(411 ) 
Ranks of Figares oppofite to one another in a Series of 
feveral Lodges, denoting different Number?, he is to 
remember, that thefe Figures mark the Years of Em- 
perors of two Families, which difpute the Empire, one 
of which being foon to perifti, will give room to the 
other to afcend the Throne. The Column found un- 
der the Title San Koue, that is to fay, the three King- 
doms^ is an Example hereof. This Title of three 
Kingdoms denotes the Time when China was divided 
into three different Parts; and the Column, on the Top 
of which is found that Title, in the Order of the Dy- 
nafties is the twelfth, reckoning from the hrfl at the 
Reader's right Hand inclufively. We fee in the forty- 
third Lodge that the hrft Year of the Epoque l^ai ho 
affumed by the Emperor Ming 5l?, of the Family 
called Guei^ anfwers to the fifth Year of the Epoque 
Kienhing aifumed by Heou ‘tchu. Emperor of the 
Han^s : the fecond Year of the Epoque T'ai ho an- 
fwers to the fixth of the Epoque Kien hing, and fo 
of the reft that follow. The Reafon is, that the Em- 
pire was at that Time torn in Pieces by bloody Wars : 
The Guei's were getting the upper Hand, and the 
Han*s very near their Ruin. 
As to a great Number of Lodges that have but one 
or two Figures, without any Account of Hiffory, 
they are unplealing Blanks, which however the Chi- 
nefe matter not, fatisfied to have an exad Series of 
their Emperors Years in thefe Lodges. But fuch 
Blanks may be filled by inferting fome confiderable 
Incidents of Hiftory, as fome few have already been 
in the Latin Edition, viz. the building of the great 
Wall, the burning of the Books, the Chrifiim jEra, 
