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Huangdi asked, "I wish to hear about the essentials of acupuncture." Qibo replied, "Diseases present at different depths, and needling has shallow and deep techniques. One must reach the appropriate level of pathology without exceeding the proper limit. If one needles too deeply, internal organs will be injured; if too shallow, external stagnation will occur, allowing pathogenic factors to penetrate further. Improper depth can become a major disaster, disturbing the five zang organs internally and subsequently causing severe diseases. Therefore, it is said that diseases may reside in the hair follicles and interstices (coulǐ), skin, muscles, vessels, sinews, bones, or marrow. Thus, when needling the hair follicles and interstices, do not injure the skin; if the skin is injured, the Lung (Fei) will be disturbed internally, leading to warm malaria (wēn nüè) with chills in autumn. When needling the skin, do not injure the muscle; if the muscle is injured, the Spleen (Pí) will be disturbed internally, leading to abdominal distension, irritability, and anorexia during the last eighteen days of each season (totaling seventy-two days). When needling the muscle, do not injure the vessel; if the vessel is injured, the Heart (Xīn) will be disturbed internally, leading to heart pain in summer. When needling the vessel, do not injure the sinew; if the sinew is injured, the Liver (Gān) will be disturbed internally, leading to heat syndromes and flaccid sinews in spring. When needling the sinew, do not injure the bone; if the bone is injured, the Kidney (Shèn) will be disturbed internally, leading to abdominal distension and lower back pain in winter. When needling the bone, do not injure the marrow; if the marrow is injured, the body will emaciate and waste away, with limbs feeling weak and unable to recover."

Huangdi asked, "I wish to hear about the distinctions in the depth of needling." Qibo replied, "When needling the bone, do not injure the sinew; when needling the sinew, do not injure the flesh; when needling the flesh, do not injure the vessel; when needling the vessel, do not injure the skin; when needling the skin, do not injure the flesh; when needling the flesh, do not injure the sinew; when needling the sinew, do not injure the bone." The Emperor said, "I do not understand what you mean; I wish to hear your explanation." Qibo said, "To 'needle the bone without injuring the sinew' means the needle reaches the sinew and stops, not going deeper to the bone. To 'needle the sinew without injuring the flesh' means the needle reaches the flesh and stops, not going deeper to the sinew. To 'needle the flesh without injuring the vessel' means the needle reaches the vessel and stops, not going deeper to the flesh. To 'needle the vessel without injuring the skin' means the needle reaches the skin and stops, not going deeper to the vessel. What is meant by 'needling the skin without injuring the flesh' is that when the disease is in the skin, the needle enters only the skin, not injuring the flesh. What is meant by 'needling the flesh without injuring the sinew' is passing through the flesh to reach the sinew. What is meant by 'needling the sinew without injuring the bone' is passing through the sinew to reach the bone. These are called 'reversals' (fǎn)."

Huangdi asked, "I wish to hear about the number of contraindications for needling." Qibo replied, "The five zang organs have critical points that must be carefully observed. The Liver (Gān) generates on the left, the Lung (Fèi) stores on the right, the Heart (Xīn) distributes on the exterior, the Kidney (Shèn) governs the interior, the Spleen (Pí) acts as the transporter, and the Stomach (Wèi) acts as the market. Above the diaphragm and huang (huáng), there are the Father and Mother (referring to the Heart and Lung); beside the seventh vertebra from the bottom, there is the 'Small Heart' (xiǎo xīn, referring to the Pericardium or Mingmen). Following these rules brings fortune; violating them brings disaster. Needling the Heart directly causes death in one day, with symptoms of belching (yì). Needling the Liver directly causes death in five days, with symptoms of excessive talking (yǔ). Needling the Kidney directly causes death in six days, with symptoms of sneezing (tì). Needling the Lung directly causes death in three days, with symptoms of coughing (ké). Needling the Spleen directly causes death in ten days, with symptoms of swallowing abnormalities (tūn). Needling the Gallbladder (Dǎn) directly causes death in one and a half days, with symptoms of vomiting (ǒu). Needling the large vessel on the dorsum of the foot with unceasing bleeding causes death. Needling the flowing vessels in the face, unfortunately, causes blindness. Needling the Naohu (B16) point on the head, entering the brain, causes immediate death. Excessive needling of the sublingual vessels with unceasing bleeding causes aphonia (yīn). Needling the collateral vessels under the foot where blood does not flow out causes swelling. Needling the large vessel in the thigh region causes collapse and pallor. Needling the vessel at the Qichong (ST30) point where blood does not flow out causes swelling in the inguinal region resembling a crouching rat. Needling the marrow between the vertebrae causes kyphosis (yǔ). Needling above the breast, hitting the mammary gland, causes root erosion and swelling. Needling into the Quepen (LI12) point inwardly causes qi leakage, leading to asthma, cough, and rebellious qi. Needling into the Yuji (LU10) area on the hand fish-moon inwardly causes swelling. Do not needle someone who is heavily intoxicated, as this disturbs qi. Do not needle someone who is extremely angry, as this causes qi to rebel. Do not needle someone who is extremely fatigued, newly full after eating, extremely hungry, extremely thirsty, or greatly startled. Needling the large vessel in the inner thigh with unceasing bleeding causes death. Needling into the Zuchunren (ST32) point inwardly hitting the vessel causes internal leakage and deafness. Releasing fluid from the knee patella causes limping. Needling the Taiyin vessel of the arm with excessive bleeding causes immediate death. Needling the Shaoyin vessel of the foot, causing bleeding in a condition of deficiency, leads to a stiff tongue and difficulty speaking. Needling into the Yingzhong (chest) area hitting the lung causes asthmatic rebellion and仰息 (breathing with the head thrown back). Needling into the elbow pit inwardly causes qi to gather there, resulting in inability to flex or extend the arm. Needling three inches below the inner thigh inwardly causes enuresis. Needling into the axillary and hypochondriac region inwardly causes cough. Needling the bladder in the lower abdomen, causing urine to leak, leads to lower abdominal fullness. Needling into the intestines inwardly causes swelling. Needling the pulse in the sunken bone above the orbital cavity causes fistula and blindness. Releasing fluid from joints results in inability to flex or extend.