269 the generation table 5

A13.7

Line 1:

Column 1: The Names of the Emperors and Kings, and their Generations and Countries. 

Column 2: Of Zhuan Xu.

Column 3: Of Ku.

Column 4: Of Yao.

Column 5: Of Shun.

Column 6: Of Xia.

Column 7: Of Yin.

Column 8: Of Zhou.

L2:

C1: Emperor Taijia, son of the former crown prince Taiding. He was promiscuous, so Yi Yin banished him to Tong Palace. After three years, he repented and blamed himself, so Yi Yin welcomed him back to the throne.

L3:

C1: Emperor Woding. Yi Yin died.

L4:

C1: Emperor Taikang, younger brother of Woding.

L5:

C1: Emperor Xiaojia, younger brother of Taigeng. [Annotation] Note: Both "Book of Yin" and "Book of Genealogy" say Xiaojia was the son of Taigeng. The Yin Dynasty declined, and some princes did not come.

L6:

C1: Emperor Yongji, younger brother of Xiaojia.

L7:

C1: Emperor Taiwu, younger brother of Yongji. Born in mulberry valley, he was called Zhongzong.

268 the generation table 4

A13.6

Line 1:

Column 1: The Names of the Emperors and Kings, and their Generations and Countries. 

Column 2: Of Zhuan Xu.

Column 3: Of Ku.

Column 4: Of Yao.

Column 5: Of Shun.

Column 6: Of Xia.

Column 7: Of Yin.

Column 8: Of Zhou.

L2:

C1: The Emperor Gao, whose tomb located in Xiaonan Mausoleum.

L3:

C1: The Emperor Fa, son of Gao. The Emperor Gao gave birth to Fa and Lugui. Lugui was also called Jie.

L4:

The Emperor Lugui, also called Jie. From Yu to Jie, there were 17 generations. From the Yellow Emperor to Jie, there were 20 generations.

L5:

Tang of Yin replaced Xia. From the Yellow Emperor to Tang, there were 17 generations.

L6:

The Emperor Wai Bing, the crown prince of Tang. Tai Ding died early, so the second brother Wai Bing was crowned. The Emperor Zhong Ren was Wai Bing's younger brother.

267 the generation table 3

A13.5

Line 1:

Column 1: The Names of the Emperors and Kings, and their Generations and Countries. 

Column 2: Of Zhuan Xu.

Column 3: Of Ku.

Column 4: Of Yao.

Column 5: Of Shun.

Column 6: Of Xia.

Column 7: Of Yin.

Column 8: Of Zhou.

L2:

C1: The Emperor Huai.

C7: Zhu Gui gave birth to Tian Yi,  who was Tang of Yin. There were 17 generations from the Yellow Emperor to Tang. 

C8: Dan Fu gave birth to Ji Li, and Ji Li gave birth to King Wen Chang, who made improvements to I Ching divination.

L3:

C1: The Emperor Wang.

C8: King Wen Chang gave birth to King Wu Fa.

L4:

C1: The Emperor Xue

L5:

C1: The Emperor Bu Jiang.

L6:

C1: The Emperor Guin, the younger brother of Bu Jiang.

L7:

C1: The Emperor Qin.

L8:

C1: The Emperor Kong Jia was the son of Bu Jiang, who was very superstitious, into adultery and fornication, had bad morals, and drove away two dragons.

266 the generation table 2

A13.4

Line 1:

Column 1: The Names of the Emperors and Kings, and their Generations and Countries. 

Column 2: Of Zhuan Xu.

Column 3: Of Ku.

Column 4: Of Yao.

Column 5: Of Shun.

Column 6: Of Xia.

Column 7: Of Yin.

Column 8: Of Zhou.

L2:

C1: The Emperor Yu, the 7th great grandson of the Yellow Emperor, with the art name of Xia.

C6: Wen Ming, as Yu.

C7: hai Ming gave birth to Xiang Tu. 

C8: Ju gave birth to Gong Liu.

L3:

C1: The Emperor Qi, made conquest on You Hu, written “The Oath of Gan”.

C7: Xiang Tu gave birth to Chang Ruo

C8: Gong Liu gave birth to Qing Jie.

L4:

C1: The Emperor Tai Kang.

C7: Chang Ruo gave birth to Cao Yu, and Cao Yu gave birth to Ming.

C8: Qing Jie gave birth to Huang Pu, and Huang Pu gave birth to Cha Fu.

L5:

C1: The Emperor Zhon Kang, the younger brother of Tai Kang.

C7: Ming gave birth to Zhen.

C8: Cha Fu gave birth to Hui Yu, and Hui Yu gave birth to Gong Fei.

L6:

C1: The Emperor Xiang.

C7: Zhen gave birth to Wei, and Wei gave birth to Bao Ding.

C8: Gong Fei gave birth to Gao Yu, and Gao Yu gave birth to Ya Yu.

L7:

C1: The Emperor Shao Kang.

C7: Bao Ding gave birth to Bao Yi, and Bao Yi gave birth to Bao Bing.

C8: Ya Yu gave birth to Gong Zhulei.

L8:

C1: The Emperor Yu.

C7: Bao Bing gave birth to Zhu Ren, and Zhu Ren gave birth to Zhu Gui.

C8: Gong Zhulei gave birth to Great King Dan Fu.

265 The generation table 1

A13.3

Line 1:

Column 1: The Names of the Emperors and Kings, and their Generations and Countries. 

Column 2: Of Zhuan Xu.

Column 3: Of Ku.

Column 4: Of Yao.

Column 5: Of Shun.

Column 6: Of Xia.

Column 7: Of Yin.

Column 8: Of Zhou.

Line 2:

C1: The Yellow Emperor, with the Art Name of You Xiong.

C2: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Chang Yi.

C3: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Xuan Xiao.

C4: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Xuan Xiao.

C5: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Chang Yi.

C6: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Chang Yi.

C7: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Xuan Xiao.

C8: The Yellow Emperor gave birth to Xuan Xiao.

L3:

C1: The Emperor Zhuan Xu, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, originated from the Yellow Emperor as third generation to Zhuan Xu, with the art name of Gao Yang.

C2: Chang Yi gave birth to Zhuan Xu, with the art name of Gao Yang. 

C3: Xuan Xiao gave birth to Qiao Ji.

C4: Xuan Xiao gave birth to Qiao Ji.

C5: Chang Yi gave birth to Zhuan Xu. Zhuan Xu gave birth to Qiong Chan.

C6: Chang Yi gave birth to Zhuan Xu. 

C7: Xuan Xiao gave birth to Qiao Ji. Qiao Ji gave birth to Gao Xin.

C8: Xuan Xiao gave birth to Qiao Ji. Qiao Ji gave birth to Gao Xin.

L4:

C1: The Emperor Ku, the great grandson of the Yellow Emperor, originated from the Yellow Emperor as forth generation to the Emperor Ku, with the art name of Gao Xin.

C3: Qiao Ji gave birth to Gao Xin, who became the Emperor Ku. 

C4: Qiao Ji gave birth to Gao Xin, Gao Xin gave birth to Fang Xun.

C5: Qiao Chan gave birth to Jing Kang, Jing Kang gave birth to Ju Wang. 

C7: Gao Xin gave birth to Chong.

C8: Gao Xin gave birth to Hou Ji, who became the ancestor of Zhou Dynasty.

L5:

C1: The Emperor Yao, originated from the Yellow Emperor as fifth generation to the son of Emperor Ku, with the art name of Tang.

C4: Fang Xun was Yao.

C5: Ji Wang gave birth to Qiao Niu, Qiao Niu gave birth to Gu Sou.

C7: Chong was the ancestor of Yin Dynasty.

C8: Hou Ji gave birth to Bu Zhu.

L6: 

C1: The Emperor Shun, the great grandson of the great grandson of the Yellow Emperor, with the art name of Yu.

C5: Gu Sou gave birth to Chong Hua, who was the Emperor Shun.

C6: Zhuan Xu gave birth to Gun, Gun gave birth to Wen Ming.

C7: Chong gave birth to Zhao Ming.

C8: Bu Zhu gave birth to Ju.

264 The Making of the generation table

A13.1|2

Sima Qian: Historical Records 13 The Genealogy of Three Dynasties

Taishigong said: The records about the Five Emperors and the Three Dynasties are very old. It is difficult to compile the history of the vassal states before the Yin Dynasty, and only the historical events since the Zhou Dynasty can be recorded. Confucius compiled the "Spring and Autumn Annals" according to the literary and historical materials, that is, he used the era number of Lu Gong and integrated the years and months of events, which was already quite detailed. However, when compiling the "Book of History", he omitted the years and months; some of them had years and months, but they were mostly missing and difficult to record. So his attitude of passing down the doubts despite doubts was very cautious! 

I read the generation records, and the years were recorded from the Yellow Emperor onwards. In terms of examining the various situations of those years and the succession of the Five Virtues, the records in ancient texts are not the same, and there are even great differences. Confucius did not talk about these years and months, how could there be no reason? Therefore, I wrote the "Three Dynasties Genealogy" according to the genealogy from the Yellow Emperor to the Republican era recorded in the "Five Emperors' Genealogy" and the "Book of History".

司马迁·史记卷十三·三代世表第一

太史公曰：五帝、三代之记，尚矣。自殷以前诸侯不可得而谱，周以来乃颇可著。孔子因史文次春秋，纪元年，正时日月，盖其详哉。至于序尚书则略，无年月；或颇有，然多阙，不可录。故疑则传疑，盖其慎也。

余读谍记，黄帝以来皆有年数。稽其历谱谍终始五德之传，古文咸不同，乖异。夫子之弗论次其年月，岂虚哉！于是以五帝系谍、尚书集世纪黄帝以来讫共和为世表。

263 Han System of Fengshan

A12.49..52

Gong Yudai said: "Although the Fengshan ceremony was held at Mount Tai during the Yellow Emperor's time, Fenghou, Fengju, and Qibo still asked the Yellow Emperor to build an altar at east Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the heavens, and to come to Mount Fan to open up a field for offering sacrifices, in order to match the auspicious signs, so that he could live forever." The emperor ordered the preparation of sacrifices, and then came to east Mount Tai. Seeing that Mount Tai was short and did not match its reputation, he ordered the temple officials to offer sacrifices, but did not hold the Fengshan ceremony. Later, he ordered Gong Yudai to go there to offer sacrifices, worship, and welcome the gods. In the summer, the emperor returned to Mount Tai and held the Fengshan ceremony every five years as before, and added the ritual of offering sacrifices at Mount Shilu. Shilu is located in the south of the foot of Mount Tai. Many alchemists said that it was where the immortals lived, so the emperor went there to offer sacrifices in person.

Five years later, the emperor came to Mount Tai again to hold the Fengshan Ceremony, and on his way back he also offered sacrifices to Changshan.

The Suburban sacrifices set by the emperor, Taiyi and Houtu, were offered in person every three years, which started establishing the Fengshan system of the Han Dynasty, and the Fengshan ceremony was held every five years. Bo Youji also petitioned to build the Taiyi Temple and other temples, including Sanyi, Mingyang, Maxing, and Chixing, and the temple officials under Kuanshu went to offer sacrifices on time every year. Together with the Houtu Temple, there were six temples in total, which were managed by Taizhu. As for the gods among the eight gods, as well as the famous temples in places such as Ming Nian and Fanshan, they were offered sacrifices when the emperor passed by, and they were forgotten when he left. The temples built by the alchemists were offered sacrifices by themselves, and when the person died, the sacrifices ended, and the temple officials no longer managed the sacrifices. The other temples were handled according to the original regulations. Since the emperor held the Fengshan ceremony, a total of twelve years have passed, and the gods that have been offered sacrifices have spread all over the Five Mountains and Four Rivers. However, the alchemists welcomed and worshipped the gods and went to the sea to visit the Penglai Fairy Mountain, but they never got any results. Gongsun Qing and other alchemists who were waiting for the gods continued to use the giant's footprint as an excuse, but it didn't work. The emperor was getting more and more tired of the absurd words of the alchemists, but he always controlled them and didn't break off contact with them. He was always eager to meet someone whose magic worked. Since then, the alchemists have talked more about offering sacrifices to the gods, but the effect can be seen by everyone.

Taishigong the Grand Historian said: I accompanied the emperor on his tours, worshipped the gods of heaven and earth, famous mountains and rivers, and participated in the Fengshan ceremony. I also entered the Shou Palace to accompany the emperor in worship, heard the prayers of the officials, and carefully read and studied the words of the alchemists and temple officials. So after returning, I discussed the activities of worshipping ghosts and gods from ancient times to the present in order, and presented these activities inside and out. Gentlemen of later generations should be able to see the situation at that time from here. As for the details of the ritual vessels such as zuodou and jade and silk used in the sacrifice, as well as the etiquette of worshiping and paying tribute to the gods, there are specific regulations from the relevant officials.

公玉带曰：“黄帝时虽封泰山，然风后、封钜、岐伯令黄帝封东泰山，禅凡山合符，然后不死焉。”天子既令设祠具，至东泰山，东泰山卑小，不称其声，乃令祠官礼之，而不封禅焉。其后令带奉祠候神物。夏，遂还泰山，脩五年之礼如前，而加禅祠石闾。石闾者，在泰山下阯南方，方士多言此仙人之闾也，故上亲禅焉。

其后五年，复至泰山脩封，还过祭常山。

今天子所兴祠，泰一、后土，三年亲郊祠，建汉家封禅，五年一脩封。薄忌泰一及三一、冥羊、马行、赤星，五，宽舒之祠官以岁时致礼。凡六祠，皆太祝领之。至如八神诸神，明年、凡山他名祠，行过则祀，去则已。方士所兴祠，各自主，其人终则已，祠官弗主。他祠皆如其故。今上封禅，其后十二岁而还，遍于五岳、四渎矣。而方士之候祠神人，入海求蓬莱，终无有验。而公孙卿之候神者，犹以大人迹为解，无其效。天子益怠厌方士之怪迂语矣，然终羁縻弗绝，冀遇其真。自此之后，方士言祠神者弥众，然其效可睹矣。

太史公曰：余从巡祭天地诸神名山川而封禅焉。入寿宫侍祠神语，究观方士祠官之言，于是退而论次自古以来用事于鬼神者，具见其表里。后有君子，得以览焉。至若俎豆珪币之详，献酬之礼，则有司存焉。

The end of A12

So this is the completion of the 12 volumes of the annals of the Historical Records by Sima Qian. 

262 Yellow Clothes

A12.44..48

On the 11th month, a fire broke out at Bailiang Terrace. On the first day of the 12th month, the emperor went to Gaoli Mountain to worship the Earth God. He also went to the Bohai Sea, looking at and worshipping the immortal mountain like Penglai, longing to go to the foreign land where the immortals lived.

After the emperor returned to the capital, because the Bailiang Terrace was burned down, he held court in Ganquan Palace to accept the documents reported by various counties and states. Gongsun Qing said: "Huangdi built Qingling Terrace, but it was burned down after twelve days, so Huangdi built Mingting. Mingting is the current Ganquan Palace." Many alchemists also said that ancient emperors also built their capitals in Ganquan. After that, the emperor received princes in Ganquan Palace and built official residences for princes in Ganquan. Yongzhi said: "There is such a custom in Yue. The house built after a fire must be larger than the one that was burned down to suppress the fire." So the emperor built Jianzhang Palace, which was as large as thousands of households. Its front hall was higher than Weiyang Palace, and to the east was Fengque, the Phoenix tower, which was more than 200 feet high. To the west was Central Court Zoo, with a tiger circle dozens of miles wide. A large pool was built in the north, with a terrace more than 200 feet high. The pool was named Taiye Pool. Four mountains, Penglai, Fangzhang, Yingzhou and Huliang, were built in the pool, all imitating the fairy mountains in the sea. There were also some stone sculptures of turtles and fish. To the south, there were statues of Yutang, Bimen and divine birds. Shenming Terrace and Jinggan Pavilion were also built, both more than 500 feet high, with carriageways connecting the terraces.

In the summer, the Han Dynasty adopted a new calendar, set the first month of the year straight, the color of the official uniforms changed to yellow, and the official seals of each official name changed to five characters, so the reign was changed to the first year of Taichu. In this year, the expedition to Dayuan was launched to the west. A large-scale locust plague occurred. Lady Ding and Yuchu of Luoyang and others used magic to perform sacrifices and prayed to the gods to bring disaster to the Huns and Dayuan.

The next year, officials said that no cooked animals or other offerings were used in the sacrifices to the Five Shrines in Yong County, and no fragrant aroma was produced. So the emperor ordered the temple officials to offer cooked animal sacrifices made of calves to the Five Shrines, select the fur color of the animals according to the principle of the five elements, and use puppet horses instead of strong horses as sacrifices. Strong horses were only used when offering sacrifices to the Five Emperors, and strong horses were only used when the emperor personally went to the suburbs to offer sacrifices. Strong horses were originally used when offering sacrifices to famous mountains and rivers, but they were all replaced with puppet horses. Strong horses were used for sacrifices when the emperor passed by on a tour. Other sacrifices were the same as before.

Another year passed, and the emperor went east to inspect the seashore, investigating things like gods and immortals, but nothing worked. Some alchemists said, "During the Yellow Emperor's time, five cities and twelve towers were built for the purpose of welcoming the gods and immortals at Zhiqi, and it was called welcoming the year." The emperor agreed to build five cities and twelve towers according to his idea, and called it the next year. The emperor also went there in person to worship and offer sacrifices to the gods, wearing yellow clothes.

十一月乙酉，柏梁灾。十二月甲午朔，上亲禅高里，祠后土。临渤海，将以望祠蓬莱之属，冀至殊庭焉。

上还，以柏梁灾故，朝受计甘泉。公孙卿曰：“黄帝就青灵台，十二日烧，黄帝乃治明庭。明庭，甘泉也。”方士多言古帝王有都甘泉者。其后天子又朝诸侯甘泉，甘泉作诸侯邸。勇之乃曰：“越俗有火灾，复起屋必以大，用胜服之。”于是作建章宫，度为千门万户。前殿度高未央，其东则凤阙，高二十余丈。其西则唐中，数十里虎圈。其北治大池，渐台高二十余丈，名曰泰液池，中有蓬莱、方丈、瀛洲、壶梁，象海中神山龟鱼之属。其南有玉堂、璧门、大鸟之属。乃立神明台、井幹楼，度五十余丈，辇道相属焉。

夏，汉改历，以正月为岁首，而色上黄，官名更印章以五字。因为太初元年。是岁，西伐大宛。蝗大起。丁夫人、雒阳虞初等以方祠诅匈奴、大宛焉。

其明年，有司言雍五畤无牢熟具，芬芳不备。乃命祠官进畤犊牢具，五色食所胜，而以木禺马代驹焉。独五帝用驹，行亲郊用驹。及诸名山川用驹者，悉以木禺马代。行过，乃用驹。他礼如故。

其明年，东巡海上，考神仙之属，未有验者。方士有言“黄帝时为五城十二楼，以候神人于执期，命曰迎年”。上许作之如方，名曰明年。上亲礼祠上帝，衣上黄焉。

261 Huangdi Mingtang

A12.39..43

A year later, the emperor invaded Korea. In the summer, there was a drought. Gongsun Qing said, "During the time of Huangdi, when the Fengshan ceremony was held, there would be drought. In order to dry the soil of the altar as soon as possible, it would take three years of drought." So the emperor issued an edict, saying, "The drought is to dry the soil of the altar, right? Order the whole country to offer sacrifices to the spiritual star in charge of agriculture."

A year later, the emperor went to Yong County to offer sacrifices in the suburbs, and he went there to inspect on the way to Huizhong. In spring, he came to Mingze and then returned via Xihe.

The following winter, the emperor went to Nanjun for inspection. After arriving in Jiangling, he headed east. He climbed Tianzhu Mountain in Qian County and called this mountain Nanyue. He sailed down the river from Xunyang to Congyang and passed Pengli. He offered sacrifices to the famous mountains and rivers along the river. He went north to Langye County and then went north along the coast. In mid-April, he arrived in Fenggao County and held a Fengshan ceremony.

At first, when the emperor came to Mount Tai to hold the Fengshan ceremony, he found an ancient Mingtang in the northeast of the foot of Mount Tai. The terrain was steep and not spacious. The emperor planned to build a Mingtang near Fenggao County, but he could not find out the shape and size of the Mingtang. Gong Yudai, a native of Jinan, presented the "Mingtang Drawing" from the Yellow Emperor period. The "Mingtang Drawing" depicts a hall with no walls around it. The roof is made of thatch. There are ditches around it. There are also sky bridges around the palace walls. There are buildings on the hall, which extend into the hall from the southwest. It is called Kunlun Road. The emperor walked into the hall from here and went there to worship God. Therefore, the emperor ordered the construction of Mingtang in Wenshang, Fenggao according to Gong Yudai's drawings. When he came here again five years later to perform Fengshan, he placed the tablets of Taiyi God and the Five Emperors on the upper seats of the Mingtang for worship, and ordered the tablet of Emperor Gao to face them. In the lower room, he worshipped God Hou Tu, using twenty cows, sheep, and pigs. The emperor entered from Kunlun Road and began to worship in the Mingtang, just like the ritual of suburban sacrifice. After the worship, the offerings were burned under the hall. After that, the emperor climbed Mount Tai again and held a secret sacrifice on the top of the mountain. When worshiping the Five Emperors at the foot of Mount Tai, they all followed their respective positions. Only the Yellow Emperor and the Red Emperor were together, and they were accompanied by relevant officials. When a fire was lit on Mount Tai, fires were also lit at the foot of the mountain to echo.

Two years later, on the first day of the eleventh month, the morning coincided with the winter solstice. Those who calculated the calendar believed that this day should be the starting point of the new calendar to be orthodox. The emperor personally went to Mount Tai and came to the Mingtang to worship God on the morning of the first day of the eleventh month, but no Fengshan ceremony was held. In the congratulatory speech, it said: "The heaven has given the emperor the Taiyuan Divine Strategy, which will repeat itself. The emperor here respectfully worships the Taiyi God." The emperor went east again to the seaside and investigated the people who went to the sea to seek immortality and the alchemists, but to no avail. However, he still sent more messengers to the sea to seek immortality, eager to meet the gods.

其明年，伐朝鲜。夏，旱。公孙卿曰：“黄帝时封则天旱，乾封三年。”上乃下诏曰：“天旱，意乾封乎？其令天下尊祠灵星焉。”

其明年，上郊雍，通回中道，巡之。春，至鸣泽，从西河归。

其明年冬，上巡南郡，至江陵而东。登礼潜之天柱山，号曰南岳。浮江，自寻阳出枞阳，过彭蠡，祀其名山川。北至琅邪，并海上。四月中，至奉高脩封焉。

初，天子封泰山，泰山东北阯古时有明堂处，处险不敞。上欲治明堂奉高旁，未晓其制度。济南人公玉带上黄帝时明堂图。明堂图中有一殿，四面无壁，以茅盖，通水，圜宫垣为复道，上有楼，从西南入，命曰昆仑，天子从之入，以拜祠上帝焉。于是上令奉高作明堂汶上，如带图。及五年脩封，则祠泰一、五帝于明堂上坐，令高皇帝祠坐对之。祠后土于下房，以二十太牢。天子从昆仑道入，始拜明堂如郊礼。礼毕，燎堂下。而上又上泰山，有秘祠其颠。而泰山下祠五帝，各如其方，黄帝并赤帝，而有司侍祠焉。泰山上举火，下悉应之。

其后二岁，十一月甲子朔旦冬至，推历者以本统。天子亲至泰山，以十一月甲子朔旦冬至日祠上帝明堂，每脩封禅。其赞飨曰：“天增授皇帝泰元神筴，周而复始。皇帝敬拜泰一。”东至海上，考入海及方士求神者，莫验，然益遣，冀遇之。

261 Ganoderma lucidum

A12.34..38

In the autumn of that year, a comet appeared in the Dongjing constellation, shining brightly. Ten days later, another comet appeared in the Santai constellation, still shining brightly. A man named Wang Shuo, who was good at observing the weather, said: "I was observing at that time, and I saw that when the star appeared, it was shaped like a gourd, and it disappeared again in the time it took to eat a meal." The relevant officials said: "Your Majesty created the Fengshan ritual system of the Han Dynasty, and the heavens let the auspicious star of virtue appear to repay you."

In the winter of the following year, the emperor went to Yong County to offer sacrifices to the Five Emperors, and after returning, he also offered sacrifices to the Taiyi God. In his speech, he said: "The Virtue Star shines brightly in all directions, heralding good fortune. The Longevity Star also appears, and its brilliance spreads far and wide. The Faith Star shines brightly and brings blessings, and the emperor offers sacrifices to all the gods."

In the spring of this year, Gongsun Qing said that he had met an immortal in Donglai Mountain, and the immortal seemed to say "I want to see the emperor". The emperor therefore came to Goushi City and appointed Gongsun Qing as a senior official. Then he went to Donglai and stayed there for a few days, but he saw nothing but big footprints. The emperor once again sent thousands of alchemists to search for immortal objects and collect Ganoderma lucidum. This year there was a drought. So the emperor had no reasonable reason to go out again, so he went to Wanlisha temple to pray for rain and offered sacrifices when passing by Mount Tai. On his way back, he went to Huzikou and personally went to the place where the Yellow River breach was blocked. He stayed there for two days and sank a white horse to worship the river god before leaving. The emperor ordered two ministers to lead troops to block the breach and dig two canals for the Yellow River, making it look like it did after Dayu controlled the flood.

At that time, Nanyue had been destroyed. The Yue people, Yongzhi, said to the emperor, "The Yue people have the custom of believing in ghosts, and they can see ghosts every time they offer sacrifices, and it is always effective. In the past, the King of Dong'ou respected ghosts and gods and lived to be 160 years old. His descendants neglected ghosts, so they gradually declined." The emperor therefore ordered the shamans in Yue to build the Yue Temple, but only set up a platform but not an altar, to worship the gods and ghosts, and to use chicken bones for divination. Because the emperor believed in it, the Yue Temple and the chicken divination method gradually became popular from then on.

Gongsun Qing said: "It is possible to see immortals, but the emperor is always in a hurry every time he goes to visit immortals, so he cannot see them. Now your majesty can build a pavilion, like the one in Gaoshi City, and prepare offerings such as dried meat, dates and fruits, which should be able to attract immortals. Besides, immortals like to live in pavilions." So the emperor ordered people to build Feilian Temple and Gui Temple in Chang'an, and Yiyanshou Temple in Ganquan Palace, and asked Gongsun Qing to hold the talisman and arrange the offerings to welcome the immortals. Then he built Tongtian Terrace, and placed various ritual vessels for sacrifice under the terrace, hoping to attract immortals. From then on, the front hall was built in Ganquan Palace, and the palace began to be expanded. In summer, Ganoderma lucidum grows in the palace. The emperor built Tongtian Terrace because the Yellow River was blocked, and he seemed to see the light, so he issued an edict saying: "Nine stems of Ganoderma lucidum have grown in the room of Ganquan Palace. I will grant amnesty to the world and will no longer send soldiers to disturb the people."

其秋，有星茀于东井。后十余日，有星茀于三能。望气王朔言：“候独见其星出如瓠，食顷复入焉。”有司言曰：“陛下建汉家封禅，天其报德星云。”

其来年冬，郊雍五帝，还，拜祝祠泰一。赞飨曰：“德星昭衍，厥维休祥。寿星仍出，渊耀光明。信星昭见，皇帝敬拜泰祝之飨。”

其春，公孙卿言见神人东莱山，若云“见天子”。天子于是幸缑氏城，拜卿为中大夫。遂至东莱，宿留之数日，毋所见，见大人迹。复遣方士求神怪采芝药以千数。是岁旱。于是天子既出毋名，乃祷万里沙，过祠泰山。还至瓠子，自临塞决河，留二日，沈祠而去。使二卿将卒塞决河，河徙二渠，复禹之故迹焉。

是时既灭南越，越人勇之乃言“越人俗信鬼，而其祠皆见鬼，数有效。昔东瓯王敬鬼，寿至百六十岁。后世谩怠，故衰秏”。乃令越巫立越祝祠，安台无坛，亦祠天神上帝百鬼，而以鸡卜。上信之，越祠鸡卜始用焉。

公孙卿曰：“仙人可见，而上往常遽，以故不见。今陛下可为观，如缑氏城，置脯枣，神人宜可致。且仙人好楼居。”于是上令长安则作蜚廉桂观，甘泉则作益延寿观，使卿持节设具而候神人，乃作通天台，置祠具其下，将招来神仙之属。于是甘泉更置前殿，始广诸宫室。夏，有芝生殿防内中。天子为塞河，兴通天台，若有光云，乃下诏曰：“甘泉防生芝九茎，赦天下，毋有复作。”