ST12 (Quēpén, “Empty Basin”) is the Window of the Sky point of the Stomach Meridian. It is located in the prominent depression located directly superior to the midpoint of the clavicle (supraclavicular fossa), 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline. It descends Lung Qi, unbinds the chest, activates the channel and alleviates pain.
In the prominent depression located directly superior to the midpoint of the clavicle (supraclavicular fossa), 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Perpendicular or oblique posterior insertion 0.3-0.5 cun. Deep insertion, especially medially or posteriorly, carries a substantial risk of puncturing the subclavian vessels or the apex of the lung, which can cause a pneumothorax.
Descends Lung Qi, unbinds the chest, activates the channel and alleviates pain.
Pain in the supraclavicular fossa, swelling in the supraclavicular fossa, cough, shortness of breath, rebellious Qi, asthma, throat impediment, sweating, chills and fever, fullness and heat in the chest, scrofula, abdominal distention with water qi, arm pain, inability to raise the arm, neck and nape rigidity, axillary swelling, malaria.
Quepen is a crucial point where the Qi of the chest and arm converges, making it effective for both local issues like clavicular pain and radiating arm pain, and for internal conditions of the chest such as cough and asthma. Its location serves as a gateway where all yang channels of the hand and foot (except the Bladder channel) enter the torso. Due to the risk of pneumothorax, needling is performed with extreme caution, and often this point is palpated for diagnosis or treated with gentle techniques rather than deep insertion.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
缺盆，一名天蓋，在肩上橫骨陷者中，刺入三分，留七呼，灸三壯，刺太深，令人逆息According to this text, ST12, also called Tiangai, lies in the depression above the transverse bone of the shoulder; needle 0.3 cun, retain seven breaths, moxibustion 3 cones. It warns that needling too deep causes counterflow breathing.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
缺盆（一名天蓋）肩下橫骨陷中，銅人灸三壯，針三分。 素註，鄉針三分，留七呼。 不宜太深，深則使人逆息，素問刺缺中內陷，氣泄令人喘欬According to this text, ST12 (Tiangai) lies in the depression of the transverse bone at the shoulder; the Tongren gives 3 moxa cones and needling 0.3 cun, retained seven breaths. It states that it must not be needled too deep, as this causes counterflow breathing, and cites the Suwen that piercing into the depression lets qi leak out and causes wheezing and cough.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之二 · 十二經脈起止 · 胃經四十五穴分寸 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
缺盆（一名天蓋） 從氣舍下行肩上橫骨陷中為五臟六腑之道灸三壯According to this text, ST12 (Tiangai) lies below Qishe (ST11) in the depression of the transverse bone on the shoulder and is a passage of the five zang and six fu organs; moxibustion 3 cones.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之九·陰陽臟腑部 · 刺禁 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
刺缺盆中內陷，氣泄，令人喘咳逆The text warns that needling into the depression at ST12 lets qi leak out and causes wheezing and counterflow cough.
ST12 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST12 (Quēpén) is located in the prominent depression located directly superior to the midpoint of the clavicle (supraclavicular fossa), 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
ST12 descends Lung Qi, unbinds the chest, activates the channel and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include pain in the supraclavicular fossa, swelling in the supraclavicular fossa, cough, shortness of breath, rebellious Qi, asthma, throat impediment, sweating, chills and fever, fullness and heat in the chest, scrofula, abdominal distention with water qi, arm pain, inability to raise the arm, neck and nape rigidity, axillary swelling, malaria.
Perpendicular or oblique posterior insertion 0.3-0.5 cun. Deep insertion, especially medially or posteriorly, carries a substantial risk of puncturing the subclavian vessels or the apex of the lung, which can cause a pneumothorax. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall. The classics explicitly warn against needling too deeply, as it can cause 'rebellious breath' (逆息), which is interpreted as shortness of breath or dyspnea. The Huangdi Neijing warns that needling into the depression of Quepen can cause Qi to leak, resulting in rebellious cough and asthma.
ST12 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).