Where did ancient saltpeter come from and were there saltpeter mines?

It was refined by alchemists, and there are a lot of saltpeter mines in China.

Ancient China used saltpeter is very early, the initial writing "elimination of stone", in the Warring States period has been used for medicine. Its chemical composition is potassium nitrate. Nitrate in nature is often nitrogenous organic matter in the soil under the action of bacteria decomposition, oxidation into nitric acid and potassium in the soil after synthesis. So whenever the autumn season, it is usually crusty or salt flower precipitation, covered in the ground, the foot of the wall, which is called the ground frost. Especially in the pigsties, stables, toilets near the corners of the wall especially.

Nitromin sweeps this nitrogen-containing soil, puts it in a bucket, and soaks it in water. After filtering, the filtrate is boiled or dried in the sun, you get the saltpeter crystals. In addition, it is occasionally found on certain rock surfaces, caves or salt marshes. According to its "fossilized" nature, the "park elimination" recorded in "Shennong ben cao jing" (The Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica), written in the Eastern Han Dynasty, which "can transform seventy-two kinds of stones", is probably saltpeter.

After the rise of Chinese alchemy, Fangshi attaches great importance to the saltpeter, and constantly explore its nature, saying that it is "sense of the sea halogen gas is born, is the world to the God's things, ...... can make seventy-two petrochemicals and water, soft and wet hardware, the system of refining the eight stone, although the big Dan also do not give up this! ". In the Eastern Han Dynasty came out of China's early Dan Jing "36 water law", saltpeter is the protagonist.

But in nature and quite widely exist a kind of material called "nitrous oxide", the chemical composition is Na2SO4-10H2O, around the salt lake will be a large number of precipitation; or calcium nitrous oxide, white sodium and magnesium salts (i.e., nitrate plate) form; also often from the saline ground from the precipitation, the external appearance and the saltpeter is quite similar. And both in our traditional medicine, medical function is almost identical.

So the ancients, especially from the pre-Qin to the North and South Dynasties, often confuse them, of course, the records on the ancient books is quite confusing, what is the real saltpeter? A long period of diverse opinions. So to nitrate widely collected, fully utilize and accurately grasp its chemical properties, it is necessary to find out some ways to distinguish between them.

In the North and South Dynasties, Tao Hongjing put forward a method of identification of saltpeter, quite scientific, he said: "burned with fire, purple and green smoke, cloud is the real saltpeter. Now Dangchang (in today's Gansu) north of the mountains have salty soil are there." That is to say, the real saltpeter on the flame, it will make the flame is purple, different from nitrate. We know that sodium sulfate, on the other hand, will color the flame yellow. This is the recent method of flame color checking, which our ancient fangshi utilized as early as 1,500 years ago.

But when this method is actually applied, there are often difficulties. Because in the natural saltpeter will always contain some nitrate and salt, and sodium produced by the yellow flame, its brightness is far more than the purple flame of potassium, so a small amount of sodium impurities, the existence of this method of identification by the color of the flame is very ineffective. In the Tang Dynasty, the alchemists invented a highly efficient "sulfur nitrate method" to manufacture lead Dan.

The process is the first use of molten lead and sulfur phase reaction, so that the generation of lead sulfide, and then add saltpeter with the frying, will soon be generated red lead, and the manganese nitrate is absolutely no such function, so this is not a scientific method of identification of saltpeter.

But in the Tang Dynasty, the alchemist is more generally known as the use of saltpeter flammability can identify it: a small piece of saltpeter to be tested thrown to the red-hot charcoal, it will burn up; while the nitrate thrown into the fire, it is the first into the "water", the water evaporated, turned into white like alum powder, and saltpeter is very different. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty alchemists on the nature of saltpeter knowledge and the use of multiple strides forward, they invented gunpowder in this period is not accidental.

The Materia Medica - saltpeter?

"Interpretation of the name" Mangnit ("Beilu"), bitter nitrate (Zhenquan), flame nitrate ("Tushu"), fire nitrate ("Compendium"), ground frost ("Shu Ben"), nitrate of life (Song Ben), the northern emperor Xuanzhu.

Zhi said: its digestion of stones, so the name of the elimination of stone. When first decocted, there are fine awns, and the shape of the Park Nitrate, so there is the name of Mang Nitrate. Not with Park Nitrate and the "other records" of the same type of nitrate of manganese.

Zong said: nitrate is then decocted, take away the nitrate condensed under the elite both go, but the remaining dregs such as stone only. Into the drug power is also slow, but can send smoke and fire.

Kuen said: manganese nitrate, a bitter nitrate, said its flavor is also bitter.

Shizhen said: saltpeter, dan furnace home system hardware eight stone, silver workers home chemistry gold and silver, soldiers used as a beacon flint gunpowder, the fire that flame up, so there are all the names. Fox Gangzi "powder map" called the North Emperor Xuanzhu. Kai Bao Materia Medica" heavy birth nitrate, manganese nitrate, now and for one, and detailed below.

"Jiejie" "Beilu" said: nitrate, born in Yizhou valley and Wudu, Longxi, West Qiang. The time is not available.

Hongjing said: nitrate healing and Park Nitrate similar, "immortal scripture" with this digestion of the stones, no real knowledge of this person. Or cloud and park nitrate with the same out, so park nitrate a saltpeter park also. Another cloud of a manzanite, the manzanite is refining the park nitrate for the. It has not been verified. Some people get a kind of thing, the color is much the same as Park Nitrate, such as holding salt and snow is not ice, burned purple and green smoke, the cloud is the real saltpeter also. Today, all the mountains north of Dangchang have alkaline soil are available.

Zhi said: this is the ground frost. Where the mountains, winter months on the ground there is frost, sweeping to take the water drenched juice, after the decoction is refined into a hairpin feet, the good long five points since. Tao said a lot of things, cover by not the knowledge of the reason is also.

And said: raw nitrate raw mao zhou west mountain rocks, shape block size uncertain, color green and white, pick no time.

Shizhen said: nitrate, the halogen land are produced, and Hebei Qingyang counties and Shu in particular. Between fall and winter everywhere white, sweeping to take the decoction and refined into. The goods are meticulous, more than not clean, must then be decocted with water, pouring basin, overnight into. Clarification in the lower part, the shape of the plain nitrate, also known as raw nitrate, that is, refining over the nitrate of the birth of the nitrate. Knot in the upper part, or have a sharp edge such as manganese nitrate, or have Gui rib such as horse teeth nitrate, so saltpeter also has the name of manganese nitrate, tooth nitrate, with plain nitrate of manganese, teeth of the same name, but the nature of water and fire is different.

Cui "Outer Dan Materia Medica" cloud: saltpeter, yin stone. This is not a stone type, is alkali halogen decoction, now called flame nitrate. Hebei Mall and Huai, Wei boundaries, people along the river, scraping brine drenching juice refining, and Park Nitrate small difference, the South does not produce. Ascension Xuanzi "mercury map" cloud: nitrate born in the field of Wu, the color of green and white, with white quartz scorching hot point, will be eliminated into the stone for the real.

The stone out, the gas is extremely dirty, birds can not pass over it. If a person or a single piece of clothing passes through it, all the insects on the body are turned into water. Can eliminate gold and stone, for the water to take the long life, to the shape of a goose tube is good. I would like to press the ascension of Xuanzi said, seems to be different from today's saltpeter, and Yao Kuan "Xixi Series of Words" to say that the real saltpeter, is not a foreign country and China's production is different? Or another kind of Yes? When the museum will be revised.

"The correct error" Hongjing said: "Shennong Benjing" no nitrate, only saltpeter, a manganese nitrate. The Famous Doctor's Alibi Record" is out of manganese nitrate, treatment and saltpeter with the same, suspected to be saltpeter also. The old out of Ningzhou, yellow and white grain size, taste very hard. Nowadays, medical practitioners often use the author of boiling and refining, color. All white granules are fine, and the flavor is not very strong. Huangfu Shian said: no Park Nitro available saltpeter. Saltpeter is born in the yin of the mountain, the salt of the gallbladder. Take the stone spleen and saltpeter boiled in water, a dendrobium to get three buckets, is white as snow, to the water cast that is eliminated, so the name of the elimination of stone.

The taste is bitter and non-toxic, the main thirst and heat, to stop boredom and fullness, March picking in the red mountain. Park nitrate, also born in the yin of the mountain, salt, salt and bitter water, then Park nitrate born in its yang. Its taste is bitter and non-toxic, yellowish-white in color, the main treatment of heat, abdominal fullness, nourishing the stomach and eliminating grain, to remove the evil, but also to get water and eliminate, its treatment and saltpeter small difference. According to this statement, is to take manganese nitrate and cook, more to become a real saltpeter, but I do not know what is the spleen is also? Park nitrate for manganese nitrate, with warm soup drenched in juice to cook, with a wooden pot, after a night that is into it. Today, Yizhou people refining alum stone for saltpeter, absolutely soft white, and the taste is alum.

And said: Park nitrate, now out of the north of Yizhou Wenshan County Xichuan, Silkworm Lings two counties border, born on the cliffs, the color of many green and white, but also a mixture of black spots. The natives choose the white soft, to when the nitrate with, when burned to make the juice boil out, like alum stone also.

Hidden ware said: stone spleen, nitrous oxide, saltpeter, and out of the Xijong halo, alkaline water formation.

Kong said: the nitrate has longitudinal, Amanli two kinds, with no difference. The white soft, Park nitrate seedling, weak soft less power. Refining for the nitrate , not much; to when the nitrate, the power is inferior.

And said: saltpeter that is, the manzanite, a nitrate of nitrate Park. Today's refining coarse evil Park Nitro, take the juice decoction for manganese nitrate, that is, saltpeter. The "Don't Record" compounded by manganese nitrate, the error. Jin and Song ancient formula, more nitrate, less manganese nitrate; modern doctors, but manganese nitrate, rarely say nitrate.

The reasoning is clear, not to be repeated.

Ode: the old saying that Park Nitro, manganese nitrate, saltpeter three things with the same species. The first harvested seedlings, the water drenched juice decocted into the Park Nitrate, a nitrate Park. And refining the park nitrate or ground frost and become, firm white like stone, for the nitrate, a manzanite. The one with fine awns formed by refining and decocting the juice of the nitrous oxide is called manganese nitrate. Although one of the different names, but the practice of the method is different, then the main function of treatment is also different. However, the "Classic" contained, suspected to be two kinds.

Today's medical prescription used, can not be investigated. But not refined into a block of slightly green for the Park Nitro; refined into a basin, there are awns for the Mannite, also known as the basin Nitro; Mannite the bottom of the clarification of the condensation, for the Nitro Stone Park. Nitric acid is tight, nitric acid is second to nitric acid, and nitric acid is even slower.

I wonder who is right? Su Gong said: Jin Song ancient formula, more nitrate, less manganese nitrate. According to Zhang Zhongjing, "Typhoid Fever", Cheng Qi, chest are used to use the Mann Nitrate. Ge Hong "After Elbow Square", typhoid seasonal gas is also used more manganese nitrate, but the treatment of food does not melt clouds, no Park Nitrate, with manganese nitrate instead. Before the Jin and Song dynasties, it was common for people to use nitrous oxide and manganese nitrate. Hu Qia Fang, ten jujube soup with manganese nitrate, big five drink pill with saltpeter, and cloud without saltpeter with manganese nitrate.

It is the generalization of the Liang Sui-Minister, saltpeter carry forward. In this case, Park nitrate, saltpeter for the fine, manganese nitrate for coarse. Therefore, the Tao cited Huangfu Shi'an words as evidence, is nitrate at that time has been difficult to its true, so the book through to phase replacement carry on. Another ancient formula, Jinshi Lingfa, with Park nitrate, saltpeter, manganese nitrate, horse teeth nitrate four kinds of mutual reference, in turn under the. Fang out of the Tang Dynasty, I do not know how to separate at that time? And the southern medical practitioners with "nitro said" cloud: the herb has Park nitrate, nitrate, manganese nitrate, and no horse teeth nitrate.

The note, three kinds of no break. Or say that manganese nitrate, saltpeter is a thing, do not re-emerge. Or that the decoction refining Park nitrate, by staying in a basin with a fine awn for manganese nitrate. Or that the horse teeth nitrate is a thing of its own. Now the body of all nitrate is different, the reason is also easy to understand, and confusion is so. Park nitrate taste bitter and slightly salty, out of Shu County, white as ice and snow, the mainland small black, are Su brittle and fragile, the wind is blowing frost, obliterated as powder, boiled and melted, can also be melted and cast.

To water with licorice, pig's gall boiled to half, thrown into a large basin, and under the condensation of stone dust, with the impregnation of the night, the condensation of white quartz as the manna nitrate. It is also a kind of saltpeter, which can eliminate gold and stone, and it is afraid of fire, but it can control all kinds of stones so that they can resist fire, and it is also a sacred thing in heaven and earth. Dental nitrate, that is, also known as manganese nitrate. There is also raw nitrate, not because of cooking and refining, also out of the Shu Road, such as Park nitrate and small firm. The theory of the discernment, but with the ancients said different, but also can not be fully believed.

Hao Gu said: nitrate, nitrate of the general name. But not by the fire, called the birth of nitrate, Park nitrate; by the fire, called manganese nitrate, basin nitrate.

Shizhen said: the nitrate, since the Jin and Tang dynasties, all the families are sticking to the name and guess, are not certain. But Ma Zhi "Kai Bao Materia Medica", to nitrate stone for the ground frost refining, while the nitrate of manganese, horse teeth nitrate is the refining out of Park nitrate, a word enough to break the confusion of the family carry on. The name of nitrate is mixed up with that of nitrate of stone and nitrate of stone, so that it is difficult to recognize.

Not knowing that there are two kinds of nitrate, water and fire, the shape and quality are the same, but the nature and gas are very different. Only "Shennong Benjing" Park nitrate, saltpeter two articles for the positive. The "Beilu" nitrate, "Jia" horse teeth nitrate, "Kai Bao" nitrate, are all out of the system, and now and to the merger. The "Shennong" listed in the park nitrate, that is, water nitrate also, there are two kinds of, decoction and refinement out of the fine mangrove for the mangrove nitrate; out of the horse's teeth, for the tooth nitrate; the bottom of the condensation into a block of the pass for the park nitrate, the smell of all salty and cold.

The nitrate listed in Shennong, that is, the fire nitrate, there are also two kinds, the decoction and refinement of the fine mango is also known as manganese nitrate, and the formation of horse teeth is also known as dental nitrate, also known as the birth of nitrate; and the condensation of the bottom into a block is commonly known as the saltpeter. Its odor are hard and warm. The two nitrate all have the name of manganese nitrate, dental nitrate, so the ancient formula has a generation of said.

Since the Tang and Song dynasties below, the use of manganese nitrate, dental nitrate, are water nitrate. The southern doctors are clearly identified, but to condensation stone, pig gall decoction for nitrous oxide, it is wrong. This is a mistake. The stone of the spleen is a nitrate, causing false nitrate. The first is a stone that has been used in the past, and the second is a stone that has been used in the past.

"Fixing" Damien said: real saltpeter, willow branch soup decoction for three weeks, such as soup less, that is, heating, volatile fire.

Said: Where to make saltpeter, the first research as powder, with chicken intestines, cypress kernel **** twenty-five, and for a place, pills, such as a small emperor beads, to porcelain bottle in five pounds of fire red, cast saltpeter four two in the bottle, and even casting the pills into the bottle, naturally, volatile fire also.

"Hug Park Zi" said: can eliminate soft hardware, seventy-two stone into water. The system must be ground lotus seed, pig's tooth soap horn, bitter ginseng, star, Ba Dou, Han Fangji, late silkworm sand.

Shizhen said: melting, cast licorice into the inside, that is, the ambient fire.

Nitrate

"Odor" bitter, cold, non-toxic. Pu said: Shennong: bitter; magpie: Gan. Quan said: salty, a small poison.

Shizhen said: Xin, bitter, slightly salty, a small poison, yin in the sun. Chen Pi, the nature of the relaxed and cool.

Zhi Cai said: fire for the make, evil bitter ginseng, bitter vegetables, afraid of aster, almonds, bamboo leaves.

"The main treatment" of the five viscera accumulated heat, stomach distension closed, wash away the accumulation of food and drink, push the new, in addition to the evil. Refined as a paste, it can be taken for a long time to lighten the body ("Ben Jing").

The treatment of the five viscera and twelve meridians in one hundred and twenty diseases, typhoid fever, abdominal fever, to stop boredom, fullness, thirst, urination, and erosion of sores. Heaven and earth to God's things, can melt seventy-two kinds of stone ("Other Records"). Breaking the accumulation and dispersing firm, treating abdominal distension, breaking blood, scrofula, diarrhea rooted out (Zhen Quan). Containing the pharynx, curing throat closure (Da Ming). It is also used in the treatment of heat and cold, cholera and vomiting, five kinds of gonorrhea, black jaundice, heart and intestinal pain, red eyes, headache and toothache (Shi Zhen).

Source: Li Shizhen, The Compendium of Materia Medica