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The physician's excellence lies in curing diseases, and among the principles of curing diseases, none is more exquisite than acupuncture. Therefore, those who understand acupuncture possess the ability to diagnose diseases accurately and achieve immediate effects. For scholars, one should carefully select acupoints for needling, avoiding blind imitation or arbitrary manipulation, which would not only be ineffective but also harmful. The key lies in precisely determining acupoints through careful mental deliberation, achieving miraculous results through hand technique, truly realizing that removing visible ailments depends on the eyes, while diagnosing diseases relies on the hands. Thus, Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo initiated the practice, Bian Que grasped its essentials, *Suwen* (Plain Questions) contains profound mysteries, and *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) reveals its wonders. How can acupuncture be considered merely a minor supplement?

Humans are born from Yin and Yang; just as a year has 365 days, the body has 365 acupoints corresponding to the degrees of the celestial sphere. Ancient sages accomplished the work of Heaven and established human life, thereby creating acupuncture methods. Needling specific points treats specific diseases; the hand grasps them, and the mind responds. Only the most divine person in the world could achieve this. The times of Lu (Bian Que) and Qiao were long past, and this method was rarely transmitted. My ancestor was close friends with Mr. Dou, who saved many lives using acupuncture. He once wrote *The True Classic of Eight Points*, expanding it into treatises and odes, exploring deep secrets and revealing hidden meanings. Scholars who obtain and study this volume will grasp more than half of its essence. In the winter of Renchen year, I came south under imperial decree, visiting various commanderies in Fujian, seeking such acupuncture methods, but failed to find them. In an old chest, I found Mr. Dou's manuscript, which I respectfully had printed to spread widely. Mr. Dou's name was Jie, courtesy name Hanqing, from Feixiang, Guangping, ancient times. He reached the rank of Grand Preceptor and passed down his medical knowledge to the world.

The method of saving lives lies in the subtle application of needles. Observe the seasons according to the Heavenly Dao, and determine the patient's constitution in your heart. In spring and summer, when patients are thin, needle shallowly; in autumn and winter, when patients are fat, needle deeply. If one does not thoroughly understand the Yin and Yang of meridians, one often violates needling taboos; having discussed the deficiency and excess of Zang-Fu organs, one must seek guidance from the meridians. Originally, Qi and Blood originate from the Middle Jiao, flowing like water leaking from a vessel, starting from Taiyin (Lung Meridian) and ending at Jueyin (Liver Meridian). Acupoints emerge from Yunmen (LU-1) and reach Qimen (LR-14) last. There are twelve regular meridians and over three hundred collateral vessels; depending on upright, side, or prone positions, there are over six hundred Qi-Blood observation points. Hand-Yang meridians go from hand to head and head to foot; Hand-Yin meridians go from foot to abdomen and chest to hand. To understand Ying-Sui (following and opposing), one must know reverse and forward directions. Moreover, Yangming Meridian is characterized by abundant Qi and Blood. First, carefully consider appropriate depth; second, observe the arriving pulse. Light, slippery, slow indicates Qi has not arrived; heavy, choppy, tight indicates Qi has arrived. Once Qi arrives, retain the needle based on cold or heat conditions; if Qi has not arrived, guide it based on deficiency or excess. When Qi arrives, it feels like a fish swallowing bait, floating and sinking; when Qi has not arrived, it feels like being in a deep, dark hall. Rapid arrival of Qi leads to rapid effect; delayed arrival makes treatment difficult.

Observing the Nine Needles, the Filiform Needle (Hao Zhen) is the finest, corresponding to the Seven Stars, governing all acupoints. Its form is Metal, possessing the way to dispel evil and support righteousness; its length is Water, possessing the mechanism to resolve doubts and unblock stagnation. Insertion resembles Wood, either oblique or straight; mouth storage resembles Fire, advancing Yang and tonifying weakness. Rubbing and covering resemble Earth, solidifying and blocking; fulfilling the Five Elements allows understanding. Although only one cun and six fen long, it contains profound principles; though fine as hair, it connects diverse paths. It can balance cold and heat of the Five Zang organs and regulate deficiency and excess of the Six Fu organs. Spasms and blockages are removed by dispersing the Eight Evils; cold, heat, pain, and bi syndromes are cured by opening the Four Gates. Generally, before needling, ensure the Spirit (Shen) gathers; after needling, ensure the Spirit settles and Qi follows. Do not needle if the Spirit is not gathered; proceed if the Spirit is settled. At the point of insertion, prioritize Qi and Blood; at the moment of handling, recognize Water and Wood as foundations. Heaven, Earth, and Man correspond to Yongquan (KI-1), Xuanji, and Baihui (DU-20); Upper, Middle, and Lower sections correspond to Dabao (SP-21), Tianshu (ST-25), and Diji (SP-8). Yang Qiao, Yang Wei, and Du Mai govern superficial diseases of shoulders, back, waist, and legs; Yin Qiao, Yin Wei, Ren Mai, Dai Mai, and Chong Mai resolve internal doubts of heart, abdomen, flanks, and ribs. Er Ling, Er Qiao, Er Jiao interact with the Five Greats; Liang Jian, Liang Shang, Liang Jing align in pairs. Thus, selecting acupoints requires precise measurements; first examine one's own intent, then observe muscle layers. Obtain points through flexion/extension or stability. On the Yang side near bones/tendons, depressions are true points; on the Yin side, arterial pulses correspond. Select five points using one as a standard; select three meridians making one correct. Head and shoulder points are detailed separately; Du and Ren meridians are distinct. Clarify Biao and Ben to discuss deep/shallow needling; relieve pain by selecting intersecting pathways. Does one not hear that for Zang-Fu diseases, seek the subtlety of Mu-Alar-Shu-Mound points; for meridian stagnation, seek Yuan-Collateral intersection points? Further explore Si Gen San Jie, needling according to Biao/Ben ensures cure; use Ba Fa Wu Men, distinguishing master/guest ensures efficacy. Eight Extraordinary Vessels connect to Eight Hui points, forming the outline; Twelve Regular Meridians have Twelve Yuan Source points, serving as pivots. One-day needling of 66 points reveals profundity; one-hour selection of Twelve Meridian Yuan points reveals essentials.

Tonification and reduction methods lie not in respiration but in finger technique; rapid effects require understanding intersecting meridians and primary channels. Intersecting and counter needling: disease on the left is treated on the right; draining collaterals via distant needling: head disease is treated on the feet. Ju Ci and Miao Ci differ, but fine needles and subtle techniques connect. Observing regions knows meridian deficiency/excess; viewing floating/sinking differentiates Zang-Fu cold/warmth. First, ensure needles are bright and undamaged; keep them warm in the mouth. Eyes do not look outward, hands hold like tigers; heart has no inner distraction, treating guests with respect. Left hand presses heavily to disperse Qi; right hand enters lightly and slowly to avoid pain. Empty stomach causes fear/dizziness when standing/sitting sideways; lying flat with eyes closed prevents fainting. Deduce Ten Stems/Ten Changes to know acupoint opening/closing; discuss Five Elements/Five Zang to observe time旺衰. Lie like a drawn crossbow, respond like releasing a trigger. Yin Jiao Yang Bie resolves blood dizziness; Yin Qiao Yin Wei expels placenta. Bi, jue, hemiplegia use Ying-Sui to connect meridians; leukorrhea and metrorrhagia use warming/tonifying to restore Qi/Blood. Retain needles quietly to wait for Qi. Accurately, use Zhaohai (KI-6) for throat obstruction; definitively, use large needles for mental dullness. Generally, pain implies excess (reduce); itching/numbness implies deficiency (tonify). Heavy body/joint pain uses Shu points; epigastric fullness uses Jing-Well points. Heart distension/throat pain: needle Taichong (LR-3) to remove; spleen/stomach pain: drain Gongsun (SP-4) to heal. Chest/abdominal fullness: needle Neiguan (PC-6); flank/rib pain: needle Feihu (GB-37). Tendon spasms/bone pain: tonify Hunmen (BL-47); body heat/labored cough: discharge Pohu (BL-42). Head wind/headache: needle Shenmai (BL-62) and Jinmen (BL-63); itchy/painful eyes: discharge Guangming (GB-37) and Diwu (GB-5). Discharge Yin stops night sweats, treating childhood bone-steaming fever; needle Pianli (LI-6) promotes urination, treating adult ascites. Stroke: Huantiao (GB-30) is suitable; deficiency: Tianshu (ST-25) is selectable. Before noon (Mao hour), Taiyang generates warmth quickly; after sunset (You hour), moon dies, cool quickly. Rub, pat, pluck, retain inhalation (Mother) for firmness/length; claw extension/lifting, rapid exhalation (Child) for shortness. Move/retract/empty/rest, oppose/grab right for cooling reduction; push/insert/rub/follow, assist left for warming tonification. Beware of critical illnesses where color/pulse are discordant, do not needle; beware of cold, heat, wind, yin, hunger, fullness, drunkenness, fatigue. Do not tonify during waxing moon, do not reduce during waning moon; do not drain during crescent, do not assist during new moon. Refine the mind to exhaust methods, do not let moxibustion burn skin; correct principles to seek origins, avoid inserting needles in wrong positions. Avoid moxa sites plus four limbs, total 49; forbidden needling sites minus six Shu points, total 22. Also heard: Emperor Gaozhu was ill, Li Shi needled Juque (CV-14) and recovered; Crown Prince died suddenly from Jue syndrome, Yue Ren (Bian Que) needled Weizhong (BL-40) and revived. Jianjing (GB-21) and Quchi (LI-11): Zhen Quan needled arm pain and resumed archery; Xuanzhong (GB-39) and Huantiao (GB-30): Hua Tuo needled feet and walked immediately. Qiufu needled Yaoshu (DU-2) and ghosts were spared; Wang Zuan needled Jiaoshu and spirits vanished. Needling Ganshu (BL-18) and Mingmen (DU-4) enabled blind men to see autumn hair tips; taking Shaoyang and Jiaobie enabled deaf men to hear summer mosquitoes. Alas! As time passes from the Sages, this path declines. Some lose interest and abandon study; some exceed ability and violate taboos, disturbing the minds of novices.