Taichong 太衝
On the top of the foot, in the hollow between the first and second metatarsals.
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Extensor hallucis brevis · Dorsal venous arch of foot · Dorsalis pedis artery · Medial cuneiform bone
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Taichong.
On this page
1Where is Taichong?
On the top of the foot, in the hollow between the first and second metatarsals.
It lies just toward the toes from the point where the bases of the two bones meet.
The dorsalis pedis artery runs beneath it.
Extensor hallucis brevis · Dorsal venous arch of foot · Dorsalis pedis artery · Medial cuneiform bone
2How do I find it on my body?
- Put a finger on LR2 (Xingjian).
- Slide it back toward the ankle along the groove between the first and second metatarsals.
- Stop where the two bones' bases meet and the finger can go no further. The point is the hollow just in front.
- dorsal venous arch of foot
- A vein stretched sideways like a bow across the front of the top of the foot. It shows bluish when standing, and its two ends become the great and small saphenous veins.
- medial cuneiform
- The innermost of the three wedge-shaped ankle bones. The big toe's metatarsal joins it.
- dorsalis pedis artery
- The artery that runs from the front of the ankle onto the top of the foot. You can feel its pulse at the highest point of the foot, just outside the big-toe tendon.
3Before you press
- It lies over the dorsalis pedis artery, so do not press hard or for long where you feel the pulse.
- 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 the Yuan-source point and the Shu-stream (Earth) point of the Liver meridian — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
- The Lingshu (ch. 1) names it as the source point of the liver.
- The name joins tai (great) and chong (thoroughfare).
- With LI4 (Hegu) on both sides it makes up the classical 'Four Gates' (si guan), a pairing named in the Yixue Rumen — a traditional grouping, not a claim of effect.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
5Classical text
Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Taichong"
在足大指本節後一寸動脈中《銅人》
在足大指間本節後二寸動脈應手《資生》
在行間上二寸《靈樞》
足厥陰脈之所注爲腧 …《銅人》
- ①1 cun behind the base joint (benjie) of the big toe, where the pulse is. Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing
- ②Between the toes, 2 cun behind the base joint of the big toe, where a pulse meets the hand. Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing
- ③2 cun above Xingjian. Lingshu
- ④Where the Foot Jueyin channel pours in, which makes it the Shu-stream point. Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing
- Source tags as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (1026), Zisheng = Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing (Song dynasty), Lingshu = the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Spiritual Pivot.
- Benjie, the 'base joint', is an old name for the joint at the root of the toe.
- Lines ① and ② give 1 and 2 cun; the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol.
- 3) says '2 cun, or 1.5 cun'.
- WHO 2008 uses no cun here: it fixes the point in the hollow just in front of where the two metatarsal bases meet.
- The garbled glyph 杮 in the Wikisource text has been corrected to 腧 (Lingshu ch.
- 2 writes 俞).
- "…" marks the needling depth and moxa count, left out because they are for licensed practitioners.
Original text as written · translation is ours.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Taichong?
On the top of the foot, in the hollow between the first and second metatarsals. It lies just toward the toes from the point where the bases of the two bones meet. The dorsalis pedis artery runs beneath it.
How do I find Taichong?
Put a finger on LR2 (Xingjian). Slide it back toward the ankle along the groove between the first and second metatarsals. Stop where the two bones' bases meet and the finger can go no further. The point is the hollow just in front. you may feel the dorsalis pedis pulse here.
What should I watch out for?
It lies over the dorsalis pedis artery, so do not press hard or for long where you feel the pulse. 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. 197
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
- Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 12 "Taichong" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
- Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Taichong" — Wikisource public edition (garbled glyph 杮 corrected to 腧)
- Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource) · Four Gates: same volume
- Classification source: Lingshu ch. 1 (Jiu Zhen Shi Er Yuan, source point) and ch. 2 (Ben Shu); Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3; Nanjing ch. 64
- 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.