(_a_) The system by which the years are divided into cycles of sixty, each year of the cycle having a name, carries back Chinese chronology to the year 2637 B.C., from which the first cycle is dated. We are at present in the 76th cycle. The year names are composed of two characters, the first being one of the Ten Stems, and the second one of the Twelve Branches; and as the stems and the branches are taken in strict rotation, it is clear that the combinations will not be exhausted until sixty have been formed, that number being the least common multiple of ten and twelve. The Ten Stems [Chinese] _Shih kan_ are as follows:-- 1 [Chinese] _chia_ } } corresponding to the element [Chinese] _mu_ 2 [Chinese] _i_ } = wood. 3 [Chinese] _ping_ } } corresponding to the element [Chinese] _huo_ 4 [Chinese] _ting_ } = fire. 5 [Chinese] _wu_ or _mou_ } } corresponding to the element [Chinese] _t´u_ 6 [Chinese] _chi_ } = earth. 7 [Chinese] _kêng_ } } corresponding to the element [Chinese] _chin_ 8 [Chinese] _hsin_ } = metal. 9 [Chinese] _jên_ } } corresponding to the element [Chinese] _shui_ 10 [Chinese] _kuei_ } = water. The Twelve Branches [Chinese] _shih êrh chih_, which correspond to the twelve animals of the zodiac, and through them to the twelve divisions of the day are as follows:-- _Appertaining to the sign of the_ _Corresponding to_ 1 [Chinese] _tzŭ_ .. rat .. Aries 11-1 a.m. N. 2 [Chinese] _ch´ou_ .. ox .. Taurus 1-3 a.m. N.N.E. 3/4E. 3 [Chinese] _yin_ .. tiger .. Gemini 3-5 a.m. E.N.E. 3/4N. 4 [Chinese] _mao_ .. hare .. Cancer 5-7 a.m. E. 5 [Chinese] _ch´ên_ .. dragon .. Leo 7-9 a.m. E.S.E. 3/4S. 6 [Chinese] _ssŭ_ .. serpent .. Virgo 9-11 a.m. S.S.E. 3/4E. 7 [Chinese] _wu_ .. horse .. Libra 11 a.m.-1 p.m. S. 8 [Chinese] _wei_ .. sheep .. Scorpio 1-3 a.m. S.S.W. 3/4W. 9 [Chinese] _shên_ .. monkey .. Sagittarius 3-5 a.m. W.S.W. 3/4W. 10 [Chinese] _yu_ .. cock .. Capricornus 5-7 a.m. W. 11 [Chinese] _hsü_ .. dog .. Aquarius 7-9 a.m. W.N.W. 3/4N. 12 [Chinese] _hai_ boar .. Pisces 9-11 a.m. N.N.W. 3/4W. The table of cycles subsequent to the Christian era,[452] i.e. cycles 45-76, dating from 4-1928 A.D., will be useful in calculating the year of the cyclical dates with the help of the accompanying table of numerals:-- (_a_) (_b_) (_c_)