YUEN, a dynasty of China, which succeeded the Sungh in A.D. 1271. They were Mongols, immediate descendants of Chengiz Khan, who adopted Chinese civilisation only in a very slight degree, and were soon expelled. The first emperor of the native dynasty, the Ming, which succeeded them in A.D. 1368, though a promoter of literature, was himself illiterate, having been a servant in a monastery. But the third sovereign of the line, who began to reign A.D. 1403, had a splendid library formed and several encyclopmdic works compiled. He published an edition of the Sacred Books, which is known by the affix to their title of Tatreuen,' in full completeness.
YUG, Yuga, or Yoga signifies properly the conjunction, and sometirnes the opposition of the planets. It is, however, more generally used, for signifying a long period of years, at the expira tion of which certain phenomena or circumstances recur. The principal series of the yug made use of in present times in astronomical computations, are the Maha yug, Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali yug. It is generally admitted that ancient
Hindu astronomers invented their yug with reference to some of Jupiter and the Sun's con junctions, in the beginning of the zodiac ; and that more recent ones, with a view to lengthen their periods, have referred them to those of Saturn and the Sun. Modern European commen tators have made great alterations in the epochs and durations of these yug, without changing their names. Yuga dina (sometimes written yugadia) means the anniversary of the day on which the current Maha yug, and any one of the four lesser yug, began, which anniversary is always noticed in the calendar. Telugu astrono mers use sometimes the term yugadia for ahargana. Kala or cala, time, in its natural acceptation is a term applied to a great variety of mathematical and astronomical subjects.—Capfain Warren, Kala Sankalita.