What exactly is the "alchemy" mentioned in "The Da Vinci Code"?

Alchemy

The pursuit of immortality is the greatest temptation of all to human beings. Throughout history, humans have hoped to live forever and have made various attempts. Of all the attempts, the illusions and techniques of the alchemists were the most commonly applied.

Alchemy is a name that originated in Europe in the 12th century. By the eighth century AD, alchemy had truly begun. Similar to the situation in China, gold making did not play an important role. What the alchemists pursued was medicine, and immortality was their main goal.

Western alchemy can be traced back to the Hellenistic period, with the earliest and most reliable representative being Zosimus. Zosimus, who lived about 350 to 420 AD, believed that there was a substance that could magically cause metals to undergo desired changes. His name for this substance, after it was introduced to the Latin system through Arabia, was called "Elixirvitae" (elixir of life), which is similar to what the Chinese call "a top-grade magic medicine" that "can make people immortal"—— - "Golden elixir". Another alchemist, Hermes, who was active in the third century AD, was an Egyptian priest. As the inventor of all useful arts, Hermes was universally respected and was seen as communicating with the Egyptian moon god. Later, he was slowly deified as "Hermes, the triple god", so that his name, In the end, it evolved directly into "alchemy".

Alchemists believe that the distillation and purification of base metals in "alchemy" is a process of perfection through death and resurrection, which symbolizes the perfection of the soul of the person who engages in alchemy through death and resurrection, so , the "golden elixir" he refined can prolong life, refresh and strengthen his energy, and enable him to obtain a happy life, superb wisdom, and noble morality, change his mental outlook, and finally achieve communication with the Creator. Needless to say, such a goal is unattainable. Alchemists also understand this, so they provide "explanations" from various aspects. For example, one alchemical work explained the elusiveness of immortality by saying: “As it is the most blessed of all earthly blessings, I believe that it can only be attained by a very few through the revelation of God’s good angels, and not by individual industry. "The Philosopher's Stone." And he also deliberately made it very subtle about whether taking "golden elixir" can cure diseases and lead to longevity.

But despite this, due to the allure of immortality, until the 19th century when the possibility of using chemical methods to make gold was not denied by scientific evidence, it always had a broad market, even like Isaac ·Great scientists like Newton believed that it was worthwhile to produce gold through experiments. Many kings in the West, like those emperors in China, only hoped to achieve longevity and immortality through alchemy. For example, King Henry VI of England, King Charles VII and King Charles IX of France, King Charles XII of Sweden, and King Frederick William I and Frederick William II of Prussia were all loyal believers in alchemy. Among them, Queen Elizabeth of England was extremely fond of the alchemist John Deere and even granted him permission to engage in alchemical activities in the palace. In Prague, known as the "center of alchemy", Emperor Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire made the alchemist Michael Melter a count.

The emergence of modern chemistry made people doubt the possibility of making gold. After the 17th century, alchemy was criticized. Alchemical hopes were dashed.

Alchemy is a chemical philosophy thought and practice in the Middle Ages, and is the prototype of contemporary chemistry. The goals were to transform some base metals into gold, discover elixirs and prepare elixirs of life. The science now shows that this approach doesn't work. But until the 19th century, alchemy was not disproven by scientific evidence. Some famous scientists, including Newton, attempted alchemy. It was only with the emergence of modern chemistry that people began to doubt the possibility of alchemy.

Alchemy in the West

The early alchemists lived from the first to the fifth century AD. The earliest alchemical work in the West was written by the name of Pseudo-Thodemocritus (around 100 AD). Western alchemy believes that metals are living organisms that gradually develop into perfect gold. This development can be facilitated or artificially imitated. The method adopted is to isolate the form or soul of gold and transfer it to the base metal; in this way, the base metal will take on the form or characteristics of gold. The soul or form of metal is seen as an aura, manifested primarily in the color of the metal. Therefore the plating of base metals with gold and silver was regarded as a transformation effected by the alchemist.

A fairly common method used by alchemists is to fuse the four base metals copper, tin, lead, and iron to obtain an alloy-like substance. The surface of this alloy is then whitened, thus giving it an aura or form of silver. Then add a little gold to it as a seed or ferment to turn the entire alloy into gold. Finally, a further procedure is added, either etching away the base metal layer on the surface, leaving a gold surface, or soaking the alloy in sulfur water to make it look a bit like bronze, and the transformation is completed.

Another idea that was widely disseminated by early alchemists was a more primitive concept, that is, metals are the product of sexual reproduction, and the metals themselves are male and female. This concept plays an important role in Islam and medieval alchemy.

Since the 12th century AD, the West, where Christianity is prevalent, has begun to translate Arabic and Greek works, including alchemical texts. The impact of Greek alchemy on Europe was far less than the impact of systematized Arab alchemy. The refining of gold was the main goal of European alchemy. European scholars conducted a large number of experiments based on the theory of Islamic alchemy. Although it was impossible to succeed, a large amount of knowledge was accumulated for the development and emergence of chemistry.

Islamic Alchemy

Islamic alchemy embodies a philosophy of essence, which is closely related to the philosophy of Hermes in ancient Greece and Chinese alchemy, as well as to the philosophy of minerals and The special principles of metal transformation into gold are closely related. Throughout the history of Islam, Muslim scholars have long debated the efficacy of alchemy. Most orthodox religious scholars opposed alchemy, while most scholars of natural sciences accepted the basic ideas of alchemy, although they did not believe that ordinary metals could be turned into gold. The famous Islamic medical scientist Ibn Sina's theory on the composition of metals in his "Book of Healing" is based on the theory of alchemy.

The earliest Muslim alchemist was the Umayyad prince Khalid ibn Yakid. At the beginning of the 8th century, alchemy was very popular, and its representative was Jabir ibn Hayan. His books "Seventy Books" and "The Book of Balance" are regarded as the basic theoretical works of Islamic alchemy and are the most important documents on alchemy written in Arabic. The Muslim physician and alchemist Razi is credited with developing alchemy as the founder of ancient chemistry.

Alchemy in China

Alchemy was called alchemy in ancient China.

After Qin Shihuang unified the six kingdoms, China once sent people to the sea to seek the elixir of immortality from immortals. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty himself was keen on gods and immortality. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, alchemy developed, and the famous alchemist Wei Boyang appeared, who wrote the Book of Changes Shen Tongqi to explain the theory of immortality. Later, Tao Hongjing, an alchemist of the Jin Dynasty, wrote "Zhen Gao". In the Tang Dynasty, alchemy was combined with Taoism and entered its heyday. At this time, the alchemist Sun Simiao wrote "Essentials of the Alchemy Room". These alchemy works contain a lot of chemical knowledge. According to statistics, there are more than 60 kinds of chemical drugs, and there are many records about chemical changes.

The Influence of Alchemy

Alchemy has been proven wrong by modern science. However, as a pioneer of modern chemistry, he played a certain positive role in the history of chemical development. Through alchemy, people have accumulated experience in chemical operations, invented a variety of experimental equipment, and learned about many natural minerals. Alchemy became the basis for the emergence and development of modern chemistry in Europe.

Muslims have not only made outstanding contributions to the understanding and practice of science, but they have also relentlessly explored "secret arts" that are considered "pseudoscience". The "secret arts" of Islam mainly include alchemy, physiognomy and divination (such as mud divination). They are classified as "pseudoscience" because they use cryptic symbolic language. Alchemy is the main esoteric art, and traditional alchemy is actually a complete way of looking at things, including both the view of the universe, which is generally related to metallurgy, and the understanding of the soul, which often involves Spiritual psychotherapy. So alchemy was once considered a science and a method. Alchemy is based on the theory of "mutual compatibility" and believes that the way of existence of all things is "I am in you and you are in me". Therefore, one thing and other things can be converted into each other, not only the general attributes of things can Transformation, nature can also change. The so-called alchemy refers to a secret technique that changes the form and properties of matter in the face of a spiritual power symbolized by the philosopher's stone, but the prerequisite for material change is the transformation of human inner spirit. On the surface, alchemy is closely related to the material world, especially minerals and metals. It can be said that the development history of chemistry is inseparable from alchemy; but in essence, alchemy is not primitive chemistry, nor is it pure psychology. , which uses changes in minerals, metals and other substances formed during the alchemical process to promote the transformation of the human soul.

Islamic alchemy embodies a philosophy of essence that is closely related to the general philosophy of ancient Greek Hermetic Theosophy and to the specific principles of the transformation of minerals and metals into gold. This theory of essential philosophy is based on Aristotle's theory of formal matter, which holds that all things in the universe originate from four kinds of primeval matter and four elements. The four primary substances are heat, cold, dryness, and moisture, and the four elements are water, earth, air, and fire. Through mutual transformation, the four kinds of original substances are combined into two kinds of original substances, namely sulfur and lu. However, the sulfur and mercury mentioned here are not minerals in the usual sense. Their meaning is similar to yin and yang in traditional Chinese philosophy. The combination of the two makes everything in the universe possible. For example, according to the theory of alchemy, the two primitives of sulfur and mercury are fused in different proportions, and under the action of certain mysterious factors, various different metallic minerals can be produced. The interrelationship between these four substances, four elements and two origins.

In the history of Islam, Muslim scholars have long debated the effectiveness of alchemy, with mixed praise and criticism. Most orthodox religious scholars are opposed to alchemy and the occult arts in general, while most natural scientists and doctors, although they do not believe that ordinary metals can be turned into gold, accept the basic views of alchemy; the Aristotelian school Alchemy was generally viewed with disdain, while the Illuminati held a positive attitude.

For example, Ibn Sina has made it clear that he does not believe that alchemy can turn ordinary metals into gold. However, he agrees with alchemy's theory of metal composition. His famous book "The Book of Healing" contains the theory of metal composition. , which is based on the alchemical theory of sulfur-mercury fusion.

Islamic alchemy inherits the alchemical tradition of the ancient East, mainly Hermetic Theosophy centered on Alexander and Chinese alchemy. The earliest Muslim alchemist was the Umayyad prince Khalid ibn Yakid. At the beginning of the 8th century, alchemy was very popular, and its representative was Jabir ibn Hayyan (721-776), who was the disciple of Jafar Sadiq (699-765), the sixth imam of the Shiite sect. Disciple, whose works are regarded as classics by the Ismailis. Jabir's "Seventy Books" and "The Book of Balance" have always been regarded as the basic theoretical works of Islamic alchemy and are the most important documents about alchemy written in Arabic. The famous Muslim physician and alchemist Razi ushered in a new era of alchemy. He is credited with developing alchemy into the founder of ancient chemistry. Lacy's important contribution to chemistry lies in his classification of substances, which divided all substances into three categories: minerals, plants and animals. He also gave detailed descriptions of many chemical change processes, such as distillation, slow burning, filtration, etc. As a doctor, he was also interested in chemical medicine. In the history of traditional medicine, he was the first person to isolate alcohol and use it in medical practice.

Alchemy is more closely related to Sufi mysticism. Sufi mysticism advocates the spiritual cultivation of individual believers and pays special attention to alchemy, which has the effect of changing the human soul. Many terms used by Sufism to express this aspect of teachings come directly from alchemy. To this day, not only is the language of alchemy still popular among Sufi believers, but alchemical activities are also prevalent in some Sufi orders. In addition, the spiritual psychotherapy used by Sufism is also closely related to alchemy, which regards alchemy as a science about the soul.

The relationship between alchemy and Islamic art is also extraordinary. Traditional and traditional Muslim poetry and music are not only deeply influenced by Sufi mysticism, but are also integrated with alchemical views. This is because alchemy is said to have an influence on the human soul, causing it to transform, and arts such as poetry and music are closely related to the transformation of the human soul. In addition, in the plastic arts of Islamic architecture and handicrafts, such as calligraphy and geometric patterns, they are inseparable from harmony. The "balance" and "coordination" mentioned in alchemy are in harmony of color and structure. Symmetry and its symbolic meaning play a special role. Therefore, if you do not understand the influence of alchemy on aesthetic ideas such as color effects and artistic shapes, you cannot appreciate the mosque architecture of the Timurid era and the carpets of the Safavid era. , tapestries and other artistic masterpieces. Alchemy is a bridge between the craftsmanship and religious spirit and symbolic meaning of Islamic art, and it is also a key to understanding the inner charm of Islamic art.

The ancient pseudosciences are nothing more than the following. Species: Claims that other elements can be converted into gold, claims that a medicine can be used to cure all diseases, claims that a certain ritual can be used to extend human life, or directly create life.

Simply put, Medieval alchemy was an attempt to use certain medicines or rituals to evolve human spirit and power to a higher level. Speaking of this, the first people to study alchemy were Chinese Taoist priests and Egyptian priests. There are many introductions, always using medicine to make elixirs, which are said to prolong life, or turn stones into gold. However, the so-called magic of lead, mercury, and elixir fails to reveal the laws of life itself. In Egypt, the secret of alchemy came into being. It was in the hands of a few monks. After the advent of the Hellenistic era, there were relevant records in the classics of the Library of Alexandria. However, the people of the Ptolemaic dynasty were only descendants of European rulers, and the secrets of hieroglyphs had long been lost. Napoleon's. The expedition and the breakthrough on the Rosetta Obelisk took place thirty centuries later. Finally, the largest library in the world was turned into a pile of ruins due to the earthquake, and the secrets of the ancient kingdom were forever cast a shadow. p>

With the prosperity of Pan-Greek civilization, the humanistic spirit also flourished. It was an era of omnipotence. Aristotle was an alchemist. He believed that substances could be synthesized through laws. According to his theory, the world is composed of four basic elements: water, earth, fire, and air. All forms of material society are composed of these four elements in different proportions. Therefore, as long as external influence and catalyst are exerted, soil can also be formed. Turns into gold.

Astrology that originated in Mesopotamia also cited this element. They believed that all celestial bodies in the universe - the sun, the moon, and the stars, were opposite to the earth. Therefore, alchemists of later generations believed that alchemical rituals could only be successful when various celestial bodies were in specific positions. In the eighth and ninth centuries AD, alchemy was introduced to Greece. In Arabia, the nomads simplified Aristotle's theory and believed that all metals are composed of two elements: sulfur and mercury. Chinese alchemy was also introduced to the Arabian Peninsula in the form of gunpowder, and the elixir of longevity was transformed. It became the legend of the Fountain of Youth in One Thousand and One Nights. Persian physicians systematically compiled these theories into books, which were frequently cited by alchemists in the Middle Ages.

At this time, earth-shaking changes were taking place in Europe. The fall of Rome marked the end of an era.

Darkness and ignorance once again enveloped the entire continent, and the Greek system of humanities has since withered. It was not until the 12th century that Arab immigrants poured into the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) and Sicily. Through contact with them, Europeans became interested in alchemy or Eastern mystical philosophy again. Greek manuscripts were translated into Latin through the intermediary of Syriac or Arabic. In 1455, a book was circulated in Florence and Venice, called Corpus Hermeticum. Its name has caused great controversy. Some people think it comes from the ancient Egyptian moon god Thoth, while others think it comes from Greek mythology. Helms. In any case, the book mentions a lot of alchemy, astrology, magical symbols and tools, as well as various ancient Egyptian rituals. It is simply ancient AD&D. The papers of other Arab scholars not only have philosophical theoretical basis, but also have a large number of application examples. The two most mentioned are: Arnold Villanova (1240-1313), the inventor of distillation; Roger Bacon (1214-1294), who recorded in detail the composition of black powder and the telescope production process.

Let's take a look at the alchemist's hut. A typical laboratory is dark, damp, filled with unknown drugs and emitting suspicious smoke. Many alchemists worked from home to save money and avoid outside distractions. Some people opt for a kitchen where they can take advantage of a ready fire. Some go up to the attic so that evening activities can go unnoticed by curious neighbors. These small makeshift places were often filled with all kinds of oddly shaped instruments, manuscripts, skulls, and taxidermy. For spiritual prayers, there are often small altars. All these furnishings are symbols of mysticism rather than science and technology. The work carried out to refine elixirs was the most primitive chemical experiment, and alchemists were the first to try to separate the various elements. The refining of white phosphorus and the synthesis of hydrochloric acid are products of the Middle Ages; at the same time, the vessels they used, equipment for distilling liquids, analyzing metals, and various methods of controlling chemical reactions are still in use today.

Heating is a necessary condition for every alchemical experiment, whether it is heating a liquid or dissolving a lead block. In order to maintain a certain temperature, alchemists invented the water bath. Friends who study science must have done such an experiment in high school. The stove with a timer reflects the exquisite craftsmanship. There is a thermostat made in 1616 in the British Museum. People of that era already knew how to make bimetallic sheets.

There is always such a laboratory deep in the legendary castle, and this is also true. From the kings of the Mediterranean coast to the country nobles of the Baltic Sea, alchemists were regarded as a shortcut to wealth. Greed is often accompanied by corruption, so scholars are also mixed. There is no shortage of clever liars and braggarts in Europe. Their actions can be well written into a grandiose chronicle. But just as not every laboratory could produce a Frankenstein, the alchemist's efforts were mostly in vain. If you can't fulfill your promise and turn gold into gold, the price you pay will be your head. The grumpy Red Beard II built a gallows to hang the unlucky ones who missed. Medieval alchemists were thus discredited, as practitioners resorted to more or less dishonorable methods to preserve their lives. From the 15th to the 17th century, alchemical books became more and more complex, and mystical symbols and formulas could be seen everywhere.

A group of clever alchemists began to shift the focus of the powerful. They claimed that they could refine elixirs that could strengthen the body, and alchemy therefore embarked on the path of medical research. One of the most famous of them, Philippe Oles Parasales (1493-1541), disagreed with the prevailing view that illness resulted from disorders and disorders of one's own faculties. It is believed that diseases exist on some external carrier, looking for and waiting for opportunities to invade the human body. Drugs could help ward off these diseases, which was the earliest idea about germs. In addition, he also mentioned for the first time the "silver-grey" substance obtained in the experiment - zinc, and was the first to use "alcohol" to refer to the liquid distilled from wine.

The Renaissance brought about the golden age of alchemy. The revolution carried out to restore the glory of Rome completely washed away the silence of more than ten centuries. Both the art and science circles produced many amazing people. Dazzling results. Religion also underwent great changes, with Protestantism completing its reorganization in the first half of the 16th century. Alchemy at this moment consists of three parts: part science, part art, and part religion, and it dances briskly to the beat of revival. Scientific researchers were officially separated from alchemists and became an independent profession. The experiments carried out by previous alchemists as a by-product of their pursuit of precious metals laid the foundation for modern chemistry. The other part is dedicated to the study of astrology. The lower level is like gypsy fortune-telling tricks, and the advanced level may be called numerology. The research on psychopathology that was popular in the mid-20th century also used the spiritualism and spiritualism of alchemists.

Let’s talk about astrologers first. Just as the purpose of art is to pursue perfection, for astrologers with true wisdom and foresight, how to reach a higher level in spiritual cultivation is far better than The temptation of wealth and fame; transcending the limitations of the body, which is as heavy and dull as a lead block, and letting the mind shine and mature like gold, is more important than its physical realization.

Unlike the Greco-Roman era, they were neither ascetic as the Cynics nor bombastic as the Stoics. Facing the skylight of the attic, they vaguely grasp the integrity of the universe, verify the constant changes in the starry sky, and guard the eternal moral principles in their hearts.

Astrologers regard their career as the sacred art of perfecting dualism: while completing the purification and sublimation of their own souls, they use the movement and changes of the universe to explain practical activities in the world. Due to the open academic atmosphere in the Renaissance, they also began to challenge the authority of ancient times, put aside human beings themselves to explore the mysteries of nature, and completed a transformation from the big to the small. (Socrates asked in the square: Who am I? Where do I come from? It is called a big question in philosophy.)

This noble purpose undoubtedly made him a martyr, and he remained a martyr throughout his life. Never in my life have I seen the gates of the kingdom of freedom open. While some people strive for a crucible full of gold all day long, real scholars are buried in beggar-like graves in despair.

Let’s talk about the founders of modern chemistry. They inherited the functions of the earliest alchemists. Let us first introduce Nicolas Freeman, a 14th-century Parisian alchemist. He and his disciples knew nothing about the composition of matter. At that time, everyone believed that all physical existence was composed of four basic elements, just like Aristotle's theory. The proportions of elements are different, and the cold, warm, dry and wet conditions during formation are different, so they have different forms.

Starting from this theory, the transformation of metals is possible. Freeman writes in his book that all metals come from within the earth, in natural furnaces where the elements are mixed and mixed, a process determined by some higher being or attributable to the will of God. The realm of God is always perfect, so as long as the mixed elements stay long enough in the depths of the earth, perhaps iron or lead at first, slowly turn into gold and silver. However, they are always mined prematurely, and the metals on Earth take different forms as a result. The mission of the alchemist is to continue the unfinished work of the Creator and accelerate the "evolution" of metals. When people today read this, they have to admire their strong imagination.

All alchemists were secretive about their achievements. In an alchemy lecture in the 13th century, everyone had to stand up first: "I swear on my soul that if I reveal to others what I have seen today, I will be eternally damned." A priest named Basil Valentine He wrote: "We can only look up. If we preach a little bit of the mysteries of heaven, our souls will fall into the deepest hell."

There are two reasons for doing this: first, a sense of superiority, or greed, alchemy The magicians kept their equations tightly; followed by the church, they believed that alchemy was an interference and blasphemy against the Creator, and that alchemists were engaged in the art of the devil. There are even more noble people who believe that their equation can be successful, but if it falls into the hands of people with bad intentions, it will harm society, so they want to bury it. It's a very contradictory idea. If so, why study it with pious enthusiasm? But thinking about the achievements of nuclear physics today, modern people are not qualified to make fun of them.