What is this red substance?
It is mercury and its compounds.
In ancient times, mercury was used to preserve corpses. When it was discovered that corpses could be preserved for longer periods under the protection of mercury, ancient people believed that mercury could maintain the important characteristics of a living human body and could help people live longer, healthier lives, or even achieve immortality.
Today, with advancements in science, we know that mercury is highly toxic (with its most poisonous compound being methylmercury. A small drop on the skin can be fatal), but in ancient times, it was something that captivated people.
In ancient times, mercury was used in medicine and in cosmetics, such as “lipstick.” Women of high status adorned their lips with mercury, becoming enchanting and capable of winning the hearts of many men. They were unaware that this mesmerizing red powder was filled with poison!
Additionally, mercury had countless other uses such as dyeing, feng shui, and warding off evil spirits… Some even relied on it to concoct elixirs of immortality, particularly emperors from various dynasties, who, despite knowing its high toxicity, were still obsessed with it.
Mercury in Medicine
Mercury is primarily extracted from cinnabar, or mercury sulfide (HgS) – which contains 86.2% mercury, is red in color, and is often used for pigments. Later, it was discovered that it could be used to extract mercury. Cinnabar was not rare in China at that time.
Mercury was widely used as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Furthermore, the methods of refining mercury at that time were specifically recorded in the “Shennong Bencao Jing”.
In ancient times, mercury was often used in the production of medicines.
The silk book unearthed from the Han Wang Miao Tomb described mercury and its applications. Perhaps due to the reverence for this particular metal, ancient people believed that it could cure any terminal illness. For example, conditions such as hemorrhoids, vitiligo, body odor, and other difficult and complex ailments.
Moreover, mercury was also considered a “contraceptive.” In ancient times, girls in brothels often drank mercury (diluted). First, to shorten their menstrual cycles, second, to avoid pregnancy. Even if a girl was pregnant, it was believed that drinking mercury could induce a miscarriage swiftly.
The Alchemy of Mercury
Alchemy in China began during the Warring States period and was developed based on advancements in copper and iron smelting technology.
At that time, some alchemists believed that since they could melt metals, they could also concoct a medicine that would grant immortality by mixing mercury with other herbs in a cauldron, eventually forging a “Philosopher’s Stone.”
People believed that “like attracts like” and consuming food that never decomposed could prolong life. Therefore, some extracted essences from gold, silver, pearls, and jade to sell at exorbitant prices.
This led to the concept that “Whoever serves gold lives as long as gold, whoever serves jade lives as long as jade.”
At that time, some managed to refine “liquid gold” through melting, and it was said to grant immortality. Thus, alchemy flourished.
In the eyes of the people of that era, mercury did not easily decompose and symbolized “immortality.” Therefore, refining elixirs with mercury could bestow upon the drinkers the ability to “live forever,” continuing a cycle that ultimately led to immortality.
Madness Over “Elixirs”
Cinnabar, also known as dan sha (commonly referred to as dan (丹) – red), has led to countless tragedies for ancient Chinese emperors.
After Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne, his desire for domination was unprecedentedly strong. In his quest to remain on the throne forever, he summoned many talents to search for methods of immortality.
In 219 BC, it was reported that three sacred mountains contained elixirs of immortality. Therefore, Qin Shi Huang sent people to search everywhere, but by the time of his death, he had not once seen or used that elixir of immortality.
In return, the one who sought to hold the throne for a thousand years passed away at the age of 49.
In the eyes of the people of that era, mercury did not easily decompose and symbolized “immortality.”
The first king obsessed with alchemy must have been Liu An – the fourth vassal king of the Huai Nan state during the Han dynasty in Chinese history. He once summoned thousands of people to perform alchemical techniques in search of the secret formula.
Under Emperor Jing of Han, alchemy became very popular. Wang Mang of the Western Han dynasty was also very interested in alchemy and cultivation. Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Five Pecks of Rice sect and the Zhengyi sect in Daoism, also continuously sought secret methods of alchemy. He himself had a vast knowledge of alchemy.
By the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Daoism became more popular than ever. Many extravagant healing methods emerged: Qi Gong healing, talismans to ward off evil spirits, elixirs of immortality… At this time, alchemy was widely applied.
But it wasn’t until the Tang dynasty that the “Age of Alchemy” truly exploded. This was also the dynasty with the most emperors who died from “elixirs.” It is not an exaggeration to say that most emperors were fond of practicing alchemy.
Both Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Ming of the Tang dynasty personally selected strange individuals who could concoct elixirs and allowed them to brew elixirs in the palace.
Unfortunately, six emperors from the late Tang dynasty all died from poisoning due to consuming elixirs. This shows how mad these emperors were in their pursuit of immortality. Even when these elixirs contained highly toxic heavy metals like mercury, they still consumed them.
Ultimately, mercury itself is not tempting. The true allure lies in what mercury is believed to offer: immortality. These emperors were “mad” over mercury because they thought it truly granted them immortality.
After 20 years of struggling to find elixirs of immortality, Emperor Wu of Han finally abandoned the quest for the elixir and chose a balanced diet, living healthily and reaching the age of 69.
Thus, there is no elixir for longevity; everything stems from one’s own desires.
