齐，犹一也。刺齐，刺浅刺深，无过不及，有一定之分也。如病在皮中，针入皮中，勿浅勿深，斯
为刺齐。以皮分而推之脉肉筋骨。无太过，无不及，皆为刺齐。承上编刺要之意，而复论刺齐也。
黄帝问曰∶原闻刺浅深之分。
分，去声。帝承上编刺有浅深之意，谓刺浅刺深，各有部分，故愿闻刺浅深之分。
岐伯对曰∶刺骨者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤脉，刺脉者无伤皮。
欲知其分，必先知其非分。如刺骨者刺入骨分，无伤其筋；刺筋者刺入筋分，无伤其肉；刺肉者刺
入肉分，无伤其脉。脉有络脉，有经脉。上编脉居肉后，经脉也。此篇脉居肉先，络脉也。刺
脉者，刺入脉分，无伤其皮。此言刺宜深者勿浅，浅则非分矣。
刺皮者无伤肉，刺肉者无伤筋，刺筋者无伤骨。
以上文层次言之，当云刺皮者无伤脉。今不言脉者，以脉不止络脉、复有经脉。络脉居肉前，经脉
居肉后，言肉而脉在其中。故曰刺皮者刺入皮分，无伤其肉；刺肉者刺入肉分，无伤其筋；刺筋
者刺入筋分、无伤其骨。此言刺宜浅勿深，深则非分矣。
帝曰∶余未知其所谓，愿闻其解。
刺宜深者勿浅，宜浅者勿深，是浅深有一定之分。帝欲详明其
说，以昭后世，故曰未知所谓，愿闻其解。
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，至皮而去，不及脉也。
所云刺骨无伤筋者，言针至筋而去，不及骨分，则伤筋也；所云刺筋无伤肉者，言针至肉而去，
不及筋分，则伤肉也；所云刺肉无伤脉者，言针至脉而去，不及肉分，则伤脉也；所云刺脉无伤皮
者，言针至皮而去，不及脉分，则伤皮也。此解上文其刺宜深，不及则伤之意。
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。
过，平声。中筋、中骨之中，去声。上文所谓刺皮无伤肉者，如病在肉中，则针入皮中，无过分，
而伤肉也；所谓刺肉无伤筋者，病在肉中，针入肉中，如过肉，则中伤其筋也；所谓刺筋无伤
骨者，病在筋中，针入筋中，如过筋，则中伤其骨也。此解上文其刺宜浅，过分则伤之意。
此之谓反也。
通承上文之意，而言刺非其分，浅深不得，此之谓反也。知其反则知其正矣。
齐，就是“一”的意思。刺齐，是指针刺的浅深程度，既不过分也不欠缺，有着固定的标准。比如病邪在皮肤之中，针就刺入皮肤层，不要过浅也不要过深，这才叫做刺齐。根据皮、脉、肉、筋、骨的层次来推究，没有太过也没有不及，都称为刺齐。这是承接上文关于针刺要领的意思，进而论述针刺的深浅分寸。
“分”，读去声。黄帝承接上文针刺有浅深有别的含义，认为刺浅和刺深各有其部位范围，所以希望了解针刺浅深的区分。
岐伯回答说：刺骨的时候不要损伤筋，刺筋的时候不要损伤肌肉，刺肌肉的时候不要损伤脉络，刺脉络的时候不要损伤皮肤。
想要知道正确的分寸，必须先知道什么是错误的分寸。比如刺骨时，针应刺入骨的分部，不要损伤其上的筋；刺筋时，针应刺入筋的分部，不要损伤其外的肌肉；刺肌肉时，针应刺入肌肉的分部，不要损伤其内的脉络。脉络分为络脉和经脉。上篇中提到脉位于肌肉之后，指的是经脉。本篇中提到的脉位于肌肉之前，指的是络脉。刺脉络时，针应刺入脉络的分部，不要损伤其外的皮肤。这段话讲的是应当刺深却刺浅了，如果刺浅了就不符合分寸了。
刺皮肤的时候不要损伤肌肉，刺肌肉的时候不要损伤筋，刺筋的时候不要损伤骨。
按照上述文章的层次来说，应该说刺皮肤不要损伤脉络。现在不说脉络，是因为脉络不仅有络脉，还有经脉。络脉位于肌肉之前，经脉位于肌肉之后，说到肌肉，脉络就在其中了。所以说刺皮肤时，针应刺入皮肤的分部，不要损伤其下的肌肉；刺肌肉时，针应刺入肌肉的分部，不要损伤其下的筋；刺筋时，针应刺入筋的分部，不要损伤其下的骨。这段话讲的是应当刺浅却刺深了，如果刺深了就不符合分寸了。
黄帝说：我不明白其中的意思，希望听听您的解释。
应当刺深的不宜刺浅，应当刺浅的不宜刺深，这说明浅深是有固定标准的。黄帝想要详细说明这个说法，以昭示后世，所以说“不明白其中的意思”，希望听听您的解释。
岐伯说：所谓“刺骨不伤筋”，是指针到达筋部就停止，而没有达到骨部。所谓“刺筋不伤肉”，是指针到达肌肉部就停止，而没有达到筋部。所谓“刺肉不伤脉”，是指针到达脉部就停止，而没有达到肌肉部。所谓“刺脉不伤皮”，是指针到达皮肤部就停止，而没有达到脉部。
所说的“刺骨不伤筋”，意思是如果针只到达筋部就停止，而没有达到骨部，那就是损伤了筋（因为没刺到病所）；所说的“刺筋不伤肉”，意思是如果针只到达肌肉部就停止，而没有达到筋部，那就是损伤了肉（因为没刺到病所）；所说的“刺肉不伤脉”，意思是如果针只到达脉部就停止，而没有达到肌肉部，那就是损伤了脉（因为没刺到病所）；所说的“刺脉不伤皮”，意思是如果针只到达皮肤部就停止，而没有达到脉部，那就是损伤了皮（因为没刺到病所）。这是对上文“应当刺深，如果不够深就会造成损伤”这一意思的解释。
所谓的“刺皮不伤肉”，意思是病在皮肤中，针就刺入皮肤中，不要损伤肌肉；“刺肉不伤筋”，意思是如果超过肌肉部，就会伤及筋；“刺筋不伤骨”，意思是如果超过筋部，就会伤及骨。
“过”，读平声。“中筋、中骨”的“中”，读去声。上文所说的“刺皮不伤肉”，如果是病在肌肉中，针只刺入皮肤中，如果没有超过皮肤部，就不会损伤肌肉；所说的“刺肉不伤筋”，如果是病在肌肉中，针刺入肌肉中，如果超过了肌肉部，就会中伤其筋；所说的“刺筋不伤骨”，如果是病在筋中，针刺入筋中，如果超过了筋部，就会中伤其骨。这是对上文“应当刺浅，如果过分深入就会造成损伤”这一意思的解释。
这就叫做“反”。
通承上文的意思，指出针刺如果不是在正确的部位，深浅不得当，这就叫做“反”。知道了什么是“反”，也就知道了什么是“正”了。
Qi (Standard/Measure), means "one" or uniformity. Ci Qi (Standard of Needling) refers to the depth of needling, ensuring neither excess nor deficiency, adhering to a fixed measure. For instance, if the pathology is in the skin layer, the needle should be inserted into the skin layer, neither too shallow nor too deep; this is called Ci Qi. By analyzing the layers of skin, vessels, flesh, sinews, and bones, avoiding both excess and deficiency constitutes Ci Qi. This continues the theme of the previous section on the essentials of needling, further discussing the standard of needling depth.
The Yellow Emperor asked: I wish to hear about the distinction between shallow and deep needling.
"Fen" (Distinction/Part), pronounced with the departing tone. The Emperor, following up on the previous discussion that needling has varying depths, stated that shallow and deep needling each have their specific locations, thus wishing to understand the distinction between shallow and deep needling.
Qibo replied: When needling the bone, do not injure the sinews; when needling the sinews, do not injure the flesh; when needling the flesh, do not injure the vessels; when needling the vessels, do not injure the skin.
To know the correct measure, one must first know what is incorrect. For example, when needling the bone, the needle should enter the bone's region without injuring the sinews above it; when needling the sinews, the needle should enter the sinew's region without injuring the flesh outside it; when needling the flesh, the needle should enter the flesh's region without injuring the vessels within it. Vessels are divided into Luo vessels (Collateral vessels) and Jing vessels (Primary meridians). In the previous section, the vessel mentioned was behind the flesh, referring to the Jing vessels. In this section, the vessel mentioned is in front of the flesh, referring to the Luo vessels. When needling the vessels, the needle should enter the vessel's region without injuring the skin outside it. This passage explains that when deep needling is required, failing to reach the depth is incorrect.
When needling the skin, do not injure the flesh; when needling the flesh, do not injure the sinews; when needling the sinews, do not injure the bone.
Speaking in terms of the hierarchy mentioned above, one might say "when needling the skin, do not injure the vessels." However, vessels are not mentioned here because they include not only Luo vessels but also Jing vessels. Luo vessels are located in front of the flesh, while Jing vessels are located behind the flesh; thus, mentioning the flesh implies the presence of vessels within it. Therefore, it is said that when needling the skin, the needle should enter the skin's region without injuring the flesh below it; when needling the flesh, the needle should enter the flesh's region without injuring the sinews below it; when needling the sinews, the needle should enter the sinew's region without injuring the bone below it. This passage explains that when shallow needling is required, exceeding the depth is incorrect.
The Yellow Emperor said: I do not understand what you mean; I wish to hear your explanation.
When deep needling is required, it should not be shallow; when shallow needling is required, it should not be deep. This indicates that there is a fixed standard for depth. The Emperor wished to clarify this theory to illuminate it for future generations, hence saying he did not understand and wished to hear the explanation.
Qibo said: "Needling the bone without injuring the sinews" means the needle reaches the sinew level and stops, without reaching the bone. "Needling the sinews without injuring the flesh" means the needle reaches the flesh level and stops, without reaching the sinew. "Needling the flesh without injuring the vessels" means the needle reaches the vessel level and stops, without reaching the flesh. "Needling the vessels without injuring the skin" means the needle reaches the skin level and stops, without reaching the vessel.
The phrase "needling the bone without injuring the sinews" means that if the needle stops at the sinew level and does not reach the bone, it fails to treat the bone and thus injures the sinew by missing the target. The phrase "needling the sinews without injuring the flesh" means that if the needle stops at the flesh level and does not reach the sinew, it fails to treat the sinew and thus injures the flesh. The phrase "needling the flesh without injuring the vessels" means that if the needle stops at the vessel level and does not reach the flesh, it fails to treat the flesh and thus injures the vessel. The phrase "needling the vessels without injuring the skin" means that if the needle stops at the skin level and does not reach the vessel, it fails to treat the vessel and thus injures the skin. This explains the meaning of the previous text: when deep needling is required, insufficient depth causes injury.
The phrase "needling the skin without injuring the flesh" means that if the pathology is in the skin, the needle enters the skin without injuring the flesh. "Needling the flesh without injuring the sinews" means that if the needle passes through the flesh, it hits the sinew. "Needling the sinews without injuring the bone" means that if the needle passes through the sinew, it hits the bone.
"Guo" (Exceed/Pass), pronounced with the level tone. "Zhong" (Hit/Strike) in "Zhong Jin" (Hit Sinew) and "Zhong Gu" (Hit Bone), pronounced with the departing tone. Regarding the previous statement "needling the skin without injuring the flesh": if the pathology is in the flesh, and the needle only enters the skin without passing through, it will not injure the flesh. Regarding "needling the flesh without injuring the sinews": if the pathology is in the flesh, and the needle enters the flesh but exceeds it, it will strike and injure the sinew. Regarding "needling the sinews without injuring the bone": if the pathology is in the sinew, and the needle enters the sinew but exceeds it, it will strike and injure the bone. This explains the meaning of the previous text: when shallow needling is required, excessive depth causes injury.
This is called "Fan" (Reversal/Opposite).
Continuing from the previous context, it states that needling not in the correct location, with improper depth, is called "Fan". Knowing what is "Fan" allows one to know what is "Zheng" (Correct/Proper).