Shimen 石門
On the lower abdomen, on the front midline, 2 B-cun below the centre of the navel.
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Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Shimen.
On this page
1Where is Shimen?
On the lower abdomen, on the front midline, 2 B-cun below the centre of the navel.
Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle
2How do I find it on my body?
- Treat the distance from the centre of the navel to the top edge of the pubic symphysis as 5 B-cun.
- Measure 2 B-cun down from the centre of the navel.
- Press on the front midline.
A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.
- Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing
- An acupuncture and moxibustion book compiled by Huangfu Mi in 3rd-century China, regarded as the first classic to organize point names, locations and classifications systematically.
- pubic symphysis
- Where the two pubic bones join with cartilage at the bottom middle of the belly; going straight down from the navel you meet it as a hard bony edge. The center of the navel to its upper edge is taken as 5 cun.
- rectus abdominis
- The long vertical muscle on each side of the middle of the belly, from the pubic bone to the rib cartilages, that bends the trunk forward. It makes the 'six-pack' blocks when tightened.
- linea alba
- A white line of tendon down the middle of the belly where the sheets of the belly muscles from both sides meet, from the bottom of the breastbone to the pubic bone. The navel lies on it.
- lower abdomen
- The belly below the navel, down to the pubic bone.
3Before you press
- The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing records it as a point where needling and moxa were forbidden for women (a historical record).
- Do not press during pregnancy.
- WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month).
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
4How has it been used traditionally?
- The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol. 3) classifies it as the Front-mu point of the Sanjiao and lists Dantian and Mingmen among its other names — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Shimen?
On the lower abdomen, on the front midline, 2 B-cun below the centre of the navel.
How do I find Shimen?
Treat the distance from the centre of the navel to the top edge of the pubic symphysis as 5 B-cun. Measure 2 B-cun down from the centre of the navel. Press on the front midline.
Can I press it during pregnancy?
Do not press during pregnancy.
What should I watch out for?
The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing records it as a point where needling and moxa were forbidden for women (a historical record). Do not press during pregnancy. WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 222
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
- Korean point names: KMCRIC standard acupoint database
- Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vols. 3 and 5
- Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20
- Safety: CCAOM Clean Needle Technique Manual, 7th ed. (rev. 2024), p. 240
- 3D: computed on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS
Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.