“Humans can develop certain abilities we aren’t born with by practicing animals’ movements,” the traditional Chinese Wushu lovers believed in the past—and still do today.
Chinese Five-Animal Exercises, also known as Wuqinxi, are the first complete set of qigong exercises following the movements of animals: monkeys, deer, birds, bears and tigers. In the last years of Eastern Han Dynasty, they were created by one of the greatest doctors in Chinese history, Hua Tuo.
The Five-Animal Exercises are well-designed to help blood circulation (循环), and let the energy go smoothly in the body so as to improve the health.
“The bear movements are good for the stomach. The tiger movements can reduce the pain in the back. The deer movements help reduce the fat around the waist (腰). The bird movements can help keep our knees healthy and the monkey movements can be good for the heart,” said Hua Yi, the 59th inheritor (继承人) of Wuqinxi.
For those new learners, the first few exercises might not go well. You may find it hard to focus (集中注意力), wear comfortable clothes, keep peaceful in your mind, try to move slowly… little by little, you’ll feel more and more harmonious with nature. You may even feel you become a tiger or a deer, walking in the forest freely.
These exercises need no tools and they are easy to learn. You can search online for the videos and practice them at any time when you feel like relaxing your body and mind. Because it’s fun to practice and good for health, Five-Animal Exercises are becoming more and more popular in recent years, not only in China, but also in many other places of the world.
11. When were the Five-Animal Exercises created in Chinese history?
A.Eastern Han Dynasty. | B.Ming Dynasty. | C.Qing Dynasty. |
12. Why do people practice Five-Animal Exercise?
A.To protect wild animals. | B.To improve the health. | C.To play as a group game. |
13. Mr. Zhang has a pain in the back, ________ may help him a lot.
A.the bear movements | B.the deer movements | C.the tiger movements |
14. How will the new learners feel about the first few exercises?
A.They may find it hard to focus. |
B.They’ll feel harmonious with nature. |
C.They may feel they become tigers or deer, walking in the forest freely. |
15. Which of the following is
NOT true?
A.These exercises need no tools and they are easy to learn. |
B.Five-Animal Exercises are becoming more and more popular only in China. |
C.One can learn Wuqinxi through the Internet at any time. |