September 12, 2010
© Valley Spirit
Qigong, Green Way Research, Red
Bluff, California, 2010
By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S., All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
The Monkey Frolic will be completed by December 1, 2010.
五禽戲
Frolics of the Five Animals
Monkey
Introduction
Monkey Frolic
Flexibility
Bibliography, Links and Resources
Monkey Frolic
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
Animal
Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small.
By Ted Andrews. Llewellyn, 1993. 383 pages. ISBN: 0875420281.
"Shows readers how to identify his or her animal totem and learn how to invoke its energy and
use it for personal growth and inner discovery."
Animal Spirits and Nature
Spirits
Animal
Spirits: The Shared World - Sacrifice, Ritual, and Myth; Animal Souls
and Symbols. By Nicholas J. Saunders. Index, 182 pages. ISBN:
0316903051.
Animal
Wise: The Spirit Language and Signs of Nature. By Ted Andrews.
Dragonhawk
Pub., 1999. 400 pages. ISBN: 1888767340.
Autumn (Fall): Poems,
Quotes, Sayings, Lore
The Bear: The Five Animal Frolics
Beginning Qigong: Chinese Secrets for Health and Longevity. By Stephen Comee. Tokyo, Tuttle Publishing, 1993. 120 pages.
ISBN:0804817219. VSCL.
Chi Kung: Five Animal, Five Elements. By Dr. Xue Zhi Wang, O.M.D., C.A.
Instructional VHS. 4115 University Way N.E. #111, Seattle, WA 98105.
Phone (206) 547-2435.
Chi Kung Fundamentals 1: Five Animals Video.
By Michael Winn. Instructional videotape, 90 minutes. Instructional audiotape. Telephone:
888-999-0555.
Chi Kung (Qi Gong, Dao Yin) : Links, Bibliography,
Resources, Quotations
Chinese Healing Arts: Internal Kung Fu. Edited by William R. Berk.
Burbank, CA, Unique Publications. 209 pages. ISBN: 0865680833.
VSCL. Includes numerous translations of classic works.
Chinese Healing Exercises: The Tradition of Daoyin. By Livia Kohn.
University of Hawaii Press, 2008. 268 pages. ISBN:
0824832698. History of Daoist health practices.
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:
Qigong and Taijiquan
The
Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing. By Daniel Reid.
Random House,
1994. 484 pages. ISBN: 0877739293.
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations of the Monkey
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations of the Animals of the Five Animal
Frolics Qigong
Crane Frolic:
Bibliography, Resources, Lessons
Daoyin, Qigong, Chi Kung,
Yangsheng: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Lessons, Lore
Deer Frolic:
Bibliography, Resources, Lessons
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.
Druken Monkey Kung Fu and Staff/Pole Form
The Effect
of Precaution against Sub-health of the Health Qigong Wu Qin Xi.
Chinese Health Qigong Association. 2008.
Eight Section Brocade
Qigong Ba Duan Jin.
Ecstatic
Body Postures: An Alternate Reality Workbook. By Belinda Gore.
Foreword by
Felicitas Goodman. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bear and Company, 1995.
Endnotes,
284 pages. MGC. ISBN: 1879181223. The Bear Spirit Posture is
described and illustrated, pp. 49-54.
The Ecstatic Experience: Healing Postures for Spirit Journeys. By
Belinda Gore. Bear and Company, 2009. 160 pages. Includes 60
minute CD of trance rhythms. . ISBN: 1591430968. VSCL.
Ecstatic
Trance: New Ritual Body Postures. By Felicitas D. Goodman and
Nana Nauwald.
Binkey Kok, 2003. Workbook edition, 184 pages. ISBN: 9074597637. VSCL.
Fei Chang Fang Monkey Style - Promotes nimbleness of
the limbs.
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.
John Du Cane explains
and provide photographs of demonstrations of 6 Monkey movements and postures, pp.
69-84.
The Five Animals do the Six Healing
Sounds. By Michael Winn. Healing Tao Home Study Video, 2004.
Qigong Fundamentals 1. 1 DVD. Instruction in the Inner Smile, Ocean
Breathing, 6 Healing Sounds, and Five Animals. Also Qigong Fundamentals 1
includes lectures by Michael Winn on six audio CDs. VSCL.
Five Animal Sports Qigong. Instructional DVD, 180 minutes, by Dr.
Yang, Jwing-Ming and Kathy Yang. YMAA Publication Center, 2008. ASIN:
B0018OZFOS. VSCL.
Green Paths in the Valley Blog
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
wonderful 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
"Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics,"
Zhou Lishang. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 4, August, 2005, pp. 42-49. Translation by Yan Shufan.
Part 1. A detailed article on how to do the Frolics. This version of the Frolics set was developed by the
Shanghai University of Sports and approved by the State Physical Culture and Sports Bureau. The articles
includes set by set photos, instructions, and some very interesting
illustrations from the Ma Wang Dui Tomb No. 3 findings.
Monkey Frolic.
UTube Video, 2:03 Min. Performed by Anson Rathbone, 2007. As taught by
Deguang at NESA's Medical Qigong Class.
Monkey
Frolic Qigong. By Mike Garofalo,
Valley Spirit Qigong,
Red Bluff, California.
Monkey Kung Fu, Monkey Fist,
Hou Quan (猴拳)
Monkey Exercise
Illustrations and descriptions for the two monkey frolics exercises taken from
the book
Wu Qin Xi by the Chinese Health Qigong
Association.
Nature
Spirits: How to Create Relationships the Nature Spirits of Animals
One Old Druid's Final Journey:
Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove
Qigong Essentials:
Five Animal Frolics. Instructional DVD, 70 minutes, by Master Jesse
Tsao. Tai Chi Healthways, San Diego. "Five Animal Frolics is an
ancient Chinese Qigong practice. Hua-tuo, the most famous Chinese doctor in
ancient China, designed Five Animals Frolic based on Chuang-tzu's Taoist
practice and traditional Chinese medical philosophy. He observed animals in
nature and mimicked their daily activities to create movements for people
cultivating life energy. Each animal form has a special effect on a human
being's inner organ health: tiger form for liver energy flow; deer form for
kidney; bear form for spleen and stomach; ape form for the heart; bird form for
lungs. Five Animal Frolics can fully stimulate and awaken qi, the vital energy
inside of our body, contained within the meridian channels and cavities. Through
the stimulation and accumulation of qi, a person can clear out stress and
sickness and may not only acquire a new sense of physical and mental energy, but
create the conditions for longevity as well. Throughout 1700 years, routines
have been passed down from different people, resulting in various versions of
Five Animal Frolics. This video shows the most popular forms in China today, and
provides the basic "how-to" aspects of the routine. Master Tsao demonstrates the
complete form in both front and back view, along with detailed instruction in
posture-by-posture lessons. It is a good reference for home study, or a resource
for instructor's teaching preparation. Suggest 30 class hours."
Sample UTube Video of
this DVD. VSCL.
Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion. By Jiao Guorui.
Translated by Jiao Tielan. Beijing,
China Reconstructs Press, 1988. ISBN: 750720100. ASIN: B000B6TA54. The Animal
Frolics are discussed and explained on 190-236. The text includes
illustrations (line drawings). The Monkey Folic is described and illustrated on pp.
220-202. VSCL.
Qigong: Five Animals Part 3
of 6 Parts. Two Monkey Movements. UTube video, 7:04 minutes.
Narration in Chinese. By Wakarukai.
Qigong (Chi Kung, Dao Yin) : Links, Bibliography,
Resources, Quotations
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 Daoism, Neidan, gardening, tea, history, qigong/daoyin, readings, etc.
Secrets
to Living Younger Longer: The Self-Healing Path of Qigong Standing
Meditation
and Tai Chi. By Michael Mayer, Ph.D.. Orinda, California, Body Mind
Healing
Publications, 2004. Index, bibliography, 281 pages. ISBN:
0970431066.
This book has a companion instructional video/DVD called "Body Mind Healing
Qigong."
Website: Body Mind Healing.
VSCL.
Shaolin Qi Gong: Energy in Motion. By Shi Xinggui. In
collaboration with Eleonore Yogl. Translated by Ariel Godwin.
Rochester, Vermont, Destiny Books, 2007. 153 pages. Includes a 53
minute instructional DVD. ISBN: 9781594772641. VSCL.
Shapeshifting:
Shamanic Techniques for Global and Personal Information. By John M.
Perkins. Inner Traditions Intl. Ltd., 1997. 184 pages. ISBN:
0892816635. VSCL.
Simplified Tai Chi
Chuan, Standard 24 Form, in the Yang Style
Simplified Tai
Chi Chuan, 18 Movement Form, in the Chen Style, by Grand Master Chen Zhenglei
Six Taoist
Healing Sounds Research by Mike Garofalo.
Spontaneous Five
Animal Play Qigong (Zifa Wuqinxi Donggong).
Compiled and readjusted by Liang
Shifeng who is a major Qigong master from a southern province of China, called
Guangdong in the early 1980s.
Standing Meditation
(Zhan Zhuang)
Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Taijiquan
and Qigong Website
Summer Months:
Quotes, Poems, Sayings, Lore
Taijiquan (Tai Chi
Chuan) and Qigong
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.
Totems:
The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem. By Brad
Steiger.
Harper San Francisco, 1997. 224 pages. ISBN: 0062514253.
Valley Spirit Qigong,
Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Mike Garofalo, M.S.
Vitality Qigong: An
Instructional Guide to the Monkey and Deer Frolics. By John Du Cane.
Instructional videotape, 43 minutes.
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. The two Monkey Frolics exercises are described on pp.
66-78.
Yi Jin Jing Qigong
(Muscle/Tendon Changing Qigong): Bibliography, Links, Resources, Lessons.
By Mike Garofalo.
Postures,
Routines, Names of Movements
Monkey Frolic
Jiao Guorui, "Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion," Monkey Frolic, 1988
Beginning Movement
1. Monkey Footwork
2. Peeping While Sitting
3. Offering Fruit Gifts
4. Picking Peaches
5. Escaping and Hiding
Ending Movement
Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion. By Jiao Guorui. Translated by Jiao Tielan. Beijing, China Reconstructs Press, 1988. ISBN: 750720100. ASIN: B000B6TA54. The Animal Frolics are discussed and explained on 190-236. The text includes illustrations (line drawings). The Monkey Folic is described and illustrated on pp. 220-202. VSCL.
Paul Gallagher, "Drawing Silk," Monkey Frolic, 1988
1. Monkey Grasping Branch (Holding and Pulling)
2.
Monkey Looks Behind
3.
Monkey Offers Fruit
4.
Palms Extended Forward
5.
Fingers Widely Open in Front of Chin
6.
Monkey Offers Fruit Twice
"Drawing Silk: Masters' Secrets for Successful Tai Chi Practice." By Paul B. Gallagher. Third Edition. Fairview, North Carolina, Total Tai Chi, 2007, 1988. pp. 1-9, 214-215.
John Du Cane. "The Five Animal Frolics Workbook," Monkey Frolic, 2002.
1. Monkey Grasping Branch
2. Monkey Looks Behind
3. Monkey Offers Fruit
4. Monkey Offers Fruit, Variation A
5. Monkey Offers Fruit, Variation B
6. Monkey Offers Fruit Twice
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. John Du Cane explains and provide photographs of demonstrations of 6 Monkey movements and postures, pp. 69-84.
Anson Rathbone. "Five Animal Frolics: Monkey," 2007
1. Monkey Spirals
2. Reach for the Fruit
3. Share the Fruit
4. Monkey in the Mirror
Monkey Frolic. UTube Video, 2:03 Min. Performed by Anson Rathbone, 2007. As taught by Deguang at NESA's Medical Qigong Class.
Chinese Health Qigong Association. "Wu Qin Xi," Monkey Frolic, 2007
1. Lifting the Monkey's Paws
2. Picking Fruit
"Wu Qin Xi." By the Chinese Health Qigong Association, 2007. The two Monkey Frolics exercises are described on pp. 66-78. Monkey Exercise: Illustrations and descriptions for the two monkey frolics exercises taken from the book Wu Qin Xi by the Chinese Health Qigong Association.
Michael Garofalo. "Monkey Frolic of the Five Animal Frolics," 2009
Monkey Postures and Stances
1. The Monkey Looks Backward from Side to Side at Night
2. The White Ape Offers the Fruit
3.
Monkey Frolic Qigong version by Michael P. Garofalo, 2008.
Lessons, Instructions, Practice,
Suggestions
Monkey Frolic
Michael Garofalo. "Monkey Frolic of the Five Animal Frolics," 2009
Monkey Stance
1. The Monkey Looks Backward from Side to Side
2. The White Ape Offers the Fruit
3.
4.
5.
6.
"Monkey Frolic Daoyin," by Michael Garofalo, 2009, Instructions.
I began my study and practice of Taijiquan and Qigong in 1986, and Yoga in 2001. Over the years, I learned Monkey Frolic sets from numerous instructional media (DVD or VHS), books, from different instructors, and from personal practice. I have been teaching Taijiquan and Qigong since 2000, and yoga since 2004, in Red Bluff, California. In 2008, I attended a two-day Five Animal Frolics workshop taught by Kenneth Cohen in Sacramento, California. I have elsewhere provided some general comments about the practice of the Five Animal Frolics. I have also provided a Disclaimer about the practice of Qigong and Taijiquan.
A careful review of all the available electronic media and books that discuss the Monkey Frolics has shown me that no two teachers teach the same Monkey Frolics exercise forms (techniques, postures, movement sequences), nor do they give the movements the same names, nor do the total number of movements in a Monkey Frolics set remain the same. Some stand in one place and do the exercises, others move forward as they perform a set a of exercises. Therefore, I've chosen movements from various Monkey Frolics teachers that appeal to me the most, and I have given my reasons for so choosing in the explanations and instructions that follow below. In general, 1) I have not chosen Monkey Frolics exercises that involve lots of forward or backward stepping because this does not work well within the space I have for teaching Qigong or Yoga, 2) nearly all the exercises chosen require some balancing efforts, and 3) monkey lore and monkey behaviors in wild or domesticated settings were a factor in choosing and naming the exercises I have chosen so as to help with "pretending" to be a monkey, or "becoming" a monkey as some shamans might try to do.
Many people who do the Animal Frolics exercies only do two movements for each animal, repeat the movement 2-3 times, and then do the next Animal Frolic. This would require 10 movements (5 Animals with 2 movements for each Animal), for a total of 20-30 repetitions. A very good example of this method of exercising is the Wu Qin Xi set from the Chinese Health Qigong Association.
In my private home practice, most of the time, I like to do just one Animal at a time. I practice the Monkey Frolic movement set as described below, 6 movements; and with 4 repetitions of each movement, twice to each side.
I do favor some spontaneity, freedom, and flexibility in choosing what Animal Frolic(s) to practice each day, and how to practice the Frolic. Consequently, my private home practice is varied. Depending upon my interests, time available, mood, and what healing modality I feel is most needed by me, I feel free to play around with combinations and repetitions. We human beings, unlike our wild animal neighbors, are more varied and creative in our activities and responses to our environment. In some sense, we are "wilder" (i.e., more unpredictable, spontaneous, uncontrolled, liberated, unnatural, chaotic) than all other animals, wild or domesticated.
When I teach the Animal Frolics, I teach one animal at at time, appropriate to the season, and just teach that one animal frolic set with explanations and commentary relevant to the specific wild animal, healing benefits, history, Five Elements, healing sound, seasonal aspects, natural history, etc.
All the Monkey Frolics Qigong teachers do speak of the same general mind-body principles to follow while doing the Monkey Frolics Daoyin (Qigong) exercises: liveliness, alertness, playfulness, cleverness, staying relaxed (sung), doing the movement slowly, staying balanced, being deliberate, taking on and expressing the characteristics and nature of monkeys, inner awareness, deep breathing, concentrated mind, not forcing (wu wei), full awareness of energy movement in the body-mind, joyfulness, inner peace, delight ...
Monkey Stance
1. The Monkey Looks Backward from Side to Side
Stand up straight, arms at your sides, with your feet together or up to 12" apart. Draw both hands toward the middle of the waist, palms and fingers hanging down, and bring them to about six inches apart. Draw the hand slowly up the mid-line of the body until they are at about the center of the chest. As the arms are being drawn upward, gradually bend the knees. Feet can remain flat on the floor throughout or you can rise up on your toes as you bring your hands upward. The upper torso leans forward a little.
Quotations
Monkey Frolic and Monkey Lore
"The Monkey Play is to imitate the shape and
movements of a monkey to show its alertness, agility, and constant movement. The
features of a monkey are its love to imitate, agile movements, good at picking
fruit using upper limbs, and escaping the attacks from other animals. During the
practice, you need to focus your attention on the "naval" to reach a state of
"body is moving but mind is calm". That means that you should not only practice
the agility of your limbs on the outside, but also practice controlling your
thoughts on the inside. The goal of the "Monkey Play" is to reach a level of
"pure and tranquil in thoughts, light but strong body, and "body is moving but
mind is calm". This play will enhance the functions of the heart and lung and
strengthen the kidney and waist. This play is suitable for the older, the
weaker, and the depressed people. It can cure many chronicle diseases."
-
Five Animal Frolics
"The Monkey is a clever and nimble animal, fond
of scampering about and climbing trees. When performing the monkey
exercise, try to imitate the light and swift movements of the monkey, but for
the internal exercise you should keep your mind like a bright moon shining in
the quiet and still night. So the monkey exercise is externally dynamic
and internally static."
-
Wu Qin Xi,
Chinese Health Qigong Association, 2007, p. 66.
"Sometime between the Eastern Zhou (ca 776-256
BCE) and the Qin (ca 221-206 BCE) Dynasties, they developed the Two Animal Forms
(Liangqinxi), which imitate the actions of a bear climbing a tree and hanging
from its branches and a crane stretching out its wings in flight. In the
former Han Dynasty (ca 206 BCE - 8 CE) a third form, the monkey, was added.
Then, over a century later, in the Later Han Dynasty (ca 25-220 CE) after the
Three Animal Forms (Sanqinxi) had been strongly influenced by Taoist exercises
for longevity, two more forms, based on the movements of the deer and the tiger,
were added by learned doctors of medicine who developed them to help give their
aristocratic patients healthier and longer lives, thus creating the Five Animal
Forms (Wuqinxi). Since then, the Five Animal Forms have give rise to a
number of forms of Qigong exercises, most notably the
Eight Pieces of Silk
(Baduanjin) , the
Everyday Stretching Qigong (Yijinjing) exercises, and the internal Qi
regimens of the various Shaolin and
Tai Chi schools,
which can all trace their ancestry back to the original Two Animal Forms and
Taoist breathing exercises."
- Stephen Comee,
Beginning Qigong: Chinese Secrets for Health and Longevity,
p. 59.
"Frolicking like monkeys helps develop your child's suppleness and agility. It
helps them become quick witted, alert, and nimble. Monkey frolics help remove blockages in the flow of blood and chi. They help
prevent and harmonize hardening of the arteries. They help to clear plaque also. They loosen their body and joints. They sharpen their eyes and improve
hearing."
-
Five Animal Frolics
"Mind monkey or Monkey mind, from
Chinese xinyuan and
Sino-Japanese shin'en 心猿 [lit. "heart-/mind-monkey"], is a
Buddhist term meaning "unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful;
inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable". In addition to Buddhist
writings, including Chan or
Zen,
Consciousness-only,
Pure Land, and
Shingon, this "mind-monkey" psychological metaphor was adopted in
Daoism,
Neo-Confucianism, poetry, drama, and literature. "Mind-monkey" occurs in two
reversible
four-character idioms with yima or iba 意馬 [lit.
"thought-/will-horse"], most frequently used in Chinese xinyuanyima 心猿意馬
and Japanese ibashin'en 意馬心猿. The "Monkey King"
Sun Wukong
in the
Journey to the West personifies the mind-monkey."
-
Monkey Mind
Information,
Facts, Lore, Artwork
Monkeys
Hanuman: Hindu Deity with an Ape or Monkey Like Form
Sun Wukong, Monkey King, Chinese
Legendary Creature
Studies in 2001 led genetic scientists to the conclusion that the DNA of chimpanzees is 95% the same as the DNA of humans. Robert Britten reported these facts in 2002 in the Proceedings of the National Academy Science. Other genetic scientists have reported differences in the number of chromosomes, telemores, and sizes of the chromosomes between chimpanzees and humans. Not surprisingly, human beings have numerous DNA similarities with other mammals, and even less complex animals, e.g., the DNA genetic makeup of the mouse is similar to 85% of the genetic structure of human beings. Genetic research is still in its infancy, e.g., the Human Genome Project was conducted from 1990 to 2003 and studied the genetic structures of humans and mice.
Table of
Correspondences, Associations, Symbolism
Monkey Frolics
Correspondences and Alchemical Associations for the Monkey:
Attributes: Flexibility, Agility,
Alertness, Quickness, Playfulness, Curiosity
Element: Earth
Direction: Southwest or Center
Season: Late Summer
and Early Autumn;
Harvest Time, Indian Summer
Color: Yellow
Yin Organ: Spleen
Yang Organ: Stomach
Energizing Movements: Grounding, Stabilizing, Rooting, Centering,
Transforming
Temporal Associations: Afternoon of the Day, Late Summer, Harvest Season,
Age: 40-50 years old
Healing: Heart and Small Intestine; Large Muscles, Mouth, Lips
Healing Sound: "Hoooo"
Releasing: Worry, Impulsiveness
Encourage: Balanced and Playful (Yang); Secure and Confident (Yin)
The assignment of alchemical and magickal correspondences to the Monkey 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 Time |
Direction Weather |
Organs Body |
Mental Psychological |
Animal Characteristics |
Energetics Healing Sounds |
| Deer | Wood | Spring Green Dawn Birth Infancy |
East Wind |
Yin: Liver Yang: Gallbladder Joints, Tendons Tears Vision/Eyes |
Benevolence/Kindness Ren Anger, Shouting Spirit Patience & Subtlety |
Gentleness Calmness Alertness Herbivorous Woodlands |
Rise
|
| Crane | Fire | Summer Red Morning Childhood Growth |
South Heat |
Yin: Heart Yang: Small Intestine Blood Vessels Muscles Sweat Touch |
Propriety Order Li Joy, Laughing Calmness Control/Chaos Heaven |
Lightness Omnivorous Flying Longevity Steady/Balanced Migratory Marshlands |
Radiate, Disperse, Scatter, Rise "Hoo" as "Hook" |
| Monkey | Earth | Harvest Yellow Midday Young Adult Transformation |
Center Southwest Humid |
Yin: Spleen Yang: Stomach Spit Muscles Joints/Wrists Taste, Mouth |
Trust Xin Pensiveness, Worry Singing Empathy Humanity |
Openness Agility Herbivorous Curiosity |
Knot |
| Tiger | Metal | Autumn White Afternoon Dusk Middle Age Harvest |
West Dry |
Yin: Lungs Yang: Large Intestine Nasal Mucus Whole Body Skin Smell, Nose Breathing |
Righteousness Integrity Yi Grief/Sadness/Crying Anxiety/Sorrow Body |
Ferocity Strength Awareness Carnivorous |
Speed Leaping Constrict |
| Bear | Water | Winter Blue Nighttime Old Age Storage |
North Cold |
Yin: Kidneys Yang: Bladder Lower Back Spit Bones Hearing , Ears |
Wisdom Zhi Honesty Confidence/Worry Fear Earthiness Inner Focus |
Rootedness Lumbering Hibernating Sensitive Smelling Omnivorous |
Gathering, Absorbing Wavelike, Dropping "Hooo" sounds like the word who. |
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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© Michael P. Garofalo, 2010, All Rights Reserved
This webpage was first posted on the Internet in January 2003 at: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/five.htm
This webpage was moved to this URL on June 15, 2009: Animal Frolics Qigong, http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/animalfrolics.htm
Cuttings: Haiku and Short Poems
Alphabetical Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung Website