"It so happened that, many years ago..."

Question

Is this phrase correct? Is there another way of starting this sentence? Actually, I found a book titled "It so happened that" by Ramesh S. Balsekar

"It so happened that, many years ago in Ancient China'

Answer 1

Eddy

I suppose you could start off saying 'it´s just that, many years ago?

Eddy this is what comes before and after. Moe has been editing most of it for me. He just eliminated the entire phrase. I think it conveys the idea just the same without so much blablabla.

Tao is a discipline that transforms us, transforms our environment, and benefits all those around us. But nothing would have been possible without the efforts made by our Founding Teachers. It so happened that Many years ago in China, political and religious persecution was occurring at the same time as our Founding Teachers were trying to propagate and cultivate Tao.

Answer 2

Is this phrase correct? Is there another way of starting this sentence? Actually, I found a book titled "It so happened that" by Ramesh S. Balsekar

"It so happened that, many years ago in Ancient China?

I suppose you could start off saying "it´s just that, many years ago"

Answer 3

you are correct

Answer 4

Yes it's correct. I've also heard/read "As it it happens, many years ago ..." (there's a small difference but they're nearly interchangeable).