The first point of the Stomach Meridian (ST), sitting just below the eye like a small bowl waiting to catch a tear. Chengqi (ST-1) is the great point for the eyes — redness, blurred vision, twitching, watering — and a crossroads where three great vessels meet right at the orbit's edge.
Name & story
The name 承泣 Chengqi means "Container of Tears" — 承 chéng means "to receive" or "to hold", and 泣 qì means "tears" or "weeping". Sit with that image for a moment: a small hollow just below the eye, quietly cupping whatever overflows. It is a tender and precise name. The point sits exactly where tears spill when we cry, and it is the first point the ancient physicians chose to open the Stomach Meridian (ST) — a quiet, watchful beginning at the very gateway of sight.
Point family & character
Chengqi (ST-1) belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST) and is the first point on the channel. It is a Meeting point — one of the special crossroads points — where the Stomach channel meets both the Yang Motility vessel (Yangqiao Mai) and the Conception vessel (Ren Mai). This triple convergence at the orbit gives the point a reach beyond what a single channel alone could manage.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) is the great Yang channel of the Earth element, and here at its very first point it rises all the way to the eye. Earth nourishes and supports; it is the source of Qi and Blood (Xue) that feeds every tissue, including the delicate structures of the eye. The Yang Motility vessel, which also meets here, governs the opening and closing of the eyelids and the Yang energy that flows upward to brighten the eyes. When that upward nourishment is blocked — by Heat, Wind, or failing Qi and Blood (Xue) — the eye suffers, and Chengqi (ST-1) is where you go to restore it.
Location
With the eyes looking straight ahead, find the point directly below the centre of the pupil, in the gap between the lower edge of the eyeball and the bony infraorbital ridge. It sits right at that soft margin where the eye meets the bone.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies just below the eyeball, between the globe of the eye and the inferior wall of the orbit (the infraorbital ridge). The area contains the inferior oblique and inferior rectus muscles of the eye, along with delicate orbital vessels and nerves — a region that demands great care.
Needling
Ask the patient to close their eyes and look gently upward. Use one finger to push the eyeball carefully upward, then insert the needle first slightly downward, then perpendicularly, sliding it slowly between the eyeball and the inferior wall of the orbit. The needle should never be lifted, thrust or rotated once it is in place. On withdrawal, press firmly with a cotton wool ball for about a minute to prevent bruising (haematoma). This needling technique should only be attempted by practitioners who have received appropriate clinical supervision.
The golden tip
You cannot needle this point at home, but you can care for your eyes gently around it. With clean fingertips, trace light circular strokes along the bony rim beneath the eye — never pressing on the eyeball. For tired, dry or reddened eyes, a warm (not hot) cloth laid gently over closed eyes for a few minutes can help ease discomfort. Rest the eyes regularly, especially from screens. If symptoms in the eye persist, always seek professional care.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.