Confucian Analects · Analects 2.23
1. Tsze-chang asked whether the affairs of ten ages after could be known. 2. Confucius said, 'The Yin dynasty followed the regulations of the Hsia: wherein it took from or added to them may be known. The Chau dynasty has followed the regulations of Yin: wherein it took from or added to them may be known. Some other may follow the Chau, but though it should be at the distance of a hundred ages, its affairs may be known.'
Chinese · source text【廿三章】【一節】子張問十世、可知也。【二節】子曰、殷因於夏禮、所損益、可知也、周因於殷禮、所損益、可知也、其或繼周者、雖百世、可知也。
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Confucius · English translation by James Legge · bilingual transcription
James Legge, The Chinese Classics, Volume 1: Confucian Analects · Project Gutenberg #4094
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