On Beginning of Summer, stay refreshed in harmony with nature

with calm composure.

A refreshing rain heralds the Beginning of Summer in Hangzhou, the most romantic gift from nature.
The Chinese ancient classic records, “‘Start’ signifies beginning; ‘summer’ implies growth. At this time, all things grow luxuriantly.” The Beginning of Summer is a burst of vitality and the prelude to the heat to come.

Hangzhou in the rain

However, this flourishing vitality also hides nature’s trials. After the Beginning of Summer, the heat intensifies and rain becomes frequent. TCM calls this “a combination of summer heat and dampness,” which can lead to tiredness and digestive issues.
But ancient people found solutions in nature. The Wu Qin Xi（Five-Animal Exercises）, created by the Eastern Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo, imitate the actions of tigers, deer, bears, apes, and birds, transforming natural principles into a method of health cultivation. Today, let’s follow this ancient wisdom to overcome the challenges of heat and humidity, and strengthen our physical capabilities.

"Solar Terms and the Universe" is a special video series jointly produced by Hangzhoufeel, the International Education School of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, and the International Relations Office of ZCMU. Each episode provides you with intimate knowledge about Solar Terms and health tips.

Practice "Wu Qin Xi" in Harmony with Nature

After summer begins, warm and moist air currents clash intensely with lingering cold air. In southern cities like Hangzhou, humidity soars, and the familiar "sauna days" arrive. During this time, the spleen and stomach easily fall out of balance, and qi and blood can become sluggish.
Traditional habits inherited from ancient times, such as light eating, noontime naps, and the saying "a calm mind naturally cools the body," all represent the resonance between humans and nature. They showcase the wisdom of adapting to the climate for better health.

Following natural rhythms for health is the wisdom of TCM, and the “Wu Qin Xi” is a notable example. This cultivation method imitate the movements of tigers, deer, bears, apes, and birds. It originates from Daoyin techniques, where "Dao" directs qi and breathing, and "Yin" directs body movements.

Tiger 
Get on all fours, then pounce forward and leap backward. Mimic a tiger to stretch your shoulders and back, and strengthen your waist and abdomen.
Deer 
Stretch your neck and look back, extending your legs left and right. Move like a nimble deer to promote the smooth flow of qi and blood.
Bear 
Lie on your back, hug your knees, and rock sideways. Regulate spleen and stomach meridians via abdominal moves. Boost gastrointestinal motility and ease spleen deficiency and bloating from damp heat.
Ape 
Hanging by your arms, pull your body up and stretch backward. Mimic a monkey’s dexterity to stretch your upper limbs and enhance mental focus.
Bird 
Stand on one leg and spread your arms like wings. Imitate a bird’s light, agile flight to improve balance and increase blood oxygen levels.

The Beginning of Summer marks the start of life's flourishing and a chance for mind-body balance. “Wu Qin Xi” is like a millennium-spanning life symphony. The tiger’s power dispels dampness, the deer’s grace eases liver stagnation, the bear’s solidity strengthens the spleen and stomach, the ape’s agility clears heart fire, and the bird’s spryness wards off external pathogens, resonating with nature.

Journalist: Wang Jiao
Editor: Fang Jingyi
Senior editor: Zhou Ji, Li Zheng
Source: Hangzhoufeel