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*Zhenjing Zhinan* (Guidelines for the Classic of Needling)

The method to save lives lies in the wonderful application of acupuncture. Observe the heavenly dao to align with seasons and years; determine the constitution and qi within one's own heart. In spring and summer, when bodies are lean, needling should be shallow; in autumn and winter, when bodies are plump, needling should be deep. (Spring qi is in the hair follicles, summer qi is in the skin, autumn qi is in the muscle layers, and winter qi is in the bone marrow. Therefore, spring and summer, as well as lean individuals, require shallow needling, while autumn and winter, as well as plump individuals, require deep needling. If qi rebellion occurs after needle insertion, it indicates a loss of appropriate depth.) Without thoroughly investigating the meridians and yin-yang, one often encounters acupuncture contraindications. Having discussed the deficiency and excess of zang-fu organs, one must seek answers within the meridians.

Originally, qi circulation begins at the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), like water dripping from a clepsydra, starting with the Taiyin Lung Meridian and ending with the Jueyin Liver Meridian. Acupoints emerge from Yunmen (LU-1) and reach Qimen (LR-14) as the final point. (Human qi and blood circulate continuously; daily at Yin hour, it starts from the Middle Jiao Lung Meridian and transitions to the Liver Meridian, ending at Qimen.) The twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary vessels branch into over three hundred collateral networks. (Each meridian has horizontal collaterals and sun collaterals scattering into over three hundred branches.) Depending on upright, supine, prone, or lateral positions, there are over six hundred acupoint sites for qi observation. Hand and Foot Yang meridians: hand meridians go from hand to head, foot meridians go from head to foot. Hand and Foot Yin meridians: foot meridians go from abdomen to chest, hand meridians go from chest to hand. To understand Ying-Sui (following and opposing) techniques, one must clarify reverse and smooth directions. Moreover, the quantity of yin-yang and qi-blood is paramount. Jueyin and Taiyang have little qi and much blood; Taiyin and Shaoyin have little blood and much qi. Shaoyang is characterized by much qi and little blood; Yangming is characterized by abundant qi and abundant blood. First, detail the appropriateness based on quantities; second, observe the arriving qi. Light, slippery, slow, and absent indicates qi has not yet arrived; heavy, choppy, tight, and present indicates qi has arrived. (This refers to post-insertion sensation: light, floating, slippery, deficient, slow, and delayed means true qi has not arrived; heavy, choppy, stagnant, and tight means righteous qi has arrived.) Once arrived, measure coldness or heat to determine retention time ("Liu" means retention, "Ji" means speed). If not yet arrived, await qi based on deficiency or excess. The arrival of qi feels like a fish swallowing bait, rising and sinking; absence of qi feels like an empty, deep hall. Fast arrival brings fast effect; slow arrival brings difficult cure.

Observing the Nine Needles method, the Filiform Needle (Haoren) is the most subtle, corresponding to the Seven Stars, supporting all acupoints. Its form is Metal, possessing the way to dispel evil and support righteousness (its body resembles metal). Its length is Water, possessing the mechanism to resolve stagnation and open blockages (its flow resembles water). Its insertion resembles Wood, oblique or straight (its stiffness resembles wood). Its mouth/oral aspect compares to Fire, advancing yang and tonifying weakness (its warmth resembles fire). Its manipulation and sealing resemble Earth (its filling resembles earth). This truly corresponds to the Five Elements and can be known. However, though only three cun six fen long, it contains profound principles. Though fine as a hair, it connects many paths. It can balance the cold and heat of the five zang organs and regulate the deficiency and excess of the six fu organs. For spasm and obstruction, chasing away the Eight Evils (Ba Xie) removes them. (Spasm of limbs and qi-blood blockage: first chase and scatter the Eight Winds pathogenic factors.) For cold-heat bi pain, opening the Four Gates (Si Guan) cures it. (Cold bi, heat bi, gout: needle the four gates at elbows and knees.)

Generally, when needling, ensure the patient's Shen (Spirit) is gathered before insertion. After insertion, ensure the Shen is settled and qi follows. If Shen is not gathered, do not needle; if Shen is settled, apply treatment. Where to fix the needle, make regulating qi and blood the main intent; where to start, recognize Water and Wood as the foundation. (Meaning: before needling, one must recognize the generating cycle of the Five Elements.) Heaven, Earth, and Man are the Three Talents. Yongquan (KI-1) corresponds to Xuanji and Baihui. (Baihui corresponds to Heaven, Xuanji to Man, Yongquan to Earth.) Upper, Middle, Lower are the Three Regions. Dabao (SP-21), Tianshu (ST-25), and Dijia (SP-8). (Upper: Dabao; Middle: Tianshu; Lower: Dijia.) Yang Qiao, Yang Wei, Du Mai, and Dai Mai. (These four vessels belong to Yang.) They govern shoulder, back, waist, leg diseases on the exterior. Yin Qiao, Yin Wei, Ren Mai, and Chong Mai. (These four vessels belong to Yin.) They address doubts/diseases of the heart, abdomen, flanks, and ribs on the interior. Er Ling (Yin-Lingquan, Yang-Lingquan), Er Qiao (Zhaohai, Shenmai), Er Jiao (Sanyinjiao, Yangjiao) seem to continue and connect to the Five Bodies. Liang Jian (Erjian, Sanjian), Liang Shang (Shaoshang, Shangyang), Liang Jing (Tianjing, Jianjing) rely on each other but branch out.

Generally, the method of selecting acupoints must have precise measurements. First examine your intention, then observe muscle distribution. Some are obtained through extension/flexion, some through flat/straight stability. In Yang regions, beside bones and tendons, depressions are true points. In Yin regions, corresponding arterial pulses indicate points. When taking five points, use one point accurately; when taking three meridians, use one meridian correctly. Head and shoulder require detailed differentiation; Du Mai and Ren Mai are easy to locate. Understanding Biao (Branch) and Ben (Root) allows discussion of deep/shallow needling meridians. To move pain, select intersecting and penetrating pathways. (e.g., Lieque (LU-7) of Hand Taiyin intersects with Yangming collaterals; Fenglong (ST-40) of Foot Yangming diverges to Taiyin.) Have you not heard that for organ diseases, seek the subtlety of Zhangmen (LR-13), Qihai (CV-6), and Mu points? For meridian stagnation, seek Yuan, Bie, and Hui-Jiao pathways. (Yuan points of each meridian, Yang Bie/Yin Jiao intersections, Eight Hui points.) Further investigate Si Gen (Four Roots) and San Jie (Three Knots); according to Biao/Ben, needling ensures recovery. (Si Gen: all meridians root in the four limbs, i.e., Jing-Well points. San Jie: Taiyin knots at Dabao, Shaoyin knots at Lianquan, Jueyin knots at Yutang.) Simply using Ba Fa (Eight Methods) and Wu Men (Five Doors), distinguishing Master/Guest, ensures efficacy (see previous text). The eight extraordinary vessels connect to the Eight Hui points, forming the outline; the twelve meridians and twelve Yuan points form the pivot. (See later text.) The method of selecting sixty-six acupoints in a day reveals profundity. (Yang stems nourish Fu organs: 36 points; Yin stems nourish Zang organs: 30 points.) Selecting the Yuan points of the twelve meridians at specific times reveals essential mysteries. (Song of Twelve Meridian Yuan Points: Jia exits Qiuxu, Yi Taichong... Gui exits Taixi near heel bone.)

Originally, tonification and sedation methods depend not on respiration but on finger technique. (Meaning seen in *Baoming Quanxing Lun*, *Lihe Zhenxie Lun*, etc.) Rapid effects require correct branches and knowledge of the source meridian. (e.g., Heart disease: select Small Intestine meridian points.) Cross-meridian Miao Ci (Needle opposite side): left disease, take right side. Sedate collaterals with distant needling: head disease, needle feet. Ju Ci and Miao Ci differ; Micro-needles and Wondrous-needles are hard to transmit. Observe parts to know meridian deficiency/excess; view floating/sinking to distinguish zang-fu cold/heat.

Furthermore, first ensure needles are bright and check for damage; next, keep them in the mouth to warm them. Eyes should not look outward; hands should hold firmly like a tiger; mind should have no internal distraction, waiting like for a noble person. Left hand presses heavily and rubs often to disperse qi; right hand inserts lightly and slowly to avoid pain. Hollow stomach may cause fear/fainting; direct force insertion causes dizziness. Back-facing eyes, pressing deeply, sit/lie flat to avoid fainting. Deduce Ten Stems and Ten Changes to know acupoint opening/closing. (See previous text.) Discuss Five Elements and Five Zang, observe time prosperity/decline. (Born by Five Elements is prosperous; controlled by Five Elements is weak. e.g., Heart disease on Jia/Yi days is prosperous; on Ren/Gui days is weak. Others follow this.) Hide like a drawn crossbow; respond like releasing the trigger. (When qi/blood has not responded, needle hides like a crossbow; when qi/blood responds, withdraw like releasing the trigger.) Yin Jiao and Yang Bie settle blood vertigo. (Ren Mai Yin Jiao, Spleen Meridian Sanyinjiao, Bladder Meridian Feiyang—all govern blood diseases.) Yin Qiao and Yang Wei deliver placenta. (Kidney Meridian Zhaohai, Sanjiao Meridian Waiguan.) Bi, Jue, hemiplegia: Ying-Sui makes meridians connect. Lou, Beng, Dai Xia: Warm-tonify makes qi-blood return. Stillness and long retention: stopping needle awaits accuracy; select Zhaohai to treat throat obstruction; exact location, use Dazhong to treat mental dullness.

Generally, pain is excess-sedation; itching/numbness is deficiency-tonification. Heavy body/joint pain governed by Shu points; epigastric fullness governed by Jing-Well points. Chest distension/throat pain: needle Taichung to remove. Spleen cold/stomach pain: sedate Gongsun to heal. Chest fullness: needle Neiguan. Flank pain: needle Feihu (Sanjiao Meridian Zhigou). Spasm/bone pain: tonify Hunmen. Body heat/tuberculosis cough: sedate Pohu. Head wind/headache: needle Shenmai and Jinmen (Foot Taiyang). Eye itching/pain: sedate Guangming and Diwu (Foot Shaoyang). Sedate Yinxi to stop night sweats (Chen/Si hours). Taiyin generates and warms quickly; Li (Fire) left/You (Metal) south. (Wei/Shen hours.) Moon new moon dies and cools quickly. (Moon phases: waxing is life, waning is death; month compared to day, morning is life-no sedation, afternoon is death-no tonification.) Follow/rub/pluck/stretch, retain inhalation mother for firm/long. (Follow/rub are massage; pluck/stretch implies effort; retain inhalation/firm/long waits for heat; Mother means tonify mother in deficiency.) Nail press/extend/lift call child for short/expel. (Nail press disperses qi/blood before insertion; extend is lift; light floating needle; call/expel is fast removal; Child means sedate child in excess.) Move/withdraw/empty/rest, welcome/grab right for cool/sedation. (Rock needle withdraw, extend/lift/empty/rest to await qi flow; this is sedation.) Push/insert/rub, follow/nourish left for warm/tonification. (Push is rotation; insert like rubbing thread; slowly rotate needle; this is tonification.)

Caution: Major critical illnesses, unfavorable color/pulse, do not needle. Cold/wind/heat/cold, hunger/fullness, drunkenness/fatigue, strictly avoid. New moon (Wang) no tonification; Last day (Hui) no sedation; Half-moon (Xian) no draining; First day (Shuo) no nourishing. (Unless emergency, do not violate these taboos.) Refine mind and exhaust methods; do not let moxa burn skin; correct principle and seek source; avoid missing needle position. Avoid moxa sites; forty-seven contraindicated points on limbs; exclude twenty-two from six meridians. (Contraindicated Needles Song lists twenty-five points.)

Formerly, Emperor Gaozu was ill and unhealed; Li Shi needled Juque (CV-14) and he revived. Crown prince died suddenly from Jue; Yue Ren (Qin Yueren) needled Weihui (CV-3/Zhongji) and he woke. (Qin Yueren passed Guo; Crown Prince dead half a day. Yueren diagnosed pulse chaos, shape like death—Shi Jue (Corpse Jue). Ordered disciple Zi Yang to sharpen needles/stone tools, selected Waihui/Wuhui, i.e., Ren Mai Zhongji (also named Yuquan). Hand three yang meridians converge at Yuquan; Foot three yin and Ren Mai meet there, hence called Weihui.) Jianjing (GB-21), Quchi (LI-11): Zhen Quan needled arm pain and it shot away. Xuanzhong (GB-39), Huantiao (GB-30): Hua Tuo needled foot and he stood/walked. Qiufu needled Yaomu and ghost avoided sinking; Wang Zuan needled Jiaoshu and demon emerged immediately. (*Xu Qi Xie Ji*: Xu Qiufu treated back pain ghost, bound straw man, needled Yaomu two points ○ Jiaoshu unclear.) Select Liver Shu (BL-18) and Mingmen (GV-4), enable blind to see autumn down; stimulate Shaoyang intersection/divergence, enable deaf to hear summer mosquitoes. (Intersection: Hand/Foot Shaoyang meeting points, Yifeng, Jiaosun, Heliao; Divergence: Hand Shaoyang divergence Waiguan.) Alas! Distance from sages grows, this Dao declines. Some abandon study upon failure; some risk violation due to luck. Foolish and shallow-minded, hard to match profound micro-principles. Supreme Dao is deep; how many attain it? (*Biao You Fu* by Dou Hanqing had old annotations by Yang Jizhou; for unclear parts, I attach my own views.)