Hua To (110-207 A.D.)
Chinese Doctor and Creator of the Five Animal Frolics
June 17, 2009
© Valley Spirit
Qigong, Green Way Research, Red
Bluff, California, 2009
By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S., All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
"Breathing in and out in
various manners, spitting out the old and taking in the new, walking like a
bear and stretching their neck like a bird to achieve longevity - this is what
such practitioners of
Dao-yin, cultivators of the body and all those searching for long life like
Ancestor Peng, enjoy."
Chuang-tzu, Chapter 15, circa 300 BCE.
General Remarks
I have taught
hatha yoga at fitness clubs, schools, and privately at the Valley
Spirit Center. We do many
postures from Indian Yoga with
animal names like: Cobra, Eagle, Crow, Cat and Cow, Pigeon, Dolphin,
Downward
Facing Dog, Camel, Upward Facing Dog, Locust, and Fish, etc.. These are rather
common
yoga poses, familiar to yoga practitioners worldwide of all styles of Hatha Yoga.
I also teach
the Chinese mind-body movement arts of T'ai
Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) and Chi
Kung (Qigong).
Qigong is a organized program of controlled breathing, gentle movements, relaxed
yet open playfulness,
concentration, mind improvement, and spiritual development. Qigong can be thought of as
"Chinese Yoga."
I regularly use a variety of Qigong
postures in my Hatha Yoga classes. This webpage merely lists the
names of the poses, or postures, or movements, or sports, or frolics, etc., that
I have drawn from the
complex and rich tradition of Qigong
styles and systems in Chinese Yoga.
I am available to do
a 3 hour or 6 hour or 16 hour (2 day) workshop about using Chinese Yoga (Qigong)
postures and methods in
your Hatha Yoga classes.
Best wishes,
Mike Garofalo
Animal Frolics Qigong webpage development Plan in 2009: I intend to develop the webpages on the Animal Frolics Qigong in 2009 in the following order: 1) June: Animal Frolics Qigong and secondary page setup in the Valley Spirit Qigong website. 2) July: Bear Frolic. 3) August: Dragon Qigong. 4) September: Tiger Frolic. 5) October: Crane Frolic. 6) November: Deer Frolic. 7) December: Monkey Frolic.
"Breathing in and out in various manners, spitting out the
old and taking in the new, walking like a
bear and stretching their neck like a bird to achieve longevity - this is what
such practitioners of
Dao-yin, cultivators of the body and all those searching for long life like Ancestor
Peng, enjoy."
Chuang-tzu, Chapter 15, circa 300 BCE.
Hua To (110-207 A.D.)
Chinese Doctor and Creator of the Five Animal Frolics
"Breathing in and out in various manners, spitting out the
old and taking in the new, walking like a
bear and stretching their neck like a bird to achieve longevity - this is what
such practitioners of
Dao-yin, cultivators of the body and all those searching for long life like Ancestor
Peng, enjoy."
Chuang-tzu, Chapter 15, circa 300 BCE.
The Five Animal Frolics were popularized by the great Chinese physician Hua To (Hua Tuo). Hua To lived to be 98 years old (110 - 207 A.D.).
"Hua Tuo also named Yuan Hua of Hao county in
Anwei province, was the first famous Chinese surgeon. He is the first in the
world to developed the use of anesthesia, and furthered the limited Chinese
knowledge of anatomy. When using acupuncture and herbs, he preferred
simple methods, using a small number of acupuncture points and formulas
comprised of only a few herbs. He practiced
Chi-kung and created the
"Frolics of the Five Animals. ... A famous general named Zao Cao contracted an illness called "Tou Feng". The general came to see Hua Tuo and was
advised to have an operation. The general suspected that Hua Tuo wanted to harm him.
General Zao Cao ordered the death of Hua Tuo. A very loved and revered physician was
lost to the world." (1)
Few of his many written works have survived from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 A.D.) Hua To's outstanding disciple was Wu P'u, who wrote a description of the Frolics: The Five Animal Classic. (2)
A manuscript titled Yun Ji Qi Qian showing the forms comes from the
Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 A.D.). A 10th century heirloom brocade from Zhejiang Province
depicts the Frolics.
The Frolics are pictured and described in a Taoist encyclopedia from 1610
titled: Yi Men Guang Du. (3)
"Hua Tuo (141-208 A.D.) was a contemporary
of Zhang Zhongjing. He traveled from town to town treating patients and learning from other doctor's practices. He is
famous for his skill as a surgeon and his use of anesthesia. The anesthesia was given as a
powder called mafeisan that was dissolved in a fermented drink before performing
surgery. It has been suggested the powder may have been hemp since its uses were unknown at that
time. Besides performing surgeries, Hua Tuo also recommended the use of physical
exercises for his patients. He devised movements that were similar to the movements
of five different
animals. These were the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird. It is
said that one of his disciples
Wu Pu lived to be 90 years old due to these exercises. Another of Hua Tuo's
disciples called
Fan An was a great acupuncturist. He devised methods to extend it use to
the back and thorax. Unfortunately many of Hua Tuo's works have been lost, and surgery
became unpopular because most Chinese beliefs and laws of the time did not look favorably on
it." (4)
"Hua Tuo was born around 110 A.D., in Qiao of Peiguo (today called Haoxian
or Bo) county, in what is now Anhui Province, one of the four major herb distribution centers of
modern China. He lived for about 100 years, having died around 207 A.D. He was an older
contemporary of China's famous herbalist Zhang Zhongjing, who died around 220 A.D. In the Chronicles
of the Later Han Dynasty, it is said that: "Knowing well the way to keep one in good
health, Hua Tuo still appeared in the prime of his life when he was almost 100, and so was regarded as
immortal." It is said that Cao Cao, ruler of the state of Wei, had Hua Tuo put to death for reasons that
are unclear. Cao Cao summoned him to serve as his personal physician, and either became enraged
with Hua Tuo's hesitancy to return again later to provide more treatments or suspected an
assassination attempt when Hua Tuo suggested brain surgery as a treatment for his severe
headaches.
According to the Records of the Wei Dynasty (Wei Zhi), Cao Cao had Hua Tuo
killed in 207 A.D. at age 97. Cao Cao's second son, Cao Pi (187-226 A.D.), became Emperor
of the Wei Dynasty, taking over China upon the forced abdication of Emperor Xian; China
then collapsed into chaos, and Cao Pi was left only a few years rule of Wei, the
northern kingdom of the "three kingdoms" that resulted from the breakdown."
(5)
"There are many stories, passed down from generation to generation, as to how Hua To cured difficult diseases. He became known as the "Magical Doctor". His principle of resisting the onset of disease by working and doing exercises was also a major contribution to traditional Chinese medicine." (7)
References and Notes:
2. Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi, 1988, p.6.
3. Ancient Way to Keep Fit, 1992, pp. 68-80.
4. Shen-nong Limited: History of Chinese Medicine
5. Hua To By Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. 22Kb. The best on-line article on Hua To.
6. "On Hua Tuo's Position in the History of Chinese
Medicine." By K. W. Fan.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine,
Vol. 32, No. 2., 2003.
7. Formation of the Chinese Civilization
Bibliography, Links and Resources
The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
五禽戲
Alphabetical Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers and Practitioners. By H. David Coulter. Foreword by Timothy McCall. Honesdale,
Pennsylvania, Body and Breath, 2001. Index, bibliography, appendices, 623
pages. ISBN: 0970700601. MGC. 2002 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award
for
Health, Wellness and Nutrition.
Ancient
Way to Keep Fit. Compiled by Zong Wu and Li Mao.
Translated by Song Luzeng,
Liu Beijian, and Liu Zhenkai. Paintings by Zhang Ke Ren. Foreword by
Kumar
Frantzis. Bolinas, California, Shelter Publications, 1992. 211
pages, glossary. ISBN: 0679417893. Outstanding illustrations by Zhang Ke Ren. The
Five Animal Frolics are beautifully illustrated on pages 68-80.
Animal Frolics
Qigong: Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links, History. By Michael
P. Garofalo, M.S. Five Animal Frolics: Wu Qing Xi.
Animal
Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small.
By Ted Andrews. Llewellyn, 1993. 383 pages. ISBN: 0875420281.
"Shows readers how to identify his or her animal totem and learn how to invoke its energy and
use it for personal growth and inner discovery."
Animal
Spirits: The Shared World - Sacrifice, Ritual, and Myth; Animal Souls
and Symbols. By Nicholas J. Saunders. Index, 182 pages. ISBN:
0316903051.
Animal
Wise: The Spirit Language and Signs of Nature. By Ted Andrews.
Dragonhawk
Pub., 1999. 400 pages. ISBN: 1888767340.
An
Overview of Chinese Medicine. By Paul Zabwodski.
Awareness
Through Movement; Health Exercises for Personal Growth. Easy to Do
Health Exercises to Improve Your Posture, Vision, Imagination and Personal
Awareness. By Moshe Feldenkrais. San Francisco, Harper Collins, 1972, 1977. 173
pages.
ISBN: 0062503227.
The Bear: The Five Animal Frolics
Cane, Short Staff,
Jo, Walking Stick
Chi
Kung, Qigong: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Lessons, Instructions, Notes
Chi Kung: Five Animal, Five Elements. By Dr. Xue Zhi Wang, O.M.D., C.A.
Instructional VHS. 4115 University Way N.E. #111, Seattle, WA 98105.
Phone (206) 547-2435.
Chi Kung Fundamentals 1: Five Animals Video.
By Michael Winn. Instructional videotape, 90 minutes. Instructional audiotape. Telephone:
888-999-0555.
Chi Kung Quotations,
Poems, Sayings
Chinese Medicine History
13Kb.
Chinese Medicine
History - Hua To (Hua Tuo)
Cloud Hands
Blog: Qigong, Taijiquan, Walking, Yoga and Gardening
By Mike Garofalo.
Cloud Hands Website: Taijiquan and Qigong By
Mike Garofalo.
Comparative
History of Chinese and Western Medicine. By Ray C. J. Chiu, M.D..
The
Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing. By Daniel Reid.
Random House,
1994. 484 pages. ISBN: 0877739293.
Crane Frolic:
Bibliography, Resources, Lessons
Dancing
With Goddesses: Archetypes, Poetry and Empowerment. By Annis Pratt.
Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University Press, 1994. Index, bibliography,
notes,
408 pages. ISBN: 0253208653. Chapter 11 is titled "Bear!",
pp. 340-368.
Daoyin Quotations,
Poems, Sayings
Daoyin Yangsheng Gong:
Bibliography, Links, Resources, History, Lessons, Guides, Quotes
Deer Frolic:
Bibliography, Resources, Lessons
Dragon Door Publications. St.
Paul, Minnesota. 1-800-899-5111.
Dragon Qigong, Dragon Yoga: Bibliography, Links, Instructions, Notes
Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi. By Paul B. Gallagher.
Guilford, VT, Deer Mountain Taoist Academy, 1988. Reading lists, lists, 128 pages. No
ISBN The Five Animal Frolics are discussed on pages 5-10. A important source of Information about the
Frolics for Mr. Gallagher was the Qigong Master Kenneth S. Cohen. Includes a
translation from "The Five Animal Frolic Classic."
Ecstatic
Body Postures: An Alternate Reality Workbook. By Belinda Gore.
Foreword by
Felicitas Goodman. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bear and Company, 1995.
Endnotes,
284 pages. MGC. ISBN: 1879181223. The Bear Spirit Posture is
described and illustrated, pp. 49-54.
Ecstatic
Trance: New Ritual Body Postures. By Felicitas D. Goodman and
Nana Nauwald.
Binkey Kok, 2003. Workbook edition, 184 pages. ISBN: 9074597637.
Eight
Dragons Qigong, Dragon Yoga: Bibliography, Links, Instructions, Notes
Eight Section Brocade
Qigong By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S. History and purpose of
this popular chi kung practice. Descriptions for each of the eight
movements, health benefits, comments, variations, extensive links and
bibliography, resources, quotations, animated .gif photographs of the movements,
and charts. This file is updated
on a regular basis as I add new material, links, notes, and resources. A.K.A: Baduanjin, Pa Tuan Jin, Eight Silken
Treasures, Ba Duan Jin, Pal Dan Gum, Ba Duan Gin, Pa Tin Kam, Otto Pezzi di Tesoro, Acht Delen
Brokaat,
Les Huit Exercices del la Soie, Eight Silken Treasures, Brocade Qigong, Wudang
Brocade Qigong, Silk Treasures Qigong, First Eight Buddha Lohan Hands. The
seventh movement of the Eight Section Brocade is called:
The Big Bear
Turns from Side
to Side.
Eighteen
Hands Lohan Qigong (King Mui Version) Description and photographs.
The
Essential Book of Traditional Chinese Medicine. By Liu Yanchi, Fang
Tingyu, Kathleen
Vian, Peter Eckman, and Chen Laidi. Columbia University Press, 1988.
305 pages.
ISBN: 0231103573.
Five
Animal Frolic Handout. A set of attributions and associations for each
Frolic. From Three Treasures Tai Chi.
Five Animal Frolics. By Ammy C.
Five Animal Frolics.
UTube Video, 2:02 Min for each Frolic. Performed by Anson Rathbone.
Five Animal Frolics. An instructional DVD by Kenneth Cohen.
Five Animal Frolics.
Instructional videotape by Michael Gilman. 60 minutes VHS or
DVD.
Five Animal Frolics: A Form Workbook. A Complete Qigong Program for High Energy, Vitality and
Well Being. By John Du Cane. St. Paul, Minnesota, Dragon
Door Publications,
2002. Second Edition, 2002. 121 pages. Spiral bound
notebook. 100 photographs. No ISBN. VSCL.
Five Animal Frolics: Google Search
The Five Animal Frolics: A Practical and Workable Qigong Method. By
John Du Cane.
Five Animal
Frolics Qigong: Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links, History. By
Michael P. Garofalo, M.S. Five Animal Frolics: Wu Qing Xi.
Five Animal Frolics Qigong: Crane and Bear Exercises. By Franklin
Fick. Lulu.com, 2005. 120 pages. ISBN: 1411627768.
Online Text
Five Animal Frolics Qigong
"The oldest written exercise program for preventive medicine."
Five Animal Play.
Dr. Alex Feng, Oakland, California.
Five Animal Sports Qigong. Instructional DVD, 180 minutes, by Dr.
Yang, Jwing-Ming and Kathy Yang. YMAA Publication Center, 2008. ASIN:
B0018OZFOS.
The Great Bear Star Steps
By Sat Chuen Hon.
The
Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and
Tai Chi.
By Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.. Chicago, Contemporary Books, 2002.
Index, notes, extensive
recommended reading list, 316 pages. ISBN: 0809295288.
The
Health Benefits of Qigong Exercises. By John Du
Cane.
Hua To (Hua Tuo) - Biographical Information
"Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics,"
Zhou Lishang. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 4, August, 2005, pp. 42-49. Translation by Yan Shufan.
Part 1. A detailed article on how to do the Frolics. This version of the Frolics set was developed by the
Shanghai University of Sports and approved by the State Physical Culture and Sports Bureau. The articles
includes set by set photos, instructions, and some very interesting
illustrations from the Ma Wang Dui Tomb No. 3 findings.
"Hua Tuo's Five Animal
Frolics," by Zhou Lishang. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 5, October, 2005, pp. 42-49. Translation by Yan Shufan.
Part 2.
Huo To T'ai Chi Ch'uan: The Kung Fu of Six Combinations and
Eight Methods (LiuHe BaFa).
By Khan Conor Foxx. Publication date and source unknown.
The
Magic of Shapeshifting. By Rosalyn Greene. Red Wheel Weiser,
2000.
258 pages. ISBN: 1578631718. According to Ms. Greene the most
common
animals people shift into are the wolf, fox, cat and bear.
Qigong Essentials:
Five Animal Frolics. Instructional DVD, 70 minutes, by Master Jesse
Tsao. Tai Chi Healthways, San Diego. "Five Animal Frolics is an
ancient Chinese Qigong practice. Hua-tuo, the most famous Chinese doctor in
ancient China, designed Five Animals Frolic based on Chuang-tzu's Taoist
practice and traditional Chinese medical philosophy. He observed animals in
nature and mimicked their daily activities to create movements for people
cultivating life energy. Each animal form has a special effect on a human
being's inner organ health: tiger form for liver energy flow; deer form for
kidney; bear form for spleen and stomach; ape form for the heart; bird form for
lungs. Five Animal Frolics can fully stimulate and awaken qi, the vital energy
inside of our body, contained within the meridian channels and cavities. Through
the stimulation and accumulation of qi, a person can clear out stress and
sickness and may not only acquire a new sense of physical and mental energy, but
create the conditions for longevity as well. Throughout 1700 years, routines
have been passed down from different people, resulting in various versions of
Five Animal Frolics. This video shows the most popular forms in China today, and
provides the basic "how-to" aspects of the routine. Master Tsao demonstrates the
complete form in both front and back view, along with detailed instruction in
posture-by-posture lessons. It is a good reference for home study, or a resource
for instructor's teaching preparation. Suggest 30 class hours."
Sample UTube Video of
this DVD.
Qigong Five Animals.
UTube Videos: Part 1,
7:02 Min. Part 2,
7:04 Min. Part 3,
7:03 Min. Part 4,
Qigong Quotations,
Poems, Sayings
Plexus: History and Myth
Interesting collection of facts and observations about Mt. Hua in China. A
tomb dedicated to Hua To is found on Mt. Hua.
Power Qigong: The Bear and
Tiger Frolics. By John Du Cane. St. Paul, Minnesota,
Dragon Door Publications,
1999. Instructional HS videotape, 48 minutes. Anti-Aging
Series. ISBN: 0938045210. Website:
www.dragondoor.com. VSCL.
Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion. By Jiao Guorui. Beijing,
China Reconstructs
Press, 1988. A lengthy description of the Five Animal Frolics can be found
on pages
190-236.
Qigong Healing: The
Way of Qigong. By Kenneth S. Cohen.
Qigong: Bibliography, Links,
Quotations, Lessons, Instructions, Notes
Ruler, Stick, Chih, Bang - Tai Chi Ruler
Scholar
Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life. By Deng
Ming-Dao. Harper
San Francisco, 1990. Index, bibliography, 351 pages. ISBN:
0062502328. MGC.
Serenity Qigong: An Instructional Guide to the Crane Frolic. By John
Du Cane. An instructional videotape, 41 minutes.
Shapeshifters and Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting in Celtic
Myth. By Kenneth R. White.
Shapeshifting:
Shamanic Techniques for Global and Personal Information.
By John M. Perkins. Inner Traditions Intl. Ltd., 1997. 184 pages.
ISBN: 0892816635. MGC.
Staff Weapons: Bibliography, Links,
Resources, Lessons
Sun Lu Tang's
Internal Martial Arts: Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Taijiquan, and Qigong.
Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Resources, Instructions.
Sun Style of T'ai Chi
Ch'uan: Standard Competition 73 Movements Form. Research by
Michael P. Garofalo, M.S..
Shen-nong
Limited: History of Chinese Medicine
Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Taijiquan
and Qigong Website
Taijiquan (Tai Chi
Chuan) and Qigong
Tiger Qong and Bear Qong
By Jane Golden.
Totems:
The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem. By Brad
Steiger.
Harper San Francisco, 1997. 224 pages. ISBN: 0062514253.
Vital Breath of the Dao: Chinese Shamanic Tiger Qigong (Laohu
Qigong). By Master Zhongxian Wu. Little Canada, Minnesota, Dragon Door
Publications, 2006. 246 pages. ISBN: Unknown. There is also a DVD to accompany
this book with a running time of 65 minutes called "Chinese Shamanic Tiger
Qigong." For more information call 1-800-899-5111.
Vitality Qigong: An Instructional
Guide to the Monkey and Deer Frolics. By John Du Cane.
Instructional videotape, 43 minutes.
The Way
of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. By Kenneth
S. Cohen.
Foreword by Larry Dossey. New York Ballantine Books, 1997. Index,
notes, appendices, 427 pages. ISBN: 0345421094. MGC. One of my favorite books:
comprehensive,
informative, practical, and scientific. A very informative introduction to
the Five Animal
Frolics, and detailed descriptions of the Crane and Bear forms, with illustrations,
can
be found on pages 199-209.
The Way
of Qigong. By Ken Cohen. 5 audiocassettes, 6 hours.
Boulder, Colorado, Sounds True,
1993. ISBN: 1564552578. VSCL.
Ways of Walking:
Quotations, Bibliography, Resources, Links
The Web
That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. By Ted J.
Kaptchuk,
O.M.D.. Chicago, McGraw Hill Contemporary Books, 2nd Edition, 2000.
Index, bibliography,
appendices, notes, 500 pages. Forward by Margaret Caudill, M.D., and by
Andrew
Weil, M.D. ISBN:
0809228408. An excellent introduction to traditional
Chinese medicine and modern research on the topic. VSCL.
What is Qigong.
By Kenneth S. Cohen.
Where
the Spirits Ride the Wind: Trance Journeys and Other Ecstatic
Experiences. By Felicitas D. Goodman, Ph.D.. Illustrated by Gerhard Binder.
Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University Press, 1990. Index, bibliography, 242 pages.
ISBN: 0253327644.
A cross cultural study of the effects of body postures on altered states of
consciousness.
Extensive notes on the widespread instances of Bear postures, rituals and
totems.
The
Wonders of Qigong. A Chinese Exercise for Fitness, Health and
Longevity.
Compiled by the China Sports Magazine, Beijing, China. Published by Wayfarer Publications, Los Angeles, CA, 1985. 111 pages. 275 line
drawings. ISBN: 0935099077.
Wu Qin Xi Qigong.
UTube Video, 6:30 Min.
Wu Qin Xi. By Hu, Yao-zhen. Hong Kong, Xin Wen Shu Dian,
n.d..
Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Frolics): Chinese Health Qigong. Compiled by
the Chinese Health Qigong Association. Beijing, Chine, Foreign Languages
Press, 2007. 102 pages, includes an instructional DVD. ISBN:
9787119047799. VSCL.
"In 2001 the Chinese government showed great interest in regulating the Qigong
movement. The State Sport General Administration of China founded the Chinese
Health Qigong Association, as a mass-organization to popularize, spread and
research Health Qigong in cooperation with the Peking Sport University. In 2003
the organization presented the newly developed four Health Qigong Exercises on
the base of excellent traditional Qigong, including:
Yì Jīn
Jīng (tendon-changing classic),
Wu Qin Xi (frolics of five animals 五禽戲),
Liu Zi Jue
(the art of expiration in producing six different sounds),
Ba Duan Jin (eight excellent movements), to fit the people's needs of
promoting their health and body, and to develop traditional Chinese national
culture further. The Chinese Health Qigong Association is a member of the
All-China Sports Federation. During the process of developing the
exercises, strictly scientific research methods have been followed. Primary
experiments took place under supervision of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Modern
Medicine, Psychology, Athletic Science and other related subjects. The Four
Health Qigong Exercises can be seen as the essences from the related Qigong in
various schools, inherited and developed traditional Chinese national culture.
The new Health Qigong represented by the Chinese Health QiGong Association is
breaking with the old tradition of family-styles and close teacher-student
relation. It is hoped that the new standardisation is supporting the
international spread of Qigong in the western hemisphere. Starting in
September 2004 the "Health Qigong Magazine" became the association magazine of
the CHQA. It is the only national health qigong publication in China; edtited
through China Sports Press. After the successful 1st International Health
Qigong Demonstration and Exchange in 2005 the CHQA organized in August 2007 the
2nd International Health Qigong Demonstration and Exchange in Peking including
an international competition and the first Duan examination on Health Qigong. At
the same time, the 2007 International Symposium on Health Qigong Science was
organized where important scientific studies were made public."
- Wikipedia
Wu Qin Xi,
Five Animal Frolics Qigong: Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links,
History. By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
Yangsheng Gong, Daoyin,
Qigong:
Bibliography, Links, Resources, History, Lessons, Guides, Quotes
Yuli Qigong. By
Jeff Smoley. Wujigong, Zhan Zhuang, 5 Animal Frolics, Jade Power Qigong,
and Eight Section Brocade. Jeff borrowed my
disclaimer.
Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like a Tree - Meditation and Qigong
Quotations - General
Animal Frolics Exercises, Animal Frolics Qigong, Chinese Yoga Animal Frolics
"Man's body must have exercise, but it should never be done to the point of
exhaustion. By moving
about briskly, digestion is improved, the blood vessels are opened, and
illnesses are prevented.
It is like a used doorstep which never rots. As far as Tao Yin (bending and
stretching exercises) is
concerned, we have the bear's neck, the crane's twist, and swaying the waist and
moving the joints to promote long life. Now I have created the art called the Frolics
of the Five Animals:
the Tiger, the Deer, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Crane. It
eliminates sickness, benefits the legs,
and is also a form of Tao Yin. If you feel out of sorts, just practice one
of my Frolics. A gentle sweat will exude, the complexion will become rosy; the body will feel light and you
will want to eat."
- Hua To, History of the Later Han, Translated by Paul B.
Gallagher,
Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi, 1988,
p. 6.
"An ancient text, The Spring and Autumn Annals, states that in mythic times a
great flood covered much of China. Stagnant waters produced widespread disease.
The legendary shaman-emperor Yu cleared the land and diverted the waters into
rivers by dancing a bear dance and invoking the mystical power of the Big Dipper
Constellation. As the waters subsided, people reasoned that movement and
exercise can similarly cause the internal rivers to flow more smoothly, clearing
the meridians of obstructions to health. Qigong-like exercises are found on
ancient rock art panels throughout China. Chinese shamans used these exercises
and meditations to commune with nature and natural forces and to increase their
powers of healing and divination.
- Kenneth S. Cohen, What
is Qigong
"Learn one
of the oldest, yet perennially popular forms of exercise in the world. In the
2nd century A.D., the great Taoist physician Hua To created a physical,
energetic and mental exercise system based on the movements and spirit of five
animals: the crane, bear, deer, monkey, and tiger. Develops strength, balance,
focus, flexibility, courage, and calmness. Used successfully by thousands of
people to regain health and fitness and treat chronic diseases."
- Healing Tao
Institute
Crane - to develop balance, lightness and agility. The Crain cools and
relaxes your whole body, balances the heart-energy, gently stretches your
ligaments and releases your spine.
Bear - to develop rooted power. The Bear creates greater leg strength,
fortifies the bones and develops energy in the kidneys, your fundamental source
of vitality.
Monkey - to develop suppleness and agility. Become quick witted, alert and
nimble.
Deer - to develop grace and relaxation. The Deer gives a long stretch to
the legs and spine, creating open, expansive movement with very flexible sinew
and bones.
Tiger - to develop muscular strength. The Tiger strengthens the waist,
sinews and kidneys and builds internal power.
-
Five Animal Frolics
"For optimal health, we
need body and spirit, exercise and meditation, awareness of the
inner world and the outer. In other words, health requires balance and
moderation. The goal
of qigong may be summarized as xing ming shuang xiu, "spirit and
body equally refined and
cultivated." Cultivate your whole being, as you would cultivate a
garden - with attention,
care, and even love."
- Ken Cohen, Essential Qigong, 2005, p. 2
"The patriarch of Chinese medicine, Hua Tuo (second century A.D.) was
one of the great early qigong masters. His "Five Animal Frolics"
imitate the movements of the Crane, Bear, Monkey, Deer, and Tiger and are still
practiced today. Hua Tuo said that just as a door hinge will not rust if it is
used, so the body will attain health by gently moving and exercising all of the
limbs."
- Kenneth S. Cohen, What
is Qigong
"The "Five Animal-Frolics" mimics the fierceness
of tiger, peacefulness of deer, calmness of bear, agility of ape, and lightness
of bird to train the body and mind. It can improve body strength, move blood and
Qi, and relax tendons and meridians so people will not get aged quickly. It can
also be used to cure chronicle diseases. Practitioner can practice all five
frolics or pick only one or two to practice based on his personal physical
conditions. During practice, it requires the practitioner to coordinate his
thoughts, breathing, and movements. If you can practice it persistently, you
will enjoy light spirit, enhanced appetite, improved agility, and firm steps.
This has the functions of nurturing spirit, regulating the flow of Qi and blood,
helping Jang and Fu, opening meridians, activating sinews and bones, and
benefiting joints. The "Five Animal-Frolics" is also effective in preventing and
curing lung diseases, asthma, high blood pressure, heart-crown disease, weak
nerve system, and indigestion, etc. In addition, frequent practice of the "Five
Animal-Frolics" can correct abnormal footings and walking postures, prevent
wilting of muscles, and improve body balance. It is also beneficial to other
symptoms. Practitioner should practice for 15 minutes twice daily, one in the
morning and one in the evening. Also, the practitioner should select a field
with fresh air and luxuriant vegetation."
-
Five Animal Frolics
"Born from the marriage of shamanic dance and the Chinese medical
study of energy systems,
The Animal Frolics offer a complete self-care toolkit of accessible techniques
to transform your health and well being."
- John Du Cane,
Power Qigong: The Bear and Tiger Frolics.
"The earliest Daoist reference to
Daoyin practice appears in chapter fifteen of the
Zhuangzi 莊子 (Book of
Master Zhuang), which is part of the so-
- Daoyin
"In the Welsh story of Taliesin, who as Gwion Bach, transforms himself
into various animal shapes to escape the wrath of the goddess Ceridwen. Gwion transforms himself into
a hare, a fish, a bird and finally a grain of wheat. Ceridwen in an attempt to catch him also
transforms herself. She becomes a greyhound, an otter, a falcon and a hen. It is as a hen that she
finally catches Gwion, who is at this stage a grain of wheat, she swallows Gwion and by so doing
becomes pregnant and eventually gives birth to Taliesin."
- Kenneth R. White, Shapeshifting
in Celtic Myth.
"Daoyin is an ancient Chinese body-mind exercise
originally aimed at health care as well as physical and spiritual purification.
The ascetics of past time believed it could be used to obtain the "eternal
youth" (changsheng bulao). Many different interpretations were
given to the word daoyin during the ages. The following two are the most
reliable: daoqi yinti - guide the qi and stretch the body; and
daoqi yinliao - guide the qi to obtain a healing effect.
Both interpretations describe important aspects of the exercise and are not
contradictory to each other. The first describes briefly the technique while the
second refers to one goal of the exercise; actually with daoyin we guide
the qi and move our body in order to obtain a beneficial effect to our
health. China has an ancient and deep tradition of body-mind care.
According to historical documents already during the feudal age (770-221 BC) the
so-called "life-nourishing ways" (yangsheng zhi dao) gained great
importance. They were methods aimed at enhancing a long, healthy and good life,
by means of dietetic regime, herbal preparations, gymnastic exercises and
spiritual cultivation (such as study, poetry, meditation, etc.). Many
famous thinkers of this time argued heatedly on these issues, proposing their
own "ways" and discussing those of their colleagues. Among the various
"life-nourishing ways", the physical exercise was almost universally regarded as
necessary and very effective. As "physical exercise" we have to think here
something much deeper and articulated than what we mean today. It was an
exercise involving body and mind in a great potentially unlimited effort of
self-purification. The ascetics of that time practiced and taught these
techniques in order to reach long life and immortality."
- Daoyin
"Shape-Changing in practice essentially breaks down into two main areas
that for the purposes of discussion I've decided to call "Out of body" shifting and
"Altered State" shifting. The two are related: altered state shapeshifting in particular using some of the methods of
consciousness altering employed in out-of-body voyages but they are sufficiently different to
enable them to be considered separately."
- Redvane Fox
"The Five Animal Sports Qigong (五禽戲,
Wu Qin Xi). The Five Animal Sports is a well known medical Qigong set created by the famous Chinese medical doctor Hua Tuo (華陀
) during the East Han and Three Kingdom period (東漢﹐
三國)(25-420 A.D.). This set of medical Qigong imitates the natural movements of five animals. These animals are the
Tiger, Deer, Bear, Ape, and Bird. For nearly two thousand years, this set has proven very
effective for maintaining health, and for healing various illnesses."
- Yang
Jwing-Ming's Martial Arts Academy
"Dear Michael,
I have liked your website for sometime and have
referred to it. As for the 5 Animal Frolics, frolic, this also has some
misleads. Hua-To's tomb is on Mt. Hua. As for Dr. Hua's
teaching, no one knows [again totem-symbol making, great doctor and great
mountain]. The original exercise was simple walking, not much more; the
more recent PRC pubs tend to go into 5 variations upon each of the 5 animals
5x5. Han Xingyuan, one of my teachers, believed that there was a relation
between the Hua To exercises and the Xing Yi animals - of which there where
originally only 3 forms, not 5. The 5 animals are actually 5
actions, virtually the same as those inherent in Hsing Yi: expand, rise, cross,
compress, sink. Your attempt to cross-culture, cross-time compare Hua To's animals to animals
to American Indian animals ... this is a common error of knowledge. Pyramids
exist in many locations, but this does not mean they where built
for the same reasons or even similar. Interesting otherwise."
- K. Conor Foxx, 10/27/07
"In the Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo (A.D.110-207), was
an outstanding medical Doctor and became known as the “Father of Traditional
Chinese Medicine”. He researched the physical activities of animals
specifically the characteristics of the Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey and Bird. He
also combined the theory of the energy flow and distribution of the meridian
lines with the physiological functions and pathological changes of the human
body, and its relationship between the movements of these five animals and the
five major organs of human beings. Using this information, he invented this set
of exercises, which he proudly called “My Doctor”. The Five Animals Frolics
were first documented in a chapter of the “Three Kingdoms Period – Biography of
Hua Tuo”, by Chen Shou, during the Western Jin Dynasty (A.D.265-316). Hua Tuo
was one of the first people, in the world, to use movements as a healing art.
The ancient health art of Five Animals Frolics Qi Gong has continued to be
practiced and benefited people’s health for over 1800 years. Practitioners use
this physical and mental exercise to increase their Qi accumulation, protect and
strengthen their internal health and prevent or cure diseases."
-
Frank Allen
"Daoyin
導引 (a.k.a. Tao Yin), which literally means
“guiding and stretching,” is a traditional Chinese form of “calisthenics” (Grk.:
“beautiful strength”; physical exercise) or “gymnastics” (Grk.: “to train”).
Traditionally and historically speaking, Daoyin practices are stretching
exercises, usually combined with breath-
"Tao Yin is Dao Yin (Tao Yin) are a series of breathing exercises practiced
by
Taoists to cultivate Qi (Ch'i)
or internal energy of the body based upon the principles of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practice of Dao Yin was an ancient
precursor of Qigong,
and was practiced in Chinese
Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual cultivation. I has been
documented since 500 BC. Dao Yin is also said to be (along with
Shaolin Ch'uan) a primary formative ingredient in the well-known soft style
Chinese martial art of
T'ai Chi Ch'uan."
- Wikipedia
"In addition to cosmological
attunement, Daoist Daoyin frequently utilizes the orb-
- Daoyin
五禽戲
Frolics of the Five Animals
Waving
Hands Like Clouds Homepage
Red Bluff, Tehama County,
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© Michael P. Garofalo, 2009, All Rights Reserved
This webpage was first posted on the Internet in January 2003 at: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/five.htm
This webpage was moved to this URL on June 15, 2009: Animal Frolics Qigong, http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/animalfrolics.htm
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Exercise, Strength Training, Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, Meditation,
Walking
Grandmother, Grandfather, Older, Elderly, Great Grandmother, Great Grandfather
Aging, Aged, Old, Senior, Seniors, Octogenarian, Old Ones, Elder, Elders, Senior
Golden Years, Old Man, Old Woman, Patriarch,
Matriarch, Oldster, Golden Ager, Old Timer, Geriatrics, Gerontology,
Retired Person's Fitness, Retirees, Retirement,
Retiree Fitness, Senior Fitness, Seniors' Fitness
Easy Workouts, Light Exercise, Mild Exercise, Moderate Exercise
Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Fitness
Yoga, Pilates, Mat Exercises, Mindfulness Exercises
Fitness, Exercise, Strength Training, Tai Chi, Taijiquan, Chi Kung, Qigong, Yoga,
Meditation, Walking
Personal Instruction, Classes, Lectures, Workshops, Seminars, Training, Lessons
Group Instruction