SI16 (Tianchuang, “Celestial Window”) is the Window of Heaven point of the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. It is located on the lateral aspect of the neck, in a depression on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, posterior to Futu (LI18) and level with the laryngeal prominence. It benefits the throat and ears, calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain.
On the lateral aspect of the neck, in a depression on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, posterior to Futu (LI18) and level with the laryngeal prominence.
Perpendicular or slightly posterior insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution should be exercised to avoid the carotid artery and jugular vein anteriorly, and the vertebral artery medially.
Benefits the throat and ears, calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain.
Headache, urticaria, scrofula with neck pain, manic psychosis with ghostly speech, sudden loss of voice after wind-stroke, deafness, ear pain, tinnitus like cicadas, cheek swelling and pain, tooth lockjaw, inability to turn the head, shoulder and scapular pain radiating to the neck.
Tianchuang is a significant 'Window of Heaven' point for conditions affecting the head and sense organs, especially when there is a blockage of Qi. Its classical indications strongly support its use for sudden deafness, tinnitus, and throat issues, as well as for severe psycho-emotional disorders like mania. The repeated emphasis on its use for sudden loss of voice following a stroke, often with heavy moxibustion, highlights its role in restoring communication between the head and the rest of the body.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 頸凡十七穴第十二 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天窗二穴，治一切瘰癧，耳鳴耳聾，頰腫喉痛，暴喑不言，肩痛引項，不能四顧，中風齒噤The text records that SI16 was used for all kinds of scrofula (luoli), tinnitus and deafness, swollen cheeks and sore throat, sudden loss of voice, shoulder pain pulling to the nape with inability to look around, and wind-stroke with clenched jaw.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
天窗，一名窗籠，在曲頰下，扶突後，動脈應手陷者中，手太陽脈氣所發，刺入六分，灸三壯According to this text, SI16, also called Chuanglong, lies below the angle of the jaw, behind Futu (LI18), in the depression where a pulse is felt; it is where the hand Taiyang qi emerges. Needle 0.6 cun, moxibustion 3 cones.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
天窗完骨下、发际上、颈上大筋处动脉陷中。 针六分，灸三壮。 主耳痛、耳鸣聋，颊肿咽痛，暴喑，肩痛引项According to this text, SI16 lies below Wangu (GB12), above the hairline, in the depression with a pulse at the large sinew of the neck; needle 0.6 cun, moxibustion 3 cones. It was used for ear pain, tinnitus and deafness, swollen cheeks, sore throat, sudden loss of voice and shoulder pain pulling to the nape.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 手太陽小腸經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天窗（一名窗籠） 在頸大筋前曲頰下手陽明經扶突後。 動脈應手陷中。 （針三分。 灸三壯）治頸痛不能回顧頰腫耳聾According to this text, SI16 (also Chuanglong) lies in front of the large neck sinew, below the angle of the jaw, behind Futu (LI18) of the hand Yangming, in the depression with a pulse; needle 0.3 cun, moxibustion 3 cones. It was used for neck pain with inability to turn the head, swollen cheeks and deafness.
SI16 is one of 19 points on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
SI16 (Tianchuang) is located on the lateral aspect of the neck, in a depression on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, posterior to Futu (LI18) and level with the laryngeal prominence.
SI16 benefits the throat and ears, calms the spirit, activates the channel and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include headache, urticaria, scrofula with neck pain, manic psychosis with ghostly speech, sudden loss of voice after wind-stroke, deafness, ear pain, tinnitus like cicadas, cheek swelling and pain, tooth lockjaw, inability to turn the head, shoulder and scapular pain radiating to the neck.
Perpendicular or slightly posterior insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution should be exercised to avoid the carotid artery and jugular vein anteriorly, and the vertebral artery medially.
SI16 is a point on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian (Shǒu Tài Yáng Xiǎo Cháng Jīng).