Gallbladder MeridianGB3

Shangguan 上關

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Side of the head, in the hollow just above the middle of the zygomatic arch.

Crossing point of the Triple Energizer and Stomach meridiansAlso called Kezhuren (客主人)

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Shangguan — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Shangguan — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Shangguan — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Temporal bone · Temporalis muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Shangguan.

On this page

Where is Shangguan?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Shangguan?

Side of the head, in the hollow just above the middle of the zygomatic arch.

It sits directly over Xiaguan (ST7).

Beneath the point

Temporal bone · Temporalis muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin 2.0 mm above the upper border of the zygomatic arch, in the same front-back position as Xiaguan (ST7, above the mandibular notch). The model's skin shows no clear hollow there, so the point was set just above the border.

2How do I find it on my body?

Feel the horizontal bar of bone in front of the ear (the zygomatic arch).
Find its middle.
Press the hollow just above its upper edge.

Check · it is straight above Xiaguan.

📖 Words explained

temporal bone: The skull bone on the side of the head around the ear. The ear canal and the bump behind the ear (mastoid process) are on it, and it forms the jaw joint with the mandible.
zygomatic arch: The bony bridge running sideways from the cheekbone to just in front of the ear, shaped like an arch. You feel it as a horizontal bar on the side of the face.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Facial skin is thin — press lightly with a fingertip.
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?

Classified as a crossing point of the Triple Energizer and Stomach meridians (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing) — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
Shang means 'upper': it sits above the arch, mirroring Xiaguan (ST7, 'lower gate') below it.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Shangguan?

Side of the head, in the hollow just above the middle of the zygomatic arch. It sits directly over Xiaguan (ST7).

How do I find Shangguan?

Feel the horizontal bar of bone in front of the ear (the zygomatic arch). Find its middle. Press the hollow just above its upper edge. it is straight above Xiaguan.

What should I watch out for?

Facial skin is thin — press lightly with a fingertip. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousTinghui · GB2 Next →Hanyan · GB4

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 173
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean anatomical terms and point names: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Huangfu Mi), vol. 3
Traditional use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)

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.