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The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) runs along the midline of the back. It has twenty-eight acupoints, starting with Changqiang (GV1). Following are Yaoshu (GV12), Yangguan (GV13), entering Mingmen (GV4), then Xuanshu (GV15), Jizhong (GV9), and Zhongshu (GV10). Jinsuo (GV8), Zhiyang (GV9 - *Note: Text says Zhiyang returns to Lingtai, but standard GV order is Jinsuo GV8, Zhiyang GV9. The text lists them sequentially*), Lingtai (GV10), Shendao (GV11), Shenzhu (GV12), and Daodao (GV13) open in sequence. Dazhui (GV14) connects to Yamen (GV15), which links to Fengfu (GV16); Naohu (GV17), Qiangjian (GV18), and Houding (GV20) are arranged in order. Baihui (GV20), Qianding (GV21), Tongxihui (Xinhui, GV22), Shangxing (GV23), and Shenting (GV24) correspond; Shuigou (Du20/GV26) and Duanduan (CV27/GV27 contextually located on lip) are above the lips; Yinjiao (CV28/GV28 contextually located in gum) is inside the upper dental gap.

The end of the coccyx is Changqiang (GV1). At the 21st vertebra corresponds Yaoshu (GV12). At the 16th vertebra is Yangguan (GV13). At the 14th vertebra is Mingmen (GV4). At the 31st vertebra [Textual anomaly, likely refers to specific counting method or error in source text vs standard anatomy, usually Xuan Shu is T13] is Xuanshu (GV15), located in the center of the spine. At the 10th vertebra is Zhongshu (GV10). At the 9th vertebra is Jinsuo (GV8). Below the 7th vertebra is Zhiyang (GV9). At the 6th vertebra is Lingtai (GV10). At the 5th vertebra is Shendao (GV11). At the 3rd vertebra is Shenzhu (GV12). Below the 1st vertebra is Daodao (GV13). Above the 1st vertebra is Dazhui (GV14). Going up to the hairline is Yamen (GV15). Fengfu (GV16) is taken at one cun in the depression. Naohu (GV17) is two and a half cun above the occiput. Four cun higher is Qiangjian (GV18). Five and a half cun higher is Houding (GV20). Seven cun higher is Baihui (GV20), taken at the center of the vertex, corresponding to the midpoint between the apexes of both ears. Qianding (GV21) is eight and a half cun forward from the anterior hairline. Xinhui (GV22) is measured one chi forward. Shangxing (GV23) is at one chi one cun. Shenting (GV24) is at one chi two cun from the anterior hairline. Suliao (Nasolabial point/Extra point) is at the tip of the nose. Shuigou (GV26) is hidden in the philtrum below the nose. Duanduan (CV27) is taken at the upper end of the lip. Yinjiao (CV28) is in the gum inside the lip.

[Note] The collateral branch of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) originates at Changqiang (GV1), i.e., it circles behind the anus, externally combines with the Taiyang (Bladder) Meridian, and runs through the tailbone region, where the Changqiang (GV1) acupoint is located. It runs alongside the paraspinal muscles up to the neck, scatters on the head, and descends to the left and right of the shoulder blades, diverging to run with the Taiyang (Bladder) Meridian, penetrating the paraspinal muscles. This refers to the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) running externally and ascending. Therefore, the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "Originates from the Shu point of the lower extreme." This refers to Changqiang (GV1) in the tailbone region. It runs parallel within the spinal canal, i.e., alongside the spine. Ascending to Fengfu (GV16), it enters and belongs to the brain, i.e., ascending to the neck and scattering on the head. From Changqiang (GV1), penetrating the spine and ascending, below the 21st vertebra is Yaoshu (GV12). Below the 16th vertebra is Yangguan (GV13). Below the 14th vertebra is Mingmen (GV4). Below the 13th vertebra is Xuanshu (GV15). Below the 11th vertebra is Jizhong (GV9). Below the 10th vertebra is Zhongshu (GV10). Below the 9th vertebra is Jinsuo (GV8). Below the 7th vertebra is Zhiyang (GV9). Below the 6th vertebra is Lingtai (GV10). Below the 5th vertebra is Shendao (GV11). Below the 3rd vertebra is Shenzhu (GV12). Below the 1st vertebra is Daodao (GV13). Above the 1st vertebra is Dazhui (GV14). Up to the upper hairline is Yamen (GV15). Entering the hairline from Yamen (GV15) is Fengfu (GV16). Ascending one cun five fen from Fengfu (GV16) to the upper occipital bone is Naohu (GV17). Ascending one cun five fen from Qiangjian (GV18) is Houding (GV20). Ascending one cun five fen from Houding (GV20) directly to the depression in the center of the vertex between the two ear apices is Baihui (GV20). Advancing one cun five fen forward from Baihui (GV20) is Qianding (GV21). Advancing one cun five fen forward from Qianding (GV21) is Xinhui (GV22). Advancing one cun forward from Xinhui (GV22) is Shangxing (GV23). From Shangxing (GV23) to the anterior hairline is Shenting (GV24). The distance between the anterior and posterior hairlines, combined according to bone proportion, is one chi two cun. Descending from the anterior hairline to the tip of the nose is Suliao (Nasolabial point). In the central groove below the nasal column, near the nostrils' depression, is Shuigou (GV26). At the upper end of the lip is Duanduan (CV27). In the gum seam inside the lip above the teeth is Yinjiao (CV28). There are twenty-eight acupoints in total, all running along the midline of the back.

[Commentary] The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) begins at Changqiang (GV1), as originally stated in the *Ling Shu · Jing Mai Chapter*: "The collateral branch of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), named Changqiang, runs alongside the paraspinal muscles up to the neck, scatters above and below on the head, corresponds to the left and right of the shoulder blades, diverges to run with the Taiyang (Bladder) Meridian, and penetrates the paraspinal muscles." The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), Difficulty 28, states: "The Du Mai (Governing Vessel) originates from the Shu point of the lower extreme, runs parallel above the spinal canal, ascends to Fengfu (GV16), and enters/belongs to the brain." This refers to the acupoints. The previous discussion that the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) originates from the lower abdomen refers to its meridian pathway.