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Why are the Nine Needles named as such? Their origin lies in the generation of the Great Numbers of Heaven and Earth. It begins with one and ends with nine, corresponding to Heaven, Earth, Man, Time, Sound, Law, Stars, Wind, and Fields. The number of Wind and Fields is nine times nine, yielding eighty-one; the number of needles corresponds to the Huangzhong pitch-pipe standard. Skin, flesh, sinews, vessels, voice, Yin-Yang, teeth, Qi, orifices, and joints are all connected through these correspondences.

[Note] In *Ling Shu: Jiu Zhen* (Spiritual Pivot: Nine Needles), the Yellow Emperor asked: How were the Nine Needles generated? By what cause are they named? Qibo replied: They are the great numbers of Heaven and Earth, beginning with one and ending with nine. The first needle models Heaven, the second models Earth, the third models Man, the fourth models Time, the fifth models Sound, the sixth models Law, the seventh models Stars, the eighth models Wind, and the ninth models Fields. The Nine Needles were created by the Sages based on the numbers of Heaven and Earth, beginning with one and ending with nine. Nine multiplied by nine equals eighty-one, used to calculate the number of the Huangzhong pitch-pipe. The number of needles corresponds to this, and the human body also corresponds to it. Skin corresponds to Heaven, flesh to Earth, blood vessels to Man, sinews to Time, voice to Sound, Yin-Yang to Law, teeth and facial features to Stars, Qi to Wind, the nine orifices and three hundred and sixty-five collaterals to the Nine Fields. This is the way Heaven and Man communicate. Thus, the first needle treats the skin, the second treats the flesh, the third treats the vessels, the fourth treats the sinews, the fifth treats the bones, the sixth regulates Yin-Yang, the seventh benefits Essence (Jing), the eighth dispels Wind, and the ninth unblocks the nine orifices and removes pathogenic factors from the three hundred and sixty-five seasonal nodes, each having its specific indication.

First: Chan Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The first needle, modeled after a towel pin, has its tip removed by one cun and half, leaving a sharp length of one cun and six fen. "Chan" means sharp; "Cui" means tail. This means the needle is one cun and six fen long, with the upper part excluding the tip by one cun and half, leaving only one fen of sharpness at the lower end, intended for shallow insertion without deep penetration.

Chan Needle Indication Song
The Chan needle is like the modern arrowhead needle, primarily piercing skin invaded by pathogenic flesh, do not allow deep insertion to drain Yang Qi, allowing Righteous Qi and Pathogen to coexist peacefully, harmonizing Ying and Wei.
[Note] The Chan needle is the modern arrowhead needle, primarily treating conditions where pathogenic heat affects the skin of the head and body. It should not be inserted deeply, as deep insertion damages Yang Qi. Therefore, it must be inserted very shallowly, so that the pathogen is expelled while the Righteous Qi remains unharmed, and Ying and Wei become harmonized, curing the disease.

Second: Yuan Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The second needle, the Yuan Needle, is modeled after a cotton needle, with a cylindrical body and an egg-shaped tip, one cun and six fen long. Cylindrical body and egg-shaped tip mean the body is straight like a bamboo tube, and the tip is rounded like an egg.

Yuan Needle Indication Song
The Yuan Needle is modeled after the cotton needle, treating pathogenic qi invading the muscle layers; its cylindrical body and egg-shaped tip do not damage Righteous Qi, facilitating the guidance of pathogenic qi in the muscle layers until it settles naturally.
[Note] The Yuan Needle is the cotton needle, treating pathogenic qi between the muscle layers. Because of its cylindrical body and rounded tip, it facilitates the movement of pathogenic qi in the muscle layers without damaging the Righteous Qi of the muscles.

Third: Di Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The third needle, the Di Needle, is modeled after the sharp point of millet grains, three cun and half long. The sharpness of millet grains is round and slightly pointed, suitable for tonification methods.

Di Needle Indication Song
The Di Needle's tip is sharp like millet grain, fearing deep insertion would damage muscle tissue; press the pulse without sinking to await Qi arrival, puncture to let pathogenic qi exit alone.
[Note] The tip of the Di Needle is sharp like millet grain, treating pathogens in the vessels. Deep insertion is undesirable; one should only press the pulse to await Qi arrival and puncture the vessel to expel the pathogenic qi alone. If pressed deeply into the muscle, although the pathogen may exit, the Righteous Qi of the muscle will inevitably be damaged.

Fourth: Feng Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The fourth needle, the Feng Needle, is modeled after a cotton needle, with blades on three sides, one cun and six fen long, eight fen from the top and eight fen retained at the bottom. Three-sided blade means the blade is straight, robust, and sharp, capable of draining heat and bleeding.

Feng Needle Indication Song
The Feng Needle is now known as the three-edged needle, primarily piercing tumors, pathogenic stagnation, and epidemic qi; for chronic obstructions in meridians that do not resolve, draining heat and bleeding unblocks Ying and Wei.
[Note] The Feng Needle is the modern three-edged needle, primarily treating epidemic heat-warmth diseases and tumors. For any chronic obstruction in the meridians that does not resolve, the sharpness of the three-edged needle is used to drain heat and bleed, opening the meridians and harmonizing Ying and Wei, thus curing the obstructive disease.

Fifth: Pi Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The fifth needle, the Pi Needle, is modeled after a sword edge, two-and-a-half fen wide, four cun long. Its width of two-and-a-half fen, length of four cun, and sword-like tip are designed for their ability to open and unblock.

Pi Needle Indication Song
The Pi Needle's tip is like a sword, primarily piercing cold-heat conflict; when combined into abscess with pus formed, draining large amounts of pus immediately harmonizes Yin and Yang.
[Note] The tip of the Pi Needle is like a sword, primarily treating conflicts between cold and heat, or pathogens stagnating in Ying and Wei, leading to carbuncles and ulcers. When pus has formed, this needle is used to incise and drain large amounts of pus. Draining the pus harmonizes Yin and Yang, curing the carbuncle heat.

Sixth: Yuanli Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The sixth needle, the Yuanli Needle, is modeled after coarse hair (Cui), with a slightly larger tip and a thinner body, one cun and six fen long. It is modeled after coarse hair because strong hair is called Cui; using its fine strength allows for slightly deeper insertion.

Yuanli Needle Indication Song
The Yuanli Needle is sharp like coarse hair, treating deficiency pathogens lodging in meridians, sudden bi syndrome, wandering pain, and joint disease; piercing them immediately unblocks the meridians.
[Note] The Yuanli Needle is sharp like coarse hair, round yet acute. It treats deficiency pathogens lodging in the meridians, causing sudden Bi syndrome, wandering pain, and joint pain. Piercing with this needle circulates the meridians, causing deficiency pathogens to depart.

Seventh: Hao Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The seventh needle, the Hao Needle, is sharp like the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly. Modeled after fine hair, it is two cun and six fen long. Its tip is sharp like a mosquito's proboscis to utilize its fineness and slow action.

Hao Needle Indication Song
The Hao Needle treats lingering deficiency Bi, nourishing Righteous Qi and eliminating pathogens through slowness; for superficial cold-heat and painful Bi, entering calmly and withdrawing slowly ensures peace between Pathogen and Righteous Qi.
[Note] The Hao Needle is named so because it is modeled after fine hair. It primarily pierces pathogens lodging in meridians causing painful Bi with light pathogenic factors. For those with insufficient Righteous Qi, using this needle involves calm and slow insertion to gradually scatter pathogens, slight retention to nourish Righteous Qi slowly, thereby resolving superficial cold pathogens and painful Bi in the collaterals.

Eighth: Chang Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The eighth needle, the Chang Needle, is modeled after the Qi Needle, seven cun long, as it can reach deep pathogens and distant Bi syndromes.

Chang Needle Indication Song
The Chang Needle treats injury by deficiency pathogens lodging internally in bone joints and interstices; to extract deep pathogens and remove distant Bi, proper needling technique leads to health.
[Note] The Chang Needle is the modern Huantiao needle. It treats deficiency pathogens penetrating deeply, lodging in the spaces between bones, joints, waist, spine, and interstices. To treat deep and distant painful pathogens, one must use a long needle with a sharp tip, applying correct technique to expel deep pathogens and resolve distant Bi, achieving health.

Ninth: Da Needle Diagram
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[Note] The Classic states: The ninth needle, the Da Needle, is modeled after the Feng Needle, with a slightly rounded tip, four cun long, shaped like a club, thick and large, capable of draining and unblocking joints (guan-jian).

Da Needle Indication Song
The Da Needle primarily treats whole-body diseases, excess pathogens overflowing into the body, wind-water joint Bi; once joints are free, Great Qi flows freely.
[Note] The Da Needle is the ancient burning needle (Fan Zhen). For excess pathogens throughout the body, whether wind or water, overflowing into the body and stagnating at joints causing disease, this needle is used to unblock joints and circulate Great Qi, removing excess pathogens obstructing meridians and wind-deficiency swelling/toxins affecting the body.

[Commentary] These Nine Needles are all based on the methods of size and length found in *Ling Shu Jing*, with no differences. However, carefully studying the usage of the Nine Needles in the Classic reveals that they are all applied to excess pathogens. Thus, it can be known that needling is not suitable for treating deficiency conditions.