Heart MeridianHT8

Shaofu 少府

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Palm, in the dip between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, just on the wrist side of the little finger's knuckle joint.

Ying-spring point (Fire)

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

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

Shaofu — 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.

Shaofu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Fourth metacarpal bone · Fifth metacarpal bone · Palmar aponeurosis

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

On this page

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

1Where is Shaofu?

Palm, in the dip between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, just on the wrist side of the little finger's knuckle joint.

With a fist, it is where the little fingertip lands, level with PC8.

Beneath the point

Fourth metacarpal bone · Fifth metacarpal bone · Palmar aponeurosis

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: on the palm between the 4th and 5th metacarpals, just behind the 5th metacarpal head (14.0 mm from its end). It sits 14.9 mm short of the PC8 level — still to be verified.

2How do I find it on my body?

Make a loose fist.
Mark where the little fingertip touches the palm.
Open the hand.

Check · the mark lies between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, level with PC8.

📖 Words explained

palmar aponeurosis: A tough triangle-shaped sheet just under the skin of the palm. It continues from the palmaris longus tendon, fans out toward the fingers and protects the tendons and vessels below.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Crushing chest pain, breathlessness or a cold sweat can signal a heart emergency — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.

4How has it been used traditionally?

Classified as the Ying-spring (Fire) point of the Heart meridian — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The name joins shao (small) and fu (gathering place).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Classical text

Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Shaofu"

在手小指本節後陷中直勞宮手少陰脈之所流爲滎 …《銅人》

① In the hollow behind the base joint (benjie) of the little finger, in line with Laogong (PC8). Where the Hand Shaoyin channel flows, which makes it the Ying-spring point (Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing).

Source tags as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (1026).
Benjie ("base joint") is the old name for the knuckle (metacarpophalangeal) joint.
"…" marks the needling depth and moxa count, left out because they are for licensed practitioners.

Original text as written · translation is ours.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Shaofu?

Palm, in the dip between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, just on the wrist side of the little finger's knuckle joint. With a fist, it is where the little fingertip lands, level with PC8.

How do I find Shaofu?

Make a loose fist. Mark where the little fingertip touches the palm. Open the hand. the mark lies between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, level with PC8.

What should I watch out for?

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care. Crushing chest pain, breathlessness or a cold sweat can signal a heart emergency — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.

← PreviousShenmen · HT7 Next →Shaochong · HT9

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 85
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 14
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary (Korean Medical Association terms)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3 for the Heart five transport points (Lingshu ch. 2 lists the Pericardium points under 'Heart'); Nanjing ch. 64 for the phases
Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 5 "Shaofu" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Shaofu" — Wikisource public edition
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)
Classification and traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)

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.