A martial art expert named Zhue Yuen joined Shaolin. Much like the young noble 500 years earlier, he took it upon himself to Systemize this mess of styles that dominated China and Shaolin. In addition to traveling the monasteries (not only Shaolin), Zhue Yuen traveled China in search of other martial art styles and found many which he learned and evaluated. But it wasn't until he reached the town of Lan Zhau and met Li Sou that anything significant happened. Li Sou introduced Zhue Yuen to Bai Yu Feng, who was another famous martial arts practitioner. Zhue Yuen was able to convince both to come back with him to Shaolin to develop what they had learned and developed and combine it with Shaolin Kung Fu. Together they redeveloped Shaolin Animal Kung Fu into the 5 Animal Fists ( Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Leopard/Panther and Crane ), possibly even developing the 18 Hands of Lohan further into what we may call a combination of Tai Chi and Chi Kung.

Although originally just physical exercise and Kung Fu, the 5 Animal style took on a life of it's own. Shaolin were able to discover and develop the 5 Animal Style system to be not just physical but also a personality style index; metaphors for human situation handling, interaction, problem solving, planning and much more. Although still in it's infancy, the Shaolin 5 Animal style would find it's peak in the time of the Ming Dynasty.