A Practical Guide to Acupuncture Points for Tai Chi Practice
In Tai Chi acupuncture points serve as awareness landmarksโplaces that help organize posture, breath, intention, and movement. Many of these points come from classical Chinese medicine, while others are functional energetic centers used in Tai Chi forms and Qigong exercises.
Below is a practical overview of commonly referenced points, listed from the top of the head down to the feet, with their traditional names, English translations, and how they are generally understood in Tai Chi practice.
็พๆ โ Bวi Huรฌ โ Hundred Meetings
Location: At the crown of the head, on the midline, roughly where a line drawn between the tops of the ears meets the center of the skull.
Tai Chi context: Bai Hui is associated with maintaining balance between ascent and descent in the body. In Tai Chi, it is referenced to encourage upright posture and lightness by avoiding collapsing the neck or compressing the spine, using the classical idea of the head being gently suspended from above.
ๅฐๅ โ Yรฌn Tรกng โ Hall of Impression
Location: On the forehead, midway between the inner ends of the eyebrows, just above the bridge of the nose.
Tai Chi context: Yin Tang is associated with calming the spirit, settling the mind, and easing tension in the forehead and eyes. Traditionally linked with mental clarity and emotional quiet, itโs commonly used as an attentional point to reduce excess tension in the head and support quiet focus during form practice.
่ปไธญ โ Shฤn Zhลng โ Chest Center (Sea of Qi)
Location: On the midline of the chest, at the center of the sternum.
Tai Chi context: Sometimes referred to as the “Middle Dan Tian,” Shan Zhong is closely related to the Lung and Heart functions. It regulates gathering qi (zong qi), supports respiration, and harmonizes the chest.
ๆฐฃๆตท โ Qรฌ Hวi โ Sea of Qi
Location: On the midline of the lower abdomen, about two finger widths below the navel, in front of the Dan Tian.
Tai Chi context: Qi Hai is considered a major reservoir of qi and is associated with original vitality and general energy regulation. It plays a role in strengthening the body and stabilizing the lower abdomen. In Tai Chi, itโs referenced to cue stability, breath awareness, and a sense of fullness in the lower body.
ไธน็ฐ โ Dฤn Tiรกn โ Elixir Field (functional center)
Location: Inside the body, approximately two to three finger widths below the navel and slightly inward toward the center, lying between Qi Hai in front and Ming Men in back.
Tai Chi context: The lower Dan Tian is an energetic field rather than an acupuncture point. It is traditionally associated with the storage and cultivation of essence (jing) and qi, forming the foundation of vitality. In Tai Chi, the Dan Tian is the primary organizing center of movement, the center of gravity and the center where qi is stored.
ๅฝ้ โ Mรฌng Mรฉn โ Gate of Life
Location: On the midline of the lower back, directly opposite the navel, below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2).
Tai Chi context: Ming Men is associated with the kidney and original vitality. It is described as a source of warmth and transformative power that supports growth, reproduction, and overall life force. The point we hit in “Knocking on the Gate of Life.”
ๅๅฎฎ โ Lรกo Gลng โ Palace of Labor
Location: In the center of the palm, where the tip of the middle finger touches when the hand is gently closed.
Tai Chi context: Lao Gong clears heat from the Heart and Pericardium and is associated with emotional regulation and circulation through the hands. Often aligns with other points during movements such as “Wave Hands Like Clouds.”
ๆนงๆณ โ Yวng Quรกn โ Bubbling Well
Location: On the sole of the foot, in the depression formed when the toes curl downward, roughly one-third of the distance from the toes to the heel.
Tai Chi context: Yong Quan is the first point on the Kidney channel and is associated with grounding, descending excess energy, and nourishing Kidney essence. Yong Quan is the primary grounding point, used to establish rooting, weight transfer, and connection with the ground.
In Tai Chi, these points are best understood as reference points for awareness, not targets for treatment. They help practitioners feel alignment, relaxation, and continuity from head to toe.