Cinnabar Red

The natural color of the mineral, deep and calm, with a subtle crystalline texture

HEX#D93829

RGBrgb(217, 56, 41)

HSLhsl(5, 70%, 51%)

HSVhsv(5, 81%, 85%)

CMYKcmyk(0%, 74%, 81%, 15%)

HEXA#D93829FF

RGBArgba(217, 56, 41, 1)

HSLAhsla(5, 70%, 51%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(72%, 0.137, 30)

LCHlch(65.7%, 41.6, 37)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

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High Contrast Text

#FFFFFFRatio 4.6:1AA

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Standard Text

#FEFDFBRatio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

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Large Text / UI Components

#CBDA2BRatio 3:1AA Large

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

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Decorative / Dividers

#2BDA39Ratio 2.5:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

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Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, stepwise lightness adjustment ±30%

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#862118

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Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, stepwise saturation adjustment ±30%

#B45850

#C14E44

#CD4437

#DA392B

#E62F1E

#F32412

#FF1A05

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#632721

#872E26

#AE3429

#D63729

#E35245

#EE6F63

#F68D84

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#DA2B48

#DA2B39

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💡 Use Cases

🖌️

Calligraphy Seals

Cinnabar seal paste used for signatures on calligraphy and paintings is bright yet deep, lasting without fading. Within a small square, it embodies artistic character and identity.

📿

Cultural Collectible Bracelets

Cinnabar bracelets are believed to ward off evil and calm the mind. Warm to the touch with a steady color, they are a must-have for cultural collectible enthusiasts.

🏺

Antique Collection

Ming and Qing cinnabar carvings and lacquerware have restrained colors and a warm patina, making them darlings of the collecting world, fetching high prices.

🧧

Amulets

Folk tradition uses cinnabar to make peace charms and protective amulets, entrusting wishes for warding off evil and attracting blessings, providing psychological security to the wearer.

📜 Origin & History

Cinnabar red is closer to the natural color of the ore than vermilion, saturated yet not glaring, with a subtle granular texture. Cinnabar ore was the most important source of red pigment in ancient times, produced in Chenzhou, Hunan, hence the name 'Chen Sha'.

Before the Han Dynasty, cinnabar was mainly used in tombs and religious rituals. The cinnabar-painted coffin from the Mawangdui Han tombs remains vivid in color today. The ancients believed cinnabar could suppress evil; Daoists used it for talismans, and Buddhist temples used it for copying scriptures.

During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, cinnabar was used to annotate and correct texts. Much of the red in Dunhuang murals was made from cinnabar, which oxidized and darkened over a thousand years, forming its unique deep tone.

After the Song Dynasty, cinnabar entered medicinal use; doctors believed it could calm the mind and fright. Cinnabar red also found a place in ceramic glazes; Jun kiln's transmutation red used copper instead of cinnabar to pursue a similar mineral feel.

Modern cinnabar red's use is limited due to its mercury content, but its color imagery is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, synonymous with mystery and spirituality, and remains popular today in cultural collectibles and bracelets.

🧠 Color Psychology

Quiet and RestrainedUnassuming and not glaring, cinnabar red has a mineral solidity that calms the mind, allowing one to immerse in tranquility.

Mysterious and SpiritualSince ancient times, cinnabar has accompanied Daoist talismans and Buddhist scriptures, exuding a supernatural mystery that invites exploration.

Ancient and LeisurelyLike the mottled paint on antiques, cinnabar red carries traces of time, evoking nostalgia and reminiscence of the past.

Calming the MindUsed in traditional Chinese medicine as a sedative, this red also brings a psychological calming effect, alleviating anxiety.

Solid and SimpleThe mineral's natural properties give cinnabar red a stable and reliable quality—unpretentious, plain, yet powerful.

Elegant and RefinedCinnabar red is the color of the literati's desk; used for annotations and seals, it represents scholarly cultivation and taste.

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