平按∶此篇自篇首至末，见《灵枢》卷二第七《官针》篇，又见《甲乙经》卷五第二，惟编
次前后略异。
九针之要，官针最妙。（官者，谓用针时□□于针也。平按∶九针之要《灵枢》、《甲乙》
作凡刺之要。）九针之宜，各有所为，长短大小，各有所施，不得其用，病不能移。病浅针深，
内伤良肉，皮肤为 ；（平按∶ 《灵枢》、《甲乙》作痈。）病深针浅，病气不泻，反为大脓。
病小针大，气泻大疾，必后为害；病大针小，大气不泻，亦复为败。夫针之宜，大者大泻，小者不
移，已言其过，请言其所施。（言九针之用，所宜各异，并言用法也。平按∶大疾《灵枢》、《甲
乙》作太甚。必后为害《灵枢》作疾必为害，《甲乙》作病后必为害。大气不泻《灵枢》作气不泻
泄。亦复为败《甲乙》作亦为后败。）病在
皮肤无常处者，取以 针于病所，肤白勿取。（ 针头大末兑，主泻阳气，故皮肤痛无常处，阳
气盛也。痛处肤当色赤，故白处痛移，不可取也。）病在分肉间者，取以员针于病所。（员针之
状，锋如卵，揩摩分间，内不伤肌，以泻分气也。平按∶注状下袁刻脱锋字，卵下袁刻多一形字。）
病在脉气少当补者，取以 针于井荥分输。（ 针之状，锋如黍粟之兑，主当行补于井荥之输，以
致于气也。平按∶荥《甲乙》作营，袁刻作荣。）病为大脓者，取以 针。（ 针之状，末如剑
锋，以取大脓也。平按∶大脓者《甲乙》作大脓血。 《灵枢》、《甲乙》作铍。）病痹气暴发
者，取以员利针。（员利针状如耗。耗，毛也。用取暴痹。）痹病气痛而不去者，取以豪针。（豪
针之状，尖如蚊虻之喙，静以徐往，留之养神，以取痛痹也。平按∶痹病《灵枢》作病痹。）病
在中者，取以长针。（长针之状，锋利身薄，以取脏中远痹也。）病为水肿不能过关节者，取以
大针。（大针之状，尖如 ， 如平 ，其锋微圆，以通关节也。平按∶《灵枢》过作通。注状下
袁刻脱尖字。）病在五脏固居者，取以锋针，泻于井荥分输，取以四时。（锋针之状，刃三隅，以
发固居之疾，泻于井荥分输，取以四时也。平按∶《甲乙》输作俞。）
平按：本篇从篇首到篇末，见于《灵枢》卷二第七《官针》篇，又见于《甲乙经》卷五第二，只是编排顺序略有不同。
九针的关键，在于官针最为精妙。（“官”字，是指使用针具时……于针具而言。平按：《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中此处作“凡刺之要”。）九针的适宜之处，各自有不同的作用，长短大小，各有其适用的情况，如果不掌握其用法，疾病就无法消除。病位浅而针刺过深，会内伤好肉，使皮肤发生痈肿；（平按：《灵枢》、《甲乙经》作“痈”。）病位深而针刺过浅，病邪之气不能排出，反而会导致化脓成大脓疡。病情轻而用针过大，正气泻泄太过且病势急迫，日后必然造成危害；病情重而用针过小，大邪之气不能排出，同样也会导致失败。关于针具的适宜性，大的针用于大邪的泻法，小的针用于小邪不移，以上已说明了过失，现在请说明其具体应用。（这里讲述九针的用途，适宜之处各不相同，并阐述使用方法。平按：“大疾”在《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作“太甚”。“必后为害”在《灵枢》中作“疾必为害”，在《甲乙经》中作“病后必为害”。“大气不泻”在《灵枢》中作“气不泻泄”。“亦复为败”在《甲乙经》中作“亦为后败”。）
病位在皮肤且没有固定部位的，取用镵针在病变部位施治，如果患处肤色发白则不要针刺。（镵针头大末端尖锐，主要用来泻阳气，所以皮肤疼痛无常处，是因为阳气盛也。疼痛处的皮肤应当颜色发红，所以肤色白的地方疼痛转移，不可取刺。）
病位在分肉之间的，取用圆针在病变部位施治。（圆针的形状，锋如卵形，揩摩分肉之间，内部不伤肌肉，用来泻分肉间的气。平按：注文中“状”字下袁刻本脱漏了“锋”字，“卵”字下袁刻本多了一个“形”字。）
病在脉气少当用补法的，取用鍉针在井穴、荥穴、输穴施治。（鍉针的形状，锋如黍粟之尖，主要应当在井荥输穴施行补法，以引导气至。平按：“荥”在《甲乙经》中作“营”，袁刻本作“荣”。）
病为大脓疡的，取用铍针。（铍针的形状，末端如剑锋，用来排大脓。平按：“大脓者”在《甲乙经》中作“大脓血”。《灵枢》、《甲乙经》中作“铍”。）
病痹气突然发作的，取用员利针。（员利针形状像耗牛毛。耗，即毛。用来治疗暴发性痹症。）
痹病气痛且久治不愈的，取用毫针。（毫针的形状，尖如蚊虻之喙，安静地缓慢进针，留针以养神，用来治疗痛痹。平按：“痹病”在《灵枢》中作“病痹”。）
病位在体内的，取用长针。（长针的形状，锋利身薄，用来治疗脏腑深处的远痹。）
病为水肿且不能通过关节的，取用大针。（大针的形状，尖如……，……如平……，其锋微圆，用来通利关节。平按：《灵枢》中“过”作“通”。注文中“状”字下袁刻本脱漏了“尖”字。）
病在五脏固着不移的，取用锋针，在井穴、荥穴、输穴施以泻法，并根据四季变化取穴。（锋针的形状，刃有三个角，用来发散固着的疾病，在井荥输穴施泻法，根据四时取穴。平按：《甲乙经》中“输”作“俞”。）
Ping An: This section, from the beginning to the end of the chapter, is found in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), Volume 2, Chapter 7 "Guan Zhen" (Official Needles), and also in *Jia Yi Jing* (Classified Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Volume 5, Section 2. The only difference lies in the slightly different order of arrangement.
The essence of the Nine Needles lies in the fact that the Guan Needles are the most exquisite. ("Guan" refers to the application of needles during needling. Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* read this as "Fan Ci Zhi Yao" [The General Principle of Puncturing].) The suitability of the Nine Needles varies, each having its specific function; their length and size have respective applications. If their usage is not mastered, diseases cannot be eliminated. If the disease is superficial but the needle insertion is too deep, it will injure healthy flesh internally, causing skin abscesses; (Ping An: *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* read "Yong" [Abscess].) If the disease is deep but the needle insertion is too shallow, the pathogenic qi will not be drained, potentially leading to large suppurative lesions. If the condition is mild but a large needle is used, excessive draining of healthy qi and rapid progression of the disease will inevitably cause harm later; if the condition is severe but a small needle is used, the major pathogenic qi will not be drained, also resulting in failure. Regarding the suitability of needles, large needles are used for draining major pathogens, while small needles are used when minor pathogens do not shift. Having discussed the errors above, let us now explain their specific applications. (This explains that the uses of the Nine Needles vary in suitability and describes their methods of use. Ping An: "Da Ji" [Major Disease/Emergency] in *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Tai Shen" [Too Severe]. "Bi Hou Wei Hai" [Harm Will Follow Later] in *Ling Shu* reads "Ji Bi Wei Hai" [Disease Must Cause Harm], and in *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Bing Hou Bi Wei Hai" [After Illness, Harm Will Surely Occur"]. "Da Qi Bu Xie" [Major Qi Not Drained] in *Ling Shu* reads "Qi Bu Xie Xie" [Qi Not Drained/Leaking]. "Yi Fu Wei Bai" [Also Becomes Failure] in *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Yi Wei Hou Bai" [Also Becomes Later Failure].)
When the disease is located in the skin without fixed locations, use Chan Needles (Cinnabar Needle, pointed at one end) on the affected area; do not needle if the skin color is white. (Chan Needles have a large head and sharp tip, primarily used to drain Yang Qi. Thus, pain in the skin without fixed location indicates excess Yang Qi. The painful area's skin should be red; therefore, areas with white skin where pain has shifted should not be needled.)
When the disease is located between the muscle bundles, use Yuan Needles (Round Needles) on the affected area. (The shape of Yuan Needles is like an egg; they are used to rub and massage between the muscles without injuring them internally, thereby draining the Qi of the intermuscular spaces. Ping An: In the commentary, the character "Feng" [Tip] is missing after "Zhuang" [Shape] in the Yuan edition, and an extra character "Xing" [Form] appears after "Luan" [Egg].)
When the disease involves deficient pulse Qi requiring tonification, use Di Needles (Beating Needles) on the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points. (The shape of Di Needles is like the tip of millet grains, primarily used to apply tonification at the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points to guide Qi to arrive. Ping An: "Xing" [Spring Point] in *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Ying" [Nutrient], and in the Yuan edition reads "Rong".)
For diseases presenting as large abscesses, use Pi Needles (Bistoury Needles). (The shape of Pi Needles ends like a sword blade, used to drain large pus. Ping An: "Da Nong Zhe" [Those with Large Abscesses] in *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Da Nong Xue" [Large Pus and Blood]. *Ling Shu* and *Jia Yi Jing* read "Pi".)
For sudden onset of Bi Syndrome (Obstruction Syndrome) Qi, use Yuan Li Needles (Sharp and Round Needles). (Yuan Li Needles resemble ox hair. Hao means hair. They are used to treat acute Bi Syndrome.)
For Bi Syndrome with persistent pain that does not resolve, use Hao Needles (Filiform Needles). (The shape of Hao Needles is sharp like the beak of a mosquito or horsefly. Used quietly and slowly inserted, retained to nourish Shen [Spirit], treating painful Bi Syndrome. Ping An: "Bi Bing" [Bi Disease] in *Ling Shu* reads "Bing Bi" [Disease Bi].)
When the disease is located internally, use Chang Needles (Long Needles). (The shape of Chang Needles is sharp, thin, and long, used to treat distant Bi Syndrome within the Zang-Fu organs.)
For diseases presenting as edema that cannot pass through the joints, use Da Needles (Great Needles). (The shape of Da Needles is pointed like..., ...like flat..., with a slightly rounded tip, used to unblock the joints. Ping An: "Guo" [Pass] in *Ling Shu* reads "Tong" [Unblock]. In the commentary, the character "Jian" [Pointed] is missing after "Zhuang" [Shape] in the Yuan edition.)
When the disease is fixed in the Zang organs, use Feng Needles (Three-edged Needles), applying drainage at the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points, selecting points according to the Four Seasons. (The shape of Feng Needles has three edges, used to disperse fixed diseases, applying drainage at the Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream points, selecting based on the four seasons. Ping An: "Shu" [Transport Point] in *Jia Yi Jing* reads "Yu".)