( )' 
with the thirty-third Year of this Emperor’s Reign. 
As to the burning of the Books, it is marked in Hiftory 
in the Year (ii) Voii Tfe^ which neceifarily anfwers 
the thirty-fourth Year of this evil Prince. 
Ihus thefe Charaderiftic Names of the Years that 
compofe the Cycle, are as a Touch-ftone, that is of won- 
derful Service for diftinguifliing Truth from Falftiood, 
and re-eftablifliing Order when dillurbed. 
This Cycle removed, the Years of Emperors might 
be very ealily confounded, by augmenting or diminifli* 
ing their Number. 
When an Emperor is newly come to the Throne, 
if the firfl: Year of his Reign be reckoned that, where- 
in his PredecelTor died, it is placing two Years in one; 
becaufe according to the ChlneJ'e Cuflom the Year, 
wherein anEmperor ends his Reign, is wholly attribu- 
ted to him, though he died in the Beginning of the 
firft Month ; and his SuccelTor is held to reign only 
from the Beginning of the enfuing Year. 
Yet this Cuftom, though very common, is not fo 
univerfal, but that fome Emperors have derogated from 
it. The Tartarian Emperor T^chang hoang 7/, Founder 
of the Dynafty now reigning, caufed the Y’ear, where- 
in had murdered himfelf, to be taken for 
the firft Year of his Reign, which was the feventeenth 
and laft of this laft Emperor of the Mings, 
If, according to Cuftom, this feventeenth and laft 
Year of Hoal ffong were diftinguifiied from the firft 
of f :hang hoang 7/, it would be making two Years 
of one, which would confound Time. 
Refume the Cycle, apply it to'the Years of the Empe- 
rors, and thefe Errors will appear of themfelves. You 
will 
