明堂上经云、如后发际亦有项脚长者。其毛直至骨头。亦有无项脚者。毛齐至天牖穴。
即
无毛根。如何取穴。答曰、其毛不可辄定。大约如此。若的的定中府正相当即是。侧相去各
二寸。
此为定穴。(下云。两眉中直上三寸为发际。后大椎直上三寸为发际。)
下经曰、岐伯以八分为一寸。缘人有长短肥瘠不同。取穴不准。扁鹊以手中指第一节为
一寸
。缘人有身长手短。身短手长。取穴亦不准。孙真人取大拇指节横纹为一寸。亦有差互。今
取男左女右手中指第二节内庭两横纹相去为一寸。(若屈指即旁取指。则中节上下两文角陷
相去远近为一寸。谓同身寸。)自根据此寸法与人着灸疗病多愈。今以为准。铜人亦曰、取中
指属性为一寸。素问云、同身寸是也。又多用绳度量。绳多出缩不准。今以薄竹片点量分寸
疗病准的。亦有用蜡纸条量者。但薄篾易折。蜡纸亦粘手取。取稻秆心量却易。为胜于用绳
经云、爪甲与爪甲角。内间与外间。内侧与外侧。与夫陷中宛宛中。要精审。如某穴去
某处几寸。与其穴去处同者。自各有经络。
灸膏肓云其间当有四肋三间。灸中间者。谓四肋必有三间。当中间灸。不灸边两间也。
千金曰、经云横三间寸者。则是三灸两间。一寸有三灸。灸有三分。三壮之处。即为一
寸也。
又曰、凡量一夫之法。覆手并舒四指。对度四指上下节横过为一夫。夫有两种。有三指
为一夫者。若灸脚弱。以四指为一夫也。(见香港脚。)
The *Mingtang Shangjing* (Superior Classic of the Acupuncture Mings) states: Regarding the posterior hairline, there are cases where the nape hair is long. The hair extends down to the bone. There are also cases without a distinct nape hairline, where the hair aligns level with the Tianyou (TE16) acupoint.
In such instances,
there are no visible hair roots. How should acupoints be located? The answer is: These hairs cannot be rigidly fixed as standards. Generally speaking, this is the situation. If it is precisely determined that the Zhongfu (LU1) acupoint is correctly positioned, then the lateral distance from each side is
two cun.
This constitutes the method for determining acupoints. (The following text states: Three cun directly above the midpoint between the two eyebrows is the anterior hairline. Three cun directly above the Dazhui (GV14) acupoint is the posterior hairline.)
The *Xiajing* (Lower Classic) states: Qibo defined one cun as eight fen. Because people vary in height and body constitution (fat or thin), acupoint location may be inaccurate. Bian Que used the first segment of the middle finger as
one cun.
However, because some individuals have long bodies and short hands, while others have short bodies and long hands, acupoint location remains inaccurate. Sun Simiao used the transverse crease of the thumb joint as
one cun.
This also leads to discrepancies. Currently, we use the distance between the two transverse creases on the inner aspect of the second segment of the middle finger of the left hand in men or the right hand in women as
one cun. (If the finger is flexed, measure laterally; the distance between the depressions at the corners of the upper and lower segments of the middle finger, representing near and far points, equals one cun. This is called the "body-inch" or Tongshen Cun.) Since adopting this measurement method for moxibustion treatment, most illnesses have been cured. Therefore, this is now adopted as the standard. The Bronze Man (acupuncture model) also states: Use the attribute of the middle finger as one cun. The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) confirms: This is the Tongshen Cun. Previously, ropes were often used for measurement, but ropes tend to shrink and are inaccurate. Now, using thin bamboo strips to mark and measure cun yields accurate results for treating diseases. Some use wax paper strips. However, thin bamboo slips are prone to breaking, and wax paper sticks to the hands, making it difficult to handle. Using the pith of rice straw is easier and superior to using ropes.
The classic text states: Regarding the nail and the corner of the nail, the medial and lateral aspects, the inner and outer sides, and the depressions within the concavities, one must be precise and careful. For example, if an acupoint is several cun away from a certain landmark, even if the distance matches another point's location, they naturally belong to different meridians.
When moxa is applied to the Gaohuang (BL43) acupoint, it is said that there are four ribs and three interspaces in between. When moxa is applied to the "middle," it means that among the four ribs, there are necessarily three interspaces. One should apply moxa to the central interspace, not to the two lateral interspaces.
The *Qianjin Fang* states: The classic text mentions "three interspaces horizontally across one cun." This implies three applications of moxa with two spaces in between. Within one cun, there are three moxa applications. Each moxa application measures three fen. The span of three moxa grains constitutes
one cun.
It further states: The method for measuring "one fu" involves covering the hand and extending four fingers. Measuring horizontally across the upper and lower segments of these four fingers defines one fu. There are two types of "fu." One type uses three fingers as one fu. If treating weak legs (Jiaoruo), use four fingers as one fu. (See Hongjiaojiao / Foot-leg disease.)