行针之士，要辨浮沉。脉明虚实，针别浅深。经脉络脉之别，巨刺缪刺之分。经络闭
塞，须用砭针；疏导脏腑，寒温必明。浅深补泻，经气之正。自有漏水常数，百刻五十度
周。经络流注，各应其时。先脉诀病，次穴蠲 。左手掐穴，右手置针，刺荣无伤卫，刺
卫无伤荣。气悍则针小而入浅，气涩则针大而入深；气滑则疾，气涩则迟。深则欲留，浅则
入疾。候其气至，必辨于针。徐而疾者实，实而迟者虚。虚则实之，满则泻之。菀
陈则除之，邪胜则虚之。刺虚者，须其实；刺实者，须其虚。经气已至，慎守勿失。谨守
其法，勿更变也。贼邪新客，未有定处。推之则前，引之则止。其来不可逢，其往不
可追。损其有余，补其不足。先去血脉，而后
调之，无问其病，以平为期。若有若无，若得若失。五脏已定，九候已备，诊脉病
明，行针病愈。众脉不见，众凶不闻。外内相得，无以形先。可玩往来，乃施于人。
手动若务，针耀而匀。伏如横弩，起如发机。见其乌乌，见其稷稷。从见其飞，不知
其谁。静意是义，观适之变。是谓冥冥，莫知其形。如临深渊，手如握虎。
如待所贵，不知日暮。其气已至，适而自护。五虚勿近，五实不远。扪而循之，切而
散之，推而按之，弹而怒之，爪而下之，通而取之。阴募在腹，阳俞在背。脏病取
原，腑病取合。
行针施治的医生，必须辨别脉象的浮与沉。通过脉象明确病证的虚实，根据虚实决定针刺的浅与深。要分清经脉与络脉的区别，以及巨刺法与缪刺法的不同。经络闭塞不通时，需要使用砭石或针具进行放血排脓；疏导脏腑功能时，必须明确寒证与温证的区别。针刺的深浅及补泻手法，是顺应经气运行的正道。人体气血运行有固定的时间规律，一昼夜漏水百刻，气血循环五十周次。经络气血流注，各自对应特定的时辰。先依据《脉诀》判断疾病性质，再选取穴位以祛除病邪。左手掐按穴位定位，右手持针进针，刺入荣分时不要损伤卫分，刺入卫分时不要损伤荣分。患者经气悍烈则选用小针浅刺，经气涩滞则选用大针深刺；经气滑利则进针迅速，经气涩滞则进针缓慢。深刺则需留针，浅刺则快速出针。等待经气到来时，必须仔细辨别针下的感觉。徐缓进针、快速出针适用于实证，缓慢出针、快速进针适用于虚证。虚证用补法使其充实，实证用泻法使其泄减。瘀血陈积则予以清除，邪气盛实则予以削弱。针刺虚证，要使正气恢复充实；针刺实证，要使邪气消退至虚。经气已经到来，务必谨慎守护，不可失误。严格遵守这些法则，不要随意更改。对于刚入侵的贼邪之气，其位置尚未固定。推引它可使其前行，牵引它可使其停止。邪气初来不可迎而夺之，邪气已去不可追而泻之。削减有余的邪气，补充不足的正气。先疏通血脉，然后调理全身，不论何种疾病，以阴阳平衡为最终目标。针感若有若无，似得似失。五脏病情已确定，九候脉象已详备，诊察脉象和病情明确后，施行针刺可使疾病痊愈。如果各种脉象不明显，凶险的征象未显现，说明内外气血调和，不以外在形症为先决条件。可以观察气血往来的变化，然后再施治于人。操作时要专注用心，针具要光亮且进针均匀。持针静止时像拉满的弓弩蓄势待发，起针时像扣动扳机一样迅速果断。看到气聚的样子，看到气散的样子，跟随气的流动，不知其具体形态。静心体会其中的义理，观察气机变化的适宜程度。这就是所谓的幽微深远，难以捉摸其形迹。要像面临深渊那样小心谨慎，手如握虎般稳健有力。如同对待尊贵的客人般恭敬，忘记时间的流逝。当经气已经到来，要适度并自我保护。五虚证不宜近针（慎用补法或需慎重），五实证不宜远针（及时泻实）。扪摸循按穴位，切捏分散郁结，推按引导经气，弹击使血脉怒张，指甲切压下行气，通调后取穴施治。阴经的募穴位于腹部，阳经的俞穴位于背部。脏病取原穴，腑病取合穴。
Practitioners of acupuncture must distinguish between floating and sinking pulses. By clarifying the pulse, one determines deficiency and excess; by distinguishing these, one differentiates shallow and deep needling. One must understand the distinction between meridians (Jingluo) and collateral vessels (Luomai), as well as the difference between Great Puncture (Juci) and Counter Puncture (Mouci). When meridians are blocked, bi needles (Bianzhen) or scalpels should be used for bloodletting; to dredge the zang-fu organs, one must clearly distinguish between cold and warm conditions. The depth of insertion and the methods of tonification and sedation follow the correct course of meridian qi. There is a constant measure of water leakage: one hundred ke (time units) constitute fifty cycles of circulation throughout the body. The flow and灌注 (gong) of qi in the meridians correspond to specific times. First, diagnose the disease through pulse analysis; second, select acupoints to eliminate the pathogen. With the left hand pressing the acupoint, insert the needle with the right hand. When penetrating the Ying (Nutrient) level, do not injure the Wei (Defensive) level; when penetrating the Wei level, do not injure the Ying level. If the qi is vigorous, use a small needle and insert it shallowly; if the qi is stagnant, use a large needle and insert it deeply. If the qi is slippery, move quickly; if stagnant, move slowly. For deep insertion, retain the needle; for shallow insertion, withdraw quickly. When waiting for the arrival of qi, carefully discern the sensation at the needle tip. Slow insertion and rapid withdrawal indicate excess; slow withdrawal and rapid insertion indicate deficiency. Tonify deficiency to make it solid; drain excess to reduce fullness. Remove stagnation and old blood; weaken excessive pathogens. When treating deficiency, aim for solidity; when treating excess, aim for emptiness. Once the meridian qi has arrived, guard it carefully and do not lose it. Strictly adhere to these methods without arbitrary changes. For newly arrived evil qi from external pathogens, its location is not fixed. Pushing it forward moves it ahead; pulling it back stops it. Do not attack when the evil is arriving; do not pursue when it is departing. Reduce what is in excess; supplement what is deficient. First, unblock the blood vessels, then regulate the body. Regardless of the disease, the goal is balance. The sensation may seem present yet absent, obtained yet lost. Once the five zang organs are assessed and the nine pulses are prepared, and the pulse and disease are clearly understood, needling can cure the illness. If no abnormal pulses are seen and no ominous signs are heard, it indicates harmony between interior and exterior, where form does not precede the internal state. Observe the coming and going of qi before applying treatment to the patient. Handle the needle with focused intent; keep the needle bright and movements even. Remain still like a drawn crossbow; strike swiftly like releasing a trigger. Perceive the gathering of qi; perceive the dispersal of qi. Follow its flight, though its form is unknown. Contemplate the meaning with stillness; observe the appropriate changes. This is called the profound and obscure, where the form is unknowable. Be as cautious as standing near an abyss; hold the needle as firmly as grasping a tiger. Treat the moment with reverence, forgetting the passing of time. When qi has arrived, maintain appropriateness and self-protection. Avoid needling severe deficiency patterns closely (or exercise extreme caution); do not delay in treating severe excess patterns. Palpate and stroke the area; knead and disperse; push and press; flick to distend the vessels; press with nails to guide qi downward; after unblocking, select the point for treatment. Yin Mu points are located on the abdomen; Yang Shu points are located on the back. For zang organ diseases, select Yuan-Source points; for fu organ diseases, select He-Sea points.