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。是故刺毫毛腠理无伤皮，皮伤则内动肺，肺动则秋病温疟，溯溯然寒栗；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
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
黄帝问曰∶愿闻刺浅深之分？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
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。
黄帝问曰∶愿闻虚实之要？岐伯对曰∶气实形实，气虚形虚，此其常也，反此者病。谷
盛气盛，谷虚气虚，此其常也，反此者病；脉实血实，脉虚血虚，此其常也，反此者病。帝
曰∶如何而反？岐伯曰∶气虚身热，此谓反也；谷入多而气少，此谓反也
；谷不入而气多，此谓反也；脉盛血少，此谓反也；脉小血多，此谓反也。气盛身寒，
得之伤寒；气虚身热，得之伤暑；谷入多而气少者，得之有所脱血，湿居下
也；谷入少而气多者，邪在胃及与肺也；脉小血多者，饮中热也；脉大血少者，脉有风气，
水浆不入，此之谓也。
黄帝问道：我想听听关于针刺要领的知识？岐伯回答说：疾病有在表在里的区别，针刺就有浅刺和深刺的不同，必须根据病位的深浅来决定针刺的深度，不要超过应有的限度。如果针刺过深，就会损伤内脏；如果针刺过浅，则不能祛除病邪，反而会导致体表气血壅滞，邪气乘虚而入。针刺深浅不当，反而会变成极大的祸害，扰动五脏，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伤及皮肤，若伤及皮肤，就会内动肺脏，肺气受损则在秋季容易患温疟（一种以寒热往来为特征的疟疾），表现为瑟瑟发抖、畏寒战栗；针刺皮肤时不要伤及肌肉，若伤及肌肉，就会内动脾脏，脾气受损则在四季末各十八天（共七十二日）的时节，出现腹胀烦闷、食欲不振的症状；针刺肌肉时不要伤及血脉，若伤及血脉，就会内动心脏，心气受损则在夏季容易患心痛；针刺血脉时不要伤及筋腱，若伤及筋腱，就会内动肝脏，肝气受损则在春季容易患热病且筋脉弛缓无力；针刺筋腱时不要伤及骨骼，若伤及骨骼，就会内动肾脏，肾气受损则在冬季容易患腹胀和腰痛；针刺骨骼时不要伤及骨髓，若伤及骨髓，骨髓就会枯竭消瘦，身体感到酸软无力，肢体懈怠懒动而不想活动。
黄帝问道：我想听听针刺深浅的具体区分标准？岐伯说：所谓“刺骨无伤筋”，是指针尖到达筋骨部位就停止，不深入触及骨骼；所谓“刺筋无伤肉”，是指针尖到达肌肉层就停止，不深入触及筋腱；所谓“刺肉无伤脉”，是指针尖到达血脉层就停止，不深入触及肌肉；所谓“刺脉无伤皮”，是指针尖到达皮肤层就停止，不深入触及血脉。所谓的“刺皮无伤肉”，是指病邪在皮肤之中，针刺只进入皮肤层面，不伤及肌肉；所谓的“刺肉无伤筋”，是指针刺穿过肌肉层到达筋腱；所谓的“刺筋无伤骨”，是指针刺穿过筋腱层到达骨骼。这些情况被称为“反”（即反向操作或特殊手法）。
黄帝问道：我想听听辨别虚实的关键要点？岐伯回答说：正气充实则形体壮实，正气虚弱则形体羸弱，这是正常规律，与此相反的就是病态。饮食充足则正气旺盛，饮食匮乏则正气虚弱，这是正常规律，与此相反的就是病态；脉象充实则血液充盈，脉象虚弱则血液亏少，这是正常规律，与此相反的就是病态。黄帝问：怎样才算是相反的情况呢？岐伯说：正气虚弱却身体发热，这叫作相反；饮食摄入多但正气反而少，这叫作相反；饮食摄入少但正气反而多，这叫作相反；脉象盛大但血液亏少，这叫作相反；脉象细小但血液相对充盛，这叫作相反。正气盛而身体寒冷，是由于感受伤寒所致；正气虚而身体发热，是由于感受暑邪所致；饮食摄入多但正气少的，是由于失血过多，湿气积聚在下焦所致；饮食摄入少但正气多的，是由于邪气停留在胃和肺所致；脉象细小但血液充盛的，是由于饮酒后体内蕴热所致；脉象盛大但血液亏少的，是由于脉中有风邪，且水浆饮食无法进入体内，说的就是这种情况。
Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the essential principles of acupuncture." Qibo replied, saying: "Diseases manifest at different depths, and needling must be performed at corresponding shallow or deep levels. One must reach the appropriate tissue layer without exceeding the proper limit. If one needles too deeply, internal organs will be injured; if one needles too shallowly, external stagnation will occur, allowing pathogenic factors to enter. Improper depth of needling can become a great disaster, disturbing the Five Zang Organs internally and leading to severe diseases later. Therefore, it is said that diseases may be located in the hair follicles and interstices (the pores and texture of the skin), in the skin, in the muscles, in the vessels, in the sinews, in the bones, or in the marrow. Thus, when needling the hair follicles and interstices, do not injure the skin; if the skin is injured, it will disturb the Lung internally. When the Lung is disturbed, warm malaria (a type of malaria characterized by alternating chills and fever) may occur in autumn, presenting with shivering and aversion to cold. When needling the skin, do not injure the flesh; if the flesh is injured, it will disturb the Spleen internally. When the Spleen is disturbed, abdominal distension, irritability, and loss of appetite may occur during the last eighteen days of each season (totaling seventy-two days). When needling the flesh, do not injure the vessels; if the vessels are injured, it will disturb the Heart internally. When the Heart is disturbed, heart pain may occur in summer. When needling the vessels, do not injure the sinews; if the sinews are injured, it will disturb the Liver internally. When the Liver is disturbed, heat syndromes and flaccidity of the sinews may occur in spring. When needling the sinews, do not injure the bones; if the bones are injured, it will disturb the Kidney internally. When the Kidney is disturbed, abdominal distension and lower back pain may occur in winter. When needling the bones, do not injure the marrow; if the marrow is injured, it will become depleted and emaciated, causing soreness and weakness, with the body feeling loose and lethargic, unwilling to move."
Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the specific distinctions regarding the depth of needling." Qibo said: "To needle the bone without injuring the sinew means the needle reaches the level of the sinew but does not penetrate into the bone. To needle the sinew without injuring the flesh means the needle reaches the level of the flesh but does not penetrate into the sinew. To needle the flesh without injuring the vessel means the needle reaches the level of the vessel but does not penetrate into the flesh. To needle the vessel without injuring the skin means the needle reaches the level of the skin but does not penetrate into the vessel. The so-called 'needling the skin without injuring the flesh' refers to a pathology located within the skin, where the needle enters only the skin layer without injuring the flesh. The so-called 'needling the flesh without injuring the sinew' refers to passing through the flesh to reach the sinew. The so-called 'needling the sinew without injuring the bone' refers to passing through the sinew to reach the bone. These are referred to as 'reverse' techniques."
Huangdi asked, saying: "I wish to hear about the key points for distinguishing deficiency and excess." Qibo replied, saying: "When Qi is excess, the physique is robust; when Qi is deficient, the physique is frail. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. When food intake is abundant, Qi is sufficient; when food intake is scarce, Qi is deficient. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. When the pulse is full, blood is abundant; when the pulse is empty, blood is deficient. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease." Huangdi asked: "How does one identify such deviations?" Qibo said: "Qi deficiency accompanied by bodily heat is called a deviation. Abundant food intake but deficient Qi is called a deviation. Scarce food intake but excessive Qi is called a deviation. A surging pulse with deficient blood is called a deviation. A small pulse with relatively abundant blood is called a deviation. Excess Qi with cold body temperature results from Cold Damage (Shanghan). Deficient Qi with hot body temperature results from Summerheat injury. Abundant food intake with deficient Qi results from significant blood loss, with dampness accumulating in the lower Jiao. Scarce food intake with excessive Qi results from pathogenic factors residing in the Stomach and Lung. A small pulse with abundant blood results from heat retained after drinking alcohol. A surging pulse with deficient blood results from wind pathogens in the vessels, coupled with the inability to ingest fluids and food. These are the situations described."