Perhaps you’ve heard that red is the color most beloved by the Chinese people. In many ways, this is true.
In the West, the symbol of national power is the White House. In China, it is Tiananmen — a grand, dignified gate painted in brilliant red. If we were to name it by color, it might well be called the Red Palace. For thousands of years, red has symbolized vitality, joy, and auspicious energy in Chinese culture.
Human beings have always been fascinated by color, and among all shades, few are as captivating as cinnabar — a natural mineral of vivid red with a soft metallic sheen. The Chinese discovered and cherished it thousands of years ago. At the Hemudu archaeological site, dating back more than 7,000 years, red lacquered bowls were unearthed, and analysis revealed the pigment to be cinnabar.
By the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE), cinnabar was ground into powder and filled into the carvings of oracle bones, making ancient inscriptions shine vividly — perhaps one of humanity’s earliest forms of emphasis and reverence.
Through the dynasties, cinnabar’s glow never dimmed. From Gu Kaizhi’s Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies in the Eastern Jin period to Yan Liben’s Portraits of the Emperors Through the Ages in the Tang dynasty, cinnabar brought life and dignity to art. In the breathtaking murals of Dunhuang, its brilliance still lingers, whispering stories of devotion and divine beauty.
Its symbolism reached its height in the Qing dynasty, when emperors used ground cinnabar as ink for their imperial rescripts — the famed vermilion annotations. Each stroke in red bore the emperor’s will, radiating authority, majesty, and power.
In China’s native faith, Taoism, cinnabar holds profound spiritual importance. It was once a key ingredient in alchemy and medicine, believed to help practitioners transcend the mortal realm and attain immortality. Taoist masters also used cinnabar to draw talismans — sacred symbols meant to dispel evil, invite blessings, and ensure peace and safety.
In Buddhism, cinnabar found another sacred purpose. It was often crafted into prayer beads, used during meditation and chanting, carrying the blessings of the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas to those who wear or use them.
Spiritually, cinnabar has many layers of meaning, yet one essence remains constant — it protects. It purifies spaces, drives away negative energies, and restores harmony to one’s surroundings. Even today, this ancient belief continues in many parts of China: before moving into a new home, families may grind cinnabar into fine powder, mix it with water, and sprinkle it throughout the house the night before settling in. This ritual is said to cleanse unseen energies, ensuring that the new home becomes a place of safety and peace.
Cinnabar also plays an important role in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Externally, it has been used to inhibit skin bacteria and parasites. When carefully combined with other herbs, it was traditionally prescribed to ease insomnia, nightmares, and anxiety.
However, cinnabar as a medicine must only be used under the guidance of a licensed practitioner — it should never be self-administered.
Rest assured, the cinnabar used in jewelry and ornaments is completely safe. Its main component, mercuric sulfide, remains chemically stable and only breaks down at temperatures above 300°C — a level never reached in daily wear. Still, as a matter of care, cinnabar jewelry should not be worn by infants, who might accidentally ingest it out of curiosity.
Through centuries, cinnabar has stood as a bridge between beauty and belief, matter and spirit.
At Pundarikas, we embrace this legacy — honoring cinnabar not merely as a gem, but as a vessel of protection, purity, and spiritual power.
Perhaps now, as you come to know its story, you might wish to experience for yourself the quiet strength and timeless energy that cinnabar has carried through the ages.
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