THE FIVE ANIMAL FROLICS
Excerpts from Kenneth Cohen’s book, The Way of Oigong
The Five Animal Folics (Wu Qin Xi) are graceful dance like exercises modeled after the Crane, Bear, Monkey, Deer and tiger. They are a complete qigong system, developing strengthen, grace, flexibility, balance, and an abundance of healing qi. The Five Animals are medical qigong because they circulate the qi and improve health. The Frolics are spiritual qigong because they teach harmony with the animals and all of nature.
The Five Animal Frolics is the most ancient qigong system still practiced today. It is also one of the oldest continuously practiced healing exercises in the world. The Frolics were created by Hua Tuo (A.D. 110- 207), often called the “father of Chinese Medicine.” The theories of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis attributed to him are still considered the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Hua Tuo told two disciples, who lived to be 90 and the other past one hundred, The body should be exercised, but not to excess. Exercise improves digestion and keeps the meridians clear of obstructions. In this way, the body will remain free of illness. A door hinge does not rust if it is frequently used. Therefore the ancient sages practice dao-yin…I have created a dao-yin method caned the Five Animal Frolics. It can eliminate sickness and strengthen the root.
The Five Animal Frolics became popular because of a famous Beijing actress, Madame Guo Lin (1906-1984) who had an 8 year struggle with cancer with a prognosis of 6 months to live. Madame Guo began to practice the Five Animal Frolics two hours a day at dawn. Six months later she was in remission. Thirty years later she became a national hero in her campaign to introduce qigong into hospitals and clinics throughout China.
The Crane is the symbol of meditative stillness and longevity. In Chinese mythology, the crane is the companion of the God of Longevity. Daoists say that enlightened sages ride to heaven on the back of the crane.
The Bear is the symbol of strength, power and healing wisdom. In ancient China” the shaman-healers wore bear masks and may have imitated the stepping of the bear in ritual dance.
The Crane and Bear are the Yang and Yin of the Five Animals. The Crane is light, relaxed, and excellent for the heart and helps to open and elongate the spine. The Crane has a light pulse, airy light as a cloud, and when practiced in the summertime helps to keep the body cool. The Bear is heavy, strong, stimulates the kidneys, lower back, stomach, spleen and bones. Practicing the Bear helps to utilize calcium intake and helps to slow down or prevent osteoporosis. The Bear sinks into the ground, teaches us to go within, and when practiced in the winter helps to build up internal heat. Practice them both at the same workout as this will keep yin and yang, fire and water, in balance.
The Monkey is lighter, more playful, friskier and quicker than the Crane and Bear. There is an agile quality which helps to loosen joints and opens blockages of blood or qi. Practicing the Monkey helps to sharpen the eyes, and helps to prevent the hardening of arteries as it clears out plaque and deposits. The body is based on water flow. When there is stagnation in the body, it is like a dam. Too much energy is on one side and not enough on the other. Practicing the Monkey helps blood flow freely as the monkey loves to move.
. The Deer symbolizes relaxed elegance, beauty, fluidity of movement and consciousness. The Deer is able to see beyond the physical, has the ability to perceive spirit in nature. The spring time is the season for the Deer and helps to strengthen the liver and kidney organs. Practicing the Deer strengthens the Lower Dantien (LDT) and balances sexual vitality. The Deer promotes fluidity throughout the body, opens the mid back and neck and strengthens the bones, joints, hips and knees.
The Tiger is the king of all animals. Softness is concealed within the power of the Tiger. The season of the Tiger is in the fall and helps to strengthen the lungs and helps to prevent colds in the winter. The eyes and claws of the Tiger are like a hurricane wind within stillness. Practicing the tiger promotes flowering of qi into the muscles and tendons and into the skin. The Tiger symbolizes Courage and helps to build up positive forms of. yang, aggressive energy. This teaches us to develop a courageous attitude and to practice without fear.
When yon practice the animals, do not imitate the animals, become them. Ideally, one could observe the animals (from a safe distance) in their natural environment and practice in that environment Hua Tuo developed the Five Animal Frolics as a complete system for self healing to be used as complementary medicine, adjunct to other forms of traditional healing. When one first starts to have a cold or when recovering from an illness, practicing these animals will help to expel sickness and will help to heal specific diseases and organs.
After practicing the Five Animal Frolics, it is recommended that one do standing meditation or walking then Sitting Meditation for a few minutes to reap in the full benefits from this qigong practice.
“The Five Animal Frolics° was written by Kenneth Cohen and excerpts were taken from his book, The Way of Oigong, and from his video tape on the Five Animal Frolics. The movement descriptions are short hand notes prepared by Dove Govrin.
The qigong form, The Five Animals Frolics® was taught to Kenneth Cohen by taichi and qi gong instructor Dan Farber of Kentfield, Ca. who shared this wealth of information to Dove.
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