Essay name: Alchemy in India and China
Author:
Vijaya Jayant Deshpande
Affiliation: Panjab University / Department of Chemistry
The thesis "Alchemy in India and China" explores the comparative aspects of alchemy in these two countries, focusing on chemical and protochemical formulations while addressing why modern science developed in the West rather than in India or China. It briefly touches upon internal alchemy in China and the ritualistic tantra in India.
Chapter 5 - Transmission of Alchemical and Chemical ideas
24 (of 39)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
115
A close study of the elixir-syntheses described
in Bogar karpam reveals their pimitive nature. Almost all
the powders or elixirs which are used for transmuting
base metals into gold are also prescribed as edible
elixirs. Poisonous substances like potassium nitrate,
copper sulphate or ammonium chloride are included as
elixir ingredients. We also came across these substances
as elixir-ingredients in early medieval Chinese texts.
Later Chinese alchemists had criticized their use and had
30 declared them inedible. The Tang dynasty, which lasted
until the tenth century AD, saw a large number of emperors
31 dying of elixir-poisoning, which gave a setback to
elixir alchemy in China after that period.
Since Bogar
indiscriminately uses all the substances, even the
poisonous ones, in his edible elixirs, he is probably a
figure not later than the tenth century AD. After the
tenth century AD, the elixir-formulae of China became
safer, with the majority of ingredients of plant origin.
Bogar Karpam and Wei Bo-yang's
Alchemy
We have seen earlier in the chapter on "Alchemy
in China" that one of the earliest Chinese alchemists
30.
Needham, Joseph (1), Vol. 5, Pt. III, p. 168;
see Secondary Sources.
31,
Ho Peng-Yoke (2), p. 180; see Secondary Sources.
