过之则内伤，不及则生外壅，二句真刺法之要道乎。但篇中所言病期，如肺动则秋病温疟等，言肺伤则有
肺经之病，其实肺病不止于疟，而且或未必至秋始发也，伯特举一以示意而已。
黄帝问曰∶愿闻刺要。岐伯对曰∶病有浮沉，刺有浅深，各至其理，无过其道。（按∶肤有文理，脉有道路，
浅深合宜，乃为得也。）过之则内伤，不及则生外壅，壅则邪从之，浅深不得，反为大贼，内动五脏，后生大
病。（按∶过则大深而真气泄，不及则浅而邪不去，于是病转至于深重也。）故曰∶病有在毫毛腠理者，有在
皮肤者，有在肌肉者，有在脉者，有在筋者，有在骨者，有在髓者。（毛之长者曰毫，皮之文理曰腠理，然是
二者，皆皮之可见者也。）
是故刺毫毛腠理无伤皮，皮伤则内动肺，肺动则秋病温疟， 然寒栗。（针经曰∶“凡刺有五，以应五
脏∶一曰半刺，半刺者，浅内而疾发针，令针伤多如拔发状，以取皮气，此肺之应也。”然此其浅以应于肺，
腠理毫毛犹应更浅，当取发根浅深之半尔。肺之合皮，王于秋气，故肺动则秋病如是也。）刺皮无伤肉，肉
伤则内动脾，脾动则七十二日四季之月，病腹胀烦，不嗜食。（脾之合肉，寄王四季。又其脉从股内前廉，入
腹属脾络胃，上膈挟咽连舌本，散舌下。其支别者，复从胃别上膈，注心中。故伤肉则动脾，脾动则四季之月，
腹胀烦而不嗜食也。七十二日四季之月者，谓三月、六月、九月、十二月，各十二日后，土寄王十八日也。）刺肉无伤
脉，脉伤则内动心，心动则夏病心痛。（心之合脉，王于夏气。真心少阴之脉，起于心中，出属心系心包。心
主之脉，起于胸中，出属心包。平人气象论曰∶“脏真通于心。”故脉伤则动心，心动则夏病心痛。）刺脉无
伤筋，筋伤则内动肝，肝动则春病热而筋弛。（肝之合筋，王于春气。针经曰∶“热则筋缓。”故筋伤则动肝，
肝动则春病如是也。）刺筋无伤骨，骨伤则内动肾，肾动则冬病胀，腰痛。（肾之合骨，王于冬气。腰为肾府，
故骨伤则动肾，肾动则冬病腰痛也。肾之脉，直行者，从肾上贯肝膈，故胀也。按∶肾伤腰痛宜矣。其病胀者，人
身中之气，本原于命门，肾伤则命门已不能化气，壅遏不行故胀。注言贯肝膈，夫贯肝膈何以即胀也。）刺骨
无伤髓，髓伤则销铄 酸，体解 然不去矣。（髓者骨之充。针经曰∶“髓海不足，则脑转耳鸣， 酸眩冒。”
故髓伤则脑髓销铄， 酸，体解 然不去也。髓脑销铄，骨空之所致也。）
如果针刺过深就会损伤内脏，针刺过浅则会在体表产生壅滞，这两句话真是针刺法则的关键所在。但是篇中所说的疾病发作时期，例如肺经受邪则在秋季发生温疟等病，说的是肺脏受伤会有肺经相关的病症，其实肺病并不局限于疟疾，而且也不一定非到秋天才发病，这里只是特意举出一个例子来示意罢了。
黄帝问道：我希望听听针刺的要领。岐伯回答说：疾病有在表在里的区别，针刺就有浅有深，必须各自达到应有的层次，不要超过应有的限度。（按语：皮肤有纹理，经脉有通路，深浅适宜，才算得法。）如果针刺过深就会内伤正气，针刺过浅则邪气滞留不去，邪气便会乘虚而入；深浅不得当，反而成为大的祸害，使五脏内部动荡，随后引发严重的疾病。（按语：过深则真气外泄，过浅则邪气不去，于是病情转而深重。）所以说：有的病在毫毛腠理，有的在皮肤，有的在肌肉，有的在脉，有的在筋，有的在骨，有的在髓。（长的毛发叫毫，皮肤的纹理叫腠理，但这二者，都是皮肤表面可见的。）
因此，刺毫毛腠理时不要伤及皮肤，如果伤了皮肤就会内动肺气，肺气受损则秋季易患温疟，表现为阵阵寒战。（《针经》说：“凡针刺有五种方法，以对应五脏：第一种叫半刺，半刺是浅进针并快速出针，像拔头发一样轻微刺激皮肤，以取皮部之气，这是对应肺的方法。”然而这已经是较浅的对应肺的方法，刺腠理毫毛应当更浅，大概是取发根深浅的一半。肺合于皮，旺于秋气，所以肺受损则秋季会出现上述病症。）刺皮肤时不要伤及肌肉，如果伤了肌肉就会内动脾气，脾气受损则每季最后十八天（四季之月）易患腹胀、心烦、食欲不振。（脾合于肉，旺于四季末各十八天。另外脾经从大腿内侧前缘进入腹部属脾络胃，上行穿过膈肌夹咽连舌本，散布舌下。其分支从胃别出上膈注入心中。所以伤肉则动脾，脾动则四季之月出现腹胀心烦而不嗜食的情况。“七十二日四季之月”是指三月、六月、九月、十二月，各月十二日后，土旺寄王十八日。）刺肌肉时不要伤及血脉，如果伤了血脉就会内动心气，心气受损则夏季易患心痛。（心合于脉，旺于夏气。手少阴真心脉起于心中，出属心系心包。手厥阴心主脉起于胸中，出属心包。《平人气象论》说：“脏真通于心。”所以脉伤则动心，心动则夏季患心痛。）刺血脉时不要伤及筋腱，如果伤了筋腱就会内动肝气，肝气受损则春季易患热病且筋弛缓。（肝合于筋，旺于春气。《针经》说：“热则筋缓。”所以筋伤则动肝，肝动则春季出现上述病症。）刺筋腱时不要伤及骨骼，如果伤了骨骼就会内动肾气，肾气受损则冬季易患胀满、腰痛。（肾合于骨，旺于冬气。腰为肾之府，所以骨伤则动肾，肾动则冬季患腰痛。肾经直行者，从肾上行贯穿肝膈，所以会出现胀满。按语：肾伤导致腰痛是适宜的。至于胀满的病，人身之气本源于命门，肾伤则命门不能化气，气机壅遏不行故生胀满。注解说贯穿肝膈，为何即导致胀满呢？）刺骨骼时不要伤及骨髓，如果伤了骨髓则身体消瘦酸软，肢体懈怠无力不愿活动。（髓是充养骨骼的。《针经》说：“髓海不足，则脑转耳鸣，身体酸软眩晕。”所以髓伤则脑髓消减，身体酸软，肢体懈怠不愿活动。髓脑消减，是由于骨空所致。）
If the needle insertion is too deep, it will cause internal injury; if it is too shallow, it will generate external stagnation. These two sentences are indeed the key principles of acupuncture therapy. However, regarding the disease periods mentioned in this chapter, such as "when the Lung meridian is affected, warm malaria occurs in autumn," it refers to diseases related to the Lung meridian resulting from Lung injury. In reality, Lung diseases are not limited to malaria, nor do they necessarily manifest only in autumn; here, a single example is cited merely to illustrate the principle.
The Yellow Emperor asked, saying: I wish to hear about the essentials of acupuncture. Qibo replied: Diseases have superficial and deep locations, and accordingly, acupuncture should be shallow or deep. One must reach the appropriate level without exceeding the proper boundary. (Note: The skin has its textures, and the meridians have their pathways. Only when the depth is appropriate is the technique considered correct.) If the insertion is too deep, it causes internal injury; if too shallow, it leads to external stagnation. When stagnation occurs, pathogenic factors enter easily. Improper depth becomes a major disaster, disturbing the five Zang organs internally and subsequently causing severe illness. (Note: Too deep depletes the True Qi; too shallow fails to expel pathogens, causing the condition to deepen and worsen.) Therefore, it is said: Some diseases are located in the fine hairs and interstices, some in the skin, some in the muscles, some in the vessels, some in the sinews, some in the bones, and some in the marrow. (Long hairs are called *hao* [fine hairs]; the texture of the skin is called *coulí* [interstices]. Both are visible on the surface of the skin.)
Therefore, when needling the fine hairs and interstices, do not injure the skin. If the skin is injured, it internally disturbs the Lung Qi. When Lung Qi is disturbed, one may suffer from warm malaria with chills in autumn. (*Needle Classic* states: "There are five types of needling corresponding to the five Zang organs: The first is *Ban Ci* [Half Pricking]. *Ban Ci* involves shallow insertion and rapid withdrawal, stimulating the skin lightly like plucking hair, to extract Qi from the skin layer. This corresponds to the Lung." However, this method is already relatively shallow for the Lung; needling the interstices and fine hairs should be even shallower, approximately half the depth of the hair root. The Lung corresponds to the skin and prospers in Autumn Qi; thus, when the Lung is disturbed, such illnesses occur in autumn.) When needling the skin, do not injure the muscles. If the muscles are injured, it internally disturbs the Spleen Qi. When Spleen Qi is disturbed, during the eighteen days at the end of each season (the months of the Four Seasons), one may suffer from abdominal distension, irritability, and loss of appetite. (The Spleen corresponds to the muscles and prospers during the last eighteen days of each season. Additionally, the Spleen meridian runs along the anterior medial aspect of the thigh, enters the abdomen, connects with the Spleen, and links with the Stomach. It ascends through the diaphragm, flanks the throat, connects with the base of the tongue, and spreads under the tongue. A branch arises from the stomach, passes through the diaphragm, and pours into the heart. Thus, injuring the muscles disturbs the Spleen, and Spleen disturbance leads to abdominal distension, irritability, and anorexia during these seasonal months. "Seventy-two days of the Four Seasons" refers to the period after the twelfth day of March, June, September, and December, when Earth Qi prospers for eighteen days.) When needling the muscles, do not injure the vessels. If the vessels are injured, it internally disturbs the Heart Qi. When Heart Qi is disturbed, one may suffer from heart pain in summer. (The Heart corresponds to the vessels and prospers in Summer Qi. The True Yin meridian of the Heart originates in the heart, emerges to connect with the Heart system and Pericardium. The meridian of the Heart Master originates in the chest, emerges to connect with the Pericardium. *Ping Ren Qi Xiang Lun* states: "The Zhen Qi of the Zang organs communicates with the Heart." Thus, vessel injury disturbs the Heart, leading to heart pain in summer.) When needling the vessels, do not injure the sinews. If the sinews are injured, it internally disturbs the Liver Qi. When Liver Qi is disturbed, one may suffer from heat syndromes and flaccid sinews in spring. (The Liver corresponds to the sinews and prospers in Spring Qi. *Needle Classic* states: "Heat causes sinew relaxation." Thus, sinew injury disturbs the Liver, leading to such conditions in spring.) When needling the sinews, do not injure the bones. If the bones are injured, it internally disturbs the Kidney Qi. When Kidney Qi is disturbed, one may suffer from distension and lower back pain in winter. (The Kidney corresponds to the bones and prospers in Winter Qi. The lower back is the mansion of the Kidney; thus, bone injury disturbs the Kidney, leading to lower back pain in winter. The Kidney meridian runs straight upward from the Kidney, piercing through the Liver and Diaphragm, which explains the distension. Note: It is fitting that Kidney injury causes lower back pain. Regarding distension, the Qi in the human body originates from the Gate of Vitality [Mingmen]. Kidney injury impairs Mingmen's ability to transform Qi, causing Qi stagnation and obstruction, hence distension. The commentary mentions piercing the Liver and Diaphragm; why does this immediately cause distension?) When needling the bones, do not injure the marrow. If the marrow is injured, the body wastes away and feels sore, and the limbs feel weak and reluctant to move. (Marrow fills the bones. *Needle Classic* states: "When the Sea of Marrow is insufficient, there is dizziness, tinnitus, bodily soreness, and vertigo." Thus, marrow injury leads to the wasting of brain and spinal marrow, bodily soreness, and limb weakness. The wasting of marrow and brain results from emptiness in the bones.)