References to Tengu in early Chinese and Japanese begin as ealry as the history of the Han dynasty and continue on to modern day. Here are a collection of early references to Tengu.
References to Tengu in Early Chinese
74: 天狗，狀如大流星，有聲，共下止地，類狗。所墜及，望之如火光炎炎中天。其下圜如數頃田處，上銳見則有黃色，千里破軍殺將
"Tiangou, shaped like a great shooting star, produces sound as it descends and lands on the ground. It resembles a dog. When it falls, its appearance is like a blazing fire in the sky. Its lower part is as wide as several acres of farmland, and when seen sharply, it appears yellow. It has the power to break armies and slay generals for a thousand miles."
116: 七月，兵罷。天狗下，占為：「破軍殺將。狗又守禦類也，天狗所降，以戒守禦。」吳、楚攻梁，梁堅城守，遂伏尸流血其下。"
In the seventh month, the military ceased its activities. As the Tian Gou descended, it was foretold, 'The army will be defeated and the generals will be killed. The dog is also a symbol of defense and protection. The appearance of the Tian Gou serves as a warning for defense and protection.' Wu and Chu launched an attack on Liang, but Liang defended its fortified city, resulting in countless bodies lying in pools of blood beneath."
136: 二月甲申，晨有大星如月，有眾星隨而西行。乙酉，牂雲如狗，赤色，長尾三枚，夾漢西行。大星如月，大臣之象，眾星隨之，眾皆隨從也。天文以東行為順，西行為逆，此大臣欲行權以安社稷。占曰：「太白散為天狗，為卒起。卒起見，禍無時，臣運柄。牂雲為亂君。」到其四月，昌邑王賀行淫辟，立二十七日，大將軍霍光白皇太后廢賀。
"On the second month, during the day of Jiashen, there was a large star resembling the moon, accompanied by a multitude of stars moving westward. On the day of Yiyou, Zang clouds appeared resembling a dog, with a red color and three long tails, moving westward alongside the Han constellation. The large star resembling the moon symbolized a high-ranking official, and the accompanying stars represented those who followed. In astronomy, eastward movement is considered favorable, while westward movement is seen as unfavorable. This indicates that the high-ranking official desired to exercise power for the stability of the state. The divination predicts, 'Tai Bai disperses as Tian Gou, indicating a sudden rise of soldiers. When the soldiers rise, calamity comes without warning, and the ministers wield authority. Zang clouds signify a disorderly ruler.' In the fourth month, King Changyi engaged in licentious and corrupt behavior. After ruling for twenty-seven days, General Huo Guang advised Empress Dowager to depose King He."
155 哀帝建平元年正月丁未日出時，有著天白氣，廣如一匹布，長十餘丈，西南行，讙如雷，西南行一刻而止，名曰天狗。傳曰：「言之不從，則有犬禍詩妖。」到其四年正月、二月、三月，民相驚動，讙譁奔走，傳行詔籌祠西王母，又曰「從目人當來」。
"In the first month of the first year of Emperor Ai's Jianping reign, on the day of Dingwei, at sunrise, there appeared a white Qi in the sky, spreading as wide as a piece of cloth, measuring over ten zhang in length. It traveled southwest, making a clamor like thunder, and after a moment, it came to a halt. It was called Tian Gou. It is said in the legends, 'When such signs are ignored, calamities and misfortunes may befall.
Fox like mountain creature referenced in Shanghai Jing Jiaozhu 53-54
有獸焉，其狀如狸而白首，名曰天狗，其音如榴榴，可以禦凶
"There is a creature, resembling a fox with a white head, called Tiangou. Its cry sounds like 'liu liu' and it has the power to ward off evil."
"Records of the Grand Historian"
[Western Han] 109 BC-91 BC Sima Qian
87: 天狗，狀如大奔星，有聲，其下止地，類狗。所墮及，望之如火光炎炎沖天。其下圜如數頃田處，上兌者則有黃色，千里破軍殺將。
Tengu, resembling a great shooting star, emits sound. It descends and rests on the ground, resembling a dog. Wherever it falls, it appears as a blazing fire that ascends to the heavens. Its lower part is round like a vast field, while its upper part is yellowish, capable of dispersing armies and slaying generals within a thousand miles.
120: 漢之興，五星聚于東井。平城之圍，月暈參、畢七重。諸呂作亂，日蝕，晝晦。吳楚七國叛逆，彗星數丈，天狗過梁野；及兵起，遂伏尸流血其下。元光、元狩，蚩尤之旗再見，長則半天。其後京師師四出，誅夷狄者數十年，而伐胡尤甚。越之亡，熒惑守鬬；朝鮮之拔，星茀于河戍；兵征大宛，星茀招搖：此其犖犖大者。若至委曲小變，不可勝道。由是觀之，未有不先形見而應隨之者也。
During the prosperity of the Han Dynasty, the five stars gathered in the Eastern Well. During the siege of Pingcheng, the moon exhibited a halo and the constellations Canis Major and Boötes appeared sevenfold. When the various Lü clans rebelled, there was a solar eclipse and daylight turned dark. The seven kingdoms of Wu and Chu rebelled, and a comet several zhang in length appeared, accompanied by the passing of a Tengu over Liangye. When the uprising began, countless bodies lay strewn beneath. During the periods of Yuanguang and Yuanshou, the banners of the ancient warlord Chiyou were seen again, stretching across half the sky. Subsequently, the capital dispatched troops in all directions, carrying out several decades of campaigns against the barbarians, with the suppression of the Xiongnu being particularly severe. With the demise of the Yue Kingdom, the planet Saturn remained stationary in battle. When Korea was conquered, a stellar whirlwind appeared at the River Garrison. During the expedition against the Great Yuezhi, a stellar whirlwind manifested its turbulence. These were the grand omens. If we consider the countless minor changes and subtleties, it would be an endless path to traverse. Thus, from this observation, it is clear that nothing happens without prior signs and subsequent correspondences.
Eastern Han 36 - 111
Han Shu
天狗，狀如大流星，有聲，共下止地，類狗。所墜及，望之如火光炎炎中天。其下圜如數頃田處，上銳見則有黃色，千里破軍殺將。
孝文後二年正月壬寅，天欃夕出西南。占曰：「為兵喪亂。」其六年十一月，匈奴入上郡、雲中，漢起三軍以衛京師。其四月乙巳，水、木、火三合於東井。占曰：「外內有兵與喪，改立王公。東井，秦也。」八月，天狗下梁野，是歲誅反者周殷長安市。其七年六月，文帝崩。其十一月戊戌，土、水合於危。占曰：「為雍沮，所當之國不可舉事用兵，必受其殃。一曰將覆軍。危，齊也。」其七月，火東行，行畢陽，環畢東北，出而西，逆行至昴，即南乃東行。占曰：「為喪死寇亂。畢、昴，趙也。」
The Five Goals
89:
文帝後五年六月，齊雍城門外有狗生角。先是帝兄齊悼惠王亡後，帝分齊地，立其庶子七人皆為王。兄弟並彊，有炕陽心，故犬禍見也。犬守御，角兵象，在前而上鄉者也。犬不當生角，猶諸侯不當舉兵鄉京師也。天之戒人蚤矣，諸侯不寤。後六年，吳、楚畔，濟南、膠西、膠東三國應之，舉兵至齊。齊王猶與城守，三國圍之。會漢破吳、楚，因誅四王。故天狗下梁而吳、楚攻梁，狗生角於齊而三國圍齊。漢卒破吳、楚於梁，誅四王於齊。京房易傳曰：「執政失，下將害之，厥妖狗生角。君子苟免，小人陷之，厥妖狗生角
In the sixth month of the fifth year of Emperor Wen's reign, outside the gates of Qi Yong City, a dog grew horns. Previously, after the Emperor's elder brother, the Prince of Qi, fled, the Emperor divided the territory of Qi and established seven of his illegitimate sons as kings. With the brothers all growing powerful and vying for supremacy, there arose a sense of danger, hence the manifestation of the dog's calamity. The dog symbolizes defense and protection, while the horns represent military forces. Those who advance with the dog and ascend to the village share the same intentions. Just as dogs should not grow horns, the feudal lords should not raise armies to approach the capital. Heaven's warning to humanity comes early, but the feudal lords fail to perceive it. In the following year, Wu and Chu rebelled, and the three states of Jinan, Jiaoxi, and Jiaodong responded by raising troops and marching to Qi. Although the King of Qi still held the city, he was besieged by the three states. Meanwhile, Han Dynasty defeated Wu and Chu in Liang and subsequently executed the four kings. Therefore, when the Tengu descended upon Liang and Wu and Chu attacked Liang, the dog grew horns in Qi, and the three states besieged Qi. Ultimately, Han forces defeated Wu and Chu in Liang and executed the four kings in Qi. According to the Jing Fang's Yi Zhuan, "When the ruler loses his grip, the subordinate generals harm him, and thus the demonic dog grows horns. If the noble person can escape, the petty person will fall into it, as the demonic dog grows horns."
《楚元王傳》
《傳》
50: In the 242nd year of the Spring and Autumn period, there were 36 solar eclipses, among which Duke Xiang's reign had the most, occurring once every five years in the third month. From the rise of the Han Dynasty until its end and the reign of Emperor Xiaojing, eclipses were frequent, happening once every three years in the first month. I have previously mentioned the occurrence of solar eclipses, but now they have happened continuously for three years. Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, within a span of twenty years, there have been eight eclipses, occurring once every two years and six months. Such frequency is rare in ancient and modern times. The variations in their size and density are unpredictable, and their occurrence is perceived as fast or slow, providing a basis for the sages' judgment. The Book of Changes states, "Observe the celestial phenomena to discern the changes of time." In ancient times, Confucius spoke to Duke Ai of Lu and mentioned the tyrannies of Xia Jie and Shang Zhou, stating that when the calendar is lost, the adjustments to the seasons are lost, the Mencius Star has no reference, and these are all changes in the surname. From the end of the First Emperor of Qin to the reign of the second emperor, there were eclipses of the sun and moon, the hills and tombs fell into ruin, the Morning Star appeared in the four Meng constellations, Venus traversed the sky without clouds but with thunder, wayward arrows emitted nocturnal light, Mars attacked the moon, exiled fires burned the palace, wild birds played in the courtyard, the inner gate collapsed, and tall figures were seen at the banks of the Tao River. Stones fell in the Eastern Commandery, and a large corner of a star fell, symbolizing the downfall. Considering the words of Confucius and examining the anomalies during the tyrannical rule of Qin, one can apprehend the awe-inspiring nature of celestial fate. The defeat of Xiang Yu was also accompanied by a falling corner of a star. When the Han Dynasty conquered Qin, the five stars gathered in the Eastern Well, representing the acquisition of the world. During the reign of Emperor Xiaohui, there was rain of blood and a solar eclipse at noon, with the disappearance of the bright stars as peculiar phenomena. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozhao, there was a stone that stood up on its own at Mount Tai, and the withered willows in the Shanglin Park revived. A large star resembling the moon moved westward, accompanied by numerous stars, indicating a significant event. The rise of Emperor Xiaoxuan was marked by the Tengu appearing alongside the Han constellation, and there was over twenty days of continuous darkness without rain, an unusual occurrence in Changyi. All of these events are recorded in the annals of the Han Dynasty. Observing the changes in dynasties between Qin and Han, considering the absence of successors in the reigns of Hui and Zhao, noting the lack of continuity in Changyi, and witnessing the succession of Emperor Xiaoxuan, the path of heaven is clearly illuminated. Emperor Gaozong and King Cheng also experienced the phenomena of the Guohe bird ascending to a tree, and they were able to comprehend their significance. Therefore, Emperor Gaozong enjoyed a hundred years of blessings, and King Cheng received the return of favorable winds. The responses of the divine beings are in line with the principles of auspiciousness and direction, as commonly known by the world.
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