Natural disasters in China divine retribution: "tianzai" (天災), literally 'heavenly disaster'. In ancient beliefs, natural disasters were seen as Heaven’s response to immoral human behaviour, whereby the conduct of different individuals carried different weights. While the behaviour of common people ranked last, the actions of bureaucrats had a greater effect. Given that in Imperial China the emperor's behaviour was believed to be the most important, popular belief was that the emperor should attempt to prevent disasters by ensuring his conduct was in following with moral codes – and if a disaster should occur, he was responsible for addressing the consequences. According to the Overseas
The Rabbits Who Caused All the Trouble one of the wolves because ""it is well known that lettuce-eaters cause lightning"". After the wolves announce plans ""to civilize"" the rabbits if they don't stop causing natural disasters, the rabbits decide to flee to an island. However, the other nameless animals - living out of harm's way - convince the rabbits to stay because ""This is no world for escapists"" and guarantee them protection against the wolves - ""in all probability"". After a flood - ""it is well known that carrot-nibblers with long ears cause floods"" - the wolves decide to imprison the rabbits, ""for their own good"". Weeks