岐伯曰∶夫圣人之起天地之数也，一而九之，故以立九野，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，令毋得深入而阳气出。二者，地也。人之所以应土者，肉
也。故为之治针，必 其身而圆其末，令毋得伤肉分，伤则气得竭。三者，人也。人之所
以成生者，血肺也。故为之治针，必大其身而圆其末，令可以按肺而勿陷，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，令深以泻热出血，而痼病竭。五者，音也。音者，冬夏之分，分于子
午，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，而合十二经络。虚邪客于经络，而
为暴痹者也。故为之治针，必令尖如 ，且圆且锐，中身微大，以取暴气。七者，星也。星
者，人之七窍，邪之所客于经络，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，正气纳之，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，令尖如梃，其锋微
圆，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，三针肺，
四针筋，五针骨，六针调阴阳，七针益精，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：圣人推演天地运行的数理，从一到九，从而确立“九野”的概念；将九再乘以九，得到八十一，以此作为黄钟律管的基数，用针具来对应这些数理。黄帝问：用针具来对应九数是怎么回事？岐伯说：第一数代表天。天属于阳。在五脏中，与天相应的是肺，肺是覆盖五脏六腑的华盖；皮肤是肺的外合部位，也属于人体的阳气部分。因此制作第一种针，必须针头宽大而针尖锐利，使其不能深入体内，以免耗散阳气。第二数代表地。人身体中对应土（地）的部分是肌肉。因此制作第二种针，必须针身粗大且针尖圆钝，使其不致损伤肌肉组织，如果损伤了肌肉，就会使正气枯竭。第三数代表人。人之所以能维持生命活动，依靠的是血脉（注：原文“血肺”疑为“血脉”之误，此处依语境及中医理论译为血脉/气血运行）。因此制作第三种针，必须针身粗大且针尖圆钝，使其能够按压穴位而不陷入深层，以引导正气，使邪气单独排出。第四数代表时间。所谓时间，指四季和八方之风侵入经络之中，导致顽固性疾病。因此制作第四种针，必须针身粗大且针尖锐利，使其能够深刺以泻除热邪并放出血液，从而使顽固性疾病消除。第五数代表音律。音律区分冬夏，分于子午时刻，阴与阳相别，寒与热相争，两气相互搏结，融合而成痈脓。因此制作第五种针，必须使针尖像剑锋一样，可以用来排取大量的脓液。第六数代表律吕。律吕用来调和阴阳四时，并与十二经络相配合。虚邪侵袭经络，会导致暴发性痹症。因此制作第六种针，必须使针尖像箭镞一样，既圆又锐，针身中部略微粗大，用以祛除暴发的邪气。第七数代表星辰。星辰对应人的七窍，邪气客居经络，导致痛痹，停留于经络之中。因此制作第七种针，使针尖像蚊虻的口器一样细小，操作时要安静缓慢地进入，轻微地长时间留针，使正气纳入，真邪之气共同外出，出针后有利于调养。第八数代表风。风对应人的四肢关节（股肱八节）。八方正气的虚风，伤害人体，内侵至骨骼缝隙、腰脊及腠理之间，形成深部的痹症。因此制作第八种针，必须针身长而针尖锋利，可以深刺以治疗远端的痹症。第九数代表九野。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，但流注不能通达于大的关节枢纽。因此制作第九种针，使针尖像木棍一样，其锋刃略微圆钝，用以祛除那些不能通过关节的大部邪气。
天、地、人、时、音、律、星、风、野，人的身形也与之相应，针具各有适宜之处，所以称为九针。人的皮肤对应天，人的肌肉对应地，人的血脉对应人，人的筋脉对应时，人的声音对应音，人的阴阳合气对应律，人的牙齿面目对应星，人的呼吸出入对应风，人的九窍和三百六十五络脉对应九野。因此，第一种针刺皮肤，第二种刺肌肉，第三种刺血脉，第四种刺筋，第五种刺骨，第六种调和阴阳，第七种补益精气，第八种祛除风邪，第九种通利九窍，祛除三百六十五节气所致之病。这就叫做九针各有主治。
Qibo stated: The sage deduced the numerical principles of Heaven and Earth, starting from one to nine, thereby establishing the concept of the "Nine Fields" (Jiu Ye). Multiplying nine by nine yields eighty-one, which serves as the base number for the Huangzhong pitch pipe, and needles are designed to correspond to these numbers. The Emperor asked: How do needles correspond to the number nine? Qibo replied: The first number represents Heaven. Heaven belongs to Yang. Among the Five Zang Organs, the Lung corresponds to Heaven; the Lung is the canopy covering the five zang and six fu organs. The skin is the exterior correspondence of the Lung and also belongs to the body's yang qi. Therefore, the first needle was made with a broad head and a sharp tip, so that it does not penetrate deeply, preventing the dispersion of yang qi.
The second number represents Earth. In humans, the flesh corresponds to Earth. Therefore, the second needle was made with a thick shaft and a rounded tip, so that it does not injure the muscle tissue; if muscles are injured, the healthy qi will be exhausted.
The third number represents Humanity. Human life is sustained by the blood vessels and qi. Therefore, the third needle was made with a thick shaft and a rounded tip, allowing it to press acupoints without sinking too deep, thereby guiding the healthy qi and expelling the pathogenic qi alone.
The fourth number represents Time. Time refers to the four seasons and the eight winds invading the meridians, causing chronic diseases. Therefore, the fourth needle was made with a thick shaft and a sharp tip, allowing deep insertion to drain heat and release blood, thereby eliminating chronic diseases.
The fifth number represents Musical Tones. Musical tones distinguish between winter and summer, divided at the Zi and Wu hours, where yin and yang separate, and cold and heat contend. When these two energies clash, they combine to form carbuncles and pus. Therefore, the fifth needle was made with a tip like a sword edge, capable of draining large amounts of pus.
The sixth number represents Pitch Pipes (Lü). Pitch pipes harmonize yin and yang across the four seasons and align with the twelve meridians. Deficient pathogens invading the meridians cause sudden bi-syndrome. Therefore, the sixth needle was made with a tip like an arrowhead, both round and sharp, with a slightly thicker middle shaft, to remove sudden pathogenic qi.
The seventh number represents Stars. Stars correspond to the seven orifices of the human body. Pathogens lodging in the meridians cause painful bi-syndrome and reside within the meridians. Therefore, the seventh needle has a tip like the proboscis of a mosquito or horsefly. It should be inserted quietly and slowly, retained lightly for a long time, allowing healthy qi to enter and true/pathogenic qi to exit together, nourishing the body after withdrawal.
The eighth number represents Wind. Wind corresponds to the eight joints of the limbs. The deficient winds from the eight directions harm the body, entering internally into the bone gaps, waist, spine, and interstices, causing deep bi-syndrome. Therefore, the eighth needle has a long shaft and a sharp tip, suitable for deep needling to treat distant bi-syndrome.
The ninth number represents the Nine Fields. The Nine Fields correspond to the joint spaces and skin of the human body. Excessive pathogens overflow throughout the body, resembling wind-water edema, but cannot flow through the major joint hinges. Therefore, the ninth needle has a tip like a wooden club, with a slightly rounded edge, to remove large accumulations of pathogenic qi that cannot pass through the joints.
Heaven, Earth, Humanity, Time, Tones, Pitch Pipes, Stars, Wind, and the Nine Fields correspond to the human body structure. Each needle has its specific suitability, hence they are called the Nine Needles. Skin corresponds to Heaven, flesh to Earth, vessels to Humanity, tendons to Time, voice to Tones, the harmony of yin-yang qi to Pitch Pipes, teeth and facial features to Stars, respiration to Wind, and the nine orifices and 365 collaterals to the Nine Fields. Thus, the first needle treats the skin, the second the flesh, the third the vessels, the fourth the tendons, the fifth the bones, the sixth harmonizes yin and yang, the seventh benefits essence, the eighth dispels wind, and the ninth opens the nine orifices and removes ailments related to the 365 seasonal qi points. This is what is meant by having specific indications.