此篇与下编《刺齐论》，全元起本原为一篇，王冰分而为二。统论刺法之浅深，戒以过深致害，
针家不可不知。
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。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。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。是故刺毫毛胰理无伤皮，皮伤则内动脉，肺动则秋
病温疟， 然寒栗。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。刺肉无伤
脉，脉伤则内动心，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。刺筋无伤骨，骨伤则内动肾，肾动则冬病胀腰痛。刺骨无伤髓，髓伤则销铄 酸，体解 然不去矣。
义已见前。
黄帝问曰∶愿闻刺浅深之分。岐伯对曰∶刺骨者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤脉，刺脉者无伤
皮，刺皮者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤骨。帝曰∶余未知其所谓，愿闻其解。岐伯曰∶刺骨无伤筋
者，针至筋而去，不及骨也。刺筋无伤肉者，至肉而去，不及筋也。刺肉无伤脉者，至脉而去，不及肉
也。刺脉无伤皮者，至皮而去，不及脉也。所谓刺皮无伤肉者，病在皮中，针入皮中，无伤肉也，刺肉无伤筋
者，过肉中筋也。刺筋无伤骨者，过筋中骨也。此之谓反也。
这一篇与下一篇《刺齐论》，在全元起的版本中原是一篇文章，王冰将其分为两篇。这两篇综合论述了针刺手法的深浅程度，告诫人们如果针刺过深会造成伤害，这是针灸医生不可不知道的知识。
黄帝问道：我想听听关于针刺要领的讲解。岐伯回答说：疾病有表浅和深重的区别，针刺也有浅和深的不同，必须分别达到其应有的层次，不要超过应有的限度。如果针刺过深，就会内伤脏腑；如果针刺太浅，不能到达病所，就会导致体表气血壅滞，邪气就会乘虚而入。
如果深浅掌握不当，反而会成为巨大的祸害，使内脏五脏受到扰动，日后引发严重的疾病。所以说：疾病有的位于毫毛腠理（皮肤纹理及汗孔），有的位于皮肤，有的位于肌肉，有的位于血脉，有的位于筋腱，有的位于骨骼，有的位于骨髓。因此，针刺毫毛腠理时不要损伤皮肤，如果损伤了皮肤，就会内动肺脏，肺气受损则到了秋天容易患温疟（一种以寒热往来为特征的疟疾），出现忽冷忽热、战栗的症状。针刺皮肤时不要损伤肌肉，如果损伤了肌肉，就会内动脾脏，脾气受损则在四季之末各十八天（共七十二日）期间，容易出现腹胀、心烦、不想吃东西的症状。针刺肌肉时不要损伤血脉，如果损伤了血脉，就会内动心脏，心气受损则到了夏天容易患心痛。针刺血脉时不要损伤筋腱，如果损伤了筋腱，就会内动肝脏，肝气受损则到了春天容易患热病且筋脉弛缓无力。针刺筋腱时不要损伤骨骼，如果损伤了骨骼，就会内动肾脏，肾气受损则到了冬天容易患腹胀和腰痛。针刺骨骼时不要损伤骨髓，如果损伤了骨髓，身体就会消瘦枯槁、酸软无力，肢体懈怠倦怠，久久不能恢复。
上述义理在前面已经见过。
黄帝问道：我想听听针刺深浅的具体区分标准。岐伯回答说：针刺到骨的时候不要损伤筋，针刺到筋的时候不要损伤肉，针刺到肉的时候不要损伤脉，针刺到脉的时候不要损伤皮，针刺到皮的时候不要损伤肉，针刺到肉的时候不要损伤筋，针刺到筋的时候不要损伤骨。黄帝说：我不明白您所说的意思，希望您能解释一下。岐伯说：所谓“刺骨无伤筋”，是指针尖到达筋层就停止，不再深入去触及骨头。所谓“刺筋无伤肉”，是指针尖到达肌肉层就停止，不再深入去触及筋。所谓“刺肉无伤脉”，是指针尖到达血脉层就停止，不再深入去触及肌肉。所谓“刺脉无伤皮”，是指针尖到达皮肤层就停止，不再深入去触及血脉。至于所谓的“刺皮无伤肉”，是指病位在皮中，针只进入皮中，不损伤下面的肉；“刺肉无伤筋”，是指针经过肉层到达筋的位置；“刺筋无伤骨”，是指针经过筋层到达骨的位置。这几种情况被称为“反”（指进针方向或层次上的逆向操作或特定界定）。
This chapter and the following chapter, *Ci Qi Lun* (Treatise on the Levels of Needling), were originally a single chapter in the version by Quan Yuanqi, but Wang Bing divided it into two. Together, they comprehensively discuss the depth of needling techniques and warn against harm caused by excessive depth; this is knowledge that acupuncturists must not ignore.
The Yellow Emperor asked, saying: I wish to hear about the essentials of needling. Qibo replied: Diseases manifest at different depths, superficial or deep, and needling should be performed at corresponding depths. One must reach the appropriate level without exceeding the proper limit. If one exceeds the limit, internal injury occurs; if one falls short, external stagnation arises, allowing pathogenic factors to enter.
If the depth is inappropriate, it becomes a great disaster, disturbing the five Zang organs internally and leading to severe diseases later. Thus it is said: Diseases may be located in the hair follicles and interstices (the spaces between skin cells and pores), in the skin, in the muscle, in the vessels, in the sinews, in the bones, or in the marrow. Therefore, when needling the hair follicles and interstices, do not injure the skin; if the skin is injured, the Lung (Zang organ associated with the skin) is disturbed internally, and in autumn, warm malaria (a type of malaria characterized by alternating chills and fever) may occur, accompanied by shivering. When needling the skin, do not injure the muscle; if the muscle is injured, the Spleen (Zang organ associated with muscle) is disturbed internally, and during the last eighteen days of each of the four seasons (totaling seventy-two days), symptoms such as abdominal distension, irritability, and anorexia may arise. When needling the muscle, do not injure the vessel; if the vessel is injured, the Heart (Zang organ associated with vessels) is disturbed internally, and in summer, heart pain may occur. When needling the vessel, do not injure the sinew; if the sinew is injured, the Liver (Zang organ associated with sinews) is disturbed internally, and in spring, heat disease with flaccid sinews may occur. When needling the sinew, do not injure the bone; if the bone is injured, the Kidney (Zang organ associated with bones) is disturbed internally, and in winter, abdominal distension and lower back pain may occur. When needling the bone, do not injure the marrow; if the marrow is injured, the body wastes away and becomes emaciated and sore, with limbs feeling weak and lethargic, unable to recover for a long time.
The meaning has been discussed previously.
The Yellow Emperor asked, saying: I wish to hear about the specific distinctions regarding shallow and deep needling. Qibo replied: When needling to the bone, do not injure the sinew; when needling to the sinew, do not injure the flesh; when needling to the flesh, do not injure the vessel; when needling to the vessel, do not injure the skin; when needling to the skin, do not injure the flesh; when needling to the flesh, do not injure the sinew; when needling to 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: "Needling to the bone without injuring the sinew" means the needle reaches the sinew and stops, not going further to touch the bone. "Needling to the sinew without injuring the flesh" means the needle reaches the flesh and stops, not going further to touch the sinew. "Needling to the flesh without injuring the vessel" means the needle reaches the vessel and stops, not going further to touch the flesh. "Needling to the vessel without injuring the skin" means the needle reaches the skin and stops, not going further to touch the vessel. As for "needling the skin without injuring the flesh," it refers to pathology located in the skin, where the needle enters only the skin without injuring the flesh below. "Needling the flesh without injuring the sinew" means passing through the flesh to reach the sinew. "Needling the sinew without injuring the bone" means passing through the sinew to reach the bone. These are referred to as "Fan" (reverse/contrary methods).