Truly, life is the follower of death,

And death is the predecessor of life.

But who is familiar with the Ferryman

Of this connection between two banks?

The life is due to the collecting of the breath;

When that is collected, there is life;

When it is dispersed, there is death --

That's simple, and there's nothing to add.

Since death and life thus attend on each other,

Why should I account either of them

As a good and bad? Therefore, as it is run,

All things come out from one and the same source --

The great stream with two banks of life and death.

Life is accounted beautiful

Because it is spirit-like and wonderful;

Death is accounted ugly

Because of its fetor and putridity.

But the fetid and putrid is transformed again

Into the spirit-like and wonderful,

And the spirit-like and wonderful

Is transformed again into the fetid and putrid.

Hence it is said that there is one breath of life

And so, the sagely men prize that unity most.