Spleen MeridianSP5

Shangqiu 商丘

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Below and in front of the medial malleolus, in the dip midway between the navicular tuberosity and the malleolar prominence.

Jing-river point (Metal)

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

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

Shangqiu — 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.

Shangqiu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Talus · Tibia

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

On this page

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

1Where is Shangqiu?

Below and in front of the medial malleolus, in the dip midway between the navicular tuberosity and the malleolar prominence.

It is where lines along the front and lower edges of the malleolus cross.

It is on the inner side of the foot.

Beneath the point

Talus · Tibia

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin midway between the navicular tuberosity and the peak of the medial malleolus; 4.3 mm from where lines along the front and lower edges of the malleolus cross.

2How do I find it on my body?

Picture a vertical line along the front edge of the inner ankle bone.
Picture a horizontal line along its lower edge.
Press the dip where they cross; LR4 lies in front, KI6 behind.

Check · midway between the navicular tuberosity (the bump below and in front of the ankle) and the tip of the inner ankle bone.

📖 Words explained

medial malleolus: The bump on the inner side of the ankle, the lower end of the tibia. Its highest point is a starting mark for measuring lower-leg points.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

If the ankle is swollen, hot or freshly sprained, see a clinician before pressing.
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?

Classified as the Jing-river (Metal) point of the Spleen channel — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The name joins shang, the musical note paired with Metal, and qiu (mound): beside the mound of the inner ankle bone.
It sits between LR4 (in front) and KI6 (behind).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Classical text

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

在足內踝骨下微前陷中足太陰脈之所行爲經 …《銅人》

① In the hollow just below and slightly in front of the inner ankle bone. Where the Foot Taiyin channel flows on, which makes it the Jing-river point (Tongren).

Source tags as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (1026).
The garbled glyph 嚹 has been corrected to 踝 (ankle bone), checked against Lingshu ch.
2 and the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol.
3.
"…" 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 Shangqiu?

Below and in front of the medial malleolus, in the dip midway between the navicular tuberosity and the malleolar prominence. It is where lines along the front and lower edges of the malleolus cross. It is on the inner side of the foot.

How do I find Shangqiu?

Picture a vertical line along the front edge of the inner ankle bone. Picture a horizontal line along its lower edge. Press the dip where they cross; LR4 lies in front, KI6 behind. midway between the navicular tuberosity (the bump below and in front of the ankle) and the tip of the inner ankle bone.

What should I watch out for?

If the ankle is swollen, hot or freshly sprained, see a clinician before pressing. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousGongsun · SP4 Next →Sanyinjiao · SP6

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 72
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean anatomical terms and locating tips: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu) for the five transport points; Nanjing ch. 64 for the phases; Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3 (Siku Quanshu edition)
Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 4 "Shangqiu" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Shangqiu" — Wikisource public edition (garbled glyph 嚹 corrected to 踝)
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)

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.