the whole body; all five body parts
Refers to the entire body, often with a nuance of all limbs and head. Sense 3 is the original meaning (head, two hands, two feet; or head, neck, chest, hands, feet). In modern use, 五体 is most common in set phrases like 五体満足 (with all limbs intact).
My whole body trembled with fear.
I am grateful to have been born with all my limbs intact.
事故の後、五体が思うように動かなくなった。
After the accident, my whole body no longer moved as I wanted.
the five calligraphy styles
Refers to the five classical styles of writing Chinese characters: seal script (篆書), clerical script (隷書), regular script (楷書), semi-cursive script (行書), and cursive script (草書). This is a specialized term used in calligraphy and historical contexts.
書道の先生は五体すべてを教えてくれた。
The calligraphy teacher taught me all five styles.
この展覧会では五体の作品が展示されている。
Works in all five calligraphy styles are exhibited at this exhibition.
身体 is a formal, general word for 'the body' used in medical or legal contexts, whereas 五体 specifically evokes the head and four limbs as a unit and appears almost only in fixed expressions.
prostration; kowtow
with no physical defects; in perfect health; sound in wind and limb
the whole body; all four limbs and the trunk
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news and spec priority.
From 五 (five) + 体 (body). The original meaning referred to the five parts of the body in traditional Chinese medicine or philosophy. The calligraphy sense derives from the same 'five' + 'form' concept.