Chun Qiu Original Design | Year of the Dragon Limited Edition: Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity | High-content Premium Raw Ore Water-Milled Cinnabar |

Pu Tuo says: Treat yourself with kindness. Don't get angry, don't people-please, and don't punish yourself for the mistakes of others. Smile gently, walk steadily, let go of gains and losses, cherish what you have, live fully in the moment, and be true to yourself. Each bead, a piece; each thought, a wish. Cinnabar is the essence of millennia of culture, a balm for the soul, a guiding red light, a small temple connecting heaven and earth. Evil stays away, peace of mind brings success, and good fortune naturally follows. Original design, entirely hand-braided cord. Phoenix dimensions (approx.): Height 28mm x Width 24mm x Thickness 6mm Dragon dimensions (approx.): Diameter 41mm x Thickness 6mm Design feature: The dragon and phoenix pendants are designed as buttons, allowing them to be freely detached and attached to other cords. (The carvings are exquisite, with exceptional detail! Photos were taken on an overcast day, outdoors, and indoors under incandescent light, resulting in some color variation.) One set of dragon and phoenix pendants available for immediate shipment, dispatched within 2 days. Custom orders will be shipped within 3-5 days. (All photos are taken in natural light. Colors may vary due to different equipment, weather conditions, and screen displays. Please be aware!) > Categories Water-milled cinnabar, Imperial cinnabar, Purple-gold cinnabar, and Crystalline cinnabar are all high-content quality cinnabar. Their main differences lie in color, texture, hardness, and production methods. 'Water-milled cinnabar' A true red, with a slight orange hue. Its surface has a warm, matte finish that will become more lustrous with wear, developing a patina. The production method involves repeatedly grinding fine cinnabar particles into a paste, stirring with water, allowing it to settle, and collecting the upper "turbid liquid." This is then allowed to settle again for purification (the water-milling process). The bottom cinnabar mud is air-dried and then pressed using ancient methods. Faint mineral sparkles can still be seen in the uniform fine particles on the cross-section. 'Imperial cinnabar' A richer red with a brighter luster and higher hardness. The production method involves multiple stages of purification from natural raw cinnabar ore, including crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, water milling, and high polishing, followed by ancient pressing techniques. Imperial cinnabar has almost no surface sparkle but has internal sparkle. The surface is polished to a high gloss, giving it a metallic sheen, especially striking in sunlight. 'Purple-gold cinnabar' A purplish-red color with slightly lower hardness than Imperial cinnabar. The production method involves multiple stages from natural raw cinnabar ore, including crushing, grinding, and screening, but *without* water purification. Therefore, the surface is less refined and features scattered, star-like mineral specks, creating a 'starry sky' effect. 'Crystalline cinnabar' A purplish-red color, translucent. Large cinnabar crystals are directly chipped from the ore. The crystal particles are clearly visible on the surface, and under light, they appear transparent, emitting a fluorescent red glow. > Spring Plowing and Autumn Harvest All things in this world that are graceful, poetic, and beautiful tend to happen naturally, much like the changing seasons. Learn to slow down, clear your mind, approach life with gentleness, respect the power of time, and allow everything to grow naturally. Like a tree, grow with focus and without fear, forming clear growth rings. Our craftsmanship is the same! > Cinnabar The earliest textual records refer to cinnabar with a single character, "丹" (dān). This is a pictograph representing miners extracting minerals from a well; the character itself resembles the character for "well" (井) with a dot in the middle, signifying something taken from within a mine. This something is cinnabar. Because cinnabar is red, often a deep red, "朱" (zhū) also means red. Later, cinnabar was called "朱砂" (zhūshā), where "丹" and "朱" describe the color, and "砂" describes the shape – irregular granular mineral. Cinnabar’s color is exceptionally enduring. Chinese calligraphy and painting are known as "丹青" (dānqīng), where "丹" refers to cinnabar. It is an indispensable component of pigments, and the 'Eight Treasures Seal Paste' is primarily made of cinnabar. From a feng shui perspective, cinnabar is collected from minerals imbued with the essence of the sun and moon, absorbing the pure energy of heaven and earth. Thus, cinnabar possesses a strong yang magnetic field. We find that jade feels cool to the touch, while cinnabar held in the hand feels warm. Since ancient times, cinnabar has been used in Taoist rituals for creating talismans, consecrating objects, warding off evil spirits, and pacifying malevolent influences. Cinnabar has always been regarded as a supreme item for attracting good fortune, averting misfortune, repelling evil, and accumulating wealth. It carries auspicious meanings of great luck, prosperity, and peace. The *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* (Classic of Materia Medica) lists cinnabar as a superior herbal medicine, often used in treatments for calming the spirit, detoxifying, and alleviating insomnia and excessive dreaming. Living in modern times, owning one or two cinnabar artifacts can also contribute to self-cultivation, refreshing both the eyes and the mind. > Identification All cinnabar products in our store are high-content cinnabar with a substantial weight. You can use the following methods for identification: . Burning cinnabar will turn it black. (Please heat it indirectly. It is generally not recommended to burn finished products directly, as it is difficult to control the time and area. If it turns black after prolonged heating, it cannot be restored.) . True cinnabar can draw orangey-red lines on paper. (To avoid damaging the aesthetic of the finished product, please choose an inconspicuous area to draw the line, or use the complimentary bead provided.) > Care Cinnabar jewelry, if it does not contain metal or organic components (such as wood, bamboo, bodhi seeds, etc.), can be lightly exposed to water, but it is not suitable for prolonged soaking, as this can affect its luster. Braided cord styles are not recommended to come into contact with water. After cleaning, they should be air-dried before wearing, as damp cords can lead to excessive moisture on the body, which is not beneficial. 1. Avoid Corrosives Cinnabar is a mineral and does not dissolve in water, but frequent contact with chemicals like soap and shower gel can corrode it. 2. Avoid Contact with Metals The mineral elements in cinnabar can absorb metal ions, causing irreversible darkening or blackening of the cinnabar. 3. Avoid High Temperatures The mercury sulfide in cinnabar's composition only releases at temperatures of 380 degrees Celsius. Therefore, as long as cinnabar jewelry is kept away from high-temperature environments, it is safe to wear. 4. Avoid Collisions with Hard or Sharp Objects Cinnabar is hard but brittle; take care to prevent drops. 5. How to Clean If the cinnabar appears dirty, do not soak it in water, as this can alter its original luster! You can gently wipe it a few times with a slightly damp cotton cloth and allow it to air dry. 6. Oiling for Maintenance Apply a layer of white tea oil or olive oil to the surface of the finished product, allowing the stone to absorb the oil, making it more lustrous and clear. If applying oil, seal it in a brocade box, perhaps with a layer of plastic wrap to prevent the oil from staining the box's lining. 7. Frequent Handling Frequently handle the cinnabar jewelry worn on your body with your hands, allowing the surface to acquire a very thin layer of oil. Over time, it will appear more antique and elegant. The actual item is more exquisite and beautiful than the photos.