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Why did ancient alchemists like to use cinnabar? What are its characteristics?
? Speaking of alchemy, it should be no stranger. In fact, alchemy is for the so-called immortality. Especially the ancient kings, in order to pursue the so-called immortality, all took Dan medicine. Qin Shihuang not only took Dan medicine, but also sent Xu Fu to seek immortality overseas. The main raw material of an alchemist is actually cinnabar, which is toxic and cannot be taken at all. Why did an alchemist choose cinnabar?

? China's ancient immortality originated in the Warring States Period, and these immortal magic and alchemy also opened the way for many ancient charlatans to find money and ask for directions. Moreover, in order to help the secular people thoroughly remould themselves and live forever, the alchemists formed three schools-keeping healthy school, inhaling school and eating school. They have long been committed to refining Dan medicine. Later, they found that cinnabar is actually different from other raw materials, and it will not be destroyed no matter how it is burned. What is this so-called cinnabar?

? Cinnabar, also called cinnabar because of its red color, contains mercury and sulfur. The chemical composition is mercury sulfide HgS. This kind of thing, cinnabar, is quite amazing It has two forms. If you heat cinnabar on a fire, it will become liquid mercury. If you cool mercury, it will become solid cinnabar again. The ancients thought that cinnabar was different from vegetation and would not burn. This is a magical existence. The ancients were superstitious and pedantic, thinking that cinnabar was immortal, and people who took cinnabar were as immortal as cinnabar.

? It is this characteristic of cinnabar that makes alchemists add cinnabar to alchemy. Because the rich and the dignitaries are eager for a long life, alchemists once became the hottest profession. Everyone is afraid of death, especially the emperor who has power and position. It's ridiculous to think about it. In order not to die, the emperor blindly took Dan medicine, but in the end he accelerated his death because of the toxicity of Dan Sha. That's why we say "it's terrible to be uneducated". Life is irreversible and death is a natural phenomenon. Don't believe the theory of immortality.