味甘，微寒，无毒。主身体五脏百病，养精神，安魂魄，益气，明目，通血脉，止烦
满，消渴，益精神，悦泽人面，杀精魅邪恶鬼，除中恶、腹痛、毒瓦斯、疥 、诸疮。久服通
神明不老，轻身神仙。能化为汞，作末名真朱，光色如云母，可析者良。生符陵山谷，采无
时。
恶磁石，畏咸水。案此化为汞及名真朱者，即是今朱砂也。俗医皆别取武都仇池雄黄夹
雌黄
往俱用，此为谬矣。符陵是涪州，接巴郡南，今无复采者。乃出武陵、四川诸蛮夷中，皆通
属巴地，故谓之巴沙。《仙经》
亦用越沙，即出广州临漳者，此二处并好，惟须光明莹澈为佳。如云母片者，谓云母砂。如
樗蒲子，紫石英形者，谓马
齿沙，
亦好。如大小豆及大块圆滑者，谓豆沙。
细末碎者，谓末沙。此二种粗，不入药用，但可画用尔。采沙皆凿坎入数丈许。虽同出
一
井，胜火井也。炼饵之法，备载《仙方》，最为长生之宝。
〔谨案〕丹砂大略二种，有土沙、石沙。其土沙，复有块沙、末沙，体并重而色黄黑，
不任画用，疗疮疥亦好，但不入心腹之药
尔，然可烧之，出水银乃多。其石沙便有十数种，最上者光明沙，云一颗别生一石龛内，大
者如鸡卵，小者如枣栗，形
似芙蓉
或出水内，形块大者如拇
指，小者如杏仁，光明无杂，名马牙沙，一名无重沙，入药及画俱善，俗间亦少有之。其有
磨嵯、新井、别井、水井、
火井、芙蓉、石末、石堆、豆末等沙，形类
别有越沙，大者如拳，小
者如鸡鹅卵，形虽大，其杂土石不如细明净者。经言末之名真朱，谬矣。岂有一物而以全、
末为殊名者也。
丹砂味甘，性微寒，无毒。主治身体五脏百病，滋养精神，安定魂魄，补益元气，使眼睛明亮，疏通血脉，消除烦闷胀满，治疗消渴症，增益精神，使面色红润光泽，驱除精怪邪鬼，去除中恶、腹痛、毒气、疥疮及各类疮疡。长期服用可通灵达神、延缓衰老，使人身体轻盈如神仙。丹砂能转化为汞，研磨成粉称为“真朱”，色泽光亮如同云母，能够分离出纯净颗粒的为佳品。产于符陵山谷，采集没有固定时节。
丹砂畏忌磁石，害怕咸水。考证认为：所谓能化为汞及名为真朱的，就是现在的朱砂。世俗医生却另外选取武都仇池产的雄黄混合雌黄一起使用，这是错误的。符陵即涪州，位于巴郡南部，如今已不再开采。现在多出自武陵、四川等地的蛮夷地区，这些地区均归属巴地管辖，所以称之为“巴沙”。《仙经》中也使用越沙，即出产于广州临漳的丹砂，这两处的品质都好，只要以光明晶莹透彻为佳。像云母片状的，称为云母砂；像樗蒲子或紫石英形状的，称为马齿沙，也是好的；像大小豆及大块圆滑的，称为豆沙；细碎粉末状的，称为末沙。后两种质地粗糙，不用于入药，只可用于绘画。采集丹砂都要挖掘深坑深入数丈。虽然同出一口井，但火井所产的品质更胜一筹。炼制和服食的方法，详细记载在《仙方》中，是最为珍贵的长生宝物。
【谨案】丹砂大致分为两种，有土沙和石沙。其中土沙又分为块沙和末沙，质地沉重而颜色黄黑，不适合绘画用，治疗疮疥也不错，只是不能用于心腹内部的药物，但可以烧炼，出水银的量较多。石沙则有十几种，最上等的是光明沙，据说单独生长在一个石龛内，大的像鸡蛋，小的像枣栗，形状像芙蓉花或从水中生出，块状大的像拇指，小的像杏仁，光明无杂质，称为马牙沙，又名无重沙，入药和绘画都很好，民间也很少见到。还有磨嵯沙、新井沙、别井沙、水井沙、火井沙、芙蓉沙、石末沙、石堆沙、豆末沙等，形状类别各有不同。另有越沙，大的像拳头，小的像鸡鹅蛋，虽然个头大，但夹杂土石，不如细密明净的好。经文说粉末名为真朱，这是错误的。哪有同一物因为全形和粉末就赋予不同名称的道理呢？
Cinnabar (Dānshā) tastes sweet, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It primarily treats various diseases of the five zang organs and the body, nourishes the spirit (Shén), calms the soul (Hún), supplements primordial qi (Yuánqì), brightens the eyes, unblocks the blood vessels, relieves vexation and fullness, eliminates thirst (Xiāokě), enhances mental vitality, and promotes a lustrous complexion. It expels evil spirits and malevolent entities, removes sudden malignant conditions (Zhòng'è), abdominal pain, toxic vapors, scabies, and various sores. Long-term consumption enables one to attain spiritual clarity and anti-aging effects, making the body light as if becoming an immortal. Cinnabar can be transformed into mercury; when ground into powder, it is called "Zhenzhu" (True Vermilion). Its luster resembles that of mica (Yúnmǔ), and those from which pure particles can be separated are considered superior. It grows in the valleys of Fuling, and can be harvested at any time.
It is adverse to magnetite (Císhí) and fears saline water. According to textual research: what transforms into mercury and is named Zhenzhu is indeed the cinnabar used today. Empirical physicians erroneously mix realgar (Xiónghuáng) from Qiuchi, Wudu, with orpiment (Cíhuáng) for use together. Fuling corresponds to Fuzhou, located south of Ba Commandery; mining has ceased there. Currently, it is sourced from the barbarian regions of Wuling and Sichuan, areas historically belonging to Ba, hence it is also called "Basha". The *Immortal Classics* (*Xiānjīng*) also utilize "Yuesha," produced in Linzhang, Guangzhou. Both sources are good, provided they are bright, clear, and translucent. Those resembling flakes of mica are called "Yunmu Sha"; those resembling the shape of Chupu dice or fluorite (Zǐshǐyīng) are called "Machi Sha," which are also good. Those resembling beans or large, smooth round stones are called "Dou Sha." Finely powdered ones are called "Mo Sha." The latter two types are coarse and unsuitable for medicinal use, serving only for painting. Mining involves digging pits several zhang deep. Although originating from the same well, those from fire wells are superior. Methods of refining and ingesting are detailed in the *Immortal Prescriptions* (*Xiānfāng*), regarded as the most precious treasure for longevity.
[Research Note] Cinnabar is roughly divided into two types: earth cinnabar (Tusha) and stone cinnabar (Shisha). Earth cinnabar includes block cinnabar and powder cinnabar; it is heavy in texture and yellow-black in color, unsuitable for painting, though good for treating sores and scabies. However, it is not suitable for internal medicines affecting the heart and abdomen, but can be calcined to yield a large amount of mercury. Stone cinnabar has over ten varieties. The highest grade is "Guangming Sha" (Bright Cinnabar), said to grow individually within stone niches. Large pieces are like chicken eggs, small ones like jujubes or chestnuts. Shapes resemble lotus flowers or emerge from water; block forms range from thumb-sized to almond-sized. Bright and impurity-free, it is named "Maya Sha" (Horse Tooth Cinnabar), also known as "Wuchong Sha." It is excellent for both medicinal and painting purposes, though rare in common circulation. Other varieties include Mocu Sha, Xinjing Sha, Biejing Sha, Shuijing Sha, Huojing Sha, Furong Sha, Shimò Sha, Shidui Sha, and Domo Sha, each with distinct shapes. There is also Yuesha, large as a fist or small as a chicken/duck egg. Although large, it often contains mixed earth and stone, inferior to fine, clear, and pure specimens. The canonical text stating that powder is named Zhenzhu is erroneous. How can a single substance have different names based solely on whether it is whole or powdered?