Governor VesselGV16

Fengfu 風府

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the back of the neck, in the hollow directly below the external occipital protuberance.

Meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the Yang Linking VesselAlso called Sheben (舌本)

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

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

Fengfu — 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.

Fengfu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Occipital bone · Atlas c1 · Ascending part of trapezius muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle

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

On this page

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

1Where is Fengfu?

On the back of the neck, in the hollow directly below the external occipital protuberance.

It lies between the two trapezius muscles.

Beneath the point

Occipital bone · Atlas c1 · Ascending part of trapezius muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: straight below the external occipital protuberance, where that vertical line leaves the skin (11.6 mm below the protuberance). Measured along the midline of the head, 1.19 cun above the posterior hairline (standard: 1 cun).

2How do I find it on my body?

Sit upright and tilt the head back slightly so the trapezius relaxes.
Slide a finger up from the middle of the back hairline.
The skull stops it just below the external occipital protuberance.
Press that hollow, between the two trapezius muscles.

📖 Words explained

ascending part of trapezius: The lower part of trapezius. It starts at the middle and lower back bones and slants up to the spine of the shoulder blade, pulling the blade down.
external occipital protuberance: The bony bump in the lower middle of the back of the head. Sliding your hand up from the nape, it is the first bone you meet.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

The medulla oblongata lies deep to this area (WHO safety guidelines, 1999).
Do not press hard or jerk the neck backwards.
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 'palace of wind'. The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol. 3) classifies it as a meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the Yang Linking Vessel — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The same text notes that the flesh here rises when one speaks quickly and settles when one stops.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Fengfu?

On the back of the neck, in the hollow directly below the external occipital protuberance. It lies between the two trapezius muscles.

How do I find Fengfu?

Sit upright and tilt the head back slightly so the trapezius relaxes. Slide a finger up from the middle of the back hairline. The skull stops it just below the external occipital protuberance. Press that hollow, between the two trapezius muscles.

What should I watch out for?

The medulla oblongata lies deep to this area (WHO safety guidelines, 1999). Do not press hard or jerk the neck backwards. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousYamen · GV15 Next →Naohu · GV17

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 211
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vols. 3, 5 and 12
Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 25

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.