帝曰∶针之长短有数乎？岐伯对曰∶一曰 针，取法于巾针，头大末锐，末平半寸卒锐
之，长一寸六分。二曰圆针，取法于絮针，筒其身而卵其锋，针如卵形，圆其末，长一寸六
分。三曰 针（缇音低），取法于黍粟之锐，长三寸半。四曰锋针，取法于絮针，筒其身锋其
末，刃三隅，长一寸六分。五曰铍针，取法于剑，锋末如剑，广二寸半，长四寸。六曰圆利
针，取法于 针，且圆且锐，微大其末，反小其身，又曰中身微大，长一寸六分。七曰毫针
，取法于毫毛，尖如蚊虻喙，长三寸六分。八曰长针，取法于綦针，锋利身薄，长七寸。九
曰大针，取法于锋针，尖如挺，其锋微圆，长四寸。此九针之长短也。
九针图
\r 针\pG-G7.bmp\r 平半寸，长一寸六分，头大末锐，病在皮肤，刺热者用此，今之名箭头针是也。
\r圆针\pG-G8.bmp\r 其身圆，锋如卵形，长一寸六分。揩摩分肉用此。
\r 针\pG-G9.bmp\r 其锋如黍粟之锐，长三寸五分，脉气虚少用此。
\r锋针\pG-G11.bmp\r 其刃三隅，长一寸六分，发痼疾刺大者用此，今之所谓三棱针是也。
\r 针\pG-G10.bmp\r 一名铍针。末如剑锋，广二寸半，长四寸，破痈肿出浓，今名剑针是也。
\r圆利针\pG-G12.bmp\r 尖如 ，且圆且利，其末微大，长一寸六分，取暴痹刺小者用此。
\r毫针\pG-G13.bmp\r 法象毫，尖如蚊虻喙，长三寸六分，取痛痹刺寒者用此。
\r长针\pG-G14.bmp\r 锋如利，长七寸，痹深居骨解腰脊节腠之间者用此，今之名跳针是也。
\r大针\pG-G15.bmp\r 一名燔针，长四寸，风虚肿毒，解肌排毒用此。
The Yellow Emperor asked: Is there a fixed measure for the length of needles? Qibo replied: The first is the Chan needle (Chan Zhen, pricking needle), modeled after the towel pin, with a large head and sharp tip. The end is flat, becoming abruptly sharp at half an inch, with a total length of 1.6 cun. The second is the Yuan needle (Yuan Zhen, round needle), modeled after the cotton needle, with a cylindrical body and an egg-shaped tip. The needle resembles an egg shape, rounded at the end, with a total length of 1.6 cun. The third is the Di needle (Di Zhen, blunt needle; 'Ti' sounds like 'Di'), modeled after the sharpness of millet grains, with a total length of 3.5 cun. The fourth is the Feng needle (Feng Zhen, three-edged needle), modeled after the cotton needle, with a cylindrical body and a sharp tip, featuring three edges, with a total length of 1.6 cun. The fifth is the Pi needle (Pi Zhen, sword needle), modeled after a sword, with a tip like a sword blade, 2.5 cun wide, and 4 cun long. The sixth is the Yuanli needle (Yuanli Zhen, round-sharp needle), modeled after the Li needle, both round and sharp, with a slightly larger tip and a thinner body; it is also said that the middle part is slightly larger, with a total length of 1.6 cun. The seventh is the Hao needle (Hao Zhen, hair needle), modeled after a hair, with a tip as fine as the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly, with a total length of 3.6 cun. The eighth is the Chang needle (Chang Zhen, long needle), modeled after the Qi needle, with a sharp and thin body, with a total length of 7 cun. The ninth is the Da needle (Da Zhen, large needle), modeled after the Feng needle, with a tip like a straight spike, its edge slightly rounded, with a total length of 4 cun. These are the lengths of the Nine Needles.
Illustration of the Nine Needles
Chan Needle: The end is flat at half an inch, total length 1.6 cun, large head and sharp tip. Used when pathogenic factors are in the skin to treat heat syndromes; this is now known as the arrowhead needle.
Yuan Needle: The body is round, the tip is egg-shaped, total length 1.6 cun. Used for rubbing and massaging between the muscles.
Di Needle: The tip is sharp like a millet grain, total length 3.5 cun. Used when pulse qi is deficient and scarce.
Feng Needle: The blade has three edges, total length 1.6 cun. Used for puncturing larger vessels to treat chronic diseases; this is what is now called the three-edged needle.
Pi Needle: Also named Pi Zhen. The tip is like a sword blade, 2.5 cun wide, 4 cun long. Used to lumb abscesses and drain pus; this is now called the sword needle.
Yuanli Needle: The tip is like the Li needle, both round and sharp, the tip slightly enlarged, total length 1.6 cun. Used for puncturing smaller points to treat acute Bi syndrome (obstruction syndrome).
Hao Needle: Modeled after hair, the tip is like the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly, total length 3.6 cun. Used for treating painful Bi syndrome and cold syndromes.
Chang Needle: The tip is sharp, length 7 cun. Used when Bi syndrome is deep-seated in the bone gaps, waist, spine, and joint interstices; this is now called the jumping needle.
Da Needle: Also named Fan Zhen (burning needle), length 4 cun. Used for wind deficiency causing swelling and toxicity, to release the muscle layer and detoxify.