Doorway to the Earth Point
Sun Si-miao Ghost point (4th trinity)
Meeting of Conception Vessel with Chong Mai, Du Mai and all Yin meridians (Neidan)
At the perineum, midway between the anus and the scrotum in men, and the anus and the posterior labial commissure in women. When described as Yumentou it is located at the posterior labial commissure.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun.
According to the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion this point is contraindicated to needling. Contraindicated in pregnancy.
"It is needled to a depth of two cun and retained for a duration of seven exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Regulates the anterior and posterior Yin
Drains Damp-heat
Calms the Shen
Promotes resuscitation and revives from drowning
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Perineal nerve, from pudendal nerve (L4 - S4)
Dermatome Segment: S5 and coccygeal
In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this is a cavity striking point (Da Xue 打穴) which interrupts the exchange of Yin and Yang causing death within 24 hours (Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition).
One of the 36 vital points of Feng Yiyuan 馮一元 listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621). In Article 9: Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Vital Points Revealed it is listed as the vital point associated with the Hai 亥 Pig (9 - 11 pm) and the San Jiao meridian. In Article 21: Delayed Death Touches with Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Diagrams, this point along with Qinglengyuan SJ-11, Xinhui Du-22 and Ququan Liv-8 are associated with Mao 卯 Rabbit (5 - 7 am) and if struck during this time is said to cause death within 1 day from trauma to the transverse perineal artery (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
This is one of the eight non-striking or forbidden points in Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Described as "The groin" by both Olson (2010, The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu) and Wong Honfan (1946; in Ravenswood Academy, 2020, The Eight Forbidden Strikes of Praying Mantis Fist).
See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.
Origin of the Chong Mai (Su Wen, Wang Shu He).
Location of the Yin Qiao Mai in Zhang Boduan's Book of the Eight Vessels on alchemical working (Wang Mu, 2011, Foundations of Internal Alchemy).
The Reflection line (Fanshe Xian 反射線), also called the Central Vessel Line (Zhongmai Xian 中脈線), is an internal line used in inner cultivation arts (Neigong Shu 內功術) that connects this point with Baihui Du-20. It is the body's central meridian (Ziwu Xian 子午線) and associated with the Chong Mai in medicine (Wang, 2019, Daoist Internal Mastery ).
Tensing at this point also closes the "Lower Magpie Bridge" (下鵲橋 Xia Que Qiao) sealing the Ren and Du meridian circuit and increases pressure when breathing into the lower Dan Tian which equalises the pressures of the Jiao (ibid). The "Upper Magpie Bridge" (上鵲橋 Shang Que Qiao) is sealed by pressing the tongue on the roof of the mouth sealing, sealing the other end of the Ren and Du meridian circuit.
In ancient times this point was called "the Gate of Life and Death" and was considered to be the meeting point of all the Yin channels plus two direct meridians to Yongquan Kid-1 (ibid: 214).
Tensing this point and Du-1 to raise the anus while performing abdominal breathing is called "Gu Dao", the Way of the Valley, and is an important part of Internal Alchemy and Nourishing Life practices. Sun Si-Miao said:
"古人道：搓谷道一百编，消除疾病又延年
Ancient People said : One hundred series of doing Gu Dao everyday, eliminates disease and prolongs life."
It is said to flow the Qi into Ren, Du and Chong Mai.
2. Strengthen Dan Tian area.
3. Strengthen pubococcygeus muscle.
4. Facilitate opening of the Microcosmic Orbit.
5. Cure minor ailments.
6. Strengthen internal organs.
7. Gain longevity
Yuen (2005, 3 Spirits & 7 Souls) describes this point and Changqiang Du-1 as the Po Men (Gate of the Soul) where the Po (Corporeal Soul) exits the body at death through the anus.
This point is also indicated in problems with the Fourth Level of Manifestation of the Soul, or the Anahata chakra, concerned with the evolution of the soul, creation, "mind becoming matter" and the ability to turn ideas into actions that have consequences. This manifests in hopelessness, cynicism and inability to see reality as illusion. The other points in this set are Baihui Du-20, Huiyang Bl-35.
During the Ming Dynasty this point was replaced with Yinjiao Ren-7 as points around the genitals became taboo (ibid.).
In Sufism this level would relate to the Valley of Independence or Detachment described by Attar in the Conference of the Birds as:
"Seven oceans here in one breath turn into a pool
Seven burning globes turn here to a fire ball, the whole;
If a part or the whole system perish here
It seems that a straw is lost in the sphere ..."
Here the mystic feels free of worldly concerns as they are all simply a drop in the ocean that God.
Like the other even (Yin) sets there is one point representing Yang (Baihui Du-1), one representing Yin (Huiyin Ren-1) and one that unifies them in the lower Dan Tian (Huiyang Bl-35). This time the polarity is even more extreme but are also all Hui meeting points, suggesting their distance seeming even more extreme as their impending unification approaches.
Ghost Points:
The fourth trinity of Ghost Points relates to the separation of Heaven and Earth. It consists of this point, Quchi LI-11, Shangxing Du-23 and Huiqian or Yintang and is concerned with self-destructive behaviour, self-harm and attempts at suicide.
This point is usually treated with indirect moxa in order to break the seal that ghost has used to trap your Jing Essence. It is characterised by extreme depletion and wasting, up to the point of paralysis and comatose states (ibid).
In the separation of Heaven and Earth, this point represents Earth as the most hidden of the ghost points. This point does not represent one of the Twelve Earthly Branches or a channel due to its hidden and forbidden nature (Ayal, 2021, The 13 Ghost Points 十三鬼穴).
Ge Hong (4th century) recommends for Dian Kuang with symptoms of falling fits and manic frenzy that the practitioner should cauterise Qugu Ren-2 with three cones of moxa and when the subject urinates he is cured. This may be complemented with two groups of seven cones burned along the seam behind the testicles at this point (Strickmann, M, 2002, Chinese Magical Medicine, p. 240, Stanford University Press).
The hexagram ䷁ The Receptive has been assigned to this point because it is not represented by any other Late Heaven point. It should be the Source point of the Ren Mai but since the Extraordinary meridians do not have a source, this is left unattributed. Placing it here, as the Meeting of Yin seems appropriate and also places in close proximity to ䷀ at Changqiang Du-1, enabling the sealing of the Lower Magpie Bridge through the tensing of the anus and perineum activate the most primordial of the Late Heaven points.
Medieval phlebotomy point (John de Foxton, 1408: Liber Cosmographiae, maa.cam.ac.uk; Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov), although Foxton's diagram appears to point between the penis and testicles of the zodiac man, slightly anterior to the Chinese location and Gersdorff appears to have 4 points on the genitals themselves.
In the Vedic tradition this point would be the location of the kshetram or activation point of the Muladhara Chakra.
In Ayurvedic medicine:
Lad and Durve (2008) in Marma Points of Ayurveda have no points at Huiyin Ren-1 but locate three points on the genitals which may be related to this point since there are no acupounts on the genitals.
In men the Medhra point is on the dorsal surface of the midpoint of the glans penis and in women the Yoni Jihva is at the tip of the clitoris. They associate these with Apana Vayu, Vyana Vayu and Ranjaka Pitta with the functions of:
- Acts on the shukra or artava dhatu
- Stimulates ojas
The other two points are located at the centre of each testicle in men and called Vrushana or at the midpoint of the labia majora on each side in women and called Yoni Oshtha. They are associated with Apana Vayu and Vyana vayu and have the following actions:
- Acts on shukra or artava dhatu
- Stimulates ojas
- Relieves pain locally
- Awakens sexual energy
One of the methods for stimulating these points is the Ashvini mudra where the anus is contracted inwards, creating pressure at these marma which would involve the use of Huiyin Ren-1.
In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
In Thai massage:
Main acupressure point along the Kitcha sen line running from the navel Shenque Ren-8 to this point at the perineum. Called the Pikkatun in men and the Kitchana in woman it is indicated for issues of sexual function and fertility. It is not treated with direct pressure but may be stimulated with warm herbal compresses (Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage).
In the Qabalah this point would be the location of Malkuth, the Kingdom (Farrow, 2007, The Psychology of the Body).
This point can be pierced and is known as a guiche. The origins are said to come from Samoa or Tahiti but both are unlikely (Morrison, 1998: Piercing History, Painful Pleasures).
Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.
For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
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