《汉书·志·郊祀志下》
以前实鼎出现在汾阴的山丘上，河东太守报告了天子，天子下诏说： 朕巡祭后土，为百姓祈求丰年，现在谷物不丰，没有报应，鼎的出现是为了什么呢？ 
昔宝鼎之出于汾脽也，河东太守以闻，诏曰： 朕巡祭后土，祈为百姓蒙丰年，今谷口兼未报，鼎焉为出哉？ 
In the past an upright cauldron appeared on a hill in Fenyin; the governor of Hedong reported this to the son of Heaven, and the son of Heaven issued an imperial decree saying: I have traveled to offer sacrifices to Hou Tu and to pray for a bumper harvest for my people. Now the grain crops have not prospered, and there has been no response. Why has a cauldron appeared?