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Life is what people cherish, and the form (physical body) is what life relies upon. To cherish life, one must preserve the form. Among the methods to preserve the form, acupuncture is one; therefore, this chapter mainly records the methods of acupuncture. As for the five sentences "Wood is felled by Metal," although they represent the common laws of generation and restriction, there are profound principles within them. However, they do not fit well with the context of the preceding and following text; this chapter should be considered a compilation stitched together.

The Yellow Emperor asked: Heaven covers and Earth bears, all things are complete, and nothing is more precious than humans. Humans are born from the Qi of Heaven and Earth and achieve perfection according to the patterns of the Four Seasons. Whether kings or commoners, everyone wishes to preserve their form. However, regarding diseases of the form, people often do not understand their nature. The pathogenic factors linger and invade deeper day by day, reaching the bone marrow, causing private worry in my heart. I wish to use acupuncture to eliminate their diseases; how should I proceed? (Note: Diseases have their own natures, which are difficult to know, so pathogens often linger and invade deeply internally.)

Qibo replied: When salt tastes salty, its vapor causes moisture to seep out of vessels. (Anything hollow that can hold objects is called a vessel. Externally, this corresponds to the scrotum; internally, it corresponds to the Bladder. The nature of Saltiness is moistening when the sky is cloudy, floating in soil, and causing dampness in the scrotum and peeling skin in humans.) When a string breaks, its sound becomes hoarse and ruined. When wood spreads excessively, its leaves become overly lush. When disease is deep, the patient suffers from hiccups (Yue). (Note: Xian refers to the Liver pulse. Jue means rapid and about to break. When Xian is extremely rapid, Wood insults Metal, and the Lung cannot exercise its function. The Lung governs voice, thus causing hoarseness and ruin. Si Xia refers to indistinct speech. Fu means spreading. Fa means flourishing. When Wood Qi spreads externally, branches and leaves flourish, but if leaves are too lush, Wood energy is exhausted. Yue refers to hiccuping. Although caused differently by cold-heat mismanagement, it is generally due to Stomach Qi rebelling upward into the Lung. If occurring in acute illness, it is easy to treat; if in chronic illness, nine out of ten will die. Why? All things are nourished by Earth, and human life is nourished by the Stomach. If the Stomach is unsettled and Qi rebels, causing incessant hiccuping, even if death does not occur, the disease is severe. Note: The Emperor originally asked about using acupuncture to cure diseases, but Qibo responded with three types of difficult-to-treat diseases, implying that for such cases, acupuncture is useless. Furthermore, starting with Salty taste illustrates that internal diseases manifest externally, just as a vessel containing salt becomes damp outside. Wang Bing's commentary is confused. Yang Shangshan introduced Yue through Salty taste, broken strings, and spreading wood, which is also an incorrect interpretation. Si sounds like xi, broken voice. Xia sounds like sha, falling tone. Yue sounds like yi jue qie.) A person having these three conditions is said to have damaged Zang-Fu organs. Toxic drugs cannot treat them, and short needles are ineffective. This results from damaging skin and flesh, where Blood and Qi contend, turning black. (Note: The commentary on "damaged Zang-Fu" suggests destroying the Zang-Fu to cause disease, citing Baopuzi opening the chest to insert cakes, which is absurd. Damaged Zang-Fu means the Zang-Fu organs are ruined, indicating a difficult-to-treat disease. The explanation of toxic drugs was given previously. Zheng Hei means Blood and Qi contending, with black color appearing externally, similar to the dark complexion seen in critical illnesses today.)

The Emperor said: I feel pity for his pain... what should be done? Qibo said: Humans are born from Earth, and their life hangs from Heaven. The combination of Heaven and Earth Qi is called Human. ... Heaven has Yin and Yang, and humans have Twelve Joints (Jie refers to solar terms, corresponding externally to twelve months and internally to the Twelve Meridians). Heaven has Cold and Heat, and humans have Deficiency and Excess. (Cold and Heat have rhythms of prosperity and decline; Deficiency and Excess differ in surface/interior and quantity.) Those who can follow the transformations of Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang will not deviate from the Four Seasons. Those who understand the principles of the Twelve Joints cannot be deceived by sages and wise men. Those who can perceive the changes of the Eight Movements, the mutual overcoming of the Five Elements, and the numbers of Deficiency and Excess can move independently, and every word they speak contains profound truth, seeing clearly even the finest down. (Note: The I Ching says: "Harmonize virtue with Heaven and Earth, order with the Four Seasons, and fortune/misfortune with spirits and ghosts." This likely refers to such states. How could sages deceive? This is merely hyperbole. The note on Eight Movements refers to wind changes in eight seasons; Five Sheng refers to the overcoming of Five Element Qi; Li refers to the time of prosperity; Bian refers to change when Qi arrives; Fen Shu is correct. Yin means chanting. , Yang Shangshan said: "Means exposing teeth and breathing out." Incorrect. Qu sounds like qu, meaning open-mouthed appearance. Yin Zhi Wei means that everything spoken contains profound truth.)

The Emperor said: Humans have form, inseparable from Yin and Yang. Heaven and Earth combine Qi... [it] cannot be measured. Regarding Deficiency, Excess, and [sound], I dare to ask for the method? Qibo said: Wood is felled by Metal, Fire is extinguished by Water, Earth is penetrated by Wood, Metal is deficient by Fire, Water is cut off by Earth. All things are like this, endlessly. (Note: The mutual overcoming of the Five Elements is the norm. Earth differs from others because it is dense and stubborn. Without something to penetrate it, it becomes barren rock and cannot grow all things. Therefore, Wood overcomes it when weak and penetrates its texture to allow flow. "Earth is penetrated by Wood" is profound. However, these five sentences do not fit the context and should be treated separately.)

Therefore, there are five principles of acupuncture displayed to the world. Common people share food but do not know the principles. (Note: Xuan Bu means manifest. Qian Shou means common people. Yu Shi means excessive eating, implying knowing only diet but not principles.) First is Governing Shen (Spirit/Mind): (Focus the mind, do not move recklessly. Note: This commentary applies to acupuncturists, which is correct. Yang Shangshan interpreted it as governing the Spirit of the Five Zang organs, which is wrong.) Second is Knowing Self-Cultivation: (Note: Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun states: "A healthy doctor calms himself to adjust patients as a method." Thus, those wishing to cure others must cultivate themselves. Yang Shangshan interpreted it as internal/external cultivation of form; Xin Jiao Zheng agreed, favoring Yang over Wang, both failing to grasp the original intent and forcing interpretations.) Third is Knowing True Medicines: (Note: For diseases requiring quick relief, acupuncture is convenient; for those needing slow treatment, medicine is safe. But if knowledge is not true, right and wrong may be confused, opposing the disease. Xue Qi Xing Zhi Pian states: "Form comfortable, mind comfortable, disease arises in flesh, treated with needles/stones. Form suffering, mind suffering, disease arises in throat/esophagus, treated with hundred medicines." Thus, needles and medicines are both necessary for all diseases and should be used interchangeably by physicians. Xin Jiao Zheng followed Yang's view, interpreting this section as patients knowing themselves. Alas! If patients truly knew the medicines, why would they need doctors? Du Yao refers to medicinal preparations.) Fourth is Regulating the Size of Bian Stones: In ancient times, Bian stones were used as needles, so the Nine Needles were not mentioned, only Bian stones. One should regulate their size and use them according to the disease. Fifth is Knowing the Diagnosis of Zang-Fu Organs and Blood/Qi: (...Note: Acupuncturists must certainly know medicine, but especially must know pulses. Without knowing pulses, how can one distinguish Zang-Fu, Blood/Qi, Deficiency/Excess, and apply tonification/reduction methods? If one knows pulses and medicines, the way of acupuncture is complete.) The Emperor said: I wish to hear this principle. Qibo said: The essence of all acupuncture first requires Governing Shen. (Note: Repeating Governing Shen shows the error in Yang's theory.) After the Five Zang are determined and the Nine Pulses are prepared, then focus on the needle. (First determine the pulses of the Five Zang, prepare the examination of the Nine Pulses, identify excess or deficiency, then focus intention on acupuncture methods.) Do not see the myriad pulses, do not hear the ominous signs; external and internal correspond, do not let form precede. (Note: With focused mind, one sees and hears nothing, ignoring traces and focusing on spirit. This is precisely Governing Shen; acupuncturists should be like this. Play with the coming and going, then apply to humans. Wan means mastery, indicating proficiency.) Regarding Deficiency and Excess in humans: Do not approach the Five Deficiencies, do not stay away from the Five Excesses. When the moment to needle arrives, leave no room for hesitation. (Note: Deficiency means deep disease and slow effect; Excess means shallow disease and fast result. Decisions must match the opportunity without error. Shun sounds like shun, meaning eye opening/closing/shaking.) Hand moves with purpose, needle shines and is even. (Note: Holding the needle while the mind is not chaotic, the needle is bright and hits the target accurately; this is the key to holding the needle.) Quietly intend and observe meaning, watch the changes of comfort; this is called obscure, unknown in form. ... Lie like a horizontal crossbow, rise like releasing the trigger... (Note: Internally govern Shen, externally respond to changes, almost no trace can be sought, but once released, nothing misses.)