Wanshou danshu (The Cinnabar Book of Longevity) is a 'nourishing life' (yang sheng) text composed in the Ming period (1368-1644) by Gong Juzhong. It records a far more ancient practice known as Wu qin xi (Play of the five creatures). This is a form of therapeutic gymnastics based on the mimesis of animal movements. Already described in Hua Tuo Zhuan (The Book of Hua Tuo [?-203 CE]) Hou han shu (History of the Later Han Dynasty), it probably represents a pre-Han popular tradition. This illustration depicts the fourth of the 'plays of the five creatures' - yuan xi, the play of the ape. It is performed as follows: One holds one's breath, and imitates an ape climbing a tree while picking fruit with one hand, lifting one leg while pivoting on the other heel. At the same time, one circulates spiritual breath/Qi, taking the breath into one's abdomen. One may stop when one feels that one has worked up a sweat.
