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(From *Lingshu: Jiuzhen Shieryuan Pian* and *Jiuzhen Lun*)

Qibo stated: The names of the Nine Needles each correspond to different shapes. (From *Lingshu: Jiuzhen Shieryuan Pian*.)

The first is the Chan Needle (Chan Zhen, a needle with a large head and sharp tip), one cun and six fen in length. The characteristic of the Chan Needle is that its head is large and its tip is sharp, used to drain Yang pathogenic factors. (Detailed notes on the Nine Needles are provided below. Pronunciation same as "chan".)

The second is the Yuan Needle (Yuan Zhen, an oval-shaped massage needle), one cun and six fen in length. The shape of the Yuan Needle is like an egg; it is used for rubbing between muscle intervals without damaging the muscles, to drain pathogenic Qi from the intermuscular spaces. (The pronunciation of "kai" is qiu jie qie.)

The third is the Di Needle (Di Zhen, a millet-grain shaped pressing needle), three cun and half a cun in length. The tip of the Di Needle is sharp like millet or broomcorn grains; it is mainly used to press upon the vessels without sinking deeply, to guide Zheng Qi (Upright Qi). (Pronunciation same as "di".)

The fourth is the Feng Needle (Feng Zhen, a three-edged needle), one cun and six fen in in length. The Feng Needle has three edges and is used to treat chronic, entrenched diseases.

The fifth is the Pi Needle (Pi Zhen, a sword-like drainage needle), four cun in length and two-and-a-half fen in width. The end of the Pi Needle is like the edge of a sword, used to puncture and drain large amounts of pus. (Pronunciation same as "pi".)

The sixth is the Yuanli Needle (Yuanli Zhen, a round and sharp needle), one cun and six fen in length. The Yuanli Needle is as thick as yak hair, being both round and sharp, with the middle part of the shaft slightly larger, used to remove sudden-onset pathogenic factors. (Sudden-onset Qi refers to the acute attack of Bi syndrome. The character for yak hair, "cui", is interchangeable with "li", and also pronounced as "mao".)

The seventh is the Hao Needle (Hao Zhen, a fine hair-like needle), three cun and six fen in length. The tip of the Hao Needle is like the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly; insertion should be quiet and slow, retained lightly for a long time to nourish Jing Qi (Nutritive Qi), used to treat painful Bi syndrome. (Pronunciation same as "hui".)

The eighth is the Chang Needle (Chang Zhen, a long needle), seven cun in length. The Chang Needle is characterized by being sharp and having a thin shaft, capable of treating deep-seated and distant Bi syndromes.

The ninth is the Da Needle (Da Zhen, a large needle), four cun in length. The tip of the Da Needle is like a "ting" (a type of coarse needle), with a slightly rounded edge, used to drain water-dampness from the joints. (Pronunciation of "ting" is ti ding or ti ding qie. Thus, the Nine Needles are completed.)

Yellow Emperor said: I have heard of the Nine Needles from you, Master; they are numerous and profound, yet I still cannot fully comprehend them. I dare to ask: How did the Nine Needles originate? On what basis do they derive their names? (From *Lingshu: Jiuzhen Lun*.)

Qibo replied: The Nine Needles reflect the great numbers of Heaven and Earth, starting from One and ending at Nine. (For detailed meanings of One through Nine, see Pulse and Color Category, Part Five.) Therefore, it is said: The first corresponds to Heaven, the second to Earth, the third to Humanity, the fourth to the Four Seasons, the fifth to Musical Tones, the sixth to Pitch Pipes, the seventh to Stars, the eighth to the Eight Winds, and the ninth to the Nine Provinces.

Yellow Emperor asked: How does acupuncture correspond to the number Nine?

Qibo replied: When the Sages established the numbers of Heaven and Earth, they multiplied One by Nine, thus establishing the concept of the Nine Fields. Nine multiplied by nine equals eighty-one, from which the number of Huangzhong (the fundamental pitch pipe) originates. Acupuncture needles correspond to these numerical principles. (From One to Nine, nine times nine yields eighty-one, generating the number of Huangzhong; Huangzhong is the root of all things, so the number of needles follows suit, allowing for infinite variations. For detailed meaning of Huangzhong, see *Fu Yi*, Volume Two.)

One corresponds to Heaven. Heaven belongs to Yang. Among the Five Viscera, the Lung corresponds to Heaven; the Lung is the canopy of the Five Viscera and Six Fu Organs. Skin and Hair are the exterior correspondence of the Lung and belong to the Yang aspect of the human body. Therefore, this needle (Chan Needle) must be made with a large head and a sharp tip, ensuring it does not penetrate deeply, thereby allowing Yang pathogenic factors to exit. (Hereafter, the meanings of the Nine Needles are explained in detail. The first needle corresponds to Heaven, modeling Yang. Among the five viscera, only the Lung is highest, located above the other viscera and fu organs, its form corresponding to Heaven, its exterior correspondence being skin and hair, also belonging to Yang. Thus, when treating with the Chan Needle, the head must be large and the tip sharp, because its application is superficial, aiming only to expel Yang pathogens.)

Two corresponds to Earth. In humans, flesh corresponds to Earth. Therefore, this needle (Yuan Needle) must have a cylindrical shaft and a rounded tip, ensuring it does not damage the muscle tissue; if damaged, the Spleen Qi would be exhausted. (The second needle corresponds to Earth; Earth corresponds to flesh in humans. Thus, for the Yuan Needle used in treatment, the shaft must be straight and the tip round, shaped like an egg, facilitating guidance in the intermuscular spaces. This is to avoid excessive damage to muscles which would exhaust Spleen Qi; hence, its utility lies not in sharpness but in treating pathogenic Qi between the muscles. "Tong" is pronounced as "tong".)

Three corresponds to Humanity. Human life depends on Blood and Vessels. Therefore, this needle (Di Needle) must have a broad shaft and a rounded tip, allowing it to press upon the vessels without sinking too deeply, to guide Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) and allow pathogenic factors to exit alone. (The third needle corresponds to Humanity; human generation lies in blood vessels. Thus, for the Di Needle used in treatment, the shaft must be large and the tip round, functioning by pressing vessels and guiding Qi to expel pathogens, avoiding excessive depth into the blood vessel layer.)

Four corresponds to Time. Time refers to the Eight Winds of the four seasons invading the meridians, causing tumor-like accumulations (stagnant diseases). Therefore, this needle (Feng Needle) must have a cylindrical shaft and a sharp tip, enabling it to drain heat and bleed to resolve entrenched diseases. (The fourth needle corresponds to Time, relating to seasonal wind pathogens causing disease. "Liu" means stagnation. Thus, for the Feng Needle used in treatment, the shaft must be straight and the tip sharp, leveraging its straightness and sharpness to drain heat, induce bleeding, and remove stagnant, chronic conditions.)

Five corresponds to Musical Tones. Tones represent the division of Winter and Summer, distinguished by Zi and Wu hours, where Yin and Yang differ, and Cold and Heat contend; the two energies struggle and combine to form carbuncles and pus. Therefore, this needle (Pi Needle) must have an end like a sword edge, capable of draining large amounts of pus. (The fifth needle corresponds to Tones; tones combine with the Five Elements and correspond to Heavenly Stems, hence the division of Winter/Summer and Zi/Wu. Treatment uses the Pi Needle, requiring the end to be like a sword edge, applied to treat cold-heat conflicts and drain pus to balance Yin and Yang energies.)

Six corresponds to Pitch Pipes. Pitch pipes regulate Yin and Yang across the four seasons and align with the Twelve Meridians; deficient evil invades the meridians causing sudden Bi syndrome. Therefore, this needle (Yuanli Needle) must have a tip like yak hair, being both round and sharp, with the middle of the shaft slightly larger, to remove sudden-onset pathogenic factors. (The sixth needle corresponds to Pitch Pipes; pitch pipes correspond to the four seasons and twelve Earthly Branches, aligning with the human Twelve Meridians. Now, when deficient evil invades meridians causing sudden Bi, treatment uses the Yuanli Needle, requiring the tip to be like yak hair, round and sharp, with a slightly larger mid-shaft. Its function is efficiency, thus it can remove sudden Bi Qi from various meridians. See Disease Category, Part Sixty-Seven for the meaning of Bi.)

Seven corresponds to Stars. Stars correspond to the Seven Orifices of humans; evil resides in the meridians, causing painful Bi, lodging in the collaterals. Therefore, this needle (Hao Needle) must have a tip like a mosquito or horsefly proboscis, inserted quietly and slowly, retained lightly for a long time; relying on Zheng Qi, both true and pathogenic Qi move out together, and upon withdrawal, the body is nourished. (The seventh needle corresponds to Stars, aligning with the Seven Orifices. Speaking of the major orifices, all hollow spaces in the body are governed. Treatment uses the Hao Needle, with a tip like a mosquito/horsefly proboscis, functioning subtly and slowly to gradually dissipate pathogens and nourish True Qi, thus treating cold-heat painful Bi and shallow collateral disorders.)

Eight corresponds to Wind. Wind corresponds to the eight joints of the thighs and arms. Deficient winds from the eight directions injure humans, lodging internally in bone gaps, waist, spine, and joint clefts, causing deep Bi syndrome. Therefore, this needle (Chang Needle) must have a long shaft and a sharp tip, capable of removing deep pathogens and distant Bi. (The eighth needle corresponds to Wind, aligning with the eight joints of the thighs and arms; mentioning eight joints implies all skeletal joints belong to this category. Whenever deficient wind penetrates deeply, it lodges in bone gaps, waist, spine, and joint clefts. Thus, to remove deep pathogens and distant Bi, the Chang Needle must be used.)

Nine corresponds to the Wilds (Provinces). The Wilds correspond to the joints and skin intervals of humans. Profuse evil flows throughout the body, resembling wind-water pathology, but cannot pass beyond the major joints. Therefore, this needle (Da Needle) must have a tip like a "ting", with a slightly rounded edge, to remove large amounts of Qi (water-dampness) that cannot pass through the joints. (The ninth needle corresponds to the Wilds, matching the entire human body. Whenever profuse evil flows into the musculature, becoming wind or water, failing to pass joints and causing stagnation, the Da Needle must be used to unblock the large Qi of the joints. Once large Qi flows freely, profuse evil moves. "Tip like ting" refers to its coarseness and bulk. Body forms correspond to the Nine Fields, see Meridian Category, Part Thirty-Five; diagrams are in *Tu Yi*, Volume Four.)

Yellow Emperor asked: Are there fixed measurements for the lengths of needles? (Hereafter, the sizes and quantities of the Nine Needles are clarified again.)

Qibo replied: The first is the Chan Needle, modeled after the Jin Needle, tapering sharply from one-and-a-half cun from the tip, with a total length of one cun and six fen, primarily treating heat in the head and body. (" " means sharp. "Cui" means tail. This needle has a large shaft, tapering sharply for about one-and-a-half cun near the tip, totaling one cun and six fen. It primarily drains Yang Qi, thus treating heat in the head and body. Note: Names such as Jin Needle, Xu Needle, and Qi Needle are likely ancient needle types, details unknown.)

The second is the Yuan Needle, modeled after the Xu Needle, with a cylindrical shaft and an egg-shaped tip, one cun and six fen in length, primarily treating Qi in the intermuscular spaces. ("Tong" means like a bamboo tube. "Luan" means round like an egg and sharp. This needle has a straight body and round tip, thus only treating Qi in intermuscular spaces without damaging muscles.)

The third is the Di Needle, modeled after the sharpness of millet grains, three cun and half a cun in length, primarily used to press vessels to extract Qi and expel pathogens. (The sharpness of millet grains is round and slightly pointed. Here it says pressing vessels to extract Qi; the previous text said pressing vessels without sinking to guide Qi, implying a benefit for tonification.)

The fourth is the Feng Needle, modeled after the Xu Needle, with a cylindrical shaft and a sharp tip, one cun and six fen in length, primarily treating carbuncle heat and bleeding. (In the previous *Lingshu: Jiuzhen Shieryuan Pian*, it states: "Three-edged blade to release entrenched diseases," indicating a triangular shape. This text mentions a cylindrical shaft, which may contain an error.)

The fifth is the Pi Needle, modeled after the sword edge, two-and-a-half fen wide and four cun long, primarily treating large carbuncles/pus and conflicting heat/cold. (Modeled after the sword edge indicates breadth and size. Conflicting heat/cold refers to disharmony between cold and heat, with two energies clashing.)

The sixth is the Yuanli Needle, modeled after the Cui Needle, with a slightly larger tip and a smaller shaft, allowing deeper insertion, one cun and six fen in length, primarily treating carbuncles and Bi. (Strong hair is called "Cui". Modeled after Cui utilizes its fineness and robustness for slightly deeper insertion.)

The seventh is the Hao Needle, modeled after fine hair, one cun and six fen in length, primarily treating cold-heat painful Bi in the collaterals.

The eighth is the Chang Needle, modeled after the Qi Needle, seven cun in length, primarily treating deep pathogens and distant Bi.

The ninth is the Da Needle, modeled after the Feng Needle, with a slightly rounded tip, four cun in length, primarily treating large Qi trapped outside the joints. (Above are the Nine Needles; diagrams are in *Tu Yi*, Volume Four. The forms of the needles are now complete; this describes the method for the sizes and lengths of the Nine Needles. [Note: Regarding the applications of the above Nine Needles, all treatments mentioned address excess pathogenic factors. Thus, needles are not suitable for treating deficiency, which can be inferred.])