Since ancient times, cinnabar has been beloved for its unique charm.
In Feng Shui, cinnabar is considered to have the magical power to ward off evil spirits and is regarded as a pure yang substance, capable of resisting all negative energies.
Whether for consecration, drawing talismans, alchemy, ensuring safety, or protecting the home, cinnabar is an indispensable material. The vermilion used by emperors of past dynasties and the pigments used by painters all contain cinnabar.
Today, let’s delve into cinnabar from six aspects:
- Cinnabar, a mineral with powerful energy. According to historical records, cinnabar has the effect of calming the mind and settling fright. Wearing cinnabar can to some extent alleviate adverse mental states, making the wearer’s heart more peaceful and serene.
- How safe is cinnabar? Cinnabar is both a mineral and a medicinal herb, with detailed records in Li Shizhen’s “Compendium of Materia Medica.” Below 300 degrees Celsius, true cinnabar is absolutely safe and non-toxic.
- Can cinnabar really ward off evil spirits? From a traditional cultural perspective, both Taoism and Buddhism use cinnabar to draw talismans and expel evil spirits. Placing cinnabar in places with heavy yin energy and negative energy can ward off evil. Wearing cinnabar can also pray for good fortune and suppress malevolent energy.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, evil spirits originate from yin energy. Cinnabar’s yang energy can harmonize yin and yang, acting as a sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant, balancing the aura. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” also records this.
- Where is the best cinnabar producing area in the world? In Wanshan, Guizhou, China, there is a nearly 3000-year history of cinnabar mining, known as the “Kingdom of Cinnabar.”
The ‘Qianling Palace Charm Cinnabar Pavilion’ in Qianling Mountain, Guizhou, is not only a window into the cinnabar culture of Guizhou and the whole country but also the best place to experience the charm of traditional Chinese cinnabar culture.
- Is it harmful to wear cinnabar for a long time? Wearing pure cinnabar for a long time is harmless and beneficial to the human body.
However, if it is artificial cinnabar (reduced sand), due to its high mercury content, wearing it for a long time can be harmful to the human body.
Some merchants produce reduced sand with lower mercury content, which, although not obviously harmful to the human body, loses the energy and efficacy of natural minerals when worn as cinnabar.