The perfection of the human body and soul was thought to result from the alchemical magnum opus ("Great Work"). Common aims were chrysopoeia, the transmutation of " base metals" (e.g., lead) into " noble metals" (particularly gold) the creation of an elixir of immortality and the creation of panaceas able to cure any disease. Īlchemists attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain materials. In its Western form, alchemy is first attested in a number of pseudepigraphical texts written in Greco-Roman Egypt during the first few centuries AD. In addition to this, similar to how Van Hohenheim introduced Alkahestry to the people of Xing, in reality, the renowned alchemist Paracelsus (on who Hohenheim was based on) is credited with creating the term "Alkahest".Depiction of an Ouroboros from the alchemical treatise Aurora consurgens (15th century), Zentralbibliothek Zürich, SwitzerlandĪlchemy (from Arabic: al-kīmiyā from Ancient Greek: khumeía) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe.Alchemists in the 16th century highly sought the mythical substance, along with real philosopher's stones.
Alkahestry is derived from the real concept of Alkahest, which was believed to be a hypothetical universal solvent.This is a reference to the real-life Chinese concept of Wu Xing, in which all five elements are represented in perfect unison by a five-pointed star. Alkahestry uses a pentagram Purification Circle, rather than the traditional hexagrams of normal Transmutation Circles.Because of their differing origins, Father cannot control Alkahestry as he does Alchemy. Van Hohenheim helped create Alkahestry, and has knowledge of it, but is never seen using it.
ALCHEMISTRY ATLANTA GA SERIES
May Chang is the only character shown in the series to use Alkahestry, though Scar's alchemy uses alkahestry principles. It wasn't until a mysterious figure they call " The Philosopher of the West", who had supposedly come from Xerxes, appeared in Xing with his alchemical teachings that Xingese Alkahestry was born - created from a melding of the new teachings and the old metaphysical healing practices.
In fact, it is said that three whole generations of the imperial family died from ingesting mercury because they believed that it promoted longevity. The idea of "Alkahestry" is built on the practice of fashioning elixirs and, therefore, is mainly used for medicinal purposes as such, the focus of the craft is the discovery of the Elixir of Life - the key to immortality and eternal vigor - as opposed to Amestrian Alchemy's preoccupation with the Philosopher's Stone's alchemical augmentation properties.įour hundred years ago, the practices which would give rise to this Xingese alchemy could not be truly called "alchemy" at all, but a series of misguided attempts at mystical healing through the ingestion of various substances. Using this concept, Alkahestrists are capable of a higher level of medical transmutation than Amestrian alchemists - transmitting chi through the pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries - and can even project their transmutations over long distances and wide areas by accessing and guiding that current to their own means with Purification Circles and Alkahestric markers, a function of which Amestrian Alchemy is altogether incapable. Whereas Amestrian Alchemy claims to have its roots in the energy of tectonic shifts and practices manipulation of matter toward scientifically practical ends, Alkahestry is centered on a concept called the " Dragon's Pulse" which speaks of the Earth itself having a constant flow of chi (life energy) which flows metaphorically from the tops of mountains down to the land, nourishing everything it passes with that energy as does blood coursing through the veins. Alkahestry differs from Alchemy in both its practice and its goal.
May Chang performing the so-called rendanshu.Īlkahestry ( 錬丹術, Rentanjutsu ?), also called Purification Arts ( 連弾主, Rendan-shu ?), refers to the slightly different form of Alchemy used in the country of Xing.
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