A snake cries in the house, a snake meets in the market square, a snake confronts the abdomen, and snakes fight.

《淮南萬畢術》曰：“為死事則蛇鳴君室。”京房曰：“蛇鳴君室，凶。”《地鏡》曰：“蛇交於市及廷中者，不出三年，必有亡主，各以其國君應之。”《運斗樞》曰：“君失政，臣挾私，期（期字當作則）蛇沖巴。”（巴，腹蟲也。）《河圖》曰：“大蛇朝市路群鬥，又去不去，霸者當路。”《淮南萬畢術》曰：“蛇無故斗於君室，後必爭立。小死，小不勝；大死，大不勝；小大皆死，皆不立也。”

The Huainanzi Wanbi Shu says: When there is a death or funeral, a snake will cry in the ruler's house. Jing Fang says: If a snake cries in the ruler's house, it indicates misfortune. The Di Jing says: If snakes mate in the market or in the court, within three years, the ruler will surely perish, and this will be verified according to the ruler of the country where it occurs. The Chunjiu Yun Doushu says: When the ruler's governance is improper and ministers have selfish intentions, snakes will collide with the abdominal worms (note: the character '期' should be '则'; another note: '巴' refers to abdominal worms). The He Tu says: If a large snake gathers in the court or on the road of the market, fighting in groups, wanting to move but not moving, it indicates that someone who will dominate will block the way. The Huainanzi Wanbi Shu also says: If snakes fight without cause in the ruler's house, there will certainly be a struggle for the throne afterwards; if small snakes die, the younger side will not prevail; if large snakes die, the older side will not prevail; if both large and small snakes die, both sides will fail to establish themselves.

《漢書五行志》曰：“《左傳》鄭厲公時，有內蛇與外蛇斗鄭南門中，內蛇死。劉向以為，先是鄭厲公劫相祭仲，而逐昭公代立，後厲公奔出。公復入，弟子儀代立。厲公自外劫大夫傅瑕，使戮子儀，此外蛇殺內蛇之象。”《趙書》曰：“前趙時，安定太守邵琨上言，蛇與鼠斗於郡門而蛇自死。”

The "Book of Han: Five Phases Chapter" records that during the time of Zheng Li Gong, as recorded in the "Zuo Zhuan," there were two snakes, one inside and one outside, fighting in the southern gate of the state of Zheng, with the inner snake being bitten to death. Liu Xiang believed that before Zheng Li Gong forced the state minister Ji Zhong, expelled Zheng Zhao Gong and proclaimed himself king, later Li Gong himself fled abroad; Zhao Gong regained the throne and returned to the state, and his son Zi Yi succeeded him as king. Li Gong later forced the minister Fu Xia to kill Zi Yi, which was a symbolic representation of the outer snake biting the inner snake. The "Zhao Shu" records that during the time of the former Zhao dynasty, the governor of An Ding, Shao Kun, reported that a snake and a rat fought in front of the government office of the commandery, and the snake died as a result.

《易辨終備》曰：“蛙聚，大盜出。”《運斗樞》曰：“妃色惑主，蛙累入邦門。”《漢書》曰：“武帝元鼎五年秋，蛙與蝦蟆群鬥，是歲四將軍眾十萬征南越。”

The book "Yi Bian Zhong Bei" says: When frogs gather in groups, there will be a great thief. The book "Chun Qiu Yun Dou Shou" says: When the concubines entice the king with their beauty, frogs will continuously enter the country's gates. The "Han Shu" records: In the autumn of the fifth year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuan Ding era, frogs and toads fought in groups; during this year, four generals led an army of ten thousand to attack Nan Yue.

《周書時訓》曰：“立夏後五日，蚯蚓出，不出則臣奪後令；冬至之日，蚯蚓結，不結則君政不行。”京房曰：“見山蝍蛆入於邑，內殺。”（《廣雅》曰：蜈蚣也。）又曰：“蟻無故當道，若門戶，城聚土，水且傷人。”

The "Shi Xun Jie" section of the "Yi Zhou Shu" says: Five days after the Beginning of Summer, earthworms emerge from the ground; if they do not emerge, it indicates that ministers will seize the title of the queen. On the day of the Winter Solstice, earthworms curl up into a ball; if they do not curl up, it indicates that the sovereign's decrees will not be implemented. Jing Fang said: Seeing centipedes crawling into towns and cities indicates internal killings. The original text's marginal note cites the "Guang Ya" saying: "Xiao qu" is the same as centipede. It also says: If ants block the path without cause, or block the entrance and pile up soil to form small hills, it indicates that great floods will harm people.

《易通卦驗》曰：“螳蜋，搏蟬之蟲，乘虛而殺物，自隱蔽而有所害，捕搏之象也；奸人性陰邪，行令失節，所生武官，不務詰奸，故為奸猾事發。”《月令》云：“小暑至，螳螂生。”《周書》曰：“夏至後五日，蜩始鳴，不鳴則貴臣放逸；立秋之日，寒蜩不鳴。”《通卦驗》曰：“遁上九候，蟬始鳴，蟬不鳴，人臣力爭，國多妖言。”

The book "Yitong Guaxian" says: the mantis is an insect that hunts cicadas, taking advantage of an opportunity to kill other creatures, concealing its form and acting secretly to cause harm, symbolizing "capture and attack"; the nature of villains is sinister and perverse, and they implement decrees without restraint, while the military officials they appoint do not diligently investigate evil deeds, so there are occurrences of cunning and deceitful matters. The "Liji · Yueling" says: when Xiaoshu arrives, mantises are born. The "Yizhou Shu" says: five days after Xiaozhi, cicadas begin to sing; if they do not sing, it indicates that powerful ministers indulge in pleasures. On the day of Liqiu, the cold cicadas do not sing. "Yitong Guaxian" says: the hexagram "Dun" with the ninth line at the top corresponds to the phenomenon of cicadas beginning to sing; if cicadas do not sing, it indicates that ministers struggle fiercely for power and there are many false and chaotic words in the country.

《京房易飛候》曰：“螻蛄集朝廷，厥咎黜。”又曰：“蚯蚓螻蛄見，軍中尤多，師將罷，有謀者不久；地生諸蟲，將軍急去，大凶。”《抱朴子》曰：“螻蛄見，軍尤生多，有軍罷，又宜備叛。”京氏曰：“螻蛄大如牛，長一丈，見，邑且有賤人貴。”

The Jing Fang Yi Fei Hou says: If crickets gather in the court, it indicates that someone will be dismissed. It also says: If earthworms and crickets appear, especially in military camps, it signifies that the army will disband and those who plot against the state will not last long; if various insects emerge from the ground, the general should hurry to retreat, otherwise there will be great misfortune. The Baopu Zi says: If crickets appear, especially in large numbers in the army, it indicates that the army will disband and one should also be cautious of rebellion. Jing Fang also says: If crickets are as big as oxen and reach a length of ten feet, their appearance indicates that someone of low birth will rise to prominence in the city.

《五行傳》曰：“秦昭王委事太后弟穰侯為丞相，弟謙蕩君皆用事私門，權傾公朝。三十八年，上郡大飢，山東盡死，民無所食，蜂食民苗。蜂食民苗者，赤祥之災也。能飛揚之類，赤挾毒火之色也。不當食苗，象不當位也，故見災以蜚之蜂，見挾毒物之害也。天意若曰：君不明臣，下若蜂蔓而奪民，將為國家害也。”

The "Transmission of the Five Phases" says: King Zhao of the Qin state entrusted state affairs to his mother's younger brother, Wanghou, and appointed him as prime minister. The other younger brothers of the queen also held power through their private families, surpassing the authority of the court. In the thirty-eighth year of King Zhao's reign, there was a great famine in Shangjun, and countless people died of starvation in the eastern part of the Xiang Mountains. The people had nothing to eat, and bees devoured the people's grain. Bees eating grain is considered a "red omen": bees are creatures that can fly, and red is the color that carries toxic fire. Bees should not eat grain, symbolizing that those people should not hold their positions. Therefore, the heavenly signs use flying bees to indicate that there is a harmful thing with toxic power spreading. The meaning of heaven seems to be saying: the ruler cannot clearly discern his ministers, and the people below are like swarms of bees spreading and encroaching upon the people, which will become a national calamity.

《天鏡》曰：“蜂生國，舍內空，亡象。”《兵書》曰：“軍行，蜂群飛，蜂及蜜蜂尤多者，必大戰道路，防之。”又曰：“軍中有蜂鳴移，主將敗，士卒亡矣。”《漢書元帝紀》曰：“建昭元年春三月，上幸雍祠五畤，秋八月，有白蛾飛蔽日，從東都至軹道。（注：“如淳曰：《三輔黃圖》：長安城東北次門號曰宣平城門，其外郭曰東都門也。”）冬，河間王元有罪廢遷房陵。”

The Tian Jing says: If bees build nests within the country, and houses are empty and deserted, this is a sign of decline and collapse. The military treatise says: When an army is moving, if bees fly in groups, especially large bees and honeybees, there must be a major battle on the road, and one should be cautious. It also says: If bees make noise and migrate within the army, the general will surely suffer defeat, and the soldiers will die. The Han Shu · Yuan Di Ji records: In the first year of Jianzhao, in spring of the third month, the emperor went to Yong to worship the five temples; in the eighth month of autumn, white moths flew and blocked the sun, from the Eastern Capital Gate all the way to Zhidao. The original book's marginal note cites Ru Chun as saying: The San Fu Huang Tu records that the second gate to the northeast of Chang'an city is called Xuanping Gate, and its outer gate is called the Eastern Capital Gate. That winter, Prince Liu Yuan of Hejian was removed from his position for wrongdoing and exiled to Fangling.

《五行傳》曰：“介蟲者，小蟲有甲能蜚揚之類，陽氣所生，於《春秋》為象蟲，今謂之蝗，皆其類也，曰介蟲之孽也。”《說文》曰：“蝗，螽也。旱氣動象，至使乞貸，則生螣。舊說螟、螣、蟊、賊，一種蟲也。如言寇、盜、奸、宄，內外言之耳，故捷為文學曰：此四種，皆蝗也。”《禮月令》曰：“孟夏行春令，則蝗蟲為災。”《春秋緯》曰：“愁精所感，擾氣所生，螽冬生，天不能滅，地不能藏。”《潛潭巴》曰：“生蝗蟲，兵大起，行千里。”

The *Five Phases Transmission* says: The term "intermediate insect" refers to small insects that have a hard shell and can fly, which are generated by yang energy; in the *Spring and Autumn Annals* they are called "image insects," and nowadays they are called "locusts," all belonging to the same category, and are referred to as "the calamity of intermediate insects." The *Shuo Wen* says: "Locust" is the same as "zhong." The sign of dry heat energy rising, until it forces the people to borrow money and seek loans, then the *teng* insect appears. The old view considered *ming*, *teng*, *mao*, and *zei* to be the same kind of insect, just as "bandit," "thief," "criminal," and "lawbreaker" are different terms for the same kind of person, merely distinguished by their different perspectives of internal and external aspects; therefore, the official in charge of literature and learning in the prefecture said: these four are all locusts. The *Book of Rites · Monthly Orders* says: In the first month of summer, the policies of spring are implemented, and locusts will cause disaster. The *Spring and Autumn Wei* says: The essence of sorrow is summoned, and the chaotic energy generates the insect *zhong*. *Zhong* is born in winter, and neither heaven can destroy it nor earth can hide it. The *Spring and Autumn Qiantanba* says: When locusts appear, great military actions arise, and armies march for thousands of li.

《五行傳》曰：“君行暴虐，而賦稅貪叨無厭，以師動眾，取邑治城而失眾心，則蟲為害。”《爾雅》曰：“蝗蟲食苗心曰螟，食苗葉曰蟘，食苗根曰蟊，食苗節曰賊。”董仲舒《對災異》曰：“佞臣居位，貪叨之徵，邪人在位，則蝗蟲食菜；君用臣才不任職，則蟲食莖；君用佞人在朝，則蟲食節；君用奸賊在位，則蟲食根。”《禮月令》：“仲春行夏令，蟲蝗為害。”

The Five Phases text says: if the sovereign acts tyrannically, levies taxes greedily without restraint, launches military campaigns, captures cities, and repairs fortifications while losing the people's support, then insects will become pests. The Er Ya says: locusts that eat the heart of the millet plant are called "Ming," those that eat the leaves are called "Xiao," those that eat the roots are called "Mao," and those that eat the joints are called "Ze." Dong Zhongshu's "Response to the Portents" says: if corrupt ministers hold high positions, this is a sign of greed; if wicked people are in power, locusts will eat vegetables; if the sovereign appoints officials who are not competent for their posts, locusts will eat the stems of the millet; if the sovereign employs flatterers in court, locusts will eat the joints of the millet; if the sovereign employs villains in power, locusts will eat the roots of the millet. The Li Ji's "Monthly Commandments" says: during the second lunar month, if summer policies are implemented, locust plagues will occur.

《說文》曰：“螟蟲食穀心，從冥聲，吏冥冥犯法，即生螟。”《呂氏春秋》曰：“亂國之妖，有螟集其國，其年凶。”《淮南子》曰：“政惡生孽，蟲食心。”京房曰：“吏為貪狼，多螟螣；宮室奢，蟲食菜。”《漢書五行志》曰：“《春秋》魯哀公十二年十二月，螟。十三年九月，螟。十二月，螟。劉向以為，春用田賦，冬而螟。此三螟皆虐取民之效。”

The Shuowen explains that the insect mǐng eats the heart of grain, with its character derived from the sound of "míng" — when officials are昏昧 and unclear, they violate laws, thus giving rise to mǐng. The Lüshi Chunqiu says that in a country in chaos, there are mǐng insects gathering within the country, and that year will be disastrous and barren. The Huainanzi says that when government affairs are ruined, strange creatures arise, and insects eat the heart of millet. Jingfang says that when officials are greedy like wolves, there will be more mǐng and tè insects; when palaces are luxurious, insects will eat vegetables. The Han Shu's Wuxing Zhi records that in the twelfth year of Duke Ai of Lu's reign in Spring and Autumn, there was a mǐng infestation in December, and in the thirteenth year, there was another in September and again in December. Liu Xiang believed that when spring taxes are imposed on fields, winter brings mǐng; these three mǐng infestations were all omens caused by the harsh exploitation of the people.

《春秋漢含孳》曰：“魯室履畝而稅，貪恣太過，則蝝生。”《漢書五行志》曰：“劉歆以為，蝝，媲蠢之有翼，（音蚍蜉）食穀為災。黑，青也。董仲舒以為，蝝，螟始生也。是時初稅畝，亂先王制，故應是而蟓生。”《詩推度災》曰：“在下不臣，蟲食葉。貸者，伐也。小臣為政事，變其法，故立字貸，與伐同其變，臣欲殺也。”京房曰：“得無節，蟲食葉。”

The Spring and Autumn Annals and Han Containing the Fruits says: The royal family of Lu collected taxes according to the amount of land, but when they became greedy and indulgent beyond measure, locusts called "xu" appeared. The Book of Han, Five Elements Chapter, records that Liu Xin believed that "xu" were insects similar to "pifu" (which is pronounced the same as "pifu"), which eat grain and cause disaster; they were black in color, which is also considered green. Dong Zhongshu thought that "xu" were the young larvae of "ming". At that time, Lu first implemented the "tax land" system, which disturbed the old ways of the former kings, so "xu" appeared in response. The Poem of Disaster Prediction says: When those in lower positions do not abide by the duties of ministers, the insects eat the leaves of millet. "Dao" means "fa", meaning to attack; the minor ministers took charge of government affairs, changed the existing laws and regulations, so the character "dao" was created, and it is the same as "fa" in indicating change, showing that the ministers wanted to harm the sovereign. Jing Fang said: When use is not controlled, the insects eat the leaves of millet.

《說文》曰：“野蟲食草根者也。吏抵，冒取民，則生［蟲弟］。”京房曰：“臣安祿，厥災蟲食根；不絀無德，蟲食本；害忠孝，蟲食根。”《握鏡》曰：“螟蟲食根，咎在女主社稷。”《毛詩義禮》曰：“蟊長而細，或說云：蟊，螻蛄也。螻蛄食苗根，為人患。”《詩推度災》曰：“傷苗食之賊也。”京房曰：“與公侯爭，蟲食蛬，傷忠臣，蟲食蛬。”《史記》：“秦始皇四年十月，螟蟲從東方來，蔽天，如嚴雪。是歲天下失苽瓠。”

The Shuowen explains that this is a worm that eats the roots of plants in the wild; when officials violate laws and seize the property of the people, such a worm appears (the original text uses the character 「［虫弟］」). Jing Fang says: if ministers covet their salaries, the calamity is worms eating the roots of millet; if the incompetent are not removed, the worms eat the stems of millet; if the virtuous and loyal are harmed, the worms also eat the roots of millet. The Weijing says: the locusts eat the roots of millet, and the omen is related to the female sovereign and the state. The Mao Shi Yili says: the mao worm is long and thin; another view holds that mao is the same as the locust, which eats the roots of millet and becomes a calamity for people. The Shihui Tuduo says: those that damage millet and consume it are called 'zeer'. Jing Fang says: if there is conflict with the marquises and dukes, the worms eat the stalks of millet; if the loyal ministers are harmed, the worms also eat the stalks of millet. The Shiji records that in the fourth year of Qin Shihuang's reign, in the tenth lunar month, locusts flew from the east, covering the sky densely like snowflakes; that year, all the melons and gourds in the country failed to be harvested.

《漢書五行志》曰：“景帝中元三年秋，蝗，匈奴寇邊。武帝元光五年秋，蝗，五將眾三十萬伏馬邑，又四將征匈奴。元鼎五年秋，蝗，四將征南越。元封六年秋，蝗，兩將征朝鮮。太初元年夏，蝗從東方飛至敦煌。三年秋，復蝗，其年貳師徵大宛，天下奉其役連年。徵和三年秋，蝗，四年，夏蝗，先是一年，三將連眾十餘萬征匈奴，貳師七萬人沒不還。平帝元始二年秋，蝗偏天下，是時王莽秉政。”《漢書》：“王莽地皇三年夏，蝗從東方來，蔽天，至長安，入未央宮緣殿。四年，漢兵斬莽。”

The Book of Han's Five Phases Chapter records that in the third year of Emperor Jingdi's Zhongyuan period, in autumn, there was a locust plague and the Xiongnu invaded the border. In the fifth year of Emperor Wudi's Yuanguang period, in autumn, there was another locust plague, five generals led an army of thirty thousand to ambush Ma邑, and four generals marched against the Xiongnu. In the fifth year of Yuanding, in autumn, there was a locust plague, and four generals campaigned against Nan Yue. In the sixth year of Yuanfeng, in autumn, there was a locust plague, and two generals marched against Chosun. In the first year of Taichu, in summer, locusts flew from the east all the way to Dunhuang. In the third year of Taichu, in autumn, there was another locust plague. That year, the general Wei Shi led an expedition against Dayuan, and the country was continuously burdened by the labor for this campaign. In the third year of Zhenglü, in autumn, there was a locust plague, and in summer of the fourth year, there was another locust plague. Before this, in the previous year, three generals led armies of more than ten thousand to campaign against the Xiongnu, and the army under Wei Shi, which numbered seventy thousand, was destroyed and did not return. In the second year of Pingdi's Yuanshi period, in autumn, locusts spread throughout the land, and at that time Wang Mang was in power. The Book of Han records that in the third year of Wang Mang's Dihuang period, in summer, locusts flew from the east, darkening the sky, reaching Chang'an, and flying into the Weiyang Palace, climbing along the palaces. In the fourth year, the Han army killed Wang Mang.

《續漢書五行志》曰：“安帝永初四年夏，蝗，是時西羌寇亂，軍眾徵，距之連年。五年夏，九州蝗。六年三月，去年蝗處復蝗子生。七年二月，郡國蝗。順帝永建五年，郡國十二蝗，是時鮮卑寇朔方，用眾征之。永和元年秋七月，偃師蝗。去年年冬，烏桓寇沙南，用眾征之。”《續漢書五行志》曰：“桓帝永興元年七月，郡國三十二，大蝗，是時梁冀秉政。”《東觀漢記》曰：“馬稜伯威為廣陵太守，連年有蝗，穀貴，稜奏罷強官，薄賦稅，蝗蟲飛入海中，化為魚蝦。”

The "Continued Book of the Han Dynasty · Five Phases Chapter" records that in the fourth year of Emperor Huan's Yongchu reign, during the summer, there was a locust plague. At that time, the Western Qiang invaded and caused disturbances, and the court had to send troops year after year to resist. In the fifth year of the same reign, during the summer, all nine provinces experienced locust plagues. In the third month of the sixth year, the areas where locusts had emerged the previous year again produced locust eggs. In the second month of the seventh year, locust plagues occurred in all commanderies and states. In the fifth year of Emperor Shun's Yongjian reign, locust plagues occurred in twelve commanderies and states. At that time, the Xianbei harassed Shuofang, and the court sent troops to suppress them. In the first year of Yonghe, during the seventh month of autumn, there was a locust plague in Yanshi. The previous winter, the Huai people invaded Sandan, and the court also sent troops to deal with them. The "Continued Book of the Han Dynasty · Five Phases Chapter" also records that in the first year of Emperor Huan's Yongxing reign, during the seventh month, thirty-two commanderies and states were plagued by locusts, at the time when Liang Ji was in sole power. The "Dongguan Han Records" records that Ma Ling, whose courtesy name was Boyi, served as the governor of Guangling, and there were consecutive years of locust plagues, with grain prices soaring. Ma Ling submitted a memorial to the court requesting the removal of officials of noble origin and reducing taxes. Then the locusts flew into the sea and transformed into fish and shrimp.

《晉中興徵祥說》曰：“元帝大興二年，徐州及揚州之西江郡蝗。三年，冀州蝗。皆胡肆暴之徵。武帝太元十六年五月，棠邑界有蝗，廣千里，長三十里許，從南來，其飛蔽天，害苗稼，是時官以賄成，皆入私庫，貪私苟得之征也。”《趙書》曰：“石勒十四年五月，飛蝗穿地而生，二十日化如蠶，七八日而臥，四日蛻則飛，周遍河朔，百草無遺，唯不食三豆及麻。”

The "Jin Zhongxing Zhengxiang Shuo" records that in the second year of Emperor Yuan of Jin's Daxing era, the regions of Xu Prefecture and the western part of Yangzhou's Jiang Prefecture experienced a locust plague; in the third year, the Jiuzhou region also suffered from locusts: these were omens of the Xiongnu's rampant cruelty. In the sixteenth year of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin's Taoyuan era, in May, locusts appeared in Tangyi, stretching a thousand li wide and thirty li long, flying from the south, covering the sky and blocking the sun, damaging crops; at that time, official positions were obtained through bribery and taxes were all collected into private treasuries, which was an omen of greed and selfish gain. The "Zhao Shu" records that in the fourteenth year of Shi Le of the Later Zhao dynasty, in May, locusts pierced through the ground to hatch, twenty days later they grew as big as silkworms, then after seven or eight days they lay still, and after four more days they shed their skins and could fly, spreading throughout the area north of the Yellow River, destroying all grasses, but not eating three kinds of beans or sesame.

《春秋漢含孳》曰：“妃黨縱橫，佞人潛世，則蜮生。”《春秋》：“魯莊公十八年秋，有蜮。”注云：“蜮，短狐也，蓋以含沙射人為災也。”《漢書五行志》曰：“莊公十八年有蜮，劉向以為蜮生南越之地，多淫婦人，男女同川，淫女為主，亂氣所生，故宣武名之蜮。（蜮由惑也，謂之短弧。）是時莊公將取齊之淫女，故蜮至。”《五行傳》曰：“《詩》云：‘為鬼為蜮，則不可得。’蓋氣精也。”《詩義禮》曰：“一名射景，如鱉三足。”

The Spring and Autumn Annals and Han Containing the Fruits says: When the faction of the empress consort is rampant and flatters the ruler, cunning men hide in the world, then the moat demon is produced. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: In the eighteenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu's reign, in autumn, the moat demon appeared. The commentary says: The moat demon is also called the short fox, because it shoots sand at people and causes calamity. The Book of Han, Five Elements Chapter, records: In the eighteenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu's reign, there was a moat demon. Liu Xiang thought the moat demon originated from the southern Yue region, where there were many licentious women, and men and women bathed in the same river, with licentious women as the main cause, and the disorderly air gave rise to it, so it was called the moat demon (original book marginal note: the moat demon gets its name from 'deceit', also called the short fox). At that time, Duke Zhuang of Lu was about to marry a licentious woman from the state of Qi, so the moat demon appeared. The Five Elements Commentary says: The Book of Poetry says 'as a ghost or a moat demon, it is impossible to catch', which is probably a spirit formed by the air. The Book of Poetry Meaning and Ritual says: The moat demon is also called the shadow shooter, and its shape is like a turtle but has three feet.

《紀年》：“晉獻公二年春，周惠王居於鄭，鄭人入王府，多取玉，玉化為蜮射人。”《古今注》曰：“成帝建始元年六月，蒼蠅萬數，集白虎門朝坐處，蔽地。”《漢書》：“昌邑王賀夢青蠅矢，積西階東河，五六石，以屋瓦覆，發視之，青蠅矢也。以問龔遂，遂曰：‘階下左側讒人眾多，願皆放之。’賀不用其言，卒至於廢。”

The Bamboo Annals records that in the second year of Duke Jin Xian's reign, King Zhou Hui took refuge in the State of Zheng, and the people of Zheng broke into the royal treasury, taking away many jade objects; those jades later turned into moths that shot at people. The Ancient and Modern Notes records that in June of the first year of Emperor Cheng of Han's Jianshi era, thousands of flies gathered at the White Tiger Gate where the emperor sat in court, covering the ground. The Book of Han records that Prince Changyi Liu He dreamed that a pile of fly dung was piled up on the east side of the western steps, amounting to several dan, covered with roof tiles; when they lifted the tiles, they found it was indeed fly dung. He asked Guong sui about it, and Guong sui said: Your Majesty has too many people around you who spread false accusations, hoping that they will all be sent away. Liu He did not listen to his advice, and eventually fell into the fate of being deposed.

《詩推度災》曰：“逆天地，絕人倫，則蚊虻興。”《兵書》曰：“軍行逢虻尤多者，必大戰道路，防之。”《考異郵》曰：“陳涉即亡，景駒為主，項羽誅嬰，都制九塞，自稱楚王，地生神虻，大如牛。”《淮南子》：“衰世，飛蛩滿野。”許慎曰：“蛩，蠛蒙也。”

The Poetic Classic on Divination says: To defy heaven and earth and sever human relationships will result in a great increase of mosquitoes and flies. The Military Treatise says: When an army encounters a large number of flies while marching, a major battle is sure to occur on the road, and one should be cautious. The Spring and Autumn Annals: Miscellaneous Mail says: When Chen Shì died, Jing Ju was proclaimed king, and Xiang Yu killed the son of the Qin king, Ying, and controlled nine strategic passes, declaring himself King of Chu; at that time, divine flies emerged from the land, as large as oxen. The Huainanzi says: In times of decline and disorder, the flying locusts spread across the fields. Xu Shen explains: Qiong is the same as Mie Meng, which is also Mie Meng.

《春秋繁露》曰：“木干水，冬蟄蟲不藏；土乾水，蟄蟲冬出。”《潛潭巴》曰：“蟲兩足赤口，諸侯強。”《五經異義公羊說》：“后夫人之家，專權擅勢，秉持國政，蠶食百姓，則蟲飛反墜。”《握鏡》曰：“甲蟲無故生宗廟中，不出三年，臣背叛，兵興，國憂，亡天下；蟲無故自死，用刑暴，戕害過。”京房曰：“軍行道，逢蟲蛇怒，必大戰，吏兵與馬，賊將死，以君大就，五校亂錯，故致以怪。”

The Spring and Autumn Annals: A Comprehensive Exposition states: When the wood element invades the water element, insects that hibernate in winter do not hide; when the earth element invades the water element, insects emerge from the ground in winter. The Spring and Autumn Hidden Depths says: Insects with two legs and red mouths indicate that the feudal lords are domineering. The Five Classics: Different Interpretations records the view of the Gongyang school: The empress dowager and the lady-in-waiting's family monopolize power, control the state affairs, like silkworms eating mulberry leaves, seizing from the people, and thus flying insects will fall back. The Mirror in Hand says: When a beetle appears without cause in the ancestral temple, within three years, ministers will rebel, wars will break out, the state will face calamity, and eventually lose the empire; when insects die without cause, it indicates excessive use of punishment and excessive killing. Jing Fang says: When the army is on the march and encounters angry snakes and insects, there will certainly be a great battle, with soldiers, horses, and enemy generals all suffering casualties; because the ruler has launched a large-scale military campaign, the five schools of soldiers are disordered and confused, thus causing such strange phenomena.