23. The era of the Chinese monarchy has been variously fixed
from 2952 to 2132 years before Christ; and the year 2637 has
been chosen for the lawful epoch by the authority of the
present emperor. The difference arises from the uncertain
duration of the two first dynasties; and the vacant space
that lies beyond them, as far as the real, or fabulous,
times of Fohi or Hoangti Sematsien dates his authentic
chronology from the year 841: the thirty-six eclipses of
Confucius (thirty-one of which have been verified) were
observed between the years 722 and 480 before Christ. The
historical period of China does not ascend above the Greek
Olympiads.