REN11 (Jianli, “Establish the Interior”) is an acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel Meridian. It is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 3 cun superior to the umbilicus and 1 cun inferior to Zhongwan (REN12). It harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, resolves food stagnation, and alleviates edema.
On the anterior midline of the abdomen, 3 cun superior to the umbilicus and 1 cun inferior to Zhongwan (REN12).
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun. Caution is advised in thin patients to avoid penetrating the peritoneal cavity.
Harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, resolves food stagnation, and alleviates edema.
Abdominal distension, body swelling, heart pain, upwardly surging qi, intestinal pain, vomiting, upward counterflow qi, poor appetite, heart pain with phlegm, heart palpitations from a deficient stomach great luo vessel, cholera with intestinal rumbling, abdominal fullness, heart pain below the xiphoid.
Jianli is a key point for addressing middle jiao dysfunction, situated between the stomach's mu-point (Zhongwan) and the point for separating fluids (Shuifen). Its classical indications consistently point to its ability to treat digestive disturbances like bloating, vomiting, and poor appetite. It is also noted for treating edema and certain types of epigastric pain, particularly when phlegm is a contributing factor.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之一·神照集 · 任脈圖穴二十一 · 任脈所發二十四穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
建里一穴，在中脘下一寸，臍上三寸。 《針經》刺入五分，灸五壯。 竇氏針入二寸五分，灸五十壯According to this text, REN11 (a single point) lies 1 cun below Zhongwan and 3 cun above the navel; the Zhenjing gives 5 fen needling and 5 moxa cones, while Master Dou needled 2.5 cun with 50 cones.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
建里鸠尾下四寸。 针六分，禁灸According to this text, REN11 lies 4 cun below Jiuwei; it is needled 6 fen and moxibustion is forbidden.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷27 · Source: Wikisource ↗
又，中管、建里二穴，皆主霍亂腸鳴，腹痛脹滿，弦急上氣，針入八分，留七呼The text records that Zhongguan (REN12) and REN11 were both used for cholera-like sudden turmoil with borborygmus, abdominal pain and distension, tight tension and rising qi, needled 8 fen and retained seven breaths.
《普濟方·針灸門》 Pǔjì Fāng · Zhēnjiǔ Mén — Formulas for Universal Relief: Acupuncture & Moxibustion Section, Zhu Su, 1406 · 卷四百十三 · 針灸門 · 腎 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
建里（在中脘下一寸。 灸五壯。 主心痛上搶心According to this text, REN11 lies 1 cun below Zhongwan, receives 5 moxa cones, and was used for heart pain with qi surging up against the heart.
REN11 is one of 24 points on the Conception Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
REN11 (Jianli) is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 3 cun superior to the umbilicus and 1 cun inferior to Zhongwan (REN12).
REN11 harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, resolves food stagnation, and alleviates edema. Common clinical indications include abdominal distension, body swelling, heart pain, upwardly surging qi, intestinal pain, vomiting, upward counterflow qi, poor appetite, heart pain with phlegm, heart palpitations from a deficient stomach great luo vessel, cholera with intestinal rumbling, abdominal fullness, heart pain below the xiphoid.
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun. Caution is advised in thin patients to avoid penetrating the peritoneal cavity.
REN11 is a point on the Conception Vessel Meridian (Rèn Mài).