Triple Energizer MeridianTE3

Zhongzhu 中渚

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Back of the hand, in the dip just on the wrist side of the ring finger's knuckle joint, in the gap of the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

Shu-stream point (Wood)

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

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

Zhongzhu — 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.

Zhongzhu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Fourth metacarpal bone · Fifth metacarpal bone · Dorsal interossei muscles of hand

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

On this page

Where is Zhongzhu?
How do I find it on my body?
The classical posture
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
Classical text
FAQ

1Where is Zhongzhu?

Back of the hand, in the dip just on the wrist side of the ring finger's knuckle joint, in the gap of the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

Beneath the point

Fourth metacarpal bone · Fifth metacarpal bone · Dorsal interossei muscles of hand

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: on the back of the hand midway between the 4th and 5th metacarpals, just behind the 4th metacarpal head (17.5 mm from its end).

2How do I find it on my body?

Make a loose fist so the knuckles stand out on the back of the hand.
Move from the ring-finger knuckle toward the wrist.
Press the dip between the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

What is a “cun”?

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.

3The classical posture

Make a fist (the classical "closed hand").
From the ring-finger knuckle on the back of the hand, move toward the wrist.
Press the hollow between the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

Check · the old texts put it 1 cun below TE2.

4Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

5How has it been used traditionally?

Classified as the Shu-stream (Wood) point of the Triple Energizer meridian — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The name means 'middle islet' (a sandbar in a stream).
The Donguibogam, quoting the Song-dynasty Tongren, locates it with the hand closed into a fist.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

6Classical text

Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zhongzhu"

在手小指次指本節後間陷中液門下一寸握掌取之手少陽脈之所注爲腧 …《銅人》

① Behind the base joint (benjie) of the ring finger, in the hollow between the bones, 1 cun below Yemen (TE2); take it with a closed fist. Where the Hand Shaoyang 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).
The garbled glyph 杮 in the Wikisource text has been corrected to 腧.
Benjie ("base joint") is the old name for the knuckle (metacarpophalangeal) joint.
"…" 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 Zhongzhu?

Back of the hand, in the dip just on the wrist side of the ring finger's knuckle joint, in the gap of the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

How do I find Zhongzhu?

Make a loose fist so the knuckles stand out on the back of the hand. Move from the ring-finger knuckle toward the wrist. Press the dip between the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

What should I watch out for?

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousYemen · TE2 Next →Yangchi · TE4

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 159
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 22
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary (Korean Medical Association terms)
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu) for the five transport points; Nanjing ch. 64 for the phases
Posture and traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 10 "Zhongzhu" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zhongzhu" — Wikisource public edition (garbled glyph 杮 corrected to 腧)
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)
Classification and 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.