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Figure of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The spleen weighs two jin and three liang, is flat and broad with a width of three cun, and a length of five cun, accompanied by a half-jin weight of "scattered pancreas" (san gao). Its primary functions are to envelop blood, warm the five zang organs, and govern the storage of yi (intellect/thought). The *Su Wen · Ling Lan Mi Dian Lun* (Plain Questions: Secret Records of the Spiritual Pivot) states: The stomach and spleen are like the officials in charge of granaries; the five flavors emerge from them.

The *Ben Cang* chapter states: If the spleen is small, the zang organs are secure and difficult for pathogenic factors to injure; if the spleen is large, it causes pain due to compression against the hypochondrium, making rapid movement impossible. If the spleen is positioned high, it pulls on the costal region causing pain; if positioned low, it presses down upon the large intestine, and pressing upon the large intestine makes the zang organs susceptible to pathogenic invasion. If the spleen is firm, the zang organs are secure and hard to injure; if fragile, one is prone to xiao bi disease (wasting-thirst and numbness-bi) and easy injury. If the spleen is upright, its functions are harmonious and hard to injure; if tilted, one is prone to fullness and distension. It further states: Those with yellow complexion and fine skin texture have a small spleen; those with coarse skin texture have a large spleen. Those with everted lips have a high spleen; those with drooping lower lips have a low spleen. Those with firm lips have a firm spleen; those with large but unfirm lips have a fragile spleen. Those with symmetrical upper and lower lips have an upright spleen; those with lips bulging to one side have a tilted spleen.

The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian resides in the central province, containing twenty-one acupoints starting from Yinbai (SP1). Proceeding to Dabu (SP2), viewing Taibai (SP3), visiting Gongsun (SP4) up to Shangqiu (SP5). Crossing Sanjinyiao (SP6), Loudong (SP7) and Dijji (SP8) can be reached. Stepping into Yinlingquan (SP9), Xuehai (SP10) and Jimen (SP11) are sought. Entering Chongmen (SP12), Fushhe (SP13) appears open; releasing Fujie (SP14), Daheng (SP15) lies leisurely. Fu'ai (SP16) and Shidou (SP17) connect to Tianxi (SP18), sharing the same source; Xiongxiang (SP19) and Zhourong (SP20) link to Dabao (SP21), hooked together.

Yinbai (SP1) is at the medial tip of the great toe; Dabu (SP2) is sought in the depression behind the joint; Taibai (SP3) is below the medial malleolus bone; Gongsun (SP4) is called one cun behind the joint. Shangqiu (SP5) is in the slight depression anterior to the medial malleolus; Sanjinyiao (SP6) is three cun above the medial malleolus; Loudong (SP7) is six cun above the medial malleolus; Dijji (SP8) faces five cun above the medial malleolus. Yinlingquan (SP9) is on the medial aspect below the knee (opposite Yanglingquan GB34); Xuehai (SP10) is on the medial margin above the patella; Jimen (SP11) is taken at the fish belly muscle, where the arterial pulse is felt passing between tendons. Chongmen (SP12) is located one cun and five fen below Qimen (LR14) (Qimen is a Liver meridian point, four cun and five fen lateral to Juque CV14. Juque is a Conception Vessel point, six cun and five fen above the umbilicus); Fushhe (SP13) is viewed nine cun below Qimen; Fujie (SP14) enters six cun below Qimen; Daheng (SP15) is five cun and half below Qimen. Fu'ai (SP16) is two cun below Qimen; Qimen is a Liver meridian point appearing here, four cun and five fen lateral to Juque, yet connecting to Spleen meridian points—do not confuse them. Above this lies Shidou (SP17); Tianxi (SP18), Xiongxiang (SP19), and Zhourong (SP20) run through. They are separated by one cun and six fen, with little variation; moving up another one cun and six fen changes to Zhongfu LU1 (Lung meridian point). Dabao (SP21) is six cun under the axilla; Yuanye GB22 is three cun and half under the axilla (Yuanye is a Gallbladder meridian point, three cun under the axilla, connected to the Spleen meridian's Dabao point).

My commentary: Ma Xuantai stated: Zhongfu LU1 is a Lung meridian point. Zhourong (SP20), Xiongxiang (SP19), Tianxi (SP18), and Shidou (SP17) are Spleen meridian points. Qimen LR14 is a Liver meridian point. Below the Liver meridian lie the Spleen meridian points of Fu'ai (SP16), Daheng (SP15), Fujie (SP14), Fushhe (SP13), and Chongmen (SP12), which are four cun and five fen lateral to the midline. The points of these three meridians are connected vertically and horizontally, totaling forty-two points on both sides.

Figure of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian