On approach of Gan Zhi Ji Nian and compilation date of the "Seven Major Discourses" in plain questions

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Generally speaking, the mainstream viewpoint regarding the compilation date of "Seven Major Discourses" in the Plain Questions infers them being compiled in the Eastern Han Dynasty according to the application of Gan Zhi Ji Nian (the way of numbering the years based on heavenly stems and earthly branches) in those works. This paper attempts to prove that Gan Zhi Ji Nian began its application in the 5th century B.C. from three aspects of evidence, i.e., history, chronology, and poetry. Therefore, the upper limit of the compilation date of the "Seven Major Discourses" may be traced back to the period of the Warring States.