Five-animal play is a set of guiding techniques compiled by Hua Tuo, a famous doctor in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, imitating the movements and demeanor of five animals, such as tigers, deer, bears, apes and birds.
Wuqinxi is an important method of traditional health guidance in China. Hua Tuo created the Five Birds Play on the basis of the Two Birds Play in Zhuangzi, and its name and function are recorded in the Biography of Hua Tuo in the Later Han Dynasty: "I have one skill and am famous for the Five Birds Play: tiger for one day, deer for two days, bear for three days, ape for four days and bird for five days."
Hua tuo wuqinxi is one of the most popular and longest-lasting fitness methods in China, which consists of five movements imitating animals. Hua tuo wuqinxi is also known as "Wuqinxi", "Wuqinxi" and "Hundred Steps Sweating Drama". It is said that Hua Tuo's apprentice, Upp, exercised according to law and lived to be over 90 years old, without hearing, eyes and teeth, reaching 100 years old.
Wuqinxi is an important achievement of China's traditional guided health care. Created by Hua Tuo, a doctor of medicine in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it is a national intangible cultural heritage project. Its movements imitate five animals: tiger, deer, bear, ape and bird. Up to now, many different schools have been formed, each with its own merits. In Bozhou, Anhui Province, Hua Tuo's hometown, there is now a Five-Animal Opera mainly spread by Dong and Liu.