黄帝问于岐伯曰：“余闻九针于夫子众多矣，不可胜数。余推而论之，以为一纪。The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo, "I have heard you talk about the nine types of acupuncture needles on numerous occasions, too many to count. I have deduced and generalized them into a compendium.
余司诵之，子听其理，非则语余，请正其道，令可久传，后世无患。得其人乃传，非其人勿言。”I will recite it. You listen to the principles therein. If there are any inaccuracies, please point them out to me so that the correct doctrines can be passed on for a long time without causing any problems for future generations. Transmit this knowledge only to those who are worthy; do not disclose it to the unworthy."
岐伯稽首再拜曰：请听圣王之道。Qi Bo bowed twice with his hands clasped and said, "Please allow me to listen to the teachings of the sage king."
黄帝曰：“用针之理，必知形气之所在，左右上下，阴阳表里，血气多少，行之逆顺，出入之合，谋伐有过。The Yellow Emperor said, "The principles of using acupuncture needles require one to know the locations of the body's form and qi, including left and right, up and down, yin and yang, interior and exterior, the amount of blood and qi, the direction of their flow (whether it is in the normal or reverse order), the combination of their entry and exit points, and to plan the treatment for any disorders.
知解结，知补虚泻实，上下气门，明通于四海，审其所在。One should know how to untie knots (resolve blockages), understand the methods of tonifying deficiency and purging excess, be familiar with the qi gates above and below, have a clear understanding of the four seas (referring to the Sea of Qi, Sea of Blood, Sea of Nutrients, and Sea of Marrow) and their locations.
寒热淋露，以输异处，审于调气，明于经隧，左右肢（别本作支）络，尽知其会。For cases of cold, heat, and excessive sweating, the points for treatment are different. One should be meticulous in regulating qi, have a clear understanding of the meridians and collaterals, and know all the meeting points of the left and right limbs.
寒与热争，能合而调之，虚与实邻，知决而通之；When cold and heat contend with each other, one should be able to combine and regulate them. When deficiency and excess are adjacent to each other, one should know how to resolve and make them communicate.
左右不调，把而行之。When the left and right are imbalanced, one should adjust them by grasping the situation.
明于逆顺，乃知可治。阴阳不奇，故知起时。Only by understanding the normal and reverse order of things can one know whether a condition is treatable. When yin and yang are in balance, one can thus know the time of recovery.
审于本末，察其寒热，得邪所在，万刺不殆。By examining the root and branch (the cause and manifestation), observing cold and heat, and determining the location of pathogenic factors, one can perform thousands of acupuncture treatments without danger.
知官九针，刺道毕矣。”Once one knows the functions of the nine types of acupuncture needles, the principles of acupuncture are complete."
明于五俞，徐疾所在，屈伸出入，皆有条理。言阴与阳，合于五行。One should have a clear understanding of the Five Transport Points, the location of slow and rapid needling, as well as the flexion, extension, entry and exit, all of which should be in an orderly manner. Speaking of yin and yang, they should conform to the Five Elements.
五脏六腑，亦有所藏。四时八风，尽有阴阳。The Five Zang-organs and Six Fu-organs also have their respective storage functions. The Four Seasons and Eight Winds all possess yin and yang characteristics.
各得其位，合于明堂，各处色部，五脏六腑。Each takes its proper place, conforms to the Ming Tang (the face), and is related to the color areas on the face corresponding to the Five Zang-organs and Six Fu-organs.
察其所痛，左右上下，知其寒温，何经所在。By observing the location of pain, whether it is on the left or right, up or down, one can know the degree of coldness or warmth and which meridian is involved.
审皮肤之寒温滑涩，知其所苦。膈有上下，知其气所在。By examining the coldness, warmth, smoothness or roughness of the skin, one can know the patient's suffering. The diaphragm has an upper and a lower part, and one should know the location of the qi therein.
先得其道，稀而疏之，稍深以留，故能徐入之。大热在上，推而下之；从上下者，引而去之。First, understand the correct method, then use the needles sparsely and at a slightly deeper depth with longer retention, so that the needle can be inserted slowly. If there is intense heat above, push it downward; if it comes from above and goes downward, draw it away.
视前痛者，常先取之。大寒在外，留而补之；入于中者，从合泻之；针所不为，灸之所宜。For the pain that occurred previously, usually take the corresponding points first. If there is intense cold outside, retain the needle and tonify; if it enters the interior, purge from the confluence points; if acupuncture is not suitable, moxibustion is appropriate.
上气不足，推而扬之；下气不足，积而从之；阴阳皆虚，火自当之。If the upper qi is insufficient, push it upward to raise it; if the lower qi is insufficient, accumulate and follow it; if both yin and yang are deficient, fire moxibustion should be used.
厥而寒甚，骨廉陷下，寒过于膝，下陵三里。If there is coldness due to reversal of qi and it is severe, with the bony edges sunken and the cold extending beyond the knees, use Zusanli (ST36).
阴络所过，得之留止，寒入于中，推而行之；经陷下者，火则当之；结络坚紧，火所治之。When the yin collaterals pass by and the cold enters the interior, push it to make it flow; if the meridians are sunken, fire moxibustion should be used; if the collaterals are knotted and tight, fire moxibustion is used to treat them.
不知所苦，两蹻之下，男阴女阳，良工所禁。针论毕矣。If one doesn't know the patient's suffering, avoid needling the points under the two Qiao channels. For men, it is the Yin Qiao; for women, it is the Yang Qiao. This is what a skilled doctor should avoid. The discussion on acupuncture is complete.
用针之服，必有法则，上视天光，下司八正，以辟（《医部全录》注：当作避）奇邪，而观百姓，审于虚实，无犯其邪。The practice of using acupuncture needles must follow certain rules. Look up at the celestial phenomena above and observe the eight regular winds below to avoid the invasion of strange pathogenic factors. Also, observe the common people, examine the deficiency and excess, and avoid being invaded by pathogenic factors.
是得天之灵（别本作露），遇岁之虚，救而不胜，反受其殃，故曰：“必知天忌，乃言针意。”If one obtains the blessings of heaven (in some versions, it's 'heavenly dew'), but encounters a year of deficiency, and fails to save the patient despite trying, one will instead suffer misfortune. Therefore, it is said: "One must know the taboos of heaven before discussing the meaning of acupuncture."
法于往古，验于来今，观于窈冥，通于无穷。Follow the methods of the ancients, test them in the present, observe the mysterious and subtle things, and have an understanding that extends to infinity.
麤之所不见，良工之所贵。莫知其形，若神髣髴。What is coarse and obvious is not what a skilled doctor values. What is formless and seems like a spirit is what is precious.
邪气之中人也，洒淅动形；正邪之中人也，微先见于色，不知于其身，若有若无，若亡若存，有形无形，莫知其情。When pathogenic qi invades a person, it causes shivering and movement of the body. When the mild pathogenic factors (正邪) invade a person, they first show slightly on the complexion. The person may not be aware of it in their body, as if it exists or doesn't exist, as if it has disappeared or is still there, whether it is visible or invisible, and no one can really know the exact situation.
是故上工之取气，乃救其萌芽；下工守其已成，因败其形。Therefore, a superior doctor takes qi at its incipient stage to save the patient; a inferior doctor waits until the condition has formed and then damages the patient's body.
是故工之用针也，知气之所在，而守其门户，明于调气，补泻所在，徐疾之意，所取之处。Therefore, when a doctor uses acupuncture needles, they should know the location of qi and guard its entry and exit points, be clear about regulating qi, know the locations of tonifying and purging, understand the meaning of slow and rapid needling, and the points to be needling.
泻必用员，切而转之，其气乃行，疾而徐出，邪气乃出，伸而迎之，遥（摇的通假字）大其穴，气出乃疾。When purging, one must use a circular motion, cut and rotate the needle so that the qi can flow, withdraw the needle quickly at first and then slowly, so that the pathogenic qi can be expelled, stretch and meet the qi as it comes out, enlarge the hole slightly by shaking it, so that the qi can be expelled quickly.
补必用方，外引其皮，令当其门，左引其枢，右推其肤，微旋而徐推之。When performing the tonifying method, one must use a square motion. Pull the skin outward to make it align with the acupoint entrance. Pull the pivot on the left side and push the skin on the right side. Then, rotate it slightly and push it slowly.
必端以正，安以静，坚心无解，欲微以留，气下而疾出之，推其皮，盖其外门，真气乃存。It must be done in a straight and upright manner, calmly and quietly. The mind should be firm without wavering. The intention is to retain the qi slightly. Then, let the qi descend and quickly withdraw the needle. Push the skin to cover the external opening of the acupoint so that the genuine qi can be preserved.
用针之要，无忘其神。The key to using acupuncture needles is not that forget the importance of spirit.
雷公问于黄帝曰：《针论》曰：“得其人乃传，非其人勿言。”何以知其可传？Lei Gong asked the Yellow Emperor and said, "The 'Acupuncture Theory' states, 'Transmit it only to the right person; do not disclose it to the unworthy.' How can one know who is worthy of receiving this transmission?"
黄帝曰：各得其人，任之其能，故能明其事。The Yellow Emperor said: "When each person is assigned according to their abilities, they can clearly understand the relevant matters."
雷公曰：愿闻官能奈何？Lei Gong said: "I would like to hear about the functions and capabilities. What are they?"
黄帝曰：“明目者，可使视色；聪耳者，可使听音；捷疾辞语者，可使传论；The Yellow Emperor said: "Those with good eyesight can be used to observe colors; those with good hearing can be used to listen to sounds; those with quick speech can be used to convey theories;
语徐而安静，手巧而心审谛者，可使行针艾，理血气而调诸逆顺，察阴阳而兼诸方。 those who speak slowly and are quiet, with dexterous hands and a meticulous mind, can be used to perform acupuncture and moxibustion, regulate blood and qi, and adjust various disorders of yin and yang, and also consider various methods.
缓节柔筋而心和调者，可使导引行气；Those with relaxed joints and soft sinews and a harmonious mind can be used to guide and promote qi movement;
疾毒言语轻人者，可使唾痈呪病；those with harsh and venomous speech who look down on others can be used to spit on abscesses and curse diseases;
爪苦手毒，为事善伤者，可使按积抑痹。those with sharp nails and toxic hands who are good at causing harm when doing things can be used to press on masses and suppress arthralgia.
各得其能，方乃可行，其名乃彰。不得其人，其功不成，其师无名。Each person is assigned according to their abilities, so that the methods can be implemented and their names can be made known. If the wrong person is chosen, the work will not be accomplished and the teacher will remain unknown.
故曰：‘得其人乃言，非其人勿传。’此之谓也。Therefore, it is said: 'Transmit this knowledge only to those who are worthy; do not disclose it to the unworthy.' This is what it means.
手毒者，可使试按龟，置龟于器下，而按其上，五十日而死矣；手甘者，复生如故也。”Those with toxic hands can be used to test by pressing on a turtle. Place the turtle under a container and press on it from above. The turtle will die in fifty days; those with gentle hands will make the turtle recover as it was before."
