形意拳 is one of the three major internal martial arts (
内家拳) alongside
太极拳 (Tai Chi) and
八卦掌 (Baguazhang). Its syllabus centers on the Five Fists (
五行拳) mapped to the Five Elements, and twelve animal forms. Attributed historically to Ji Jike (
姬际可) in the late Ming / early Qing.