Animals' omens of misfortune

《春秋合誠圖》曰：“蒼帝將亡，則麒麟見紲。”《公羊傳》曰：“襄公十有四年春，西狩獲麟。麟者，仁獸，有王者則至，無王者則不至，有以告者，有麕而角者。孔子曰：‘孰為來哉？’反袂拭面，涕沾袍，曰：‘吾道窮矣。’”《五經異義公羊說》：“孔子獲麟，天命絕周，天下叛去為賊。”

The Spring and Autumn Combined Truth Diagram says: The Blue Emperor (the Emperor of the East) is about to decline, and the qilin appears tied with ropes. The Commentary of the Gongyang School records: in the spring of Duke Xiang's fourteenth year, a qilin was captured in the west (the standard edition of the Gongyang Commentary places this event in the fourteenth year of Duke Ai). The qilin is a virtuous beast; it comes when there is a sage king on the throne, and does not come when there is no sage king. Someone came to report that a strange beast like a jin but with horns had been captured. Confucius said: "For whom has it come?" Then he turned his sleeve to wipe his face, and his tears soaked his outer robe, saying: "My way has come to an end." The Gongyang School's view recorded in Five Classics Disputes states: Confucius obtaining the qilin signifies that the heavenly mandate has ceased for the Zhou dynasty, and people across the land have all rebelled and become bandits.

《山海經》曰：“岠山有獸，其狀如豚有距，其音如狗吠，其名曰狸力，見則其縣多土功。”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: On Jugu Mountain, there is an animal that looks like a small pig but has claws resembling a chicken's comb, and its call sounds like a dog barking. It is called Xilì. When it appears, the county will have large-scale construction projects.

又云：“堯光之山，有獸如人而彘鬣，其名曰猾褢。（滑懷兩音，或曰署袞）其音如斫木。（如人斫木聲）見則其縣有大繇。（謂作役也，或曰其縣亂。）”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says that on Mount Yaoguang there is an animal which looks like a human but has pig-like hair on its back, named Hua Huo. The original commentary notes that it is pronounced as "Hua Huai" with two tones, or "Shu Gun." Its sound is like chopping wood. The original commentary notes that it is like the sound of people cutting trees. When it appears, the county will have large-scale labor service. The original commentary notes that "yao" refers to labor service; another interpretation is that the county will experience turmoil.

又云：“小次之山，有獸焉，其狀如猿而白首赤足，名曰朱厭，見則為兵。”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: On a mountain called Xiaoci, there is an animal that looks like a monkey but has a white head and red feet, named Zhu Yan; its appearance signifies that war is about to break out.

又云：“餘我之山，有獸，狀如兔，鳥喙鴟目蛇尾，見人則眠，名曰犰狳。（仇餘兩音）其鳴自叫，見則螽蝗為敗。”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: In my mountains there is a kind of beast, which looks like a rabbit, has a bird's beak, owl-like eyes, and a snake's tail. When it sees people, it lies down and pretends to be dead. Its name is Qiu Yu. The original commentary notes that it is pronounced as "Qiu Yu" with two tones. Its call sounds like it is calling its own name; when it appears, there will be locusts and grasshoppers causing plague and destroying crops.

又云：“耿山有獸，狀如狐而魚翼，其名朱儒，自呼，見國有恐。”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: On Geng Mountain, there is an animal that looks like a fox but has fish-fin-like wings, named Zhu Ru. When it calls, it sounds like it is calling its own name; when it appears, there will be disturbances in the country.

又云：“太山有獸焉，其名蜚，行水則竭，行草則死，見則大疫。”

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: Mount Tai has a beast called Fei. When it walks over water, the water dries up; when it walks over grassland, the grass withers. When it appears, a great plague will occur.

《運斗樞》曰：“變江淮之祠，斬伐無度，則瑤光不明，象負車奔。象八足，陰敖翔。”注云：“象，太陰之物。八足，是欲行之八方之遠。臣如此，自恣之甚也。”《東觀漢記》曰：“桓帝延熹五年，有驚馬逸象入宮殿，國災。”

The Spring and Autumn Annals of the Movement of the Stars says: If one arbitrarily changes the temples in the Yangtze and Huai River regions and cuts down trees without restraint, the seventh star of the Big Dipper, Yàoguāng, will become dim and unclear, and the image of an elephant will be seen running wildly with its back to the cart. The elephant has eight legs, belonging to the yin category yet proudly roaming all over. The commentary says: The elephant is an object of the Taiyin; having eight legs, it wishes to travel to the farthest corners of the eight directions. If a minister behaves like this, it indicates extreme indulgence. The Eastern View Records of the Han Dynasty records: In the fifth year of Huan Di's Yanshi period, a startled horse and a wild elephant broke into the palace, indicating that the country would suffer calamity.

《合誠圖》曰：“白帝亡，則白虎執。”京房曰：“虎斷道，邊國謀。”又曰：“白虎入國邑，野人為政，危其宗人。”《地鏡》曰：“虎入國，國將空荒。”《京房易傳》曰：“君行無道，將害民庶，虎食人。”《運斗樞》曰：“君失恩於小民，則虎銜魚。”《地鏡》曰：“虎相食，不出三年，國荒。”

The Spring and Autumn Concordance Diagram says: The White Emperor (the emperor of the west) is about to decline, and the White Tiger will be captured. Jing Fang says: A tiger blocking the road indicates secret plots by the border states. It also says: A tiger entering the capital city indicates that common people will rise to power, endangering the royal family. The Earth Mirror says: A tiger entering the country indicates that the nation will become empty and desolate. The Jing Fang Commentary on the Changes says: If the ruler acts unjustly and harms the common people, tigers will eat people. The Spring and Autumn Movement of the Stars says: If the ruler loses his virtue toward the people, tigers will carry fish. The Earth Mirror also says: Tigers eating each other indicate that within three years, the country will be in ruin.

《河圖說徵示》曰：“主無德，則虎牛尾無口目，名曰亂朝。”

The River Chart says: If a ruler lacks virtue, a strange tiger with a cow's tail and no mouth or eyes will appear. This monster is called "Disorder of the Court," symbolizing the chaos of the government.

《潛潭巴》曰：“有虎兩口，君出走，諸侯絀。”注云：“虎可畏，今復兩口，象大臣欲有所咀嚼也。”《地鏡》曰：“世主方起，大臣遘罪，則虎有兩口。”

The Spring and Deep Pool Book says: The appearance of a tiger with two mouths indicates the ruler will flee and the feudal lords will be demoted. The commentary states: A tiger is already fearsome, but now with an additional mouth, it symbolizes ministers who desire to devour. The Earth Mirror says: When the current ruler is newly rising, but the ministers are punished and blamed, then the image of a tiger with two mouths will appear.

《晉雜事記》曰：“太康六年，南陽獻兩足虎。”注云：“干寶曰：虎，金精；南陽，火也。金入火刑，王室亂妖也。”王隱《晉書》曰：“中宗詔問王隱曰：‘荊州送兩足虎，其徵何為也？’隱曰：‘謹案先臣銓傳，太康時兩足虎，因作詩以諷，銓意以晉金行也，金在西方，其獸為虎，虎有四足，猶國有四方，無半勢而又見獲，將有愍懷之禍也。”

The *Jin Za Shi Ji* records that in the sixth year of Taikang, a tiger with two legs was presented from Nanyang. The annotation states that Gan Bao believed that tigers are the essence of the metal element, while Nanyang belongs to the fire element; when metal enters fire, it is subjected to punishment and suppression, which is an omen of disorder in the royal house. The *Jin Shu* by Wang Yin records that Emperor Hui of the Jin dynasty (the second emperor) issued an edict asking Wang Yin: "A tiger with two legs has been sent from Jingzhou, what does this omen signify?" Wang Yin replied: "According to my father Wang Quan's records, a tiger with two legs appeared during the Taikang period, and he composed a poem as a warning. Wang Quan's intention was that the Jin dynasty belonged to the metal element, and metal is located in the west, so the corresponding beast is the tiger; tigers have four legs, symbolizing the four directions of the state. Now only half of the tiger remains, and it has been captured, indicating that a disaster like that of Prince Minhuai will occur."

《晉中興徵祥說》曰：“興寧元年十月，麈入於東海王宮。麈，主也，將為天下主之徵。後哀帝崩，東海王即位。”

The *Jin Zhongxing Zhengxiang Shuo* says: In the tenth month of Xingning Year One, a麈 and a deer entered the estate of the Marquess of the Eastern Sea. The麈 takes the homophonic meaning of "main" or "master," indicating a sign that someone will become the ruler of the world. Later, when the Jin Ai Emperor died, the Marquess of the Eastern Sea indeed ascended the throne.

《京房易候》曰：“麋入都而國虛。”又曰：“麋見於邑，有臣戮。”又曰：“糜入市，邑有憂。”《地鏡》曰：“麋入國，國方見屠。”《洪範五行傳》曰：“莊公十七年冬，多麋。牝獸之淫，莫大於麇。麇，迷也。莊公悅鄭詹之言，取齊淫女。劉歆以為毛蟲之孽，劉向以為麋色青，近青祥。”

The Jingfang Yi Hou says: When deer enter the capital city, it indicates the state will be empty. It also says: When deer appear in the city, it indicates there will be a minister executed. It also says: When deer rush into the market, it indicates the city will suffer calamity. The Di Jing says: When deer enter the country, it indicates the country is about to suffer slaughter. The Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan says: In the seventeenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu's reign in winter, there were many deer. Among female animals, those that are licentious are none more than the muntjac; muntjac means 'mistake'. Duke Zhuang of Lu believed the words of Zheng Zhan and married a licentious woman from the state of Qi. Liu Xin considered this to be a calamity of hair animals, while Liu Xiang thought the color of the muntjac is bluish, resembling a bluish omen.

《易通卦驗》曰：“鹿者，獸中陽也。獸者，陰，貴臣之象。鹿應陰。解角者，夏至太陽始屈，陰陽相向，君臣之象，今失節不解，陰不變陽，臣不承君之象，故為貴臣作奸。”

The Yijing commentary "Tong Gua Xian" from the Wei says: The deer is a yang animal among the beasts. Beasts in general belong to yin and symbolize noble ministers, but the deer, among yin animals, responds to yang. The term "jue jiao" refers to the fact that after the summer solstice, the sun begins to retreat, and yin and yang alternate, symbolizing the relationship between sovereign and minister. Now, when the season has arrived but the deer does not shed its antlers, it signifies that yin cannot smoothly yield to yang, and the minister does not properly serve the sovereign, thus indicating a sign of a noble minister committing treason.

《京房易候》曰：“鹿入宮都而國虛。”《論衡》曰：“漢中王築宮樓未成，鹿走上階，其後果薨。”

Jing Fang's Yi Hou says: If deer enter the palace city and the capital, it indicates the state will be empty. Wang Chong's Lun Heng records: When the Marquess of Hanzhong was building a palace tower but it was not yet completed, a deer ran up the steps, and later he indeed died.

《漢書》曰：“昌邑王賀，聞人聲曰熊，視而見大熊，左右莫見，王以問郎中令龔遂，遂曰：‘熊，山野之獸，而來入宮室，王獨見之，此天戒大王，恐宮將空虛之象也。’賀不改悟，後卒失國。”

The Book of Han records that Prince Liu He of Changyi heard someone shouting "Xiong" and upon looking, indeed saw a large bear. However, his attendants could not see it. Liu He took the matter to the Grand Attendant Gongsui, who said, "A bear is a wild beast from the mountains and forests; now it has entered the palace, and only the prince can see it. This is a warning from Heaven to the prince, perhaps indicating that the palace will soon become empty." Liu He refused to repent or reflect, and later ultimately lost his fiefdom.

《呂氏春秋》曰：“亂國之妖，有狼入國。”《京房易候占》曰：“君失春政則蒼狼入於邑，君失秋政則白狼入於邑，君失冬政則黑狼見於邑。”又曰：“狼逐家人犬者，夷狄且來入君邑中。”又曰：“狼鳴於邑中，邑且空；狼伏邑中，有兵。”又曰：“赤狼見於國，不出三年，必有大禍，野人為政。”《抱朴子》曰：“有狼狐繞軍而鳴者，軍敗。”

The Lüshi Chunqiu says that among the omens of a chaotic state, there is the occurrence of "a wolf entering the state." The Jingfang Yihou Zhan says that if the ruler neglects the policies to be implemented in spring, a green wolf will enter the city; if he neglects those for autumn, a white wolf will enter the city; and if he neglects those for winter, a black wolf will appear in the city. It also says that if a wolf chases a person's dog, it indicates that the barbarians will invade the ruler's city. Furthermore, it states that if a wolf howls in the city, the city will soon become deserted; if a wolf lies in wait within the city, there will be military conflict. It also mentions that if a red wolf appears in the state, it will not be verified for three years, and certainly there will be great calamity, with common people taking power. The Baopuzi says that if wolves and foxes howl around a military camp, it foretells the defeat of that army.

又曰：“君無道則狼食人。”

The Baopu Zi also says: When a ruler acts unjustly, wolves will eat people. This is the same meaning as what Jing Fang's Commentary on the Yijing states: "When a ruler is unjust, tigers will eat people." Both are examples of heaven using fierce beasts to devour people as a response to the tyranny of a ruler.

《災異圖》曰：“王公不祗上命，刻暴百姓，人民吁嗟，則一頭兩身狐見。”

The Disaster and Anomalies Diagram says: If princes and ministers do not respectfully carry out the orders above, but instead treat the people harshly and tyrannically, causing the people to lament and sigh continuously, then a fox with one head and two bodies will appear.

京房曰：“狐逐家人犬者，夷狄且來入君邑中。”又曰：“狐入室，必有大喪，將出室不居。”《地鏡》曰：“狐入室，有暴喪，上屋亦然，以淫危主。”

Jing Fang said: A fox chasing a person's dog indicates that夷狄 will invade the city of the ruler. He also said: If a fox enters a dwelling, there will certainly be a great funeral, and the master will have to move out of this house and no longer live there. The "Di Jing" says: If a fox enters a dwelling, it indicates a sudden death in the family; the same interpretation applies if the fox climbs onto the roof, which signifies danger to the ruler due to immoral affairs.

《河圖說徵示》曰：“狸三頭，名曰孽孽，見則女害。”

The *Yellow River Chart* says: A wild cat with three heads, named "Nie Nie," appears, indicating calamity caused by a woman.

《通卦驗》曰：“獺不祭魚，國多盜賊。”

The Yi Wei "Tong Gua Xian" says: At the beginning of the first month, the mink does not display the fish it has caught on the shore as if in worship, indicating that there will be many thieves in the country. The mink offering fish takes the meaning of first offering and then eating, showing taking and giving in turn. When the seasons are out of order, people's hearts lose their sense of shame.

《運斗樞》曰：“女兩舌則兔兩頭。”

The Spring and Autumn Annals of the Movement of the Stars says: If a woman spreads false words and speaks in a contradictory manner, there will appear a rabbit with two heads. The rabbit belongs to the yin category, and is similar to women, so when a woman's words are inconsistent, the rabbit will grow two heads to correspond with her.

《呂氏春秋》曰：“亂國之妖。有兔生雉。”

The Lüshi Chunqiu says that among the omens of a chaotic state, there is the phenomenon of "a rabbit giving birth to a wild chicken." A land animal giving birth to a flying bird signifies the loss of the inherent nature of things, and thus it is listed as an omen of the downfall of a state.

《握鏡》曰：“兔上城及入宮中，不出一年，主死。”京房曰：“兔入於王宮，其君亡。”京房曰：“兔無故入宮，宮潰其宮矣，家亦然。”

The "Wò Jìng" says: If a rabbit climbs onto the city wall or enters the palace, it will not be verified within a year, and the ruler will die. Jing Fang says: If a rabbit enters the royal palace, it signifies the death of this ruler. Jing Fang also says: If a rabbit enters the palace without cause, it indicates that this palace will collapse, and the same applies to ordinary households.

又曰：“兔止城上，邑必虛；入宮殿生子，其宮且空，生草木矣。”又曰：“兔無故入宮殿生子者，宮有憂。”又曰：“兔無故宿及守之，其邑君死，兵小行。”王隱《晉書》曰：“王后在薊時，有謠曰：‘出城門，以望戶，中有伏尸王彭祖。’有野狐踞后府門，後為石勒所殺。”

Jing Fang also said: A rabbit stopping on the city wall indicates that the city must be empty; if it runs into the palace and gives birth, it indicates that this palace will become desolate and overgrown with grass and trees. He also said: A rabbit entering the palace without cause and giving birth indicates there will be calamity within the palace. Again he said: A rabbit staying overnight in a place without leaving indicates that the ruler of the city will die and there will be small-scale warfare. Wang Yin's "Book of Jin" records: When the queen dowager was in Ji City, there was a folk song that said, "Walk out of the city gate, look towards the gate, lying inside is the corpse of Wang Pengzhu." Later, there was a wild fox sitting at the gate of the queen dowager's residence, and eventually the queen dowager was killed by Shi Le.

京房曰：“鼠群行，有水，期一年。”又曰：“鼠無故群，不居穴，眾聚，居殿中者，其君死。”《地鏡》曰：“鼠無故群行，不畏人，晝為飢，夜為兵。”又曰：“鼠群行入廷，豪侵弱。”又曰：“或道中有兵喪。”

Jing Fang said: When mice gather and travel in groups, it indicates there will be water disasters, and the time of occurrence will be within a year. He also said: When mice gather without any reason, do not stay in their burrows, but instead gather in heaps, even living in the halls and palaces, this indicates the death of the ruler. The "Di Jing" said: When mice gather without any reason and travel in groups, not fearing people, appearing during the day indicates famine, and appearing at night indicates military affairs. It also said: If mice run in groups into the court, it indicates the powerful oppressing the weak. It also said: If mice appear on the roads, it indicates military calamity and chaos.

京房曰：“鼠無故卻退而前尾者，邑有憂。”

Jing Fang said: If a mouse walks backward without reason, with its tail in front, it indicates that this city state will have troubles. The reversal of movement corresponds to the disorder in human affairs, where positions are inverted.

京房曰：“鼠無故群相隨，朝夕鳴，邑且為湖澤，期一年至。”又曰：“鼠無故朝時及暮時當朝邑門而泣，邑且空虛。”又曰：“鼠相鬥，其君死。”《地鏡》曰：“鼠無故自向城若市朝而大鳴，皆為兵喪。”又曰：“鼠聚朝廷市衢中而鳴，地方屠裂。”又曰：“鼠泣唶唶，為兵喪，在家人凶。”

Jing Fang said: If mice suddenly gather together and follow each other, calling all day and all night, this indicates that the city will become a lake or marsh, and the prediction will come true within a year. He also said: If mice suddenly cry bitterly at the city gates in the early morning or late afternoon, this indicates that the city will become empty. He also said: If mice fight with each other, this indicates the death of the ruler. The "Di Jing" says: If mice suddenly cry loudly at the city walls or marketplaces, this indicates military disaster and chaos. It also says: If mice gather in the court and marketplaces and cry, this indicates that the region will suffer massacre and division. It also says: If mice cry bitterly, this indicates military disaster and chaos; if this occurs in a civilian's home, it indicates misfortune for the family.

京房曰：“鼠無故舞於朝市，其邑有大喪。”又曰：“鼠無故舞邑門外，厥君亡於廷中道上，其邑有大兵。”《地鏡》曰：“鼠無故舞戲，遊走大道，君當之，若家主當之。”

Jing Fang said: If mice dance without cause in the court or market, it indicates a great mourning in this city. He also said: If mice dance without cause outside the city gate, it indicates the ruler will die in the court or on the road, and the city will face great military conflict. The "Di Jing" says: If mice dance and play without cause, or walk along the main roads, it indicates the ruler will suffer this calamity. If it occurs among the people, then the head of the household will bear the disaster.

京房曰：“鼠無故皆自積土，大水且至，水去，邑飢。”《兵書》曰：“鼠藪軍中，將有謀反意。”又曰：“野鼠在此中者，軍必敗。”

Jing Fang said: Rats gathering泥土 without cause indicate a great flood is coming; after the water recedes, the city will suffer from famine. The "Military Treatise" says: Rats building nests in the military camp indicate the commander has rebellious intentions. It also says: Wild rats appearing in the military camp indicate this army will surely be defeated.

京房曰：“鼠無故巢木上，邑且大水。”《漢書》：“成帝建始四年，長安城南，有鼠銜黃蒿棲柏葉，上民家柏及榆樹為巢，時議臣以為恐有水災，穴而登木，象賤人將為顯貴之位。”

Jing Fang said: If mice build nests on trees without any reason, it indicates that a city will suffer from a great flood. The "Book of Han" records that in the fourth year of Jianshi during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, there were mice in the southern part of Chang'an that carried yellow mugwort and nested among the leaves of cypress trees, climbing onto the cypress and elm trees of civilian homes. At that time, the ministers discussing state affairs thought that there might be a flood. Mice usually live underground but climbed to the tops of trees, symbolizing that lowly people would seize high positions.

《潛潭巴》曰：“鼠食木果，眾臣不任，害賢人也。”《對災異》曰：“人君斥賢任佞，眾讒在朝，而鼠群行，食五穀。”《地鏡》曰：“鼠食木實，上樹，邪臣害賢，俗敗也。”又曰：“人君用刑深刻，吏為陰賊，上下無德，則群鼠害禾穀。”

The Spring and Autumn Secret Mirror says: When mice gnaw the fruits on trees, it indicates that many officials are not fulfilling their duties, and they harm the virtuous. The Book of Disaster and Anomalies says: When the ruler excludes the virtuous and employs the wicked, and many slanderers fill the court, there will be groups of mice traveling and eating the five grains. The Earthly Mirror says: When mice eat the fruits on trees and climb up the trees, it signifies that wicked ministers harm the virtuous, and the customs thus deteriorate. It also says: When the ruler applies harsh and intricate punishments, and officials secretly harm the people, and both superiors and subordinates lose their virtue, there will be groups of mice trampling the grain.

京房曰：“眾鼠逐狸，茲謂有傷，臣代其王，思為亂天闢亡。”又曰：“鼠無故逐狸狗，是謂反祥，臣且殺其君。”又曰：“眾鼠逐狸，殺其君，大臣亡。或曰：諸侯以婦女誅異姓，來相國者也。”

Jing Fang said: When a crowd of mice turn around to chase a wild cat, this is called "having injury," indicating that a minister will replace the king, plotting rebellion and causing the king established by heaven to perish. He also said: When mice chase wild cats and dogs without reason, this is called "reverse auspice," meaning the signs of good and bad are reversed, indicating that ministers will kill the king. Another saying: When mice chase wild cats, it signifies the death of the king and the downfall of the great ministers. Another interpretation: It signifies that a feudal lord will kill a man of another surname through matters involving women, and the person coming to serve as prime minister will confirm this omen.

《地鏡》曰：“鼠斗宮殿上，為兵喪；自殺其子，亦然。”京房曰：“鼠無故皆自相殺，斬其首道中者，兵作。”又曰：“鼠斗殿上，其君死。”又曰：“鼠生子宮中而不穴，宮且空。”又曰：“鼠無故殺其子，若自出穴，其子死於穴中，其邑且虛。”

The book "Di Jing" says: mice fighting on the palace roof indicate military calamity and chaos; if mice kill their own young, the interpretation is the same. Jing Fang says: mice fighting each other without cause, biting off their heads and leaving them on the road, indicate military conflict breaking out. He also says: mice fighting in the hall indicate the death of the ruler. Furthermore, he says: mice giving birth in the palace without making holes indicate that the palace will become empty. Also, he says: mice killing their own young without cause, or the mother mouse climbing out of the hole while the young die inside, indicate that the city will become empty.

京房曰：“鼠無故穴殿上宮中，其君死。”地鏡曰：“鼠無故常穴人履冠帶，其身危。”

Jing Fang said: Rats digging holes without cause in palaces and halls indicate the death of the ruler. The "Book of the Earth's Mirror" says: Rats frequently gnawing through people's shoes, hats, and sashes indicate danger to the person themselves.

京房曰：“鼠無故齧殿上及寢廟中地，其君死。”又曰：“鼠無故穿殿上及室中，邑舍空。”又曰：“鼠穿門戶，外內通明，大喜。”又曰：“鼠穿門戶，下徹外，有遷者。”又曰：“鼠無故自常宿褥席中，身死。”

Jing Fang said: Rats gnawing at the ground in the halls and temples without cause indicate the death of the ruler. He also said: Rats drilling through walls and holes in the halls and rooms without cause indicate the emptiness of the city and houses. He also said: Rats gnawing through doors to make the inside and outside connected indicate a great joy. He also said: Rats gnawing through doors from below to reach outside indicate that someone in the family will move. He also said: Rats sleeping in the middle of quilts and mats without cause indicate the death of the owner.

又曰：“鼠交殿上，其君死。”

Jing Fang also said: If mice mate on the hall, it indicates the death of the ruler. The hall is the most exalted place, yet impure things act in licentiousness there, so it is interpreted as the ruler's demise.

京房曰：“鼠齧人杖，主被傷。”又曰：“鼠齧馬蹄，行破亡；鼠齧履頭，家有喪，急去之。”又曰：“鼠齧牛角及蹄，不行。”又曰：“鼠齧冠，即其身死，若有喪。”又曰：“鼠齧人帶，有利吏被選斷之獄辭連。”又曰：“鼠齧刀劍，奴妾不祥，後有殃。”又曰：“鼠齧宮府文書，曳尾，官府有赦。”又曰：“鼠齧衣背上，唯有喪。”又曰：“鼠齧上袵，有利囊得財。”

Jing Fang said: If a mouse bites a staff, the master will be injured. Also, if a mouse bites a horse's hoof, it indicates that travel will be ruined and there will be loss. If a mouse bites the toe of a shoe, it indicates there will be a death in the family, and one should quickly discard the shoe. If a mouse bites the horn and hoof of a cow, it indicates that vehicles and horses will not move smoothly and matters will not be accomplished. If a mouse bites a hat, it indicates that the person will die or there will be a funeral. If a mouse bites a person's sash, it indicates that those selected for official positions will benefit, but they will be involved in legal cases. If a mouse bites a sword or a dagger, it indicates that the servants and concubines will be inauspicious, and there will be calamity later. If a mouse bites official documents and drags its tail, it indicates that the government will issue an amnesty. If a mouse bites the back of a garment, it only indicates there will be a death. If a mouse bites the upper part of the garment's collar, it indicates there will be benefit and one will gain money from within a bag.

又曰：“鼠齧人鼻，且有喪；齧人頭，男子傷，洗浴吉；鼠齧人者，有謀賊人；鼠齧人足，有行事，去而吉；鼠齧人頰，必被辱若喪；齧人手指，奴婢死；鼠齧人耳目，有欲為賊者；鼠齧人髮，是謂御者女子大賊；

Jing Fang also said: If a mouse bites someone's nose, it indicates that the general will have a funeral; if it bites the head, it indicates that a man will be injured, but if he takes a bath, it will turn into good fortune; if a mouse bites a person, it indicates that someone is plotting to harm him; if a mouse bites the feet, it indicates that there will be travel, and if he leaves this place, it will be auspicious; if a mouse bites the cheek, it definitely means suffering disgrace or a funeral; if a mouse bites a finger, it indicates that a servant or maid will die; if a mouse bites the ear or eye, it indicates that someone wants to commit theft; if a mouse bites the hair, this is called the 'Autocrat' omen, indicating that a woman will become a great harm.

鼠齧人織布帛傷衣，喪；鼠齧祭物，家喪；鼠齧宮中樹木枝葉，家有賊；鼠齧床蓆中央，夫婦雜敘。鼠為怪凶者，傷丈夫，為之燒鐵門戶，無咎。”《地鏡》曰：“鼠齧人衣，有鬥爭事。”

A rat biting cloth or silk fabric and damaging clothes indicates there will be a death in the family; a rat biting sacrificial offerings indicates there will be a death in the household; a rat biting the branches and leaves of trees in the palace indicates there will be thieves in the family; a rat biting the center of the bed or mat indicates disorder between husband and wife in terms of respect and hierarchy. If rats cause ominous signs, they may harm the male head of the household; in such cases, one should use a red-hot iron to cauterize the door and threshold to ward off misfortune. The "Earth Mirror" says: if a rat bites a person's clothes, it indicates there will be disputes and lawsuits.