( 404 ) 
Guei lie fomewhat later than l<Jien hi yao^ 
who begins with the firft of this Prince’s Reign. It 
is on the Example and Authority of thefe two illuftri- 
ous Philofophers that l<lien hi yao has relied in fup- 
preffing what precedes. 
By tixing thisEpoque at Guei lieisoang^ fabulous 
Times, and a thoufand Errors and Abfurdities current 
in Europe concerning three Imperial (abfolutcly ima- 
ginary) Families, and reigns anterior to, but no lefs 
chimerical than thefe Families, are retrenched. Thefe 
Errors will foon vanifh of their own accord ; fo that 
the Subje<fl: of fo much laborious, but ufelefs Lucu- 
bration and Study, will at length ceafe : a worthy 
Motive for congratulating the learned World. 
This is not all ; we are ftill particularly obliged to 
the ingenious art ary for having found Means to place 
in his Table the Cycle of fixty Years, called Kia T'fej 
fo much efteemed by the Chinefe^ that it is as the Soul, 
Link and Foundation of their whole Chronology: a 
Point which requires Explanation. 
The Chinefe are not acquainted with our Olym- 
piads ; but from Time out of Mind they have ufed this 
Period of fixty Years, which is of as great Service at 
leaft as the Olympiads, or the mofl celebrated Periods 
among the Greeks. 
As we mark the Incidents of ancient Hiftory by the 
Years of the Olympiads, fo the Chinefe mark what 
has happened in their Country by the Years of 
this Revolution. Our Chronologers fay, for Exam, 
pie, that the Pelopenefan War began the firfl: Year 
of the twenty-feventh Olympiad ; that Alexander 
was born the firfl: Year of the one hundred and fixth. 
According to the Chinefe^ the Prince under whom 
