黄帝曰∶天地相感，寒热相移，阴阳之数，孰少孰多？阴道偶而阳道奇，发于春夏，阴
气少而阳气多，阴阳不调，何补何泻？发于秋冬，阳气少而阴气多，阴气盛阳气衰，故茎叶
枯槁，湿雨下归，阴阳相离，何补何泻？奇邪离经，不可胜数，不知根结，五脏六腑，折关
败枢，开阖而走，阴阳大失，不可复取。九针之要，在于终始，能知终始，一言而毕，不知
终始，针道绝矣。
太阳根于至阴，结于命门，命门者目也。
阳明根于厉兑，结于颃颡，颃颡者钳大，钳大者耳也。
少阳根于窍阴，结于窗笼，窗笼者耳也。
太阳为开，阳明为阖，少阳为枢。故关折则肉节溃缓而暴病起矣，故候暴病者取之
太阳，视有余不足，溃缓者皮肉缓 而弱也。阖折则气无所止息而痿病起矣，故痿病
者皆取之阳明，视有余不足，无所止息者，真气稽留，邪气居之也。枢折则骨摇而不能安
于地，故骨摇者取之少阳，视有余不足，节缓而不收者当核其本。
太阴根于隐白，结于太仓。
厥阴根于大敦，结于玉英，络于膻中。
少阴根于涌泉，结于廉泉。
太阴为开，厥阴为阖，少阴为枢。故开折则仓禀无所输膈洞，膈洞者取之太阴，视
有余不足，故开折者则气不足，而生病。阖折则气弛而善悲，善悲者取之厥阴，视有余不
足。枢折则脉有所结而不通，不通者取之少阴，视有余不足，有结者皆取之。
足太阳根于至阴，流于京骨，注于昆仑，入于天柱、飞扬。
足少阳根于窍阴，流于丘墟，注于阳辅，入于天容（疑误）、光明。
足阳明根于厉兑，流于冲阳，注于下陵，入于人迎、丰隆。
手太阳根于少泽，流于阳谷，注于少海。入于天窗（疑误）、支正。
手少阳根于关冲，流于阳池，注于支沟，入于天牖、外关。
手阳明根于商阳，流于合谷，注于阳溪，入于扶突，偏历。此所谓十二经络也，络盛者
，当取之。
黄帝问道：天地相互感应，寒热交替推移，阴阳的数量，哪一个少，哪一个多？阴数偶而阳数奇。在春夏季节，阴气少而阳气多，如果阴阳不调和，应当如何补泻？在秋冬季节，阳气少而阴气多，阴气盛而阳气衰，所以草木的茎叶枯槁，雨水下降归流于地，此时阴阳分离，应当如何补泻？如果奇邪（异常之邪气）离开经脉，情况不可胜数，如果不了解根结理论，五脏六腑就会像折断了机关、败坏了枢纽一样，开阖功能失常而正气外泄，导致阴阳严重失调，这就无法再救治了。九针的要领，在于掌握“终始”（经络气血循环的始终），如果能懂得终始的道理，一句话就能说尽；如果不了解终始，针刺之道就断绝了。
足太阳膀胱经起于至阴穴，止于命门，命门就是眼睛。
足阳明胃经起于厉兑穴，止于颃颡（咽喉上部），颃颡部位连接钳大，钳大就是耳朵。
足少阳胆经起于窍阴穴，止于窗笼，窗笼就是耳朵。
太阳经主“开”，阳明经主“阖”，少阳经主“枢”。所以如果“关”（指太阳经的开合功能）折断，就会导致肉节松弛溃缓，突发疾病，因此治疗突发疾病应取太阳经，观察其有余或不足的情况；所谓溃缓，是指皮肉松弛无力。如果“阖”（指阳明经的开合功能）折断，则气无所停留而引发痿病，因此治疗痿病都应取阳明经，观察其有余或不足的情况；所谓气无所停留，是指真气停滞，邪气占据。如果“枢”（指少阳经的开合功能）折断，则骨骼动摇而不能安稳站立，因此骨骼动摇者应取少阳经，观察其有余或不足的情况；关节弛缓不能收摄者，应当追究其根本原因。
足太阴脾经起于隐白穴，止于太仓（指胃）。
足厥阴肝经起于大敦穴，止于玉英（胸骨剑突处），联络于膻中穴。
足少阴肾经起于涌泉穴，止于廉泉穴。
太阴经主“开”，厥阴经主“阖”，少阴经主“枢”。所以如果“开”折断，则仓廪（脾胃）之气无法输布，出现膈洞（胸膈部空虚洞泄的症状），治疗膈洞应取太阴经，观察其有余或不足的情况；所谓开折，是因为气不足而生病。如果“阖”折断，则气弛缓而容易悲伤，治疗易悲伤者应取厥阴经，观察其有余或不足的情况。如果“枢”折断，则脉气有凝结而不通畅，治疗不通者应取少阴经，观察其有余或不足的情况，凡是有脉气凝结的，都应当取治。
足太阳膀胱经起于至阴穴，流经京骨穴，灌注于昆仑穴，进入天柱穴、飞扬穴。
足少阳胆经起于窍阴穴，流经丘墟穴，灌注于阳辅穴，进入天容穴（此处可能有误）、光明穴。
足阳明胃经起于厉兑穴，流经冲阳穴，灌注于下陵（即足三里穴），进入人迎穴、丰隆穴。
手太阳小肠经起于少泽穴，流经阳谷穴，灌注于少海穴，进入天窗穴（此处可能有误）、支正穴。
手少阳三焦经起于关冲穴，流经阳池穴，灌注于支沟穴，进入天牖穴、外关穴。
手阳明大肠经起于商阳穴，流经合谷穴，灌注于阳溪穴，进入扶突穴、偏历穴。这就是所谓的十二经络。如果络脉盛大充盈，就应当选取这些穴位进行治疗。
Huangdi asked: Heaven and Earth interact with each other, cold and heat shift alternately. Regarding the numbers of Yin and Yang, which is fewer and which is more? The number of Yin is even, while that of Yang is odd. In spring and summer, Yin Qi (vital energy) is scarce and Yang Qi is abundant; if Yin and Yang are not in harmony, what supplementation and reduction methods should be applied? In autumn and winter, Yang Qi is scarce and Yin Qi is abundant; when Yin Qi is excessive and Yang Qi is deficient, the stems and leaves of plants wither, and rain falls to return to the earth. At this time, Yin and Yang separate; what supplementation and reduction methods should be applied? If strange pathogens deviate from the meridians, their conditions are countless. Without understanding the Root and Knot theory, the Zang-Fu organs would suffer as if their hinges were broken and pivots ruined, leading to dysfunction of opening and closing, leakage of vital essence, and severe loss of Yin and Yang balance, making recovery impossible. The essence of the Nine Needles lies in knowing the "End and Beginning" (the cycle of meridian Qi). If one understands the End and Beginning, it can be summarized in a single statement; without this knowledge, the Dao of acupuncture is lost.
The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at Zhiyin (BL67) and knots at Mingmen (the eyes).
The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at Lidui (ST45) and knots at Hangsang (the upper pharynx), where Hangsang connects to Qinda, which refers to the ears.
The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at Qiaoyin (GB28) and knots at Chuanglong, which refers to the ears.
The Taiyang meridian governs "Opening," the Yangming meridian governs "Closing," and the Shaoyang meridian governs the "Pivot." Therefore, if the "Guan" (function of Taiyang) is fractured, muscle joints become flaccid and sudden illnesses arise; thus, for sudden illnesses, one should select points on the Taiyang meridian and assess excess or deficiency. Flaccidity refers to loose and weak skin and flesh. If the "He" (function of Yangming) is fractured, Qi has no place to rest, leading to Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome); thus, for Wei syndrome, one should always select points on the Yangming meridian and assess excess or deficiency. Lack of Qi resting indicates stagnation of True Qi and occupation by pathogenic factors. If the "Shu" (function of Shaoyang) is fractured, bones shake and cannot stand steadily; thus, for shaking bones, one should select points on the Shaoyang meridian and assess excess or deficiency. For joints that are lax and fail to retract, one must investigate the root cause.
The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian originates at Yinbai (SP1) and knots at Taicang (the stomach).
The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian originates at Dacun (LR1) and knots at Yuying (the xiphoid process), connecting to Danzhong (CV17).
The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian originates at Yongquan (KI1) and knots at Lianquan (CV23).
The Taiyin meridian governs "Opening," the Jueyin meridian governs "Closing," and the Shaoyin meridian governs the "Pivot." Therefore, if the "Opening" is fractured, the storage and transport functions of the spleen and stomach fail, resulting in Ge-dong (a sensation of emptiness and leakage in the chest/diaphragm); thus, for Ge-dong, one should select points on the Taiyin meridian and assess excess or deficiency. Fracture of the Opening is caused by Qi deficiency leading to disease. If the "Closing" is fractured, Qi becomes lax, causing frequent sadness; thus, for frequent sadness, one should select points on the Jueyin meridian and assess excess or deficiency. If the "Pivot" is fractured, vessel Qi becomes knotted and obstructed; thus, for obstruction, one should select points on the Shaoyin meridian and assess excess or deficiency. Any condition involving knotting should be treated accordingly.
The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at Zhiyin (BL67), flows through Jinggu (BL64), pours into Kunlun (BL60), and enters Tianzhu (BL10) and Feiyang (BL58).
The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian originates at Qiaoyin (GB28), flows through Qiuxu (GB40), pours into Yangfu (GB38), and enters Tianrong (SI17) [suspected error] and Guangming (GB37).
The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at Lidui (ST45), flows through Chongyang (ST42), pours into Xialing (Zusanli ST36), and enters Renying (ST9) and Fenglong (ST40).
The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian originates at Shaoze (SI1), flows through Yanggu (SI5), pours into Shaohai (SI8), and enters Tianchuang (SI16) [suspected error] and Zhizheng (SI7).
The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian originates at Guanchong (TE1), flows through Yangchi (TE4), pours into Zhigou (TE6), and enters Tianyou (TE15) and Waiguan (TE5).
The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian originates at Shangyang (LI1), flows through Hegu (LI4), pours into Yangxi (LI5), and enters Futu (LI18) and Pianli (LI6). These are referred to as the Twelve Meridians. If the collateral vessels are full and vigorous, these points should be selected for treatment.