GV reference

Governing Vessel Meridian: All 28 Acupuncture Points

posterior view

head view

Point table

Code	Pinyin	Hanzi	English	Location summary
GV-1	Chángqiáng	长强	Long Strong	In the perineal region, on the midline halfway between the tip of the coccyx and the anus.
GV-2	Yāoshù	腰俞	Lumbar Shu	In the sacral region, in the sacral hiatus on the posterior midline, immediately above the anal cleft.
GV-3	Yāoyángguān	腰阳关	Lumbar Yang Gate	In the lumbar region, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of L4.
GV-4	Mìngmén	命门	Gate of Life	In the lumbar region, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of L2.
GV-5	Xuánshū	悬枢	Suspended Pivot	In the lumbar region, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of L1.
GV-6	Jǐzhōng	脊中	Spine Center	In the upper lumbar back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T11.
GV-7	Zhōngshū	中枢	Central Pivot	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T10.
GV-8	Jīnsuō	筋缩	Sinew Contraction	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T9.
GV-9	Zhìyáng	至阳	Reaching Yang	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T7.
GV-10	Língtái	灵台	Spirit Tower	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T6.
GV-11	Shéndào	神道	Spirit Path	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T5.
GV-12	Shēnzhù	身柱	Body Pillar	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T3.
GV-13	Táodào	陶道	Kiln Path	On the upper back, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of T1.
GV-14	Dàzhuī	大椎	Great Vertebra	At the back of the neck, on the posterior midline in the depression below the spinous process of C7.
GV-15	Yǎmén	哑门	Mute's Gate	At the back of the neck, on the posterior midline in the depression above the spinous process of C2, 0.5 B-cun below GV-16.
GV-16	Fēngfǔ	风府	Wind Palace	At the back of the neck, directly below the external occipital protuberance, in the depression between the trapezius muscles.
GV-17	Nǎohù	脑户	Brain's Door	On the posterior head, in the depression immediately above the external occipital protuberance on the midline.
GV-18	Qiángjiān	强间	Unyielding Space	On the posterior scalp, 4 B-cun above the posterior hairline on the midline, 1.5 B-cun above GV-17.
GV-19	Hòudǐng	后顶	Behind the Crown	On the posterior scalp, 5.5 B-cun above the posterior hairline on the midline, 1.5 B-cun behind GV-20.
GV-20	Bǎihuì	百会	Hundred Meetings	At the vertex, 5 B-cun above the anterior hairline on the midline, at the midpoint of the line connecting the two auricular apices.
GV-21	Qiándǐng	前顶	Before the Crown	On the scalp, 3.5 B-cun above the anterior hairline on the midline, halfway between GV-20 and GV-22.
GV-22	Xìnhuì	囟会	Fontanel Meeting	On the frontal scalp, 2 B-cun above the anterior hairline on the midline.
GV-23	Shàngxīng	上星	Upper Star	On the frontal scalp, 1 B-cun above the anterior hairline on the midline.
GV-24	Shéntíng	神庭	Spirit Courtyard	On the frontal scalp, 0.5 B-cun above the anterior hairline on the midline.
GV-25	Sùliáo	素髎	White Crevice	On the face, at the tip of the nose.
GV-26	Shuǐgōu	水沟	Water Trough	On the face, at the midpoint of the vertical groove of the philtrum.
GV-27	Duìduān	兑端	Extremity of the Mouth	On the face, at the midpoint of the tubercle of the upper lip.
GV-28	Yínjiāo	龈交	Gum Intersection	Inside the upper lip, at the junction of the upper labial frenulum and the upper gum.

Open printable Governing Vessel chart

Frequently asked questions

How many points are in the Governing Vessel meridian?

This atlas records 28 points in the Governing Vessel meridian, starting at GV-1 and ending at GV-28.

How are Governing Vessel points ordered here?

Points follow their standard numeric code. The site-wide atlas also preserves the standard 14-meridian sequence.

Does this table include source-linked detail pages?

Yes. Each point code opens a page with location, classifications, traditional actions, indications, depth, moxibustion, safety notes, and visible citations.

Can I open a printable Governing Vessel chart?

Yes. The related chart page provides an inline printable preview and shows a PDF download only when the local Playwright renderer has produced the file.

Sources

References displayed on this page were recorded with the point dataset.