When the state of Yang is perfect,

All is turbulent and agitated;

When the state of Yin is perfect,

All is cold and severe.

The coldness and severity

Come forth from Heaven;

The turbulence and agitation

Bounce from Earth's surface.

The two conditional states

Communicating together,

A harmony ensued and thus

Things are produced in many.

Someone should regulate

And control this progression,

But no one has seen his semblance.

Decay and growth;

Fullness and emptiness;

Darkness and light;

The changes of the sun

And the moon's phases:

These are brought about

From day to day,

But no one sees

The process of production.

Life has its origin

From which it springs,

And death has its place

From which it returns.

Beginning and ending go on

In mutual contrariety without

Determinable commencement;

And no one knows

How either comes to an end.

If we disallow all this,

Who originates

And presides over

All these phenomena?