此篇与下编《刺齐论》，全元起本原为一篇，王冰分而为二。统论刺法之浅深，戒以过深致害，
针家不可不知。
黄帝问曰∶愿闻刺要。岐伯对曰∶病有浮沉，刺有浅深，各至其理，无过其道。过之则内伤，不及则生外
壅，壅则邪从之。
浅深不得，反为大贼，内动五脏，后生大病。故曰∶病有在毫毛腠理者，有在皮肤者，有在肌肉者，有
在脉者，有在筋者，有在骨者，有在髓者。是故刺毫毛胰理无伤皮，皮伤则内动脉，肺动则秋
病温疟， 然寒栗。刺皮无伤肉，肉伤则内动脾，脾动则七十二日四季之月，病腹胀烦不嗜食。刺肉无伤
脉，脉伤则内动心，心动则夏病心痛。刺脉无伤筋，筋伤则内动肝，肝动则春病热而筋
弛。刺筋无伤骨，骨伤则内动肾，肾动则冬病胀腰痛。刺骨无伤髓，髓伤则销铄 酸，体解 然不去矣。
义已见前。
黄帝问曰∶愿闻刺浅深之分。岐伯对曰∶刺骨者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤脉，刺脉者无伤
皮，刺皮者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤骨。帝曰∶余未知其所谓，愿闻其解。岐伯曰∶刺骨无伤筋
者，针至筋而去，不及骨也。刺筋无伤肉者，至肉而去，不及筋也。刺肉无伤脉者，至脉而去，不及肉
也。刺脉无伤皮者，至皮而去，不及脉也。所谓刺皮无伤肉者，病在皮中，针入皮中，无伤肉也，刺肉无伤筋
者，过肉中筋也。刺筋无伤骨者，过筋中骨也。此之谓反也。
This chapter and the following chapter, *Ci Qi Lun* (Treatise on the Levels of Needling), were originally a single chapter in the version by Quan Yuanqi, but Wang Bing divided it into two. Together, they comprehensively discuss the depth of needling techniques and warn against harm caused by excessive depth; this is knowledge that acupuncturists must not ignore.
The Yellow Emperor asked, saying: I wish to hear about the essentials of needling. Qibo replied: Diseases manifest at different depths, superficial or deep, and needling should be performed at corresponding depths. One must reach the appropriate level without exceeding the proper limit. If one exceeds the limit, internal injury occurs; if one falls short, external stagnation arises, allowing pathogenic factors to enter.
If the depth is inappropriate, it becomes a great disaster, disturbing the five Zang organs internally and leading to severe diseases later. Thus it is said: Diseases may be located in the hair follicles and interstices (the spaces between skin cells and pores), in the skin, in the muscle, in the vessels, in the sinews, in the bones, or in the marrow. Therefore, when needling the hair follicles and interstices, do not injure the skin; if the skin is injured, the Lung (Zang organ associated with the skin) is disturbed internally, and in autumn, warm malaria (a type of malaria characterized by alternating chills and fever) may occur, accompanied by shivering. When needling the skin, do not injure the muscle; if the muscle is injured, the Spleen (Zang organ associated with muscle) is disturbed internally, and during the last eighteen days of each of the four seasons (totaling seventy-two days), symptoms such as abdominal distension, irritability, and anorexia may arise. When needling the muscle, do not injure the vessel; if the vessel is injured, the Heart (Zang organ associated with vessels) is disturbed internally, and in summer, heart pain may occur. When needling the vessel, do not injure the sinew; if the sinew is injured, the Liver (Zang organ associated with sinews) is disturbed internally, and in spring, heat disease with flaccid sinews may occur. When needling the sinew, do not injure the bone; if the bone is injured, the Kidney (Zang organ associated with bones) is disturbed internally, and in winter, abdominal distension and lower back pain may occur. When needling the bone, do not injure the marrow; if the marrow is injured, the body wastes away and becomes emaciated and sore, with limbs feeling weak and lethargic, unable to recover for a long time.
The meaning has been discussed previously.
The Yellow Emperor asked, saying: I wish to hear about the specific distinctions regarding shallow and deep needling. Qibo replied: When needling to the bone, do not injure the sinew; when needling to the sinew, do not injure the flesh; when needling to the flesh, do not injure the vessel; when needling to the vessel, do not injure the skin; when needling to the skin, do not injure the flesh; when needling to the flesh, do not injure the sinew; when needling to the sinew, do not injure the bone. The Emperor said: I do not understand what you mean; I wish to hear your explanation. Qibo said: "Needling to the bone without injuring the sinew" means the needle reaches the sinew and stops, not going further to touch the bone. "Needling to the sinew without injuring the flesh" means the needle reaches the flesh and stops, not going further to touch the sinew. "Needling to the flesh without injuring the vessel" means the needle reaches the vessel and stops, not going further to touch the flesh. "Needling to the vessel without injuring the skin" means the needle reaches the skin and stops, not going further to touch the vessel. As for "needling the skin without injuring the flesh," it refers to pathology located in the skin, where the needle enters only the skin without injuring the flesh below. "Needling the flesh without injuring the sinew" means passing through the flesh to reach the sinew. "Needling the sinew without injuring the bone" means passing through the sinew to reach the bone. These are referred to as "Fan" (reverse/contrary methods).