C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Zu san li

Acu-moxa point chart, showing the zu san li (Leg Three Miles) point, from Chuanwu lingji lu (Record of Sovereign Teachings), by Zhang Youheng, a treatise on acu-moxa in two volumes. This work survives only in a manuscript draft, completed in 1869 (8th year of the Tongzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty). It is illustrated with 84 charts, finely executed in colour. The text states: The zu san li point is located 3 cun (1 cun [Chinese, proportional inch] = c. 3 cm) below the the lateral depression of the knee (xiyan, Eye of the Knee), between the two tendons at the outer edge of the tibia. It can be needled to a depth of 5 fen (1 fen [0.1 cun/Chinese proportional inch] = c. 0.3 cm), and moxibusted with three moxa cones. It is indicated for pain in the chest and sides; abdominal distension; diarrhoea related to cold in the spleen and stomach; red, swollen eyes; aching knees and shins; frailty and emaciation and insufficiency detriment consequent upon cold damage; gaseous pain in the small intestine; water Qi/oedema (shuiqi) from insect poisoning, etc. Moxibustion of this point is prohibited for child patients, as it may damage the eyes. Only in the case of patients over the age of thirty, moxibustion at zu san li can improve the eyesight.

Caption: Zu san li (Leg Three Miles)