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Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the essential principles of acupuncture." Qibo replied, saying: "Diseases manifest at different depths, and needling must be performed at corresponding shallow or deep levels. One must reach the appropriate tissue layer without exceeding the proper limit. If one needles too deeply, internal organs will be injured; if one needles too shallowly, external stagnation will occur, allowing pathogenic factors to enter. Improper depth of needling can become a great disaster, disturbing the Five Zang Organs internally and leading to severe diseases later. Therefore, it is said that diseases may be located in the hair follicles and interstices (the pores and texture of the skin), in the skin, in the muscles, in the vessels, in the sinews, in the bones, or in the marrow. Thus, when needling the hair follicles and interstices, do not injure the skin; if the skin is injured, it will disturb the Lung internally. When the Lung is disturbed, warm malaria (a type of malaria characterized by alternating chills and fever) may occur in autumn, presenting with shivering and aversion to cold. When needling the skin, do not injure the flesh; if the flesh is injured, it will disturb the Spleen internally. When the Spleen is disturbed, abdominal distension, irritability, and loss of appetite may occur during the last eighteen days of each season (totaling seventy-two days). When needling the flesh, do not injure the vessels; if the vessels are injured, it will disturb the Heart internally. When the Heart is disturbed, heart pain may occur in summer. When needling the vessels, do not injure the sinews; if the sinews are injured, it will disturb the Liver internally. When the Liver is disturbed, heat syndromes and flaccidity of the sinews may occur in spring. When needling the sinews, do not injure the bones; if the bones are injured, it will disturb the Kidney internally. When the Kidney is disturbed, abdominal distension and lower back pain may occur in winter. When needling the bones, do not injure the marrow; if the marrow is injured, it will become depleted and emaciated, causing soreness and weakness, with the body feeling loose and lethargic, unwilling to move."

Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the specific distinctions regarding the depth of needling." Qibo said: "To needle the bone without injuring the sinew means the needle reaches the level of the sinew but does not penetrate into the bone. To needle the sinew without injuring the flesh means the needle reaches the level of the flesh but does not penetrate into the sinew. To needle the flesh without injuring the vessel means the needle reaches the level of the vessel but does not penetrate into the flesh. To needle the vessel without injuring the skin means the needle reaches the level of the skin but does not penetrate into the vessel. The so-called 'needling the skin without injuring the flesh' refers to a pathology located within the skin, where the needle enters only the skin layer without injuring the flesh. The so-called 'needling the flesh without injuring the sinew' refers to passing through the flesh to reach the sinew. The so-called 'needling the sinew without injuring the bone' refers to passing through the sinew to reach the bone. These are referred to as 'reverse' techniques."

Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the key points for distinguishing deficiency and excess." Qibo replied, saying: "When Qi is excess, the physique is robust; when Qi is deficient, the physique is frail. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. When food intake is abundant, Qi is sufficient; when food intake is scarce, Qi is deficient. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. When the pulse is full, blood is abundant; when the pulse is empty, blood is deficient. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease." Huangdi asked: "How does one identify such deviations?" Qibo said: "Qi deficiency accompanied by bodily heat is called a deviation. Abundant food intake but deficient Qi is called a deviation. Scarce food intake but excessive Qi is called a deviation. A surging pulse with deficient blood is called a deviation. A small pulse with relatively abundant blood is called a deviation. Excess Qi with cold body temperature results from Cold Damage (Shanghan). Deficient Qi with hot body temperature results from Summerheat injury. Abundant food intake with deficient Qi results from significant blood loss, with dampness accumulating in the lower Jiao. Scarce food intake with excessive Qi results from pathogenic factors residing in the Stomach and Lung. A small pulse with abundant blood results from heat retained after drinking alcohol. A surging pulse with deficient blood results from wind pathogens in the vessels, coupled with the inability to ingest fluids and food. These are the situations described."