© Valley Spirit
Qigong, Green Way Research, Red
Bluff, California, 2003-2012
By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S., All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
五禽戲
Frolics of the Five Animals
Animal Frolics Qigong (Daoyin): Deer Crane Monkey Tiger Bear Dragon
Deer
Animal Frolics Qigong
Introduction
Deer Frolic
Bibliography, Links and Resources
Deer Frolic
A
Note to Readers: The
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these mind-body arts websites are very well-established and stable websites,
they provide readers with a good and secure starting point for their online
research into Chi Kung, Taijiquan, Walking, Meditation, and the Daoist-Druid
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Unfortunately, as everyone knows, many other websites and webpages,
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Authors do not pay to keep up their web hosting services, loose a "free hosting"
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videos become invalid and the files are no longer found on the Internet. You
may find a some of these "dead links" to nonexistent webpages or videos cited
below; and, there is no way to avoid this troublesome situation. For this
reason, when you do find a good and useful webpage, be sure to save the webpage
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I welcome your suggestions for how to improve this webpage. Your comments,
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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, Links,
Lessons, Resources, Quotations, History
Spring: Poems,
Quotes, Sayings, Lore
Chinese Healing Exercises: The Tradition of Daoyin. By Livia Kohn.
University of Hawaii Press, 2008. 268 pages. ISBN:
0824832698. History of Daoist health practices.
Cloud Hands Website:
Taijiquan and Qigong
Connotations of “Deer Show” of Wu Qin Xi Chinese Health Qigong
Association, 2009.
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations of the Deer
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations of the Animals of the Five Animal
Frolics Qigong
Daoyin, Qigong, Chi Kung,
Yangshenggong: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Lessons, Lore
Deer Frolic.
UTube Video, 2:04 minutes.
Performed by Anson Rathbone, 2007. As taught by
Deguang at NESA's Medical Qigong Class.
Drawing Silk: Masters' Secrets for Successful Tai Chi Practice. By
Paul B. Gallagher. Third Edition. Fairview, North Carolina, Total Tai Chi, 2007,
1988. 245 pages. ISBN: 9781419663127. The Five Animal
Frolics are covered on pp. pp. 214-215. An instructional DVD is
available from Master Gallagher.
Eight Section Brocade
Chi Kung Ba Duan Jin.
Five Animal Frolics Qigong: Bibliography,
Resources, Lessons, Links, Quotations, History
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.
Green Way Research.
Red Bluff, California.
Hatha
Yoga: The Hidden Language; Symbols, Secrets and Metaphor. By Swami
Sivananda
Radha. Foreward by B.K.S. Iyengar. Spokane, Washington, Timeless
Books, 1987,
1995. Index, 308 pages. ISBN: 0931454743. MGC. A
delightful book filled with lore,
myths, symbols, stories, and metaphors about various yoga postures. Yoga
postures that embody
aspects of birds (pp. 180-225) include the Swan (Hamsasana),
Crane (Bakasana), Eagle
(Garudasana), Peacock (Mayurasana), and Cock (Kukkutasana).
History of
the Five Animal Frolics
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. VSCL.
Relaxation (Sung, Song, Shoong),
Effortless Action, and
Qigong Links,
bibliography, quotes, and notes.
By Mike Garofalo.
Ripening Peaches:
Daoist Studies and Practices. Taoist scriptures, bibliography,
Quanzhen Dragon Gate (Longmen) Daoism, Neidan, readings, etc.
Shaolin Qigong 18 Lohan Qigong
Standing Meditation
(Zhan Zhuang)
Taoist
Qigong for Health and Vitality. A Complete Program of Movement,
Meditation,
and Healing Sounds. By Sat Chuen Hon. Foreword by Philip
Glass. Boston, MA, Shambhala Pubs. Inc., 2003. Notes, 174 pages. ISBN: 1590300688. VSCL.
The healing sound for the Heart in this book is "Ho" and is described on pp.
71-83.
Valley Spirit Qigong,
Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Mike Garofalo, M.S.
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. One of my favorite books:
comprehensive,
informative, practical, and reasonable.
Ways of Walking: Poems,
Quotes, Sayings, Bibliography, Links, Lessons, Resources
Wild Goose Qigong: Links, Bibliography, Quotes, Notes
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.
Yi Jin Jing Qigong
(Muscle/Tendon Changing Qigong): Bibliography, Links, Resources, Lessons.
By Mike Garofalo.
Postures,
Routines, Names of Movements
Deer Frolic
Lessons, Instructions, Suggestions,
Comments
Deer Frolic
Quotations
Deer Frolic and Deer Lore
"The Deer Play is to imitate the shape and
movement of a deer hoping to attain long life and pure soul like a deer. The
features of a deer are its gentle disposition, swift movement, love to push with
horns, and good at running. When it stands it likes to stretch its neck to
glance at things afar. The deer also likes looking at left and right and its
rear foot. It is also good at moving its tail bones (sacrum). The tail bone is
the place where the Jen and Du meridians meet. Thus, during practice, the
practitioner not only needs to imitate the attitude of a deer with swift
movement and calm spirit, but also need to focus attention on the tail bone.
This will guide Qi to the whole body, open meridians, circulate blood, relax
tendons and bones, and benefit kidney and strengthen waist. It can also enhance
blood circulation in the abdomen. This play is suitable for curing dysfunctional
nerves in the internal organs, chronicle infections of the internal organs in
the abdomen, fatigue in the waist muscles, nerve pain in the pelvis,
deteriorated thigh bones, and the lack of sex drives."
-
Five Animal Frolics
"To learn and practice “Deer Show”, it is
indispensable to understand the fitness functions of it. In the first place, it
can strengthen the waist and kidney. The traditional Chinese medicine claims
that the Du meridian has close relationship with brain, marrow and kidney, which
can prevent from the pathological changes for the above three organs. By means
of turning waist as well as twisting coccygeal end, it is conductive to clear
the meridians, improve blood circulation, and strengthen the exchange of
congenital and acquired blood. All the above functions can control and prevent
from the symptoms such as waist virtual cold, pain, enuresis and diarrhea, exert
a strong efficacy of kidney. In the second place, it can play the role of
arousing the Yang-Energy. By means of gravity moving backward, the whole spine
bending, the coccygeal end folder, Ming Men protruding backward, clearing the Da
Zhui to raise the Yang-Energy. Furthermore, it is positive to promote the blood
transmission to the body meridians, nourishing the body from top to bottom, from
inside to outside, so that it can contribute greatly to restore normal
physiological and psychological functions. In the third place, it can fully
rotate the spine, enhance muscle strength and prevent from the disorders of
waist. The arms with the state of internal rotation, the shoulder and back
muscles with the state of free stretch, can exert favorable effects on
preventing from the neck and shoulder syndromes."
-
Connotations of “Deer Show” of Wu Qin Xi, Chinese Health Qigong
Association
Information,
Facts, Lore, Artwork
Deer
Table of
Correspondences, Associations, Symbolism
Deer Frolics
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations for the Deer:
Attributes: Grace, Relaxation.
Element: Wood
Direction: East
Organ: Liver
Season: Spring
Color: Green
Yin Organ: Liver
Yang Organ: Gall Bladder
Healing Sound: "Shhhh" "Shu" At the end
of the shhhh, form your mouth into the U shape.
Energetic Movements: Generating, Rising, Expanding
Temporal Associations: Morning of the Day, Youth, Spring, Planting Season,
Age: 10-20 years old
Bodily Healing: Kidneys and Bladder; Tendons, Ligaments, Small Muscles, Eyes
Release: Anger, Indecisiveness, Meanness
Encourage: Decisiveness (Yang); Kindness (Yin)
The assignment of alchemical and magickal correspondences to the Deer vary amongst practitioners of the Five Animal Frolics, qigong theorists, and Taoist Alchemists. The following authors have provided tables of correspondences: Kenneth Cohen, Franklin Fick, Mike Garofalo, Alan Graham, Livia Kohn, Joseph Morales, Ken Morgan, Nancy Seeber, Yang Jwing-Ming, and Oberon Zell-Ravenheart.
Readers should keep in mind that knowledge of these alchemical and magickal correspondences is of some usefulness to most practitioners. The true Adepts and playful Wizards will need to pay very close attention to correspondences. Theses associations have a long history in China and their meanings are part of the mental aspects of the Five Animals Frolics Daoyin practice. Daily practice of the Frolics, often outdoors, is essential to embody these cosmic principles.
A wise person will always try to understand the cosmic forces that influence and/or rule our lives: the air we breathe, the sun that warms the earth, the water that sustains all living beings, the plants and animals of our world, the human technology that makes our lifestyles possible, the ideas and values that constitute our spirit. These forces are symbolized by Air (breath, energy), Fire (sun, hearth), Water (rain, snow, lakes, sea, ponds, wells), Wood (plants, trees, fruit, grains, food), Animals (Deer, Crane, Monkey, Tiger, Bear, Dragon, etc., domesticated animals, food, humans), Metal (technology, science, agriculture, earthly resources), Humanity (persons, family, village, state, society, culture), Spirit (mind, wisdom, Shen, Dao), and the Unbounded (imagination, fantasy, spirits, divine, Wu, Heaven).
In China, the Five Elements (Phases, Processes, Cycles) are: Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, and Metal. In the West, the Five Elements (Materials, Substances, Components) are Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit (Aether).
Here is my current table of correspondences for the Five Animal Frolics Daoyin:
|
Animal |
Element |
Season |
Direction |
Organs |
Mental |
Animal |
Energetics |
|
Deer |
Wood |
Spring |
East |
Yin: Liver |
Benevolence/Kindness Ren |
Gentleness |
Rise
|
|
Crane |
Fire |
Summer |
South |
Yin: Heart |
Propriety |
Lightness |
Radiate, Disperse, Scatter, Rise |
|
Monkey |
Earth |
Harvest |
Center |
Yin: Spleen |
Trust Xin |
Openness |
Knot |
|
Tiger |
Metal |
Autumn |
West |
Yin: Lungs |
Righteousness |
Ferocity |
Speed |
|
Bear |
Water |
Winter |
North |
Yin: Kidneys |
Wisdom Zhi |
Rootedness |
Gathering, Absorbing |
I have reflected on and developed my own schemas and correspondences tables. Readers might want to look at my interpretations of the Trigrams of the I Ching.
I also developed a table of correspondences for the Baguazhang Qigong Animals circle walking practices. In the Bagua Qigong the two "Birds" are the Hawk and Phoenix:
Animal Frolics Qigong (Daoyin): Deer Crane Monkey Tiger Bear Dragon
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© Valley Spirit
Qigong, Green Way Research, Red
Bluff, California, 2003-2012
By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S., All Rights Reserved.
© Michael P. Garofalo, 2003-2012, All Rights Reserved
Parts of this webpage were first posted on the Internet in January 2003 at: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/five.htm
Parts of this webpage were moved in June 2009 to: Animal Frolics Qigong, http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/animalfrolics.htm
This webpage was developed in March, 2010: http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/deer.htm
This webpage was last updated on March 19, 2012
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