This photo shows a reproduced TCM hospital poster portraying Hua Tuo, inventor of Wu Qin Xi exercise. [Photo/kongfz.com]

Tracing the creator

"By moving about briskly, digestion is improved, the blood vessels are opened, and illnesses are prevented," Hua said to his disciple Wu Pu, according to a book written by historian Chen Shou in the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316).

Besides his marvelous medical skills, Hua was famous for Wu Qin Xi exercise, which he developed by studying the movements of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and birds.

The idea behind the selection of the five creatures is wuxing, or the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth), which correspond with colors, seasons, internal organs, sensory organs and emotions.

Symbolically, the five animal-imitating stances represent different internal organs and functioning systems. Therefore, each of the five stances is designed to regulate the functions of the corresponding organs and related body systems.

For example, the tiger corresponds with water and the kidneys, urinary system and reproductive system; the deer corresponds with wood and  the liver, gall bladder, digestive and hormonal systems; the monkey corresponds with fire and  the heart, blood vessels and circulatory system; the bear corresponds with earth and  the spleen, pancreas and digestive system; and the bird corresponds with gold and the lungs and respiratory system. And the whole exercising process works positively on one's motor and nervous systems.