凡刺有九，以应九变。一曰输刺，输刺者，刺诸经荣俞藏俞也。二曰远道刺，远道刺者
，病
在上取之下，刺府输也。三曰经刺，经刺者，刺大经之结络经分也。四曰络刺，络刺者，刺
小络之血脉也。五曰分刺，分刺者，刺分肉之间也。六曰大泻刺，大泻刺者，刺大脓以铍针
也。七曰毛刺。毛刺者，刺浮皮毛也。八曰巨刺。巨刺者，左取右，右取左。九曰 刺。
刺者，燔刺以取痹也。
凡刺有十二节，以应十二经。一曰偶刺，偶刺者，以手直心若背直痛所，一刺前，一刺
后，
以治心痹，刺此者傍针之也。二曰报刺，报刺者，刺痛无常处也，上下行者，直内无拔针，
以左手随病所，按之乃出针，复刺之也。三曰恢刺，恢刺者，直刺傍之，举之前后，恢筋急
，以治筋痹。四曰齐刺，齐刺者，直入一，旁入二，以治寒气小深者，或曰三刺，三刺者，
以治痹气小深者也。五曰杨刺，杨刺者，正内一，傍内四，而浮之，以治寒气大博大者也。
六曰直针刺，直针刺者，引皮乃刺之，以治寒气之浅者也。七曰输刺，输刺者，直入直出，
稀发针而深之，以治气盛而热者也。八曰短刺，短刺者，刺骨痹稍摇而深之，置针骨所，以
上下摩骨也。九曰浮刺，浮刺者，傍入而浮之，以治肌急而寒者也。十曰阴刺，阴刺者，左
右率刺之，以治寒厥中寒厥足踝后少阴也。十一曰傍针刺，傍针刺者，直刺傍刺各一，以治
留痹久居者也。十二曰赞刺，赞刺者，直入直出，数发针而浅之出血，是谓治痈肿也。
There are nine types of acupuncture, corresponding to the nine variations. The first is called *Shu Ci* (Acupoint Needling), which refers to needling the Ying-Spring and Shu-Acupoints of the twelve meridians, as well as the Back-Shu points of the five zang organs. The second is called *Yuan Dao Ci* (Distant Point Needling), where pathology located in the upper body is treated by selecting points in the lower body, typically needling the He-Sea points or Shu-Acupoints of the fu organs. The third is called *Jing Ci* (Meridian Needling), which involves needling the collateral vessels and intermuscular spaces where qi and blood are knotted within the major meridians. The fourth is called *Luo Ci* (Collateral Needling), which refers to pricking the small collateral vessels to release blood. The fifth is called *Fen Ci* (Intermuscular Needling), which involves needling the space between muscles. The sixth is called *Da Xie Ci* (Major Draining Needling), which uses a Bi-needle (a flat, sword-like needle) to puncture large abscesses for drainage. The seventh is called *Mao Ci* (Hair-Like Needling), which involves superficial needling of the skin and hair follicles. The eighth is called *Ju Ci* (Great Cross-Needling), which involves treating the left side by needling the right, and the right side by needling the left (cross-needling). The ninth is called *Fan Ci* (Burning Needling/Fire Needle), which uses a red-hot needle to treat bi-syndrome (obstruction syndrome).
There are twelve categories of needling techniques, corresponding to the twelve primary meridians. The first is called *Ou Ci* (Paired Needling), where the practitioner places hands directly on the heart region or the site of back pain, inserting one needle anteriorly and one posteriorly to treat Xin Bi (Heart Obstruction Syndrome); the needles are inserted obliquely. The second is called *Bao Ci* (Reporting/Repeating Needling), used when pain moves unpredictably up and down; the needle is inserted without withdrawal, while the left hand presses along the path of pain, then the needle is withdrawn and re-inserted at the new location. The third is called *Hui Ci* (Expanding Needling), involving direct insertion adjacent to the affected area with anterior-posterior manipulation to relax tight tendons, treating Jin Bi (Tendon Obstruction Syndrome). The fourth is called *Qi Ci* (Three-Needle Combination), involving one central vertical insertion and two lateral insertions to treat shallow but deep-penetrating cold pathogens; it is also known as *San Ci* (Three-Needling), used for bi-pathogens that are small in scope but deep in location. The fifth is called *Yang Ci* (Poplar-Tree Needling), involving one central vertical insertion and four surrounding superficial insertions to treat cold pathogens that are broad in surface area but shallow in depth. The sixth is called *Zhi Zhen Ci* (Direct Needle Pulling), where the skin is pulled taut before insertion to treat shallow cold pathogens. The seventh is called *Shu Ci* (Acupoint Needling - distinct from the first type), characterized by direct insertion and withdrawal with few needle manipulations and deep penetration, treating conditions with excess qi and heat. The eighth is called *Duan Ci* (Short Needling), used for Gu Bi (Bone Obstruction Syndrome); the needle is slightly rocked and advanced deeply until it reaches the bone, where it is moved up and down against the bone surface. The ninth is called *Fu Ci* (Floating Needling), involving lateral insertion with superficial depth to treat muscle tension accompanied by cold. The tenth is called *Yin Ci* (Yin Needling), involving simultaneous bilateral needling to treat Han Jue (Cold Reversal Syndrome), specifically targeting the Shaoyin meridian behind the malleolus. The eleventh is called *Bang Zhen Ci* (Adjacent Needle Combination), involving one direct insertion and one adjacent oblique insertion to treat chronic bi-syndrome that has lingered for a long time. The twelfth is called *Zan Ci* (Assisting/Pricking Needling), involving direct insertion and withdrawal with frequent, shallow pricking to induce bleeding, used to treat Yong Zhong (Carbuncles and Swellings).