Suwen · The Measures of Needling

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked: I wish to hear the divisions of shallow and deep in needling. Qi Bo answered: In needling the bone, do not wound the sinew. In needling the sinew, do not wound the flesh. In needling the flesh, do not wound the vessel. In needling the vessel, do not wound the skin. In needling the skin, do not wound the flesh. In needling the flesh, do not wound the sinew. In needling the sinew, do not wound the bone. The Emperor said: I do not yet know what this means. I wish to hear the unbinding of it. Qi Bo said: Needling the bone and not wounding the sinew: the needle arrives at the sinew and leaves; it does not reach the bone. Needling the sinew and not wounding the flesh: it arrives at the flesh and leaves; it does not reach the sinew. Needling the flesh and not wounding the vessel: it arrives at the vessel and leaves; it does not reach the flesh. Needling the vessel and not wounding the skin: it arrives at the skin and leaves; it does not reach the vessel. What is called needling the skin and not wounding the flesh: the illness is in the skin; the needle enters the skin and does not wound the flesh. Needling the flesh and not wounding the sinew: it goes past the flesh and hits the sinew. Needling the sinew and not wounding the bone: it goes past the sinew and hits the bone. This is what is called the reverse.

The line

Qi Bo answered: In needling the bone, do not wound the sinew. In needling the sinew, do not wound the flesh. In needling the flesh, do not wound the vessel. In needling the vessel, do not wound the skin. In needling the skin, do not wound the flesh. In needling the flesh, do not wound the sinew. In needling the sinew, do not wound the bone.

The note

Measure means each arrives at its own layer. Needle the bone and do not wound the sinew. When the layers are confused, the deep invades the shallow, and the shallow misses the deep.