2
五行傳曰：「棄法律，逐功臣，殺太子，以妾為妻，則火不炎上。」 謂火失其性而為災也。 又曰：「視之不明，是謂不哲。 厥咎舒，厥罰恒懊，厥極疾。 時則有草妖，時則有臝蟲之孽，時則有羊禍，時則有目痾，時則有赤眚、赤祥。 惟水沴火。」 臝蟲，劉歆傳以為羽蟲。
The Tradition of the Five Elements states: "When the ruler casts aside law, drives out worthy ministers, slays the heir apparent, and elevates a concubine to wife, fire loses its power to blaze upward." That is, fire abandons its proper nature and calamity follows. It further says: "When sight fails, that is called want of discernment. The fault is indulgence; the penalty is unending sorrow; the extreme is disease. In such seasons one finds ominous grasses, plagues of skin-bearing creatures, calamities involving sheep, disorders of the eyes, and red disasters and red omens. Water alone is what afflicts fire." As for naked creatures, Liu Xin's tradition interprets them as feathered creatures.
3
火不炎上
Fire Fails to Flame Upward
4
魏明帝太和五月，清商殿災。 初，帝為平原王，納河南虞氏為妃。 及即位，不以為后，更立典虞車工卒毛嘉女，是為悼皇后。 后本仄微，非所宜升。 以妾為妻之罰也。
In the fifth month of Emperor Ming of Wei's Taihe reign, fire destroyed the Qingshang Hall. Before his accession, while he was still Prince of Pingyuan, he married Lady Yu of Henan as his consort. After he came to the throne he did not raise her to empress, but set up instead the daughter of Mao Jia, a chariot-yard foreman in the Directorate of Parks, as Empress Dao. The new empress came from a mean station and ought not to have been raised so high. It was the retribution for elevating a concubine to the status of wife.
5
魏明帝青龍元年六月，洛陽宮鞠室災。
In the sixth month of the first Qinglong year under Emperor Ming of Wei, fire struck the kickball court in the Luoyang palace.
6
二年四月，崇華殿災，延于南閣。 繕復之。 至三年七月，此殿又災。 帝問高堂隆：「此何咎也？ 於禮寧有祈禳之義乎？」 對曰：「夫災變之發，皆所以明教誡也。 唯率禮修德，可以勝之。 易傳曰：『上不儉，下不節，孽火燒其室。』 又曰：『君高其臺，天火為災。』 此人君苟飾宮室，不知百姓空竭，故天應之以旱，火從高殿起也。 案舊占，災火之發，皆以臺榭宮室為誡。 今宜罷散民役，務從節約，清掃所災之處，不敢於此有所營造。 萐莆嘉禾，必生此地，以報陛下虔恭之德。」 不從。 遂復崇華殿，改曰九龍。 以郡國前後言龍見者九，故以為名。 多棄法度，疲民逞欲，以妾為妻之應也。
In the fourth month of the second year the Chonghua Hall caught fire and the blaze spread to the southern wing. The hall was rebuilt. In the seventh month of the third year the same hall burned once more. The emperor asked Gao Tanglong, "What does this omen mean? Does ritual propriety call for prayers of supplication here?" He answered, "Heaven sends calamities and strange events precisely to teach and warn. Only by observing ritual and cultivating virtue can they be overcome. The Yi tradition says, 'When those above are not sparing and those below are not temperate, baleful fire consumes the house.' It also says, 'When the ruler builds his terrace too high, heaven sends fire as calamity.' When a ruler lavishes ornament on his palaces without seeing that the people are exhausted, heaven answers with drought and fire breaks out from the high halls. Ancient divination holds that whenever disaster-fire appears, it warns against terraces, pavilions, and palaces. Your Majesty should now release the people from forced labor, practice strict economy, cleanse the burned ground, and refrain from building there again. Sacred herbs and fine grain will then spring from that ground to reward Your Majesty's sincere reverence." The emperor refused to heed him. He rebuilt the Chonghua Hall anyway and renamed it the Hall of Nine Dragons. Nine dragon sightings had been reported from the provinces, and he took that as the name. He had cast aside law, worn out the people to satisfy his desires—the omen answering his elevation of a concubine to wife.
7
吳孫亮建興元年十二月，武昌端門災。 改作端門，又災內殿。 案春秋魯雉門及兩觀災。 董仲舒以為天意欲使定公誅季氏，若曰去其高顯而奢僭者也。 漢武帝世，遼東高廟災，其說又同。 今此與二事頗類也。 且門者，號令所出，殿者，聽政之所。 是時諸葛恪秉政，而矜慢放肆，孫峻總禁旅，而險害終著。 武昌，孫氏尊號所始，天戒若曰，宜除其貴要之首者。 恪果喪眾殄民，峻授政於綝，綝廢亮也。 或曰孫權毀徹武昌，以增太初宮，諸葛恪有遷都意，更起門殿，事非時宜，故見災也。 京房易傳曰：「君不思道，厥妖火燒宮。」
In the twelfth month of the first Jianxing year of Sun Liang of Wu, fire destroyed the Duan Gate at Wuchang. After the gate was rebuilt, the inner palace hall burned as well. Compare the Spring and Autumn account of the fires at Lu's Pheasant Gate and its twin watch-towers. Dong Zhongshu interpreted this as Heaven urging Duke Ding to destroy the Ji house—to remove what was lofty, showy, extravagant, and presumptuous. Under Emperor Wu of Han the Gaomiao in Liaodong burned, and the interpretation was the same. The present disaster closely resembles both precedents. The gate is where orders are issued; the hall is where policy is deliberated. At the time Zhuge Ke held the government, proud and overbearing, while Sun Jun commanded the guards and his deadly scheming finally surfaced. Wuchang was where the Sun clan first assumed its imperial title; Heaven seemed to warn that the chief among the mighty must be cut down. Ke did lose his forces and ruin the people; Jun transferred power to Sun Lin, and Lin deposed Liang. Others say Sun Quan had torn down Wuchang to expand the Taichu Palace, that Zhuge Ke meant to move the capital, and that rebuilding gates and halls at the wrong moment brought the calamity. Jing Fang's Yi tradition says, "When the ruler neglects the Way, the omen is fire consuming the palace."
8
吳孫亮太平元年二月朔，建業火。 人火之也。 是秋，孫綝始秉政，矯以亮詔殺呂據、滕胤，明年，又輒殺朱異。 棄法律、逐功臣之罰也。
On the new moon of the second month of the first Taiping year under Sun Liang of Wu, a great fire broke out at Jianye. The blaze was of human origin. That autumn Sun Lin took control, forged an edict in Liang's name to execute Lü Ju and Teng Yin, and the following year killed Zhu Yi on his own authority. It was the retribution for casting aside law and driving out worthy ministers.
9
吳孫休永安五年二月，白虎門北樓災。 六年十月，石頭小城火，燒西南百八十丈。 是時嬖人張布專擅國勢，多行無禮，而韋昭、盛冲終斥不用，兼遣察戰等為使，驚擾州郡，致使交趾反亂。 是其咎也。
In the second month of the fifth Yong'an year under Sun Xiu of Wu, fire destroyed the north tower of the White Tiger Gate. In the tenth month of the sixth year fire swept the small citadel at Shitou, burning one hundred eighty zhang along the southwest. At the time the favorite Zhang Bu dominated the government and behaved lawlessly, while Wei Zhao and Sheng Chong were kept from office; he also dispatched Cha Zhan and others as envoys, unsettling the provinces until Jiaozhi rose in revolt. That was the offense behind the omen.
10
吳孫晧建衡二年三月，大火，燒萬餘家，死者七百人。 案春秋，齊火。 劉向以為桓公好內，聽女口，妻妾數更之罰也。 晧制令詭暴，蕩棄法度，勞臣名士，誅斥甚眾。 後宮萬餘，女謁數行，其中隆寵佩皇后璽者又多矣。 故有大火。
In the third month of the second Jianheng year under Sun Hao of Wu a conflagration destroyed more than ten thousand homes and killed seven hundred people. Compare the Spring and Autumn account of the fire in Qi. Liu Xiang interpreted it as the penalty for Duke Huan's devotion to the inner palace, his heed to women's counsel, and his constant changing of wives and concubines. Hao's edicts were capricious and cruel; he swept away law, harried ministers and scholars, and executed or banished a great host of men. His harem held more than ten thousand women; palace women came and went in droves, and many of the most favored even bore the empress's seal. Hence the great conflagration.
11
晉武帝太康八年三月乙丑，震災西閣、楚王所止坊，及臨商觀牕。
On the yichou day of the third month of the eighth Taikang year under Emperor Wu of Jin, lightning struck the western gallery, the Prince of Chu's residential ward, and the windows of the Linshang Observatory.
12
十年四月癸丑，崇賢殿災。 十月庚辰，含章鞠室、脩成堂前廡、丙坊東屋、煇章殿南閣火。 時有上書者曰：「漢王氏五侯兄弟迭任，今楊氏三公並在大位。 天變屢見，竊為陛下憂之。」 楊珧由是乞退。 是時帝納馮紞之間，廢張華之功； 聽楊駿之讒，離衞瓘之寵。 此逐功臣之罰也。 明年，宮車晏駕。 其後楚王承竊發之旨，戮害二公，身亦不免。 震災其坊，又天意乎。
On the guichou day of the fourth month of the tenth year fire destroyed the Chongxian Hall. On the gengchen day of the tenth month fire broke out in the Hanzhang kickball court, the front veranda of the Xiucheng Hall, the eastern rooms of the Bing Ward, and the southern wing of the Huizhang Hall. A memorialist wrote at the time, "Under Han the five Wang marquises held office in turn; now the three Yang dukes all stand at the summit of power together. Heavenly omens keep appearing, and I cannot help fearing for Your Majesty." Yang Yao thereupon asked to withdraw from office. At that time the emperor heeded Feng Dan's private advice and cast aside Zhang Hua's merits; listened to Yang Jun's slanders and turned away from Wei Guan's favor. This was the retribution for driving out worthy ministers. The following year the emperor died. Later the Prince of Chu, acting on a clandestine order, killed the two chief ministers, yet could not save himself. Lightning had already struck his residence—was that not Heaven's intent as well?
13
晉惠帝元康五年閏月庚寅，武庫火。 張華疑有亂，先固守，然後救災。 是以累代異寶，王莽頭，孔子履，漢高斷白蛇劍及二百萬人器械，一時蕩盡。 是後愍懷見殺，殺太子之罰也。 天戒若曰，夫設險擊柝，所以固其國，儲積戎器，所以戒不虞。 今冢嗣將傾，社稷將泯，禁兵無所復施，皇旅又將誰衞。 帝后不悟，終喪四海，是其應也。 張華、閻纂皆曰，武庫火而氐、羌反，太子見廢，則四海可知矣。
On the gengyin day of the intercalary fifth Yuankang year under Emperor Hui of Jin, fire destroyed the imperial armory. Zhang Hua, suspecting revolt, secured the site before turning to fight the blaze. Thus treasures hoarded for generations—the head of Wang Mang, Confucius's sandal, the sword with which Han Gaozu slew the white serpent, and arms for two million men—were destroyed in a single hour. Later Prince Minhuai was murdered—the retribution for killing the heir apparent. Heaven seemed to warn: ramparts and watch-clappers exist to secure the realm; arsenals are stocked to guard against surprise. Now the heir's house is collapsing, the altars are failing, the palace guard can no longer be used, and who will defend the throne? Emperor and empress failed to understand, and in the end lost the realm—the omen fulfilled. Zhang Hua and Yan Zuan both said that when the armory burns, the Di and Qiang rise, and the heir is deposed, the fate of the empire is already clear.
14
元康八年十一月，高原陵火。 是時賈后凶恣，賈謐擅朝，惡積罪稔，宜見誅絕。 天戒若曰，臣妾之不可者，雖親貴莫比，猶宜忍而誅之，如吾燔高原陵也。 帝既眊弱，而張華又不納裴頠、劉卞之謀，故后遂與謐誣殺太子也。 干寶云：「高原陵火，太子廢，其應也。 漢武帝世，高園便殿火，董仲舒對與此占同。」
In the eleventh month of the eighth Yuankang year fire struck the Gaoyuan Mausoleum. At the time Empress Jia was brutal and overbearing and Jia Mi dominated the court; their crimes had piled high and they ought to have been destroyed. Heaven seemed to warn that even the closest and most exalted minister or consort, when intolerable, must be struck down—as it had burned the Gaoyuan Mausoleum. The emperor was already feeble, and Zhang Hua refused the counsel of Pei Song and Liu Bian, so the empress and Mi conspired to destroy the heir apparent. Gan Bao wrote, "Fire at the Gaoyuan Mausoleum and the heir's deposition were the same omen fulfilled. Under Emperor Wu of Han the Gaoyuan side hall burned, and Dong Zhongshu's interpretation matched this reading."
15
晉惠帝永康元年，帝納皇后羊氏。 后將入宮，衣中忽有火，眾咸怪之。 太安二年，后父玄之以成都之逼，憂死。 永興元年，成都遂廢后，處之金墉城，而殺其叔父同之。 是後還立，立而復廢者四，又詔賜死，荀藩表全之。 雖末還在位，然憂逼折辱，終古未聞。 此孽火之應。
In the first Yongkang year under Emperor Hui of Jin the emperor married Lady Yang as empress. As she was about to enter the palace, fire suddenly flared in her robes, and everyone was astonished. In the second Tai'an year her father Xuanzhi died of grief under pressure from the Prince of Chengdu. In the first Yongxing year the Prince of Chengdu deposed her, confined her in Jinyong City, and killed her uncle Tongzhi. She was later restored, enthroned and deposed four times, and at last ordered to take poison, though Xun Fan pleaded that her life be spared. Though she never held the throne again, the grief, pressure, and humiliation she endured were without precedent. This fulfilled the omen of the baleful fire in her robes.
16
晉惠帝永興二年七月甲午，尚書諸曹火，延崇禮闥及閣道。 夫百揆王化之本，王者棄法律之應也。 清河王覃入為晉嗣，不終于位，又殺太子之罰也。
On the jiawu day of the seventh month of the second Yongxing year under Emperor Hui of Jin, fire destroyed the Secretariat offices and spread to the Chongli gate-tower and the covered passage. The hundred offices are the foundation of royal government; the blaze answered the ruler's abandonment of law. Prince Qinghe Tan was made heir to Jin but did not finish his tenure—again the retribution for slaying the heir apparent.
17
晉孝懷帝永嘉四年十一月，襄陽火，死者三千餘人。 是時王如自號大將軍、司雍二州牧，眾四五萬，攻略郡縣，以為己邑。 都督力屈，嬰城自守，賊遂攻逼襄陽。 此下陵上，陽失節，火災出也。
In the eleventh month of the fourth Yongjia year under Emperor Xiaohuai of Jin a fire at Xiangyang killed more than three thousand people. At the time Wang Ru styled himself Grand General and Governor of Sizhou and Yongzhou, mustered forty or fifty thousand men, and seized commanderies and districts for his own domain. The regional commander was overmatched, shut himself within the walls, and the rebels pressed Xiangyang. This was the subordinate overawing the superior and yang losing its proper measure—hence the fire.
18
晉元帝太興中，王敦鎮武昌。 武昌火起，興眾救之。 救於此而發於彼，東西南北數十處俱應，數日不絕。 班固所謂濫炎妄起，雖興師不能救之之謂也。 干寶曰：「此臣而君行，亢陽失節之災也。」
During the Taixing era under Emperor Yuan of Jin, Wang Dun was stationed at Wuchang. When fire broke out at Wuchang he mobilized troops to fight the blaze. Men fought the blaze in one place only to see it leap up in another; fires answered one another in dozens of spots across the compass, and burned for days without end. This was what Ban Gu meant by fires raging lawlessly—no army could have quenched them. Gan Bao wrote, "This was the calamity of subjects usurping the role of ruler—of overbearing yang losing its proper season."
19
晉元帝永昌二年正月癸巳，京都大火。 三月，饒安、東光、安陵三縣火，燒七千餘家，死者萬五千人。
On the guisi day of the first month of the second Yongchang year under Emperor Yuan of Jin, the capital burned. In the third month fires in Rao'an, Dongguang, and Anling destroyed more than seven thousand homes and killed fifteen thousand people.
20
晉明帝太寧元年正月，京都火。 是時王敦威侮朝廷，多行無禮，內外臣下，咸懷怨毒。 極陰生陽，故有火災。 與董仲舒說春秋陳火同事也。
In the first month of the first Taining year under Emperor Ming of Jin, fire struck the capital. At the time Wang Dun's might humiliated the throne, he behaved lawlessly, and courtiers everywhere nursed bitter resentment. When yin reaches its extreme it generates yang—hence the fire. It matched Dong Zhongshu's reading of the Chen fire in the Spring and Autumn Annals.
21
晉穆帝永和五年六月，震災石虎太武殿及兩廂、端門，光爛照天，金石皆盡，火月餘乃滅。 是年四月，石虎死矣。 其後胡遂滅亡。
In the sixth month of the fifth Yonghe year under Emperor Mu of Jin, lightning destroyed Shi Hu's Taiwu Hall, its wings, and the Duan Gate; the blaze lit the heavens, consumed metal and stone, and burned for more than a month. Shi Hu had died that April. Afterward the barbarian state was destroyed.
22
晉海西太和中，郗愔為會稽。 六月，大旱災，火燒數千家，延及山陰倉米數百萬斛。 炎烟蔽天，不可撲滅。
During the Taihe era under Emperor Haixi of Jin, Xi Yin governed Kuaiji. In the sixth month severe drought brought fire that destroyed thousands of homes and reached millions of hu of grain stored at Shanyin. Flames and smoke blotted out the sky and could not be put out.
23
晉孝武帝寧康元年三月，京都風，火大起。 是時桓溫入朝，志在陵上，少主踐位，人懷憂恐。 此與太寧火同事。
In the third month of the first Ningkang year under Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, wind swept the capital and a great fire broke out. At the time Huan Wen had come to court with designs on the throne; the young emperor had only just succeeded, and the realm was full of dread. This matched the Taining fire in meaning.
24
晉孝武帝太元十年正月，立國子學。 學生多頑嚚，因風放火，焚房百餘間。 是後考課不厲，賞黜無章，有育才之名，無收賢之實。 書云：「知人則哲。」 此不哲之罰先兆也。
In the first month of the tenth Taiyuan year under Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, the Imperial University was founded. Many students were obstinate and unruly; they used the wind to set fires and burned more than a hundred rooms. Afterward examinations grew lax, promotions and dismissals followed no rule, and though the state claimed to nurture talent it gathered no worthy men. The Documents say, "To know men is wisdom." This was the first sign of the penalty for want of discernment.
25
太元十三年十二月乙未，延賢堂災。 丙申，螽斯、則百堂及客館、驃騎庫皆災。 于時朝多弊政，衰陵日兆。 不哲之罰，皆有象類。 主相不悟，終至亂亡云。
On the yiwei day of the twelfth month of the thirteenth Taiyuan year, fire destroyed the Yanxian Hall. On the bingshen day fire also destroyed the Zhongsi Hall, the Zebo Hall, the guest quarters, and the Rapid Cavalry storehouse. The court was rife with corrupt government, and decline grew daily more plain. Each penalty for want of discernment had its symbolic counterpart. Ruler and chief minister failed to understand, and in the end the realm fell into chaos and ruin.
26
晉安帝隆安二年三月，龍舟二乘災。 是水沴火也。
In the third month of the second Long'an year under Emperor An of Jin, two imperial dragon boats burned. Water was afflicting fire.
27
晉安帝元興元年八月庚子，尚書下舍曹火。
On the gengzi day of the eighth month of the first Yuanxing year under Emperor An of Jin, fire destroyed the lower quarters bureau of the Secretariat.
28
元興三年，盧循攻略廣州，刺史吳隱之閉城固守。 是年十月壬戌夜，大火起。 時民人避寇，盈滿城內。 隱之懼有應賊，但務嚴兵，不先救火，由是府舍焚燒蕩盡，死者萬餘人，因遂散潰，悉為賊擒。 殆與襄陽火同占也。
In the third Yuanxing year Lu Xun besieged Guangzhou, and Inspector Wu Yinshi closed the walls and defended the city. On the night of the renxu day of the tenth month that year a great fire broke out. The people had fled the raiders and packed the city wall to wall. Yinshi, fearing traitors within, devoted himself only to tightening the guard and did not fight the fire first; the government quarter was burned to the ground, more than ten thousand died, the defenders broke and fled, and all were taken by the enemy. The omen closely matched that of the Xiangyang fire.
29
晉安帝義熙四年七月丁酉，尚書殿中吏部曹火。
On the dingyou day of the seventh month of the fourth Yixi year under Emperor An of Jin, fire destroyed the Personnel Bureau of the Secretariat.
30
義熙十一年，京都所在大行火災，吳界尤甚。 火防甚峻，猶自不絕。 王弘時為吳郡，白日在聽事上，見天上有一赤物下，狀如信幡，徑集路南人家屋上，火即復大發。 弘知天為之災，不罪火主。
In the eleventh Yixi year fires raged throughout the capital region, worst of all in Wu. Fire precautions were severe, yet the blazes would not stop. Wang Hong was then governor of Wu; in broad daylight at court he saw a red object descend from heaven like a signal banner, settle on a rooftop south of the road, and at once a great fire flared up again. Hong knew Heaven had sent the calamity and did not blame the household where the fire began.
31
宋文帝元嘉五年正月戊子，京邑大火。
On the wuzi day of the first month of the fifth Yuanjia year under Emperor Wen of Song, the capital burned.
32
元嘉七年十二月乙亥，京邑火，延燒太社北牆。
On the yihai day of the twelfth month of the seventh Yuanjia year fire struck the capital and reached the northern wall of the Grand Altar of Soil and Grain.
33
元嘉二十九年三月壬午，京邑大火，風雷甚壯。
On the renwu day of the third month of the twenty-ninth Yuanjia year the capital burned amid violent wind and thunder.
34
後廢帝元徽三年正月己巳，京邑大火。
On the jisi day of the first month of the third Yuanhui year under the Deposed Emperor, the capital burned.
35
元徽三年二月戊辰，京邑大火，燒二岸數千家。
On the wuchen day of the second month of the third Yuanhui year the capital burned, destroying thousands of homes on both riverbanks.
36
恒燠
Constant Heat
37
庶徵之恒燠，劉向、班固以冬亡冰及霜不殺草應之。 京房易傳又曰：「夏則暑殺人，冬則物華實。」
Of the various portents, constant heat—Liu Xiang and Ban Gu interpreted winters without ice and frosts that failed to kill grass as its manifestation. Jing Fang's Yi tradition also says, "In summer heat kills men; in winter plants bloom and fruit."
38
吳孫亮建興元年九月，桃李華。 孫權世，政煩賦重，民彫於役。 是時諸葛恪始輔政，息校官，原逋責，除關梁，崇寬厚。 此舒緩之應也。 一說桃李寒華為草妖，或屬華孽。
In the ninth month of the first Jianxing year under Sun Liang of Wu, peach and plum trees flowered out of season. Under Sun Quan government was burdensome and taxes heavy, and the people were exhausted by forced labor. At the time Zhuge Ke had just taken power, suspended school inspections, remitted overdue taxes, abolished frontier tolls, and promoted leniency. This answered the easing of government. Some hold that peach and plum flowering in cold weather is a grass prodigy, or a floral calamity.
39
魏元帝景元三年十月，桃李華。 自高貴弒死之後，晉文王深樹恩德，事崇優緩，此其應也。
In the tenth month of the third Jingyuan year under Emperor Yuan of Wei, peach and plum trees flowered out of season. After the regicide of the Gaogui emperor, the Prince of Jin cultivated benevolence and eased government—this was the omen's fulfillment.
40
晉穆帝永和九年十二月，桃李華。 是時簡文輔政，事多弛略，舒緩之應也。
In the twelfth month of the ninth Yonghe year under Emperor Mu of Jin, peach and plum trees flowered out of season. At the time Emperor Jianwen governed; affairs were lax and neglected—the omen of easing answered.
41
宋順帝昇明元年十月，於潛桃、李、柰結實。
In the tenth month of the first Shengming year under Emperor Shun of Song, peach, plum, and pear trees in Yuqian bore fruit out of season.
42
草妖
Grass Prodigies
43
漢獻帝建安二十五春正月，魏武帝在洛陽，將起建始殿，伐濯龍祠樹而血出； 又掘徙棃，根傷亦血出。 帝惡之，遂寢疾，是月崩。 蓋草妖，又赤祥也。 是歲，魏文帝黃初元年也。
In the first month of spring of the twenty-fifth Jian'an year under Emperor Xian of Han, the Martial Emperor of Wei was in Luoyang preparing to build the Jianshi Hall; when he felled trees at the Zhuolong Shrine, blood gushed forth; when he uprooted pear trees to transplant them, blood flowed from the wounded roots as well. The emperor took this as an evil omen, fell ill, and died that month. This was a grass prodigy and also a red omen. That year was the first Huangchu year of Emperor Wen of Wei.
44
吳孫亮五鳳元年六月，交趾稗草化為稻。 昔三苗將亡，五穀變種。 此草妖也。 其後亮廢。
In the sixth month of the first Wufeng year under Sun Liang of Wu, barnyard grass in Jiaozhi turned into rice. When the Three Miao were about to fall, the five grains changed their kinds. It was an omen among grass prodigies. Later Liang was deposed.
45
蜀劉禪景耀五年，宮中大樹無故自折。 譙周憂之，無所與之言，乃書柱曰：「眾而大，其之會，具而授，若何復。」 言曹者眾也； 魏者大也； 眾而大，天下其當會也； 具而授，如何復有立者乎。 蜀果亡，如周言。 此草妖也。
In the fifth Jingyao year under Liu Shan of Shu, a great tree in the palace snapped for no apparent reason. Qiao Zhou was troubled but spoke to no one; instead he wrote on a pillar, "Many and great, they shall meet; complete and bestowed—how can there be restoration?" By this he meant that Cao means "many"; Wei means "great"; many and great—the realm will be united; complete and bestowed—how can Shu stand again? Shu did fall, exactly as Zhou had predicted. This too was counted among grass prodigies.
46
吳孫晧天璽元年，吳郡臨平湖自漢末穢塞，是時一夕忽開除無草。 長老相傳，此湖塞，天下亂，此湖開，天下平。 吳尋亡，而九服為一。
In the first Tianxi year under Sun Hao of Wu, Linping Lake in Wu Commandery, blocked and foul since late Han, opened in a single night, clear of weeds. Elders said that when the lake was blocked the realm fell into chaos, and when it opened the realm would be at peace. Wu soon fell, and the nine domains were united under one rule.
47
吳孫晧天紀三年八月，建業有鬼目菜生工黃狗家，依緣棗樹，長丈餘，莖廣四寸，厚三分。 又有蕒菜生工吳平家，高四尺，如枇杷形，上圓徑一尺八寸，下莖廣五寸，兩邊生葉緣色。 東觀案圖，名鬼目作芝草，蕒菜作平慮。 遂以狗為侍芝郎，平為平慮郎，皆銀印青綬。 干寶曰：「明年晉平吳，王濬止船，正得平渚，姓名顯然，指事之徵也。 黃狗者，吳以土運承漢，故初有黃龍之瑞，及其季年，而有鬼目之妖，託黃狗之家，黃稱不改，而貴賤大殊。 天道精微之應也。」
In the eighth month of the third Tianji year under Sun Hao of Wu, a guimu plant grew at the home of the artisan Huang Gou in Jianye, climbing a jujube tree to more than a zhang in height, with a stem four inches across and three fen thick. A qi plant also grew at the home of the artisan Wu Ping, four chi tall and loquat-shaped, with a round crown one chi eight inches across, a stem five inches wide below, and green leaves on both sides. The Eastern Observatory consulted its charts and read the guimu as zhi grass and the qi plant as pinglu. Gou was made Attendant Zhi Gentleman and Ping Pinglu Gentleman, each with a silver seal and blue cord. Gan Bao wrote, "The next year Jin conquered Wu; Wang Jun moored his fleet at Pingzhu—the names were unmistakable, a sign pointing straight at the event. As for Huang Gou: Wu, inheriting Han through the element earth, had once received the yellow dragon as an auspicious sign; in its last years the guimu prodigy appeared in the house of Huang Gou—the yellow name remained, but fortune and ruin were utterly reversed. Such was the subtle response of Heaven's Way."
48
晉惠帝元康二年春，巴西郡界竹生花，紫色，結實如麥，外皮青，中赤白，味甘。
In spring of the second Yuankang year under Emperor Hui of Jin, bamboo in Baxi Commandery flowered purple and bore fruit like wheat, green-skinned and red-white within, sweet to the taste.
49
元康九年六月庚子，有桑生東宮西廂，日長尺餘； 甲辰，枯死。 此與殷太戊同妖。 太子不能悟，故至廢戮也。 班固稱「野木生朝而暴長，小人將暴居大臣之位，危亡國家，象朝將為墟也」。 是後孫秀、張林尋用事，遂至大亂。
On the gengzi day of the sixth month of the ninth Yuankang year a mulberry sprouted in the western wing of the Eastern Palace and grew more than a chi a day; by the jiachen day it had withered away. This matched the prodigy of Emperor Taiwu of Yin. The crown prince failed to understand, and was deposed and killed. Ban Gu wrote, "When wild trees spring up in the court and grow violently, petty men will seize the posts of great ministers, endanger the state, and the court itself will become a ruin." Afterward Sun Xiu and Zhang Lin soon seized power, and the realm fell into great chaos.
50
晉惠帝永康元年四月丁巳，立皇孫臧為皇太孫。 五月甲子，就東宮。 桑又生於西廂。 明年，趙倫篡位，鴆殺臧。 此與愍懷同妖也。
On the dingsi day of the fourth month of the first Yongkang year under Emperor Hui of Jin, the emperor's grandson Zang was named imperial great-grandson heir. On the jiazi day of the fifth month he entered the Eastern Palace. Another mulberry sprouted in the western wing. The next year Zhao Lun seized the throne and poisoned Zang. This was the same prodigy as that of Prince Minhuai.
51
永康元年四月，壯武國有桑化為柏。 是月，張華遇害。
In the fourth month of the first Yongkang year a mulberry in Zhuangwu Principality turned into a cypress. That month Zhang Hua was killed.
52
晉孝懷帝永嘉三年冬，項縣桑樹有聲如解材，民謂之桑林哭。 案劉向說，桑者喪也，又為哭聲，不祥之甚。 是時京師虛弱，胡寇交逼，司馬越無衞上國之心，四年冬，委而南出，至五年春，薨于此城，石勒邀其眾，圍而射之，王公以下至庶人，死者十餘萬人，又剖越棺焚其尸。 是敗也，中原無所請命，洛京尋沒。 桑哭之應也。
In the winter of the third Yongjia year under Emperor Huai of Jin, mulberry trees in Xiang County made sounds like splitting lumber, and the people called it "the weeping mulberry grove." Liu Xiang's tradition holds that sang (mulberry) homophonically means sang (mourning) and also evokes wailing—a deeply inauspicious omen. At the time the capital was weak and barbarian invaders pressed in from every side; Sima Yue had no will to defend the state. In the winter of the fourth year he abandoned the capital and fled south; by spring of the fifth year he died at that city. Shi Le ambushed his army, besieged and shot them, and more than a hundred thousand nobles and commoners died; Yue's coffin was opened and his corpse burned. After this defeat no authority remained in the Central Plains, and Luoyang soon fell. This fulfilled the omen of the weeping mulberries.
53
永嘉六年五月，無錫縣有四株茱萸樹，相樛而生，狀若連理。 先是，郭景純筮延陵偃鼠，遇臨之益，曰：「後當復有妖樹生，若瑞而非，辛螫之木也。 儻有此，東南數百里必有作逆者。」 其後徐馥作亂。 此草妖也，郭以為木不曲直。
In the fifth month of the sixth Yongjia year four cornel trees in Wuxi County grew intertwined, resembling joined trunks. Earlier Guo Jingchun (Guo Pu) divined for Yanling's recumbent rat and obtained the hexagram Lin changing to Yi, saying: "An ominous tree will appear again—seemingly auspicious but not the wood of the pungent cornel. If such a tree appears, rebellion will arise within several hundred li to the southeast." Soon afterward Xu Fu rebelled. This was a grass prodigy; Guo Pu regarded it as wood that would not stand upright and straight.
54
永嘉六年七月，豫章郡有樟樹久枯，是月忽更榮茂。 與昌邑枯社復生同占。 懷帝不終其祚，元帝由支族興之應也。
In the seventh month of the sixth Yongjia year a camphor tree in Yuzhang Commandery that had long been withered suddenly flourished again. It carries the same omen as the revival of Changyi's withered altar tree. It foretold that Emperor Huai would not reign to term and that Emperor Yuan would rise from a collateral line.
55
晉明帝太寧元年九月，會稽剡縣木生如人面。 是後王敦稱兵作逆，禍敗無成。 漢哀、靈之世，並有此妖，而人貌備具，故其禍亦大。 今此但人面而已，故其變亦輕。
In the ninth month of the first Taining year under Emperor Ming of Jin, wood in Shanyin County, Kuaiji, grew shaped like a human face. Later Wang Dun raised an army in rebellion but met disaster and failed. The reigns of Emperors Ai and Ling of Han had similar prodigies, but with full human features—hence far greater calamities. Here there was only a face, so the omen was comparatively mild.
56
晉成帝咸和六年五月癸亥，曲阿有柳樹倒地六載，是月忽復起生。 咸和九年五月甲戌，吳雄家有死榆樹，是日因風雨起生。 與漢上林斷柳起生同象。 初，康帝為吳王，于時雖改封琅邪，而猶食吳郡為邑。 是帝越正體饗國之象也。 曲阿先亦吳地，象見吳邑雄舍，又天意也。
On the guihai day of the fifth month of the sixth Xianhe year a willow in Qu'e that had lain fallen for six years suddenly sprang back to life. On the jiaxu day of the fifth month of the ninth Xianhe year a dead elm at Wu Xiong's house revived in a windstorm. It matched the omen of the severed willow that revived in Han's Shanglin Park. Emperor Kang had first been Prince of Wu; though later re-enfeoffed as Prince of Langye, he still drew his fief income from Wu Commandery. This symbolized the emperor ascending beyond his proper line to inherit the realm. Qu'e had also been Wu territory; the omen appeared at Xiong's home in Wu—again Heaven's design.
57
晉哀帝興寧三年五月癸卯，盧陵西昌縣脩明家有死栗樹，是日忽起生。 時孝武年四歲，而簡文居蕃，四海宅心。 及得位垂統，則祚隆孝武。 識者竊曰西昌脩明之祥，帝諱實應之矣。 是與漢宣帝頗同象也。
On the guimao day of the fifth month of the third Xingning year a dead chestnut at Xiuming's home in Xichang County, Luling, suddenly sprang back to life. At the time Emperor Xiaowu was four and Emperor Jianwen held the princely fief; all the realm looked to him. When he took the throne and established the succession, the line passed to Emperor Xiaowu. Observers murmured that the omen at Xichang-Xiuming matched the emperor's taboo name. The omen closely resembled that of Emperor Xuan of Han.
58
晉海西太和元年，涼州楊樹生松。 天戒若曰，松不改柯易葉，楊者柔脆之木，此永久之業，將集危亡之地。 是後張天錫降氐。
In the first Taihe year under Emperor Fei of Jin poplars in Liang Province sprouted pine. Heaven's warning seems to say: pine keeps its branches and leaves unchanged, while poplar is soft and brittle—enduring rule would settle in a place of peril and collapse. Later Zhang Tianshi surrendered to the Di.
59
晉孝武太元十四年六月，建寧同樂縣枯木斷折，忽然自立相屬。 京房易傳曰：「棄正作淫，厥妖木斷自屬。 妃后有專，木仆反立。」 是時治道方僻，多失其正。 其後張夫人專寵，及帝崩，兆庶歸咎張氏焉。
In the sixth month of the fourteenth Taiyuan year withered trees in Tongle County, Jianning, snapped apart and then suddenly stood upright, rejoined. Jing Fang's Changes commentary says: "When the upright is cast aside and licentiousness reigns, the prodigy is broken wood rejoining itself. When consorts and empresses dominate, fallen trees stand upright again." At the time government had turned corrupt and much had lost its proper bearing. Later Lady Zhang monopolized the emperor's favor; when he died the people blamed the Zhang family.
60
晉安帝元興三年，荊、江二界生竹實如麥。
In the third Yuanxing year under Emperor An of Jin bamboo on the Jing-Jiang border bore grain-like fruit.
61
晉安帝義熙二年九月，揚州營揚武將軍營士陳蓋家有苦蕒菜，莖高四尺六寸，廣三尺二寸。 此殆與吳終同象也。
In the ninth month of the second Yixi year a bitter amaranth at soldier Chen Gai's home in the Yangzhou camp of the General Who Establishes Martiality stood four feet six inches tall with a spread three feet two inches wide. This likely foreshadowed the fall of Wu—the same omen, the same pattern.
62
義熙中，宮城上御道左右皆生蒺蔾。 草妖也。 蒺蔾有刺，不可踐而行，生宮牆及馳道，天戒若曰，人君拱默不能聽政，雖居宸極，猶若空宮，雖有御道，未嘗馳騁，皆生蒺蔾若空廢也。
During the Yixi era tribulus sprouted along both sides of the imperial road atop the palace walls. It was a grass prodigy. Tribulus is thorny and impassable; growing on palace walls and the imperial road, Heaven's warning seems to say: the ruler sits mute and does not govern; though enthroned he is as in an empty palace; though an imperial road exists he never rides—tribulus covers all as if the court were abandoned.
63
義熙八年，太社生薰樹于壇側。 薰於文尚黑，宋水德將王之符也。
In the eighth Yixi year a xun tree sprouted beside the mound at the Grand Altar of Earth. The character xun favors black in writing—a sign that Song, whose element is Water, was destined to take the throne.
64
羽蟲之孽
Feathered Creature Calamities
65
魏文帝黃初四年五月，有鵜鵠鳥集靈芝池。 案劉向說，此羽蟲之孽，又青祥也。 詔曰：「此詩人所謂汙澤者也。 曹詩刺恭公遠君子，近小人。 今豈有賢智之士，處于下位，否則斯鳥胡為而至哉？ 其博舉天下儁德茂才，獨行君子，以答曹人之刺。」 於是楊彪、管寧之徒，咸見薦舉。 此謂覩妖知懼者也。 雖然不能優容亮直，而多溺偏私矣。 京房易傳曰：「辟退有德，厥妖水鳥集于國井。」
In the fifth month of the fourth Huangchu year pelicans gathered at the Lingzhi Pool. Liu Xiang's tradition classifies this as a feathered-creature calamity and also a green omen. An edict declared: "This is what the poets call the fouled marsh. A Cao ode rebukes Duke Gong for spurning worthy men and favoring flatterers. Are worthy men languishing in low office—or why else would this bird appear? Let the court broadly seek men of outstanding virtue, abundant talent, and upright character to answer the ode's rebuke." Thereupon Yang Biao, Guan Ning, and others were all recommended. Here was a ruler who saw an omen and took warning. Yet he could not truly tolerate the frank and upright, and still favored his intimates. Jing Fang's Changes commentary says: "When the worthy are driven away, water birds gather at the royal well."
66
黃初末，宮中有鷰生鷹，口爪俱赤。 此與商紂、宋隱同象。
At the end of Huangchu a swallow in the palace hatched a hawk with red beak and claws. It matched omens from the reigns of King Zhou of Shang and Duke Yin of Song.
67
景初元年，又有鷰生鉅鷇於衞國涓桃里李蓋家。 形若鷹，吻似燕。 案劉向說，此羽蟲之孽，又赤眚也。 高堂隆曰：「此魏室之大異，宜防鷹揚之臣於蕭牆之內。」 其後晉宣王起，遂有魏室。
In the first Jingchu year another swallow hatched a huge fledgling at Li Gai's home in Juantao Ward, Wei Commandery. It looked like a hawk but had a swallow's bill. Liu Xiang's tradition classifies this as a feathered-creature calamity and also a red omen. Gao Tanglong said: "This is a grave portent for Wei; beware hawk-like ministers within the palace walls." Later the Prince of Jin rose and seized Wei.
68
漢獻帝建安二十三年，禿鶖鳥集鄴宮文昌殿後池。 明年，魏武王薨。
In the twenty-third Jian'an year bald storks gathered at the pool behind Wenchang Hall in Ye Palace. The following year the Martial King of Wei passed away.
69
魏文帝黃初三年，又集雒陽芳林園池。 七年，又集。 其夏，文帝崩。 景初末，又集芳林園池。 前世再至，輒有大喪，帝惡之。 其年，明帝崩。
In the third Huangchu year they gathered again at the Fanglin Garden pool in Luoyang. In the seventh year they appeared again. That summer Emperor Wen passed away. At the end of Jingchu they gathered once more at the Fanglin Garden pool. Twice before their appearance had foretold imperial death, and the emperor dreaded it. That year Emperor Ming passed away.
70
蜀劉禪建興九年十月，江陽至江州有鳥從江南飛渡江北，不能達，墮水死者以千餘。 是時諸葛亮連年動眾，志吞中夏，而終死渭南，所圖不遂。 又諸將分爭，頗喪徒旅。 鳥北飛不能達，墮水死，皆有其象也。 亮竟不能過渭，又其應乎。 此與漢、楚國烏鬭墮泗水觕類矣。
In the tenth month of the ninth Jianxing year birds flying north from south of the Yangtze between Jiangyang and Jiangzhou failed to cross; more than a thousand drowned. At the time Zhuge Liang had campaigned year after year to conquer the Central Plains but died at Weinan with his ambitions unfulfilled. Generals also quarreled among themselves, losing many troops. Birds flying north and drowning in the river—all had their symbolic meaning. Liang never crossed the Wei—is this the omen fulfilled? This resembled the omen when Han and Chu crows fought and fell into the Si River.
71
魏明帝青龍三年，戴鵀巢鉅鹿人張臶家。 臶博學有高節，不應袁紹、高幹之命，魏太祖辟亦不至，優游嘉遁，門徒數百，太守王肅雅敬焉。 時年百餘歲，謂門人曰：「戴鵀陽鳥，而巢于門陰，此凶祥也。」 乃援琴歌詠，作詩一首，旬日而卒。 按占，羽蟲之孽也。
In the third Qinglong year hoopoes nested at the home of Zhang Jie in Julu. Zhang Jie was a learned recluse of lofty integrity who refused summons from Yuan Shao and Gao Gan and ignored the Martial Emperor's invitation; he lived in gracious retirement with hundreds of disciples, and Prefect Wang Su held him in high esteem. Then over a hundred years old, he told his disciples: "The hoopoe is a yang bird, yet it nests in the shadow of my gate—this is a dire omen." He played the zither and sang, composed a poem, and died within ten days. By omen-reading it was a feathered-creature calamity.
72
魏明帝景初元年，陵霄閣始構，有鵲巢其上。 鵲體白黑雜色。 此羽蟲之孽，又白黑祥也。 帝以問高堂隆，對曰：「詩云：『惟鵲有巢，惟鳩居之。』 今興起宮室，而鵲來巢，此宮室未成，身不得居之之象。 天意若曰，宮室未成，將有它姓制御之，不可不深慮。」 於是帝改容動色。
In the first Jingchu year, as Lingxiao Pavilion was first under construction, a magpie nested on it. The magpie was mottled black and white. It was a feathered-creature calamity and also a black-and-white omen. The emperor asked Gao Tanglong, who replied: "The Odes say: 'The magpie makes the nest, but the turtledove lives in it. The palace is still rising, yet a magpie nests there—the image of unfinished halls whose builder will never inhabit them. Heaven seems to warn: the halls will not be finished before another clan takes control—this demands deep reflection." The emperor's expression changed.
73
吳孫權赤烏十二年四月，有兩烏銜鵲墮東館。 權使領丞相朱據燎鵲以祭。 案劉歆說，此羽蟲之孽，又黑祥也。 視不明，聽不聰之罰也。 是時權意溢德衰，信讒好殺，二子將危，將相俱殆。 覩妖不悟，加之以燎，昧道之甚者也。 明年，太子和廢，魯王霸賜死，朱據左遷，陸議憂卒，是其應也。 東館，典教之府，鵲墮東館，又天意乎。
In the fourth month of the twelfth Chiwu year two crows dropped a magpie they were carrying at the Eastern Pavilion. Sun Quan had Grand Chancellor Zhu Ju burn the magpie as an offering. Liu Xin's tradition classifies this as a feathered-creature calamity and also a black omen. It was punishment for blindness and deafness in governance. At the time Sun Quan's judgment failed and his virtue waned; he trusted slander and favored executions; both heirs were in peril and his ministers endangered. He saw the omen yet understood nothing, and burned the bird besides—a profound blindness to the Way. The next year Crown Prince He was deposed, Prince Ba of Lu was ordered to die, Zhu Ju was demoted, and Lu Yi died of grief—the omen fulfilled. The Eastern Pavilion housed the crown prince's educators—the magpie's fall there was surely Heaven's warning again.
74
吳孫權太元二年正月，封前太子和為南陽王，遣之長沙。 有鵲巢其帆檣。 和故宮僚聞之，皆憂慘，以為檣末傾危，非久安之象。 是後果不得其死。
In the first month of the second Taiyuan year the former Crown Prince He was made Prince of Nanyang and sent to Changsha. A magpie nested on the ship's mast and rigging. He's former retainers heard of it and were deeply troubled, taking a nest at the masthead as an omen of imminent collapse—not long stability. In the end he did not die a natural death.
75
吳孫亮建興二年十一月，大鳥五見于春申。 吳人以為鳳皇，明年，改元為五鳳。 漢桓帝時，有五色大鳥。 司馬彪云：「政治衰缺，無以致鳳，乃羽蟲孽耳。」 孫亮未有德政，孫峻驕暴方甚，此與桓帝同事也。 案瑞應圖，大鳥似鳳而為孽者非一，疑皆是也。
In the eleventh month of the second Jianxing year under Sun Liang of Wu, five large birds appeared at Chunshen. Wu took them for phoenixes and the following year renamed the era Wufeng, "Five Phoenixes." During Emperor Huan's reign a great bird of five colors appeared. Sima Biao wrote: "When governance fails, phoenixes do not come; such birds are feathered-creature calamities, nothing more. Sun Liang had shown no virtuous rule, and Sun Jun's tyranny was at its height—the same pattern as under Emperor Huan. The Chart of Auspicious Responses lists many great birds that resemble phoenixes yet signify calamity; likely all these cases belong in that category.
76
吳孫晧建衡三年，西苑言鳳皇集，以之改元。 義同於亮。
In the third Jianheng year Sun Hao of Wu heard that phoenixes had gathered in the Western Park and renamed the era accordingly. The import was the same as in Sun Liang's case.
77
晉武帝泰始四年八月，翟雉飛上閶闔門。 趙倫既篡，洛陽得異鳥，莫能名。 倫使人持出，周旋城邑匝以問人。 積日，宮西有小兒見之，逆自言曰：「服留鳥翳。」 持者即還白倫。 倫使更求小兒。 至，又見之，將入宮，密籠鳥，閉兒戶中。 明日視，悉不見。 此羽蟲之孽，又妖之甚者也。
In the eighth month of the fourth Taishi year pheasants flew up to the Changhe Gate. Once Zhao Lun had seized the throne, an unidentifiable strange bird appeared in Luoyang. Lun had the bird carried through the city in circuits, asking everyone what it was. After days without an answer, a boy west of the palace saw the bird and called out of his own accord: "It is a fuliu bird— The bearer immediately went back and told Lun. Lun sent men to find the boy again. When the boy came and saw the bird again, just as he was entering the palace they caged the bird in secret and locked him in a room. The next morning bird and boy had both vanished. This was a feathered-creature calamity and one of the most ominous prodigies.
78
趙倫篡位，有鶉入太極殿，雉集東堂。 按太極、東堂，皆朝享聽政之所，而鶉、雉同日集之者，天意若曰，不當居此位也。 詩云「鵲之疆疆，鶉之奔奔。 人之無良，我以為君」。 其此之謂乎。 昔殷宗感雉雊，懼而修德，倫覩二物，曾不知戒，故至滅亡也。
At Zhao Lun's usurpation a quail entered the Hall of Supreme Polarity and pheasants roosted at the Eastern Hall. Both halls were seats of audience and rule; quail and pheasant appearing there together on the same day read as Heaven's verdict that Lun had no right to the throne. The Odes say: "Magpies wheel and quarrel, quails rush and flutter— yet to men without virtue we still bow as lords." Was the Odes not speaking of just such a man? Long ago King Wu Ding of Yin heard a pheasant crow, took fright, and reformed his conduct; Lun saw two such omens yet took no warning—and perished.
79
晉孝懷帝永嘉元年二月，洛陽東北步廣里地陷，有鵝出，蒼色者飛翔沖天，白者止焉。 此羽蟲之孽，又黑白祥也。 董養曰：「步廣，周之狄泉，盟會地也。 白者金色，蒼為胡象，其可盡言乎。」 是後劉淵、石勒相繼擅華，懷、愍二帝淪滅非所。
In the second month of the first Yongjia year the ground collapsed at Buguang Lane northeast of Luoyang and geese emerged; the dark birds soared skyward while the white ones remained below. This was a feathered-creature calamity and also an omen of black and white. Dong Yang commented: "Buguang was Diquan of Zhou, where feudal lords once met in alliance. White is the color of Jin, dark the hue of the barbarians—need more be said? Afterward Liu Yuan and Shi Le seized the heartland in turn, and Emperors Huai and Min died far from their capitals.
80
晉孝懷帝世，周玘家有鵝在籠中，而頭斷籠外。 玘亡後家誅。
During Emperor Huai's reign Zhou Qi kept a goose in a cage whose head was cut off outside the bars. After Zhou Qi died his entire family was put to death.
81
晉明帝太寧三年八月庚戌，有鳥二，蒼黑色，翼廣一丈四尺。 其一集司徒府，射而殺之； 其一集市北家人舍，亦獲焉。 此羽蟲之孽，又黑祥也。 閏月戊子，帝崩。 後有蘇峻、祖約之亂。
On gengxu day in the eighth month of the third Taining year two dark black birds appeared, each with a wingspan of fourteen feet. One alighted on the Chancellor's gate and was shot dead; the other landed at a house north of the market and was captured as well. This was a feathered-creature calamity and also a black omen. On wuzi day in the intercalary month the Emperor died. Soon after came the revolts of Su Jun and Zu Yue.
82
晉成帝咸和二年正月，有五鷗鳥集殿庭。 此又白祥也。 是時庾亮苟違眾謀，將召蘇峻，有言不從之咎，故白祥先見也。 三年二月，峻果作亂，宮室焚毀，化為汙萊，其應也。
In the first month of the second Xianhe year five gulls gathered in the palace courtyard. This too was a white omen. Yu Liang had ignored general counsel and was about to recall Su Jun—a fault of disregarding sound advice—so the white omen appeared beforehand. In the second month of the third year Su Jun rebelled as foretold; the palace was burned to ruin, the fulfillment of the omen.
83
晉成帝咸康八年七月，白鷺集殿屋。 是時康帝始即位，此不永之祥也。 後涉再朞而帝崩。 劉向曰：「野鳥入處，宮室將空。」 張瓘在涼州正朝，放隹雀諸鳥，出手便死； 左右放者悉飛去。
In the seventh month of the eighth Xiankang year white egrets roosted on the palace roof. Emperor Kang had just taken the throne—a sign that his reign would not last. Within two years the Emperor was dead. Liu Xiang wrote: "When wild birds enter the palace, the halls will stand empty. Zhang Guan held court in Liangzhou; when he released pheasants and other birds, they died the moment they left his hand, but those released by his attendants all flew off unharmed.
84
晉孝武帝太元十六年正月，鵲巢太極東頭鴟尾，又巢國子學堂西頭。 十八年，東宮始成，十九年正月，鵲又巢其西門。 此殆與魏景初同占。 學堂，風教所聚； 西門，金行之祥也。
In the first month of the sixteenth Taiyuan year magpies nested on the eastern owl-tail of the Supreme Hall and on the western end of the National University hall. The Eastern Palace was completed in the eighteenth year; in the first month of the nineteenth magpies nested at its western gate as well. This likely carried the same meaning as the Jingchu omen in Wei. The academy is where culture and instruction are centered; the western gate bears an omen associated with the Metal phase.
85
晉安帝義熙三年，龍驤將軍朱猗戍壽陽。 婢炊飯，忽有羣烏集竈，競來啄噉，婢驅逐不去。 有獵狗咋殺烏鵲，餘者因共啄狗即死，又噉其肉，唯餘骨存。 五年六月，猗死。
In the third Yixi year General Zhu Yi of Dragon Might garrisoned Shouyang. While a maid was cooking, crows suddenly swarmed the stove and fought over the food; she shooed them but they would not go. A hunting dog killed one crow; the rest turned on the dog, pecked it dead, and devoured its flesh until only bones remained. In the sixth month of the fifth year Zhu Yi died.
86
宋武帝永初三年，臨軒拜徐羨之為司空，百僚陪位，有二野鸛集太極鴟尾鳴呼。
In the third Yongchu year, as Emperor Wu invested Xu Xianzhi as Minister of Works with the court in attendance, two wild storks perched on the Supreme Hall's owl-tail and cried out.
87
少帝景平二年春，鸛巢太廟西鴟尾，驅去復還。
In the second Jingping spring storks nested on the western owl-tail of the Imperial Ancestral Temple; driven off, they returned.
88
文帝元嘉二年春，有江鷗鳥數百，集太極殿前小階內。 明年，誅徐羨之等。
In the second Yuanjia spring hundreds of river gulls gathered on the lower terrace before the Supreme Hall. The following year Xu Xianzhi and his allies were put to death.
89
羊禍
Sheep Calamities
90
晉成帝咸和二年五月，司徒王導廄，羊生無後足。 此羊禍也。 京房易傳曰：「足少者，下不勝任也。」 明年，蘇峻入京都，導與成帝俱幽石頭，僅乃免身。 是其應也。
In the fifth month of the second Xianhe year a lamb without hind legs was born in Chancellor Wang Dao's stable. This was a sheep calamity. Jing Fang's Tradition of Changes says: "Missing feet mean subordinates cannot sustain their duties." The next year Su Jun seized the capital; Wang Dao and Emperor Cheng were imprisoned at Shitou and barely survived. The omen was fulfilled.
91
宋孝武帝大明七年，永平郡獻三角羊。 羊禍也。
In the seventh Daming year Yongping commandery presented a sheep with three horns. This too was a sheep calamity.
92
赤眚赤祥
Red Blights and Red Portents
93
公孫淵時，襄平北市生肉，長圍各數尺，有頭目口喙，無手足，而動搖。 此赤眚也。 占曰：「有形不成，有體無聲，其國滅亡。」 淵尋為魏所誅。
During Gongsun Yuan's reign flesh several feet long sprouted in Xiangping's north market, shaped like heads with eyes and beaks but no limbs, yet quivering. This was a red blight. The oracle reads: "Shape without wholeness, body without voice—the kingdom will fall." Yuan was soon destroyed by Wei.
94
吳戍將鄧嘉殺猪祠神，治畢縣之，忽見一人頭往食肉，嘉引弓射中之，咋咋作聲，繞屋三日。 近赤祥也。 後人白嘉謀北叛，闔門被誅。 京房易妖曰：「山見葆，江于邑，邑有兵，狀如人頭赤色。」
Wu garrison commander Deng Jia sacrificed a pig to a spirit and hung the meat to cure; a human head appeared and devoured it. Jia shot it with an arrow; it chattered and circled his house for three days. This was akin to a red omen. Later someone accused Jia of plotting to defect north; his entire family was executed. Jing Fang's Book of Change Prodigies says: "Mountains show strange growth, rivers flood the town; the town will know war—shaped like a human head, red in hue."
95
吳諸葛恪將見誅，盥洗水血臭； 侍者授衣，衣亦臭。 此近赤祥也。
As Zhuge Ke of Wu awaited execution, his wash water reeked of blood; and the robes his attendants brought likewise stank. These were red omens of the same kind.
96
晉武帝太康七年十一月，河陰有赤雪二頃。 此赤祥也。 後涉四載而帝崩，王宮遂亂。
In the eleventh month of the seventh Taikang year red snow covered two qing at Heyin. This was a red omen. Four years later the Emperor died and the palace fell into chaos.
97
晉惠帝元康五年三月，呂縣有流血，東西百餘步。 此赤祥也。 元康末，窮凶極亂，僵尸流血之應也。 干寶以為後八載而封雲亂徐州，殺傷數萬人，是其應也。
In the third month of the fifth Yuankang year blood flowed across more than a hundred paces in Lyu County. This was a red omen. At Yuankang's close came utter wickedness and chaos—the omen of corpses and flowing blood fulfilled. Gan Bao held that eight years later Feng Yun's rebellion in Xuzhou killed tens of thousands—the omen's fulfillment.
98
晉惠帝永康元年三月，尉氏雨血。 夫政刑舒緩，則有常燠赤祥之妖。 此歲正月，送愍懷太子幽于許宮。 天戒若曰，不宜緩恣姦人，將使太子冤死。 惠帝愚眊不悟，是月愍懷遂斃。 於是王室釁成，禍流天下。 淖齒殺齊閔王日，天雨血沾衣，天以告也，此之謂乎。 京房易傳曰：「歸獄不解，茲謂追非，厥咎天雨血，茲謂不親，民有怨心，不出三年，無其宗人。」 又曰：「佞人祿，功臣戮，天雨血。」
In the third month of the first Yongkang year blood rain fell at Weishi. Lax governance and delayed justice breed prodigies of unnatural warmth and red omens. That same year, in the first month, Crown Prince Minhuai was imprisoned at the palace in Xu. Heaven seemed to warn: do not indulge villains so lightly, lest the crown prince die unjustly. Emperor Hui was too dull to understand; that month Minhuai was dead. The breach in the imperial house was opened and disaster spread across the land. When Nao Chi killed King Min of Qi, blood rain stained men's robes—Heaven's proclamation. Was this the same sign? Jing Fang's Tradition of Changes states: "When prisoners are not released, it is called pursuing error; the penalty is blood rain from Heaven. When the ruler is distant from his people, resentment grows; within three years none of his kin will remain." It also says: "When sycophants prosper and worthy ministers are killed, blood rains from the sky."
99
晉愍帝建興四年十二月丙寅，丞相府斬督運令史淳于伯，血逆流上柱二丈三尺。 此赤祥也。 是時後將軍褚裒鎮廣陵，丞相揚聲北伐，伯以督運稽留及役使臧罪，依征軍法戮之。 其息訴稱：「伯督運事訖，無所稽乏，受賕役使，罪不及死。 兵家之勢，先聲後實，實是屯戍，非為征軍。 自四年以來，運漕稽停，皆不以軍興法論。」 僚佐莫之理。 及有此變，司直彈劾眾官，元帝又無所問。 於是頻旱三年。 干寶以為寃氣之應也。 郭景純曰：「血者水類，同屬於坎，坎為法家。 水平潤下，不宜逆流。 此政有咎失之徵也。」
On bingyin day in the twelfth month of the fourth Jianxing year the Chancellor's office executed Transport Clerk Chunyu Bo; his blood flowed up a pillar twenty-three feet high. This was a red omen. Rear General Chu Pou then garrisoned Guangling while the Chancellor proclaimed a northern expedition; Bo was executed under wartime law for delays in supply transport and forcing laborers for private gain. His son protested: "My father had completed the transport mission without delay or shortfall; though he took bribes and forced labor, the offense did not warrant death. In military affairs fame precedes substance; the substance here was garrison duty, not a field army on campaign. Since the fourth year transport convoys have been delayed, yet none of this is judged under the laws for raising armies." No one among the staff would listen. When this omen appeared, the Director of Integrity impeached the officials involved, yet Emperor Yuan again took no action. Drought then struck year after year for three years. Gan Bao interpreted this as the response of aggrieved spiritual force. Guo Jingchun wrote, "Blood belongs to water and shares the trigram Kan; Kan is the symbol of law. Water levels and flows downward; it should not run back uphill. This is a sign that government has gone grievously wrong."