[Brief investigation on the development of ancient <i>pizhen</i>: a discussion on the production and dissemination of its knowledge].

<i>Pizhen</i> is one of the ancient nine needles recorded in <i>Lingshu</i> (<i>Miraculous Pivot</i>), used for pricking pus initially; and it is extensively operated to treat sores and ulcers in the later dynasties. Since the Song and Ming dynasties, there were the changes in the material, form and application scope of <i>pizhen</i> in surgery. By analyzing the representative surgery works, it was found that there were four kinds of <i>pizhen</i> in its evolution, including sword-like needle, triangle-like needle, willow-leaf-like needle and slant type. The action scope was expanded, removing carbuncle, draining pus and cutting off masses and rotten muscles besides pricking pus, blood and harmful fluids. Since the introduction of surgical technology, <i>pizhen</i> almost disappeared in surgery. The paper analyzes the evolution routes of this ancient needle and its influence factors from the perspective of knowledge development. It is summarized that the development of <i>pizhen</i> is related to the approaches to the knowledge production of acupuncture-moxibustion and its inheritance, the limitation of the dissemination of <i>pizhen</i> technique and lack of theoretical derivation.