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The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), these two classics, contain detailed discussions on Zang-Fu organs, meridians, acupoints, and diseases. Among these, those discussing acupuncture methods account for seven or eight tenths, while those discussing herbal prescriptions account for only two or three tenths. In ancient times, acupuncture was valued so highly; however, the Dao of acupuncture is more difficult than herbal medicine, and patients are also more willing to take medicine but suffer from acupuncture. Therefore, in later generations, herbal prescriptions became prevalent, while acupuncture fell into disuse.

Those who practice acupuncture today have ten obvious errors, not to mention the subtleties. The two classics describe the entry and exit points, depth, left and right positions, and irregular intersections of the twelve meridians. The acupoints follow the meridians up and down, also unevenly distributed without fixed patterns. Today, people only adhere to the "body-cun" measurement method, measuring vertically along the left and right sides without following the curves of the meridians. This results in meridians no longer being true meridians and acupoints no longer being true acupoints. This is the first error.

In treating diseases, the two classics often specify which acupoint to use for a certain disease, but frequently refer only to the meridian without specifying the acupoint. For example, the *Zhong Shi* chapter of the *Ling Shu* states: "If the Ren Ying pulse is one-fold larger than the Cun Kou pulse, drain the Foot Shaoyang meridian and tonify the Jueyin meridian." The *Jue Bing* chapter states: "For Jue headache, sometimes select the Foot Yangming or Foot Taiyin meridians, sometimes the Hand Shaoyang or Foot Shaoyin meridians." For deafness, select the Hand Yangming meridian; for dry throat, select the Foot Shaoyin meridian. None of these mention specific acupoints, yet they imply principles such as draining the son and tonifying the mother. Today, each disease is assigned specific acupoints. This is the second error.

Regarding treatment, the Jing, Ying, Shu, Jing, and He (Five Shu) points are most important in the two classics. Winter involves puncturing Jing points, spring Ying points, summer Shu points, late summer Jing points, and autumn He points. Whenever a meridian is mentioned without a specific acupoint, it usually refers to these five Five Shu points. Today, this is no longer discussed. This is the third error.

Concerning tonification and drainage methods, the *Nei Jing* states: "Advance the needle during inhalation, do not let the Qi rebel; keep it still for a long time, do not allow evil to spread. Rotate the needle during inhalation until De Qi is achieved; withdraw the needle during exhalation, removing it only after exhalation is complete, allowing the major Qi (evil) to exit—this is drainage." Conversely, "Insert the needle at the end of exhalation, keep it still for a long time until De Qi is achieved; withdraw during inhalation so Qi does not escape, keeping it in place, pushing and closing the aperture so Shen Qi remains and major Qi (healthy Qi) stays—this is tonification." One must also face the direction of the meridian Qi: advance quickly and withdraw slowly without pressing the hole for drainage; advance slowly and withdraw quickly while pressing the hole for tonification. There are many such methods. Today, rotation is used with thumb pushing out for drainage and rubbing in for tonification. This is the fourth error.

After inserting the needle, one must wait for Qi arrival. For excess conditions, remove the needle when Yin Qi arrives abundantly; for deficiency conditions, remove the needle when Yang Qi arrives abundantly. If Qi has not arrived, regardless of the number of manipulations, once Qi arrives, remove the needle and do not re-puncture. The *Nan Jing* states: "First press the area with the left hand, flick it to make it turgid, and mark it with the fingernail. When the Qi feels like a pulsating artery, insert the needle smoothly. After achieving De Qi, push the needle inward—this is tonification. Move and extend the needle outward—this is drainage." Today, people constantly rotate the needle until it feels loose before withdrawing, ignoring whether Qi has arrived or not. This is the fifth error.

The depth of acupuncture varies with the seasons. Spring Qi is in the hair, summer Qi in the skin, autumn Qi in the muscles, and winter Qi in the sinews and bones. Thus, shallow needling is used in spring and summer, deep needling in autumn and winter; reversing this causes harm. Today, people ignore the four seasons and use fixed measurements for each case. This is the sixth error.

Ancient acupuncture could treat all diseases, including malaria, cold damage, chills and fever, cough, and all internal organ and seven orifice disorders. Today, it only treats meridian and形体 (form/structure) disorders such as flaccidity, numbness, and limited flexion and extension. This is the seventh error.

Ancient needling involved significant bloodletting, as detailed in the *Xue Luo Lun* chapter of the *Ling Shu*. For headaches and lower back pain, massive bloodletting was essential. Any collateral vessels containing evil must be completely drained. If the discharged blood is black, it must continue until the color changes to red; otherwise, the disease will not be cured and may even worsen. Today, if any blood appears, both patient and doctor become panicked and lose their composure. How can the disease be removed? This is the eighth error.

The *Nei Jing* describes nine variations (Jiu Bian) and twelve sections (Shi Er Jie) of needling. The Nine Variations are: Shu Ci (Transport Puncture), Yuan Dao Ci (Distant Path Puncture), Jing Ci (Meridian Puncture), Luo Ci (Collateral Puncture), Fen Ci (Muscle Separation Puncture), Da Xie Ci (Major Drainage Puncture), Mao Ci (Hair Surface Puncture), Ju Ci (Cross Puncture), and Cui Ci (Moxibustion Puncture). The Twelve Sections are: Ou Ci (Paired Puncture), Bao Ci (Reporting Puncture), Hui Ci (Recovery Puncture), Qi Ci (Cluster Puncture), Yang Ci (Spreading Puncture), Zhi Zhen Ci (Straight Needle Puncture), Shu Ci (Transport Puncture), Duan Ci (Short Puncture), Fu Ci (Floating Puncture), Yin Ci (Yin Puncture), Bang Ci (Side Puncture), and Zan Ci (Assistant Puncture). These twenty-one methods must be chosen according to the condition and cannot be altered; lacking even one method means one disease cannot be cured. Today, only straight insertion is used. This is the ninth error.

There were nine types of ancient needles: Chan Zhen (Pointed Needle), Yuan Zhen (Round Needle), Di Zhen (Pressing Needle), Feng Zhen (Sharp Needle), Pi Zhen (Saber Needle), Yuan Li Zhen (Round Sharp Needle), Hao Zhen (Filiform Needle), Chang Zhen (Long Needle), and Da Zhen (Large Needle). They were selected according to the condition; losing the correct type meant the disease would not respond. Today, the largest needles resemble Yuan Zhen, and the smallest resemble Hao Zhen. How can they treat chronic stubborn diseases or sudden aggressive pathogens? This is the tenth error.

The major errors have been outlined above. The key to success lies in mental focus and rigorous technique. The classics state: "Focus your spirit on the finest details, attend to the patient, observe the blood vessels, and there will be no danger in needling." It also says: "When Meridian Qi has arrived, guard it carefully and do not lose it. Depth depends on your intent; distance is uniform. Approach it as if standing by an abyss, hold the needle as if grasping a tiger, let your spirit not be distracted by other things." And again: "Be still like a drawn crossbow, move like releasing the trigger." Such is the specialization and skill required. Today's physicians insert needles casually and carelessly. Even if their technique mimics the ancients, without focused intent and timely execution, efficacy is doubtful, let alone when completely contrary to ancient methods.

Furthermore, there are sequences of priority, differences in Ying-Sui techniques, distinctions of value, divisions of labor and rest, degrees of fat and thinness, and numbers of treatments, which are too numerous to exhaust. If one could study them deeply to align with the sage's standards, miraculous results would surely follow. However, people prefer ease over difficulty and completely abandon ancient methods. Consequently, society views acupuncture lightly, and its art is not widely practiced. As for moxibustion, the diseases it treats amount to only one or two-tenths of those treated by acupuncture. Understanding the principles of acupuncture makes moxibustion easy to master.