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The classic states: The Gallbladder is the official of uprightness, from which decision-making arises. It is also stated that this meridian has little blood and much qi. Furthermore, it is said that all eleven zang-fu organs depend on the Gallbladder for their determination.

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The Gallbladder is located between the short lobes of the Liver, weighing three liang and three zhu, with a length of three cun, containing three he of essence juice.

The *Zhong Zang Jing* (Classic of Internal Organs) states: The Gallbladder is the organ of purity and clarity, known as the General, primarily responsible for storing essence without draining it.

[Image: Diagram of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Fu Organ]

The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at the outer canthus (Tongziliao GB1), ascends to the vertex/corner of the head, descends behind the ear, follows the neck anterior to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, reaches the shoulder where it crosses posterior to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and enters the supraclavicular fossa (Quepen). A branch enters the ear from behind the ear, emerges anterior to the ear, and reaches the posterior aspect of the outer canthus; another branch diverges from the outer canthus, descends to Daying (LI19), joins the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian at the infraorbital rim, descends past Jiache (ST6), travels down the neck to join the Quepen, then enters the chest, pierces the diaphragm, connects with the Liver, and belongs to the Gallbladder. It follows the interior of the hypochondrium, emerges at the Qi Street (inguinal region), circles the pubic hair margin, and transversely enters the hip joint (Huantiao GB30). The main trunk descends from the Quepen into the axilla, follows the chest, passes through the costal region, and descends to join the hip joint. It then follows the lateral aspect of the thigh, emerges at the lateral margin of the knee, descends anterior to the fibula, reaches the end of the Juegu (peroneal notch), emerges anterior to the lateral malleolus, follows the dorsum of the foot, and enters the space between the fourth and fifth toes. A branch diverges from the dorsum of the foot, enters the space between the big toe and second toe, follows the medial side of the dorsal bone of the big toe, emerges at its tip, returns to penetrate the nail bed, and emerges at the trichiasis area (Sanmao) to connect with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian.

[Image: Diagram of the Gallbladder Meridian Course]

The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian begins at the outer canthi of both eyes, ascends to the head along the temporal region, descends behind the ear, sequentially passing through Naokong (GB13) and Fengchi (GB20); anterior to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, it reaches the shoulder, crossing above the right Quepen of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. A branch penetrates the ear from behind, emerges anterior to the ear, and follows the outer canthus. Another branch descends from the outer canthus and Daying (LI19), joins the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian at the root of the neck below, adds Jiache (ST6), meets at the Quepen, enters the chest, pierces the diaphragm, connects with the Liver Meridian, belongs to the Gallbladder, and still passes through the hypochondriac region. It descends into the Qi Street, circling the pubic hair margin, and transversely enters the Huantiao (GB30) within the hip joint. The straight course descends from the Quepen to the axilla and pectoral region, passes through the costal region, descends into the hip joint, emerges at the lateral margin of the knee at Yanglingquan (GB34), passes the external accessory bone, Juegu, and anterior to the ankle, dividing at the dorsum of the foot between the fourth and fifth toes. A branch departs from the big toe, connecting with the Liver Meridian at the trichiasis area.

[Note] The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at the Tongziliao (GB1) acupoint at the outer canthus of the eye, follows the Tinghui (GB2) and Keren (ST7) acupoints, and ascends to reach the Han'yan (GB5) acupoint at the corner of the head. From Han'yan, it follows Xuanlu (GB6), Xuanli (GB7), Qubin (GB71), and Shuai Gu (GB8), turns downward to Tianchong (GB17), Fubai (GB16), Qiaoyin (GB46), and Wanggu (GB12) behind the ear; turns outward and upward to Benshen (GB13), Yangbai (GB14), Linqi (GB15), Mucuang (GB18), Zhengying (GB19), Chengling (GB20), and Naokong (GB13) at the eyebrow. It follows the neck to Fengchi (GB20), passes anterior to Tianyou (TE16) of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and reaches the Jianjing (GB21) acupoint of this meridian on the shoulder. From Jianjing, it crosses posterior to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and enters the Quepen. A branch enters the ear from behind, emerges anterior to the ear, and reaches the posterior aspect of the outer canthus; this small branch travels through areas without acupoints on the head. Another branch diverges from the outer canthus, descends to Daying (LI19) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, joins the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian below the infraorbital rim, adds Jiache (ST6), descends the neck to meet the Quepen, enters the chest below, pierces the diaphragm, connects with the Liver, belongs to the Gallbladder, follows the hypochondriac interior, emerges at the Qi Street, spreads among the zang-fu organs, circles the pubic hair externally, and transversely enters the Huantiao (GB30) in the hip joint. A branch descends from the Quepen to Yuanli (GB24); from Yuanli, it follows Zhejin (GB25). Passing through Zhejin (GB25) and Riyue (GB24), it traverses the costal region to Jingmen (GB25); from Jingmen, it follows the Dai Mai, Wushu (GB27), Weidao (GB28), and Juliao (GB29), descending to join the Huantiao (GB30) in the hip joint. From Huantiao, it follows Biyang Fengshi (GB31); from Fengshi, it follows Zhongdu (GB32) and Yangguan (GB33), emerging at the lateral margin of the knee at Yanglingquan (GB34). From Yanglingquan, it follows Yangjiao (GB35), Waqiu (GB36), Guangming (GB37), etc., descending anterior to the external accessory bone at Yangfu (GB38). From Yangfu, it goes straight down to the end of the Juegu at Xuanzhong (GB39); from Xuanzhong, it emerges anterior to the lateral malleolus at Qiuxu (GB40); from Qiuxu, it follows Linqi (GB41) on the dorsum of the foot. From Linqi, it enters the space between the fourth and fifth toes at Xiaxi (GB43) and Qiaoyin (GB44). A branch diverges from the dorsum of the foot, enters the space between the big toe, follows the medial side of the dorsal bone of the big toe, emerges at its tip, returns to penetrate the nail bed, and emerges at the trichiasis area to connect with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian.