Analects of Confucius 2.23

translated from Classical Chinese by James Legge, 1893

  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.’