法苑珠林 32.43

32.43

晉太康四年。會稽郡蟚蜝及蟹皆化為鼠。其眾覆野。大食稻為災。始成有毛肉而無骨。其行不能過田塍。數日之後則皆為壯。至六年南陽獲兩足虎。虎者陰精而居乎陽。金獸也。南陽火名也。金精入火而失其形。王室亂之妖也。

In the fourth year of the Taikang era of the Jin, in Kuaiji Commandery, fiddler crabs and river crabs all transformed into rats. Their swarms covered the fields and caused disaster by devouring the rice crops. When first formed, they had fur and flesh but no bones, and when moving they could not cross the field dykes; after several days, they were all robust. In the sixth year, a two-legged tiger was captured in Nanyang. A tiger is of the yin essence yet abides in yang; it is a metal beast. Nanyang is the name for fire. The essence of metal entering fire and losing its form was an omen of turmoil in the royal house.