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Huangdi Neijing · The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Suwen 51 · The Proper Levels of Needling
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
The Yellow Emperor asked: “I wish to hear how shallow and deep needling are distinguished.”
Qi Bo replied: “In needling bone do not injure sinews; in needling sinews do not injure flesh; in needling flesh do not injure vessels; in needling vessels do not injure skin; in needling skin do not injure flesh; in needling flesh do not injure sinews; in needling sinews do not injure bone.”
The Emperor said: “I do not yet understand what this means. I wish to hear the explanation.”
Qi Bo said: “‘Needling bone without injuring sinews’: if the needle reaches sinews and is withdrawn, it has not reached bone. ‘Needling sinews without injuring flesh’: withdrawal at flesh has not reached sinews. ‘Needling flesh without injuring vessels’: withdrawal at vessels has not reached flesh. ‘Needling vessels without injuring skin’: withdrawal at skin has not reached vessels.
‘Needling skin without injuring flesh’ means illness lies in skin and the needle enters skin without injuring flesh. In needling flesh, injuring sinews means passing through flesh and striking sinews. In needling sinews, injuring bone means passing through sinews and striking bone. This is what is called going contrary.
Reading note: The supplied progression and its concluding contrary designation are retained, rather than replacing the first four explanations with a different depth rule.”
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