Volume 105d Treatise 1: Celestial Phenomena 4

太和十二年十一月戊午，太白犯歲，又犯火，喪疾之祥。占曰「國無兵憂，則君有白衣之會」。丙寅，火又犯木。占曰「內無亂政，則主有喪戚之故」。十二月壬寅，太白犯填。占曰「金為喪祥，后妃受之」。十三年二月，熒惑犯填。占曰「火主凶亂，女君應之」。皆文明太后之謫也。先是，十一年六月甲子，歲星晝見；十二月甲戌，又晝見；是歲六月，又如之。歲而麗于大明，少君象也。是時孝文有仁聖之表，而太后分權以干冒之，及帝春秋方壯，始將經緯禮俗，財成國風。故比年女君之謫屢見，而歲星䆮盛，至于不可掩奪矣。且占曰「木晝見，主有白衣之會」。是歲九月丙午，有大流星自五車北入紫宮，抵天極，有聲如雷。占曰「天下大凶，國有喪，宮且空」。夫五車，君之車府也，天象若曰：是將以喪事有千乘萬騎而舉者。大有聲，其事昭盛。至十四年三月，填星守哭泣。占曰「將以女君有哭泣之事」。四月丙申，火犯鬼，喪祥也。六月，有大流星從紫宮出，西行。天象又曰：人主將以喪事而出其宮。八月，月、太白皆犯軒轅。九月癸丑而太皇太后崩，帝哭三日不絕聲，勺飲不入口者七日，納菅屨，徒行至陵，其反亦如之，哀毀骨立，杖而後起，雖殊俗之萌，矯然知感焉。自九月至于歲終，凡四謁陵。又荐出紫宮之驗也。〈十四年十一月，月犯填星；十二月月犯軒轅；十五年十月，月犯填，又犯軒轅；八月，又犯之； [2]九月，月掩填星；十七年正月，月又犯軒轅。皆女君之象也。是時林貴人以故事薨，及馮貴人為后，而其姊譖之，至二十年竟坐廢黜，以憂死。幽后繼立，又以淫亂不終。〉

In the eleventh month of Taihe 12, on wuwu day, Venus crossed Jupiter and then Mars—an omen of mourning and sickness. The omen reads: "When the realm is free of military alarm, the ruler will don mourning white." On bingyin day, Mars crossed Jupiter again. The omen reads: "With no disorder within the government, the sovereign will suffer a bereavement." In the twelfth month on renyin day, Venus crossed Saturn. The omen reads: "Metal portends mourning, and empresses and consorts will bear it." In the second month of year 13, Mars crossed Saturn. The omen reads: "Fire presides over disaster and turmoil, and the female sovereign will answer to it." All of these were heavenly rebukes aimed at Empress Dowager Wenming. Earlier, in the sixth month of year 11 on jiazi day, Jupiter shone visible in broad daylight; in the twelfth month on jiaxu day, it appeared in daylight again; and in the sixth month of that same year, the same thing occurred once more. Jupiter gleaming near the sun is the sign of the young sovereign. At that time Emperor Xiaowen showed every mark of benevolence and wisdom, yet the empress dowager held a share of power and overreached against him. As the emperor came into the prime of life, he was just beginning to set rites and customs in order and shape the character of the realm. Hence in year after year the heavens rebuked the female sovereign, while Jupiter's brilliance swelled until it could no longer be hidden or overridden. The omen also reads: "When Jupiter appears by day, the ruler will don mourning white." In the ninth month of that year on bingwu day, a great meteor streaked from north of the Five Chariots into the Purple Palace and struck the Celestial Pole, roaring like thunder. The omen reads: "Calamity will sweep the realm; the state will mourn, and the palace will stand empty." The Five Chariots are the sovereign's chariot depot. Heaven seemed to say that a funeral would be mounted with a thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen. The thunderous report meant the event would be vast and unmistakable. By the third month of year 14, Saturn had stationed itself at the Weeping asterism. The omen reads: "The female sovereign will have reason to weep." On bingshen in the fourth month, Mars crossed the Ghosts—another mourning sign. In the sixth month, a great meteor burst from the Purple Palace and swept westward. Heaven also signaled that the sovereign would leave the palace on a funeral errand. In the eighth month, both the Moon and Venus crossed Xuanyuan. On guichou in the ninth month the Grand Empress Dowager died. The emperor wept without pause for three days and for seven days refused even a spoonful of water. He put on coarse hemp sandals and walked on foot to the tomb, returning the same way. Grief wasted him to the bone; he could stand only with a staff. Though the practice arose from foreign custom, his sorrow was unmistakably genuine. From September until the year's end, he paid four visits to the tomb. This too confirmed the omen of departing the Purple Palace. 〈In the eleventh month of year 14, the Moon crossed Saturn; in the twelfth month the Moon crossed Xuanyuan; in the tenth month of year 15, the Moon crossed Saturn and also crossed Xuanyuan; in the eighth month it crossed them again; in the ninth month the Moon eclipsed Saturn; In the first month of year 17, the Moon crossed Xuanyuan once more.〉 All were signs of the female sovereign. At that time Honored Lady Lin died as custom dictated. When Honored Lady Feng became empress, her elder sister slandered her; by year 20 she was deposed at last and died of grief. Empress You succeeded her, only to meet an inglorious end in debauchery.〉

十三年十二月戊戌，填星、辰星合于須女。女，齊、吳分。占曰「是為雍沮，主令不行，且有陰親者」。至十四年三月庚申，歲星守牛。占曰「其君不愛親戚，貴人多喪；又饉祥也」。是歲太白三犯熒惑；十月，太白入氐；十一月，有大流星從南行入氐。甲申，齊邦之物也，金、火相鑠，為兵喪，為大人之謫。天象若曰：宿宮有兵喪之故，盛大者循而殘之，處其寢廟之中矣。至十五年三月壬子，歲犯填，在虛；三月癸巳，木、火、土三星合宿于虛；甲午，火、土相犯。虛，齊也。占曰「其國亂專政，內外兵喪，故立侯王」。九月乙丑，太白犯斗第四星；戊子，有大流星起少微，入南宮，至帝坐。主有盛大之臣，乘賢以侮其君者。且占曰「大人易政」。至十七年正月戊辰，金、木合于危。危，亦齊也，是為人君且罹兵喪之變。四月戊子，太白犯五諸侯。占曰「有擅刑以殘賊諸侯者」。至七月，齊武帝殂，西昌侯以從子干政，竟殺二君而自立，是為齊明帝。於是高、武諸子王侯數十人相次誅夷，殆無遺育矣。雖繼體相循，實有準命之禍，[3]故天謫仍見云。〈自十五年至十七年，月行七犯建星。建星為忠臣之輔，經代之謀，又吳之分也。十五年，再犯牽牛；十六年至十七年，又四犯南斗。是謂臣干天祿，且曰「大人多死者」。又十五年七月，金入太微；十七年，火入太微宮。反臣之戒。是歲，月行四入太微，十七年六入太微，比歲凡十干之，而齊君夷其宗室，亦積忍酷甚也。〉

In the twelfth month of year 13 on wuxu day, Saturn and Mercury met in the Maiden asterism. Maiden corresponds to the territories of Qi and Wu. The omen reads: "This is stagnation and blockage—orders will not be obeyed, and a hidden kinsman is involved." By the third month of year 14 on gengshen day, Jupiter stationed itself in the Ox. The omen reads: "The ruler will neglect his kin, and many of the great will die; and it also portends famine." That year Venus crossed Mars three times; in the tenth month Venus entered the Root; in the eleventh month a great meteor swept in from the south and entered the Root. The Root belongs to Qi. Metal and Fire clashing together mean war and mourning, and the rebuke of a great lord. Heaven seemed to say that the asterism's domain would suffer war and death—that the mighty would be hunted down and cut off within their own ancestral halls. By the third month of year 15 on renzi day, Jupiter crossed Saturn in the Void; on guisi in the third month Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn all converged in the Void; On jiawu day, Mars and Saturn crossed each other. The Void corresponds to Qi. The omen reads: "That realm will fall into turmoil and tyranny, suffer war and mourning at home and abroad, and see new lords enthroned." On yichou in the ninth month Venus crossed the Dipper's fourth star; on wuzi day a great meteor rose from Lesser Supreme, entered the Southern Palace, and reached the Emperor's Seat. It foretold a powerful minister who would exploit his talents to humiliate his sovereign. The omen also reads: "Great men will overturn the government." By the first month of year 17 on wuchen day, Venus and Jupiter met in Rooftop. Rooftop also belongs to Qi—meaning the ruler would soon face war and death. On wuzi in the fourth month, Venus crossed the Five Feudal Lords. The omen reads: "Someone will wield punishment arbitrarily to destroy the feudal lords." By the seventh month Emperor Wu of Qi had died. The Marquis of Xichang, a younger kinsman, seized power, killed two emperors, and enthroned himself as Emperor Ming of Qi. Thereafter dozens of princes and marquises descended from the Gaozu and Wudi lines were executed in succession, until scarcely a survivor remained. Though the throne passed in orderly succession, the realm in truth faced a foreordained catastrophe, and so heaven's rebukes kept appearing. 〈From year 15 to year 17, the Moon crossed the Establishment Stars seven times. The Establishment Stars represent loyal ministers and the counsel of dynastic change; they also correspond to Wu. In year 15 it crossed the Ox Leader twice; from year 16 to year 17 it crossed the Southern Dipper four more times. This means ministers encroaching on Heaven's bounty, and the omen also reads: "Many great men will die." In the seventh month of year 15, Venus entered the Supreme Palace; in year 17, Mars entered the Supreme Palace. These were warnings of treasonous ministers. That year the Moon entered the Supreme Palace four times; in year 17 it entered six times—ten incursions in all across those years—while the Qi ruler wiped out his own imperial clan with relentless cruelty.〉

十五年四月癸亥，熒惑入羽林；十六年二月壬子，太白入羽林。占曰「天下兵起」。三月己卯，四月丙午，五月甲戌，十月辛卯，月行皆入羽林；十七年四月壬寅，八月辛卯，十二月辛巳，又如之。先是，陽平王頤統十二將軍騎士七萬，北討蠕蠕。是歲八月，上勒兵三十餘萬自將擊齊，由是比歲皆有事于南方。〈十五年三月，月掩畢；十一月，又犯之；十六年五月及七月，月再入畢；八月、十一月又再犯之；十七年八月又入畢。畢為邊兵。占曰「貴人多死」。十五年六月，濟陰王鬱賜死；十七年，南平王霄、三老尉元皆死；十八年，安定王休死；十九年，司徒馮誕、太師馮熙、廣川王諧皆死。〉

On guihai in the fourth month of year 15, Mars entered the Feathered Forest; On renzi in the second month of year 16, Venus entered the Feathered Forest. The omen reads: "War will break out across the realm." On jimao in the third month, bingwu in the fourth, jiaxu in the fifth, and xinmao in the tenth, the Moon entered the Feathered Forest each time; and in year 17 on renyin in the fourth month, xinmao in the eighth, and xinsi in the twelfth, the same thing occurred again. Earlier, Prince Yangping Yi had led twelve generals and seventy thousand horsemen on a northern campaign against the Rouran. In the eighth month of that year the emperor personally led more than three hundred thousand troops against Qi, and in the years that followed the south saw constant warfare. 〈In the third month of year 15, the Moon eclipsed the Net; in the eleventh month it crossed it again; in the fifth and seventh months of year 16 the Moon entered the Net twice; in the eighth and eleventh months it crossed it twice more; In the eighth month of year 17 it entered the Net once again. The Net governs frontier armies. The omen reads: "Many of the great will die." In the sixth month of year 15, Prince Yu of Jiyin was ordered to take his own life; in year 17 Prince Xiao of Nanping and the Three Elders Wei Yuan both died; in year 18 Prince Xiu of Anding died; in year 19 Minister Over Masses Feng Dan, Grand Preceptor Feng Xi, and Prince Xie of Guangchuan all died.〉

十七年二月庚戌，火、土合于室。室星，先王所以制宮廟也，熒惑天視，填為司空，聚而謀之，其相宅之兆也。且緯曰：「人君不失善政，則火土相扶，卜洛之業庶幾興矣。」是歲九月，上罷擊齊，始大議遷都。冬十月，詔司空穆亮、將作董邇繕洛陽宮室，明年而徙都之。於是更服色，殊徽號，文物大備，得南宮之應焉。〈凡五星分野，熒惑統朱鳥之宿，而填以軒鼓寓之，皆周鶉火之分。室，又并州之分。是為步自并州，而經始洛邑之祥也。〉

On gengxu in the second month of year 17, Mars and Saturn met in the Room. The Room is where former kings laid out palaces and temples. Mars is Heaven's inspector, Saturn the Minister of Works—when they gather to deliberate, the sign is one of choosing a capital site. An apocryphal text also says: "When the ruler does not abandon good governance, Fire and Earth lend each other support, and the work of establishing a capital at Luo may at last be revived." That September the emperor broke off the campaign against Qi and first opened serious debate on moving the capital. In the tenth month of winter he ordered Minister of Works Mu Liang and Director of Palace Construction Dong Er to repair the Luoyang palaces, and the next year he moved the capital there. Thereupon he changed court dress and colors, revised insignia and titles, and fully restored ritual regalia—fulfilling the omen of the Southern Palace. 〈Among the territorial domains of the five planets, Mars governs the lodges of the Vermilion Bird, while Saturn is associated with the Chariot Hub and Drum—all belonging to the Quail Fire domain of Zhou. The Room also corresponds to Bing Province. This was the sign of the dynasty's advance from Bing Province and the founding of the capital at Luoyang.〉

十七年二月丁丑，太白犯井；辛丑，又犯鬼；五月戊午，晝見；九月，又如之。是謂兵祥，雍州也。是月，火、木合于婁。婁為徐州，占曰「其地有亂，萬人不安」。八月辛巳，熒惑入井。占曰「兵革起」。明年十二月，[4]詔征南將軍薛真度督四將出襄陽，大將軍劉昶出義陽，徐州刺史元衍出鍾離，平南將軍劉藻出南鄭，[5]皆兩雍、徐方之分。後年正月，平南王肅大敗齊師于義陽，降者萬餘。己亥，上絕淮，登八公山，並淮而東，及鍾離乃還。〈至十九年六月庚申，金、木合于井。七月，火犯井。二十一年十一月，[6]大敗齊師于沔北。明年春，復大破之，下二十餘城，於是悉定沔漢諸郡。時江南偽立雍州於襄陽，以總牧西土遺黎，故與東井同候。〉

In the second month of year 17, on dingchou day, Venus crossed the Well; On xinchou day, it crossed the Ghosts again; In the fifth month, on wuwu day, it was visible in daylight; In the ninth month, the same occurred again. This was a military omen pertaining to Yong Province. That month, Mars and Jupiter met in the Bond. Bond corresponds to Xuzhou. The omen reads: "That region will see unrest, and the people will know no peace." In the eighth month, on xinsi day, Mars entered the Well. The omen reads: "War will break out." The next December, [4] an edict sent General Who Conquers the South Xue Zhendu at the head of four generals from Xiangyang, Grand General Liu Chang from Yiyang, Xuzhou Inspector Yuan Yan from Zhongli, and General Who Pacifies the South Liu Zao from Nanzheng—[5] all operating within the Yong and Xu domains. In the first month of the following year, Prince Su of Pingnan routed the Qi army at Yiyang, and more than ten thousand men surrendered. On jihai day the emperor crossed the Huai, climbed Mount Bagong, marched east along the river, and turned back only after reaching Zhongli. 〈In the sixth month of year 19, on gengshen day, Venus and Jupiter met in the Well. In the seventh month, Mars crossed the Well. In the eleventh month of year 21, [6] the Qi army was routed north of the Mian River. The next spring they were defeated again, more than twenty cities fell, and thereafter all commanderies along the Mian and Han were pacified. At that time the Southern court had falsely established Yong Province at Xiangyang to oversee the remnant populations of the western territories, so its omen was read together with that of the Eastern Well.〉

十八年四月甲寅，熒惑入軒轅，后妃之戒也。是時，左昭儀得幸，方譖訴馮后，上蠱而惑之。故天若言曰：夫膚受之微不可不察，亦自我天視而降鑒焉。至十九年三月，月犯軒轅；二十年七月辛巳，又掩填星。是月，馮后竟廢，尋以憂死，而立左昭儀，是為幽后。明年，追廢林貞后為庶人。二十二年正月，月又掩軒轅。十一月，又彗星起軒轅，歷鬼南，及天漢。天又若曰：是固多穢德，宜其彗除矣。行歷鬼，又強死之徵。明年，幽后賜死也。

In the fourth month of year 18, on jiayin day, Mars entered Xuanyuan—a warning concerning empresses and consorts. At this time the Left Lady of Bright Deportment had won the emperor's favor and was traducing Empress Feng; bewitched by sorcery, the emperor was swayed against the empress. Thus Heaven seemed to say: the poison of whispered slander must not go unexamined; Heaven's inspector had descended to hold up a mirror from on high. In the third month of year 19, the Moon crossed Xuanyuan; In the seventh month of year 20, on xinsi day, it occulted Saturn again. That month Empress Feng was deposed at last; soon she died of grief, and the Left Lady of Bright Deportment was elevated as Empress You. The next year Empress Lin Zhen was posthumously stripped of her title and reduced to commoner status. In the first month of year 22, the Moon occulted Xuanyuan again. In the eleventh month a comet also rose in Xuanyuan, passed south of the Ghosts, and reached the Celestial River. Heaven again seemed to say: she had accumulated grievous sins; it was fitting that a comet should purge her. Its passage through the Ghosts was further sign of a forced, unnatural death. The next year Empress You was ordered to take her own life.

十九年六月壬寅，熒惑出于端門。占曰「邦有大獄，君子惡之，又更紀立王之戒也」。明年，皇太子恂坐不軌，黜為庶人。至二十一年十月壬午，熒惑、歲星合於端門之內。歲為人君，火主死喪之禮，而陳于門庭，大喪之象也。二十二年二月乙丑，木、火合于掖門內，是夕，月行逮之；三月丙午，木、火俱出掖門外，再合一相犯，月行逮之。后妃預有咎焉。明年四月，宮車晏駕。夫太微，禮樂之庭也。時帝方修禮儀，正喪服，以經人倫之化，竟未就而崩。少君嗣立，其事復寢，縉紳先生咸哀慟焉。故天視奉而修之，是以徘徊南宮，蓋皇天有以著慎終歸厚之情。或曰「合于天庭南方，有反臣之戒」。是時齊明帝殂，比及三年而亂兵四交宮掖，既而蕭衍戡之，竟覆齊室云。〈二十一年十一月，有流星照地，至天津而滅。占曰「將有樓船之攻，人君以大眾行」。二十二年而上南伐。是歲之正月，有流星大如三斗瓶，起貫索，東北流，光燭地，經天棓乃滅，有聲如雷。天棓，天子先驅也。占曰「國中貴人有死者，且大赦」。至三月，上南征不豫，詔武衞元嵩詣洛陽，賜皇后死。〉

In the sixth month of year 19, on renyin day, Mars emerged from the Portal Gate. The omen reads: "The realm will face a grave legal crisis that good men will abhor; it also warns of a change of reign and the elevation of a new ruler." The next year Crown Prince Xun was convicted of disloyalty and demoted to commoner status. In the tenth month of year 21, on renwu day, Mars and Jupiter met inside the Portal Gate. Jupiter represents the sovereign; Mars presides over funeral rites—when both appear in the gate court, the sign is one of great bereavement. In the second month of year 22, on yichou day, Jupiter and Mars met inside the Rear Gate; that evening the Moon's path reached them; In the third month, on bingwu day, Jupiter and Mars both emerged outside the Rear Gate, met and crossed again, and the Moon's path reached them. Empresses and consorts were forewarned of calamity. The next April the emperor died. The Supreme Palace is the hall of ritual and music. The emperor was at that very time reforming court ritual and standardizing mourning dress to establish the moral order of human relations—but he died before the work was finished. The young sovereign succeeded him, the reforms were shelved, and officials and scholars alike were stricken with grief. Heaven's inspector had attended to this and lingered in the Southern Palace—surely Heaven meant to show the importance of honoring the dead and observing mourning with full devotion. Some read the omen as: "Their meeting in the southern part of the Celestial Court warns of a rebellious minister." At this time Emperor Ming of Qi died; within three years rebel armies were fighting on all sides within the Qi palace, until Xiao Yan crushed them and ultimately overturned the Qi dynasty. 〈In the eleventh month of year 21, a meteor lit up the ground, reached the Celestial Ford, and vanished. The omen reads: "There will be assault by tower ships; the ruler will take the field with a great army." In year 22 the emperor launched a southern campaign. That January a meteor the size of a three-dou jar rose from the Coiled Thong, streaked northeast with light illuminating the ground, passed the Celestial Club and vanished with a thunderous roar. The Celestial Club is the sovereign's vanguard star. The omen reads: "A high noble in the realm will die, and a general amnesty will follow." In the third month, while on campaign in the south the emperor fell ill; he ordered Military Guard Yuan Song to Luoyang and commanded the empress to take her life.〉

世宗景明元年四月壬辰，有大流星起軒轅左角，東南流，色黃赤，破為三段，狀如連珠，相隨至翼。左角，后宗也。占曰「流星起軒轅，女主後宮多讒死者」。翼為天庭之羽儀，王室之蕃衞，彭城國焉。又占曰「流星于翼，貴人有憂繫」。是時，彭城王忠賢，且以懿親輔政，借使世宗諒陰，恭己而修成王之業，則高祖之道庶幾興焉。而阿倚母族，納高肇之譖，明年，彭城王竟廢。後數年，高氏又鴆于后，而以貴嬪代之。由是小人道長，讒亂之風作矣。夫天之風戒，肇于履端之始，而沒身不悟，以傷魏道，豈不哀哉！或曰：軒轅主后土之養氣，而庇祐下人也，故左角謂之少人焉。天象若曰：人將喪其所以致養，幾至流亡離析矣。是歲，北鎮及十七州大饉，人多就食云。〈是歲十二月癸未，月暈太微，既而有白氣長一丈許，南抵七星，俄而月復暈北斗大角。為君以兵自衞，又赦祥也，且為立君之戒。時蕭衍立少主於江陵，改元大赦。尋伐金陵，以長圍逼之。又二年正月，月暈井、參、觜、昴、五車。占曰「貴人死，大赦」。是歲，廣陵王羽薨。二月至秋，再大赦。〉

In the fourth month of Jingming 1 under Emperor Xuanwu, on renchen day, a great meteor rose from the left horn of Xuanyuan and streamed southeast, yellow-red in hue; it shattered into three pearl-like segments that followed one another as far as Wings. The left horn represents the empress's clan. The omen reads: "When a meteor rises in Xuanyuan, many in the empress's household and inner palace will die through false accusation." Wings is the feathered retinue of the Celestial Court, the bulwark of the royal house—corresponding to the Pengcheng domain. The omen also reads: "A meteor in Wings means a noble will face imprisonment and distress." At this time Prince Zhong of Pengcheng was virtuous and, as a kinsman of the throne, helped govern the realm. Had Emperor Xuanwu in his mourning faithfully restrained himself and carried forward the work of King Cheng, the legacy of Emperor Gaozu might nearly have been revived. But he relied on his mother's kin, accepted the calumnies of Gao Zhao—and the next year Prince Zhong of Pengcheng was deposed. Several years later the Gaos poisoned the empress and replaced her with an Honored Lady. From this the influence of petty men grew, and a tide of slanderous intrigue set in. Heaven's warnings arrive at the year's turning, yet he never understood them throughout his life, to the Wei dynasty's harm—how lamentable! Some say Xuanyuan presides over the nurturing breath of the earth and protects the common people below—hence the left horn is called the domain of the masses. The heavens seemed to say: the people would lose their means of sustenance and face exile and dispersion. That year the northern border garrisons and seventeen provinces suffered severe famine, and many people wandered in search of food. 〈That December, on guiwei day, the Moon formed a halo around the Supreme Palace; then a white vapor about ten feet long stretched south to the Seven Stars; soon the Moon haloed the Great Horn of the Northern Dipper as well. The sign portended a ruler arming for self-defense, an impending amnesty, and the elevation of a new sovereign. At that time Xiao Yan enthroned a young ruler at Jiangling, changed the reign title, and declared a general amnesty. He soon marched on Jinling and tightened a prolonged siege around it. In the first month of the second year, the Moon formed halos around the Well, Three Stars, Turtle Beak, Hairy Head, and Five Chariots. The omen reads: "A noble will die, followed by a general amnesty." That year Prince Yu of Guangling died. Between the second month and autumn, two general amnesties were proclaimed.〉

二年正月己未，金、火俱在奎，光芒相掩。為兵喪，為逆謀，大人憂之，野有破軍殺將。奎，徐方也。三月丁巳，有流星起五諸侯，入五車，至天潢散絕為三，光明燭地。五車，所以輔衰替之君也，流星自五諸侯干之，諸侯且霸而修兵車之會；分而為二，距乏〈疑〉之君幾將並立焉。〈魏收以為流星出五車，諸侯有反者。至五月，咸陽王禧謀反，賜死。〉戊午，填星在井，犯鉞，相去二寸。占曰「人君有戮死者」。時蕭衍起兵襄陽，將討東昏之亂，是月，推南康王寶融為帝，踐阼于江陵，於是齊有二君矣。至八月戊午，金、火又合于翼，楚分也。十一月甲寅，金、水俱出西方。占曰「東方國大敗」。時蕭衍已舉夏口，平尋陽，遂沿流而東，東主之師連戰敗績，於是長圍守之。十二月，齊將張稷斬東昏以降，又戮主之徵。至三年正月，火犯房北星，光芒相接；癸巳，填星逆行，守井北轅西星。皆大臣賊主，更政立君之戒也。三月，金、水合於須女。女，齊分；金、水合，為兵誅。二月丁酉，有流星起東井，流入紫宮，至北極而滅。東井，雍州之分，衍憑之以興，且西君之分，使星由之以抵辰極，是為禪受之命，且為大喪。是月，齊諸侯相次伏誅，既而西君錫命，衍受禪于建康，是為梁武帝。戊辰而少主殂。〈自二年至三年，月六掩犯斗魁；七月，火犯斗，皆吳分也。時江南北歲大饉，又連兵北鄙，負敗相迹。又二年七月，月暈婁，內青外黃，轢昴、畢、天船、大陵、卷舌、奎。船為徐魯，又赦祥也，且曰「多死喪」。三月，青、齊、徐、兗餓死萬餘人。七月，大赦。三年八月，月暈，外青內黃，轢昴、畢、婁、胃、五車。占曰「貴人多死」。十二月，月犯昴，環月。太傅、平陽王丕薨。 [7]後年正月，大赦。〉

In the first month of year 2, on jiwei day, Venus and Mars both stood in Legs, their radiance overlapping. The sign portended war and mourning, treasonous plotting; the great suffered anxiety; armies would be broken and generals slain. Legs corresponds to the Xu region. In the third month, on dingsi day, a meteor rose from the Five Feudal Lords, entered the Five Chariots, reached the Celestial Ford and broke into three fragments, its light illuminating the earth. The Five Chariots assist a ruler in decline; the meteor encroached on them from the Five Feudal Lords—the sign that feudal lords would soon rise in power and muster their chariots of war; It split in two; the text is corrupt at this point 〈text doubtful〉 —rival lords would nearly be enthroned at once. 〈Wei Shou interpreted the meteor's emergence from the Five Chariots as a sign that feudal lords would rebel. In the fifth month Prince Xi of Xianyang plotted rebellion and was compelled to die.〉 On wuwu day Saturn stood in the Well, crossing the Battle-axe star, two cun apart. The omen reads: "A ruler will die by execution." At this time Xiao Yan raised an army at Xiangyang to suppress the tyranny of Emperor Donghun; that month he enthroned Prince Bao Rong of Nankang at Jiangling, and Qi thus had two rulers. In the eighth month, on wuwu day, Venus and Mars met again in Wings—the Chu domain. In the eleventh month, on jiayin day, Venus and Mercury both appeared in the west. The omen reads: "The eastern state will suffer catastrophic defeat." By then Xiao Yan had seized Xiakou, taken Xunyang, and marched east along the river; the Eastern Ruler's armies were routed in successive battles, and a prolonged siege tightened around them. In the twelfth month the Qi general Zhang Ji executed Emperor Donghun and surrendered—another sign of a ruler put to death. In the first month of year 3, Mars crossed the northern star of the Room, their light merging; On guisi day Saturn moved retrograde and lodged at the western star of the Well's northern axle. All were warnings of ministers turning against their sovereign and installing a new ruler. In the third month Venus and Mercury met in Maid. Maid corresponds to the Qi domain; When Venus and Mercury meet, the sign is punitive warfare. In the second month, on dingyou day, a meteor rose from the Eastern Well, entered the Purple Palace, reached the Northern Pole, and vanished. The Eastern Well corresponds to Yong Province, from which Xiao Yan rose to power; it also marks the western ruler's domain—the envoy star passed through it to the pole star, signifying the mandate of abdication and succession, and also great mourning. That month the Qi princes were executed one after another; soon the western ruler granted the mandate, and Xiao Yan accepted abdication at Jiankang, becoming Emperor Wu of Liang. On wuchen day the young ruler died. 〈From year 2 to year 3, the Moon six times occulted and crossed the Dipper Leader; In the seventh month Mars crossed the Dipper; all fall within the Wu domain. At the time the lands south of the Yangtze suffered severe famine that year, while fighting continued on the northern border and defeat followed defeat. Again in the seventh month of year 2 the Moon formed a halo around Bond, green within and yellow without, sweeping across Hairy Head, Net, Celestial Boat, Great Tomb, Rolled Tongue, and Legs. The Boat corresponds to Xu and Lu; it also portends an amnesty, and the reading says "many deaths and bereavement." In the third month more than ten thousand people starved to death in Qing, Qi, Xu, and Yan. In the seventh month a general amnesty was proclaimed. In the eighth month of year 3 the Moon formed a halo, green without and yellow within, sweeping across Hairy Head, Net, Bond, Stomach, and the Five Chariots. The omen reads: "Many nobles will die." In the twelfth month the Moon crossed Hairy Head, and a halo ringed the Moon. The Grand Tutor, Prince Pi of Pingyang, died. [7]In the first month of the following year a general amnesty was proclaimed.〉

三年八月丙戌，有大流星起天中，北流，大如二斗器。占曰「有天子之使出自中京，以臨北方」。至四年九月壬戌，有大流星起五車，東北流。占曰「有兵將首于東北」。是歲二月辛亥，三月丁未，月再掩太白，[8]皆大戰之象也。庚辰，揚州諸將大破梁師于陰陵。 [9]十一月，左僕射源懷以便宜安撫北邊。明年二月，又大破梁師于邵陵。 [10]九月，蠕蠕犯邊，復詔源懷擊之。〈是歲七月，月暈昴、畢、觜、參、井、五車。占曰「旱，大赦」。又再暈軒轅、太微。明年正月，月暈五車、東井、兩河、鬼、填星。是月，大赦改元。六月，以亢陽，詔撤樂減膳。〉

In the eighth month of year 3, on bingxu day, a great meteor rose at the celestial center and streamed north, as large as a two-peck measure. The omen reads: "An imperial envoy will depart the central capital to take charge in the north." In the ninth month of year 4, on renxu day, a great meteor rose from the Five Chariots and streamed northeast. The omen reads: "Arms will advance on the northeast." That year, on xinhai day in the second month and dingwei day in the third month, the Moon twice occulted Venus—[8]all signs of great warfare. On gengchen day the Yangzhou generals routed the Liang army at Yinling. [9]In the eleventh month Left Vice Director Yuan Huai was sent with plenary authority to reassure the northern border. In the second month of the following year the Liang army was again routed at Shaoling. [10]In the ninth month the Rouran raided the frontier, and another edict ordered Yuan Huai to strike them. 〈That seventh month the Moon formed halos around Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak, Three Stars, the Well, and the Five Chariots. The omen reads: "Drought and a general amnesty." The Moon also haloed Xuanyuan and the Supreme Palace twice. In the first month of the following year the Moon formed halos around the Five Chariots, the Eastern Well, the Two Rivers, the Ghost, and Saturn. That month a general amnesty was proclaimed and the reign title was changed. In the sixth month, owing to scorching drought, an edict ordered music withdrawn and meals reduced.〉

正始元年正月戊辰，流星如斗，起相星，入紫宮，抵北極而滅。夫紫宮，后妃之內政，而由輔相干之，其道悖矣。且占曰「其象著大，有非常之變」。至二年六月癸丑，有流星如五斗器，起織女，抵室而滅。占曰「王后憂之，有女子白衣之會」。往反營室，釁歸後庭焉。三年正月己亥，有大流星起天市垣，西貫紫蕃，入北極市垣之西。又公卿外朝之理也。占曰「以臣犯主，天下大凶」。明年，高肇欲其家擅寵，乃鴆殺于后及皇子昌，而立高嬪為后。〈先是，景明四年七月，太白犯軒轅大星。至二年六月，木犯昴。占曰「人君有白衣之會」。同上。〉

In the first month of Zhengshi 1, on wuchen day, a Dipper-sized meteor rose from the Minister Star, entered the Purple Palace, reached the Northern Pole, and vanished. The Purple Palace governs the inner affairs of empresses and consorts, yet the Minister Star cut across it—the cosmic order was inverted. The omen further reads: "The sign is strikingly large; extraordinary upheaval is at hand." In the sixth month of year 2, on guichou day, a meteor the size of a five-peck measure rose from Weaving Girl, reached Encampment, and vanished. The omen reads: "Queens and consorts will mourn; women will don mourning white." Passing back and forth through Encampment, the sign of bloodshed fell upon the inner palace. In the first month of year 3, on jihai day, a great meteor rose from the Celestial Market Enclosure, streaked west through the Purple Enclosure, and entered the western side of the Northern Pole Market Enclosure. It also represents the governance of the outer court of ministers and nobles. The omen reads: "When subjects turn against their sovereign, the realm faces great disaster." The next year Gao Zhao, seeking exclusive favor for his clan, poisoned Empress Yu and Prince Chang and installed Honored Lady Gao as empress. 〈Earlier, in the seventh month of Jingming 4, Venus crossed the great star of Xuanyuan. In the sixth month of year 2 Jupiter crossed Hairy Head. The omen reads: "The sovereign will don mourning white." The same events followed.〉

三年六月丙辰，太白晝見。占曰「陰國之兵強」。八月，梁師寇邊，攻陷城邑。秋九月，安東將軍邢巒大破之宿豫，斬將三十餘人，捕虜數萬。十月甲寅，月犯太白，又大戰之象。明年，中山王英敗績于淮南，士卒死者十八九。〈又元年正月，月暈胃、昴、畢、五車；戊午，又暈五車、東井、兩河、鬼、填星；二月甲申，又暈昴、畢、觜、參；三年正月，月暈太微、軒轅。皆為兵、赦。是月，皇子生，大赦天下。〉

In the sixth month of year 3, on bingchen day, Venus appeared in daylight. The omen reads: "The forces of the southern states will grow strong." In the eighth month Liang troops raided the frontier and captured towns. That autumn, in the ninth month, General of Eastern Pacification Xing Luan routed them at Suyu, slaying more than thirty commanders and capturing tens of thousands. In the tenth month, on jiayin day, the Moon crossed Venus—another sign of great warfare. The following year Prince Ying of Zhongshan was defeated at Huainan, and eight or nine soldiers in ten perished. 〈In the first month of year 1 the Moon formed halos around Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, and the Five Chariots; On wuwu day it again haloed the Five Chariots, the Eastern Well, the Two Rivers, the Ghost, and Saturn; In the second month, on jiashen day, it again haloed Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak, and Three Stars; In the first month of year 3 the Moon formed halos around the Supreme Palace and Xuanyuan. All portended war and amnesty. That month a prince was born and a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.〉

四年七月己卯，有星孛于東北。占曰「是謂天讒，大臣貴人有戮死者」。凡孛出東方必以晨，乘日而見，亂氣蔽君明之象也。昔魯哀公十三年十一月，有星孛于東方，明年，春秋之事終，是謂諸夏微弱，蠻夷遞霸，田氏專齊，三族擅晉，卒以干其君明而代奪之，陵夷遂為戰國，天下橫流矣。今孛星又見，與春秋之象同。天戒若曰：是居太陽之側而干其明者，固多穢德，可彗除矣，而君不悟，衰替之萌將繇此始乎？是歲，高肇鴆后及皇子，明年又譖殺諸王，天下冤之。肇故東夷之俘，而驟更先帝之法，累構不測之禍，干明孰甚焉，魏氏之悖亂自此始也。

In the seventh month of year 4, on jimao day, a comet appeared in the northeast. The omen reads: "This is Heaven's rebuke—great ministers and nobles will die by execution." Comets appearing in the east are always seen at dawn, riding the sun's glare—a sign that turbulent forces obscure the sovereign's light. In the eleventh month of Duke Ai of Lu's thirteenth year a comet appeared in the east; the next year the Spring and Autumn Annals end. The Xia heartland had weakened; barbarian powers rose in succession; the Tian clan dominated Qi; the Three Families held Jin. At last they blotted out their rulers' light and usurped the throne. Decline deepened into the Warring States, and the realm dissolved into chaos. Now a comet has appeared again, matching the omen of Spring and Autumn times. Heaven seemed to warn: those who stand beside the sun and steal its radiance have long accumulated corruption and merit sweeping away by the comet—yet the ruler took no heed. Would the dynasty's decline begin here? That year Gao Zhao poisoned the empress and the princes; the next year he framed and executed the imperial princes, and the realm seethed with outrage. Gao Zhao had been a captive from the Eastern Yi, yet he abruptly overturned the late emperor's laws and repeatedly engineered unforeseen disasters. None could have more blotted out the sovereign's light—and the Wei house's disorder began here.

永平元年三月戊申，熒惑在東壁，月行抵之，相距七寸，光芒相及。室壁四輔，君之內宮，人主所以庇衞其身也。天象若曰：且有重大之臣屏藩王室者，將以讒賊之亂，死於內宮。又曰：諸侯相謀。五月癸未，填星逆行，太微在左執法西。是為后黨持政，大夫執綱而逆行侮法，以啟蕭牆之內。是月，月犯畢；六月，又掩之。占曰「貴人有死者」。庚辰，太白、歲星合于柳。柳為周分。且占曰「有內兵以賊諸侯」。八月，京兆王愉出為冀州刺史，恐不見容，遂舉兵反，以誅尚書令高肇為名，與安樂王詮相攻于定州。九月，太師、彭城王斃于禁中，愉亦死之。〈或曰：柳，豫州分，所合之野，謀兵，有戰野拔邑事。至十一月丙子，流星起羽林南，大如椀，色赤；有黑雲東南引，如一匹布橫北轢星。占曰「禁兵起，所首召之」。是歲，豫州人白早生殺刺史司馬悅，以城降梁，遣尚書邢巒擊之。十二月，巒拔懸瓠，斬早生。〉

In the third month of Yongping 1, on wushen day, Mars stood in Eastern Wall; the Moon's path met it seven cun away, their light merging. Encampment and Wall are the Four Supports, the sovereign's inner palace, the sphere wherein the ruler shelters himself. The heavens seemed to say: a great minister who shields the royal house will perish in the inner palace amid traitorous intrigue. It also read: feudal lords would plot against one another. In the fifth month, on guiwei day, Saturn moved retrograde in the Supreme Palace, west of the Left Law Enforcer. The sign meant the empress's faction held power—a minister wielding authority yet moving contrary to law, inviting calamity within the palace walls. That month the Moon crossed Net; In the sixth month it occulted Net again. The omen reads: "Nobles will die." On gengchen day Venus and Jupiter met in Willow. Willow corresponds to the Zhou domain. The omen further reads: "Internal armies will ravage the feudal lords." In the eighth month Prince Yu of Jingzhao took office as Inspector of Jizhou; fearing he would not be spared, he rose in rebellion, naming the execution of Director of the Secretariat Gao Zhao as his cause, and fought Prince Quan of Anle at Dingzhou. In the ninth month the Grand Preceptor, the Prince of Pengcheng, died within the palace, and Yu also perished. 〈Some hold that Willow corresponds to Yuzhou; where the two planets met, armies were plotted—battles in the field and the capture of cities. In the eleventh month, on bingzi day, a bowl-sized meteor rose south of the Feathered Forest, red in hue; Black clouds stretched southeast like a cloth bolt laid northward, sweeping across the stars. The omen reads: "The palace guard will rise—the sign summons its leader." That year Bai Zaosheng of Yuzhou killed the Inspector Sima Yue, surrendered his city to Liang, and the court sent Minister Xing Luan against him. In the twelfth month Luan took Xuanshi and executed Zaosheng.〉

二年三月丁未，有流星徑數寸，起自天紀，孛于市垣，光芒燭地，有尾跡，長丈餘，凝著天。天象若曰：政失其紀而亂加乎人，浸以萌矣，是將以地震為徵。地震者，下土不安之應也。是月，火入鬼，距積尸五寸。積尸，人之精爽，而炎氣加之，疫祥也。四月乙丑，金入鬼，去積尸一寸。又以兵氣干之，強死之祥也。踰逼者事甚。鬼主驕亢之戒，故金火荐災其人以警而懼之。五月，太白犯歲，光芒相觸。占曰「兵大亂，歲饑，不出三年」。七月庚辰，有流星起騰蛇，入紫宮，抵北極而滅。天戒若曰：彼光後王道者。 [11]以馭陰陽之變矣。將有水旱之沴，地震之祥，而後災加皇極焉。明年夏四月，平陽郡大疫，死者幾三千人。平陽，鬼星之分也。秋，州郡二十大水，冀定旱饑。四年，朐山之役，喪師殆盡。其後繁畤、桑乾、靈丘、秀容、雁門地震陷裂，山崩泉涌，殺八千餘人。延昌三年，詔曰：「比歲山鳴地震，于今不已，朕甚懼焉。」至正月，宮車晏駕。 [12] 〈二年十一月丙戌，月掩畢大星； [13]至三年八月，火犯積尸。占曰「貴人死，又饑疫祥也」。比年水旱災疫；是月，中山王略薨； [14]明年春，司徒廣陽王嘉薨。〉

In the third month of year 2, on dingwei day, a meteor inches across rose from Heavenly Record and became a comet at the Market Enclosure, its light illuminating the earth; its tail more than ten feet long hung fixed in the sky. The heavens seemed to say: government had lost its measure and chaos pressed upon the people—the rot had begun; an earthquake would mark the omen. Earthquakes respond when the earth below is unsettled. That month Mars entered the Ghost, five cun from Accumulated Corpses. Accumulated Corpses governs the human spirit; when fiery qi falls upon it, the sign is plague. In the fourth month, on yichou day, Venus entered the Ghost, one cun from Accumulated Corpses. Martial qi also encroached upon it—an omen of violent death. The closer the encroachment, the graver the event. The Ghost governs warnings against arrogance and excess; Venus and Mars together brought calamity upon its people to warn and terrify them. In the fifth month Venus crossed Jupiter, their light clashing. The omen reads: "Great war, famine that year, all within three years." In the seventh month, on gengchen day, a meteor rose from Flying Serpent, entered the Purple Palace, reached the Northern Pole, and vanished. Heaven seemed to warn: the one who blots out the sovereign's Way [11]has arrived to command the transformations of yin and yang. Floods and drought would follow, earthquakes would mark the omen, and then disaster would strike the throne itself. The next year, in the fourth month of summer, Pingyang Commandery was ravaged by plague; nearly three thousand people died. Pingyang falls within the domain of the Ghost. That autumn twenty provinces and commanderies suffered severe flooding, while Ji and Ding faced drought and famine. In the fourth year, at the battle of Mount Ju, the army was nearly annihilated. Afterward earthquakes split and swallowed the earth at Fanzhi, Sanggan, Lingqiu, Xiurong, and Yanmen; mountains collapsed and springs burst forth, killing more than eight thousand people. In the third year of Yan Chang an edict declared: "In recent years the mountains have roared and the earth has quaked, and still it does not stop—I am deeply afraid." By the first month the emperor had died. Editorial note 12. 〈In the eleventh month of year 2, on bingxu day, the Moon occulted the great star of Net; [13]By the eighth month of year 3, Mars had crossed Accumulated Corpses. The omen reads: "Nobles will die; it also portends famine and plague." In recent years floods and droughts, disasters and pestilence had followed; That month Prince Lue of Zhongshan died; [14]The next spring Grand Secretary Prince Jia of Guangyang died.〉

二年九月甲申，歲星入太微，距右執法五寸，光明相及；十二月乙酉，逆行入太微，奄左執法；三年閏月壬申，又順行犯之，相去一寸。保乾圖曰：「臣擅命，歲星犯執法。」是時，高肇方為尚書令，故歲星反復由之，所以示人主也。天若言曰：政刑之命亂矣，彼居重華之位者，盍將反復而觀省焉。今雖厚而席之，適所以為禍資耳。且占曰「中坐成刑，遠期五年」。間五歲而肇誅。〈四年四月庚午，熒惑犯軒轅大星；至五月，入太微，距右執法三寸，光芒相接。熒惑，天視也，始由軒轅而省執法之位，其象若曰：是居后黨而擅南宮之命，君其降監焉。其應與歲星同也。〉

In the ninth month of year 2, on jiashen day, Jupiter entered the Supreme Palace, five cun from Right Law-enforcer, their light touching; On yiyou day in the twelfth month it moved retrograde into the Supreme Palace and covered Left Law-enforcer; In the intercalary month of year 3, on renshen day, moving direct again it crossed them, one cun apart. The Chart of Preserving Qian says: "When ministers usurp authority, Jupiter crosses Law-enforcer." At that time Gao Zhao was Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Jupiter repeatedly passed that way—to warn the ruler. Heaven seemed to say: The mandates of government and punishment are in chaos— ought not he who sits upon the Seat of Double Splendor go back and forth to look and see? Though you now treat him generously and seat him in honor, you only stock the stores of disaster. The omen also reads: "To sit in the center is to become punishment—look five years ahead." Five years later Zhao was put to death. 〈In the fourth month of year 4, on gengwu day, Mars crossed the great star of Xuanyuan; By the fifth month it entered the Supreme Palace, three cun from Right Law-enforcer, their light joining. Mars is Heaven's eye; beginning at Xuanyuan it inspected the seat of Law-enforcer. The sign seemed to say: the empress's faction holds the rear and usurps the Southern Palace's mandate— O ruler, descend and oversee it. Its fulfillment matched Jupiter's.〉

四年正月戊戌，有流星起張，西南行，殷殷有聲，入參而滅。張，河南之分；參為兵事。占曰「流星自東方來，至伐而止，有來兵大敗吾軍。有聲者怒也」。先是，去年十一月，月犯太白；是歲，又犯之，[15]在胃；八月辛酉，又犯之。胃為徐方，大戰之象也。十月戊寅，有大流星孛于羽林，南流，色赤，珠落下入濁氣，孛然而流。王師潰亂之兆。先是，梁朐山鎮殺其將來降，詔徐州刺史盧昶援之。十二月，昶軍大敗於淮南，淪覆十有餘萬。〈是歲七月乙巳，有流星起北斗魁前，西北流入紫宮，至北極而滅。占曰「不出期年，兵起，且亡君戒」。是歲，有朐山之役，間歲而帝崩。〉

In the first month of year 4, on wuxu day, a meteor rose in Extended Net and streamed southwest with a deep rumbling sound, entering Three Stars and vanishing. Extended Net is the domain of Henan; Three Stars govern military affairs. The omen reads: "A meteor comes from the east and stops at Attacking— enemy troops will come and inflict a great defeat on our army. When there is sound, it is wrath." Earlier, in the eleventh month of the previous year, the Moon had crossed Venus; That year it crossed again, [15] in Stomach; On xinyou day in the eighth month it crossed again. Stomach corresponds to the Xu region—the sign of great battle. On wuyin day in the tenth month a great meteor became a broom star in Feathered Forest and streamed south, red in color; beads of light fell into murky air and swept onward like a comet. An omen of the imperial army's collapse and chaos. Earlier, the Liang garrison at Mount Ju had killed its commander and come over in surrender; the court ordered Xu Province Inspector Lu Chang to reinforce them. In the twelfth month Chang's army was routed at Huainan; more than one hundred thousand men were lost. 〈That year, in the seventh month on yisi day, a meteor rose before the head of the Northern Dipper, streamed northwest into the Purple Palace, reached the Northern Pole, and vanished. The omen reads: "Within a year war will rise, and there is a warning of the ruler's death." That year came the Mount Ju campaign; two years later the emperor died.〉

四年十二月己巳，歲星犯房上相，相距一寸，光芒相及；至延昌元年三月丙申，歲星在鈎餘東五寸，距鍵閉三寸；丙午，又掩房上相。天象若曰：夫鈐鍵之轡，君上所宜獨操，非驂服所當共也。先是，高肇為尚書令，而歲星三省執法。是歲至升為司徒，猶怏怏不悅，而歲星又再循之，所以示人主審矣。間二歲而上崩，肇亦誅滅。〈或曰木與房合，主喪、水。又元年二月，月暈井、鬼、軒轅；十月，又暈井、五車、參、畢。皆水旱饑赦之祥。自元年二月不雨至六月雨，大水。二年四月庚子，出絹十五萬匹賑河南饑人。是夏，州郡十二大水。八月，減天下殊死。〉

On jisi day in the twelfth month of year 4, Jupiter crossed Upper Minister of Room, one cun apart, their light touching; By the third month of Yan Chang year 1, on bingshen day, Jupiter stood five cun east of Hooked Remainder, three cun from Key Closure; On bingwu day it again occulted Upper Minister of Room. The heavens seemed to say: the reins of lock and key are for the ruler alone to hold—not for the outrigger teams to share. Earlier Gao Zhao had been Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Jupiter had thrice visited Law-enforcer. That year he was promoted to Grand Secretary yet remained sullen and discontent; Jupiter circled there twice again—the warning to the ruler could hardly have been clearer. Two years later the emperor died, and Zhao was executed and destroyed as well. 〈Some say that when Wood converges with Room, it presides over mourning and water. Also in the second month of year 1 the Moon formed halos over Well, Ghost, and Xuanyuan; In the tenth month halos again ringed Well, Five Chariots, Three Stars, and Net. All portended flood, drought, famine, and amnesty. From the second month of year 1 there was no rain until rain came in the sixth month, and then great flood. In the fourth month of year 2, on gengzi day, one million five hundred thousand bolts of silk were issued to relieve the hungry in Henan. That summer twelve provinces and commanderies suffered severe flooding. In the eighth month capital offenses were commuted throughout the realm.〉

四年四月庚午，[16]熒惑犯軒轅大星；十月壬申，月失行，犯軒轅大星。至延昌元年三月，填星在氐，守之九十餘日。占曰「有德令，拜太子，女主不居宮」。至十月，立皇太子，賜為父後者爵，旌孝友之家。至二年三月乙丑，填星守房。占曰「女主有黜者，以地震為徵」。地震者，陰盈而失其性也。四月丙申，月掩填星；七月戊午，又如之。是為后妃有相遷奪者，且曰「女主死之」。時比歲地震。至三年八月，太白又犯軒轅。十二月，月掩熒惑。皆小君之謫也。時高后席寵凶悍，雖人主猶畏之，莫敢動搖，故世宗胤嗣幾絕。明年上崩，后廢為尼，降居瑤光寺，尋為胡氏所害，以厭天變也。

In the fourth month of year 4, on gengwu day, [16] Mars crossed the great star of Xuanyuan; On renshen day in the tenth month the Moon lost its course and crossed the great star of Xuanyuan. By the third month of Yan Chang year 1 Saturn stood in Root and stationed there for more than ninety days. The omen reads: "There will be virtuous edicts, investiture of the crown prince, and the female ruler will not remain in the palace." By the tenth month the crown prince was installed; those who succeeded their fathers were granted noble rank, and households famed for filial piety and brotherly devotion were honored. By the third month of year 2, on yichou day, Saturn stationed in Room. The omen reads: "A female ruler will be deposed, with earthquake as the sign." Earthquakes occur when yin overflows and loses its proper nature. On bingshen day in the fourth month the Moon occulted Saturn; On wuwu day in the seventh month it happened again. This meant empresses and consorts would displace and supplant one another, and also foretold "the death of the female ruler." At the time earthquakes came year after year. By the eighth month of year 3 Venus again crossed Xuanyuan. In the twelfth month the Moon occulted Mars. All were punishments directed at the lesser lady. At the time Empress Gao held the emperor's favor and was fierce and overbearing; even the ruler feared her and none dared challenge her, so Emperor Xuanwu's line of succession nearly died out. The next year the emperor died; the empress was deposed and made a nun, demoted to dwell at Yaoguang Temple, and soon killed by the Hu clan to appease heaven's changes.

延昌元年八月己未，有流星起五車，西南流入畢。畢，邊兵也。占曰「有兵車之事，以所直名之」。至二年十一月戊午，又有流星起五車，西南流，殷殷有聲。憑怒者，事盛也。十二月己卯，有流星西南流，分而為二。又偏師之象也。至三年六月辛巳，太白晝見。占曰「西兵大起，有王者之喪」。十一月，大將軍高肇伐蜀，益州刺史傅豎眼出北巴，平南羊祉出涪，安西奚康生出綿竹，撫軍甄琛出劍閣，會帝崩旋師。〈先是元年三月己酉，木、土相犯。占曰「人君有失地者，將死之」。又曰「先作事者敗，兵起必受其殃」。三年九月，太白掩右執法。是為大將軍有罹刑辟者。先是二年二月，梁郁洲人徐玄明斬大將張稷來降。及肇出征，還亦就戮。〉

In the eighth month of Yan Chang year 1, on jiwei day, a meteor rose from Five Chariots and streamed southwest into Net. Net governs border troops. The omen reads: "There will be affairs of chariots and arms, named according to what they point toward." By the eleventh month of year 2, on wuwu day, another meteor rose from Five Chariots and streamed southwest with a deep rumbling sound. When it carries wrath, the affair has reached its height. On jimao day in the twelfth month a meteor streamed southwest and split in two. Again the sign of a detached column. By the sixth month of year 3, on xinsi day, Venus shone visible in daylight. The omen reads: "Western armies will rise in force; there will be mourning for a king." In the eleventh month Grand General Gao Zhao marched against Shu; Yi Province Inspector Fu Shuyan advanced from North Ba, Pingnan Yang Zhi from Fu, Anxi Xi Kangsheng from Mianzhu, and Pacification Army Commander Zhen Chen from Sword Pass—but when the emperor died they all withdrew. 〈Earlier, in the third month of year 1 on yiyou day, Jupiter and Saturn crossed each other. The omen reads: "The ruler will lose territory; a general will die." It also says: "Whoever strikes first will be defeated; when war rises, they will surely suffer the calamity." In the ninth month of year 3 Venus occulted Right Law-enforcer. This meant a grand general would suffer legal punishment. Earlier, in the second month of year 2, Xu Xuanming of Liang's Yuzhou beheaded General Zhang Ji and came over in surrender. When Zhao marched out and returned, he too was put to death.〉

元年三月乙未，有流星起太陽守，歷北斗，入紫宮，抵北極，至華蓋而滅。太陽守所以弼承帝車，大臣之象。今使星由之，以語天極之位，臣執國命，將由此始乎？且占曰「天下大凶，主室其空」。先是，去年八月至十月，月再入太微；是歲三月，又如之；十二月甲戌，月犯火于太微。占曰「君死，不出三年，貴人奪權失勢」。二年三月辛酉，熒惑又犯太微。占曰「天下不安，有立君之戒」。九月丁卯，入太微，犯屏星。明年正月而世宗崩，於是王室遂卑，政在公輔。〈三年二月，月暈畢、昴、五車、太白、東井。占主赦。是月，太白失行，在天關北。占「有關梁之兵，道不通」。明年正月，肅宗立，大赦天下。二月，梁將任太洪帥眾寇關城。〉

In the third month of year 1, on yiwei day, a meteor rose from Sun Sentinel, passed through the Northern Dipper, entered the Purple Palace, reached the Northern Pole, and vanished at Canopy. Sun Sentinel exists to assist and uphold the Imperial Chariot—it is the sign of great ministers. Now to send a meteor through it, addressing the seat of the celestial pole— will a minister's grasp of the state's mandate begin here? The omen also reads: "Great calamity under Heaven; the ruler's house will stand empty." Earlier, from the eighth to the tenth month of the previous year, the Moon twice entered the Supreme Palace; That year in the third month it happened again; On jiaxu day in the twelfth month the Moon crossed Mars in the Supreme Palace. The omen reads: "The ruler dies; within three years nobles seize power and lose standing." In the third month of year 2, on xinyou day, Mars again crossed the Supreme Palace. The omen reads: "Under Heaven is unsettled; there is a warning of establishing a ruler." On dingmao day in the ninth month it entered the Supreme Palace and crossed Screen Star. In the first month of the following year Emperor Xuanwu died. The royal house was thereby diminished, and power passed to the chief ministers. 〈In the second month of year 3, the Moon formed a halo around Net, Hairy Head, the Five Chariots, Venus, and Eastern Well. The omen pointed to a general amnesty. That month Venus went astray from its course, north of Celestial Gate. The omen read: "Armies will mass at passes and bridges, and the roads will be blocked." In the first month of the following year Emperor Xiaoming was enthroned and a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm. In the second month the Liang general Ren Taihong led troops to attack Guancheng.〉

四年五月庚戌，九月乙丑，十月癸巳，月皆犯太微。中歲而驟干之，強臣不御，執法多門之象也。閏月戊午，月犯軒轅。又女主之謫。十一月庚寅，木、火會于室，相距一尺；至甲午，火徙居東北，亦相距一尺。室為後宮，火與木合曰內亂，環而營之，或淫事干逼諸侯之象。占曰「姦臣謀，大將戮。若有夷族之害，以赦令除之」。先是，三年九月，太白犯執法。是歲八月，領軍于忠擅戮僕射郭祚。九月，太后臨朝，淫放日甚，至逼幸清河王懌。其後，羽林千餘人焚征西將軍張彝宅，辜死者百數，朝廷不能討，於是大赦。原羽林亦營室之故也。〈魏收以為月犯太微，大臣有死者。其後安定王薨。月犯軒轅，女主憂之。其後皇太后高尼崩于瑤光寺。營室又主土功也。胡太后害高氏以厭天變，乃以后禮葬之。〉

In year 4, on gengxu day in the fifth month, yichou day in the ninth month, and guisi day in the tenth month, the Moon crossed the Supreme Palace each time. Within a single year it struck again and again—a sign of powerful ministers unchecked and authority divided among many. In the intercalary month, on wuwu day, the Moon crossed Xuanyuan. It also signified the disgrace of the empress. In the eleventh month, on gengyin day, Jupiter and Mars converged in Encampment, one chi apart; By jiawu day Mars had shifted northeast, still one chi away. Encampment represents the inner palace; when Mars and Jupiter converge it denotes internal disorder. Circling and encamping there suggested licentious conduct impinging upon and coercing the princes. The omen read: "Treacherous ministers will plot, and a grand general will be put to death. If whole clans are destroyed, an amnesty will set it right." Earlier, in the ninth month of year 3, Venus crossed Law Enforcer. That year, in the eighth month, Director of the Army Yu Zhong executed Vice Director Guo Zuo on his own authority. In the ninth month the empress dowager took the throne. Her debauchery grew daily, until she forced herself upon Prince Yi of Qinghe. Afterward more than a thousand Imperial Guards burned the home of General of Western Campaign Zhang Yi, and innocents slain numbered in the hundreds. The court could not punish them, and a general amnesty followed. The pardon of the Imperial Guard likewise accorded with the sign of Encampment. 〈Wei Shou held that when the Moon crossed the Supreme Palace, a great minister would die. Afterward the Prince of Anding died. When the Moon crossed Xuanyuan, the empress would suffer grief. Afterward Empress Dowager Gao Ni died at Yaoguang Temple. Encampment also presides over earthworks. Empress Dowager Hu had the Gao clan killed to appease the celestial omen, then buried her with the rites due an empress.〉

四年十月，太白犯南斗。斗為吳分。占曰「大兵起」。先是三年四月，有流星起天津，東南流，轢虛、危。天津主水事，且曰有大眾之行。其後梁造浮山堰，以害淮泗，諸將攻之。是歲閏月，有大奔星起七星，南流，色正赤，光明燭地，尾長丈餘，歷南河，至東井。七星，河南之分也，流星出之，有兵起；施及東井，將以水禍終之。又占曰「所與城等」。〈疑〉是時，鎮南崔亮攻梁師于硤石。明年二月，鎮東蕭寶夤大破梁淮北軍。九月，淮堰決，梁人十餘萬口皆漂入海。

In the tenth month of year 4, Venus crossed the Southern Dipper. The Dipper is the celestial allotment of Wu. The omen read: "Great armies will rise." Earlier, in the fourth month of year 3, a meteor rose from Celestial Ford, streamed southeast, and swept across Void and Rooftop. Celestial Ford presides over water affairs and also signifies the march of a great host. Afterward Liang built the Fushan Dam to choke the Huai and Si, and Wei generals attacked it. That year, in the intercalary month, a great bolide rose from Seven Stars and streamed south, pure red, its light illuminating the earth and its tail more than ten feet long; it passed Southern River and reached Eastern Well. Seven Stars is the allotment of Henan; when a meteor issues from it, armies rise; reaching Eastern Well, the affair would end in a water calamity. The omen also read: "Its scale matched that of a city." 〈text doubtful〉 At that time Defender of the South Cui Liang attacked Liang troops at Xiashi. In the second month of the following year Defender of the East Xiao Baoyin routed Liang's army north of the Huai. In the ninth month the Huai dam burst, and more than a hundred thousand people of Liang were swept into the sea.

肅宗熙平元年三月丙子，太白犯歲星；十二月甲辰，月犯歲星。 [17]是謂強盛之陰而陵少陽之君。歲，又諸侯也。天象若曰：始由內亂干之，終以威刑及之。是歲正月，熒惑犯房；四月庚子，又逆行犯之；癸卯，月又犯房。 [18]占曰「天下有喪，諸侯起霸，將相戮」。十一月，大流星起織女，東南流，長且三丈，光明照地。占曰「王后憂之，有女子白衣之會」。間歲，高太后殂，司徒國珍薨，中宮再有喪事。其後僕射于忠，司徒、任城王澄薨。既而太后幽逼，清河、中山王戮死。〈或曰：「月、太白犯歲星，饉祥也；火犯房，陳兵滿野，有饑國，且大赦。」又元年十二月，月暈井、觜、參、五車。占曰「水旱，有赦」。至二年正月，大赦。十月，幽、冀、滄、瀛大饑。是月，月再暈畢、參、五車。占曰「饑，赦」。明年，幽州大饑，死者數千人，自正月不雨至六月。是歲，四夷反叛，兵大出，又赦改元。〉

In the third month of Xiping 1, on bingzi day, Venus crossed Jupiter; In the twelfth month, on jiachen day, the Moon crossed Jupiter. [17]This signified powerful yin overwhelming the lesser-yang sovereign. Jupiter also represents the feudal lords. Heaven seemed to say: first internal disorder would strike, and in the end stern punishment would follow. In the first month of that year Mars crossed Chamber; on gengzi day in the fourth month it moved retrograde and crossed again; on guimao day the Moon crossed Chamber again. [18]The omen read: "The realm will mourn; feudal lords will rise to hegemony; generals and ministers will be slain." In the eleventh month a great meteor rose from Weaving Girl and streamed southeast, more than thirty feet long, its light illuminating the earth. The omen read: "The queen will grieve; women will don mourning white." Within the year Empress Dowager Gao died, Grand Secretary Guozhen died, and the inner palace mourned again. Afterward Vice Director Yu Zhong and Grand Secretary Prince Cheng of Rencheng died. Soon afterward the empress dowager was confined and coerced, and the Princes of Qinghe and Zhongshan were put to death. 〈Some say: "When the Moon and Venus cross Jupiter, it is an omen of famine; when Mars crosses Chamber, armies fill the fields, the state goes hungry, and a general amnesty follows." In the twelfth month of year 1 the Moon also haloed Well, Beak, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots. The omen read: "Flood or drought, and an amnesty." In the first month of year 2 a general amnesty was proclaimed. In the tenth month You, Ji, Cang, and Ying suffered great famine. That month the Moon twice haloed Net, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots. The omen read: "Famine, and an amnesty." The following year You Province suffered great famine; several thousand died, and from the first month through the sixth no rain fell. That year the frontier peoples rebelled, armies marched out in force, and the court again proclaimed an amnesty and changed the reign title.〉

神龜二年四月甲戌，大流星起天市垣西，東南流，轢尾，光明燭地。天象若曰：將作大眾而從后妃之事矣，以所首名之。是歲九月，太后幸崧高。或曰市垣所以均國風；尾，幽州也。明年，詔尚書長孫稚撫巡北蕃，觀省風俗。〈二月丙辰，月在參，暈井、觜、參、歲星、五車。占曰「有死相，且赦」。明年，諸王多伏辜，又大赦。〉

In the fourth month of Shengui 2, on jiaxu day, a great meteor rose from the west of the Celestial Market Enclosure, streamed southeast, swept across Tail, and lit the earth with its brilliance. Heaven seemed to say: a great host would be raised in the service of the empress and consorts, and the omen was named from the place where it first appeared. That year, in the ninth month, the empress dowager visited Songgao. Some say the Market Enclosure is what balances the customs of the realm; Tail corresponds to You Province. The following year an edict ordered Minister of the Secretariat Zhangsun Zhi to tour the northern frontier, pacify the region, and inspect local customs. 〈In the second month, on bingchen day, the Moon stood in Three Stars and haloed Well, Beak, Three Stars, Jupiter, and the Five Chariots. The omen read: "Death will follow, and an amnesty as well." The following year many princes were punished, and another general amnesty followed.〉

正光元年九月辛巳，有彗星光焰如火，出于東方，陰動爭明之異也。感精符曰：「天下以兵相威，以勢相乘，至威〈疑〉亂，起布衣，從衡禍，未庸息，帝宮其空。」昔正始中，天讒孛于東北，是歲而攝提復周。故天象若曰：夫讒之亂萌有自來矣，彗除之象今則著矣，戰國之禍將由此作乎？間三年而北鎮肇亂，關中迹之。自是姦雄鼎沸，覆軍相踵，其災之所及且二十餘年而猶未弭焉。〈梁志曰：九月乙亥，有星晨見東方，光如火。占曰「國皇見，有內難急兵」。明年，義州反。 [19]乙亥去辛巳凡六日，而北方覿之，其氣蓋同矣。始干其明，以妖南國，既又彗而布之，以除魏邦。〉

In the ninth month of Zhengguang 1, on xinsi day, a comet blazed like fire in the east—an omen of yin stirring and contending for brightness. The Essence and Spirit Talisman says: "Under Heaven armies threaten one another and power presses upon power, until supreme might 〈text doubtful〉 brings chaos; commoners rise up; alliance-and-counter-alliance calamities do not cease; the imperial palace will stand empty." In the Zhengshi era a baleful comet had appeared in the northeast, and that year Sheti returned to its cycle. Heaven thus seemed to say: the seeds of slanderous disorder had long been sown, and now the comet's purging sign stood plain— would the calamity of the Warring States era arise from this? Within three years the northern garrisons rose in revolt, and Guanzhong followed. From then on treacherous warlords seethed, ruined armies followed one after another, and the disaster lasted more than twenty years without abating. 〈The Liang Annals say: On yihai day in the ninth month a star appeared at dawn in the east, blazing like fire. The omen read: "When the National August appears, internal strife and urgent armies follow." The following year Yizhou rebelled. [19]Yihai was only six days from xinsi, yet the north observed the same phenomenon—the omen was surely one. At first it struck at that brightness to bewitch the southern state; then, as a comet, it spread abroad to purge the Wei realm.〉

二年四月甲辰，火、土相犯於危；十一月辛亥，金、土又相犯于危。危，存亡之機，太白司兵，熒惑司亂，而玄枵司人，土下之所係命也。三精洊聚，羣臣叶謀，以濟屯復之運焉。占曰「天下方亂，甲兵大起，王后專制，有虛國徙王」。至四年四月己未，火、土又相犯于室。是謂後宮內亂。且占曰「欲殺主，天子不以壽終」。或曰：魏氏，軒轅之裔。填星之物也，赤靈為母，白靈為子，經綸建國之命，所以傳撥亂之君也，其受之者將在并州與有齊之國乎？其後太后淫昏，天下大壞，上春秋方壯，誅諸佞臣。由是鄭儼等竦懼，遂說太后鴆帝。既而尒朱氏興于并州，終啟齊室之運，卜洛之業遂丘墟矣。〈二年十月，月掩心大星；至三年正月，月掩心距星；四月丁丑，又如之。占曰「亂臣在側」。囗囗囗囗五年。間三歲而肅宗崩。〉 [20]

In the fourth month of year 2, on jiachen day, Mars and Saturn crossed each other in Rooftop; In the eleventh month, on xinhai day, Venus and Saturn again crossed each other in Rooftop. Rooftop is the hinge of survival and destruction: Venus governs armies, Mars governs disorder, and Xuanxiao governs the people; Saturn is where the mandate of the earthly realm is bound. The three luminaries gathered again and again—ministers joining in counsel to aid the fortune of hardship and renewal. The omen read: "The realm is in turmoil; armies rise in force; the empress holds sole power; the state will be emptied and the throne transferred." By the fourth month of year 4, on jiwei day, Mars and Saturn again crossed each other in Encampment. This signified internal disorder in the inner palace. The omen also read: "They seek to kill the sovereign; the Son of Heaven will not die a natural death." Some say the Wei are descendants of Xuanyuan. Saturn is their element; the Red Spirit is mother and the White Spirit son—the mandate to weave order and found a state, passed to the ruler who settles chaos. Will those who receive it be in Bing Province and the state that holds Qi? Afterward the empress dowager grew licentious and muddled, the realm fell into ruin, and the emperor—still in the prime of life—executed the flatterers. Thereupon Zheng Yan and his faction, stricken with fear, persuaded the empress dowager to poison the emperor. Soon afterward the Erzhu clan rose in Bing Province, eventually opening the fortune of the Qi dynasty, and the enterprise of founding the capital at Luoyang was reduced to ruins. 〈In the tenth month of year 2, the Moon occulted the great star of Heart; By the first month of year 3, the Moon occulted the separation star of Heart; On dingchou day in the fourth month, it happened again. The omen read: "Disloyal ministers at the sovereign's side." [Text missing] year 5. Three years later Emperor Suzong died.〉 Editorial note 20.

三年七月庚申，有大流星如五斗器，起王良，東北流，長一丈許。王良主車騎，且曰：有軍涉河，昭盛者事大。是日，月在昴北三寸；十一月乙卯，又如之。是謂兵加匈奴，且胡王之謫也。先是，蠕蠕阿那瓌失國，詔北鎮師納之。是歲八月，蠕蠕後主來奔懷朔鎮。 [21]間歲，阿那瓌背約犯塞，詔尚書令李崇率騎十萬討之，出塞三千餘里，不及而還。〈二年九月庚戌，月暈胃、昴、畢、五車；辛亥，又暈之。占曰「饑旱有赦」。 [22]至三年九月，月在畢，暈昴、畢、觜、參、五車。是歲夏大旱，十二月，大赦。〉

In the seventh month of year 3, on gengshen day, a great meteor like a five-dou measure rose in Wang Liang and streamed northeast, about one zhang long. Wang Liang governs chariots and cavalry; the omen also read that an army would cross a river, and the brighter the blaze, the greater the affair. That day the Moon stood three cun north of Hairy Head; In the eleventh month, on yimao day, it happened again. This signified armies pressing upon the Xiongnu and the deposition of a barbarian king. Earlier the Rouran ruler Anagui had lost his kingdom, and an edict ordered the northern garrison armies to receive him. That year in the eighth month the former Rouran ruler fled to Huai Shuo garrison. [21]A year later Anagui broke the treaty and raided the frontier; an edict ordered Minister of Works Li Chong to lead a hundred thousand cavalry against him. They marched more than three thousand li beyond the border but failed to overtake him and returned. 〈In the ninth month of year 2, on gengxu day, the Moon formed a halo around Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, and the Five Chariots; On xinhai day it haloed them again. The omen read: "Famine, drought, and amnesty." [22]By the ninth month of year 3, the Moon stood in Net and formed a halo around Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots. That summer brought severe drought; in the twelfth month there was a general amnesty.〉

三年二月丁卯，月掩太白，京師不見，涼州以聞。占曰「天下大兵起。涼州獨見，災在秦也」。三月癸卯，有大流星起西北角，流入紫宮，破為三段，光明照地。角星，主外朝兵政，流星由之，將大出師之象。若曰將以兵革之故，王室分崩。入抵紫宮，天下大凶，有虛國之象。四月癸酉，有大奔星歷紫微，入北斗東北首，光明燭地，殷然如雷。盛怒之象也，皆以所直名之。至四年八月乙亥，月在畢，掩熒惑。又邊城兵亂之戒也。十月乙卯，太白入斗口，距第四星三寸，光芒相掩。占曰「大兵起，將戮辱，又吳分也」。五年正月，沃野鎮人破落汗拔陵反，[23]臨淮王彧征之，敗績于五原。六月，莫折大提反於秦，雍州刺史元志討之，又大敗於隴東。明年，南方諸將頻破梁師。至八月，杜洛周起上谷，其後鮮于脩禮反定州。王師比歲北征，冀方大震。既而葛榮承之，竟陷河北。〈五年二月，月在參，暈觜、參、五車、東井、熒惑；八月，又暈之。閏月，月在張、翼，再暈軒轅、太微。占曰「兵起，士卒多遁走」，一曰「士卒大聚」。又皆赦祥也。是時徵調驟起，兵相蹈藉。又有詔內外戒嚴，將親征。 [24]自二月至六月，再大赦天下。十月，月在畢，暈昴、畢、觜、參。後年春，又大赦。〉先是，二年九月，歲星犯左執法；至三年正月癸丑，又逆行犯之，相去四寸，光芒相及；五月丙辰，歲星又掩左執法。是時宦者劉騰與元叉叶謀，遂總百揆之任，故歲星反復由之，與高肇同占。至四年二月，騰死，叉由是失援。其年十一月庚戌，歲星犯房上相，相距二寸，光芒相掩。五年四月己丑，歲星又逆行犯之。明年，皇太后反政，叉遂廢黜。昔高肇為尚書令，而歲星三省之，及升于上相，歲星亦再循之。至是三犯執法而騰死，再干上相而叉敗，曠宮之譴，異代同符矣。

In the second month of year 3, on dingmao day, the Moon occulted Venus. The capital could not see it, and Liang Province reported the event. The omen read: "Great armies will rise throughout the realm. Only Liang Province saw it; the calamity falls upon Qin." In the third month, on guimao day, a great meteor rose from the northwest corner, flowed into the Purple Palace, split into three segments, and lit the ground with its brilliance. The Horn governs military affairs of the outer court; a meteor passing through it foretold a great expeditionary force about to march. It seemed to say that arms and warfare would split the royal house apart. Its entry into the Purple Palace signified great calamity under Heaven and an emptied state. In the fourth month, on guiyou day, a great bolide passed through the Purple Enclosure and entered the northeastern head of the Northern Dipper, blazing upon the ground with a thunderous roar. These were signs of raging wrath, each named according to the domain it struck. By the eighth month of year 4, on yihai day, the Moon stood in Net and occulted Mars. This was again a warning of mutiny among the frontier garrisons. In the tenth month, on yimao day, Venus entered the Dipper's mouth, three cun from the fourth star, their light overlapping. The omen read: "Great armies will rise; there will be slaughter and humiliation—and this is also the Wu domain." In the first month of year 5, Poluohan Bilang of Woye garrison rebelled. [23]Prince of Linhuai Yuan Yu marched against him and was defeated at Wuyuan. In the sixth month Moqie Dati rebelled in Qin. Inspector of Yong Province Yuan Zhi marched against him and was again routed east of Long. The following year the southern generals repeatedly defeated Liang armies. By the eighth month Du Luozhou rose in Shanggu; afterward Xianyu Xiuli rebelled in Ding Province. The imperial armies campaigned north year after year, and the Ji region was shaken to its core. Then Ge Rong took up the cause and in the end overran Hebei. 〈In the second month of year 5, the Moon stood in Three Stars and formed a halo around Turtle Beak, Three Stars, the Five Chariots, Eastern Well, and Mars; In the eighth month it haloed them again. In the intercalary month the Moon stood in Extended Net and Wings and twice formed a halo around Xuanyuan and the Supreme Palace. The omen read: "Armies rise and many soldiers desert," and also: "soldiers gather in great numbers." All were also omens of amnesty. At this time levies were suddenly imposed and armies trampled one another in the rush. There was also an edict placing inner and outer defenses on alert, for the emperor was about to lead the campaign in person. [24]From the second to the sixth month there were two general amnesties throughout the realm. In the tenth month the Moon stood in Net and formed a halo around Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak, and Three Stars. The following spring there was again a general amnesty.〉 Earlier, in the ninth month of year 2, Jupiter crossed Left Law Enforcer; By the first month of year 3, on guichou day, it again moved retrograde and crossed it, four cun apart, their light reaching one another; In the fifth month, on bingchen day, Jupiter again occulted Left Law Enforcer. At this time the eunuch Liu Teng and Yuan Cha conspired together and seized control of all government affairs; Jupiter repeatedly crossed that star—the same omen as with Gao Zhao. By the second month of year 4 Liu Teng died, and Yuan Cha thereby lost his support. That year in the eleventh month, on gengxu day, Jupiter crossed the Upper Minister of Room, two cun apart, their light overlapping. In the fourth month of year 5, on jichou day, Jupiter again moved retrograde and crossed it. The following year the empress dowager restored her rule, and Yuan Cha was deposed. Formerly when Gao Zhao served as Director of the Secretariat, Jupiter thrice crossed it; when he rose to Upper Minister, Jupiter also twice passed through it. Now Jupiter thrice crossed Law Enforcer and Liu Teng died; twice struck Upper Minister and Yuan Cha fell—the rebuke of the empty palace, the same token in different ages.

孝昌元年五月，太白犯軒轅；八月，在張、角，盛大。占曰「有暴酷之兵」。張，河南也。十二月，火入鬼，又犯之。占曰「大賊在大人之側」。后以淫泆失政，又秦分也。二年正月癸卯，金、木相犯於牛；十一月戊申，又相犯于女。歲所以建國均人，女為蠶妾，牛為農夫。天象若曰：是將罹以寇戎，而喪其耕織之務矣。且曰有亂兵大戰而波及齊、吳。是歲八月甲申，月在胃，掩鎮星；閏月癸酉，又掩之；三年正月戊辰，又掩之。是為女君有罹兵刑之禍者，洊干之，事甚而眾也。又占曰「天下大喪，無主，貴人兵死，國以滅亡」。又二年三月，奔星大如斗，出紫微，東北流，光照地。占曰「王師大出，邦去其君」。六月，有奔星如斗，起大角，入紫宮而滅。棟星以肆覲羣后，而敷威令于四方也。今大號由之，以詔天極，不以逆乎？且有空國徙王之戒焉。十月，有星入月中而滅。占曰「入而無光，其國卒滅；星反出者，亡國復立」。是歲四月至三年九月，熒惑再犯軒轅大星；武泰元年正月，又逆行復犯之。占曰「主命將失，女君之象，亂逆之災」。三月庚申，月掩畢大星。占曰「邊兵起，貴人多死者」。是時淫風滋甚，王政盡㢮，自大河而北，極關而西，覆軍屠邑，不可勝計。既而蕭寶夤叛于雍州，梁師驟伐淮泗，連兵青土，萬姓嗷嗷，喪其樂生之志矣。是歲二月，帝竟以暴崩。四月，尒朱榮以大兵濟河，執太后及幼主，沉諸中流，害王公以下二千，遂專權晉陽，以令天下焉。〈三年正月癸酉，月在井，暈觜、參、兩河、五車。七月，大赦。明年少主立，又大赦。〉

In the fifth month of Xiaochang 1, Venus crossed Xuanyuan; In the eighth month it stood in Extended Net and Horn, blazing in full glory. The omen read: "There will be violently cruel warfare." Extended Net—that is Henan. In the twelfth month Mars entered the Ghost and again crossed it. The omen read: "A great bandit at the great man's side." The empress's licentious misconduct and loss of governance—and this was also the Qin domain. In the first month of year 2, on guimao day, Venus and Jupiter crossed each other in Ox; In the eleventh month, on wushen day, they again crossed each other in Maid. Jupiter is what establishes the state and balances the people; Maid is the silkworm maid and Ox is the farmer. The heavens seemed to say that the realm would suffer invasion and warfare and lose its plowing and weaving labors. It also signified mutinous armies in great battle spreading to Qi and Wu. That year in the eighth month, on jiashen day, the Moon stood in Stomach and occulted Saturn; In the intercalary month, on guiyou day, it occulted it again; In the first month of year 3, on wuchen day, it again occulted it. This meant the woman sovereign would suffer the calamity of warfare and punishment; the heavens trespassed against her again and again—the matter was grave and widespread. The omen also read: "Great mourning under Heaven; no ruler; nobles die by arms; the state is destroyed." Also in the third month of year 2, a bolide as large as a dou issued from the Purple Enclosure, streaming northeast, its light upon the ground. The omen read: "The royal army marches out in force; the realm loses its ruler." In the sixth month a bolide like a dou rose in Great Horn, entered the Purple Palace, and vanished. The Pillar Star is where the sovereign holds great audience with all the lords and spreads martial command to the four quarters. Now a great cry passes through it to announce the Celestial Pole—is this not rebellion? Moreover there was a warning of an emptied state and a transferred king. In the tenth month a star entered the Moon and vanished. The omen read: "Entering without light—the state in the end is destroyed; If the star emerges again—a ruined state is restored." From the fourth month of that year until the ninth month of year 3, Mars twice crossed the great star of Xuanyuan; In the first month of Wutai 1, it again moved retrograde and crossed it once more. The omen read: "The sovereign's mandate is about to be lost; a sign of the woman ruler; the calamity of rebellion and treason." In the third month, on gengshen day, the Moon occulted the great star of Net. The omen read: "Frontier armies rise; many nobles die." At this time licentious conduct grew ever worse and royal governance utterly lapsed; from the Great River northward and to the farthest passes westward, armies were destroyed and cities slaughtered beyond counting. Then Xiao Baoyin rebelled in Yong Province; Liang armies suddenly attacked Huai and Si; war stretched to the lands of Qing; the people wailed in distress and lost their will to live in peace. That year in the second month the emperor died suddenly after all. In the fourth month Erzhu Rong crossed the river with a great army, seized the empress dowager and the young emperor, drowned them midstream, killed two thousand from the princes and ministers down, and took sole power at Jinyang, commanding the realm. 〈In the first month of year 3, on guiyou day, the Moon stood in the Well and formed a halo around Turtle Beak, Three Stars, the Two Rivers, and the Five Chariots. In the seventh month there was a general amnesty. The following year a young ruler was enthroned, and there was again a general amnesty.〉

莊帝永安元年七月癸亥，太白犯左角，相距四寸，光芒相掩，兵及朝庭之象。占曰「大戰不勝，貴人有來者，其謀不成」。至二年閏月，熒惑入鬼，犯積尸。占曰「兵起西北，有鈇鉞之誅」。是歲，北海王顥以梁師陷考城，執濟陽王暉業，乘虛逐勝，遂入洛陽。至七月，王師大敗之，顥竟戮死，有謀不成之驗。明年，尒朱天光擊反虜万俟醜奴及蕭寶夤于安定，克之，咸伏誅。

In the seventh month of Yongan 1 under Emperor Zhuang, on guihai day, Venus crossed Left Horn, four cun apart, their light overlapping—a sign of warfare reaching the court. The omen read: "Great battle without victory; a noble comes; his plot does not succeed." By the intercalary month of year 2, Mars entered the Ghost and crossed Accumulated Corpses. The omen read: "Armies will rise in the northwest; there will be executions by axe and halberd." That year Prince of Beihai Hao, leading Liang forces, took Kaocheng, captured Prince of Jiyang Huiye, pressed the advantage, and marched into Luoyang. By the seventh month the imperial army routed him; Hao was put to death at last—the fulfillment of the omen that his conspiracy would fail. The next year Erzhu Tianguang attacked the rebels Wanqi Chounu and Xiao Baoyin at Anding, defeated them, and all were put to death.

二年十一月，熒惑自鬼入太微西掖門，犯上將，出東掖門，犯上相，東行累日，句己去來，復逆行而西；十二月乙丑，月又掩之；至三年正月癸未，逆行入東掖門；己丑，月入太微，襲熒惑；辛卯，月行太微中，又暈之；三月己卯，在右執法北一尺五寸，留十四日；至壬辰，月又掩之，復順行而東；四月戊午，月又干太微而暈；己未，熒惑出端門，在左執法南尺餘而東。自魏興以來，未有循環反復若此之荐也。是時孝莊將誅權臣，有興復魏室之志，是以誠發於中而熒惑咨謀於上焉。其占曰「有權臣之戮，有大兵之亂，貴人以強死而天下滅亡」。至五月己亥，太白在參晝見。參為晉陽之墟。天意若曰：干明之釁於是乎在矣。七月甲午，有彗星晨見東北方，在中台東一丈，長六尺，色正白，東北行，西南指；丁酉，距下台上星西北一尺而晨伏；庚子，夕見西北方，長尺，東南指，漸移入氐；至八月己未，漸見；癸亥，滅。占曰「彗出太階，有陰謀姦宄興」。凡天事為之徵形以戒告人主，始滌公輔之穢而彗除之，權臣將滅之象；再干太陽之明而後陵奪之，逆亂復興之象也。三月而見者，變近亟也。究于內宮者，反仇其上也，近期在衝，遠期一年。先是，二日壬申，有大流星相隨西北，尾迹不絕以千計。西北直晉陽之墟，而微星，庶人所以載皇極也，人徙而君從之。是月戊戌，有大奔星自極東貫紫宮而出，影迹隨之，遷君之應。至九月，上誅太原王榮、上黨王天穆于明光殿。是夕，尒朱氏黨攻西陽門不克，退屯河陰。十二月，洛陽失守，帝崩于晉陽。自是南宮版蕩，劫殺之禍相踵。先是，永安元年七月丙子，十一月丙寅，十二月癸巳，月皆掩畢大星；至二年三月乙卯，月入畢口；八月乙丑，又距畢左股二寸，光芒相掩，須臾入畢口；十二月丙辰，掩畢右股大星；三年六月乙巳，又犯畢大星；八月庚申，入畢口，犯左股大星；是月辛丑，太白犯軒轅；明年五月，月又犯畢右股，遂入之。畢星，所以建魏國之命也。占曰「天下有變，其君大憂，邊兵起，上將戮，月洊干之，事甚而眾」。及尒朱兆作亂，奉長廣王為主，號年建明。明年二月，又廢之而立節閔。六月，高歡又推安定王為帝於信都，復黜之，後更立武帝。於是三少王相次崩殂，[25]又洛陽再陷，六宮汙辱，有兵及軒轅之效焉。〈永安二年十月辛亥，十二月丁巳，月皆在畢，暈昴、畢、填星、觜、參、五車；普泰元年正月己丑，月在角，暈軫、角、五車、亢，連環暈北斗、大角、織女；十月，又暈昴、畢、觜、參、井、五車。是時，肆赦之令，歲月相踵。〉

In the eleventh month of year 2, Mars entered the Supreme Palace's west rear gate from the Ghost, crossed Upper General, passed out through the east rear gate, crossed Upper Minister, traveled east for many days in hooked retrograde loops, then turned retrograde and moved west; On yichou day in the twelfth month the Moon occulted it again; By the first month of year 3, on guiwei day, it moved retrograde and entered the east rear gate; On jichou day the Moon entered the Supreme Palace and struck Mars; On xinmao day the Moon crossed the center of the Supreme Palace and again haloed it; In the third month, on jimao day, it stood one chi and five cun north of Right Law Enforcer and lingered there fourteen days; By renchen day the Moon occulted it again, and it resumed direct motion eastward; In the fourth month, on wuwu day, the Moon again trespassed the Supreme Palace and formed a halo around it; On jiwei day Mars emerged from the Portal Gate, a little more than one chi south of Left Law Enforcer, and moved eastward. Since the founding of Wei, there had never been such relentless cycling and reversal as this. At this time Emperor Xiaozhuang was preparing to kill the power-holder and meant to restore the Wei house; sincerity stirred within him even as Mars seemed to consult and plot above. The omen read: "A power-holder will be executed, great armies will rise in disorder, a noble will die violently, and the realm will perish." By the fifth month, on jihai day, Venus stood in Three Stars and shone visible in broad daylight. Three Stars marks the ruins of Jinyang. Heaven seemed to say: the offense against royal brilliance had now arrived. On jiawu day in the seventh month a comet appeared at dawn in the northeast, one zhang east of the Middle Terrace, six chi long and pure white, moving northeast with its tail pointing southwest; On dingyou day it stood one chi northwest of the lower platform's upper star and set at dawn; On gengzi day it appeared at dusk in the northwest, one chi long with its tail pointing southeast, and gradually shifted into the Root; By the eighth month, on jiwei day, it gradually reappeared; On guihai day it vanished. The omen read: "When a comet rises from the Great Stairs, secret conspiracies and treacherous villains will arise." Heaven's affairs take visible form to warn the ruler: first the court would cleanse the corruption of its ministers, and the comet would sweep it away—the sign that power-holders were about to fall; Then twice striking at the sun's brilliance before seizing and overriding it—the sign that rebellion would rise again. That it remained visible for three months meant the change was close and imminent. That it ended in the inner palace meant turning against one's sovereign; the near term would fall at the seventh-month clash, the far term within a year. Before this, on the second day, renshen, great meteors streamed one after another toward the northwest, their trails unbroken, numbering in the thousands. The northwest leads straight to the ruins of Jinyang; the faint stars are what common people use to bear the sovereign pole—when the people move, the ruler follows. That month, on wuxu day, a great running star burst from the eastern pole, pierced through the Purple Palace, and left a shadow-trail behind—the omen of a transferred ruler. By the ninth month the emperor executed Prince of Taiyuan Rong and Prince of Shangdang Tianmu in the Mingguang Hall. That same evening the Erzhu faction attacked the Xiyang Gate but failed to breach it and withdrew to encamp at Heyin. In the twelfth month Luoyang fell, and the emperor died at Jinyang. From then on the Southern Palace was laid waste, and calamities of plunder and slaughter followed in succession. Earlier, in the seventh month of Yongan 1 on bingzi day, in the eleventh month on bingyin day, and in the twelfth month on guisi day, the Moon occulted the great star of the Net each time; By the third month of year 2, on yimao day, the Moon entered the mouth of the Net; In the eighth month, on yichou day, it again stood two cun from the Net's left thigh, their light overlapping, and shortly entered the mouth of the Net; In the twelfth month, on bingchen day, it occulted the great star of the Net's right thigh; In the sixth month of year 3, on yisi day, it crossed the great star of the Net again; In the eighth month, on gengshen day, it entered the mouth of the Net and crossed the great star of the left thigh; That month, on xinchou day, Venus crossed Xuanyuan; In the fifth month of the following year the Moon crossed the Net's right thigh again and entered it. The Net constellation is what establishes the mandate of the Wei state. The omen read: "The realm will change; its ruler will be deeply troubled; frontier armies will rise; the upper general will be executed; the Moon will repeatedly strike it—the matter will be grave and affect many." When Erzhu Zhao rebelled, he enthroned Prince of Changguang and proclaimed the Jianming era. The next year, in the second month, he deposed him again and enthroned Jiemin. In the sixth month Gao Huan enthroned Prince of Anding as emperor at Xindu, deposed him again, and later installed Emperor Wu. Thereupon the three young emperors died in succession,[25] Luoyang fell again, and the six palaces were defiled—the fulfillment of the omen of warfare reaching Xuanyuan. 〈In the tenth month of Yongan 2, on xinhai day, and in the twelfth month on dingsi day, the Moon stood in the Net and formed halos around Hairy Head, the Net, Saturn, Turtle Beak, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots; In the first month of Putai 1, on jichou day, the Moon stood in Horn and haloed Chariot Axle, Horn, the Five Chariots, and Neck, forming linked halos around the Northern Dipper, Great Horn, and Weaver Girl; In the tenth month it again formed halos around Hairy Head, the Net, Turtle Beak, Three Stars, the Well, and the Five Chariots. At this time general amnesties were proclaimed in succession, month after month and year after year.〉

節閔普泰元年五月辛未，太白出西方，與月並，間容一指，戰祥也。先是，去年十一月辛丑，月在太白北，不容一指。占曰「有破軍殺將，主人不勝」。既而尒朱氏南侵，王師敗績。至是，又與月合，幾將復之乎？十月甲寅，金、火、歲、土聚于觜、參，甚明大。晉魏之墟也，且曰：兵喪並起，霸君興焉。是時，勃海王歡起兵信都，改元中興。至十一月己卯，奔星如斗，起太微，東北流，光明燭地，有聲如雷。占曰「大臣有外事，以所首事命之」。或曰「中國失君，有立王遷主。著而有聲者，盛怒也」。是時，尒朱氏成師北伐。明年三月癸巳，火逆行犯氐。占曰「天子失其宮」。閏月庚申，歲星入鬼，犯天尸。占曰「有戮死之君」。既而尒朱兆等大敗于韓陵，覆師十餘萬。四月，武帝即位，比及歲終，凡殺三廢帝。

In the fifth month of Putai 1 under Emperor Jiemin, on xinwei day, Venus rose in the west alongside the Moon, a finger's width apart—an omen of battle. Earlier, in the eleventh month of the previous year, on xinchou day, the Moon stood north of Venus, less than a finger's width away. The omen read: "Armies will be shattered and generals killed; the host will not prevail." Then the Erzhu faction invaded southward, and the imperial army suffered a crushing defeat. Now it met the Moon again—would the armies suffer defeat once more? On jiayin day in the tenth month Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn gathered at Turtle Beak and Three Stars, blazing bright and large. The domain of the Jin and Wei ruins—and the sign also said: war and mourning would rise together, and a hegemonic lord would arise. At this time Prince of Bohai Huan raised armies at Xindu and proclaimed the Zhongxing era. By the eleventh month, on jimao day, a running star the size of the Dipper rose from the Supreme Palace and streamed northeast, its light blazing across the earth with a roar like thunder. The omen read: "A great minister has affairs beyond the court; name the event by the direction in which it heads." Some read: "The central state loses its ruler; a king will be enthroned and the sovereign transferred. When it appears fixed and thunders, this is great wrath." At this time the Erzhu faction mustered its full army and marched north on campaign. In the third month of the following year, on guisi day, Mars moved retrograde and crossed the Root. The omen read: "The Son of Heaven loses his palace." In the intercalary month, on gengshen day, Jupiter entered the Ghost and crossed Celestial Corpse. The omen read: "A ruler will die by execution." Then Erzhu Zhao and his allies were routed at Hanling, and more than a hundred thousand troops were destroyed. In the fourth month Emperor Wu took the throne; before the year was out, three deposed emperors had been executed.

孝武永熙元年九月，太白經天。十一月辛丑，有大流星出昴北，東南流，轢畢貫參，光明照地，有聲如雷。天象若曰：將有髦頭之兵，憑陵塞垣，與大司馬合戰。明年正月丁酉，勃海王歡追擊兆等于赤洪嶺，大破之，尒朱氏殲焉。

In the ninth month of Yongxi 1 under Emperor Xiaowu, Venus crossed the meridian. On xinchou day in the eleventh month a great meteor burst forth north of Hairy Head and streamed southeast, sweeping across the Net and piercing Three Stars, its light blazing across the earth with a roar like thunder. The heavens seemed to say: Maotou warriors would overrun the frontier walls and join battle with the Grand Marshal. In the first month of the following year, on dingyou day, Prince of Bohai Huan pursued Zhao and his allies at Chihong Ridge, routed them utterly, and the Erzhu clan was wiped out.

二年四月，太白晝見。九月丁酉，火、木合于翼，相去一寸，光芒相掩。占曰「是謂內亂，姦臣謀，人主憂」。甲寅，金、火合于軫，相去七寸，光芒相及。占曰「是謂相鑠，不可舉事用兵」。翼、軫南宮之蕃，又荊州也。至三年三月癸巳，有奔星如三斛甕，起匏瓜，西流入市垣，有光燭地，迸流如珠，尾跡數丈，廣且三尺，凝著天，狀如蒼白雲，須臾屈曲蛇行。匏瓜為陰謀；星大如甕，為發謀舉事；光盛且大，人貴而眾也；以所首名之，且為天飾，王者更均封疆。是時，斛斯椿等方說上伐高歡，荊州刺史賀拔勝預謀焉； [26]高歡知之，亦以晉陽之甲來赴。七月，上自將十餘萬，次河橋，望歡軍，憚之不敢戰，遂西幸長安。至十月，勃海王更奉孝靜為主，改元天平，由是分為二國，更均封疆之應也。是月，歡命侯景攻荊州，拔之，勝南奔。〈是年三月庚子，木逆行，在左執法北一寸，光芒相掩；五月甲申，又在執法西半寸，乍見乍不見。占曰「強臣擅命，改政更元」。十二月，上崩，由是高歡、宇文泰擅權兩國。又二年十一月乙丑，三年八月庚午，十二月庚申，月皆在畢，暈畢、昴、參、五車。自三年二月至明年正月，東、西魏凡四大赦。〉

In the fourth month of year 2 Venus shone visible in broad daylight. On dingyou day in the ninth month Mars and Jupiter met in Wings, one cun apart, their light overlapping. The omen read: "This is internal disorder—treacherous ministers plotting, and the ruler in distress." On jiayin day Venus and Mars met in Chariot Axle, seven cun apart, their light touching. The omen read: "This is mutual melting—affairs must not be undertaken and armies must not be deployed." Wings and Chariot Axle guard the Southern Palace and correspond to Jing Province. By the third month of year 3, on guisi day, a running star the size of a three-hu jar rose from Gourd and streamed west into the Market Enclosure, its light blazing across the earth, beads of fire bursting forth like pearls, its tail-trail several zhang long and three chi wide, hanging fixed in the sky like pale white clouds before writhing serpent-like across the heavens. The Gourd constellation betokens secret conspiracy; A star as large as a jar means launching plots and raising arms; Light blazing and great means men of rank and great numbers; Name the event by the direction in which it heads; moreover it is Heaven's adornment—the king will renew and redistribute the frontiers. At this time Husi Chun and others were urging the emperor to campaign against Gao Huan, and Governor of Jing Province Heba Sheng joined the conspiracy; [26] Gao Huan learned of it and also marched with the armies of Jinyang. In the seventh month the emperor personally led more than a hundred thousand troops, halted at Heqiao, looked upon Huan's army, feared to engage, and fled west to Chang'an. By the tenth month Prince of Bohai enthroned Xiaojing and proclaimed the Tianping era; thereby the realm was divided into two states—the fulfillment of the omen of redistributing the frontiers. That month Huan sent Hou Jing to attack Jing Province; when it fell, Sheng fled south. 〈That year in the third month, on gengzi day, Jupiter moved retrograde one cun north of Left Law Enforcer, their light overlapping; On jiashen day in the fifth month it again stood half a cun west of the Law Enforcer, flickering in and out of sight. The omen read: "A powerful minister usurps command; government will change and the era will be renewed." In the twelfth month the emperor died; thereafter Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai seized power in the two states. Again, on yichou day in the eleventh month of year 2, on gengwu day in the eighth month of year 3, and on gengshen day in the twelfth month, the Moon stood in the Net and haloed the Net, Hairy Head, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots each time. From the second month of year 3 to the first month of the following year, Eastern and Western Wei together proclaimed four general amnesties in all.〉

三年五月己亥，熒惑逆行，掩南斗魁第二星，遂入斗口。先是，元年十一月，熒惑入斗十餘日，出而逆行，復入之，六十日乃去。斗，大人之事也。占曰「中國大亂，道路不通，天下皆更元易政，吳越之君絕嗣」。是歲，東、西帝割據山河，遂為戰國比。十月至正月，梁、魏三帝皆大赦改元。或曰：斗為壽命之養，而火以亂氣干之，耄荒之戒也。是時梁武帝年已七十矣，怠於聽政，專以講學為業，故皇天殷勤著戒。又若言曰：經遠之謀替矣，將以逆亂終之，而勦其天祿焉。夫天懸而示之，且猶不悟，其後攝提復周，卒有侯景之亂云。〈三年十二月，梁人立元慶和為魏王，屯平瀨。明年正月，東南行臺元晏大破之。六月，豫州刺史堯雄又大破梁師於南頓。十月，梁攻單父，徐州刺史任祥又大破之，斬虜萬餘級。十一月，柳仲禮寇荊州，[27]諸將又大敗之。時梁軍政益㢮，故累有負敗之應。〉

In the fifth month of year 3, on jihai day, Mars moved retrograde, occulted the second star of the Southern Dipper's knob, and entered the Dipper's mouth. Previously, in the eleventh month of year 1, Mars entered the Dipper for more than ten days, emerged and retrograded, entered again, and only departed after sixty days. The Dipper governs the affairs of great men. The omen read: "Great chaos in the heartland; roads blocked; across the realm rulers will renew era names and change regimes; the lords of Wu and Yue will end their line." That year the Eastern and Western Emperors divided the realm by rivers and mountains, rivaling the Warring States era. From the tenth month through the first month, all three emperors of Liang and Wei proclaimed general amnesties and changed their era names. Some say: The Dipper sustains longevity, yet Mars with its turbulent force assaults it—a warning against senility and neglect. At this time Emperor Wu of Liang was already seventy, neglecting governance while devoting himself entirely to scholarship; hence Heaven earnestly displayed its warning. It also seemed to say: Long-range counsel had been cast aside; he would meet his end in rebellion and chaos, and Heaven would revoke his mandate. Heaven hung the warning plain in the sky, and still he did not understand; afterward Sheti returned to its cycle, and at last came Hou Jing's rebellion. 〈In the twelfth month of year 3, the Liang installed Yuan Qinghe as King of Wei and encamped at Pinglai. In the first month of the following year, the Southeast Branch Directorate Yuan Yan routed them completely. In the sixth month Governor of Yu Province Yao Xiong again routed the Liang forces at Nandun. In the tenth month Liang attacked Shanfu; Governor of Xu Province Ren Xiang routed them again, slaying and capturing more than ten thousand. In the eleventh month Liu Zhongli raided Jing Province; [27] the generals routed them again. By then Liang's military administration had grown slack, accounting for the repeated omens of defeat.〉

東魏孝靜天平二年，有星孛于太微，歷下台，及室壁而滅。南宮，成周之墟，孝文之餘烈也，孛星由之，易政徙王之戒。天象若曰：王城為墟，夏聲幾變，而台階持政，有代奪之漸乎？且抵于營室，更都之象也。是後兩霸專權，皆以北俗從事，河南新邑遂為戰爭之郊。間三歲，至興和元年九月，發司州卒十萬營鄴都，十月新宮成。〈天平元年閏月，月掩心大星；二年八月，又犯之，相去七寸；十一月，又掩心小星。相臣逼主之象，且占曰「人臣伐主，應以善事除殃」。時兩雄王業已定，特以人臣取容而已。至興和二年八月，月又犯心大星。後數年而禪代。〉

In Tianping 2, under Eastern Wei's Emperor Xiaojing, a comet appeared at Supreme Splendor, passed through the Lower Terrace, and faded at Encampment Wall. The Southern Palace marks the ruins of the Zhou capital and the legacy of Emperor Xiaowen; the comet passed through it—an omen of regime change and relocation of the throne. The heavens seemed to warn: The royal city would become ruins; the Xia heritage nearly vanish—yet power remained on the Terraced Steps; was gradual usurpation at hand? It also reached Encampment Chamber—an omen of relocating the capital. Thereafter the two warlords held sole power, both imposing northern ways; the new capital south of the river became a battleground. Three years later, in the ninth month of Xinghe 1, a hundred thousand troops from Si Province were mobilized to build the Ye capital; the new palace was completed in the tenth month. 〈In the intercalary month of Tianping 1, the Moon occulted the great star of Heart; In the eighth month of year 2 it crossed it again, seven cun apart; In the eleventh month it occulted the lesser star of Heart again. An image of ministers coercing the throne; the omen also read: "A minister attacks his lord—misfortune should be averted by righteous action." By then both warlords had secured their thrones; they merely played the loyal minister, that is all. By the eighth month of Xinghe 2 the Moon crossed the great star of Heart again. Several years later came abdication and dynastic change.〉

元象二年七月壬戌，[28]金、土合于七星；癸亥，遂犯七星。七星，河南之分，金而犯土，將有封畿之戰，且占曰「其分亡地」。先是，去年十二月癸丑，太白食月；是歲三月壬申，太白又與月合，相距一寸，大戰之祥也。月象強大之國，而金合之，秦師將勝焉。十二月，有流星從天市垣西流，長且一丈，有尾迹。三年正月，勃海王歡攻夏州，克之。十月丁丑，月犯火。占曰「大將有鬬死者」。十二月，大都督竇泰入潼關；明年，宇文泰距擊斬之。十月，遂及勃海王歡戰于沙苑，歡軍敗績，捕虜萬餘。是月，獨孤信拔洛陽。

On renxu day in the seventh month of Yuanxiang 2, [28] Venus and Saturn converged at the Seven Stars; On guihai day it crossed the Seven Stars. The Seven Stars mark the region south of the river; Venus crossing Saturn foretold warfare in the heartland; the omen also read: "That region will lose territory." Earlier, in the twelfth month of the previous year on guichou day, Venus occulted the Moon; In the third month of that year on renshen day, Venus again met the Moon, one cun apart—an omen of great war. The Moon represents a mighty state; Venus joining it meant the Qin armies would prevail. In the twelfth month a meteor streaked westward from the Celestial Market Enclosure, more than one zhang long, trailing light. In the first month of year 3 Prince of Bohai Huan attacked Xia Province and took it. On dingchou day in the tenth month the Moon crossed Mars. The omen read: "Great generals will die in combat." In the twelfth month Grand Commander Dou Tai entered Tong Pass; The next year Yuwen Tai intercepted and struck, beheading him. In the tenth month they fought Prince of Bohai Huan at Shadai; Huan's army was routed and more than ten thousand were captured. That month Dugu Xin took Luoyang.

三年十一月，熒惑犯歲星。占曰「有內亂，臣謀主」。至四年正月，客星出于紫宮。占曰「國有大變」。二月壬申，八月癸未，月再掩五車東南星。卜曰「兵起，道不通」。十一月，太白晝見。占曰「軍興，為不臣」。五年二月庚戌、三月甲子，填星逆順行，再犯上相。上相，司徒也。六月，太白入東井。占曰「秦有兵，大臣當之」。至元象元年七月，太白在柳，晝見。柳，河南也。八月辛卯，有大流星出房、心北，東南行，長且三尺，尾迹分為三段，軍破為三之象也。先是，行臺侯景、司徒高昂圍金墉，西帝及宇文泰自將救之。是月陳于河陰，泰以中軍合戰，大克，司徒高昂死之。既而左右軍不利，西師由是敗績，斬將二十餘人，降卒六萬。是月，西帝太傅梁景叡據長安反，關中大震，尋皆伏誅。〈天平三年正月，元象元年三月，月再掩軒轅大星。是年，西帝廢皇后乙氏，立蠕蠕女為后。明年五月，火犯軒轅大星。既而乙氏遇害，其後蠕蠕后又死，而乙氏為祟焉。元象元年十月，月犯昴，暈畢、胃；丁未，在翼，暈大星、軒轅左角；十一月，在井，暈五車、兩咸。 [29]東西主凡三大赦。〉

In the eleventh month of year 3 Mars crossed Jupiter. The omen read: "Internal disorder—ministers plot against their lord." By the first month of year 4 a guest star appeared in the Purple Enclosure. The omen read: "The state faces great upheaval." On renshen day in the second month and guiwei day in the eighth month the Moon twice occulted the southeastern star of the Five Chariots. The divination read: "Armies will rise; roads impassable." In the eleventh month Venus was visible by day. The omen read: "Armies mobilized; disloyalty abroad." In the fifth year, on gengxu day in the second month and jiazi day in the third month, Saturn moved retrograde and direct, twice crossing the Upper Minister. The Upper Minister corresponds to the Minister over the Masses. In the sixth month Venus entered Eastern Well. The omen read: "Qin will see war; a great minister will bear it." By the seventh month of Yuanxiang 1 Venus stood at Willow, visible by day. Willow marks the region south of the river. On xinmao day in the eighth month a great meteor rose north of Room and Heart and streaked southeast, more than three chi long, its tail splitting into three segments—an omen of an army shattered in three. Earlier Branch Directorate Hou Jing and Minister over the Masses Gao Ang besieged Jinyong; the Western Emperor and Yuwen Tai personally led the rescue. That month they drew up at Heyin; Tai's center army engaged and won a crushing victory; Minister over the Masses Gao Ang fell in battle. Soon the flanks failed; the Western armies were routed, more than twenty generals slain and sixty thousand troops taken. That month the Western Emperor's Grand Tutor Liang Jingrui seized Chang'an in rebellion; Guanzhong convulsed; soon all were put to death. 〈In the first month of Tianping 3 and the third month of Yuanxiang 1 the Moon twice occulted the great star of Xuanyuan. That year the Western Emperor deposed Empress Yi and enthroned a Rouran princess as empress. In the fifth month of the following year Mars crossed the great star of Xuanyuan. Soon Empress Yi was killed; afterward the Rouran empress also died, and Empress Yi haunted as a vengeful spirit. In the tenth month of Yuanxiang 1 the Moon crossed the Hairy Head and haloed the Net and Stomach; On dingwei day at Wings it haloed the great star and Xuanyuan's left horn; In the eleventh month at Well it haloed the Five Chariots and the Two Halos. [29] The Eastern and Western rulers together proclaimed three general amnesties in all.〉

興和元年二月壬子，火犯井。占曰「秦有兵亂，貴人當之」。四月，又入鬼。亦兵喪之祥也，又土地之分也。至二年十一月甲戌，太白在氐，與填星相犯。氐，鄭地也。至四年七月壬午，火、木合于井，相去一尺。占同天平。明年，北豫州刺史高仲密據武牢西叛，宇文泰帥眾援之。戊申，及勃海王戰于邙山，西軍大敗，虜王侯將校四百餘人，獲六萬餘級。〈元年八月，月在畢，暈昴、畢、觜、五車。二年正月大赦。三年正月至八月，又再暈之，歲星在焉。四年十一月，月暈軒轅、太微；壬申，又暈胃、昴、畢、五車。皆兵饑赦祥也。明年，東西主皆大赦。後年三月，高歡入朝，以春冬亢旱，請賑窮乏，死罪已下皆宥之。〉先是，元年十月辛丑，有彗星出于南斗，長丈餘；至十一月丙戌，距太白三尺，長丈餘，東南指；二月乙卯，至婁始滅。占曰「彗出南斗之土，皆誅其上」。〈疑〉又吳分。始自微末，終成著大，而與兵星合焉。天戒若曰：夫劫殺之萌，其事由來漸矣，而人君辨之不早，終以兵亂橫流，不可撲滅焉。婁又徐方之次，亂之所自招也。至二年四月己丑，金、木相犯于奎；丙午，火、木又相犯于奎。奎為徐方，所以虞蹶防之寇也。歲主建國之命，而省人君之差敗，火主亂，金主兵；三精洊而聚謀，所以哀矜下土而示驅除之戒也。是時，梁主衰老，太子賢明而不能授之以政焉，由是領軍朱异等浸侵明福之權。至武定五年，侯景竊河南六州而叛，又與連衡而附益之。是歲十二月，梁師敗績于彭城，捕虜五萬餘級，江淮之間始蕭然愁歎矣。明年，師大敗，[30]陷溺以十萬數，景遂舉而濟江，三吳大荒，道殣流離者太半，淮表二十六州咸內屬焉。昔三精聚謀於危，九年而高氏霸，至是聚謀於奎而蕭氏亡，亦天之大數云爾。

On renzi day in the second month of Xinghe 1 Mars crossed Well. The omen read: "Qin faces military upheaval; a noble will bear it." In the fourth month it entered Ghost again. It also portended military losses; it moreover marked the terrestrial allotment. By jiaxu day in the eleventh month of year 2 Venus stood at Root, crossing Saturn. Root marks the land of Zheng. By renwu day in the seventh month of year 4 Mars and Jupiter met at Well, one chi apart. The omen matched that of Tianping. The next year Governor of Northern Yu Province Gao Zhongmi held Wulao and defected westward; Yuwen Tai led an army to support him. On wushen day they fought the Prince of Bohai at Mount Mang; the Western army was routed, more than four hundred nobles and officers captured and more than sixty thousand slain. 〈In the eighth month of year 1 the Moon stood at the Net and haloed the Hairy Head, Net, Beak, and Five Chariots. In the first month of year 2 came a general amnesty. From the first month through the eighth month of year 3 it haloed them twice again, with Jupiter present. In the eleventh month of year 4 the Moon haloed Xuanyuan and Supreme Splendor; On renshen day it haloed Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, and Five Chariots again. All portended war, famine, and amnesty. The next year both Eastern and Western rulers proclaimed general amnesties. In the third month two years later Gao Huan came to court; citing spring and winter drought, he sought relief for the poor and pardoned all crimes short of death.〉 Previously, on xinchou day in the tenth month of year 1 a comet rose from the Southern Dipper, more than one zhang long; By bingxu day in the eleventh month it stood three chi from Venus, more than one zhang long, aimed southeast; On yimao day in the second month it reached Maiden and vanished. The omen read: "When a comet rises from the Southern Dipper's earth allotment, those in authority will be executed." 〈text doubtful〉 It also marked the Wu region. It began in obscurity and ended conspicuous and vast, converging with the Military Star. Heaven seemed to warn: The seeds of slaughter had long been spreading, yet the ruler did not discern them early—in the end war flooded the realm and could not be quenched. Maiden also marks Xu Region—the trouble it invites upon itself. By jichou day in the fourth month of year 2 Venus and Jupiter crossed at Kui; On bingwu day Mars and Jupiter crossed at Kui again. Kui marks Xu Region—ground long guarded against raiders from Yu and Jue. Jupiter governs the mandate to found a state and marks the ruler's missteps; Mars governs chaos, Venus governs war; When the three bright planets gather again and again in counsel, heaven pities the realm below and shows the warning that the corrupt must be driven out. At that time the Liang sovereign had grown old. The crown prince was talented and upright, yet real power could not be handed to him—and so Army Commander Zhu Yi and his ilk gradually usurped Mingfu's authority. By Wuding 5 Hou Jing had seized the six Henan commanderies and rebelled, then forged coalitions to strengthen his position. That twelfth month the Liang army was crushed at Pengcheng and more than fifty thousand were taken captive; from the Jiang to the Huai the land grew desolate and full of mourning. The next year the army was routed on a vast scale; [30] those drowned or lost ran into the hundreds of thousands. Hou Jing then marched his troops across the Yangtze. The Three Wu regions fell into famine; dead on the roads and wandering refugees made up more than half the scene; twenty-six commanderies south of the Huai all submitted to him. Once before the three bright planets had gathered in counsel at Rooftop, and nine years later the Gao clan rose to supremacy. Now they gathered at Kui and the Xiao house fell—it was heaven's grand reckoning once again.

七年九月戊午，月掩歲星，在斗。斗為天廟，帝王壽命之期。月由之以干歲星，是為大人有篡殺死亡之禍。是歲，梁武帝以憂逼殂，明年而齊帝，後年西主文帝及梁簡文又終，天下皆有大故，而江表尤甚。八年三月甲午，歲、鎮、太白在虛。虛，齊分，是為驚立絕行，改立王公。熒惑又從而入之，四星聚焉。五月丙寅，帝禪位于齊。 [32]是歲，西主大統十六年也。是時兩主立，而東帝得全魏之墟，於天官為正。昔宋武北伐，四星聚奎；及西伐秦，四星聚井；四星聚參而勃海始霸；四星聚危而文宣受終。由是言之，帝王之業其有徵矣。其後六年，西帝禪于周室，天文史失其傳也。

In the ninth month of year 7, on wuwu day, the Moon occulted Jupiter in the Dipper. The Dipper is Heaven's temple, the gauge of an emperor's allotted lifespan. When the Moon passes that way to oppose Jupiter, it means a ruler will meet calamity of usurpation, slaughter, and death. That year Emperor Wu of Liang died under the weight of care; the next year the Qi enthroned its emperor; the year after, the Western Wei Emperor Wen and Liang's Emperor Jianwen also died—great upheaval swept the realm, and south of the Yangtze suffered most. In the third month of year 8, on jiawu day, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus stood in the Void. The Void marks Qi's celestial domain—a sign of alarm at a new enthronement, halted movement, and the replacement of kings and nobles. Mars followed and entered as well, and four planets gathered there. On bingyin day in the fifth month the emperor ceded the throne to Qi. [32] That year was the sixteenth year of Datong under the Western sovereign. At that time two rulers stood enthroned, and the Eastern emperor held what remained of Wei—orthodox, by the reckoning of heavenly offices. When Song Wu marched north, four planets gathered at Kui; and when he marched west against Qin, four planets gathered at the Well; when four planets gathered at Three Stars the house of Bohai first rose to supremacy; when four planets gathered at Rooftop Emperor Wenxuan passed the throne. From these cases it is clear that an emperor's rise bears heavenly signs. Six years later the Western emperor ceded the throne to Zhou—and the astronomical annals leave off there.

校勘記

Collation notes

魏書卷一百五之四諸本目錄注「闕」字，宋人校語見上卷校記[一]。

Book of Wei, juan 105 part 4: every edition's table of contents marks the character "missing"; the Song-era collation note is found in collation note [1] of the preceding juan.

八月又犯之按上已見「十月」，不應記八月在十月後。志二太和十六年八月戊申月犯軒轅。此處下文稱「九月，月犯填星」，據志二亦在十六年，知這裏「八月」上脫「十六年」三字。

"In the eighth month it crossed again." The text above already records the "tenth month," so the eighth month should not appear after the tenth. Treatise 2 records that in the eighth month of Taihe 16, on wushen day, the Moon crossed Xuanyuan. The passage below reads "ninth month, the Moon crossed Saturn"; Treatise 2 places that event in the sixteenth year as well, so the three characters "sixteenth year" must be missing before "eighth month" here.

實有準命之禍按「準命」不可解，「準」當是「革」之訛。古代稱改朝換代為「革命」。

"There is truly the calamity of zhun-ming." The phrase "zhun-ming" makes no sense; "zhun" is probably a corruption of "ge." In antiquity a change of dynasty was called "ge-ming"—"revolution," the overturning of the mandate.

平南將軍劉藻出南鄭諸本「藻」訛「薛」，今據卷七下高祖紀下、卷七０劉藻傳改。

General Who Pacifies the South Liu Zao marched out from Nanzheng: every edition corrupts "Zao" as "Xue"; corrected here according to Basic Annals of Emperor Gaozu, part 2, juan 7b, and the Biography of Liu Zao, juan 70.

二十一年十一月諸本「二」作「三」。按太和無三十一年，事見卷七下高祖紀下太和二十一年十一月。「三」字訛，今據改。

Eleventh month of the twenty-first year: every edition writes "two" as "three." Taihe has no thirty-first year; the event is recorded in Basic Annals of Emperor Gaozu, part 2, in the eleventh month of Taihe 21. The character "three" is erroneous; corrected here.

太傅平陽王丕薨按此承上文乃景明三年十二月。據卷八世宗紀，丕死在景明四年七月癸卯。疑上脫「明年七月」四字。

Grand Tutor Prince of Pingyang Pi died. Following the passage above, this belongs to the twelfth month of Jingming 3. According to the Annals of Emperor Shizong, juan 8, Pi died on guimao day in the seventh month of Jingming 4. The four characters "next year, seventh month" are probably missing above.

三月丁未月再掩太白按此承上文是景明四年三月。是年三月癸丑朔，無丁未。志二在五月丁未，五月壬子朔，亦無丁未。

Third month, dingwei day, the Moon again occulted Venus. Following the text above, this is the third month of Jingming 4. That year the third month's guichou new moon leaves no dingwei day. Treatise 2 places it on dingwei of the fifth month, but the fifth month's renzi new moon also has no dingwei day.

揚州諸將大破梁師于陰陵卷八世宗紀景明四年三月「陰陵」作「陰山」。卷一九中任城王雲附元澄傳、卷九八蕭衍傳稱「攻蕭衍陰山戌破之」。通鑑卷一四五〈四五二九頁〉胡注：「據水經注〈卷三０淮水篇〉陰山關在弋陽縣西南。」這裏「陰陵」當是「陰山」之訛。

Yangzhou generals routed the Liang army at Yinling. The Annals of Emperor Shizong, juan 8, for the third month of Jingming 4 writes "Yinling" as "Yinshan." The Biography of Yuan Yun attached to Prince of Rencheng in juan 19, middle section, and the Biography of Xiao Yan, juan 98, say "attacked Xiao Yan's Yinshan fort and broke it." Zizhi Tongjian, juan 145 〈See page 4529.〉 Hu's commentary: "According to the Commentary on the Water Classic 〈Refer to fascicle 30, Huai River section.〉 Yinshan Pass lies southwest of Yiyang County." Here "Yinling" must be a corruption of "Yinshan."

又大破梁師于邵陵卷八世宗紀正始元年二月、卷九八蕭衍傳「邵陵」作「邵陽」。通鑑卷一四五〈四五三七頁〉胡注：「即邵陽州也。」這裏「陵」字當是「陽」之訛。

Also routed the Liang army at Shaoling. The Annals of Emperor Shizong, juan 8, for the second month of Zhengshi 1, and the Biography of Xiao Yan, juan 98, write "Shaoling" as "Shaoyang." Zizhi Tongjian, juan 145 〈See page 4537.〉 Hu's commentary: "That is Shaoyang Province." Here the character "ling" must be a corruption of "yang."

彼光後王道者諸本下注「疑」字。按此下當有脫文，不相連屬，今於「者」字下句斷。

"Those who illumine and defer to the kingly Way": every edition marks the character "doubtful" in a note. Text is probably missing below; the passage does not connect, so a sentence break is made after the character zhe ("one who").

至正月宮車晏駕按上記延昌三年，元恪死在四年正月，「正月」上當脫「明年」或「四年」二字。

"By the first month the imperial carriage came to rest at dusk." The text above records Yan Chang 3; Yuan Ke died in the first month of year 4, so two characters—"next year" or "fourth year"—must be missing before "first month."

二年十一月丙戌月掩畢大星諸本「二」訛「七」，按永平無七年，今據志二改。

Second year, eleventh month, bingxu day, the Moon occulted the great star of Net: every edition corrupts "two" as "seven"; Yongping has no seventh year, so corrected here according to Treatise 2.

是月中山王略薨按「是月」承上文是永平三年〈五一０〉八月。卷八世宗紀是年十月辛卯記「中山王英薨」，卷一九下南平王楨附元英傳亦稱英死於永平三年，略是英子，死於武泰元年〈五二八〉河陰之禍，亦見卷一九本傳。這裏「略」乃「英」之訛，「是月」亦當作「十月」。

That month Prince of Zhongshan Lue died. "That month" following the text above refers to Yongping 3 〈See page 510.〉 The eighth month. The Annals of Emperor Shizong, juan 8, records for that year, tenth month, xinmao day, "Prince of Zhongshan Ying died"; the Biography of Yuan Ying attached to Prince of Nanping Zhi, juan 19 part 2, also says Ying died in Yongping 3; Lue was Ying's son and died in Wutai 1 〈See page 528.〉 The Heyin calamity is also recorded in the main biography, juan 19. Here "Lue" is a corruption of "Ying," and "that month" should read "tenth month."

是歲又犯之按「是歲」下例當記月，據志二是「四月辛卯」，疑脫此四字。

"That year it crossed again." After "that year" the month should normally be given; Treatise 2 has "fourth month, xinmao day," and those four characters are probably missing.

四年四月庚午諸本「四年」作「二年」。按上記永平四年，下記延昌元年，不應這裏又記「二年」。下文說「十月壬申，月犯軒轅大星」，據志二在永平四年十月壬午，知這裏「二年」乃「四年」之訛。今改正。又是年十月癸亥朔，有壬申，也有壬午，未知孰是。

Fourth year, fourth month, gengwu day: every edition writes "fourth year" as "second year." The text above records Yongping 4 and below records Yan Chang 1, so "second year" should not appear here. The passage below reads "tenth month, renshen day, the Moon crossed the great star of Xuanyuan"; Treatise 2 places it on renwu day in the tenth month of Yongping 4, so "second year" here is a corruption of "fourth year." Corrected here. That year's tenth month also has a guihai new moon, so both renshen and renwu are possible; it is unclear which is correct.

十二月甲辰月犯歲星按志二熙平元年「十二月戊戌，月犯歲星；甲辰，月暈東井、觜、參、五車」。這裏抄錄之誤。

"Twelfth month, jiachen day, the Moon crossed Jupiter." Treatise 2, for Xiping 1, reads "twelfth month, wuxu day, the Moon crossed Jupiter; jiachen day, the Moon haloed Eastern Well, Beak, Three Stars, and the Five Chariots." This is a copying error.

癸卯月又犯房按此承上文乃熙平元年四月，志二在二年四月，疑此誤。

On guimao day the Moon crossed Room again. Following the text above this should be the fourth month of Xiping 1; Treatise 2 places it in the fourth month of year 2, so this is probably wrong.

梁志曰〈至〉明年義州反按事見隋書卷二一天文志下梁普通元年〈魏正光元年〉九月乙亥，下云：「其三年，義州刺史文僧朗以州叛。」梁普通三年即魏正光三年〈五二二〉，這裏作「明年」，則是正光二年，當是比對梁、魏紀年有誤。

The Liang Treatise says 〈Editorial note: reaching.〉 The next year Yizhou rebelled. The event appears in the Astronomical Treatise, part 2, juan 21 of the Book of Sui, under Liang Putong 1 〈Zhengguang 1 of Northern Wei.〉 Ninth month, yihai day; below it reads: "In the third year, Yizhou Inspector Wen Senglang rebelled with his province." Liang Putong 3 is the same as Northern Wei Zhengguang 3 〈See page 522.〉 ; writing "next year" here would make it Zhengguang 2, so the Liang and Wei chronologies must have been misaligned.

間三歲而肅宗崩百衲本、南本「三」字墨釘，北本、汲本作「五」。殿本考證云：「以上文推之，則以『三』為是」。今殿本、局本皆作「三」，是。

Three years later Emperor Xiaozong died: the Baijia and Nan editions ink-dot the character "three," while the Bei and Jizhou editions read "five." The Dian edition's textual verification says: "Inferring from the passage above, 'three' is correct." The Dian and Ju editions now both read "three," which is correct.

是歲八月蠕蠕後主來奔懷朔鎮按「是歲」承上文乃正光三年，據卷九肅宗紀，事在二年八月己巳。又下云：「間歲，阿那瓌背約犯塞」，事在四年二月。由二年至四年，故云「間歲」，若「蠕蠕後主來奔」在三年，則當云明年。史臣改竄紀年以附會所謂「徵應」，荒誕可笑。

That year, in the eighth month, the former Rouran ruler fled to Huaishuo garrison. "That year" following the text above refers to Zhengguang 3, but according to the Annals of Emperor Xiaozong, juan 9, the event occurred in the eighth month of year 2, on jisi day. The text below also says, "A year later, Anagui broke the treaty and raided the frontier"—an event of the second month of year 4. From year 2 to year 4 the phrase "a year later" fits; if "the former Rouran ruler fled" were in year 3, the text should say "the next year." The historiographer altered the chronology to fit so-called "confirming omens"—absurd and risible.

占曰饑旱有赦諸本「饑旱」二字注「闕二字」或墨釘，唯百衲本模糊，細審下一字是「旱」字，下文說「夏大旱」也可證。上一字張元濟校勘記作「饑」，今從之。

The omen reads "famine and drought, there will be an amnesty": every edition marks the two characters for "famine and drought" as "two characters missing" or dots them in ink; only the Baijia edition is blurred, but close reading shows the following character is "drought," and the "great summer drought" mentioned below confirms it. Zhang Yuanji's collation note gives the preceding character as "famine," and that reading is followed here.

五年正月沃野鎮人破落汗拔陵反按拔陵起義據卷九肅宗紀在正光五年三月，其實當在四年。三月乃命元彧統兵鎮壓起義軍之時。此志記事多據本紀，這裏「正」字疑仍是「三」之訛，非別有據。

First month of year 5, Poluohan Bilang of Woye garrison rebelled. Bilang's uprising is recorded in the Annals of Emperor Xiaozong, juan 9, in the third month of Zhengguang 5, but it actually belongs in year 4. The third month was when Yuan Yu was ordered to take command and suppress the rebel army. This treatise mostly follows the basic annals; the character "zheng" here is probably still a corruption of "three," not a reading supported elsewhere.

又有詔內外戒嚴將親征按此事在孝昌元年十二月，下稱「二月至六月再大赦及月變」，據紀及志二皆在孝昌元年。這裏「又」字上疑脫「孝昌元年」四字。

"Also an edict ordering alert throughout the realm, the emperor will campaign in person." This event belongs to the twelfth month of Xiaochang 1; below, "from the second to the sixth month another great amnesty and lunar changes"—both the annals and Treatise 2 place all of this in Xiaochang 1. The four characters "Xiaochang 1" are probably missing before "also."

於是三少王相次崩殂「王」疑當作「主」。

Thereupon the three young princes died in succession. "Wang" (prince) is probably a mistake for "zhu" (sovereign).

荊州刺史賀拔勝預謀焉諸本「勝」作「岳」。按荊州刺史是賀拔勝，見卷一一出帝紀永熙三年七月己丑及卷八０賀拔勝傳。且下文也說「勝南奔」。這裏「岳」乃「勝」之訛，今改正。

Jing Province Inspector Heba Sheng took part in the plot: every edition writes "Sheng" as "Yue." The Jing Province Inspector was Heba Sheng, as seen in the Annals of Emperor Chu, juan 11, seventh month of Yongxi 3, on jichou day, and in the Biography of Heba Sheng, juan 80. Moreover the passage below also says "Sheng fled south." Here "Yue" is a corruption of "Sheng"; corrected here.

十一月柳仲禮冠荊州百衲本、汲本、局本「十一月」作「十二月」，南、北、殿三本作「十一月」按卷一二孝靜紀、卷九八蕭衍傳，事在天平元年十一月。今從南、北、殿本。

Eleventh month: Liu Zhongli took Jing Province. The Baijia, Jiguge, and Bureau editions give "twelfth month" instead of "eleventh month," while the Southern, Northern, and Palace editions retain "eleventh month." Per juan 12 (Annals of Emperor Xiaojing) and juan 98 (Biography of Xiao Yan), the event belongs to the eleventh month of Tianping 1. The text here follows the Southern, Northern, and Palace editions.

元象二年七月壬戌按下文稱「三年正月，勃海王歡攻夏州」，「十二月，竇泰入潼關；明年，宇文泰距擊斬之」，都是天平三年和四年正月事。又云：「十月，遂及勃海王歡戰於沙苑」，乃天平四年十月事。次年始改年元象。這裏本當止作「二年」，承上條乃天平二年，「元象」二字衍文。下條首稱「三年十一月」，也是天平的三年，故下云「至元象元年七月」云云，亦可證。

Yuanxiang 2, seventh month, renxu day: the text below says "In the third year, first month, Prince Huan of Bohai attacked Xia Province," and "In the twelfth month, Dou Tai entered Tong Pass; The next year Yuwen Tai intercepted and killed him"—all of these belong to the first month of Tianping 3 and 4." It also reads: "In the tenth month he fought Prince Huan of Bohai at Shayuan"—an event of the tenth month of Tianping 4. The era name was changed to Yuanxiang only in the following year. This passage should read only "second year"; following the previous entry it refers to Tianping 2, and the characters "Yuanxiang" are an interpolation. The next entry opens with "third year, eleventh month," which is likewise Tianping 3; the later phrase "until Yuanxiang 1, seventh month" confirms the same point.

明年師大敗按文義「師」上當脫「梁」字。

The next year the army suffered a crushing defeat. By the sense of the passage, the word "Liang" has dropped out before "army."

五年二月暈昴畢參井五車按志二在五年正月乙巳，疑「二月」乃「正月」之訛。

Fifth year, second month: the Moon haloed Hairy Head, Net, Three Stars, Well, and Five Chariots. Treatise 2 dates the event to yisi in the first month of year 5; "second month" is probably a scribal error for "first month."

五月丙寅帝禪位于齊按卷一二孝靜紀武定八年五月，「丙寅」作「丙辰」，北齊書卷四文宣紀，丙辰魏帝下禪位詔，戊午，高洋即帝位。是年五月己酉朔，丙辰是八日，戊午是十日，正相連接。丙寅乃十八日，顯誤。

Fifth month, bingyin day: the emperor abdicated to Qi. In juan 12 (Annals of Xiaojing), Wuding 8 fifth month gives "bingchen" instead of "bingyin." Northern Qi shu juan 4 (Annals of Wenxuan) records that on bingchen the Wei emperor issued the abdication edict, and on wuwu Gao Yang ascended the throne. That year the fifth month opened on jiyou; bingchen falls on the eighth day and wuwu on the tenth, in unbroken sequence. Bingyin would be the eighteenth day—a plain error.

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