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Chapter 59 of 78
黄帝内经·素问
Overall Paraphrase
This chapter of the Treatise on Qi Provinces discusses "where vessel-qi emanates"—that is, the qi-points where meridian-qi flows into, gathers, and communicates at the body surface, similar to what today is called acupoints. The ancients used the meridians as the framework and systematically counted these points by region.
Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian: There are seventy-eight points where vessel-qi emanates: one point at each inner end of the eyebrow; from the hairline entering the scalp to the nape, a distance of three and a half cun, there are five vertical lines on each side, spaced three cun apart, with vessel-qi coursing superficially in the skin in five lines, each line having five points, making a total of twenty-five points; one point beside each of the large sinews at the nape; one point beside each side of Fengfu (GV-16); proceeding downward alongside the spine to the sacrum and coccyx, calculating by the twenty-one vertebrae, fifteen of the intervertebral spaces have one point on each side; the five Shu points of the five zang-organs and the six Shu points of the six fu-organs; from Weizhong (BL-40) downward to the lateral side of the small toe, there are six points on each side.
Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian: There are sixty-two points where vessel-qi emanates: two points above each corner of the forehead; five points on each side from directly above the eyes upward into the hairline; one point above each anterior corner of the ear; one point below each anterior corner of the ear; one point below each sharp hairline; one Kerzhuren (GB-3) point on each side; one point in the depression behind each ear; one Xiaguan (ST-7) point on each side; one point behind the jaw below each ear; one Quepen (ST-12) point on each side; three cun below the axilla, from the ribcage down to the flank, one point in each of the eight intercostal spaces; one point beside each Bishu (GB-30) in the hip joint; from the knee downward to the second small toe, six points on each side.
Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian: There are sixty-eight points where vessel-qi emanates: three points beside the hairline on each side of the forehead; one point at each qiugong (zygomatic) foramen on the face; one point at each Daying (ST-5) bone foramen; one Renying (ST-9) point on each side; one point at each bone foramen outside the supraclavicular fossa; one point in each intercostal space through the chest; three cun lateral to the outside of Jiuwei (CV-15), directly below the nipples, five points on each side beside the stomach duct; three points on each side three cun lateral to the umbilicus; three points on each side two cun below the umbilicus; one point at each Qijie (ST-30) artery; one point above each Futu (ST-32); from Zusanli (ST-36) downward to the middle toe, eight points on each side. These are all the bone-foramina where vessel-qi is distributed.
Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian: There are thirty-six points where vessel-qi emanates: one point at the inner canthus and one at the outer canthus of each eye; one point below each zygomatic bone; one point above each ear helix; one point in each ear; one Jugu (LI-16) point on each side; one point on the bone above the curved axilla on each side; one point in each depression above the clavicular bone; five points on each side, starting four cun above the heavenly window point; one point at each shoulder articulation; one point three cun below each shoulder articulation; from the elbow down to the root of the small finger, six points on each side.
Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian: There are twenty-two points where vessel-qi emanates: two points on the lateral side of the nasal passages and two on the nape; one point at each Daying bone foramen; one point at each meeting of the clavicular bones; one point at each meeting of the scapular bone; from the elbow down to the root of the index finger, six points on each side.
Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian: There are thirty-two points where vessel-qi emanates: one point below each zygomatic bone; one point behind each eyebrow; one point above each corner (of the forehead); one point behind each mastoid process; one point on each side in the nape, anterior to the Foot-Taiyang meridian; one point on each side beside Futu (LI-18); one Jianzhen (SI-9) point on each side; one point at each interval three cun below Jianzhen; from the elbow down to the root of the ring finger, six points on each side.
Governor Vessel: There are twenty-eight points where qi emanates: two points at the center of the nape; eight points along the midline posterior to the hairline; three points on the midline of the face; from Dazhui (GV-14) downward to the sacrum and coccyx, including the points on both sides, fifteen points in total; downward to the sacrum, calculating by the twenty-one vertebrae, this illustrates the "vertebral counting" (jizhu fa) method of locating points.
Conception Vessel: There are twenty-eight points where qi emanates: two points at the center of the throat; one point in each depression amidst the chest bones along the midline; three cun below Jiuwei at the stomach duct region, 5 cun along the stomach duct, and from the stomach duct down to the pubic bone at six and a half cun, with one point at each interval—this is the "abdominal vessel" (fu mai fa) method of locating points. Additionally, there is one point below the external genitalia, one below each eye, one on the lower lip, and one at Yinjiao (GV-28).
Thoroughfare Vessel: There are twenty-two points where qi emanates: lateral to each side of the Jiuwei at half a cun, up to the umbilicus, with one point at every cun; lateral to each side of the lower abdomen, half a cun beside the midline from below the umbilicus to the pubic bone, with one point at every cun—this also follows the "abdominal vessel" method.
Additionally, the Foot-Shaoyin meridian has a point beneath the tongue, the Jueyin meridian has one point at the Jima (LR-12) in the pubic hair region, the Hand-Shaoyin meridian has one point, Yinqiao and Yangqiao each have one point, and the Yuji (LU-10) regions on both hands and feet also have places where vessel-qi emanates. The ancients calculated the total count to be "three hundred and sixty-five points," corresponding to the 365 days of the year.
The core concept of this chapter is "Qi Provinces" (qifu). A "qi province" can be understood as a place where meridian-qi gathers and emits at the body surface—that is, an acupoint. The underlying idea is that acupoints are not isolated points, but rather "windows" where the qi of the meridians flows outward and communicates with the body surface.
Modern acupuncture continues the framework of "meridian classification," but the number of points, their meridian assignments, and their locations have been revised and do not fully agree with this chapter's account. For instance, the "365 points" is more of a philosophical expression than an exact anatomical count. The number of points listed under various meridians also shows clear textual inconsistencies due to centuries of copying, and they cannot be directly equated with the current national standard acupuncture points.
Still, it is worth acknowledging that the ancient use of bony landmarks, hairlines, the navel, intercostal spaces, and joint markers remains a fundamental principle in acupuncture point location today. Modern research has also found that many acupoints are located where nerves and blood vessels are relatively dense and connective tissue is rich, and stimulation may exert effects through neural, humoral, fascial, and other pathways. However, these mechanisms are still being studied, and "where vessel-qi emanates" should not simply be equated with modern anatomical structures.
From a non-therapeutic perspective, understanding that "vessel-qi has places of emission on the body surface" can help us develop a holistic view of the body. In daily life, you may consider:
This content is based on classic ancient Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for the study and appreciation of traditional culture. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication advice, or treatment recommendation. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.