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卷五十 志第三上: 五行一

Volume 50 Treatises 3: Five Elements 1

Chapter 50 of 元史 · History of Yuan
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1
Five Elements, Part One
2
Humanity, Heaven, and Earth together form the three ultimates; when disaster or good fortune appears, each comes in accord with its proper category. The five revolutions of Heaven and the five resources of Earth have inexhaustible applications, yet in essence they reduce to yin and yang alone, and yin and yang in turn are nothing but the Great Ultimate. In human life, all of this is fully bestowed: the five natures are embodied, the five affairs are displayed, and the five virtues are made manifest. To cultivate them is fortunate; to neglect them is disastrous. Fortune brings blessings, while misfortune brings ruin to the extreme. When tested against Heaven, good conduct draws corresponding signs of favor, while bad conduct draws corresponding signs of calamity. The vital forces of Heaven and Earth respond to every stimulus and stir every thing in turn. How much more is this true of the Son of Heaven, who establishes the supreme standard of central harmony, stands as lord of spirits and humanity, and whose mind embraces the subtle workings of Heaven and Earth—his spirit constantly communes with creation itself, as intimately as drumstick and drumhead. Thus the Yellow Emperor regulated the five vital forces, Emperor Zhuanxu established the five offices, and the Xia rulers maintained the six treasuries—extending governance from the person to the state, so that government pervaded every sphere. Later Jizi built upon this tradition to elaborate the Nine Categories, and his account of the relationship between Heaven and humanity was comprehensive. Han scholars failed to grasp the essential doctrine. Men such as Xiahou Sheng and Liu Xiang and his son vied to explain everything through portents and anomalies; from Ban Gu onward these were compiled into the Treatise on the Five Elements, yet no one traced Liu Xiang's theories back to their source in Fu Sheng. Fu Sheng's Great Tradition states: "When the six aberrations manifest, if all join in warding them off, the five blessings will descend; if they are not jointly warded off, the six extremities will fall upon you. Yu thereupon jointly cultivated his virtue, applied the five affairs, and established the royal pinnacle." Later rulers failed to establish the pinnacle, and ministers offered no self-examination, yet instead clung to categories in their search—how misguided! Or they split Heaven and humanity into two separate realms, as in the discourse of the Song scholar Wang Anshi—this too went too far. The mechanism by which Heaven and humanity respond to one another—how easily can that be put into words! Those who cultivate themselves and reflect even when no portent appears rank highest; those who, when portents appear, are able to reform themselves rank next; when disasters and portents have already manifested, yet one cultivates without knowing how, or reflects without knowing how—this ranks lower still; Lowest of all are those upon whom disasters and portents descend together and ruin follows, yet who never cultivate or reflect to the end—such are the people destined for punishment and death. A survey of the causes of rise and fall throughout antiquity shows that none fall outside these few categories.
3
西
The Yuan dynasty rose from the northern steppe. While the Taizu was campaigning westward, the jiaoduan beast appeared in eastern India and spoke in a human voice: "Your lord should return at once"—presumably Heaven was warning him to halt the slaughter. When Emperor Xianzong campaigned against the Badai Bachi at Lake Kuanting Jisi, a great wind arose and blew the seawater dry. His army crossed and won a great victory, and the emperor declared, "Heaven is guiding me." From this one sees that the peoples of the five directions share the same nature: in reverence for Heaven, some need no teaching to know what to do. After Emperor Shizu united the realm, the empire's territory had grown vast. Calamities and portents in commanderies and districts were recorded without cease, yet demonic anomalies and disasters could not be fully documented unless the responsible offices reported them in detail.
4
仿
When Confucius composed the Spring and Autumn Annals, he recorded many calamities and portents, yet he did not spell out what events they foretold; the sage's knowledge was like that of Heaven itself, and so he did not presume to interpret Heaven's will, wishing instead that people would examine themselves with the utmost care. Accordingly, taking the Great Plan as foundation and following the spirit of the Spring and Autumn Annals, I have arranged the calamities and auspices of our own age in chronological order and composed this Treatise on the Five Elements.
5
Of the Five Elements, the first is Water. To moisten and descend is the nature of Water. When Water loses its nature, aberration follows: mists and floods burst forth, rivers reverse their course and overflow, villages are destroyed and people drowned, and frost and hail appear—all signs that Water is no longer moistening and descending. Its portent is unrelenting cold, its color black—these are the black calamities and black auspices.
6
涿 西 涿
In the first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, great floods struck the commanderies of Zhending, Shuntian, Hejian, Shunde, Daming, Dongping, Jinan, and others. In the fifth month of the fourth year, Yingzhou was inundated. In the eighth month of the fifth year, Bozhou was inundated. In the twelfth month of the sixth year, great floods struck the four prefectures of Xian, Mo, Qing, and Cang, along with Fengzhou and Hunyuan County. In the ninth month of the ninth year, excessive rains fell on the commanderies of Nanyang, Huaimeng, Weihui, and Shuntian and on the prefectures of Ming, Ci, Tai'an, Tong, and Luan. Rivers overflowed everywhere, fields and houses were destroyed, and crops were ruined. In the twelfth month of the thirteenth year, Jining and Shenzhou in Korea were flooded. In the sixth month of the fourteenth year, rain flooded Jining Circuit to a depth of more than ten feet on level ground, destroying the crops. Rain and flooding submerged the grain crops in Dingtao and Wuqing counties of Caozhou, in Puzhou, and in Tangyi County. In the twelfth month, Guanzhou and Yongnian County were flooded. In the twelfth month of the sixteenth year, Baoding and other circuits were flooded. In the first month of the seventeenth year, Cizhou and Yongping County were flooded. In the eighth month, Dadu, Beiping, Huaimeng, Baoding, Dongping, Jinan, and other circuits were flooded. In the second month of the eighteenth year, Yizhou and Gaizhou in Liaoyang were flooded. In the eleventh month, Qingyuan County in Baoding was flooded. In the sixth month of the twentieth year, the Qin River surged and overflowed in Taiyuan, Huaimeng, Henan, and other circuits, destroying more than 1,670 qing of farmland. The Qing River overflowed in Weihui Circuit and ruined the crops. Rivers overflowed in the four prefectures of Tang, Deng, Yu, and Song under Nanyang Prefecture, ruining the crops. In the tenth month, the Juma River overflowed at Zhuozhou. In the sixth month of the twenty-first year, great floods struck Baoding, Hejian, Bin, and Di. In the autumn of the twenty-second year, flooding destroyed more than 3,000 qing of fields in Nanjing, Zhangde, Daming, Hejian, Shunde, Jinan, and other circuits. Great floods at Gaoyou and Qingyuan affected 795 households and destroyed 3,090 dwellings. In the sixth month of the twenty-third year, heavy rain fell on Huayin County in Huazhou, Anxi Circuit, and the Tonggu River surged to more than thirty feet on level ground. Flooding in the counties subordinate to Hangzhou and Pingjiang circuits destroyed 17,200 qing of farmland. Floods struck the five prefectures of Zhuo, Huo, Tan, Shun, and Ji in the Dadu region and seven counties in Bianliang and Guide. In the sixth month of the twenty-fourth year, Yijin County in Bazhou was inundated by rain. In the ninth month, Yi, Jing, Weiyuan, Popo, and other districts of the Eastern Capital were flooded. In the seventh month of the twenty-fifth year, a great flood struck Jiaozhou, and the people gathered acorns to eat. In the twelfth month, rivers overflowed in Taiyuan and Bianliang circuits and ruined the crops. In the second month of the twenty-sixth year, Shaoxing was inundated. In the tenth month, flooding in Pingluan Circuit destroyed 1,100 qing of fields and crops. In the first month of the twenty-seventh year, great floods struck Ganzhou and Wuwei Circuit. In the fifth month, Jiangyin Prefecture was inundated. In the sixth month, the Yellow River overflowed at Taikang County and submerged 319,000 mu of farmland. In the eighth month, the Qin River overflowed. Qingyuan County in Guangzhou was inundated. In the eleventh month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Yitang Bay in Xiangfu. Taikang and Tongxu counties and the prefectures of Chen and Ying were devastated. In the second month of the twenty-eighth year, Changde Circuit was flooded. In the eighth month, Wuzhou in eastern Zhejiang was flooded. In the ninth month, great floods struck the three circuits of Pingluan, Baoding, and Hejian. In the fifth month of the twenty-ninth year, Nanchang, Xinjian, and Jinxian counties in Longxing Circuit were flooded. In the sixth month, flooding struck Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Pingjiang, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Songjiang, Shaoxing, and other circuits and prefectures. Great floods struck the three commanderies of Yangzhou, Ningguo, and Taiping. Huarong County in Yuezhou was flooded. In the fifth month of the thirtieth year, Jing'an County in Shenzhou was inundated. In the tenth month, Pingluan Circuit was flooded. In the eighth month of the thirty-first year, Ningjin County in Zhaozhou was flooded. In the tenth month, Liaoyang Circuit was flooded.
7
鹿鹿
In the fifth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, flooding struck Liyang Prefecture in Jiankang, Dangtu County in Taiping, Jintan and Dantu counties in Zhenjiang, Wuxi Prefecture in Changzhou, Changzhou County in Pingjiang, Wucheng County in Huzhou, Yugan Prefecture in Poyang, Yuanjiang in Changde, and Anxiang County in Lizhou. In the sixth month, Fengfu in Tai'an Prefecture, Jiyin in Caozhou, Ziyang in Yanzhou, and other counties were flooded. The Daqing River overflowed at Licheng County and destroyed civilian dwellings. In the seventh month, Hezhou in Liaodong and the Wuwei military colony fields in Dadu were flooded. In the ninth month, great floods struck the commanderies of Luzhou and Pingjiang. In the fifth month of the second year, flooding struck Pingjin County in Taiyuan, Jiaohe and Leshou counties in Xianzhou, Renqiu and Moting counties in Mozhou, and Liling Prefecture in Hunan. In the sixth month, Yijin, Baoding, and Daxing counties in Dadu Circuit were flooded, destroying more than 7,000 qing of fields and crops. Flooding struck Gucheng, Huolu, Gaocheng, and other counties in Zhending; Gecheng, Guixin, Xin'an, Shulu, and other counties in Baoding; Yingzhou in Runing; Pei County in Jining; the four commanderies of Yang, Lu, Yue, and Li; and the five commanderies of Jiankang, Taiping, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Shaoxing. In the eighth month, Dizhou and Caozhou were flooded. In the ninth month, the Yellow River burst its banks in the five counties of Qi, Fengqiu, Xiangfu, Ningling, and Xiangyi in Henan. In the tenth month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Kaifeng County. In the twelfth month, Qianjiang County in Jiangling, Yusha County in Mianyang, and Qushan, Yancheng, and other counties in Haining, Huai'an, were flooded.
8
宿鹿 綿 滿 鹿
In the third month of the first year of the Dade reign period, the rivers overflowed greatly at Xuzhou in Guide, Suqian and Suining in Pizhou, the three counties of Luyi, Linying and Yancheng in Xuzhou, Henan, Xiangyi in Suizhou, and Taikang, Fugou, Chenliu, Kaifeng, Qi, and other counties, sweeping away fields and dwellings. In the fifth month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Bianliang, and 35,000 corvée laborers were mobilized to seal the breach. The Zhang River overflowed and ruined the crops. Flooding struck the five commanderies of Longxing, Nankang, Lizhou, Nanxiong, and Raozhou. In the sixth month, the Yangzi River overflowed at Liyang County in Hezhou, sweeping away 18,500 dwellings. In the seventh month, great floods at Leiyang County in Chenzhou and Ling County in Hengzhou drowned more than three hundred people. In the ninth month, flooding at Pingyang and Ruian prefectures in Wenzhou drowned more than 6,800 people. In the eleventh month, Wuling County in Changde was inundated. In the sixth month of the second year, the Yellow River burst at Pukou in ninety-six places and inundated the commanderies of Bianliang and Guide. Flooding struck Daming, Dongchang, Pingluan, and other circuits. In the eighth month of the third year, Hejian Commandery was flooded. In the fifth month of the fourth year, Baoding and Zhending commanderies and Tong and Ji prefectures were flooded. In the sixth month, Suizhou in Guide was inundated. In the fifth month of the fifth year, the subordinate prefectures of Xuande, Baoding, and Hejian were flooded. Ninghai Prefecture was flooded. In the sixth month, the seven commanderies of Jining, Panyang, Yidu, Dongping, Jinan, Xiangyang, and Pingjiang were flooded. In the seventh month, storm winds drove the river to surge more than forty feet high, inundating the lands of Chongming, Tongzhou, Taizhou, and Dingjiang in Zhenzhou; dwellings were swept away, and more than 34,800 households were affected. Flooding struck Liaoyang Daning Circuit. In the eighth month, heavy rains fell on Pingluan Commandery, and the Luan River overflowed. Shunde Circuit was flooded. In the fourth month of the sixth year, Shangdu was inundated. In the fifth month, Jinan Circuit was inundated. At Xuzhou in Guide Prefecture and Suining County in Pizhou, rain fell for fifty days; the Yi and Wu Rivers merged and overflowed in a catastrophic flood. The Hun River overflowed at Dong'an Prefecture, destroying more than 1,080 qing of farmland. In the sixth month, Guangping Circuit was inundated. In the fifth month of the seventh year, Jinan, Hejian, and other circuits were flooded. In the sixth month, rain flooding struck the six commanderies of Liaoyang, Daning, Pingluan, Changguo, Shenyang, and Kaiyuan, destroying fields and dwellings; 119 men and women perished. In Xiuwu, Heyang, Xinye, Lanyang, and other counties, the Zhao, Tuan, Bai, Qili, Qin, and Lao Rivers all overflowed. A violent storm and flood struck Taizhou; 550 people perished in Ninghai and Linhai counties. In the fifth month of the eighth year, the Yellow River overflowed at Yangwu County in Taiyuan, Huojia County in Weihui, and Xiangfu County in Bianliang. Heavy rains flooded Huazhou and Xunzhou in Daming, destroying more than 680 qing of farmland. In the eighth month, a hurricane drove the sea inland at Chaoyang, sweeping away dwellings. In the sixth month of the ninth year, the Yellow River burst its banks at Siqi Mouth in Yangwu County, Bianliang. Heavy rains flooded Boping and Tangyi counties in Dongchang. Rain at Qi County in Tongchuan caused the Mian and Zhong Rivers to overflow and flood the city. Flooding struck the three commanderies of Longxing, Fuzhou, and Linchuan. In the seventh month, the river overflowed at Yusha County in Mianyang. Yizhou was flooded. Taixing County in Yangzhou and Shanyang County in Huai'an were flooded. In the eighth month, the Yellow River overflowed at Ningling in Guide Prefecture and Chenliu, Tongxu, Fugou, Taikang, and Qi counties. Yuancheng County in Daming was inundated. In the fifth month of the tenth year, Xiongzhou and Huozhou were flooded. Flooding at Pingjiang and Jiaxing commanderies ruined the crops. In the sixth month, heavy rains flooded Mancheng and Qingyuan counties in Baoding. Major flooding struck Daming, Yidu, Dingxing, and other circuits. In the seventh month, a great gale drove the sea inland at Pingjiang Circuit. Wujiang Prefecture was inundated. In the sixth month of the eleventh year, Jinghai, Rongcheng, Shulu, Longping, Xincheng, and other counties were flooded. In the seventh month, the Fen River overflowed at Wenshui County in Ji'ning Circuit. In the eleventh month, Lulong, Luanhe, Qian'an, Changli, Funing, and other counties were flooded.
9
涿 西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Yanyou reign period, heavy rains at Wuling County in Changde Circuit destroyed dwellings and drowned 500 people. In the sixth month, the Hun River overflowed at Fanyang and Fangshan counties in Zhuozhou, destroying more than 490 qing of farmland. In the seventh month, Yuanling and Luxi counties were flooded. In the eighth month, Zhaoqing, Wuchang, Jiankang, Hangzhou, Jiande, Nankang, Jiangzhou, Linjiang, Yuanzhou, Jianchang, Ganzhou, Anfeng, Fuzhou, and other circuits were flooded. In the sixth month of the second year, the Yellow River burst its banks at Zhengzhou and destroyed the county seat of Sishui. In the seventh month, the capital was deluged by heavy rain. Huozhou, Changping, Xianghe, Baodi, and other counties were flooded. The rivers overflowed at Quanzhou and Yongzhou, ruining the crops. In the fourth month of the third year, the Yellow River overflowed at Taihe County in Yingzhou. In the seventh month, heavy rains at Wuyuan Prefecture drowned more than 5,300 people. In the first month of the fourth year, the salt ponds at Jiezhou were flooded. In the fourth month of the fifth year, torrential rains flooded Hefei County in Luzhou. In the sixth month of the sixth year, the Zhang River overflowed in Hejian Circuit, destroying more than 2,700 qing of farmland. Torrential rains flooded the circuits of Yidu, Panyang, Jinan, Dongchang, Dongping, and Jining and the prefectures of Cao, Pu, Tai'an, and Gaotang, ruining the crops. Flooding struck Liaoyang, Guangning, Shenyang, Yongping, Kaiyuan, and other circuits. Flooding in the subordinate counties of Daming Circuit destroyed 18,000 qing of farmland. Torrential rains flooded the commanderies of Bianliang, Guide, Runing, Zhangde, Zhending, Baoding, Weihui, Nanyang, and others. In the fourth month of the seventh year, the Huai River overflowed at Anfeng and Luzhou, destroying 10,000 qing of grain and wheat crops. Chengfu County was flooded. In the fifth month, Jiangling County was flooded. In the sixth month, torrential rains at Dizhou and Dezhou destroyed more than 4,600 qing of fields. In the seventh month, Shangcai, Ruyang, Xiping, and other counties were flooded. In the eighth month, the Hutuo River overflowed at Wen'an and Wencheng counties in Bazhou, ruining the crops. Pingyao County in Fenzhou was flooded. That year, the Yellow River burst its banks at Yuanwu County in Bianliang.
10
In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Bazhou was inundated and the Hun River overflowed, affecting more than 30,000 households. In the seventh month, major flooding struck Pinggu and Yuyang counties in Jizhou, Xingtai and Shahe counties in Shunzhou, Wei County in Daming, and Shicheng County in Yongping. The Zhang River overflowed at Linzhang County in Zhangde. Flooding struck Gu'an Prefecture in Dadu, Yuanshi County in Zhending, Dong'an, Baodi County, and Qinghe, Shanyang, and other counties in Huai'an. Rain flooding in Dongping and Dongchang circuits and the prefectures of Gaotang, Cao, and Pu ruined the crops. The rivers overflowed in the Kirghiz Territory. In the eighth month, rain fell on Anlu Prefecture for seven days, driving the rivers to surge and affecting 3,500 households. The sea overflowed at Haikang and Suixi counties in Leizhou, destroying 4,000 qing of farmland. In the ninth month, the Han River overflowed at Jingshan and Changshou counties. In the tenth month, Liaoyang, Zhaoqing, and other commanderies were flooded. In the first month of the second year, the Yellow River overflowed at Yifeng County. In the second month, Puzhou was inundated. In the intercalary fifth month, the Boshe military colony in Suiyang County was inundated. In the sixth month, Mei County in Fengyuan and Xinping and Shangcai counties in Binzhou were flooded. In the eighth month, Lu'an and Shucheng counties in Luzhou were flooded. In the eleventh month, a great flood at Pingjiang Circuit destroyed 49,600 qing of farmland. In the fifth month of the third year, flooding at Dong'an Prefecture destroyed more than 1,500 qing of farmland. Flooding at Wuyi County in Zhending ruined the crops. In the sixth month, heavy rains at Yongqing County in Dadu destroyed 400 qing of fields. In the seventh month, heavy rains at Huozhou ruined the crops. In the ninth month, Zhangzhou, Jianchang, Nankang, and other commanderies were flooded.
11
西 西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Huozhou and Gu'an Prefecture were flooded. Torrential rains at Longxi County swept away and drowned more than five hundred families. Heavy rains in Longqing Circuit damaged the crops. In the sixth month, incessant rains flooded twenty-two counties in the circuits of Yidu, Jinan, Panyang, Dongchang, Dongping, and Jining and ten counties in Cao, Pu, Gaotang, Dezhou, and elsewhere; the water stood more than ten feet deep and swept away fields and dwellings. The Hunyuan River overflowed at Datong. Heavy rains in the six prefectures of Chen, Fen, Shun, Jin, En, and Shen ruined the crops. The Hutuo River overflowed in Zhending, sweeping away dwellings. Heavy rains in Shaanxi drove the Wei and Heishui Rivers to overflow, destroying dwellings. The rivers overflowed at Quzhou. In the seventh month, torrential rains lasting more than fifty days flooded thirty-seven counties in the commanderies of Zhending, Hejian, Baoding, and Guangping, ruining the crops. The Qing River overflowed at Gu'an Prefecture in Dadu Circuit. The Sha, Feng, and Ming Rivers overflowed at Ren County in Shunde Circuit. The Yellow River overflowed at Chaoyi County in Fengyuan, Chuqiu County in Caozhou, and Puyang County in Kaizhou. In the ninth month, the Luo River overflowed in Yan'an Circuit. Heavy rains at Chang'an County in Fengyuan drove the Feng River over its banks. Guantao County in Puzhou was flooded. In the twelfth month, the sea surged at Yanguan Prefecture in Hangzhou, breaching dikes and encroaching on the city; officials piled stone cribs and timber cages against it, but the waters would not be held back. In the first month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Baodi County in Dadu and Gaoyao County in Zhaoqing were inundated by rain. Gongchang Circuit was flooded.
12
涿 綿 宿 涿 宿
In the intercalary first month, Guixin County in Xiongzhou was inundated. In the second month, torrential rains at Ganzhou Circuit washed away tents and livestock. In the third month, the Qing and Kou Rivers merged at Xianping Prefecture, abandoned their old channel, and tore through dikes and weirs. In the fourth month, Fangshan and Fanyang counties in Zhuozhou were flooded. Heavy rains flooded the four prefectures of Min, Tao, Wen, and Jie. In the fifth month, Tanzhou was inundated; on flat ground the water stood fifteen feet deep. Xinghua County in Gaoyou and Gong'an County in Jiangling were flooded. The Yellow River overflowed in the Bianliang region, affecting fifteen counties. In the sixth month, the Fen River overflowed in Jining Circuit. The Mian and Zhong Rivers overflowed into Tongchuan city, standing more than ten feet deep. Ji County in Weihui and Suzhou in Guide were inundated by rain. Yucheng, Dangshan, Shanfu, Feng, and Pei counties in Jining Circuit were flooded. In the seventh month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Suizhou. In the eighth month, major flooding struck Bazhou, Zhuozhou, and Yongqing and Xianghe counties, destroying crops on more than 9,050 qing of land. In the ninth month, three rivers overflowed in Kaiyuan Circuit, drowning farmland and wrecking dwellings. In the tenth month, torrential rains inundated Mingsha Prefecture in Ningxia. In the first month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, Enzhou was flooded. In the second month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Guide Prefecture. In the sixth month, Datong County was inundated. Guangzhou in Runing was flooded. In the seventh month, the Yellow River burst its banks at Zhengzhou, washing away more than 16,500 households in Yangwu and neighboring counties. Rains in the prefectures of Dong'an, Tan, Shun, and Huo drove the Hun River to burst its banks and the Wenyu River to overflow, ruining the crops. Flooding at Fushi County in Yan'an Circuit washed away more than ninety dwellings. In the eighth month, fierce winds at Yanguan Prefecture drove the sea inland; the sea-defense dike collapsed across a breach more than thirty li wide and twenty li long, and 1,250 households were relocated to safety. Flooding struck Lixian in Zhending, Pucheng County in Fengyuan, Wuwei Prefecture, and Liyang, Hanshan, and other counties. In the ninth month, the Fen River overflowed at Pingyao County. In the eleventh month, the sea surged at Sansha Town in Chongming Prefecture, washing away five hundred dwellings. In the twelfth month, Liaoyang was inundated. A great flood at Ruizhou in Daining Circuit destroyed 5,500 qing of farmland and 890 dwellings; 150 people drowned. In the first month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, the tide surged at Yanguan Prefecture, breaching more than 2,000 paces of the sea-defense dike. In the fourth month, the dike collapsed again across nineteen li; more than twenty thousand corvée laborers were conscripted to plug the breach with timber palisades, bamboo cages, and masonry, but the sea would not be contained. In the sixth month, rain flooding struck the seven prefectures of Dong'an, Gu'an, Tong, Shun, Ji, Tan, and Huo in Dadu and Yongqing, Liangxiang, and other counties. In the seventh month, heavy rains fell on Yunzhou at Shangdu. The Heishui River overflowed at Beishan. Yun'an County was flooded. In the eighth month, the Yellow River overflowed at Fugou and Lanyang counties in Bianliang, washing away more than 1,900 dwellings. The Yellow River overflowed at Yucheng County in Jining, ruining the crops. In the twelfth month, the Yellow River overflowed at Xiayi County. Zhongmou, Kaifeng, and Chenliu counties in Bianliang and Pi and Su prefectures in Guide were inundated by rain.
13
使西 西
In the third month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, the sea dike collapsed at Yanguan Prefecture; envoys were dispatched to perform rites of prayer and sacrifice, two hundred sixteen stupas were erected, and Tibetan Buddhist rites were performed to subdue the waters. The Yellow River burst its banks at Dangshan and Yucheng counties. In the fourth month, the sea overflowed at Yanguan Prefecture; additional troops and civilians were mobilized to stem it, and stone cribs were laid along twenty-nine li of coastline. In the sixth month, Nanning, Kaiyuan, Yongping, and other circuits were flooded. Linyi County in Hejian was inundated by rain. Heavy rains ruined the crops in thirty counties across the commanderies of Yidu, Jinan, Panyang, Jining, and Dongping and nine counties in the prefectures of Pu, De, and Tai'an. In the seventh month, prefectures throughout the Two Rivers region of Guangxi were flooded.
14
In the eighth month of the first year of the Tianli reign period, flooding in the nine commanderies of Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Pingjiang, Huzhou, Jiande, Zhenjiang, Chizhou, Taiping, and Guangde drowned more than 14,000 qing of farmland. In the sixth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, heavy rains in the four prefectures of Dong'an, Tong, Ji, and Ba in Dadu and Jinghai County in Hejian ruined the crops. Military colonies in Changguo, Yongping, were flooded.
15
In the seventh month of the first year of the Zhishun reign period, the tide surged inland and washed away 26,700 yin of salt belonging to the Hejian transport office. In the intercalary seventh month, a great flood struck the circuits of Pingjiang, Jiaxing, Huzhou, and Songjiang and one prefecture, destroying more than 36,600 qing of farmland and affecting more than 405,500 households. Flooding in the circuits of Hangzhou, Changzhou, Qingyuan, Shaoxing, Zhenjiang, and Ningguo and in Wangjiang, Tongling, Changlin, Baoying, Xinghua, and other counties drowned more than 13,500 qing of farmland. Subordinate prefectures and counties of Dadu, Baoding, Daining, and Yidu were flooded. In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, torrential rains inundated Lucheng County in Luzhou. In the fifth month, Moting County in Hejian, Hequ County in Ningxia, Pengshui County in Shaoqing, and military colony lands in De'an were flooded. In the sixth month, the Zhang River burst its banks in counties under Zhangde. In the tenth month, fierce winds at Wujiang Prefecture drove Tai Lake over its banks, washing away more than 1,970 dwellings. In the twelfth month, Shenzhou and Jinzhou were flooded. In the third month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, the Luo River overflowed at Chaoyi County in Fengyuan. In the fifth month, the Yellow River overflowed in Bianliang. Jiangdu, Taixing, Yunmeng, Yingcheng, and other counties were flooded. In the sixth month, Fenzhou was inundated.
16
In the ninth month of the fourteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Jinsha Spring at Changxing County in Huzhou—used for tea production since the Tang and Song dynasties but ordinarily intermittent—gushed forth abundantly, sufficient to irrigate several hundred qing of fields. The local authorities reported the event, and the spring was granted the name Spring of Auspicious Response. In the twelfth month of the fifteenth year, the Yellow River ran clear from Baigu east of Mengjin to Liaozigu in Sishui County—a stretch of more than eighty li where the water turned crystalline and the riverbed could be seen; months passed before it returned to its normal state.
17
In the intercalary fourth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, the Yellow River ran clear for three days along a stretch of more than three hundred li at Lanzhou.
18
西
In the fifth month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, frost at Xijing killed the grain crop. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, frost fell in Xuande, Weining, and other circuits. In the eighth month, frost in Hejian, Pingluan, and other circuits damaged the crops. In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Zhongtong reign period, frost at Wuzhou killed the wheat and grain crops.
19
In the eighth month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost fell at Taiyuan. In the fourth month of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost fell at Tanzhou. In the seventh month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost in Hui, Lan, and other prefectures in Gongchang killed the crops. In the fourth month of the seventeenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost fell at Yidu. In the third month of the twenty-first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost in Shandong killed the mulberry trees and silkworms alike, affecting more than thirty thousand households. In the seventh month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost at Datong, Pingyang, and Taiyuan killed the grain crop. In the third month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, frost killed the mulberry trees in the commanderies of Jinan and Panyang and in counties under Enzhou.
20
In the eighth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, frost at Jin and Fu prefectures killed the grain crop.
21
In the third month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, frost at Tangyin County killed the wheat crop. In the fifth month, frost at Shangzhou killed the wheat crop. In the eighth month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, frost at Datong and Taiyuan killed the grain crop. In the fourth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, frost killed the wheat crop. In the third month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, frost at Jiyang and Luancheng counties killed the mulberry trees. In the eighth month, frost killed the crops. In the third month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, frost in counties under the commanderies of Hejian, Yidu, and Panyang killed the mulberry trees. Frost in the four prefectures of Qing, Mo, Cang, and Xian killed more than 2,417,000 mulberry trees and destroyed more than 12,700 trays of silkworms. In the seventh month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, frost at Hunyuan County in Datong killed the grain crop. In the eighth month, frost at Mizhi County in Suide Prefecture killed the grain crop on 280 qing of land.
22
In the eighth month of the first year of the Zhida reign period, frost at Datong killed the grain crop. In the third month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, frost at Jining killed the mulberry trees.
23
{}
In the seventh month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, frost fell at Yangqu County in Jining, Datong County in Datong Circuit, and Weining County in Xinghe Circuit. In the eighth month, frost at Yichun County in Yuanzhou damaged the crops. In the third month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, heavy snow at Yunxu Prefecture left the people famished. In the second month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, a heavy frost at the capital dimmed the daylight.
24
In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, hail fell as large as sling stones. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, hail fell in the commanderies of Shuntian, Pingyang, Zhending, Henan, and others. In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Zhongtong reign period, hail at Changping County in Yanjing, Tiao County in Jing Prefecture, and the three prefectures of Xing, Song, and Yun in Kaiping Circuit damaged the crops.
25
西 西
In the eighth month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell in the commanderies of Zhangde, Daming, Nanjing, Henan, Jinan, Taiyuan, and others. In the third month of the fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, heavy hail struck Xiajin County. In the sixth month of the fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, heavy hail struck Zhongshan. In the seventh month of the sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell at Datong County in the Western Capital. In the fifth month of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, heavy hail struck Henei County. In the intercalary eleventh month of the fifteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail at Ganyu County in Haizhou damaged the crops. In the eighth month of the nineteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell as large as hen's eggs. In the fourth month of the twentieth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, wind, thunder, rain, and hail in Henan damaged the crops. In the fifth month, wind, thunder, rain, and hail struck Anxi Circuit. In the eighth month, a fierce hailstorm at Yuanshi County in Zhending destroyed the grain crop entirely. In the seventh month of the twenty-second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell at Guan Prefecture. In the ninth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell at Dading, Jinyuan, Gaozhou, Wuping, Xingzhong, and other places. In the third month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail as large as hen's eggs at Lingbi and Hong counties ruined the wheat crop. In the twelfth month, hail fell at Lingshou, Yangqu, Tiancheng, and other counties. In the summer of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, heavy hail struck the commanderies of Pingyang, Datong, Baoding, and others. In the fourth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, a fierce hailstorm struck Lingshou County. In the sixth month, a fierce hailstorm at Yanci and Jiyang counties in Di Prefecture damaged millet, sorghum, beans, wheat, mulberry trees, and jujubes. In the intercalary sixth month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell at Liaoyang, Shen Prefecture, Guangning, Kaiyuan, and other circuits. In the fourth month of the thirty-first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, hail fell at Jimo County. In the eighth month, a violent storm of wind, rain, and hail struck Ande County in De Prefecture.
26
西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, heavy hail at Jin, Hui, and Xihe prefectures in Gongchang left no wheat or grain standing. In the seventh month, hail fell at Longxing Circuit. In the fifth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, hail fell at Yishi County in Hezhong. In the sixth month, hail fell at Weining County in Longxing, Xingtai County in Shunde, and Jiaocheng, Lishi, Shouyang, and other counties in Taiyuan. In the eighth month, hail fell at Wuzhi County in Huaimeng.
27
In the fourth month of the first year of the Zhida reign period, hailstorms struck Xincheng County in Panyang, Yanci County in Jinan, and Gaoyuan County in Yidu. In the fifth month, hail at Guancheng County piled one chi deep and wiped out the wheat and grain crops. In the eighth month, hail at Daning County damaged the crops and killed livestock. In the third month of the second year of the Zhida reign period, hail fell at Jiyin, Dingtao, and other counties. In the sixth month, hail fell at Guo Prefecture, Yuan Prefecture, and Jincheng County. At Shenmu County in Yan'an, hail over an area of more than one hundred li killed people and livestock. In the fourth month of the third year of the Zhida reign period, hail fell at Lingshou, Pingyin, and other counties. In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Zhida reign period, hail fell at Nanyang. In the intercalary seventh month, hail fell at Xuannin County.
28
In the fourth month of the first year of the Huangqing reign period, hail fell at Jun Prefecture in Daming, Anyang County in Zhangde, and Mengjin County in Henan. In the sixth month, hail at Kaiyuan Circuit damaged the crops. In the seventh month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, hail fell at Pingding Prefecture in Jining. Hail struck Fucheng County in Jing Prefecture. In the eighth month, hail fell at Huairen County in Datong.
29
西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Yanyou reign period, a fierce hailstorm at Fushi County ruined the crops and injured people and livestock. In the sixth month, hail fell at Xuanping, Renshou, Baideng, and other counties. In the fifth month of the second year of the Yanyou reign period, thunder and hail in Datong, Xuande, and other commanderies damaged the crops. In the fifth month of the third year of the Yanyou reign period, hail at Ji Prefecture lay one chi deep. In the fourth month of the fifth year of the Yanyou reign period, hail at Fengxiang Prefecture ruined the wheat and grain crops. In the sixth month of the sixth year of the Yanyou reign period, hail at Datong County fell as large as hen's eggs. In the seventh month, hail at Longxi County in Gongchang damaged the crops. In the eighth month of the seventh year of the Yanyou reign period, thunder, wind, rain, and hail struck Datong Circuit.
30
In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, hail at Wu Prefecture damaged the crops. At Yongping Circuit, hail piled one chi deep and damaged the crops. In the seventh month, hail fell in the commanderies of Zhending, Shunde, and others. In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, hail fell at Jingchuan County in Jing Prefecture. In the sixth month, a violent storm of wind, rain, and hail struck Si Prefecture. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, a violent storm of wind, rain, and hail uprooted great trees at the Willow Grove traveling palace.
31
西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, hail at Yangqu County in Jining damaged the crops. Hail at Longquanping in Si Prefecture ruined the wheat crop. In the sixth month, hail fell at Shunyuan, Taiping Army, and Dingxi Prefecture. In the seventh month, hail at Longqing Circuit fell as large as hen's eggs and lay more than three chi deep on level ground. In the eighth month, hail fell at Baideng County in Datong. In the fourth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, hail fell at Baishui County in Fengyuan. In the fifth month, hail fell at Kedang County in Taozhou Circuit and Didao County in Lintao Prefecture. In the sixth month, hail fell at Xing Prefecture, Fu Prefecture, Jingning Prefecture, and Chengji, Tongwei, Baishui, Fushi, Ansai, and other counties. In the seventh month, hail fell at Tan Prefecture. In the sixth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, heavy hail struck Gongchang Circuit. Hail fell at Anxi County in Zhongshan Prefecture and Yongshou County in Qian Prefecture. In the seventh month, fierce hailstorms at Fangshan, Baodi, Yutian, Yongping, and other counties broke trees and damaged the crops. In the eighth month, hail at Longqing Prefecture lay one chi deep, and fierce winds further damaged the crops. In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, hail at Tangyin County in Zhangde, Dingxiang County in Jining, and the two prefectures of Wu and Ying in Datong damaged the crops.
32
In the fourth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, heavy hail at Jun and Jing prefectures ruined the wheat and grain crops. In the fifth month, hail fell at Yangqu County in Jining and Jingxing County in Wei Prefecture. In the sixth month, heavy hail struck Jingchuan, Tangyin, and other counties. Hail fell in counties under Daning and Yongping.
33
In the seventh month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, hail fell at Huizhou in Daning. In the eighth month, hail as large as hen's eggs at Yangqu County in Jining damaged the crops. In the seventh month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, hail at Shun Prefecture, Dong'an Prefecture, and Pingji, Feixiang, Quyang, Xingtang, and other counties damaged the crops. Hail fell at Kaiyuan Circuit.
34
西
In the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, hail fell at Qingyuan County in Jining. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, hail fell at Gan Prefecture. On yisi day, the heaven drum sounded in the northwest.
35
In the ninth month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, Jin, wife of the commoner Wang Si of Henan, gave birth to three boys at one delivery. The Tang Annals states: "When things depart from the norm they become omens; when yin force prevails, the maternal principle grows vigorous."
36
In the eighth month of the first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Cui, wife of a member of the Wang clan in Wucheng County, gave birth to three boys at one delivery. In the eighth month of the tenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, on jiayin day, the wife of Liu Tie'niu of Baoji County in Fengxiang gave birth to three boys at one delivery. In the second month of the twentieth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Lady Li, wife of Zhang Chou of Gaozhou, gave birth to four children at one delivery: three boys and one girl. In the fourth month, Zhang, wife of Wang Delin of Gu'an Prefecture, after five months of pregnancy gave birth to a boy with four hands and four feet, a round head, and three ears, one attached behind the skull; he died at once upon birth. A full report was submitted to the relevant authorities. In the ninth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wang, wife of a commoner surnamed Li of Nanzhang County in Xiangyang, gave birth to three sons at one delivery.
37
In the fifth month of the first year of the Dade reign period, the wife of Ren Fu, a military-household registrant of Suining Prefecture, gave birth to three boys at one delivery. In the eleventh month, Holimi, wife of Nayihuai of the Bolu xi household at Dayan in Liaoyang, gave birth to four boys at one delivery. In the fourth year of the Dade reign period, Lady Zhu, wife of the commoner Sun Yi of Baoying County, gave birth to three boys at one delivery. In the first month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Lady Gan, wife of Fang Bing of Hukou County in Jiang Prefecture, gave birth to four boys at one delivery.
38
Of the Five Elements, the second is Fire. To blaze upward is the nature of Fire; when Fire loses its nature, aberration follows. Dong Zhongshu said: "When yang falls out of balance, fire disasters arise. Then flames burst forth without restraint, ancestral temples are stricken, palace halls are consumed, and even mustering armies cannot check the destruction. This is what is meant by Fire no longer blazing upward. Its portent is unrelenting heat, its color red—these are the red calamities and red auspices.
39
In the third year of Emperor Dingzong's reign, on wushen day, wild grasses burst into flame of their own accord; eight or nine out of every ten cattle and horses perished, and the people could scarcely survive.
40
西
In the twelfth month of the eleventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, fire at Zhengyang in western Huai destroyed dwellings, armor, and weapons entirely. In the second month of the eighteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, fire broke out at Yang Prefecture. In the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, fire broke out at Hangzhou and burned seven hundred seventy households.
41
In the fifth month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, fire broke out at Hangzhou and burned four hundred households. In the third month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, fire broke out at Yihuang County. In the eleventh month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, fire broke out in Wuchang Circuit.
42
In the second month of the first year of the Yanyou reign period, fire broke out at Yangzi County in Zhen Prefecture. In the sixth month of the third year of the Yanyou reign period, fire broke out in Chongqing Circuit, and eight or nine out of every ten prefectural offices were burned. In the fourth month of the sixth year of the Yanyou reign period, fire broke out at Yang Prefecture and destroyed more than thirteen thousand three hundred official and private dwellings.
43
殿
In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, fire broke out at Yang and Zhen prefectures. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, fire broke out at Hangzhou. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, fire broke out in the main hall of the traveling palace in Fengyuan Circuit, and the Liyong Directorate storehouse at Shangdu also caught fire. In the ninth month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, fire broke out at Jiangdu County in Yang Prefecture and burned more than four hundred seventy households.
44
西
In the fifth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out at Yuan Prefecture in Jiangxi and burned more than five hundred households. In the sixth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out at Gaoshi in Ning Prefecture, Longxing Circuit, and burned more than five hundred households. In the seventh month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out at Fengxin County in Longxing and Chenxi County in Chen Prefecture. In the eighth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out at Hangzhou and burned more than four hundred seventy households. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out in Longxing Circuit. In the twelfth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, fire broke out at Hangzhou and burned six hundred seventy households.
45
In the third month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, fire broke out at Pengshui County in Shaoqing, Sichuan. In the fourth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, fire broke out in Chongqing Circuit and spread to more than two hundred forty households. In the seventh month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, fire broke out at Jiangxia County in Wuchang Circuit and spread to four hundred households. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, fire broke out at Jiangxia County and burned more than four hundred households. In the second month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, fire broke out in various counties of Henei.
46
In the first year of the Huangqing reign period, there was no snow all winter, and an edict ordered prayers at the sacred mountains and rivers. In the first year of the Yanyou reign period, Tan, Ji, and other prefectures around the capital had no snow all winter, and by spring the grasses and trees were withered and scorched.
47
On bingyin day in the eighth month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zouping County in Jinan presented one specimen of lingzhi. On guiyou day in the eighth month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Jizhou in Yidu presented two specimens of lingzhi. In the fourth month of the fifteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Licheng County in Jinan presented lingzhi. In the sixth month of the nineteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, lingzhi appeared at Jingde Temple in Qingshen County, Meizhou. On dingwei day in the fourth month of the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Jiangdong Pacification Commission presented one specimen of lingzhi. In the tenth month of the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Jining presented one specimen of lingzhi. On guiwei day in the third month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongliu County presented lingzhi as tribute. In the fourth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wang Yi, a commoner of Guichi County in Chizhou, presented twelve specimens of purple lingzhi. In the sixth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhu Liang, a commoner of Ji County, presented purple lingzhi. In the third month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, lingzhi appeared at Yangdi County in Jun Prefecture. In the sixth month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, lingzhi appeared at He Prefecture.
48
西 殿 殿 殿
In the twelfth month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, Xixiang County in Xingyuan presented one specimen of lingzhi, coral-red in color. In the first month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Zouping County in Jinan presented one specimen of lingzhi with five branches and five leaves, all of them red. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Zhida reign period, lingzhi appeared in the Hall of Great Completion at the Imperial Academy. In the third month of the second year of the Yanyou reign period, lingzhi appeared in the Hall of Great Completion. In the seventh month of the fifth year of the Yanyou reign period, lingzhi appeared in the Hall of Great Completion.
49
殿
On xinwei day in the first month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, the emperor received court congratulations in the imperial tent hall; that night a red glow shone over the northeast, as large as a mat.
50
Of the Five Elements, the third is Wood. To bend and grow straight is the nature of Wood; when Wood loses its nature, aberration follows. Growth fails to flourish, anomalies appear, and this is what is meant by Wood no longer bending and growing straight. Its portent is unrelenting rain, its color green—these are the green calamities and green auspices. On xinyou day in the eleventh month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, glazed frost formed on the trees.
51
On dingsi day in the eleventh month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, rain fell with glazed frost on the trees. On guihai day in the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, rain fell with glazed frost on the trees. In the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Wuhu County in Taiping Circuit presented a piece of elm wood bearing the inscription "Years of Great Peace Under Heaven." On gengzi day in the fifth month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, a windstorm at the Liulin traveling palace uprooted three thousand seven hundred large trees.
52
In the second month of the seventeenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, insects devoured the mulberry trees in the seven commanderies of Zhending. In the fifth month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, mulberry worms ate the leaves at Cang and Wei prefectures, Zhongshan, Yuanshi, Wudi, and other counties, and the silkworm crop failed. In the fourth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, insects devoured the mulberry trees in Zhongshan and Lingshou counties in Zhending.
53
In the fourth month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, insects devoured the mulberry trees in the commanderies of Zhangde, Guangping, Zhending, Shunde, Daming, and others. In the fifth month of the first year of the Zhida reign period, insects devoured the mulberry trees in the three commanderies of Daming, Guangping, and Zhending. In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, tent caterpillars devoured the mulberry trees at the De'an garrison in Henan.
54
In the third month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, insects stripped the mulberry trees at Cang and Gaotang prefectures and at Nanpi, Yanshan, Wucheng, and other counties until they stood like dead stumps.
55
In the third month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, insects devoured forty thousand mulberry trees in Guan Prefecture. In Jin, Ji, Shen, Li, and other prefectures and in Yuncheng and Yanjin counties, the insects fed on mulberry at night and hid in the soil by day, so that people could not catch them. In the fifth month, insects devoured the mulberry trees in Yucheng in Caozhou, Boye in Baoding, Fengqiu in Dongchang, and other counties until the infestation had run its course.
56
On dinghai day in the sixth month of the ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, heavy rain fell at the capital. In the ninth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, prolonged rains in Taiyuan, Hejian, Henan, and other circuits damaged the crops. In the seventh month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, excessive rains in Baoding Commandery and in Ba and Huo prefectures damaged the crops. In the eighth month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, excessive rains struck Jiaxiang, Yutai, and Jinxiang counties; in the ninth month, Mo and Xian prefectures were likewise inundated. Baoding Circuit also suffered excessive rain. In the sixth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, prolonged rains damaged the crops in Jining, Dongping, Bianliang, Jinan, Shunde, Zhending, Pingliang, and Di Prefecture. In the eighth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, prolonged rains brought disaster to Daming, Qinghe, Nanle, and other counties. In the ninth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Hejian Commandery suffered excessive rain.
57
In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Zhida reign period, prolonged rains damaged the crops in the circuits of Hejian, Shunde, Daming, Zhangde, and Guangping, in De, Pu, En, and Tong prefectures, and in Qi County in Hedong. In the first year of the Huangqing reign period, rain damaged the crops at Xinjian County in Longxing Circuit.
58
In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Yanyou reign period, rain damaged the crops at Gaizhou in Liaoyang. In the seventh month of the sixth year of the Yanyou reign period, rain damaged more than three thousand qing of crops at Wencheng County in Ba Prefecture.
59
In the seventh month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, rain damaged the crops in eleven commanderies including Zhending, Guangping, and Luzhou. In the eighth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, prolonged rains at Kaocheng and Yifeng in Bianliang and at Zhanhua and Lijin in Jinan, among other counties, damaged the grain crops.
60
Of the Five Elements, the fourth is Metal. To follow change and be reshaped is the nature of Metal; when Metal loses its nature, aberration follows. Smelting and casting then fail, anomalies appear, and this is what is meant by Metal no longer following change and being reshaped. Metal and stone belong to the same category, and so the ancients recorded them together under related headings. Its portent is unrelenting drought, its color white—these are the white calamities and white auspices.
61
In the thirteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Liu, the timber official at Wuling Mountain, reported that iron ore had been found at Dayu Zhuishan in Tan Prefecture. The authorities sent inspectors to verify the report and soon established four smelting works.
62
椿
In the first year of the Dade reign period, the smelteries at Juyang Mountain in Yun Prefecture and elsewhere reported that smelting the ore yielded no silver. An edict was issued reducing their tax quotas. In the sixth month of the second year of the Dade reign period, a meteor fell to earth at Xinpi Village in Chongren County, Fuzhou. It was a green meteorite, and a local man named Zhang Chun reported the event to the authorities. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, a mountainside collapsed in Tianquan Circuit. Flying rocks struck people, and those hit were killed at once.
63
Among the ordinary portents, unrelenting drought—Liu Xiang understood this to signify the great droughts recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Jing Fang's Commentary on the Changes says: "To desire gain yet refuse to use it—this is called overreach; its calamity is desolation. Desolation means drought."
64
In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, Bin and Di prefectures suffered drought. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Zhongtong reign period, Zhending Commandery and Mo, Ci, and other prefectures suffered drought.
65
西 西耀
In the second month of the first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongping, Taiyuan, and Pingyang suffered drought, and Western monks were separately dispatched to pray for rain. In the twelfth month of the fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Jingzhao suffered severe drought. In the fourth month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Lingxian and Guangling counties in Wei Prefecture suffered drought. In the sixth month of the ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Goryeo suffered drought. In the twelfth month of the thirteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Pingyang Circuit suffered drought. In the seventh month of the sixteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhao Prefecture suffered drought. In the second month of the eighteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Guangning, Beijing, and Dading Prefecture suffered drought. In the fifth month of the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Bianliang and the capital region both suffered drought. In the spring of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Pingyang suffered drought, and the winter and spring wheat crops withered and died. In the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, drought struck six counties including Xucheng in Dongping Circuit and sixteen prefectures including Shang, Yao, Qian, and Hua in Anxi Circuit. In the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Jiang Prefecture suffered severe drought.
66
In the sixth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Huan and Jia prefectures and Xianning, Fuqiang, Tongwei, and other counties suffered drought. In the seventh month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Sunning and Leshou counties in Hejian, as well as Si and He prefectures, suffered drought. In the eighth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Kaizhou in Daming, Wuzhi County in Huaimeng, and Sunning County in Hejian suffered drought. In the ninth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Mo and Xian prefectures suffered drought. In the tenth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Hua Prefecture suffered drought. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, the Liaodong and Kaiyuan circuits suffered drought.
67
In the summer of the third year of the Zhi Da reign period, Guangping suffered severe drought.
68
In the sixth month of the first year of the Huangqing reign period, Bin, Di, and De prefectures and Putai, Yangxin, and other counties suffered drought. In the ninth month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, the capital region suffered severe drought.
69
In the spring of the second year of the Yanyou reign period, Tan, Ji, and Hao prefectures suffered drought. That summer, Lan Prefecture in Gongchang suffered drought. In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Yanyou reign period, De'an Prefecture suffered drought. In the seventh month of the fifth year of the Yanyou reign period, Zhending, Hejian, Guangping, and Zhongshan suffered severe drought. In the sixth month of the seventh year of the Yanyou reign period, the Huang and Qi commanderies and Jingmen Prefecture suffered drought.
70
In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Datong Circuit suffered drought. In the eleventh month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, Min Prefecture suffered drought. In the summer of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, Shunde, Zhending, and Jining suffered severe drought.
71
In the second month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Guangping, Zhangde, and other commanderies suffered drought.
72
西 西
In the eighth month of the first year of the Tianli reign period, Shaanxi suffered severe drought, and people resorted to cannibalism. In the summer of the second year of the Tianli reign period, drought struck four prefectures—Zhending, Hejian, Daming, and Guangping—and forty-one counties. Two counties in Xia Prefecture suffered drought. In the eighth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Huzhou in western Zhejiang and Chizhou and Raozhou in eastern Jiangnan suffered drought. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Jining Circuit suffered drought.
73
In the seventh month of the first year of the Zhishun reign period, Zhao, Xing, and Dongsheng prefectures and thirteen counties including Yuci and Fuyang suffered drought. In the second year of the Zhishun reign period, Huo, Xi, and Shi prefectures and Fucheng and Pingdi counties suffered drought.
74
仿
When drought is unrelenting, calamities of armored insects follow. Commentators explain that small shelled insects that take wing are born of yang energy; the Spring and Autumn Annals call them zhong, and today they are called locusts. According to Liu Xin, when rulers are greedy and cruel in their exactions upon the people, locusts and fish carry the same portent. Liu Xiang held that calamities of armored insects belong to the category of speech not being heeded. Here I follow this approach.
75
In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, Zhending, Shuntian, and Xing Prefecture suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the fourth year of the Zhongtong reign period, Yanjing, Hejian, Yidu, Zhending, and Dongping suffered locust plagues. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Zhongtong reign period, Bin, Di, and other prefectures suffered locust plagues.
76
西宿 宿
In the seventh month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Yidu suffered a severe locust plague. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Xijing, Beijing, Shunde, Xu, Su, Pi, and other prefectures and commanderies suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongping and other commanderies suffered locust plagues. In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Nanjing, Henan, and other circuits suffered severe locust plagues. In the sixth month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, locust plagues struck Shangdu, Zhongdu, Daming, Hejian, Yidu, Shuntian, Huaimeng, Zhangde, Jinan, Zhending, Weihui, Pingyang, Guide, Shunde, and other circuits, as well as Zi, Lai, Ming, Ci, and other prefectures. In the fourth month of the sixteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, locust plagues struck sixteen circuits in the capital region. In the fifth month of the seventeenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Xin Prefecture and Lian, Hai, Pi, Su, and other prefectures suffered locust plagues. In the fourth month of the nineteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, locusts ravaged the wheat more than three hundred li east of the Bie Shibali bu. In the seventh month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhending and Bianliang suffered locust plagues. In the eighth month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhao, Jin, and Ji prefectures suffered locust plagues. In the fourth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, seventeen commanderies in Hebei suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongchang, Jinan, Banyang, Guide, and other commanderies suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the thirty-first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dong'an Prefecture suffered a locust plague.
77
涿 涿
In the sixth month of the first year of the Dade reign period, Pizhou in Guide and Xuzhou suffered locust plagues. In the fourth month of the second year of the Dade reign period, locust plagues struck one hundred fifty counties in Yannan, Shandong, the Two Huai, and Jiang-Zhe. In the fifth month of the third year of the Dade reign period, locusts infested the subordinate counties of Huai'an, and ibises came to devour them. In the tenth month of the third year of the Dade reign period, Long and Shaan suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, Shunde Circuit and Qi Prefecture suffered locust plagues. In the seventh month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, Guangping, Zhending, and other circuits suffered locust plagues. In the eighth month of the fifth year of the Dade reign period, locust plagues struck Sui, Chen, Tang, He, and other prefectures in Henan and Huainan, as well as Xinye, Ruyang, Jiangdu, Xinghua, and other counties. In the fourth month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Zhending, Daming, Hejian, and other circuits suffered locust plagues. In the seventh month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Zhuo, Shun, and Guo'an prefectures in the capital region and Zhongli in Haozhou and Dantu in Zhenjiang suffered locust plagues. In the fifth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, Yidu, Jinan, and other circuits suffered locust plagues. In the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Daning Circuit suffered a locust plague. In the fourth month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, Linqu in Yidu and Qihe County in Dezhou suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, Yijin County suffered a locust plague. In the sixth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, Tong, Tai, Jinghai, Wuqing, and other prefectures and counties suffered locust plagues. In the eighth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, locust plagues struck Zhuo Prefecture; Liangxiang, Nanpi in Hejian, Tianchang in Sizhou, and other counties; and Dong'an, Haiyan, and other prefectures. In the fourth month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, the capital region and the commanderies of Zhending, Hejian, Baoding, Henan, and others suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Longxing, Nankang, and other commanderies suffered locust plagues.
78
In the first year of the Huangqing reign period, Anyang County in Zhangde suffered a locust plague. In the sixth month of the seventh year of the Yanyou reign period, Yidu Circuit suffered a locust plague.
79
In the fourth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Ji Prefecture in the capital region and Shicheng County in Yongping Circuit suffered locust plagues. Locusts struck Qishan County in Fengxiang, leaving no wheat seedlings. In the fifth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Ying Prefecture and Ji County suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Wugong County suffered a locust plague.
80
In the fourth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Xingzhong Prefecture in Daning, Meng Prefecture in Huaiqing, and Wuwei Prefecture in Luzhou suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Ju and Mi prefectures in Yidu suffered locust plagues. In the seventh month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, locust plagues struck the subordinate counties of Zhending, Bianliang, Yongping, Huai'an, Luzhou, Daning, Liaoyang, and other commanderies. In the fifth month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, locust plagues struck the commanderies of Guangping, Daming, Banyang, Jining, Dongping, Bianliang, Nanyang, and Henan, as well as the five prefectures of Hui, De, Pu, Kai, and Gaotang.
81
In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhishun reign period, Huo, Ji, Guo'an, Boxing, and other prefectures suffered locust plagues. In the seventh month of the first year of the Zhishun reign period, Xie and Hua prefectures and twenty-two counties including Henan, Lingbao, and Yanjin suffered locust plagues. In the third month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, various circuits in Shan Prefecture suffered locust plagues. In the sixth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, Jiyuan County in Meng Prefecture suffered a locust plague. In the seventh month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, locust plagues struck Wenxiang and Shan County in Henan and Pucheng, Baishui, and other counties in Fengyuan.
82
鹿
In the fourth month of the fifteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wudi County in Jinan captured a white pheasant and presented it as tribute. In the first month of the third year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Mouping County in Ninghai Prefecture captured a white deer on Mount Shengshui and presented it as tribute. On the guichou day of the seventh month of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the sun was ringed by linked halos, and a white rainbow pierced through them.
83
Of the Five Elements, the fifth is Earth. Earth is the element at the center from which the myriad things are born, and nothing is more vital than the grain harvest. When Earth's vital force fails to nourish, the harvest fails; Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire then turn aberrant, and clashing energies produce anomalies—earthquakes and earth falling from the sky. Its portent is unrelenting wind, its color yellow—these are the yellow calamities and yellow auspices.
84
In the fifth month of the first year of the Zhongtong reign period, Ze and Yi prefectures suffered famine. In the sixth month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, the Tachar tribe suffered famine. In the seventh month of the second year of the Zhongtong reign period, Huan Prefecture suffered famine. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, Gan Prefecture suffered famine. In the intercalary ninth month of the third year of the Zhongtong reign period, Jinan Commandery suffered famine.
85
西 西 西
In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Liaodong suffered famine. In the ninth month of the fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Yidu suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Jinan suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Guo'an and Gaotang prefectures suffered famine. In the fifth month of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongjing suffered famine. In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zi, Lai, and other prefectures in Shandong suffered famine. In the first month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Xijing and Yidu suffered famine. In the fourth month of the ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the capital suffered famine. In the seventh month of the ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Shuidada tribe suffered famine. In the third month of the seventeenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Gaoyou Commandery suffered famine. In the second month of the eighteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, eastern Zhejiang suffered famine. In the fourth month of the eighteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Tong, Tai, Chongming, and other prefectures suffered famine. In the ninth month of the nineteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhending Circuit suffered famine, and the people fled to Ezhou. In the seventh month of the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Xuanning County suffered famine. In the ninth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Pingluan Circuit suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the four prefectures of Suzhou, Changzhou, Huzhou, and Xiuzhou suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Uriankhai tribe suffered famine. In the second month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Hemuli tribe suffered famine. In the third month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Anxi, Gan Prefecture, and other circuits suffered famine. In the fourth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Liaoyang Circuit suffered famine. In the intercalary tenth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wuping Circuit and Tan Prefecture suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Lixian and the two circuits of Hejian and Baoding suffered famine. In the second month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Ningyuan County in Kaiyuan Circuit suffered famine. In the fourth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wuzhou in eastern Zhejiang and the two counties of Renqiu in Hejian and Dingxing in Baoding suffered famine. In the ninth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Hedong Shanxi Circuit suffered famine. In the third month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Zhending, Hejian, Baoding, Pingluan, Taiyuan, Pingyang, and other circuits suffered famine, as did Hangzhou, Pingjiang, Zhenjiang, Guangde, Taiping, and Huizhou. In the ninth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wuping Circuit suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the Hongkuan Jurchen tribe and the inner commanderies of Dadu suffered famine. In the first month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Qing and Xing prefectures suffered famine. In the third month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Longshan County in Huizhou and Zhonghe County in Li Prefecture suffered famine, as did the four prefectures of Dong'an, Guo'an, Ji, and Di. In the third month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Weining and Chang Prefecture suffered famine. In the intercalary sixth month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Nanyang, Huaimeng, Weihui, and other circuits suffered famine. In the tenth month of the thirtieth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the capital suffered famine.
86
In the fourth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, Jiang Prefecture in Pingyang, Yangqu in Taiyuan, and Huangyan in Taizhou suffered famine.
87
西
In the sixth month of the first year of the Dade reign period, Guangde Circuit suffered famine. In the seventh month of the first year of the Dade reign period, Wendeng and Mouping counties in Ninghai Prefecture suffered famine. In the eighth month of the third year of the Dade reign period, Yangzhou, Huai'an, and other commanderies suffered famine. In the second month of the fourth year of the Dade reign period, Hubei suffered famine. In the third month of the fourth year of the Dade reign period, the two circuits of Ningguo and Taiping suffered famine. In the ninth month of the fourth year of the Dade reign period, Jiankang, Changzhou, Jiangling, and other commanderies suffered famine. In the fifth month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Fuzhou suffered famine. In the sixth month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Guangde, Ningguo, Raozhou, Taiping, Shaoxing, Qingyuan, Wuzhou, and other commanderies suffered famine, as did Datong Circuit. In the seventh month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Jiankang Circuit suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Baoding Circuit suffered famine. In the second month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, Zhending Circuit suffered famine. In the fifth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, Taiyuan, Longxing, Nankang, Yuan, Rui, and Fuzhou circuits and Gaotang, Nanfeng, and other prefectures suffered famine. In the sixth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, western Zhejiang suffered famine. In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, Changde Circuit suffered famine. In the sixth month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, Wusa, Wumeng, Yi Prefecture, Mangbu, Dongchuan, and other circuits suffered famine. In the third month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, Changning Prefecture suffered famine. In the fifth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, Baoqing Circuit suffered famine. In the eighth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, Yangzhou suffered famine. In the third month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Rencheng in Jizhou suffered famine. In the fourth month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Hanyang, Huai'an, Da Prefecture, and Liuzhou suffered famine. In the seventh month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Huang, Yuan, and Yong prefectures suffered famine. In the eighth month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Chengdu suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, Yangzhou and Chen Prefecture suffered famine.
88
In the second month of the first year of the Zhida reign period, Yidu, Panyang, Jining, Jinan, Dongping, and Tai'an suffered severe famine. In the sixth month of the first year of the Zhida reign period, Shandong, Henan, Jianghuai, and other commanderies suffered severe famine. In the seventh month of the second year of the Zhida reign period, Xuzhou and Pi Prefecture suffered famine.
89
西 西
In the first month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Qishui County in Qizhou suffered famine. In the second month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, the Bianliang, Guide, and Anfeng circuits in Henan suffered famine. In the fifth month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Jiao and Pu prefectures suffered famine. In the seventh month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Nan'en and Xin prefectures suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, Cheng Prefecture in Gongchang suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the first year of the Zhizhi reign period, the two circuits of Qingyuan and Zhending suffered famine. In the third month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, commanderies in Henan, Huaidong, and Huaixi suffered famine, as did Yanchang and Yichuan counties in Yan'an and Fengyuan Circuit. In the fourth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, Dongchang and Ba Prefecture suffered famine. In the ninth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, Hexi County in Lin'an suffered famine. In the second month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, the capital suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, Jiading Prefecture in Pingjiang suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, Chongming and Huangyan prefectures suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, Dantu in Zhenjiang and Qianyang County in Yuan Prefecture suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, Gui and Li prefectures suffered famine.
90
祿
In the first month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Huizhou, Xin Prefecture, and Nan'en Prefecture, Shangrao County in Xin Prefecture, Guangde County in Guangde Circuit, and Linxiang, Huarong, and other counties in Yue Prefecture suffered famine. In the second month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, the two circuits of Qingyuan and Shaoxing and the two counties of Mizhi and Qingjian in Suide Prefecture suffered famine. In the third month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Didao County in Lintao and Lishi County in Shi Prefecture suffered famine. In the fourth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Jiangling, Jingmen Army, and Jianli County suffered famine. In the fifth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Gan, Ji'an, and Linjiang commanderies and Kunshan and Nan'en prefectures suffered famine. In the eighth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, subordinate prefectures and counties in Jining, Yan'an, Jiang Prefecture, Anlu, Hangzhou, Jianchang, Changde, Quan Prefecture, Guiyang, Chen Prefecture, Nan'an, and other circuits suffered famine. In the ninth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, the two circuits of Shaoxing and Nankang suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Quanzhou and the two counties of Zhongmou and Yanjin suffered famine. In the first month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Meizhou and the two prefectures of Lusi and Yingde suffered famine. In the intercalary first month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, the four commanderies of Hejian, Zhending, Baoding, and Ruizhou suffered famine. In the second month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Fengxiang Circuit suffered famine. In the third month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Ji, Huo, Xu, Pi, and other prefectures suffered famine, as did Jinan, Zhaoqing, Jiang Prefecture, and Huizhou. In the fourth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, the circuits of Hangzhou, Zhenjiang, Ningguo, Nan'an, Xun Prefecture, and Tan Prefecture suffered famine. In the fifth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Guangde, Yuan Prefecture, and Fuzhou suffered famine. In the sixth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Ningxia Circuit suffered famine. In the ninth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Qiong and Cheng prefectures and Deqing Circuit suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Taiding reign period, Jinan, Yanchuan, and other commanderies suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, the three circuits of Hejian, Baoding, and Zhending suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, Dadu, Yongping, and Fengyuan suffered famine. In the eleventh month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, Shenyang, Daning, Yongping, and Guangning, Jin and Fu prefectures, and Yijinai Circuit in Gansu suffered famine. In the first month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, the commanderies of Liaoyang suffered famine.
91
In the second month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, the three counties of Fengfu, Changqing, and Laiwu suffered famine, as did subordinate counties in Jiankang, Huai'an, and Qizhou. In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, Tong, Ji, and other prefectures and Yuyang, Yongqing, and other counties suffered famine. In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, Jiangxia County in Wuchang suffered famine.
92
涿 耀 西 西
In the first month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Datong and Dongsheng Prefecture suffered famine, as did Fangshan, Fanyang, and other counties in Zhuo Prefecture. In the fourth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Yao, Qian, and Hua prefectures in Fengyuan and the counties of Yan'an, Bin, and Ning suffered famine, and several hundred thousand people were displaced. In the fourth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Dadu, Xinghe, Shunde, Daming, Zhangde, Huaiqing, Weihui, Bianliang, Zhongxing, and other circuits and Tai'an, Gaotang, Cao, Guan, Xu, Pi, and other prefectures suffered famine. In the fourth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, the two circuits of Jiangdong and Zhexi suffered famine. In the eighth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Xin Prefecture suffered famine. In the tenth month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, Hanyang, Wuchang, Changde, Li Prefecture, and other circuits suffered famine, and Fengxiang Prefecture suffered severe famine. In the first month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, Wendeng and Mouping counties in Ninghai Prefecture, the two circuits of Huaiqing and Heng Prefecture, and the commanderies of Zhending, Runing, Yang, Lu, Qi, Huang, and Anfeng suffered famine. In the second month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, Henan suffered severe famine. In the third month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, Xucheng and Tangyi counties in Dongchang suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, the five prefectures of Yi, Ju, Jiao, Mi, and Ninghai and Linqing, Dingtao, Guangshan, and other counties suffered famine. In the third month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, Lan Prefecture and Dingxi Prefecture in Gongchang suffered famine. In the fourth month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, Qingping County in Dezhou suffered famine.
93
In the second month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, the two commanderies of Jiqing and Jiaxing and Jiangyin Prefecture suffered famine, as did the five prefectures of Tan, Shun, Wei, Mi, and Changping. In the sixth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, Gaoyuan, Xianping, and other counties in Xinghe Circuit suffered famine. In the ninth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, Zhenyuan Prefecture in Sizhou suffered famine. In the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, Henan suffered severe famine. In the fourth month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, Dali and Zhongqing Circuit suffered famine. In the fifth month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, Changning Prefecture suffered famine. In the seventh month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, Sheng Prefecture suffered famine. In the eighth month of the third year of the Zhishun reign period, Baodi County in the capital region suffered famine.
94
In the spring of the first year of the Zhi Da reign period, more than twenty-six thousand people died of plague in Shaoxing, Qingyuan, and Taizhou.
95
In the winter of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, the capital was stricken by a severe plague. The Tang Annals states: "When the state is about to suffer calamity, evil and chaotic forces first descend upon the people, and plague follows." In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Taizong's reign, the year guisi, a great wind and haze lasted seven days and nights. In the first month of the twentieth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, a fierce gale at Yanjin and Fengqiu counties in Bianliang uprooted the wheat seedlings entirely.
96
In the eighth month of the seventh year of the Yanyou reign period, a fierce gale at Yanjin County darkened the daylight, and eight or nine tenths of the mulberry trees were blown down.
97
In the seventh month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, fierce winds at Baodi and Fangshan counties snapped trees. In the eighth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, a gale lasting a full day and night at Changping and other counties in the capital region destroyed more than nine hundred dwellings. In the fifth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, a gale at Huizhou in Weihui Circuit lasted nine days and flattened the grain crop entirely. In the second month of the third year of the Tianli reign period, fierce winds struck Zuocheng and Xinxiang counties.
98
The Han Annals observes: "Warm weather with wind breeds stem borers and larvae—the calamity of bare-skinned insects."
99
In the sixth month of the eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, armyworms appeared at Heshun County in Liaozhou and Wenxi County in Jie Prefecture. In the eighteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, crop pests infested Gaotang, Xiajin, and Wucheng counties. In the fifth month of the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan reign period, locust nymphs appeared at Bazhou and Huozhou. In the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, armyworms ravaged Gongchang. In the fourth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, stem borers damaged the crops at Wuzhou, but a great thunderstorm killed them all, and the year brought a bountiful harvest.
100
In the sixth month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, stem borers infested Longshan County in Lizhou and Mingshan County in Gaizhou. In the fifth month of the second year of the Yuanzhen reign period, stem borers infested Rencheng County in Ji Prefecture. At Suizhou, wild silkworms spun cocoons across several hundred li, and the people gathered the silk to make floss.
101
In the fifth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, insects devoured the wheat in Jinan, Dongchang, Banyang, Yidu, and other circuits. In the intercalary fifth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, insects devoured the wheat at Kaifeng County in Bianliang. In the seventh month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, young locusts appeared in Guiyang Commandery. In the fifth month of the first year of the Zhi Da reign period, young locusts appeared in Dongping, Dongchang, Yidu, and other commanderies.
102
鹿
In the fifth month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, locust nymphs appeared at Tan Prefecture and Huolu County. In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Yanyou reign period, locust nymphs appeared at Bazhou and Tangyi County.
103
In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, armyworms damaged the crops at Xianyang, Xingping, and Wugong counties in Fengyuan Circuit and at Qishan and other counties in Fengxiang Prefecture. In the second year of the Tianli reign period, locust nymphs appeared in counties under the three circuits of Huai'an, Luzhou, and Anfeng.
104
In the fourth month of the sixteenth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, at the home of Zhu Wushi in Le'an County, Yidu, a cow gave birth to a heifer calf with two heads, four ears, and three tails. It was yellow and died the moment it was born. In the second month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, at the home of Mierdejin in Pingdi County, Datong, a cow gave birth to a qilin and died.
105
In the fourth year of the Zhi Da reign period, at the home of the commoner Miede in Xuanning County, Datong, a cow gave birth to a calf covered in scales rather than hair, bluish-yellow in color and qilin-like in appearance. Its hide was presented to the court.
106
In the ninth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, at the home of the commoner Wang Jun in Changxing Prefecture, Huzhou, a cow gave birth to a creature with a scaly body and an ox's tail, red mouth and eyes. It wailed loudly the moment it fell to the ground, and its mother refused to nurse it. A detailed illustration was sent up to the court. No one could identify the creature, though some said, "This is an auspicious omen and ought to be recorded by the court historians."
107
In the twenty-fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, earth fell from the sky for seven days and nights over Prince Xiechedu's encampment, burying and killing cattle and livestock. In the second month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, sand and black haze fell at Pingdi County, Datong, killing two thousand oxen and horses. On bingxu day in the second month of the third year of the Zhizhi reign period, earth fell from the sky. On renshen day in the third month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, haze fell from the sky.
108
On dinghai day in the third month of the second year of the Tianli reign period, earth and haze fell from the sky. On bingxu day in the third month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, earth and haze fell from the sky.
109
On wuzi day in the ninth month of the twenty-first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, the capital was shaken by an earthquake. The Commentary explains: "When yang force lies buried and cannot break forth, and yin force presses down and cannot ascend, earthquakes occur." On bingxu day in the first month of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, there was an earthquake. On guiwei day in the second month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Quanzhou was shaken by an earthquake. On bingxu day, Quanzhou was shaken again. On guiwei day in the eighth month of the twenty-seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Wuping Circuit was shaken by a major earthquake. On jichou day in the eighth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, an earthquake at Pingyang Circuit destroyed ten thousand eight hundred dwellings.
110
On renxu day in the third month of the first year of the Yuanzhen reign period, there was an earthquake.
111
西
On xinyou day in the twelfth month of the sixth year of the Dade reign period, Yunnan was shaken by an earthquake, and on wuchen day it quaked again. On the evening of xinmao day in the eighth month of the seventh year of the Dade reign period, an earthquake struck, worst at Taiyuan and Pingyang, destroying on the order of one hundred thousand official and civilian dwellings. At Xun Fort in Zhaocheng County, Pingyang, the holding of Fan Xuanyi shifted more than ten li. At Xugou and Qi counties in Taiyuan and at Pingyao, Jiexiu, Xihe, Xiaoyi, and other counties in Fen Prefecture, the earthquake opened channels in the earth and springs gushed forth black sand. The north wall of Fen Prefecture's city collapsed along a stretch one li long, and the east wall sank more than seventy paces. In the first month of the eighth year of the Dade reign period, earthquakes at Pingyang did not cease. On jiyou day in the fourth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, an earthquake at Datong Circuit roared like thunder, destroying five thousand eight hundred dwellings and killing more than fourteen hundred people. At Huairen County, the earthquake opened two places where black water gushed forth—one eighteen paces wide and fifteen zhang deep, the other sixty-six paces wide and one zhang deep. On guihai day in the fifth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, because of the earthquake, Pingyang Circuit was renamed Jinning and Taiyuan Circuit was renamed Jining. On renzi day in the eleventh month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, Datong was shaken by an earthquake. On bingzi day in the twelfth month of the ninth year of the Dade reign period, there was an earthquake. In the first month of the tenth year of the Dade reign period, earthquakes at Jinning and Jining did not cease. In the third month of the eleventh year of the Dade reign period, torrential rain at Yingdao County in Da Prefecture split the mountains in more than one hundred thirty places. On renyin day in the eighth month of the eleventh year of the Dade reign period, Kaicheng Circuit was shaken by an earthquake.
112
西
On dingyou day in the sixth month of the first year of the Zhi Da reign period, Longxi and Ningyuan counties in Gongchang were shaken by an earthquake. In Wusa and Wumeng in Yunnan, six major earthquakes struck within three days. On jiyou day in the ninth month of the first year of the Zhi Da reign period, Pu County was shaken by an earthquake. On guisi day in the tenth month of the first year of the Zhi Da reign period, Pu and Ling counties were shaken by an earthquake. On renxu day in the twelfth month of the second year of the Zhi Da reign period, an audible earthquake struck Yangqu County. On wushen day in the twelfth month of the third year of the Zhi Da reign period, Jining Circuit was shaken by an earthquake. On jihai day in the third month of the fourth year of the Zhi Da reign period, Ningxia Circuit was shaken by an earthquake. On guiwei day in the seventh month of the fourth year of the Zhi Da reign period, Gan Prefecture was shaken by an earthquake accompanied by a great wind that roared like thunder. On jiazi day in the intercalary seventh month of the fourth year of the Zhi Da reign period, Ningxia was shaken by an earthquake.
113
In the sixth month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, the capital was shaken by an earthquake. On jiwei day the capital quaked; on bingyin it quaked again, and on renyin it quaked once more.
114
On guihai day in the ninth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, there was an earthquake. On guimao day in the eleventh month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, there was an earthquake.
115
西
In the eighth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, heavy rain at Chengji County caused mountains to collapse and waters to overflow; earth piled up along the Laigu River until it formed hillocks. On gengshen day in the twelfth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, Tong Prefecture in Fengyuan Circuit was shaken by an earthquake that roared like thunder. On dinghai day in the twelfth month of the third year of the Taiding reign period, Ningxia Circuit was shaken by three successive earthquakes roaring like thunder from the northwest. On guimao day in the third month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, Hening Circuit was shaken by an earthquake that roared like thunder. In the eighth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, mountains collapsed at Tongwei County in Gongchang. At Diaomen, an earthquake roared like thunder and darkened the daylight. On the same day, the earth quaked at Fengxiang, Xingyuan, Chengdu, Shan Prefecture, Jiangling, and other commanderies. On renyin day in the ninth month of the fourth year of the Taiding reign period, Ningxia was shaken by an earthquake.
116
On the first day of the seventh month, xinyou day, in the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Ningxia was shaken by an earthquake. On jimao day in the seventh month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Daning Circuit was shaken by an earthquake. On renyin day in the tenth month of the first year of the Zhihe reign period, Daning Circuit was shaken by an earthquake.
117
西
On dinghai day in the fourth month of the second year of the Zhishun reign period, the earth at She County in Zhending quaked five times or three times in a single day, and the tremors did not cease for more than a month. On wushen day in the fourth month of the fourth year of the Zhishun reign period, Daning Circuit was shaken by an earthquake. On wuyin day in the fifth month of the fourth year of the Zhishun reign period, an audible earthquake struck the capital. On jiyou day in the eighth month of the fourth year of the Zhishun reign period, Longxi was shaken by an earthquake.
118
On renzi day in the tenth month of the first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Liting County in En Prefecture presented auspicious grain—one stalk with nine ears. On dingyou day in the eleventh month of the first year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Lin Prefecture in Taiyuan presented two stalks of auspicious grain. On gengwu day in the tenth month of the fourth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Taiyuan presented two stalks of auspicious grain from different furrows sharing a single ear. On guichou day in the ninth month of the sixth year of the Zhiyuan reign period, En Prefecture presented auspicious grain—one stalk with three ears. In the summer of the seventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Dongping Prefecture presented auspicious wheat—one stalk with five ears. In the eleventh year of the Zhiyuan reign period, Feng Prefecture in Xingyuan presented wheat—one stalk with seven ears; and millet—one stalk with three ears. In the eighth month of the fourteenth year, auspicious grain appeared at Xiangyang. In the tenth month of the seventeenth year, Jianzhou in Taiyuan presented six stalks of auspicious grain. On the renchen day in the eighth month of the eighteenth year, the military colony fields at Guazhou presented auspicious wheat with five ears on a single stalk. On the guisi day in the tenth month of the twentieth year, Liu En of the Wanduan Pacification Commission presented auspicious grain, one stalk each bearing nine ears on the same head, seven ears, and six ears. In the fifth month of the twenty-third year, wheat at Langzhong in Guangyuan Circuit bore two branches. In the eighth month of the twenty-fourth year, Xunzhou presented auspicious wheat with five ears on one stalk. In the eighth month of the twenty-fifth year, Pingxiang County in Yuanzhou presented auspicious grain. In the twelfth month of the twenty-sixth year, the commoner Zhang Anshi of Ningzhou presented two stalks of auspicious grain. In the thirty-first year, auspicious grain appeared in the capital region with nine ears on a single stalk.
119
In the ninth month of the third year of the Zhidu reign period, Hejian Circuit presented auspicious grain, including grain from different fields that bore identical ears and stalks bearing multiple ears. The court ordered illustrations made of them. In the eighth month of the second year of the Huangqing reign period, auspicious grain appeared at Hunyuan Prefecture with four ears on one stalk.
120
In the seventh month of the fourth year of the Yanyou reign period, Nancheng produced auspicious grain. In the fifth month of the seventh year, Poyang presented auspicious grain with six ears on one stalk. In the eighth month of the second year of the Zhizhi reign period, Weizhou presented auspicious grain.
121
In the tenth month of the first year of the Taiding reign period, grain at Chengdu County bore nine ears on a single stalk.
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