\r丹砂\ph3.bmp\r，生符陵山谷，今出辰州、宜州、阶州，而辰州者最胜，谓之辰砂。
生深山石崖间，土人采之，穴地数十尺，始见其苗乃白石耳，谓之朱砂床。砂生石上，其块
大者如鸡子，小者如石榴子，状若芙蓉头、箭镞，连床者紫黯若铁色，而光明莹澈，碎之崭
岩作墙壁，又似云母片可析者，真辰砂也，无石者弥佳。过此皆淘土石中得之，非生于石床
者。陶隐居注∶谓出武陵西川诸蛮中。今辰州乃武陵故地，虽号辰砂，而本州境所出殊少，
往往在蛮界中溪溆、锦州得之，此地盖陶所谓武陵西川者是也。而后注谓出西川为非，是不
晓武陵之西川耳。宜砂绝有大块者，碎之亦作墙壁，但罕有类物状，而色亦深赤，为不及辰
砂，盖出土石间，非白石床所生也。然宜州近地春州、融州皆有砂，故其水尽赤，每烟雾郁
蒸之气，亦赤黄色，土人谓之朱砂气，尤能作瘴疠，深为人患也。阶砂又次，都不堪入药，
惟可画色耳。凡砂之绝好者，为光明砂。其次谓之颗块，其次谓之鹿蔌，其下谓之末砂，而
医方家惟用光明砂，余并不用，采无时。谨按郑康成注《周礼》，以丹砂、石胆、雄黄、
石、磁石为五毒，古人惟以攻创疡。而《本经》以丹砂为无毒，故人多炼治服食，鲜有不为
药患者。岂五毒之说胜乎？服饵者当以为戒。
Yuquan (Jade Spring), see under the entry for Yuxie (Jade Dust).
Dansha (Cinnabar) grows in the valleys of Fuling. It is currently produced in Chenzhou, Yizhou, and Jiazhou, with the best quality coming from Chenzhou, known as Chensha (Chen Cinnabar). It grows in deep mountains on rock cliffs. Local people mine it by digging dozens of chi deep into the ground until they reach its "sprout," which is actually white stone, called Zhusha Chuang (Cinnabar Bed). The cinnabar grows on the stone; large pieces are the size of chicken eggs, small ones like pomegranate seeds. Their shapes resemble lotus heads or arrowheads. Those connected to the bed are purplish-black like iron, while the bright, clear, and translucent parts, when broken, reveal steep, wall-like fractures similar to exfoliating mica sheets—this is true Chensha, and those without stone impurities are superior. Anything else is obtained by washing earth and stones, not grown on a stone bed. Tao Hongjing (Tao Yinju) annotated: "It comes from the barbarian regions west of Wuling." Modern Chenzhou is the ancient land of Wuling. Although called Chensha, very little is produced within the prefecture itself; it is often found in the streams and Jinzhou areas at the border of the barbarian territories. This place corresponds to what Tao referred to as the "West River of Wuling." Later annotations claiming it originates from West Sichuan are incorrect, stemming from a misunderstanding of the geography of "West River" within Wuling. Yizhou cinnabar has exceptionally large pieces that also fracture like walls, but rarely resembles specific objects, and its color is a deeper red, making it inferior to Chensha. This is likely because it emerges from earth-stone mixtures rather than growing on white stone beds. However, near Yizhou, in Chunzhou and Rongzhou, cinnabar is also found, causing the local rivers to run red. When misty, humid vapors rise, they appear reddish-yellow. Locals call this "Zhusha Qi" (Cinnabar Qi), which easily induces miasma and pestilence, posing a serious health hazard. Jiazhou cinnabar is of even lower quality, unsuitable for medicinal use, and can only be used for painting pigments. Among all cinnabar, the finest is called Guangmingsha (Bright Cinnabar). Next are Ke Kuai (Granular Blocks), then Lusù (Deer Brush-like fragments), and the lowest grade is Moshà (Powdered Cinnabar). Medical practitioners use only Guangmingsha, rejecting the rest. There is no fixed season for harvesting. According to Zheng Xuan's (Zheng Kangcheng) annotation of the *Rites of Zhou* (*Zhou Li*), Dansha (Cinnabar), Shidan (Alum Stone), Xionghuang (Realgar), Shizhongru (Stalactite), and Ci Shi (Magnetite) are classified as the "Five Poisons." In ancient times, these were used solely to treat ulcers and sores. However, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (*Divine Farmer's Materia Medica*) states that Dansha is non-toxic. Consequently, many people refine and ingest it, rarely escaping adverse drug reactions. Does the "Five Poisons" theory hold more weight? Those who consume elixirs should take this as a warning.