Conception VesselCV8

Shenque 神闕

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the upper abdomen, at the very centre of the navel.

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Shenque — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Shenque — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Shenque — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Shenque.

On this page

Where is Shenque?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Shenque?

On the upper abdomen, at the very centre of the navel.

Beneath the point

Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle

Our 3D measurement · Our 3D model's skin has no navel dimple, so the point was placed on the front midline skin at the navel height marked in the Z-Anatomy atlas. That is 15.5 mm above the point that divides the xiphisternal junction–pubic symphysis line 8:5, and it agreed better with the landmarks of other points (anterior superior iliac spine, tip of the 11th rib). Still to be verified.

2How do I find it on my body?

The point is the centre of the navel.

Check · ST25, KI16 and SP15 all lie at this same height.

📖 Words explained

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.
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

⚠ Do not press when

The navel is an area that must never be needled (WHO safety guidelines, 1999; Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing, volume 5).
Do not poke inside the navel with a finger or tool.
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 name means 'palace gate of the spirit'. It carries no special category in the classical lists.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Shenque?

On the upper abdomen, at the very centre of the navel.

How do I find Shenque?

The point is the centre of the navel. ST25, KI16 and SP15 all lie at this same height.

Can I press it during pregnancy?

Do not press during pregnancy.

What should I watch out for?

The navel is an area that must never be needled (WHO safety guidelines, 1999; Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing, volume 5). Do not poke inside the navel with a finger or tool. 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.

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Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 223
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean point names: KMCRIC standard acupoint database
Needling prohibition: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vols. 3 and 5
Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), pp. 20, 25

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.