南诏国的两个地震神话

Two earthquake myths from kingdom of Nanzhao

南诏国(738—902)有两个地震神话传世:一为观音大士镇伏巨鳌,令其长眠不醒,但允其七十至九十春可醒片时。巨鳌醒时眨眼,仍会地动山摇,以致每七十余年地震一次,每四百年大震一次。因此,在望海台树立地震碑,告诫后人要警惕震害。二为洱海河神段赤诚预报地震:今夜亥时,地将大动,十室九倒。为保民平安,遂与两位山神、河东渔夫分工合作:两山神分别变化为鸡与犬,狂鸣、惊跳,以警醒万民;河东渔夫向洱海东部村民报告,洱海河神变化为老叟向西部村民报告。十有九成的村民离开房舍,避于平坦之地,人畜皆安;不相信预报的百余人,皆遭震害。

Kingdom of Nanzhao(738—902)has two earthquake myths.One is that a huge Ao(legendary green sea-turtle)always topples the mountains and overturns the seas in Erhai lake,and causes the people and animals devastated by the earthquake.When Ao blinks while he wakes up,the ground will shake and the mountains will shake.So that there is an earthquake every 70 years,and a major earthquake every 400 years.Therefore people set up a seismic monument at Wanghaitai to warn the later generations of the earthquake damage.The other is that the River God of Erhai lake,Duan Chicheng,can predict earthquakes and keep people safe.Once Duan Chicheng predicts there will be a big earthquake at midnight,he cooperates with two Mountain Gods and East River Fisherman.Mountain Gods change themselves to a chicken and a dog,then crow loudly and jump hardly before the earthquake to warn people.East River Fisherman reports to the eastern villagers.River God of Erhai lake changes himself to an old man and reports to the western villagers.90%villagers believe in them and leave houses to the flat ground,so people and domestic animals are safe.But the others not to believe in them suffers a lot damages.