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(Lu Suo Beishu Pian from *Ling Shu* and Xue Qi Xing Zhi Pian from *Su Wen*)

The Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: I wish to hear about the Shu points (Back-Shu points) of the Five Zang organs, which ones emerge from the back. (Full text from *Ling Shu: Beishu Pian*. The Five Zang organs reside in the abdomen, and their meridian Qi all emerges from the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian on the back; this is referred to as the Shu points of the Five Zang organs. Thus, Emperor Taizong of Tang read in the *Mingtang Acupuncture Book*: "The connections of the human Five Zang organs are all attached to the back." He issued an edict that henceforth prisoners must not be whipped on the back, fearing that damaging their Zang Qi would endanger their lives. The benevolence and grace of Emperor Taizong extended over the world, which can be imagined from this. As for those who deliberately whip people on the back to harm them, alas! What kind of heart do they have? 'Shu' (pronounced shù), in the original classic, the characters 'Shu', 'Shu', and 'Yu' are used interchangeably.)

Qibo replied: The major Shu point on the back is at the end of the Dushu bone (the lateral aspect of the first thoracic vertebra). (The major Shu refers to the Dazhu [BL11] acupoint, located on both sides of the first vertebra behind the neck, hence it is said to be at the end of the Dushu bone.) The Fei Shu (Lung Back-Shu) is between the third Jiao (vertebral segment), the Xin Shu (Heart Back-Shu) is between the fifth Jiao, the Ge Shu (Diaphragm Back-Shu) is between the seventh Jiao, the Gan Shu (Liver Back-Shu) is between the ninth Jiao, the Pi Shu (Spleen Back-Shu) is between the eleventh Jiao, and the Shen Shu (Kidney Back-Shu) is between the fourteenth Jiao. All are flanking the spine, approximately three cun away from the midline. ('Jiao' here means 'Zhui' (vertebra), referring to the segments of the spinal column. In ancient times, it was called 'Jiao' or 'Jiao', and later written as 'Zhui'. From Dazhu to Shenshu, each side is 1.5 cun from the spinal midline, hence it is said to be about three cun from the spine. I observe that the meaning of the character 'Jiao' does not specifically refer to bone joints, but rather indicates that the Zang Qi emerges from the intersegmental spaces and travels through the muscle textures and meridian networks; any position from top to bottom can be referred to as Jiao. Therefore, the concept of 'San Jiao' (Triple Burner) originally referred to the upper, middle, and lower parts spanning the entire body, and indeed, one can infer others from this.) To verify these points, press the location; if pain is relieved upon pressing, then it is the correct Shu point. (This is the method for verifying acupoints. When pressing the Shu point, there must be pain followed by relief, indicating the correct location. 'Jie' means softening and dispersing. Pronounced xiè.) Moxibustion is permissible, but needling is not. If the Qi is excess, apply the reducing method; if deficient, apply the tonifying method. For tonification with fire, do not blow on the fire; wait for it to extinguish naturally. For reduction with fire, blow rapidly on the fire, replace the moxa cone, and ensure the fire extinguishes quickly. (This states that for the Back-Shu points of the Five Zang organs, only moxibustion is allowed, not needling. Not only needling has tonification and reduction methods, but moxibustion also does. For fire tonification, do not blow on the fire to make it burn fast; wait for it to extinguish calmly and naturally. For fire reduction, blow rapidly to make it burn fast, immediately replace the moxa cone, and ensure the fire extinguishes quickly. This is the method of using fire for tonification and reduction.)

To know the location of the Back-Shu points, first measure the distance between the two nipples, fold it in half, then use another grass stalk to measure a length reduced by half from the previous measurement. Support the two ends together to form a triangle, then lift this long grass stalk to measure the back, placing one corner at the top, aligned with the Dazhui (GV14) acupoint on the spine, and the other two corners at the bottom. The point directly below the lower corner is the Shu point of the Lung. (*Su Wen: Xue Qi Xing Zhi Pian*. This is also a method for measuring the Back-Shu points of the Five Zang organs. Back-Shu refers to the Shu points of the Five Zang organs; because they are located on the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and emerge from the back, they are collectively called Back-Shu. The measurement method is as follows: first, horizontally measure the distance between the two nipples with a grass stalk and fold it in half. Then, take another grass stalk and compare it to the previous one, removing half its length, aligning with the number obtained from folding the previous stalk in half. Then, stand the long grass stalk vertically and place the short grass stalk horizontally underneath, supporting the two ends together, resembling the three corners of a triangle. Lift this grass assembly to measure the back, placing one corner at the top, aligned with the Dazhui point in the center of the spine. The two lower corners correspond to the space between the third vertebrae, which is the Feishu (BL13) acupoint. 'Duo' is pronounced duó, 'Zhu' is pronounced zhǔ, 'Ling' is pronounced with the flat tone.) Move down one measurement again, and this is the Shu point of the Heart. (Moving down one measurement means aligning the upper corner with the third vertebra, i.e., the center of Feishu; the two lower corners correspond to the space between the fifth vertebrae, which is the Xinshu (BL15) acupoint. 'Duo' is pronounced as written, same below.) Move down one measurement again; the left corner is the Shu point of the Liver, and the right corner is the Shu point of the Spleen. Move down one measurement again, and this is the Shu point of the Kidney. These are called the Shu points of the Five Zang organs, which serve as the standard for moxibustion and needling. (Moving down one measurement again follows the previous method, descending sequentially. Note: Measuring the Ganshu, Pishu, and Shenshu points using this method does not match the earlier *Beishu Pian*, nor the *Jia Yi Jing* or *Tong Ren* books. There may be errors therein, or perhaps this was a different school of thought in ancient times. It is still advisable to follow the records in the earlier *Beishu Pian* and *Jia Yi Jing* as correct.)