Hua Tuo and the Five-Animal Exercises

What kind of exercise method is the Five-Animal Exercises exactly? Where lies the principle of its fitness? This point was well explained by Hua Tuo when he taught his disciple Wu Pu the Five-Animal Exercises. Wu Pu studied medicine under Hua Tuo for many years and repeatedly sought his advice on strengthening the body. Hua Tuo taught him the Five Animal Exercises and told him, "If the human body desires to work, it must not use its ears to the extreme." If one wavers, the grain energy will dissipate, the blood circulation will flow smoothly, and illness will not occur. For instance, the Hu Shu, which is immortal to the end, is a guiding act carried out by ancient immortals. The bear meridian and the owl's gaze guide and pull the waist and body, moving all the joints, in the hope of not aging. I have a technique called the Play of the Five Birds. The first is the tiger, the second is the deer, the third is the bear, the fourth is the ape, and the fifth is the bird. It is also used to cure diseases and to benefit the hooves and feet, serving as a guide. When the body is not feeling well, I perform the play of the five birds, feeling happy and sweating. Because of the powder, the body becomes light and wants to eat. Wuqinxi is a kind of fitness exercise that imitates the movements of five wild animals: tiger, deer, bear, ape and bird. Through this exercise, it can promote the circulation of qi and blood, aid digestion, move joints, prevent and treat diseases, and strengthen the body. Hua Tuo's understanding was very profound. Human life lies in movement. Through movement, all tissues and organs of the human body can receive sufficient blood and oxygen supply, which is what traditional Chinese medicine refers to as the harmonious flow of qi and blood, unobstructed meridians, and the prevention of all diseases. This is just like the hinge of a door. Because it rotates frequently, it will not be infested by insects and rot. Hua Tuo's Five Animal Exercises developed on the basis of ancient guiding exercises. The activity of imitating animal movements for fitness has a very early origin in China. In the works of Zhuang Zhou, a great health preservation expert in the Pre-Qin period, it was recorded: "Blowing and breathing, expelling the old and taking in the new, the bear meridian and the bird stretch, this is considered longevity." Bear Jing imitates the movement of a bear turning its waist, while bird stretch imitates the movement of a bird stretching its neck. "Blowing and breathing" is an exercise for breathing and exhalation. This kind of fitness exercise that imitates animal movements is called guiding. During the Han Dynasty, the trend of health preservation was quite popular. There are approximately four main methods of health preservation: One is oral intake, that is, taking substances like elixir and mercury internally; One type is called "bi gu", which means gradually reducing food intake until completely cutting off a diet of water and grains. One type is breathing control, which is equivalent to today's Qigong, practicing breathing and exhalation. One type is guiding exercises, which is equivalent to today's dynamic exercises or gymnastics. Of course, many of the movements are imitations of animal movements. Guiding this kind of fitness exercise was already very popular in the Han Dynasty. In 1982, a batch of Han Dynasty cultural relics were unearthed from the No. 1 Han Tomb of Mawangdui in Changsha. Among them was a painted guiding diagram with over forty figures guiding animals, all vividly lifelike. Some of the diagrams were accompanied by textual descriptions, from which the prototypes of guiding animals such as "Xiong Jing" and "Niao Shen" could be found. Hua Tuo's Five Animal Exercises are very likely to have originated from the guiding exercises of that time and been improved by Hua Tuo. The Five animals in the Five Animal Exercises refer to five wild animals: the tiger, the deer, the bear, the ape and the bird (usually represented by the crane). There are numerous species of wild animals in nature. Why are only these five chosen as representatives? This begins with the Five Elements theory in traditional Chinese medicine. According to the theory of the Five Elements in traditional Chinese medicine, all things in the world are composed of five basic elements or substances, namely metal, wood, water, fire and earth, which are called the Five Elements. Each of the Five Elements has its own fundamental characteristics. For instance, the characteristic of fire is warmth and upward movement; that of water is moisture and downward movement; that of wood is ascending and flexible; that of metal is astringent and dry; and that of earth is growth and harvest. Based on the fundamental characteristics of the Five Elements, any kind of thing in the vast world can be classified. All things belonging to the same element, although they may seem very different at first glance, all possess the basic features of that element and thus have the effect of seeking each other like gas. For instance, when classifying the tissues, organs and spiritual substances of the human body based on the Five Elements, there are the five internal organs, the five bodies, the five senses, the five wills and the five fluids, etc. In terms of nature, there are five directions, five seasons, five qi, five flavors, five colors, five sounds, and so on. As for wild animals, they can also be classified by the Five Elements, with tigers, deer, bears, apes and cranes being the representatives. The overall appearance, living habits, movement characteristics, and yin-yang attributes of these five animals are all different. The tiger is brave and vigorous, the deer is swift and alert, the ape is flexible and mysterious, the bear is composed and down-to-earth, and the crane is graceful and elegant. Imitating their movements can provide corresponding exercises for all parts of the human body. Internally, it can enhance the functions of internal organs, and externally, it can exercise the limbs, muscles, and bones, making the meridians unobstructed. The circulation of qi and blood can help digest food, increase appetite, enhance disease resistance, and with perseverance, it can indeed strengthen the body and delay aging. Hua Tuo and his disciple Wu Pu often performed this technique. The fact that both were nearly a hundred years old but still had a strong appearance is the best evidence. The Five-Animal Exercises imitate the movements of five animals: the tiger, the deer, the bear, the ape and the crane. Their main function is to enhance the functions of the internal organs. So, what is the relationship between them and the five internal organs system of the human body? There are many schools of thought regarding the practice of the Five Animal Exercises in later generations, and their viewpoints are not entirely consistent. Here, we introduce one of them: Among the five animals, the deer belongs to wood and corresponds to the liver system of the human body. Deer have a vigorous body, well-developed tendons, flexible joints and are good at running and jumping. The liver in the human body stores blood, governs tendons, governs the free flow of qi and regulates movement. The movements of the deer play are graceful and elegant, light and flexible. It can enhance the liver and gallbladder's function of free flow, increase the flexibility of limb joints, and enhance the flexibility of tendons and meridians. Apes belong to the fire element and correspond to the human heart system. Apes are dexterous, lively, and good at imitating. They play mischievously, climb branches and vines, are quick-witted and agile, and have the ability to dodge and move. The heart of the human body governs the blood vessels, stores the spirit, and is in charge of the transformation of the divine. Its aspiration is joy. The ape play imitates the various postures and movements of apes, which can soothe the mind, smooth the spirit, promote blood circulation and enhance the function of the heart. The bear belongs to the earth element and is associated with the spleen system in the human body. Bears are heavy and strong. They may seem clumsy, but in fact, they are calm, with firm muscles and well-developed limbs. The spleen in the human body is responsible for digestion and transportation of the essence of food and water. It is the foundation of a person's acquired constitution and also governs muscles and limbs. Bear play imitates the movements of bears. Shaking the body and swaying the limbs, integrating tranquility into relaxation, can enhance the spleen's transformation and transportation function, aid digestion, nourish the muscles, and make the body strong and healthy. The crane belongs to metal and is associated with the human lung system. The crane is elegant and graceful, capable of flying and walking. When it flies, it soars straight into the clouds; when it lands, it drifts gracefully. With a long and flexible neck, it can play around freely. The respiratory function of cranes is particularly well-developed. As the saying goes, "A large throat is used to exhale, and a slender neck is used to take in new energy, so its lifespan is unlimited." The lungs of the human body govern the qi of the entire body, are in charge of respiration, and disseminate the essence of food and water to all parts of the body. They are the officials of the prime minister and govern the joints. Its function lies entirely in qi. The crane play imitates the crane's movements such as rising and falling, spreading its wings, stretching its neck and looking back. At the same time, it requires the coordination of breathing and exhalation to regulate the flow of air, which can enhance the respiratory function of the lungs. The tiger belongs to water and corresponds to the human kidney system. The tiger is the king of all beasts. It has strong bones, a solid back, powerful limbs and vigorous and swift movements. The kidneys in the human body store essence and govern the bones. They are the foundation of the innate constitution, the organ of strength, and the source of ingenuity. The Tiger Play imitates the walking and leaping of tigers, presenting a sense of dignity. It exercises the bones internally and the limbs externally, and has the effect of strengthening the kidneys and consolidating the foundation. Wu Qin Xi is a kind of physical fitness exercise. Its remarkable efficacy confirms a principle that "life lies in movement." Hua Tuo's Five Animal Exercises have two notable features. One is that Five Animal Exercises are a moderate and suitable activity for everyone. Hua Tuo said, "If the human body desires to work, it must not use its ears to the extreme." This means that exercise for the purpose of fitness must be within an appropriate limit. One should not move too much. If one moves moderately, the blood and qi will flow smoothly and the vital energy will be abundant. However, if one moves too much, the blood and qi will boil over, which will instead consume the true qi. Hua Tuo's Five Animal Exercises is precisely a moderate form of exercise. One of the characteristics of the Five Animal Exercises is the combination of hardness and softness. It possesses the vigor of the tiger play, the agility of the deer play, the solidity of the bear play, the grace of the crane play, and the romance of the ape play. His movements do not require any brute force or force, but rather follow the natural course of events. The second feature of the Five-Animal Exercises is the emphasis on expressing emotions through movements. That is to say, the performer should integrate their thoughts into the actions they perform. When performing the ape play, one should show the mischievous and playful nature of the ape, while when performing the crane play, one should be as carefree and at ease as the crane. By concentrating in this way, one feels as if they have returned to nature. This is what Hua Tuo referred to as "yi". Only by achieving a state of self-forgetfulness can one achieve good exercise results. Although Hua Tuo's Five-Animal Exercises have not been passed down in writing, after thousands of years of oral transmission and personal instruction, this fitness method is still widely spread among the people and has undergone various forms of development and evolution, such as Five-Animal Exercises Dynamic, Five-Animal Exercises Qigong, and Five-Animal Exercises Self-activating, etc. After a long period of evolution, Wu Qin Xi has developed into a variety of independent fitness methods. For instance, the He Xiang Zhuang and Da Yan Gong in Qigong have evolved and developed from the bird play in the Five Animal Exercises. Some of the boxing movements in martial arts also have a profound connection with the Five Animal Exercises. For instance, the Monkey Boxing, which imitates the leaping and dodging of apes, has absorbed the characteristics of the Five Animal Exercises. The movements in Tai Chi such as the White Crane Spreading its wings, the Wild horse splitting its mane, the Oblique flying posture, and the inverted curling and spreading are also closely related to some of the movements in the Five-Animal Exercises.