诸本无篇字。马云。内论气有逆顺。用针者当顺治。不可逆治。故名篇。
气之逆顺者（止）五行也 张云。人与天地相参。与日月相应。其阴阳升降盛衰之气。当其位而和者
为顺。不当其位而乖者为逆。
脉之盛衰者 张云。以有力无力言。故可以候血气之虚实。
刺之大约者 张云。三刺义具如下文。又若明知病之可刺者。以其实邪在经也。如脉度篇所谓盛者
泻之。虚者饮药以补之是也。与其未可刺者。谓有所避忌也。如终始篇所谓新内新劳。已饱已饥。大惊大恐者
勿刺。及八正神明论所谓天忌。五禁篇所谓五禁之类。皆是也。与其已不可刺者。言败坏无及也。如本神篇所
谓五者已伤。针不可以治之也。凡此三者。皆本节切近之义。
兵法曰 马云。逢逢之气。势来迫而甚盛者也。堂堂之阵。阵方整而甚众者也。故无迎者。当避其
来锐耳。无击者。当击其惰归耳。志云。夫战、勇气也。一鼓作气。再而衰。三而竭。是以无迎逢逢之气。无
击堂堂之阵。俟其气衰辙乱。然后击之。无有不克者矣。简案、孙子云。无邀整整之兵。无击堂堂之隈。注。
堂堂、广大也。逢逢、鼓声。诗、大雅。鼍鼓逢逢是也。
刺法曰 马云。三句及下方其盛也四句。又见素问疟论。 、音靠。诗板篇。多将 。朱注云。
炽、盛也。张云。 、热之甚也。漉漉、汗之多也。浑浑、虚实未辨也。病与脉相逆。形证阴阳不合也。是
皆未可刺者也。
上工（止）与脉相逆者也 甲乙。未盛、作未成。袭者也。盛者也。并无也字。张云。未生者。治
其几也。未盛者。治其萌也。已衰者。知其有隙可乘也。是皆可刺者也。刺其方袭者。不避来锐也。与其形之
盛者。见其外不知其内也。病之与脉相逆者。逆有微甚。微逆者。防有所伤。未可刺也。甚逆者。阴阳相离。
形气相失。已不可刺也。医不达此而强刺之。未有不偾事者矣。故曰下工。
故曰方其盛也（止）大昌 张云。盛邪当泻。何惧毁伤。正恐邪之所凑。其气必虚。攻邪未去。正气
先夺耳。故曰。方其盛也。勿敢毁伤。病既已衰。可无刺矣。不知邪气似平。病本方固。乘势拔之。易为力也。
故曰刺其已衰。事必大昌。马云。按此节与疟论。皆言邪气甚盛。发为甚寒甚热之际。不可轻刺。正以病势与
脉气相逆。然则用药者。亦当先用药于寒热未至之先。不分外感内伤之寒热。皆当如此。若邪气方盛而用药。
则寒药反助其寒。热药反助其热。不能解病而适以增病矣。医者不可不知也。
上工治未病不治已病 马云。二句又见素问四气调神论。
All versions lack the character "Pian" (Chapter). Ma Yun states: This chapter primarily discusses the reversal and compliance of Qi. When using acupuncture, one should treat in accordance with the Qi's movement, not against it; hence the chapter is named "Ni Shun" (Reversal and Compliance).
The reversal and compliance of Qi refers to the Five Elements (Wu Xing, the five phases of material transformation and energy flow). Zhang Yun notes: Humans are interconnected with Heaven and Earth, and correspond to the Sun and Moon. The Qi of Yin-Yang ascending and descending, flourishing and declining, that is in its proper position and harmonious is called "Shun" (Compliance); that which is out of position and discordant is called "Ni" (Reversal).
The flourishing and declining of the pulse reflects the condition of Blood and Qi. Zhang Yun notes: This is discussed in terms of forcefulness or weakness, thus allowing for the observation of the deficiency or excess of Blood and Qi.
The general principles of needling. Zhang Yun notes: The meaning of "three needlings" is detailed in the following text. Furthermore, if one knows a disease is suitable for needling, it is because the Excess pathogen resides in the meridians, as stated in the *Mai Du* Chapter: "Flourishing conditions are drained, deficient conditions are supplemented with herbal decoctions." For those temporarily unsuitable for needling, there are taboos to observe, such as those in the *Zhong Shi* Chapter: do not needle after recent sexual intercourse, recent exertion, fullness, hunger, great fright, or great fear. Also, the "Heavenly Taboos" mentioned in the *Ba Zheng Shen Ming Lun* Chapter and the "Five Taboos" in the *Wu Jin* Chapter are examples. As for those already unsuitable for needling, it means the condition is deteriorated beyond repair, such as in the *Ben Shen* Chapter where it says if the Five Viscera are injured, needles cannot treat it. These three cases represent the immediate significance of this section.
Military strategy states: Ma Yun explains: "Peng Peng Qi" refers to an imposing momentum that arrives urgently and is very strong. "Tang Tang Zhen" refers to a square formation that is well-ordered and populous. Therefore, "Do not meet Peng Peng Qi" means avoiding the enemy's initial sharp vigor. "Do not strike Tang Tang Zhen" means striking when they are sluggish and returning. The Book of Zhi states: Warfare relies on courage. The first drumbeat rouses the spirit, the second weakens it, and the third exhausts it. Thus, do not face the Peng Peng incoming vigor, nor strike the Tang Tang grand formation; wait until their Qi declines and their tracks become chaotic, then attack, and victory is assured. Jian An's commentary notes: Sun Tzu said, "Do not intercept troops that are orderly, do not strike formations that are grand." The annotation explains: "Tang Tang" means vast/grand; "Peng Peng" refers to the sound of drums, as seen in the *Da Ya* section of the *Book of Songs*: "The alligator drums beat Peng Peng."
Needling methods state: Ma Yun notes: These three sentences and the subsequent four sentences starting with "Fang Qi Sheng Ye" also appear in the *Su Wen: Nu Lun* Chapter. "He He" (pronounced kao) appears in the *Ban* poem of the *Book of Songs*. Zhu Xi's commentary states: "He" means blazing/intense. Zhang Yun notes: "He He" indicates extreme heat; "Lu Lu" indicates profuse sweating; "Hun Hun" indicates indistinguishable deficiency and excess. When the disease pattern contradicts the pulse, and the physical symptoms contradict Yin-Yang principles, these are all conditions where needling is currently inappropriate.
The superior practitioner (Zhi) ... and those contradictory to the pulse. The *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Wei Cheng" (not yet formed) instead of "Wei Sheng"; "Xi Zhe Ye" and "Sheng Zhe Ye" lack the particle "Ye". Zhang Yun notes: Treating before the disease arises addresses its potential; treating before it flourishes addresses its germination; treating after it declines exploits the opening. All these are suitable for needling. Needling the pathogen as it invades does not avoid its sharp vigor. Regarding the flourishing form, one sees the exterior but not the interior. Disease contradicting the pulse has degrees of contradiction. Slight contradiction warrants caution to prevent injury and is temporarily unsuitable for needling; severe contradiction implies separation of Yin and Yang, loss of correspondence between Form and Qi, and is already unsuitable for needling. If physicians do not understand this and force needling, they will surely fail. Hence they are called inferior practitioners.
Thus it is said: Fang Qi Sheng Ye (While it is flourishing) ... Da Chang. Zhang Yun notes: Flourishing pathogens should be drained; why fear damage? One merely fears that where the pathogen gathers, the Righteous Qi must be deficient, and attacking the pathogen without removing it may deplete the Righteous Qi first. Thus it is said: "While it is flourishing, do not dare to cause damage." Once the disease has declined, needling is unnecessary. However, unaware that the pathogen seems calm while the root is solid, one can easily eradicate it by taking advantage of the situation. Thus it is said: "Needle when it has declined, and the matter will surely prosper greatly." Ma Yun notes: This section and the *Nu Lun* both indicate that when pathogenic Qi is extremely strong, causing severe cold and heat, one should not lightly needle, precisely because the disease trend contradicts the pulse Qi. Therefore, when using herbs, one should administer medication before the cold or heat arrives, regardless of whether it is external contraction or internal injury. If herbs are used while the pathogen is flourishing, cold herbs will aggravate the cold, and hot herbs will aggravate the heat, failing to resolve the disease and merely increasing it. Physicians must know this.
The superior practitioner treats the undiseased, not the diseased: Ma Yun notes: These two sentences also appear in the *Su Wen: Si Qi Diao Shen Lun* Chapter.