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The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is located in the central region, containing twenty-one acupoints distributed extensively. Starting from Yinbai (SP1) on the medial side of the big toe, it proceeds to Dadu (SP2), Taibai (SP3), Gongsun (SP4), and Shangqiu (SP5); then ascending past Sanyinjiao (SP6), it reaches Lougu (SP7) and Diji (SP8); subsequently, one can step into Yinlingquan (SP9); followed by seeking Xuehai (SP10) and Jimen (SP11); entering Chongmen (SP12), it passes through Fushhe (SP13), Fujie (SP14), and Daheng (SP15), where these points are situated in open and spacious areas. Fu'ai (SP16) and Shidou (SP17) connect, Tianxi (SP18) shares the same source; Xiongxiang (SP19) and Zhourong (SP20) link together, finally converging at the Dabao (SP21) point, resembling a hook.

Yinbai (SP1) is at the medial tip of the big toe; Dadu (SP2) is sought in the depression behind the joint; Taibai (SP3) is under the medial malleolus bone, one cun behind the joint is Gongsun (SP4). Shangqiu (SP5) is in the slight depression anterior to the medial malleolus; Sanyinjiao (SP6) is three cun above the medial malleolus; Lougu (SP7) is six cun above the medial malleolus; Diji (SP8) is five cun above Lougu. Yinlingquan (SP9) is in the depression on the medial side below the knee; Xuehai (SP10) is on the medial aspect above the patella; Jimen (SP11) is taken at the fish belly muscle area, where the arterial pulse can be felt passing between the tendons. Chongmen (SP12) is located 5.5 cun directly below Qimen (LR14, a Liver Meridian point, 4.5 cun lateral to Juque RN15; Juque RN15 is a Conception Vessel point, 6.5 cun above the umbilicus) [Note: The text specifies "Qixia" referring to vertical distance relative to Qimen]; Fushhe (SP13) is nine cun below Qimen; Fujie (SP14) is six cun below Qimen; Daheng (SP15) is 5.5 cun below Qimen. Fu'ai (SP16) is two cun below Qimen. Qimen (LR14) belongs to the Liver Meridian; next to Juque RN15 is 4.5 cun laterally, yet it connects with Spleen Meridian points, so do not confuse them arbitrarily. Above this are Shidou (SP17), Tianxi (SP18), Xiongxiang (SP19), and Zhourong (SP20); they are separated by approximately 1.6 cun with little difference; moving up another six cun leads to Zhongfu (LU1). Dabao (SP21) is six cun below the axilla; Yuanli (GB22) is three cun below the axilla (Yuanli GB22 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian, three cun below the axilla; connected with the Spleen Meridian's Dabao point).

[Image: Diagram of Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian]
[Image: Diagram of the Heart]

The heart is pointed and round in shape, like the stamen of a lotus flower, with orifices inside whose number varies, serving to guide the primordial qi. There is no opening downwards, but it connects upwards to the tongue. It has four connections (ties) to communicate with the other four zang organs. Outside the heart is wrapped in red-yellow fat, which is called the Pericardium (Xinbaoluo). Below the heart is the diaphragm, attached around the spine and ribs, shielding turbid qi to prevent it from steaming upwards to warm the heart and lungs; this is referred to as Danzhong (Shanzhong).

The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian corresponds to the Heart. The Heart is the Official of the Sovereign, from whom Shen (Spirit/Mind) emerges. It unifies the blood of the whole body and governs the storage of Shen. Its Fu organ is Danzhong, and it has an interior-exterior relationship with the Small Intestine. Its mother element is Liver Wood, and its child element is Spleen Earth. It controls Lung Metal and subdues Kidney Water. Its season is Summer, its color is Red, its pulse is Hong (Surging) and Gou (Hooked), its direction is South, its trigram is Li (Fire), its musical note is Zhi, it dislikes Heat, its number is Seven, its taste is Bitter, and its odor is Scorched. Its flourishing aspect is the face, its fluid is Sweat, and its sound is Laughter. In the Five Elements, it belongs to Fire. The Heart Meridian has abundant Qi and scarce Blood; Qi and Blood flow into it during the Wu hour (11 am - 1 pm). The heart's shape is like an unopened lotus, containing seven holes and three hairs. Another description states: its image is pointed, long, flat, and round; its color is black-red-yellow; the number of internal orifices varies. Its external manifestation opens to the tongue; it weighs twelve taels, holds three he of essence juice, resides below the lungs and above the diaphragm, attaches to the fifth thoracic vertebra of the spine, and has four ties; one tie connects upwards to the Lungs; one tie follows the spine, penetrates the diaphragm from the left to connect to the Liver; one tie follows the spine near the right, penetrates to connect to the Spleen; one tie enters between the two large lobes of the lung, goes down from the lung lobes, curves backward, connects straight to the fine collaterals of the spine, penetrates the spinal cord, and communicates with the Kidneys. Between the seventh segments, the ties of all zang organs connect to the Heart here, and the Heart also connects to all zang organs here. When deficient, there is sorrow; when excessive, there is incessant laughter. Its normal pulse is Hong (Surging); its pathological/evil pulse is Chen (Deep). Death occurs on Ren-Gui days. Its associated animal is the Sheep, its grain is Millet (Shu). In the heavens, it corresponds to the Planet Mars (Yinghuo).

Manifestations of Heart pathology include: Xiao Ke (Wasting-thirst), pain inside both kidneys, pain in the posterior flank and lower back, oozing sores with excessive laughter, susceptibility to fright and forgetfulness, upper coughing and vomiting of blood, lower Qi leakage, dizziness and collapse with body heat, abdominal pain with sadness. Worry and overthinking damage the Heart. Excess patterns manifest as dreams of worry, fright, terror, and fear; deficiency patterns manifest as dreams of smoke, fire, and bright flames. Joy damages the Heart; Fear overcomes Joy; Heat damages Qi; Cold overcomes Heat; Bitterness damages Qi; Sourness overcomes Bitterness. Bitter flavor travels to Blood; in Blood diseases, one should not consume too much bitter food. Consuming too much salty food causes the vessels to coagulate, change position, and alter color.

The meridian of the Heart receives the connection from the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It originates in the Heart, runs outside the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), belongs to the Heart system, descends through the diaphragm, and at two cun above the umbilicus, connects to the Small Intestine; its branch rises from the Heart system, flanking the throat, and connects to the Eye System; its main trunk again rises straight from the Heart system to the Lung region, emerges along the axilla, reaches Jiquan (HT1); from Jiquan, it descends along the posterior medial border of the arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, passing through Qingling (HT9), descending to the medial elbow to reach Shaohai (HT3), and the bone prominence at the wrist end is called Duigu. From Shaohai downwards, it follows the medial forearm, passing through Lingdao (HT4) and Tongli (HT5), reaching the end of the palmar Duigu bone, following Yinxi (HT6) and Shenmen (HT7), entering the medial palm to reach Shaofu (HT8), and ending at Shaochong (HT9) at the radial side of the little finger tip, thereby connecting to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. It then ascends via Xiaoshu (SI1), QianGu (SI2), and Houxi (SI3).