岐伯曰∶夫圣人之起天之数也，一而九之。故以主九野，九而九之，九九八十一，以起
黄钟
数焉，以针应数也。帝曰∶以针应九数奈何？岐伯曰∶一者天也，天者阳也，五脏之应天者
肺，肺者五脏六腑之盖也。皮者肺之合也，人之阳也，故为之治，针必大其头而锐其末，令
无得深入，而阳气出。二者地也，人之所以应土者肉也，故为之治。针必 其身而员其末，
令毋得伤肉分，伤则气得竭。三者人也，人之所以成生者血脉也，故为之治，针必大其身而
员其末，令可以按末勿陷，以致其气，令邪气独出。四者时也，时者四时八风之客于经络之
中为瘤病也，故为之治，针必 其身而锐其末，令可以泻热出血，而痼病竭。五者音也，音
者冬夏之分，分于子行，阴与阳别，寒与热争，两气相搏，合为痈脓者也，故为之治，针必
令其末如剑锋，可以取大脓。六者律也，律者调阴阳四时而合十二经脉，虚邪客于经络而为
暴痹者也，故为之治，针必令尖如 ，且员且锐，中身微大，以取暴气。七者星也，星者人
之七窍，邪之所客，经络而为痛痹舍于经络者也，故为之治，针令尖如蚊虻喙，静以徐往，
微以久留，正气因之，真邪俱往，出针而养者也。八者风也，风者人之股肱八节也，八正之
虚风，八风伤人，内舍于骨解腰脊节腠理之间，为深痹也，故为之治，针必长其身，锋其末
，可以深取远痹。九者野也，野者人之节解皮肤之间也，淫邪流溢于身，如风水之状，而溜
不能通于机关大节者也，故为之治，针大如挺，其锋微员，以取大气之不能过于关节者也。
一天二地，三人四时，五音六律，七星八风九野，身形亦应之，针有所宜，故曰九针。人皮
应天，人肉应地，人脉应人，人筋应时，人声应音，人阴阳合气应律，人齿面目应星，人出
入气应风，人九窍三百六十五络应野。故一针皮，二针肉，三针脉，四针筋，五针骨，六针
调阴阳，七针应精，八针除风，九针通九窍，除三百六十五节气，此之谓有所主也。
岐伯说：圣人推演天道的数理，从一到九。因此用这九数来对应九州（九野），将九再乘以九，得到八十一，以此确立黄钟律管的基数，用九针来对应这个数理。
黄帝问：用九针来对应九数的道理是怎样的？
岐伯说：第一数代表天，天属于阳。在五脏中，与天相应的是肺，肺覆盖在五脏六腑之上，如同伞盖一样。皮肤是肺的外合组织，也属于人体的阳气部分。所以治疗皮表疾病时，使用的针必须头部宽大而末端尖锐，使其不能深入体内，从而引导阳气外出。
第二数代表地，人体中与土相应的部分是肌肉。所以治疗肌肉疾病时，使用的针必须针身粗大且末端圆钝，使其不得损伤肌肉深层，如果损伤了，会导致正气耗竭。
第三数代表人，人之所以能维持生命，依靠的是血脉。所以治疗血脉疾病时，使用的针必须针身粗大且末端圆钝，操作时按压针尾而不使针尖陷入过深，以疏通气血，使邪气单独排出。
第四数代表时间，指四季中的“八风”邪气侵入经络所导致的顽固性疾病。所以治疗这类疾病时，使用的针必须针身较细且末端尖锐，以便泻除热邪并放出血液，使顽固之病得以消除。
第五数代表音律，音律区分冬夏，划分于子午之时，阴与阳相别，寒与热相争，两气相互搏结，会形成痈脓。所以治疗痈脓时，使用的针末端要像剑锋一样锋利，以便刺破排出大量脓液。
第六数代表律吕，律吕用于调和阴阳、顺应四时，并与十二经脉相合。当虚邪侵入经络导致暴发性痹症时，所以治疗这类急症时，使用的针尖端要像箭镞一样，既圆又锐，针身中部略微粗大，以祛除暴发的邪气。
第七数代表星辰，星辰对应人的七窍，是邪气客居的地方，邪气留滞于经络导致痛痹。所以治疗时，使用的针尖要像蚊虻的嘴一样细小，进针要安静缓慢，留针时间要微长，借以扶助正气，使真气与邪气一同被带出，出针后有利于正气的养护。
第八数代表风，风对应人的大腿和手臂的八个关节。来自八个方位的正虚之风（八风）伤人，内侵于骨骼缝隙、腰脊及腠理之间，形成深部的痹症。所以治疗时，使用的针必须针身长且末端锋利，以便深刺以祛除远端的顽痹。
第九数代表地域（九野），对应人的关节间隙和皮肤之间。淫邪之气流溢于全身，状如风水病，但流注停滞而不能通过大的关节枢纽。所以治疗时，使用的针要大如挺棍，其锋刃微微圆钝，以疏导那些不能通过关节的大部邪气。
一应对天，二应对地，三应对人，四应对时，五对应音，六对应律，七对应星，八对应风，九对应野。人的身形也与之相应，九针各有适宜的治疗部位，所以称为九针。人的皮肤应天，肌肉应地，血脉应人，筋脉应时，声音应音，阴阳之气相合应律，牙齿面目应星，呼吸出入应风，九窍及三百六十五络应野。因此，一针治皮，二针治肉，三针治脉，四针治筋，五针治骨，六针调阴阳，七针应精气，八针祛风邪，九针通九窍，祛除三百六十五节的气机阻滞，这就是九针各自的主治范围。
Qibo stated: The sage derives the numbers of Heaven, starting from one and extending to nine. Thus, these nine numbers govern the Nine Regions (Jiuye). Multiplying nine by nine yields eighty-one, establishing the base number for the Huangzhong (Yellow Bell) pitch-pipe, and the needles correspond to this numerical system.
The Yellow Emperor asked: How do the nine needles correspond to the nine numbers?
Qibo replied: The first number corresponds to Heaven. Heaven belongs to Yang. Among the Five Zang Organs, the Lung corresponds to Heaven; it covers the Five Zang and Six Fu Organs like a canopy. The skin is the exterior correspondence of the Lung and represents the Yang Qi of the human body. Therefore, when treating diseases of the skin, the needle must have a broad head and a sharp tip, preventing deep penetration so that Yang Qi can be released outward.
The second number corresponds to Earth. The part of the human body corresponding to Earth is the flesh (muscle). Therefore, when treating diseases of the flesh, the needle must have a thick shaft and a rounded tip, ensuring it does not injure the deeper muscle layers. If injured, the Qi will be exhausted.
The third number corresponds to Humanity. What sustains human life is the blood vessels. Therefore, when treating diseases of the vessels, the needle must have a thick shaft and a rounded tip. By pressing the handle without letting the tip sink too deeply, one can facilitate the flow of Qi and allow the pathogenic factor to exit alone.
The fourth number corresponds to Time. This refers to the "Eight Winds" of the four seasons invading the meridians and causing chronic illnesses. Therefore, when treating such conditions, the needle must have a slender shaft and a sharp tip, allowing for the draining of heat and bleeding to eliminate chronic disease.
The fifth number corresponds to Musical Tones. Tones distinguish between winter and summer, dividing at the Zi-Wu axis, separating Yin and Yang, and pitting cold against heat. When these two energies clash, they combine to form carbuncles and pus. Therefore, when treating carbuncles, the tip of the needle must be like the edge of a sword, capable of draining large amounts of pus.
The sixth number corresponds to Pitch Pipes (Lü). Pitch pipes harmonize Yin and Yang, align with the four seasons, and correspond to the Twelve Meridians. When deficient pathogens invade the meridians causing sudden bi-syndrome (obstruction), the needle used must have a tip like an arrowhead—both round and sharp—with a slightly thicker middle section, to drain sudden pathogenic Qi.
The seventh number corresponds to Stars. Stars correspond to the seven orifices of the human body, where pathogens reside and cause painful bi-syndrome by lodging in the meridians. Therefore, when treating this, the needle tip should be like the proboscis of a mosquito or midge. Insertion should be quiet and slow, retention should be prolonged but subtle, aiding the Healthy Qi. Both True Qi and Pathogenic Qi move together; upon withdrawal, the needle nourishes the body.
The eighth number corresponds to Wind. Wind corresponds to the eight joints of the thighs and arms. Deficient winds from the eight directions (Eight Winds) injure the body, lodging internally between bone fissures, the waist, spine, and interstices, causing deep bi-syndrome. Therefore, when treating this, the needle must have a long shaft and a sharp tip, allowing for deep insertion to remove distant stubborn obstruction.
The ninth number corresponds to the Regions (Jiuye). This corresponds to the spaces between joints and the skin. Excessive pathogens overflow throughout the body, resembling wind-water edema, but stagnate and cannot pass through the major joint hubs. Therefore, when treating this, the needle should be as large as a rod, with a slightly rounded tip, to drain excessive Qi that cannot pass through the joints.
One corresponds to Heaven, two to Earth, three to Humanity, four to Time, five to Tones, six to Pitch Pipes, seven to Stars, eight to Wind, and nine to Regions. The human body also corresponds to these; each needle has its appropriate application. Hence, they are called the Nine Needles. Skin corresponds to Heaven, flesh to Earth, vessels to Humanity, sinews to Time, voice to Tones, the harmony of Yin-Yang Qi to Pitch Pipes, teeth and facial features to Stars, inhalation and exhalation to Wind, and the nine orifices along with the 365 collaterals to the Regions. Thus, the first needle treats the skin, the second the flesh, the third the vessels, the fourth the sinews, the fifth the bones, the sixth harmonizes Yin and Yang, the seventh addresses Essence, the eighth dispels Wind, and the ninth opens the nine orifices and removes blockages in the 365 joints. This defines their respective dominions.