In 1517, during the Ming Dynasty, a flood submerged a huge city called Zhaoxin, and countless people died. However, many people fled ahead of the flood because they believed in the prediction of birds and survived. After the flood, people learned the story from those who made it through.
In the city of Zhaoxin, there was a well-known traditional Chinese doctor named Kong Yi. Before the flood, Kong Yi was arrested and charged with spreading gossip because he went around telling people: “A heavy rain is coming, and Zhaoxin will be submerged.”
During his trial, Kong Yi told the magistrate that he had spread the news because he had heard it from the birds and was worried about people in the city. The magistrate had a clear mind. He knew that Kong Yi was a descendant of Confucius, and that he was a kind and honest man.
It turned out that Kong Yi saw a person selling a wounded goose while passing through a market after visiting a patient. When Kong Yi stopped to look, the goose had tears in its eyes, flapped its injured wings, and whined as if begging Kong Yi for help.
Kong, over 50 years old, took the goose home and treated it carefully. After a few days, the goose’s wounds were healed, and it could spread its wings. However, before leaving, the goose plucked a feather from its body and hung it on Kong Yi’s ear. Then, Kong Yi heard the goose say: “To repay your life-saving grace, I gave you this feather so that you could understand bird language when you wear it.”
The birds were accurate in predicting the weather
From then on, Kong Yi could understand the different bird languages. The birds were accurate in predicting the weather. Kong Yi could know the rain and snow in advance and take precautions. It was said that many people disbelieved Kong Yi’s words at the beginning, and their roofs were smashed by a large hailstorm, while the roof of the Kong family did not suffer any damage because it was covered with straw beforehand.
This time, Kong Yi first heard from several sparrows that there would be continuous, heavy rain and the city would be flooded in a few days. Later, he heard magpies chatting. Finally, an old magpie said there would be seven days of heavy rain, so heavy that the city would be flooded in three days and then the magpie fled quickly. For the safety of the whole city, Kong Yi told the people to escape the dangerous situation.
Some people believed it and moved to another place. Some doubted what the bird said was true and hesitated. Some laughed at Kong Yi and thought he was crazy. They took him to court. The magistrate hung the goose feather that Kong Yi had over his own ear. He walked out of the office to a rice shop where an oriole was in a hanging birdcage. When he approached, he heard the oriole say: “I’m locked in a cage all day long. Although I have food and drink, I still want freedom.”
The magistrate believed what Kong said and immediately posted a bulletin stating: “There may be heavy rains for several days in the near future. I hope the people will be prepared for this disaster.” But it still did not attract much attention. They could not believe a city with such a stout wall could be submerged by water. So not many people left.
Three days later, the rain began. It kept hammering down for days. The water outside the city raised up over the walls and began to pour in. Zhaoxin was left with just 124 acres of land, and the rest was under water. Kong Yi took those who fled with him and built a home on a high hill southwest of the city.
It was not only the birds in ancient times that could forecast disasters. Modern scientists have found that many animals can predict catastrophes before they happen.
Translated by Patty Zhang
