Ling Shu Chapter 9 (Zhong Shi, Beginning and Ending) says, In spring Qi is in the hair, in summer Qi is in the skin,

in autumn Qi is in the flesh, and in winter Qi is in the tendons and bones. Depth of needling should be according to the season. This statement transcends the obvious meaning presented. It also indicates that a disease of a Yang nature (e.g., acute conditions, conditions related to heat or to the exterior) should be treated with shallow needling, while diseases of a Yin nature (e.g., chronic conditions, conditions related to cold or blood stasis) need to be treated with deeper needling. Shallow needling is used to treat the superficial parts of the body and expels exterior diseaseevils. Middle depth needling treats the Middle Jiao and addresses internal disease evils. Deep needling is used for supplementing vacuities. Ling Shu Chapter 9 (Zhong Shi, Beginning and Ending) also says, At the first depth Yang evils are expelled, at the next depth Yin evils are expelled, at the third depth Gu Qi arrives.