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[Diagram of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian]

The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian travels from the hand to the head, and from the head to the abdomen. This meridian is abundant in blood and deficient in Qi. It originates at Shaoze (SI1) and terminates at Tinggong (SI19).
There are nineteen acupoints in total, thirty-eight on both sides combined. The small intestine is three zhang and two chi long, looping back and folding upon itself sixteen times. The lower opening of the stomach, which is the upper opening of the small intestine, is located two cun above the umbilicus, where food and fluids enter. One cun below this is the Shuifen (CV9) point, which marks the lower opening of the small intestine. Here, the small intestine separates the clear from the turbid: the clear portion渗 into the Bladder, while the turbid residue enters the Large Intestine.

The collateral network of the Hand-Taiyang meridian arises from the Small Intestine, originating at Shaoze (SI1) beside the little finger, passing through Qian谷 (SI2), Houxi (SI3), along Wanggu (SI4) up to the wrist, passing through Yanggu (SI5) in the depression, reaching Yanglao (SI6) in the gap above the bone.
*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "The vessel of Hand-Taiyang originates at the end of the little finger, follows the lateral aspect of the hand up to the wrist, and emerges from the ankle [of the wrist]." Master Hua said: "The end of the arm bone is called the wrist; the protruding bone below the wrist is called the ankle." This meridian begins at Shaoze (SI1) at the tip of the little finger, then follows the anterior aspect of the lateral side of the hand through Qian谷 (SI2) and Houxi (SI3), ascends to the wrist, emerges from the ankle, and passes through Wanggu (SI4), Yanggu (SI5), and Yanglao (SI6).

Shaoze (SI1): Located at the ulnar side of the tip of the little finger on the dorsal aspect, one fen away from the nail corner, in the depression.
Qian谷 (SI2): Located in the depression proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint on the ulnar side of the little finger on the dorsal aspect.
Houxi (SI3): Located in the depression distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint on the ulnar side of the little finger on the dorsal aspect, beneath the raised muscle.
Wanggu (SI4): Located in the depression on the dorsal aspect of the hand, lateral to the wrist, below the prominent bone anteriorly.
Yanggu (SI5): Located in the depression in the center of the wrist on the dorsal aspect, below the styloid process (dui gu).
Yanglao (SI6): Located in a depression one cun posterior to the wrist, above the hollow space of the ankle bone.

Branch: From Xiaohai (SI8) coming from the Shaoyin meridian; the Yu points are in the region of the Yangming and Hand-Shaoyang meridians; Jianzhen (SI9) is located between the bony prominences; the Yu points are at Tianzong (SI11), Bingfeng (SI12), Quyuan (SI13), and Jianwaishu (SI14), all situated on the shoulder. Ascending, the Da Tui area intersects with the Hand-Foot Taiyang, Hand-Foot Yangming, Hand-Foot Shaoyang, and Du Mai.
*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "Ascending straight along the lower border of the arm bone, emerging between the two tendons on the medial side of the elbow, continuing upward along the posterior-lateral aspect of the upper arm, emerging from the shoulder joint, winding around the scapula, and intersecting at the shoulders." Master Hua noted that the phrase "emerging from the medial side of the elbow" to "following the posterior-lateral aspect of the upper arm" (fourteen characters) was missing in some texts but is recorded here for reference. "Lu" is also called "Bo". Master Hua said: "The areas flanking the spine are called Lu; the two angles above the Lu are the shoulder joints (Jianjie); the flat bones below the Jianjie are the scapulae." Starting from Yanglao (SI6), ascending straight along the lower border of the arm bone to Zhizheng (SI7), emerging between the two bones on the medial side of the elbow, passing through Xiaohai (SI8), ascending along the posterior-lateral aspect of the upper arm, running external to the Hand-Yangming and Hand-Shaoyang meridians, going up to the shoulder, passing through Jianzhen (SI9), Tianzong (SI11), Bingfeng (SI12), Quyuan (SI13), Jianwaishu (SI14), and Jianzhongshu (SI15), then ascending to meet Dazhui (GV14). Due to left-right intersection, they converge above the two shoulders. (Dazhui is seen in the Du Mai, an intersection of the Hand-Foot Taiyang, Hand-Foot Yangming, Hand-Foot Shaoyang, and Du Mai.)

Zhizheng (SI7): Located five cun posterior to the wrist, diverging to connect with the Foot-Shaoyin meridian.
Xiaohai (SI8): Located in the depression lateral to the large bone of the elbow, five fen from the end of the elbow; take the point with the elbow flexed towards the head.
Jianzhen (SI9): Located below the curved scapula, between the two bony prominences, posterior to Jianyu, in the depression.
Jianwaishu (SI15): Located in the depression on the upper border of the scapula, lateral to the spine, below the large bone posterior to the shoulder; it is an intersection of the Hand-Taiyang, Foot-Taiyang, Yangwei Mai, and Chong Mai. (Tianzong is seen in the Hand-Shaoyang meridian.)
Tianzong (SI11): Located in the depression below the large bone posterior to Bingfeng.
Bingfeng (SI12): Located on the shoulder lateral to Tianzong, posterior to the small depression; there is a gap when the arm is raised. It is an intersection of the Hand-Taiyang, Hand-Yangming, Hand-Shaoyang, and Foot-Shaoyang meridians. (Tianzong is seen in the Hand-Shaoyang meridian.)
Quyuan (SI13): Located in the depression within the curve of the scapula on the shoulder; pressing elicits a response and pain.
Jianwaishu (SI14): Located on the upper border of the scapula, three cun from the spine, in the depression.
Jianzhongshu (SI15): Located on the medial border of the scapula, two cun from the spine, in the depression.

Main Trunk: Descending towards the anterior shoulder to the depression of Quepen, connecting with the Heart, passing through the fullness of Danzhong, following the pharynx through the diaphragm, reaching the Stomach, and finally belonging to/connecting with the Small Intestine, descending to the Wan (epigastric region).
*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "From the supraclavicular fossa (Quepen), it connects with the Heart, follows the pharynx, descends through the diaphragm, reaches the Stomach, and belongs to the Small Intestine." Master Hua said: "From the intersection at the shoulders, it enters the Quepen, follows the shoulder towards the axilla, descends at the level of Danzhong, connects with the Heart, follows the gastric system through the diaphragm, passes above Shangwan (CV13) and Zhongwan (CV12), reaches the Stomach, descends externally to the Ren Mai, at the level of two cun above the umbilicus, and connects with the Small Intestine." (Danzhong, Shangwan, and Zhongwan are all intersection points of the Ren Mai.)

Its Branch: Rising from Quepen, it follows the neck beside Tianchuang, past the neck tendon, passing through Tianrong (SI17), follows the cheek and zygomatic arch, reaches the outer canthus of the eye, enters the ear, and stops at Tinggong (SI19).
*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "Its branch separates from the Quepen, follows the neck up to the cheek, reaches the outer canthus of the eye, and returns into the ear." Master Hua said: "The outer angle of the eye is the outer canthus. The branch separates from the Quepen, follows the neck through Tianchuang (SI16) and Tianrong (SI17), ascends to the cheek, reaches the zygomatic arch, goes up to the outer canthus, passes Tongziliao (GB1), returns into the ear, follows Tinggong (SI19), and ends." (Tongziliao is seen in the Foot-Shaoyang meridian.)

Tianchuang (SI16): Located anterior to the large tendon of the neck, below the mandibular angle, posterior to Futu, where the artery beats palpably, in the depression. (Futu is seen in the Ren Mai—note: text error likely, Futu is GB27).
Tianrong (SI17): Located below the ear, posterior to the angle of the mandible.
Quanliao (SI18): Located at the lower border of the cheekbone, at the end of the sharp bone, in the depression; it is an intersection of the Hand-Shaoyang meridian.
Tinggong (SI19): Located in the ear, size like a red bean; it is an intersection of the Foot-Shaoyang meridian.

Another Branch: Following the cheek, crossing the nose, proceeding to Jingming (BL1), coming to the inner canthus, where the Hand-Foot Taiyang, Hand-Foot Yangming, Hand-Foot Shaoyang, and Foot-Taiyang meridians gather and intersect, returning to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder position.
*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "Its branch separates from the cheek, ascends to the nasolabial fold, reaches the nose, arrives at the inner canthus, and obliquely connects with the zygomatic arch." Master Hua omitted the four characters "obliquely connects with the zygomatic arch." Master Hua said: "The lower part of the eye is the inner canthus. Its branch separates, follows the cheek, ascends to the nasolabial fold, reaches the nose, arrives at the inner canthus Jingming (BL1) point, to intersect with the Foot-Taiyang." (Jingming is seen in the Foot-Taiyang meridian.)

General Song:
Knowing Shaoze indicates the Hand-Taiyang,
Ascending to the basin internally, connecting downwards to the intestines.
Its branch from the neck obliquely crosses the cheek,
Flanking the nose, it returns to the side of the eyes.

Commentary: The vessel of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine originates at the tip of the little finger, follows the lateral aspect of the hand upwards, and terminates at the Tinggong (SI19) point in the ear. Its branch separates from Tinggong, travels over the cheek to reach the nose, and arrives at the inner canthus. It is five chi long and intersects with the Foot-Taiyang. Therefore, the vessel of the Foot-Taiyang originates at the Jingming (BL1) point in the inner canthus.

Acupoint Song:
Nineteen acupoints of the Hand-Taiyang,
Shaoze, Qian谷, Houxi paired.
Wanggu, Yanggu, and Yanglao follow,
Zhizheng, Xiaohai, Jianzhen proceed.
Jianwaishu, Tianzong, and Bingfeng,
Quyuan, Jianwai, and Jianzhong again.
Tianchuang, Tianrong, ascending to Quanliao,
Returning into the ear, following Tinggong.

Song of Disorders Caused by Pathogenic Factors and Diseases Produced:
This meridian has little Qi but much Blood.
When pathogenic factors move, diseases arise in the throat and jaw.
Swelling under the chin makes turning the head difficult,
The shoulder feels as if being pulled, the upper arm as if broken.
Diseases produced mainly involve pain in the shoulder and upper arm,
Deafness, yellow eyes, swelling of the cheeks and jaw.
Pain on the posterior-lateral aspect of the elbow and arm,
Details should be distinguished carefully.

*Spinal Classic (Ling Shu)*, Chapter 10 states: "Disorders caused by pathogenic factors include sore throat, swelling of the chin, inability to turn the head, shoulder feeling as if pulled, upper arm feeling as if broken." "Diseases produced by this meridian include deafness, yellow eyes, swelling of the cheeks, and pain in the neck, chin, shoulder, elbow, and posterior-lateral aspect of the arm." For these conditions, excess is drained, deficiency is tonified, heat is treated quickly, cold is retained, sinking Yang is moxa-ed, and neither excess nor deficiency is treated via the meridian itself. In excess, the Renying pulse is twice as large as the Cunkou pulse; in deficiency, the Renying pulse is smaller than the Cunkou pulse. (Master Hua reads 'Cunkou' as referring back to the Cunkou.)

Phonetic Notes:
Xia (sound: xià) Bo (sound: bó, shoulder/arm) Tan (sound: dàn, same as Chang) Zhuo Guang (sound: zhuō guǎng) Jing Ji Fan (sound: jìng jì fǎn)