Tongtian 通天
On the head, 4 cun above the front hairline and 1.5 cun out from the front midline.
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Parietal bone · Frontal bone · Epicranial aponeurosis
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Tongtian.
On this page
1Where is Tongtian?
On the head, 4 cun above the front hairline and 1.5 cun out from the front midline.
It is midway between Chengguang (BL6) and Luoque (BL8).
Parietal bone · Frontal bone · Epicranial aponeurosis
2How do I find it on my body?
- Find the middle of the front hairline. If the hairline is unclear, go 3 cun up from the point between the eyebrows.
- On the 12-cun span from front to back hairline, take the point one third of the way back (4 cun).
- Press 1.5 cun out from the midline at that height.
A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.
- epicranial aponeurosis
- A thin, tough sheet of tendon covering the top of the head like a cap, joined to frontalis in front and occipitalis behind. When the scalp moves, it slides with this sheet.
- parietal bone
- The pair of wide skull bones covering the top and upper sides of the head. They meet along the middle of the crown.
- frontal bone
- The skull bone that forms the forehead and brows. Its upper part is the forehead and its lower part makes the roof of the eye sockets.
3Before you press
- Sudden severe headache or dizziness, or weakness on one side: call emergency services at once — do not try acupressure.
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
4How has it been used traditionally?
- The name means 'reaching heaven' — heaven being the top of the head.
- The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing gives Tianjiu (天臼) as an alternative name.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Tongtian?
On the head, 4 cun above the front hairline and 1.5 cun out from the front midline. It is midway between Chengguang (BL6) and Luoque (BL8).
How do I find Tongtian?
Find the middle of the front hairline. If the hairline is unclear, go 3 cun up from the point between the eyebrows. On the 12-cun span from front to back hairline, take the point one third of the way back (4 cun). Press 1.5 cun out from the midline at that height. it is halfway between Chengguang and Luoque.
What should I watch out for?
Sudden severe headache or dizziness, or weakness on one side: call emergency services at once — do not try acupressure. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 103
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 16 — same location
- Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
- Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- Classical record: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 3 (head, 1.5-cun line)
- 3D: computed on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS
Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.