They die (indeed!) hard and inflexible.
The ten thousand creatures, the grass and trees, are born
(indeed!) soft and fragile.
They die (indeed!) dried and withered.
Therefore : that which is hard and inflexible is a follower
of death.
That which is soft and weak is a follower of life.
Thus if a weapon is inflexible, the consequence is defeat.
If a tree is inflexible, then it snaps.
Inflexible and great dwell below.