Page 83 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 76
Cinnabar

dan

Cinnabar is a reddish mineral which contains mercury: symbolically, it is linked with the
colour red. It is the basic substance of Taoist alchemy, and a component ingredient in
many an elixir which was supposed to confer longevity but which all too often cut
short the lives of those who put too much trust in such things. In some quarters, it was
even held that cinnabar conferred immortality.
In the Han Dynasty, a cinnabar fleck on the forehead of a harem girl served as a sign
to the Emperor that she was not available (because of menstruation). A ‘cinnabar-
note’ (dan-shu) was a certificate on red paper. In earlier times, slaves were furnished with
similar documents, confirming their status.
Taoists believe that there is a ‘cinnabar field’ just below the navel in the human body,
comparable to our ‘solar plexus’, which plays a big part in meditation. Finally, the inner
part of the vagina is called the ‘cinnabar cave’.

Cinnamon Tree

gui

A mythical cinnamon tree (or cassia tree) grows in the courtyard of the Palace of the
Moon. ‘The cassia tree grows so luxuriantly that if it were left to grow it would

overshadow all the brilliance of the moon. So it must be cut down every thousand
years’ (‘The Legend of the Moon-Fairy’, tr. Richard Wilhelm). Another version of the
tale says that every night a man tries to cut the tree down, but he cannot keep pace with
its growth: however much he cuts down has grown up again by next day. This Chinese
Sisyphus is variously known as Wu Gang or Wu Zhi.
The flowers of the tree (species Osmanthus fragrans) have a very attractive and
delightful scent. The expression ‘to break off a cinnamon twig’ means ‘to pass the state
examinations’ – because then one will be ‘in good odour’ on all sides. Similarly one
speaks of ‘cinnamon-sons’ and ‘orchid-grandsons’. However, the expression ‘breaking
the cinnamon (bough) and mounting the dragon’ refers to sexual intercourse.
The cinnamon tree blooms in the 8th month of the old Chinese calendar and is
accordingly an autumn flower. Depicted together with peach blossom it symbolises
‘great age and limitless duration in honour (gui)’.