The first point of the Gallbladder Meridian, sitting just beside the outer corner of the eye. Tongziliao (GB-1) is the great eye-clearing point of the Gallbladder channel — wherever Wind or Heat trouble the eyes, this is often where treatment begins.
Name & story
The name 瞳子髎 Tongziliao tells a small, vivid story. "Tóng zǐ" means the pupil of the eye — the dark, luminous centre that sees the world. "Liáo" means a bony crevice or hollow. So the full name is something like "Hollow beside the Pupil" — and indeed, the point sits in the small depression right at the outer edge of the eye socket, as if guarding the eye from the side. A gentle name for a gentle location.
Point family & character
GB-1 is the opening point of the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) — the very first of its 44 bilateral points. It is an intersecting (meeting) point shared by three channels: the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), the Small Intestine Meridian (SI), and the Sanjiao Meridian (SJ). This triple meeting gives it a broader reach than its small location might suggest.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder belongs to the Wood element, and the Liver — its interior-exterior partner — is the organ that opens into the eyes. The Gallbladder divergent channel and the Liver channel both connect directly with the eye, which is why a point at the outer corner of the eye becomes so important for vision. When Wind and Heat stir along the Wood channels — bringing redness, tearing, itching and blurred sight — GB-1, right at the eye's edge, is ideally placed to scatter that Wind and clear that Heat.
Location
Find the outer corner of the eye (the outer canthus). Move approximately 0.5 Cun outward from there — you will feel a slight hollow at the edge of the bony orbit. That depression is GB-1.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the small hollow on the lateral rim of the bony eye socket (the lateral orbital margin), just beside the outer corner of the eye (the outer canthus). In this area the orbicularis oculi muscle encircles the eye.
Needling
The needle is inserted transversely (horizontally), directed posteriorly along the orbital margin, 0.2 to 0.3 Cun. It can also be extended to connect with the extra point Taiyang (M-HN-9).
Safe depth
0.2 to 0.3 Cun, transverse insertion.
The golden tip
For tired, red or wind-irritated eyes, you can gently press the hollow at the outer corner of the eye socket — that is GB-1. Use a fingertip, apply light, steady pressure for one to two minutes, and breathe calmly. This can help ease eye fatigue and mild irritation. Note: no heat or moxa should be applied at this location.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.