岐伯曰∶夫圣人之起天地之数也，一而九之，故以立九野，九而九之，九九八十
一，以起黄钟数焉，以针应数也。帝曰∶以针应九数奈何？岐伯曰∶一者，天也。天者
阳也。五脏之应天者肺，肺者，五脏六腑之盖也；皮者，肺之合也，人之阳也。故为
之治针，必大其头而锐其末，令毋得深入而阳气出。二者，地也。人之所以应土者，肉
也。故为之治针，必 其身而圆其末，令毋得伤肉分，伤则气得竭。三者，人也。人之所
以成生者，血肺也。故为之治针，必大其身而圆其末，令可以按肺而勿陷，以致其气，
令邪气独出。四者，时也。时者，四时八风之客于经络之中，为瘤病也。故为之治针，
必其身而锐其末，令深以泻热出血，而痼病竭。五者，音也。音者，冬夏之分，分于子
午，阴与阳别，寒与热争，两气相搏，合为痈脓者也。故为之治针，必令其末如剑锋，可
以取大脓。六者，律也。律者，调阴阳四时，而合十二经络。虚邪客于经络，而
为暴痹者也。故为之治针，必令尖如 ，且圆且锐，中身微大，以取暴气。七者，星也。星
者，人之七窍，邪之所客于经络，而为痛痹，舍于经络者也。故为之治针，令尖如蚊虻喙，
静以徐往，微以久留，正气纳之，真邪俱往，出针而养者也。八者，风也。风者，人之股
肱八节也。八正之虚风，八风伤人，内舍于骨解腰脊节腠理之间，为深痹也。故为之治
针，必长其身，锋其末，可以深取远痹。九者，野也。野者，人之节解、皮肤之间也。
淫邪流溢于身，如风水之状，而溜不能通于机关大节者也。故为之治针，令尖如梃，其锋微
圆，以取大气之不能过于关节者也。一天、二地、三人、四时、五音、六律、七星、八
风、九野，身形亦应之，针有所宜，
故曰九针。人皮应天，人肉应地，人脉应人，人筋应时，人声应音，人阴阳合气应律，
人齿面目应星，人出入气应风，人九窍三百六十五络应野。故一针皮，二针肉，三针肺，
四针筋，五针骨，六针调阴阳，七针益精，八针除风，九针通九窍，除三百六十五节
气。此之谓有所主也。
Qibo stated: The sage deduced the numerical principles of Heaven and Earth, starting from one to nine, thereby establishing the concept of the "Nine Fields" (Jiu Ye). Multiplying nine by nine yields eighty-one, which serves as the base number for the Huangzhong pitch pipe, and needles are designed to correspond to these numbers. The Emperor asked: How do needles correspond to the number nine? Qibo replied: The first number represents Heaven. Heaven belongs to Yang. Among the Five Zang Organs, the Lung corresponds to Heaven; the Lung is the canopy covering the five zang and six fu organs. The skin is the exterior correspondence of the Lung and also belongs to the body's yang qi. Therefore, the first needle was made with a broad head and a sharp tip, so that it does not penetrate deeply, preventing the dispersion of yang qi.
The second number represents Earth. In humans, the flesh corresponds to Earth. Therefore, the second needle was made with a thick shaft and a rounded tip, so that it does not injure the muscle tissue; if muscles are injured, the healthy qi will be exhausted.
The third number represents Humanity. Human life is sustained by the blood vessels and qi. Therefore, the third needle was made with a thick shaft and a rounded tip, allowing it to press acupoints without sinking too deep, thereby guiding the healthy qi and expelling the pathogenic qi alone.
The fourth number represents Time. Time refers to the four seasons and the eight winds invading the meridians, causing chronic diseases. Therefore, the fourth needle was made with a thick shaft and a sharp tip, allowing deep insertion to drain heat and release blood, thereby eliminating chronic diseases.
The fifth number represents Musical Tones. Musical tones distinguish between winter and summer, divided at the Zi and Wu hours, where yin and yang separate, and cold and heat contend. When these two energies clash, they combine to form carbuncles and pus. Therefore, the fifth needle was made with a tip like a sword edge, capable of draining large amounts of pus.
The sixth number represents Pitch Pipes (Lü). Pitch pipes harmonize yin and yang across the four seasons and align with the twelve meridians. Deficient pathogens invading the meridians cause sudden bi-syndrome. Therefore, the sixth needle was made with a tip like an arrowhead, both round and sharp, with a slightly thicker middle shaft, to remove sudden pathogenic qi.
The seventh number represents Stars. Stars correspond to the seven orifices of the human body. Pathogens lodging in the meridians cause painful bi-syndrome and reside within the meridians. Therefore, the seventh needle has a tip like the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly. It should be inserted quietly and slowly, retained lightly for a long time, allowing healthy qi to enter and true/pathogenic qi to exit together, nourishing the body after withdrawal.
The eighth number represents Wind. Wind corresponds to the eight joints of the limbs. The deficient winds from the eight directions harm the body, entering internally into the bone gaps, waist, spine, and interstices, causing deep bi-syndrome. Therefore, the eighth needle has a long shaft and a sharp tip, suitable for deep needling to treat distant bi-syndrome.
The ninth number represents the Nine Fields. The Nine Fields correspond to the joint spaces and skin of the human body. Excessive pathogens overflow throughout the body, resembling wind-water edema, but cannot flow through the major joint hinges. Therefore, the ninth needle has a tip like a wooden club, with a slightly rounded edge, to remove large accumulations of pathogenic qi that cannot pass through the joints.
Heaven, Earth, Humanity, Time, Tones, Pitch Pipes, Stars, Wind, and the Nine Fields correspond to the human body structure. Each needle has its specific suitability, hence they are called the Nine Needles. Skin corresponds to Heaven, flesh to Earth, vessels to Humanity, tendons to Time, voice to Tones, the harmony of yin-yang qi to Pitch Pipes, teeth and facial features to Stars, respiration to Wind, and the nine orifices and 365 collaterals to the Nine Fields. Thus, the first needle treats the skin, the second the flesh, the third the vessels, the fourth the tendons, the fifth the bones, the sixth harmonizes yin and yang, the seventh benefits essence, the eighth dispels wind, and the ninth opens the nine orifices and removes ailments related to the 365 seasonal qi points. This is what is meant by having specific indications.