说苑/易曰：「天垂象，見吉凶，聖人則之。

易曰：「天垂象，見吉凶，聖人則之。

Eric Henry

A passage in the Changes says, “The heavens are overspread with images in which auspicious and inauspicious omens may be read; sages take them as patterns.” In former days, Gaozong [of the Shang dynasty]21 and King Cheng [of the Zhou dynasty]22 were deeply impressed by the sinister omens of a calling pheasant and a violent wind.

Eric Henry

In response they reformed and cultivated themselves, upon which they enjoyed great blessings.

」昔者高宗、成王感於雊雉、暴風之變，脩身自改，而享豐昌之福也。

Eric Henry

When Huangdi of Qin24 came to the throne, comets were seen everywhere, and locusts blanketed the sky; it thundered in winter and froze in summer.

Eric Henry

Boulders fell from the sky in Dong Jun, and giants appeared in Lintao.

逮秦皇帝即位，彗星四見，蝗蟲蔽天，冬雷夏凍，石隕東郡，大人出臨洮，妖孽並見，熒惑守心星，茀大角，大角以亡，終不能改。

Eric Henry

Fiends and monsters appeared simultaneously.

Eric Henry

Mars (ying huo 熒惑) lingered in the Heart constellation; a comet swept past the Great Horn (dajue 大角), causing it to disappear, and Shi Huang was in the end unable to correct his excesses.