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
ation of a number of key common aspects related to such specific topics as are elixirs 82 ' 106110113 , sexuality and oppositions of contraries 88114 , spiritualityii5-n7 anc | a number of common symbolisms 4245 ' 4857125 and parallelisms 75 ' 118119 established from the critical analysis of eastern and western alchemical systems. Summary The integral concept of Alchemy in quite complex and can be grasped properly only within the context of a common and polyfacetic core of heterogenous ingredients (doctrinal syncretic basis) from which three main projections emerge clearly: - esoteric mystical Alchemy (spiritual purification) - medical Alchemy (body healing, rejuvenation) - hylic or materialistic Alchemy (matter ennoblement). Noteworthy all these considered projections exhibit quite common and complementary features connected with aims of ennoblement, purification and trasmutation as applied to the human soul (soteriological aspect), to the human body (pharmacological aspect) or to inanimated low-quality matter (protochemical transmutatory alchemy). Elixirs have played a most prominent role in Alchemy bridging to a varying extent the three considered aspects specially in oriental alchemical systems where ascetics and macrobiotics are closely related to transmutatory, rejuvenating and inmortality elixirs focused on magic herbal and mineral elixirs where cinnabar and gold are omnipresent for ennoblement purposes related to matter, the human body or the human soul. A pictorial original presentation of the subject is attempted in the present communication by resorting to the use of a number of synoptic-conceptual diagrams, outlines and tables of own design aiming at the consecution of a clear condensation of a great number of concepts, terms and facts in a reduced space in order to acquire a general overview of the subject enabling for the easy visualisation and correlation of the main alchemical features involved in the most important alchemical systems, both oriental and occidental, though emphasis has been given preferently to near-east, mediterranean and european alchemies. Extension restrictions have adviced the author not to enter into deep details and descriptions of the many matters dealt with. A rather extensive general and specific bibliography is included to aid the interested reader to get quick and specific access to representative sources dealing with most of the topics dealt with. References 1 Perez-Bustamante, J.A., „El concepto integral de la alquimia: Filosofía de la materia, de la curación y de la trascendencia", Folia Human. 26 (304) 315-336 (1988) 2 Mittelstrass, J., Stock, G. (editors), „Chemie und Geisteswissenschaften: Versuch einer Annäherung", Akademie Verlag (Berlin), 1992, (pags. 302-323)
