Translating "太白", acupuncture point SP-3
The reasoning for translating "太白" as "Greatest Purity" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point SP-3 (Spleen 3).
Explanation of the point name
To be consistent, 白 needs to be translated the same as with SP-1, 隱白. Since both these points have an effect on the clarity of thoughts, translating with 'purity,' rather than 'white' makes the most sense.
The effect of this point is to enhance thoughts to their greatest purity, or in other words, it makes thoughts precise.
1st character
Point names with 太
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LU-9 | 太淵 | Largest Depth |
| ST-23 | 太乙 | Greatest Oneness |
| SP-3 | 太白 | Greatest Purity |
| KI-3 | 太谿 | Largest Valley Stream |
| LIV-3 | 太沖 | Largest Infusion |
Point names with 少 (opposite of 太)
For consistency in the translations, it helps to be aware of how the opposite character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LU-11 | 少商 | Littlest Exchange |
| HT-3 | 少海 | Smallest Sea |
| HT-8 | 少府 | Smallest Storehouse |
| HT-9 | 少沖 | Smallest Infusion |
| SI-1 | 少澤 | Smallest Marsh |
2nd character
Meaning
When 白 in point names doesn't obviously mean 'white', it usually means 'pure' in the sense of 'precise'.
Point names with 白
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LU-4 | 俠白 | Purely Doing as One Likes |
| ST-2 | 四白 | Four Whites |
| SP-1 | 隱白 | Hidden Purity |
| SP-3 | 太白 | Greatest Purity |
| BL-30 | 白環兪 | White Ring Increase |
| GB-10 | 浮白 | Purity Rising to the Surface |
| GB-14 | 陽白 | Yang Purity |
Nearby points
Sometimes the names of consecutive points on a meridian are related. Being aware of nearby points can help to translate consistently in such a situation.
| ST-45 | 厲兌 | Passing Through Danger |
| SP-1 | 隱白 | Hidden Purity |
| SP-2 | 大都 | Big City |
| SP-3 | 太白 | Greatest Purity |
| SP-4 | 公孫 | Going Along Fairly |
| SP-5 | 商丘 | Deliberation Mound |
| SP-6 | 三陰交 | Three Yin in Interaction |