C 177 3 
ed by very ancient Miffionairs fufSciently accompliflied in the 
knowledge of t\\Q, Chine fe Chara6lerj and at the Command (as is 
laid ) of the King of France, 
The Subject of this Book being foreign to our purpofe^ asconfift- 
ing chiefly of Moral and Political Precepts and Apophthegmes of 
the Philofopher, I lhall not enlarge thereon ; only to recommend 
it, the Tranflators afliirC;, That the Memory of the Author is ftill 
precious in China ; and that in refped to him^ his Pofterity^ after 
above ixco Years, enjoys certain great Priviledges never granted 
but to the Royal Family ; is exempt from all Taxes ; and whofoever 
is advanced to the Degree of DocStor, gives, as a mark of his Refped:^ 
to the great Confucius^ fome Prefentto the eldeft of his Family, who 
is now 68 Generations removed from him. 
As to the time when Confucius lived, *tis here precifely fct down 
from the Chinefe Annals : He was born Anno 551. ante Chnftum^ and 
Irved 75 Years; fo that he was contemporary with the moft ancient • 
Greek Philofbphers, and not long after Fythagoras, flouriiliing about 
the tmie of Tarquinm Superhus and the firft Confulats, when Darius 
Hyfiafps held the Ferfian Empire. He is laid to be defcended ofa^ 
Branch of one of the moft ancient Royal Families, which might not 
a little contribute to gain Refped and Credit to his Writings, 
But what may not improperly find place here, is, th^ Chinefe - 
Chronology, whereof fuch wonderful Relations have been brought' 
into Europe : This Matter the Author of this Part of the Book, ?,Cou- 
piety feems well to have examined, and to have fifted the credible 
from the fabulous. They begin their Account with the Years of - 
the Reign of King Fohi^ who was the Founder of their Empire,about 
the Year before Chrift 2952 ; rejeding, as ill grounded, and not > 
to be believed, all that fome Authors have (aid of the Times before^ 
and following therein the Opinion of the beft reputed Chmefe Hi- 
ftorians. This Fohi is (aid to have reigned 115 Years, and to have - 
invented the Charader now in u(e in China^ and his Succeflbr X/;^ 
num is made to govern 140 Years: Thele two Kings are by our 
Author, by reafbn of fome manifeft Fables in their Hiftory, repu- 
ted doubtful ; wherefore they, as from a more certain^^r*/, choofe 
to begin their Annals with the third King Hoam-ti^ and the Year be- > 
fore Chnft 2597. Hoam tt is lajd to have inftituted the Sexa- 
genary Cycles or Periods of 60 Years, according to which this Chro- ■ 
nology is adjafted, and for want of which or the like, our Account 
i ofTime^ both Sacred and Profane, is fubjed to too great Uncer^ 
i tamties ; the Years of the Reigns of Kings, where the Months and 
I Days,. are negleded^ introducing.) great Errors in length iof ^time, : 
