Five Animals Qigong

Wu Xing Qi Gong

Five Animals Qigong is a sophisticated movement system that contains the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Five Elements theory, and Daoist philosophy. Hua Tuo created the classical Wu Qin Xi with five animals: Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Crane. This established the foundation for medical qigong. Modern Five Animals systems use different animals: Leopard, Crane, Snake, Tiger, and Dragon. This comprehensive analysis looks at three major sequences: the Shaolin martial system, Yuan Xiu Gang's Wudang approach, and the innovative König-Weichhardt family qigong pattern developed by TCM practitioner Centina König-Weichhardt and Master Ziji (Michael König-Weichhardt).

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How the Five Animals Connect to the Five Elements in Modern Systems

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The Three Main Modern Five Animals Sequences

Shaolin Martial Five Animals (from the Yuan Dynasty)

Order of animals: Tiger → Crane → Leopard → Snake → Dragon

Element order: Metal → Fire → Wood → Earth → Water
This martial arts sequence doesn't follow the traditional element cycles. Instead, it focuses on being effective in combat rather than creating balanced energy flow. While this arrangement is great for developing fighting skills, it may create energy imbalances in the body if not practiced carefully with proper regulation.

Yuan Xiu Gang's Wudang Approach

About Master Yuan Xiu Gang

Master Yuan Xiu Gang was born in 1971. He is a Daoist priest with the Daoist name Shi Mao, and he is the 15th generation student in the Wudang San Feng Sect lineage. This lineage goes back to the 14th century when Zhang San Feng became enlightened and created Taijiquan.
Master Yuan started learning martial arts when he was 7 years old. At age 16, he studied Shaolin kungfu for three years. He suffered from rheumatism as a child, which led him to become interested in internal martial arts for healing. In 1991, he traveled to Wudang Mountain where he became a student of the famous Master Zhong Yun Long.
In 1994, Master Yuan was chosen to join the Wudang Taoist Wushu Performance Team. He also became a priest at the Purple Heaven Palace, which is the largest Daoist temple on Wudang Mountain. Since then, he has learned the complete Wudang San Feng Pai system, including Taiji, Baji, Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiyi. He is recognized as a national expert in qigong and meditation. Master Yuan was one of the first Wudang masters to teach San Feng Pai to international students. He is unique as the only master on Wudang Mountain who teaches the complete lineage and speaks fluent English.

Yuan Xiu Gang's Five Animals Sequence

Order of animals: Dragon → Tiger → Leopard → Snake → Crane
Element order: Water → Metal → Wood → Earth → Fire
Yuan's sequence follows a modified controlling cycle that starts with Water (Dragon) controlling Fire, though Fire (Crane) comes at the end. This represents Daoist alchemical ideas about how things manifest from primordial essence (Water) through different densities until they become refined spirit (Fire). The Wudang tradition sometimes uses five different animals in some versions: Tortoise, Snake, Dragon, Tiger, and Crane. However, the Dragon-Tiger-Leopard-Snake-Crane sequence is also taught.

The König-Weichhardt Family Qigong Pattern

Order of animals: Leopard → Crane → Snake → Tiger → Dragon

Element order: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water
This sequence follows the complete Five Element Generating Cycle (生, shēng)!
Centina König-Weichhardt, who has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, worked together with Michael König-Weichhardt (Master Ziji) to create this family qigong pattern. Their important insight was understanding that following the natural generating cycle creates the best healing effects while building energy in a sustainable way.

The König-Weichhardt Generating Cycle Sequence

Perfect Five Element Generating Flow

The Leopard → Crane → Snake → Tiger → Dragon sequence creates the classical generating cycle where each element naturally feeds and supports the next one:

  • Wood (Leopard) generates Fire: Liver energy fuels heart circulation
  • Fire (Crane) generates Earth: Heart fire warms spleen transformation
  • Earth (Snake) generates Metal: Spleen energy supports lung function
  • Metal (Tiger) generates Water: Lung energy descends to the kidneys
  • Water (Dragon) generates Wood: Kidney essence nourishes the liver

This is the only modern Five Animals sequence that follows the complete generating cycle. It creates natural, sustainable energy building without depleting your resources.
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The König-Weichhardt Pattern Explained

Two Different Paths to the Same Goal

New research shows that Hua Tuo purposely broke the Five Element cycles in his Wu Qin Xi to prevent energy from building up dangerously in one area. While this works, it creates scattered energy that requires careful management to avoid imbalances.

The König-Weichhardt family pattern takes another approach. Instead of breaking the cycle to prevent problems, it works with nature's own design. By following the complete generating cycle, each element automatically nourishes the next one in perfect order. This means energy flows naturally without getting stuck, and without creating the chaos that comes from jumping between elements randomly. It's like following a river downstream instead of trying to cross it back and forth.

Your Body Already Works This Way

The generating cycle isn't just theory - it's exactly how your body naturally functions:

  • Your liver stores energy (Wood) that directly fuels your heart's pumping action (Fire)
  • Your heart's circulation powers your digestive system (Earth)
  • The nutrients from digestion feed your lungs and breathing (Metal)
  • Oxygen from breathing enables every cell in your body to create energy (Water)
  • This cellular energy rebuilds and regenerates your liver (Wood)

By practicing in this order, you're supporting your body's natural processes instead of fighting against them. This creates sustainable, long-lasting energy without exhaustion.

Natural Emotional Balance

Following the generating cycle also creates smooth emotional development that builds on itself:

  • Clear Vision and Purpose (Wood) naturally sparks Joy and Connection (Fire)
  • Joy and Connection create Stability and Centering (Earth)
  • Being stable allows for Letting Go and Refinement (Metal)
  • Refinement deepens into Wisdom and Flow (Water)
  • Wisdom circles back to strengthen Vision and Purpose (Wood)

Each emotion prepares you for the next one naturally, creating lasting emotional balance instead of jumping between feelings randomly. The König-Weichhardt pattern is the only modern Five Animals sequence that follows the complete natural generating cycle. This means it builds energy sustainably, supports your body's own rhythms, and creates balance without depletion. Other sequences may work, but they require more effort to manage the scattered energy they create.
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Five Animals Qigong Online Course

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How to Use the Sequence for Different Health Problems