The Five Element points or the Shu Antique points
The Shu Antique points: the river of energy from well to sea
The Shu Antique points — also called the Five Element points or Transport points — are among the most frequently used and therapeutically powerful point categories in classical acupuncture. They are located on the lower legs and forearms, lie close to the surface of the body and are therefore particularly dynamic and easily accessible. Every meridian has five of these points, each connected with one of the Five Elements and each possessing its own therapeutic quality.
The water metaphor: from well to sea
The character "Shu" means "to transport" — and ancient Chinese physicians deliberately chose the metaphor of a watercourse to describe the nature of these points. The section of the meridian between the fingernails and elbow, and between the toenails and knee, was compared with a river that begins as a small well and grows into a broad, deep sea. As the river progresses, it becomes stronger and deeper — and so does the therapeutic influence of the Shu Antique points.
The first point — the Jing-Well point at the nails — is the source: small and superficial, but the starting point of everything. The He-Sea point at the knee or elbow is the sea: deep, powerful and the gateway to the interior of the body. Between well and sea lie the Ying-Spring point, the Shu-Stream point and the Jing-River point — each one step deeper and stronger than the previous one.
Five Element qualities
Each of the five Shu Antique points is connected with one element. On the Yin meridians, the sequence begins with the Wood element (Jing-Well point at the nails) and follows the Sheng cycle: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water. On the Yang meridians, the sequence begins with Metal (Jing-Well point) and also follows the Sheng cycle: Metal → Water → Wood → Fire → Earth. This gives each point a double identity: it is a point of the meridian and a point of a specific element, with the corresponding therapeutic qualities of that element.
Why are they used so frequently?
The Shu Antique points are used extensively in daily acupuncture practice for two reasons. First, they are located close to the surface of the body — here the meridians are most accessible and respond most quickly to needling. Second, they combine two diagnostic levels at the same time: the meridian/organ level and the Five Element level. This makes them particularly versatile and precise in their therapeutic application.