Uses of Cinnabar in Buddhism

# The Multiple Meanings and Applications of Cinnabar in Buddhism

In the profound and long - standing Buddhist cultural system, cinnabar, as a unique substance, is endowed with extremely distinctive functions and profound connotations, deeply integrated into many important aspects of Buddhism, such as artistic creation, religious rituals, and spiritual practices. Different Buddhist sects have their own unique ways of using cinnabar, and cinnabar also has a unique presence in numerous Buddhist allusions, carrying the wisdom and beliefs of Buddhism.

## I. Buddha Statue Sculpture and Buddhist Painting: Endowing Sacred Images with Vitality
### Eye - dotting of Buddha Statues
In the long history and exquisite craftsmanship of Buddhist statue - making art, the eye - dotting process of Buddha statues is one of the most sacred and solemn procedures, and cinnabar plays a pivotal role in it. After a Buddha statue has been meticulously carved by craftsmen over countless days and nights and the main part is completed, the crucial eye - dotting moment arrives. At this time, monks will hold a solemn ceremony. They put on magnificent kasayas, hold special brushes dipped in cinnabar, and chant incantations while dotting the eyes of the Buddha statue. This act is by no means just a simple coloring; instead, it is regarded as a key step to endow the Buddha statue with spirituality and life, carrying profound religious significance.

In the Buddhist concept, the eyes are the windows to perceive all things in the world and symbols of wisdom and compassion. Dotting the eyes of the Buddha statue with cinnabar implies that the statue thus acquires the ability to perceive the sufferings of all sentient beings and look upon the world with compassion. It seems to inject a soul into the Buddha statue. This sacred act instantly transforms the inanimate sculpture into a highly sacred symbol in the hearts of believers, becoming the core object of their worship and the sustenance of their faith. For example, in Shaolin Temple, the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism, the Buddha statue of Bodhidharma has its eyes dotted with cinnabar. The vermilion eyes seem to contain the boundless wisdom and compassion of the patriarch. Through these eyes, the spiritual power of Bodhidharma is transmitted to every devout believer, inspiring them to keep exploring on the path of spiritual practice.

### Coloring of Buddhist Paintings
As an important art form for spreading Buddhist teachings and depicting the Buddhist world, Buddhist paintings cannot do without cinnabar, a precious pigment. When painting Buddhist paintings, painters, filled with awe and piety, carefully use cinnabar to depict the key parts of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, such as their robes and halos. The robes of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas colored with cinnabar, with their bright and solemn red color, not only highlight their noble and sacred status but also convey an aura of compassion and peace, allowing viewers to feel the warmth and inclusiveness of the Dharma. The use of cinnabar to paint the halos can create a mysterious and auspicious halo effect, as if symbolizing that the wisdom light of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas shines upon the world, dispelling the ignorance and darkness in the hearts of sentient beings and leading them towards light and enlightenment.

In some Buddhist paintings depicting the Pure Land, the lotus thrones painted with cinnabar add a solemn and sacred atmosphere to the entire picture. Just as described in the scriptures of the Pure Land Sect, the solemnity and beauty of the Pure Land are vividly presented through the color of cinnabar. These Buddhist paintings not only have extremely high artistic value, becoming brilliant pearls in the treasure house of human art, but also can evoke the awe and understanding of the Dharma in the hearts of believers. They help believers enter a devout state of spiritual practice while observing the paintings and deeply understand the profound teachings of Buddhism. Each Buddhist painting is a dialogue between the painter and the Dharma, as well as a bridge between believers and their faith.

## II. Buddhist Rituals and the Making of Sacred Objects: Carrying Beliefs and Blessing Powers
### Writing Scriptures
In some important Buddhist rituals or spiritual practices, writing scriptures or mantras with cinnabar is an extremely solemn and sacred act. The writer usually needs to perform strict purification and precept - observing rituals in advance, and with a pious and pure heart, write the scriptures stroke by stroke on special paper, palm leaves, or other materials using cinnabar. Buddhism believes that cinnabar has pure yang power, which can enhance the blessing power of scriptures and mantras, making them more spiritual and powerful.

In the spiritual practice of Tibetan Buddhism, lamas will write esoteric mantras with cinnabar and then solemnly pass them on to their disciples. Disciples hope to obtain extraordinary blessings and achievements and achieve the sublimation and liberation of their souls through practicing these esoteric mantras written with cinnabar. These scriptures written with cinnabar are regarded as having special spirituality. They are often carefully enshrined in the Buddhist hall, receiving the worship and admiration of believers, or carried by practitioners for daily spiritual practice, constantly reminding them of their faith in the Dharma. They are not only the carriers of the written Dharma but also bear the believers' pious respect for the Dharma and their firm belief in spiritual practice. Each character written with cinnabar seems to contain boundless wisdom and power, serving as a bridge for believers to communicate with the Dharma.

### Making Buddhist Amulets and Other Sacred Objects
Cinnabar is often used to make various Buddhist sacred objects, such as Buddhist amulets and talismans. When making Buddhist amulets, cinnabar is skillfully mixed with other materials and formed through a series of complex and delicate processes. These Buddhist amulets are regarded by believers as sacred objects with the magical effects of expelling evil spirits, praying for blessings, and protecting peace, carrying their yearning for a good life and their trust in Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

In many Buddhist stories spread among the people, there are often legends like this: A believer in distress accidentally obtained a talisman made of cinnabar. With his sincere prayers, he finally got out of trouble and regained peace and happiness. Believers believe that wearing a Buddhist amulet or talisman made of cinnabar can receive the protection of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, stay away from disasters, diseases, and evil spirits in life, and obtain good luck and everything going smoothly. For many believers, these sacred objects are not only a form of material protection but also a spiritual comfort and a sustenance of faith. They constantly remind believers of their faith in the Dharma, give them the courage and strength to face the difficulties in life, and become an indispensable spiritual pillar in their lives.

### Mandala Painting
In Tibetan Buddhism, the painting of a mandala is an extremely sacred and solemn ceremony, carrying profound religious connotations and spiritual practice significance. The mandala represents the realm of the Buddha and the structure of the universe, a sacred world in the hearts of Buddhists. During the painting process, cinnabar is sometimes used to draw some patterns or lines of the mandala, adding a mysterious and solemn color to the mandala.

Monks, with unparalleled patience and concentration, carefully apply cinnabar pigment to the canvas with delicate brushstrokes, outlining complex and beautiful patterns. Each stroke contains their profound understanding of the Dharma and their awe - inspiring hearts, and each line seems to be a link connecting the secular world and the sacred. The use of cinnabar not only helps to present the solemnity and mystery of the mandala but also serves as a medium for practitioners to connect the secular and the sacred during the painting process. Through visualization and chanting mantras, they integrate their body, speech, and mind with the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha, purifying and sublimating their souls. The mandala thus becomes an important support for practitioners' spiritual sublimation, helping them to move forward on the path of spiritual practice and approach the realm of the Buddha. Just like in some large - scale Dharma assemblies, in the large - scale mandalas jointly painted by many monks, the color of cinnabar is particularly eye - catching, symbolizing the light and power of the Dharma, illuminating the spiritual path of practitioners.

## III. Spiritual Practice Assistance and Psychological Suggestion: Facilitating the Purification and Enlightenment of the Soul
### Offering to the Buddha and Blessing
In Buddhist practice places such as temples and Buddhist halls, offerings made of cinnabar can often be seen. These offerings come in various forms. There is incense made of cinnabar. When lit, it emits a unique and delicate fragrance, and the curling smoke seems to carry the believers' prayers and pious hearts to the Buddhist realm, allowing Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to hear their voices. There is also cinnabar powder, carefully placed on the offering table to be presented to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, expressing the believers' utmost respect and gratitude.

Believers believe that the pure yang attribute of cinnabar corresponds to the compassion and wisdom of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. By offering cinnabar offerings, they can express their deep piety and respect for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and pray for their blessings and protection. During the offering process, believers, with hearts full of awe and gratitude, gradually feel calm and peaceful, and sense a close connection with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, obtaining spiritual comfort and strength. Just like in the allusion of Mulian saving his mother, if cinnabar offerings could have been used to pray for the blessing of the Buddha's power at that time, perhaps the road to saving his mother would have been smoother. This also reflects the believers' firm belief in the blessing power of cinnabar offerings. Every offering is a spiritual dialogue between believers and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as a spiritual baptism on their path of spiritual practice.

### Visualization during Spiritual Practice
In some Buddhist meditation or contemplation practices, the red color of cinnabar is used by practitioners as an important object of visualization, playing a unique guiding role. In Buddhist culture, the color red represents qualities such as enthusiasm, vitality, and compassion, symbolizing the spirit of the Dharma. When meditating, practitioners close their eyes and focus on visualizing the red color of cinnabar, aiming to stimulate their inner compassion and bodhicitta in this way.

They imagine that this red color is like the compassionate light of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, filling their bodies and minds, dispelling inner troubles and distractions, and gradually purifying and calming their souls. The red color of cinnabar here serves as a guide for the soul to move towards enlightenment, helping practitioners to better enter a state of meditation, deeply understand the true meaning of the Dharma, and improve their spiritual practice realm. In the practice of Zen Buddhism, practitioners try to break through their inner attachments by visualizing the red color of cinnabar, just like Bodhidharma facing the wall for nine years. In the stillness, through self - reflection, they draw on the symbolic meaning of the red color of cinnabar to achieve spiritual transcendence and liberation. Every visualization is an exploration of the inner world by practitioners, and a step closer to the wisdom of the Dharma.

The applications of cinnabar in Buddhism, from external artistic creation and religious rituals to internal spiritual practice assistance and spiritual sustenance, all demonstrate its unique value and significance. It is not only a material carrier of Buddhist culture but also a bridge connecting believers with the Dharma, and the secular world with the sacred. It bears the beliefs and pursuits of countless Buddhist believers, adding a mysterious and solemn color to Buddhist culture. Throughout the long history of Buddhism, cinnabar has always shone with a unique light, witnessing the piety and perseverance of believers and passing on the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism.