（《灵枢·官针篇》）
凡刺之要，官针最妙。（官，法也，公也。制有法而公于人，故曰官针。）九针之宜，各有所为，长短大小，各有所
施也。不得其用，病弗能移。（用不得法，则不能去病。）疾浅针深，内伤良肉，皮肤为痈；（内伤良肉，则血流于内而溃
于外，故皮肤为痈。）病深针浅，病气不泻，支为大脓。（病气不泻而伤其支络，故为大脓。凡病有沉浮，刺分深浅，过
之则内伤，不及则外壅，邪反从之，后生大病。）病小针大，气泻太甚，疾必为害；（气泻太甚，元气伤也，故必为害。）
病大针小，气不泄泻，亦复为败。（针不及病，则病气不泄，而刺失其宜，故亦为败。）失针之宜，大者泻，小者不移。（当
小而大则泻伤正气，当大而小则病不能移，皆失针之宜也。）已言其过，请言其所施。（上文言其过失，下文言其所施。）
病在皮肤无常处者，取以 针于病所，肤白勿取。（病在皮肤无常处者，火之游行也。用 针者，主泻阳气也。肤白
则无火可知，故不宜刺。）
病在分肉间，取以圆针于病所。
病在经络痼痹者，取以锋针。
病在脉气少当补之者，取之 针于井荥分输。（此针宜于用补。分输，言各经也。）
病为大脓者，取以铍针。
病痹气暴发者，取以圆利针。
病痹气痛而不去者，取以毫针。
病在中者，取以长针。（中者，言其远也。）
病水肿不能通关节者，取以大针。
病在五脏固居者，取以锋针，泻于井荥分输，取以四时。（四时义详后十八。）
（出自《灵枢·官针篇》）
大凡针刺的要领，使用“官针”最为精妙。（所谓“官”，即法则、公正之意。制作有法度且公之于众，所以称为官针。）九种针具的适宜用途，各自有不同的主治功能，长短大小，各有其适用的场合。如果不得其法，疾病就无法消除。（如果使用方法不当，就不能去除病邪。）
病位浅表而针刺过深，会内伤好肉，导致皮肤发生痈肿；（内伤好肉，则血液流溢于内并从外部溃破，所以皮肤形成痈肿。）病位深在而针刺过浅，病气无法泻出，会导致分支脉络受损而形成大脓疡。（病气未得宣泄而损伤其支络，所以形成大脓疡。凡是疾病有浮沉之分，针刺应有深浅之别，刺得过深则内伤正气，刺得不够深则外邪壅滞，邪气反而乘虚而入，日后酿成大病。）
病情轻浅而针具过大，会导致气机泻泄太过，必然造成危害；（气机泻泄太过，元气受损，所以必然造成危害。）病情沉重而针具过小，气机不能泄泻，同样也会导致治疗失败。（针具不及病势，则病气不能泄出，且刺法失当，所以也会失败。）
违背了针具使用的适宜原则，该用小的用了大的则泻伤正气，该用大的用了小的则病邪不能移动。（应当用小针却用了大针，就会泻伤正气；应当用大针却用了小针，病邪就不能祛除，这都是违背了针具使用的适宜原则。）以上讲了过失，现在请讲其适用情况。（上文论述了过失，下文论述其适用情形。）
病邪在皮肤且位置不固定的，取用火针（燔针）在病所施治，但若肤色苍白者勿用。（病邪在皮肤且位置不固定，是火邪游行的表现。使用火针，主要为了泻除阳气。若肤色苍白，可知无火邪，所以不宜针刺。）
病邪在分肉之间的，取用圆针在病所施治。
病邪在经络且为顽固性痹证的，取用锋针。
病邪在脉中且气少应当补益的，取用鍉针在井穴、荥穴及十二经输穴施治。（此针适宜用于补法。分输，指各条经脉的输穴。）
病邪表现为大脓疡的，取用铍针。
病邪为痹气突然发作的，取用圆利针。
病邪为痹气疼痛且久留不去的，取用毫针。
病邪在体内的，取用长针。（所谓“中”，是指病位深远。）
病邪在五脏且固着不移的，取用锋针，在井穴、荥穴及十二经输穴进行泻法，并依据四季时令来选择穴位。（四季的含义详见后文第十八节。）
(From *Ling Shu: Guan Zhen Pian*)
The essence of acupuncture lies in the skillful use of "Guan Zhen" (Official Needles). ("Guan" refers to law and justice. Since they are made with specific methods and applied publicly, they are called Guan Zenes.) The appropriate uses of the Nine Needles each have their specific indications; their lengths and sizes are suited to different applications. If their proper use is not observed, the disease cannot be moved or cured. (If the method is incorrect, the pathogenic factor cannot be eliminated.)
If the pathology is superficial but the needle insertion is too deep, it will injure the healthy flesh internally, leading to skin abscesses. (Injury to the healthy flesh causes blood to flow internally and ulcerate externally, resulting in skin abscesses.) If the pathology is deep but the needle insertion is too shallow, the pathogenic qi will not be discharged, leading to large suppurative lesions. (When pathogenic qi is not discharged and collateral vessels are injured, large abscesses form. Diseases vary in depth; needle insertion must correspond to this depth. Excessive depth causes internal injury, while insufficient depth leads to external stagnation, allowing pathogens to invade further and cause severe illness later.)
If the disease is minor but the needle is too large, excessive discharge of qi will occur, inevitably causing harm. (Excessive discharge of qi damages the Yuan Qi, thus inevitably causing harm.) If the disease is major but the needle is too small, the qi will not be discharged, also leading to treatment failure. (If the needle is inadequate for the disease severity, pathogenic qi cannot be discharged, and the needling technique is inappropriate, thus also leading to failure.)
Violating the appropriateness of needles, using a large needle when a small one is needed results in the depletion of Zheng Qi (Upright Qi); using a small needle when a large one is needed fails to move the disease. (Using a large needle instead of a small one depletes Zheng Qi; using a small needle instead of a large one fails to eliminate the pathogen. Both violate the principle of appropriateness.) Having discussed the errors, I will now discuss the correct applications. (The preceding text discussed errors; the following text discusses correct applications.)
For diseases located in the skin with no fixed position, use a Fire Needle (Fen Zhen) at the site. However, do not use it if the skin color is pale. (Fixed-positionless skin diseases indicate the wandering nature of Fire Pathogens. Using a Fire Needle aims to drain Yang Qi. Pale skin indicates the absence of fire, so needling is unsuitable.)
For diseases located between the muscle layers, use a Round Needle (Yuan Zhen) at the site.
For diseases involving the meridians and chronic Bi Syndrome (Obstruction Syndrome), use a Sharp Needle (Feng Zhen).
For conditions where meridian qi is deficient and tonification is required, use a Di Needle (Di Zhen) at the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points of the respective meridians. (This needle is suitable for tonification. "Shu" refers to the Shu points of each meridian.)
For diseases manifesting as large abscesses, use a Pi Needle (Pi Zhen).
For acute onset of Bi Qi (Bi Pathogen), use a Round-Sharp Needle (Yuan Li Zhen).
For Bi Qi causing persistent pain, use a Hair-Needle (Hao Zhen).
For diseases located deeply within the body, use a Long Needle (Chang Zhen). ("Deep" here refers to distant or profound locations.)
For edema accompanied by blockage of joint movements, use a Large Needle (Da Zhen).
For diseases fixed in the Five Zang Organs, use a Sharp Needle (Feng Zhen) to drain at the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points, selecting acupoints according to the Four Seasons. (The meaning of the Four Seasons is detailed in Chapter 18 below.)