This paper discusses Chuanshan's Confucian view of life and death, primarily engaging the line "we do not know life, how can we know death?" under the interpretation of Cheng and Zhu. Chuanshan's view differed from that of Zhu. He believed that Cheng and Zhu's view was already affected by heterodoxy, such as Buddhism and Daoism, thus "life" and "death" they referred to were "birth" and "death." Putting "death" aside, Chuanshan emphasized that Confucius's "we do not know life" did not refer to "birth." If he referred to birth then it meant that only the time of birth was important; the other times were unimportant. Chuanshan saw the character "sheng" to mean living or life, meaning that if one was alive, one should improve one's virtue and works; this was the important significance of "sheng." Chuanshan stated "constant renewal of character, destiny descends daily," that as long as one is alive, one should work hard to cultivate one's virtue on a daily basis. Chuanshan's stated "destiny" changed in its definition. From birth to life (referring to being alive) without change, it is not seen as the destiny. If destiny is not discussed, then it is up to human actions. People need to work hard to realize the way; this is Chuanshan's emphasize on the meaning of life and on the meaning of human achievement.