It is clear that parallel searches took place in ancient India, China and Egypt in ancient times. For example, all of these civilizations seek to turn lead or other elements into gold or they all seek immortality by manipulating and refining many materials.

Although the goals and procedures have an interesting correspondence, specific alchemical processes arose independently of each other.

“In the second century AD, Egyptian craftsmen in Alexandria were the first alchemists to make a desperate attempt to turn metal into gold. Almost simultaneously and independently, Taoist monks (who were not alchemists, but religious sorcerers) believed that gold was a magic cure and they too look for to produce it, not for wealth, but for youth and immortality.” writes acupuncturist Joseph P. Hou, PhD, in his book Healthy Longevity Technique. [Techniques saines de longévité, ndt.]

The late Dr. Allen G. Debus (1926-2009) also wrote about the near-simultaneous and independent emergence ofalchemy in different cultures. Dr Debus holds a Ph.D from Harvard University. He later became a famous historian of science. In his book Early Modern Alchemy and Chemistry [Alchimie et chimie moderne précoce] he wrote that alchemy arose independently not only in Egypt and China, but also in India. Although the practice of Chinese and Indian alchemy showed cross influence in later periods, Dr. Debus believes that the two started independently of each other.

An alchemy lesson plan from the University of Hawaii explains this ancient practice: “Alchemy is a cosmic art in which this part of the cosmos – the mineral and animal parts – can be freed from their temporal existence and reach a state of perfection: gold in mineral terms, and for humans, longevity, immortality, and redemption. This transformation can be effected, on the one hand, by the use of material substances such as the ‘philosopher’s stone’ or elixir, and, on the other hand, by revelatory knowledge or spiritual illumination. »

Alchemy may have arisen independently in various cultures because of the general considerations that led to the theorem, writes Dr. Whistle. For example, there is an early association of immortality and gold. Dr Debus highlights some of the similarities and differences between cultures.

Egyptian alchemy was not as closely linked to religion as the Chinese and Indian practices. In Egypt, it was more of a practical study, not a mystical study.

Chinese alchemy and Greek alchemy were comparable in several respects. The origins of Greek alchemy are unclear. According to one theory, it will come from Egypt. Both Chinese and Greek cultures incorporate the concept of physical breath. The Greek alchemists made use of the elements earth, water, air and fire. Similarly, the Chinese discipline includes the five elements fire, wood, water, earth and metal.

Chinese alchemy seeks a balance between yin and yang (associated with feminine and masculine traits, earthly and heavenly respectively). For example, Chinese alchemists combined saltpeter, associated with yin, and sulfur, associated with yang, and the resulting explosion marked the discovery of gunpowder.

The Greeks also saw the opposite as relevant. They worked with heat and cold, wet and dry, earth and air, fire and water.

Much like the discovery of gunpowder (long used in firecrackers before it was used in weapons), alchemists’ observations of chemical reactions laid the foundation for modern chemistry.

However, as science progressed, many of these alchemical practices had become obsolete, relegated to the realm of esotericism or mysticism.

In comparison, the University of Hawaii presents a puzzle form in which the alchemist writes: “The gray wolf devoured the king, after which he was buried at the stake, ate the wolf and revived the king.” which translates to extraction of gold from the alloy by removing the lower metal sulfides and burning the gold-antimony alloy until the antimony evaporates and pure gold remains. » Yet this mysterious message is no less confusing to the layman than modern chemical jargon like : “Dehydrohalogenating vicinal dihalides with amide ions to get alkynes. »

Modern scientists, such as Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle and John Locke, are alchemists. Bill Newman, a historian at Indiana University, studies Newton’s secret coded recipe. He told the PBS science show NOVA : “If you look at the notebooks he kept for about 30 years, it’s really impossible to avoid the conclusion that he was trying to produce the philosopher’s stone. »