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[Background Information]
Book: Zhenglei Bencao (Compendium of Materia Medica Classified by Category)
Author: Tang Shenwei
Dynasty: Song
Chapter: Volume 3 / Cinnabar (Dan Sha)
Category: Materia Medica

[Cinnabar]
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Slightly cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: Mainly treats various diseases of the five zang organs and hundred ailments of the body; nourishes the spirit (Shen); calms the soul (Hun and Po); benefits qi, brightens the eyes; unblocks blood vessels; relieves irritability and fullness; treats Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome); replenishes the spirit; promotes a rosy and lustrous complexion; expels spirits and evil ghosts; eliminates Zhong E (sudden malignant affliction), abdominal pain, toxic gases, scabies, and various sores. Long-term ingestion can illuminate the mind, prevent aging, make the body light as an immortal, and can be transformed into mercury. Ground into powder, it is called "Zhen Zhu" (True Vermilion). Its luster resembles mica; those that can be split into layers are of superior quality. It grows in the valleys of Fuling. There is no fixed time for harvesting. (It is incompatible with Magnetite and fears salty water.)

Tao Hongjing stated: According to research, the substance that transforms into mercury and is called Zhen Zhu is indeed the current Cinnabar. Secular physicians often mistakenly take realgar mixed with orpiment from Wudu and Qiuchi and name it Dan Sha. Physicians and alchemists also often use them interchangeably, which is erroneous. Fuling is Fu Zhou, located south of Ba Jun, and mining has ceased there now. Instead, it comes from the barbarian regions of Wuling and Western Sichuan, all belonging to the Ba area, hence called Ba Sha. The "Immortal Classics" also use it. Yue Sha comes from Guangzhou and Linzhang; both places produce good quality, provided it is bright and clear. Those resembling mica flakes are called Yun Mu Sha (Mica Sand); those resembling Chupu seeds or purple quartz are called Ma Chi Sha (Purslane Sand), which is also good; those resembling beans or large smooth chunks are called Dou Sha (Bean Sand); fine powders are called Mo Sha (Powder Sand). These two types are coarse and not suitable for medicinal use, but only for painting. Mining sand requires digging pits several zhang deep. Even within the same commandery or county, quality varies. Locations with water wells are superior to those with fire wells. Methods for refining and ingesting are detailed in the "Immortal Prescriptions" and are considered the most precious treasure for longevity. The Tang Dynasty Commentary noted: Dan Sha is roughly divided into two types: Tu Sha (Earth Sand) and Shi Sha (Stone Sand). Tu Sha includes Kuai Sha (Chunk Sand) and Mo Sha (Powder Sand); these are heavy in texture and yellow-black in color, unsuitable for painting. They are good for treating sores but not for internal medicines involving the heart and abdomen. However, they can be calcined to yield much mercury. Shi Sha has over ten varieties. The best is Guang Ming Sha (Bright Sand), said to grow alone in a stone niche, with chunks as large as chicken eggs or small as dates, resembling lotus flowers. When broken, it shines like mica. Growing on stone platforms in niches, possessing this is supreme for warding off evil. Next are those found in stones or water, chunky like thumbs or almond-sized, bright and pure, named Ma Ya Sha (Horse Tooth Sand), also called Wu Chong Sha. Good for medicine and painting, though rare in common circles. Others include Mo Cuo Sha, Xin Jing Sha, Bie Jing Sha, Shui Jing Sha, Huo Jing Sha, Fu Rong Sha, Shi Mo Sha, Shi Dui Sha, Dou Mo Sha, etc., with similar shapes. For medicinal and painting use, impurities like earth and stones must be removed. Southern Yue Sha is large, fist-sized or egg-sized, but contains impurities, inferior to fine, bright ones. The Classic's statement that powder is named Zhen Zhu is wrong; how can a single substance have a special name just because it is entirely powder? Current notes state that Cinnabar from Chen Zhou and Jin Zhou is best for medicine; others are inferior. Tao's claim that it comes from Western Sichuan is incorrect, though possibly present in barbarian areas. Minister Yuxi and others carefully followed the "Yao Xing Lun": Dan Sha is the Sovereign herb, highly toxic. It anchors the heart, treats Shi Zhu (corpse-infection/chronic wasting disease), and convulsions. Ri Hua Zi stated: Cool nature, slightly toxic. Moistens lungs and heart, treats sores, scabs, and polyps. Used internally and externally.

"Tujing" (Illustrated Canon) states: Dan Sha grows in Fuling valleys, now produced in Chen Zhou, Yi Zhou, and Jie Zhou, with Chen Zhou being the finest, called Chen Sha. It grows between deep mountain rocks. Locals mine it, digging tens of chi deep until they see its "sprout," which is actually white stone called Zhu Sha Chuang (Cinnabar Bed). Sand grows on the stone. Chunks range from egg-sized to pomegranate-seed-sized, shaped like lotus heads or arrowheads. Connected to the bed, it is purplish-dark like iron, yet bright and clear. Broken pieces are jagged like walls, resembling splittable mica; this is true Chen Sha. One without stone is better. Others are obtained by washing earth and stones, not growing on stone beds. Tao Hongjing's note says it comes from Wuling and Western Sichuan barbarians. Current Chen Zhou is the ancient land of Wuling. Although called Chen Sha, local production is scarce; it is often found in barbarian border streams and Jin Zhou. This place corresponds to what Tao called Wuling/Western Sichuan. Later notes claiming it comes from Western Sichuan are wrong due to misunderstanding "Western Sichuan of Wuling." Yi Sha rarely has huge chunks; when broken, it forms wall-like structures but lacks specific shapes and is dark red, inferior to Chen Sha, likely because it comes from earth/stones, not white stone beds. However, nearby Chun Zhou and Rong Zhou in Yi Zhou have sand, making their waters red. Misty vapors are reddish-yellow, called "Zhu Sha Qi" by locals, causing miasma and illness. Jie Sha is inferior, unfit for medicine, only for painting. The best sand is Guang Ming Sha; next is Ke Kuai (Chunk); then Lu Su; lowest is Mo Sha. Physicians only use Guang Ming Sha. No fixed harvest time. Note: Zheng Kangcheng annotated "Zhou Li," listing Dan Sha, Shi Dan, Xiong Huang, Qing Hao, and Ci Shi as the "Five Poisons," used by ancients only for ulcer treatment. Since "Ben Jing" says Dan Sha is non-toxic, many refine and ingest it, often suffering toxicity. Is the "Five Poisons" theory more valid? Ingestors should beware.

Lei Gong said: Careful identification is required; there are hundreds of types. You can mention Miao Liu Sha (fist-sized, 14 mirror-like faces, exuding red juice on rainy days), Mei Bai Sha (plum-sized, glowing at night), Bai Ting Sha (emerald-sized, starry surface), Shen Zuo Sha, Jin Zuo Sha, Yu Zuo Sha (extending life without alchemy). Others include Bai Jin Sha, Cheng Shui Sha, Yin Cheng Sha, Chen Jin Sha, Fu Rong Sha, Jing Mian Sha, Jian Zu Sha, Cao Mo Sha, Tu Sha, Jin Xing Sha, Ping Mian Sha, Shen Mo Sha, etc. To process Cinnabar: In a quiet room, burn incense, fast, and bathe. Wash sand with fragrant water, dry, crush, and grind in a mortar for three hours. Place in a porcelain pot with Gan Cao (Licorice), Zi Bei Tian Kui, and Wu Fang Cao layered above and below. Boil with East-flowing water for three hours. Remove herbs, wash with East-flowing water, dry, and grind to powder. Store in a small porcelain bottle covered with Qing Zhi Cao and Shan Xu Cao (half liang). Calcine under 10 jin of charcoal from Si hour to Zi hour. Cool, grind again. For ingestion, mix with honey, pill like hemp seeds. Take one on an empty stomach. For medicinal use, follow this method. Generally, stop fire naturally. For 5 liang Cinnabar, use 2 liang Gan Cao, 1 yi Zi Bei Tian Kui, 1 yi Wu Fang Cao juice, sufficient East-flowing water.

"Waitai Miyao": For Shang Han, Shi Qi, Wen Yi, headache, high fever, surging pulse, within 1-2 days: Take 1 liang true Cinnabar, boil in 1 dou water to 1 sheng. Drink at once, cover with blankets to induce sweating. Another prescription for plague prevention: Fine-grind 1 liang premium Cinnabar, mix with white honey, pill like hemp seeds. On Tai Sui day at dawn, family members fast, face east, swallow 3-7 pills each to prevent epidemic diseases. Another for chronic abdominal masses or sudden attacks: Fine-grind Cinnabar, mix evenly into rice. Starve a rooster for 2 days, feed the Cinnabar-rice. Place on a board. Collect feces, dry, grind. Take 1 cun bi to 5 qian with warm clear wine, 3 times daily. Severe cases: 6 times daily. Feed another chicken if needed. Stop when cured.

"Doumen Fang": For infants under one month old with fright resembling stroke/coma: Grind Cinnabar in fresh well water to thick juice. Apply to five palm centers. Immediate cure. Highly effective.

"Shiquan Bojiu": For dead fetus retained in uterus: Boil 1 liang Cinnabar in water briefly, grind. Take with wine. Fetus expelled immediately.

Yao Hezhong: For warming intestines/stomach and strengthening blood/qi in newborns (6 days old): Refine Cinnabar to soybean size, grind fine. Mix with honey size of a date. Dip cotton, let infant suck. Finish in one day.

"Taishang Badi Xuanbian Jing" Sanhuang Zhenren Alchemy Formula: 1 jin Cinnabar, bright color. Grind, sieve through double silk until fine. Pour strong wine (no water) onto it, stir to mud consistency. Place in copper plate on high shelf, away from women. Sun-dry, stir occasionally until dry, add wine again to form mud. If raining for 300 days, it turns purple. Should not stain hands when held. If staining, not dry enough, can be pilled. Before ingestion: Bathe with orchid fragrance, fast 7 days, avoid women near medicine. Pill like hemp seeds. Swallow 3 facing the sun at dawn. After 1 month, three worms exit. After 5-6 months, abdominal diseases heal. After 1 year, eyebrows/hair darken, divine beings arrive.

Zhang Luyun Blackening Beard Formula: Raise two small hens separately, no insects/misc food, only black sesame oil and water. When laying eggs, collect the first laid eggs specifically. Break top, insert 1 liang fine Cinnabar powder. Seal with paper. Incubate second batch normally. Medicine inside first egg rots/grinds to powder. Make pills like green bean size. Take 5-7 with wine anytime. Turns hair white/black and cures diseases.

Qingxiazi: Cinnabar prevents natural death. If qi declines, blood scatters, body exhausts, bones wither, human power cannot help. To live long, preserve life, calm spirit, must ingest Cinnabar. Eight minerals turn to ash by fire; Cinnabar subdued by fire becomes Yellow Silver. Heavy/light, spiritual, black/white, dark/bright. A hu carried by humans is hard to lift; 10,000 jin rises lightly by fire. Gods/demons seek it but cannot find it.

"Taiqing Fuliian Ling Sha Fa": Cinnabar, wrapped in eight minerals, contains gold essence. Receives qi from Jia, Bing; emerges from Ren; forms魄 (Po) from Geng; increases light from Wu. Yin/Yang rise/fall according to origin. Minerals/metals receive five yin spirits' qi, forming five shapes. Forms are stubborn, natures sluggish.

"Baozang Lun": If Cinnabar is subdued by grass-fire, embryo in bellows melts. Liquid can point silver to gold, copper to silver.

"Bieshuo": Jin Zhou/Shang Zhou produce a type with earthy, slightly yellow color. Used in Shaanxi, Hedong, Hebei, Jingdong, Jingxi for medicine and painting. Chang'an/Shuzhong grind it to replace mercury vermilion for lacquerware. Xinzhou recently produces large pieces, wall-like luster, similar to Yi Zhou, but has arsenic color. Fire may kill if ingested. Zhejiang markets sell much of this; users must examine carefully.

Sheng recently compared Chen Cheng's edited "Bencao Tujing" version. Chen added "Bieshuo" after the canon. His words are verifiable and accurate, so I added them.

"Yanyi" states: Cinnabar is now called Zhu Sha. Chen Zhou Zhu Sha comes mostly from barbarian caves. Jin Zhou boundary Laotong Laoya Well is tens of zhang deep/wide. Burn wood in well until full, then ignite. Cracks in blue stone walls reveal small niches with white jade-like stone beds. Cinnabar grows on beds. Small like arrowheads, large like lotuses. Bright enough to reflect, grinds to fresh red. Large chunks weigh 7-8 liang to 1 liang. Huang Zhou has arrowhead-shaped ones with stone from soil, different from this. This substance calms/nourishes heart/mind; only raw use is suitable. Refined ingestion often causes illness, comparable to Realgar. One physician took a few grains of refined Cinnabar, suffered intense heat, died in nights. Li Shansheng refined Cinnabar for over a year, re-entered furnace after bathing, accidentally dropped a piece. Disciple pilled and took it, became delirious, died overnight. Raw Cinnabar can be taken by newborns. Fire-altered Cinnabar kills. Must be cautious.