Analects 2.23
The Analects (論語), BOOK II. WEI CHANG 爲政第二
子張問十世、可知也。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。
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."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 張zhāngto display; to expand, to open; to stret
- 問wènto ask about, to inquire after
- 十shíten, tenth; complete; perfect
- 世shìgeneration, era, age; world
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 也yěalso, too
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 殷yīnmany, great; abundant, flourishing
- 因yīncause, reason; by; because
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 夏xiàsummer; the Xia or Hsia dynasty
- 禮lǐcourtesy, manners, social customs
- 所suǒplace, location; "that which", a particl
- 損sǔnto damage, to harm
- 益yìto profit, to benefit; advantage
- 周zhōuZhou dynasty; circumference
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 或huòor, either, else; maybe, perhaps, possib
- 繼jìto continue, to carry on; to succeed, to
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 雖suīalthough, even though
- 百bǎione hundred; numerous, many
Passages with shared wording
- The Doctrine of the Mean Passage 30
- Mencius 5A.6
- Analects 3.9
- Zhuangzi The Identity of Contraries
- Analects 18.1
- Analects 16.2
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.