Cinnabar inkpad, a natural cinnabar mineral with red and yellow hexagonal crystals, is a sulfide of mercury. Its molecular structure is relatively symmetrical and stable, and it has the advantages of high coloring power and hiding power, good chemical resistance, good light stability and insolubility in water. Cinnabar is a "gem-grade" high-quality pigment, which is why people choose it to make inkpad in ancient and modern times.
A good inkpad should be maintenance-free, just cover it with dust and leave it indoors at room temperature. If there is slight oil leakage after long-term non-use, it can be used by slightly stirring (along one direction) with printed ribs (small sticks for distribution) before use. Inferior inkpad is inherently insufficient, and it is difficult to guarantee the quality through painstaking efforts. High-grade inkpad is mainly composed of cinnabar (mainly composed of mercury sulfide HgS), vegetable oil and plant fiber. Cinnabar is rich in mercury ions, and has strong sterilization and corrosion resistance, which can ensure that the inkpad does not deteriorate.