2.23 子张问:“十世可知也1?”子曰:“殷因于夏礼2,所损益,可知也;周因于殷礼,所损益,可知也。其或继周者,虽百世,可知也。”
【译文】
子张问:“十代以后的礼仪制度能预知吗?”孔子说:“殷朝承袭夏朝的礼仪制度,其增加和废除的地方,是可以知道的;周朝承袭殷朝的礼仪制度,其增加和废除的地方,也是可以知道的。那么以后继承周朝的朝代,即使历经一百代,也是可以预知的。”
【YZG解释】
子张请教:“十代之后的礼制可否预知?”孔子说:“殷朝承继夏朝的礼制,其增与废之处,是可知的;周朝承继殷朝的礼制,其增与废之处,也是可知的。那以后继承周朝的朝代,即便过了一百代,也是可预知的。”
【YZG English Translation】
Zi Zhang asked: “Can we predict the Rites after ten Dynasties?” Confucius said: “Shang Dynasty inherited the Rites of Xia Dynasty, so the additions and abolitions of the Rites are knowable. Zhou Dynasty inherited the Rites of Shang, so the additions and abolitions of the Rites are also knowable. If the subsequent dynasties inherit the Rites of Zhou as well, it will be also predictable even after a hundred of Dynasties.”