第14章 华佗与五禽戏

华佗非常重视体育锻炼对人体健康的作用。华佗说：“人体必须经常劳动，但不能过度。经常活动能使消化能力增强，血脉畅通，不易发生疾病。正如门轴一样，天天转动，就不会长蛀虫。”华佗这个看法是合乎科学道理的。

华佗是古代医疗体育的创始人之一。他根据“流水不腐，户枢不蠹”的原理，创造了一种叫作“五禽之戏”的体育运动。这种体育运动就是摹仿虎、鹿、熊、猿、鸟五种禽兽运动姿态的体操。第一种动作是摹仿虎的前肢扑捉的姿态；第二种动作是摹仿鹿扬伸头颈的姿态；第三种动作是摹仿熊侧卧的姿态；第四种动作是摹仿猿的脚尖纵跳的姿态；第五种动作是摹仿鸟的双翅飞翔的姿态。摹仿这五种动物姿态，可以使周身关节、脊背、腰部、四肢都得到舒展，得到抻拔活动。体质衰弱的人，练了“五禽之戏”，可以使体魄健壮起来；患病的人，练了“五禽之戏”，可以加速康复的进程；年迈的人，练了“五禽之戏”，可以容颜焕发，精神旺盛。

华佗弟子吴普，由于几十年坚持做“五禽之戏”，活到九十多岁，仍然步履轻捷，耳聪目明，牙齿坚固。可见，“五禽之戏”是行之有效的健身法。

Hua Tuo and Five Animals Play

Hua Tuo attached great importance to the effect of physical exercise on human body."he human body must work often,but not excessively，" said Hua Tuo."egular activity makes the digestive system strong,the blood vessels smooth,and disease free.Like the door-axis,if it turns every day,it will not get worm-eaten." Hua Tuo's view is quite in line with scientific principles.

Hua Tuo was one of the founders of ancient medical sports.He created asport named "Five Animals Play" based on the principle that "running water is never stale and a door-hinge never gets worm-eaten." This sports is a kind of gymnastics,which imitates the movements and postures of tiger,deer,bear,ape and bird.The first movement is to imitate the tiger's forelimb catching prey,the second,to copy the deer's raising of its head and neck,the third,the bear lying on the side,the fourth,to model oneself on the ape's toe-jumping,and the fifth,to simulate the wings of the flying birds.By imitating these five animals,one can make the body joints,back,waist and limbs get stretched.A weak man may become physically strong by practicing "Five Animals Play".Those who are ill can speed up the process of recovery by practicing the "Five Animals Play"，too.The old man,who has practiced the "Five Animals Play"，can be radiant and energetic.

Wu Pu,one of Hua Tuo's disciples,lived to nineties because he had been practising the "Five Animals Play" for several decades.He had smart ears,good eyesight and strong teeth,and he could still walk with light steps at his nineties.It can be seen that "Five Animals Play" is an effective way to fitness.