There were exercise techniques in ancient China which imitated the expressions and movements of animals. On the basis of Tai Chi-based life-nourishing theory, Hua Tuo, a famous physician of the Three Kingdoms Period, developed a life-nourishing technique featuring combined movement and stillness, Wuqinxi, by connecting physiological functions of the human body with the modal and behavioral characters of five animals – the tiger, deer, bear, ape and crane. The regular exercise of Wuqinxi helps to relax tendons and bones, keep Qi and blood unobstructed, prevent and cure illness, and stay healthy and prolong life. Hou Han Shu (Book of the Later Han) recorded that Hua Tuo still looked young and energetic when he was old and lived around one hundred years old because of his hardworking exercise of Wuqinxi.

The five animals of tiger, deer, bear, ape and crane in Wuqinxi correspond respectively to the Five Elements of water, wood, earth, fire and metal, and to the five internal organs of the kidney, liver, spleen, heart and lung. That is, the tiger is attributed to Water element, corresponding to the kidneys; the deer is attributed to Wood, corresponding to the liver; the bear is attributed to Earth, corresponding to the spleen; ape is attributed to Fire, corresponding to the heart; and the crane is attributed to Metal, corresponding to the lungs.

The tiger frolics strengthen the kidneys by imitating the tiger stretching its forelimbs; the deer frolics strengthen the liver by imitating the deer extending and turning its head and neck; the bear frolics strengthen the spleen by imitating the bear bending over and standing up; the ape frolics please the mind by imitating the ape jumping up; and the crane frolics strengthen the lungs by imitating the crane spreading its wings when flying.

Later generations further developed Hua Tuo's Wuqinxi. For example, Luo Hongxian of the Ming Dynasty developed the “Wuqinxi of the Ming Version”, with much more concise exercises easy to practice. In this Ming version, the five animals were, in sequence, tiger, bear, deer, ape and crane; the tiger's fierceness, the bear's calmness, the deer's sedateness, the ape's agility, and the crane's nimbleness are imitated to make the body strong and healthy. The Ming version also laid the foundation for the later creation of various types of animal-imitating Xingyiquan (Form/Intention Boxing), for example, “Bai He Liang Chi” (white crane spreads its wings) and “Jin Ji Du Li” (golden rooster stands on one leg).