The legend of Hua Tuo and the Five-Animal Exercises

Hua Tuo was not only highly skilled in medicine but also proficient in health preservation. According to the "History of the Later Han Dynasty", Hua Tuo still looked like a middle-aged person when he was nearly a hundred years old. Hua Tuo had two disciples, one named Wu Pu and the other Fan A. Both of them had asked Hua Tuo for advice on health preservation methods. So Hua Tuo passed on two different health preservation methods to them respectively. As a result, both of them lived to a ripe old age. When Wu Pu was over ninety, he still had sharp hearing and vision, and strong teeth. When Fan A was over a hundred, his hair and beard were still black and shiny, and his spirit and strength were even more vigorous than those of a young and middle-aged person. It can be seen that the effect of Hua Tuo's health preservation techniques is very remarkable. The health preservation technique passed down by Hua Tuo to his disciple Wu Pu is called Wu Qin Xi, which is a set of medical and physical health preservation methods. Hua Tuo was very intelligent when he was a child, but he was rather reclusive. When he grew up, he was reluctant to enter public service. Instead, he was particularly fond of the medical skills of treating and saving lives. He collected many secret and proven prescriptions, but the results were not very satisfactory. Later, he heard that there were often enlightened immortals living in famous mountains, so he traveled all over the mountains and rivers, seeking out masters and the Tao. After many years of searching like this, Hua Tuo did not encounter the immortal he had imagined. Instead, he saw many lively and lovely animals such as deer, cranes and apes running and playing, which left a deep impression on him. However, he did not realize what connection this had with the medical skills and health preservation techniques he was pursuing. In pursuit of the Tao, Hua Tuo continued to search in the deep mountains. Once he came to Gongyi Mountain, a steep and rarely visited mountain. Once he entered the mountain, he saw jagged rocks, green pines and cypresses vying for greenery, a gurgling stream beneath his feet, and misty clouds swirling around the mountainside. Hua Tuo couldn't help feeling refreshed and intoxicated. Unconsciously, I came to the front of an ancient cave. Suddenly, he heard someone talking about something in the cave. He held his breath and listened carefully, only to find that it was two elderly people discussing the matter of treating diseases and maintaining health. Hua Tuo was both surprised and delighted, thinking that his long-cherished wish had finally come true. But they didn't dare to enter the cave rashly. Suddenly, an old man said, "Watson has come outside the cave. We can pass on this technique to him." Another one chimed in, "Although Hua Sheng is eager to seek the Tao, he still needs some guidance before we can talk to him." When Hua Tuo heard this, he no longer dared to hesitate and immediately entered the cave. There, he saw two old men, dressed in wooden clothes and wearing straw hats, sitting facing each other. Hua Tuo hurriedly bowed down and said, "I, Hua Tuo, have always been good at alchemies. I have been searching for years but have not found the true teachings. Now I am fortunate to meet a celestial being. I beg for enlightenment and will never let down this great kindness for the rest of my life." An old man said, "The art of medicine is passed on only to people. Considering your sincerity, I will pass it on to you now." I have a few words that you should keep in mind: The way of being a doctor is to have no distinction of high or low, rich or poor, noble or humble, not to engage in wealth or bribery, not to fear hardship, to care for the elderly and the young, to save the world and the living, and to take it as your own responsibility. Only in this way can you live up to your heart. Hua Tuo knelt down again and said, "The teachings of the sages and virtuous men are engraved in my heart and I can follow them all." The two elders smiled at each other and pointed to a side cave, saying, "There is a box of books on the stone bed in the cave. Take them and go home quickly. Don't show off to the mundane world. Remember what I said." Hua Tuo, as instructed, indeed received a letter. When he looked back, the two elders had vanished without a trace. Hua Tuo walked out of the cave carefully. Suddenly, clouds rushed and rain poured down, and the cave collapsed. Hua Tuo took the book home and studied it carefully. He found that it was a medical book, containing all the principles, methods, prescriptions and medicines. It was completely different from what he had seen and heard before. According to the therapy discussed in the book, there are always miraculous effects. The methods he is proficient in applying, such as Mafeisan and laparotomy, are all from this book. The book also records methods for health preservation and fitness, one of which is the Five-Animal Exercises. Hua Tuo was always fond of the art of health preservation. Whenever he saw the play of the five birds, he would practice it every day in accordance with the law. Over the years, the vivid images of apes, deer, cranes, bears, tigers and other creatures he saw while traveling through mountains and rivers would come to his mind, as if he were once again in the middle of nature. Day after day and year after year, Hua Tuo persisted in practicing the Five Animal Exercises and reached a state of perfection, achieving unexpected results. As a result, "Even at the age of a hundred, he still had a strong appearance and was always a celestial being." In fact, all of this is the result of long-term practice of the Five Animal Exercises.