

景元四年六月，大流星二，並如斗，見西方，分流南北，光照隆隆有聲。案占，流星為貴使，大者使大。是年，鐘、鄧克蜀，二星蓋二帥之象。二帥相背，又分流南北之應。鐘會既叛，三軍憤怒，隆隆有聲，兵將怒之征也。景元四年十月，歲星守房。占曰：「將相有憂。」一曰：「有大赦。」明年正月，太尉鄧艾、司徒鐘會並誅滅，特赦益土。咸熙二年秋，又大赦。

Jingyuan 4, sixth month: two great bolides, each as bright as the Dipper, blazed in the west and split north and south; their glare rolled like thunder. Per the prognostications, meteors represent high emissaries—the greater the fireball, the greater the envoy. That year Zhong Hui and Deng Ai conquered Shu—the twin meteors plainly foreshadowed the two generals. The two commanders turned on each other, matching the omen of the streams dividing north and south. When Zhong Hui rebelled the armies seethed with rage—the thunderous glare was the sign of mutinous soldiery. Jingyuan 4, tenth month: Jupiter held station in Encampment. Prognostication reads: "Generals and ministers will face disaster." Another reading says: "A great amnesty will follow." The following first month Grand Commandant Deng Ai and Minister over the Masses Zhong Hui were both killed and their clans destroyed, while a special amnesty was proclaimed in the conquered lands of Yi. In Xianxi 2, autumn, the court proclaimed another great amnesty.

晉武帝泰始四年正月丙戌，彗星見軫，青白色，西北行，又轉東行。占曰：「為兵喪。軫又楚分也。」三月，皇太后王氏崩。十月，吳將施績寇江夏，萬彧寇襄陽，後將軍田璋、荊州刺史胡烈等破卻之。泰始四年七月，星隕如雨，皆西流。占曰：「星隕為民叛，西流，吳民歸晉之象也。」二年，吳夏口督孫秀率部曲二千餘人來降。

Emperor Wu of Jin, the fourth year of Taishi, first month, day bingxu: a greenish-white comet appeared in Chariot Shaft, moving northwest before swinging eastward. Prognostication reads: "War and mourning follow. Chariot Shaft also marks Chu's domain." In the third month Empress Dowager Wang passed away. In the tenth month Wu generals Shi Ji attacked Jiangxia and Wan Yu attacked Xiangyang; Rear General Tian Zhang, Jing provincial inspector Hu Lie, and others drove them back. the fourth year of Taishi, seventh month: stars showered down like rain, all streaking westward. Prognostication reads: "A starfall marks popular defection; a westward drift foretells Wu's people submitting to Jin." Two years on Wu's Xiakou garrison commander Sun Xiu brought more than two thousand of his retainers over in surrender.

泰始五年九月，有星孛于紫宮，占如上。紫宮，天子內宮。十年，武元楊皇后崩。

the fifth year of Taishi, ninth month: a comet appeared in Purple Palace—the reading is as given above. Purple Palace is the sovereign's inner court. In the tenth year of Taishi Empress Yang—the Wu Yuan empress—died.

泰始十年十二月，有星孛於軫。占曰：「天下兵起。軫又楚分也。」咸寧二年六月，星孛於氐。占曰：「天子失德易政。氐又兗州分。」七月，星孛大角。大角為帝坐。八月，星孛太微，至翼、北斗、三台。占曰：「太微天子廷，大人惡之。」一曰：「有徙王。翼又楚分也。」「北斗主殺罰，三台為三公。」三年，星孛於胃。胃，徐州分。四月，星孛女禦。女禦為後宮。五月，又孛於東方。七月，星孛紫宮。占曰：「天下易主。」五年三月，星孛于柳。占曰：「外臣陵主。柳又三河分也。大角、太微、紫宮、女禦，並為王者。」明年吳亡，是其應也。孛主兵喪，征吳之役，三河、徐、兗之兵悉出，交戰于吳、楚之地。吳丞相都督以下，梟戮十數，偏裨行陣之徒，馘斬萬計，皆其征也。《春秋》星孛北方，則齊、魯、晉、鄭、陳、宋、莒之君，並受殺亂之禍。星孛東方，則楚滅陳，三家、田氏分篡齊、晉。漢文帝末，星孛西方，後吳、楚七國誅滅。案泰始末至太康初，災異數見，而晉氏隆盛，吳實滅，天變在吳可知矣。昔漢三年，星孛大角，項籍以亡，漢氏無事，此項氏主命故也。吳、晉之時，天下橫分，大角孛而吳亡，是與項氏同事。後學皆以咸甯災為晉室，非也。

the tenth year of Taishi, twelfth month: a comet appeared in Chariot Shaft. Prognostication reads: "War will erupt across the empire. Chariot Shaft also marks Chu's domain." In Xianning 2, sixth month, a comet appeared at Root. Prognostication reads: "The sovereign forfeits virtue and the throne changes hands. Root also marks Yanzhou's domain." In the seventh month a comet appeared at Great Horn. Great Horn is the throne star of the sovereign. In the eighth month a comet appeared in Supreme Subtlety and passed through Wings, the Northern Dipper, and the Three Steps. Prognostication reads: "Supreme Subtlety is the imperial court—great men will suffer for it." Another reading says: "A deposed prince will be moved. Wings also marks Chu's domain." "The Northern Dipper presides over execution and judgment; the Three Steps represent the Three Dukes." In Xianning 3 a comet appeared at Stomach. Stomach marks Xuzhou's domain. In the fourth month a comet appeared at Female Charioteer. Female Charioteer governs the inner harem. In the fifth month another comet appeared in the east. In the seventh month a comet appeared in Purple Palace. Prognostication reads: "The empire will change hands." In Xianning 5, third month, a comet appeared at Willow. Prognostication reads: "Outer vassals will overpower their lord. Willow also marks the Three Rivers domain. Great Horn, Supreme Subtlety, Purple Palace, and Female Charioteer all stand for royal power." The following year Wu fell—the omen fulfilled. Comets presage war and death; in the conquest of Wu, forces from the Three Rivers, Xu, and Yan all took the field and clashed in the Wu-Chu heartland. More than a dozen Wu chancellors and commanders were executed and exposed; lieutenants and common soldiers fell by the tens of thousands—all of it the comet's doing. The Spring and Autumn Annals record that when a comet appeared in the north, the rulers of Qi, Lu, Jin, Zheng, Chen, Song, and Ju all met violent ruin. An eastern comet foretold Chu destroying Chen and the great houses of Jin and Qi carving up their states. Near the end of Emperor Wen's reign a comet appeared in the west; soon after the seven kingdoms of Wu and Chu were crushed. From late Taishi through early Taikang, omens multiplied even as Jin rose and Wu fell—clear proof that heaven's warnings were aimed at Wu, not Jin. In Han year 3 a comet struck Great Horn: Xiang Yu fell while the Han house stood untouched, for Great Horn governed Xiang's fate. When Wu and Jin divided the realm, a comet at Great Horn preceded Wu's fall—the same pattern as Xiang Yu's doom. Later scholars misread the Xianning omens as warnings to Jin; they are mistaken.

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