Technikatörténeti szemle 22. (1996)

Papers from the Second International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Eger, Hungary, 16–19 August, 1995) - Pérez-Bustamente, A. Juan: The Holistic Concept of Alchemy

Il Hermetic doctrinal synchretia. - fnoatioisa - neoglatonlH Minerai substance» p rot agoni sa Inphasla on Daleination

.alloys: pneunatic (dis till atlon.aubl lastionK fire techniques £ proceun 1 ""Xasiyana" ••9-1 • vedlc.brahnanie £ budhiitic nyatical • Essential tantric £ yoga influences • Emphasis on mystici(quiet1sm,eHxirn) • Absence of a profane aatter philosophy • ivi mjiff WHIHi" a S-aristotelio elements("panchatusn") a interesting own atomistic theory . a Mystic enbryologicsl theory of octal* i Herbal "ao>a-ra*a","hatalta" and aineral 'satvu'' rejuvenating ellxlra • £rabic^alcjjearj adapted to chris 1 Importance on ogrsphic develop*. Diiti^lit lon_ laorovMMnt (othano I latrochenical revolution • Triads Priaa" theory of aatte , •Chy«lstri«":»c.fle»ic status Pneiasatlo alchemy c cheat*try H 3- principle theory*fire-en»lys • AlexandrineNuwroltjay.nagie squares,elixir • S-Kg aetsl theory iMportaot latrocbeaiical t pharmacological developaenti Mineral aolda introduction Improvement of distillation C lab.outfit (glass.ovens,balance Syateamtixatl

on of knowledge TXrabT l "Al-Aiai^a" (VIII-XIl «.» Moulded hy taoisa.Confucianiia bud

hill ••Tin-Yang" universal apposition theory Cinnabar C nuaerologicsl protagoniio 5-*le.ent. ch.r.cteri.tic ry.tn ( wu-hsin Abund.nct of conit corre.pondencc. Embryologie.1 concept, on «et.l«(Ren< growth,.

ïdur.tion) •*T*.i-ehi"(,r«.t aonnd) .trifirna. «nd ••pot.bl. eld",longevity «llxlrl ;l-t«i"(ex.terlc>.na "wi-t.r."{..ccticl Fig. 18. Comparative overview of the main alchemical systems The careful analysis and comparison of the traits and trends included allows to make the general conclusion that all alchemical systems had much in common perfectly compatible with strong characteristic differences as regards the oriental (indian and Chinese) and mediterranean (greco-alexandrine-bizantine, arabic and european) alchemical developments. As a rule, oriental alchemy was much more concerned with mystics as compared with occidental alchemy which cared for exoteric (experimental) alchemy to a greater extent and can be envisaged with more weight as a protochemical precedent of what we understand as applied chemistry. However, as referred to before, all the alchemical systems had in common, to a greater o lesser projection, the triple consideration of materialistic, iatrochemical and spiritual aspects of alchemy which were related to each other to a varying degree (material, bodily and spiritual ennoblement). A most remarkable feature in all considered cases is bond to the decissive role played by the corresponding religious beliefs or moral tenets on the alchemical system considered. As regards to the question of mutual influences which has been the object of inumerable researches such influences were quite clear in some cases while they were less well-defined in others (see Fig.7). Such influences - to a greater or lesser extent - are quite logical as derived from military conquests and commercial bonds between the different cultures and civilizations implied along a very wide period of time amounting to a few millenia. Special interest presents in all alchemical systems the general consider-