炼金术师完全事典

2023年-05月-20日 ➠ 332 ➠ ♥ 0

自從日本漫畫家荒川弘的作品《鋼之鍊金術師》爆紅之後，各地掀起了一股研究鍊金術的熱潮，使得這項失傳已久的學問又開始有人關注。
提到「鍊金術」這三個字，其實是日本用語，在中國古代稱之為煉丹。英文鍊金術是用Alchemy這個字，由於鍊金術也被歸在神祕學方面，因此也有人用Hermetic Art（神秘藝術、赫爾墨斯藝術）、Royal Art（王家藝術）、Chemical Philosophy（化學哲學）等名詞來形容。一八一五年秘密出版的一本鍊金術文獻的書名《The Lives of the Alchymistic Philosophers》，就有將鍊金術和神秘主義畫上等號的意味。
Alchemy的文字起源來自於阿拉伯文，因為它和代數學(algebra)、酒精(alcohol)都是al開頭的字母，而al是阿拉伯語的定冠詞，因此可以肯定地說alchemy這個英文字，是從阿拉伯文演變而來的。另一個有趣的字則是化學（chemistry），chemistry即是把alchemy的字頭「al」去掉，再加以改變而成的，顯示出早期鍊金術被認為是近代化學的始祖，兩者從文字上來看也有不謀而合之處。
就定義上來說，鍊金術最早是把鉛、銅、鐵等賤金屬，利用各種方式，轉變為黃金，也就是點石成金的技術；另外，提煉製造出長生不老的藥，也是鍊金術的另一個目的，至於在《鋼之鍊金術師》中愛德華和弟弟艾爾想要讓母親死而復活，想使用在鍊金術終被視為禁忌的「人體鍊成」，也可以看成是一種廣義的鍊金術。
就現在的觀點來看，鍊金術當然是無稽之談，但在現代化學尚未萌芽之前，古人還不知道金屬不可轉換，許多鍊金術師為了想要鍊製黃金，可是費了好大的力氣，嘗試了各種實驗。雖然，這些鍊金術師前仆後繼的實驗並未成功，但鍊金術曾在歐洲歷史上佔有一席之地，也是不容否認的。有關鍊金術的著作，有許多也是從阿拉伯翻譯而來的，這也證明了鍊金術的起源和阿拉伯密不可分。雖然如此，要談到阿拉伯的鍊金術之前，還必須先談到埃及的冶金，以及希臘的元素概念，沒有這兩者的啟蒙，阿拉伯的鍊金術也不會那麼成熟、有系統。
本書從鍊金術的來龍去脈談起，盡可能詳細地說明鍊金術的內涵及過程，並介紹西方歷史中舉足輕重而與鍊金術脫不了干係的大師級人物，也提及在中古時代歐洲各國的鍊金術發展情形，最後還談到在鍊金術影響下所衍生的許多神祕主義學說派系，相信能滿足你對鍊金術的好奇與求知精神。
Since the popularity of the Japanese cartoonist Hiroshi Arakawa’s work “The Steel Alchemist”, there has been an upsurge of research on alchemy around the country, making this long lost knowledge come to people’s attention again.

The mention of the three words’ alchemy ‘is actually a Japanese term, referred to as alchemy in ancient China. Alchemy is a term used in English, and since alchemy is also classified in the field of mysticism, some people use terms such as Hermetic Art, Royal Art, and Chemical Philosophy to describe it. The title of The Lives of the Alchemic Philosophers, a book of alchemy literature published in secret in 1815, means that alchemy is equal to mysticism.

The origin of Alchemy comes from Arabic because it, along with algebra and alcohol, starts with the letter al, which is the definite article of Arabic. Therefore, it can be said that the English word Alchemy evolved from Arabic. Another interesting word is chemistry, which is formed by removing the prefix “al” from alchemy and then changing it, indicating that early alchemy is considered the ancestor of modern chemistry, and there are also similarities between the two in terms of text.

In terms of definition, alchemy was originally the technique of transforming base metals such as lead, copper, and iron into gold through various means, that is, turning stones into gold; In addition, refining and producing elixirs of immortality is another purpose of alchemy. In “The Alchemist of Steel,” Edward and his brother Al wanted their mother to die and be resurrected, and they wanted to use “human alchemy,” which was ultimately considered taboo in alchemy. This can also be seen as a broad form of alchemy.

From the current point of view, alchemy is certainly nonsense. But before modern chemistry was budding, the ancients did not know that metals could not be converted. Many alchemists tried various experiments to make gold. Although these successive experiments by alchemists were not successful, it is undeniable that alchemy once held a place in European history. Many works on alchemy have also been translated from Arabic, which proves that the origin of alchemy is closely related to Arabic. Nevertheless, before discussing Arab alchemy, it is necessary to first discuss Egyptian metallurgy and Greek elemental concepts. Without the enlightenment of these two, Arab alchemy would not have been so mature and systematic.

This book starts with the origin and development of alchemy, providing a detailed explanation of its connotation and process as much as possible. It also introduces the important master figures in Western history who are closely related to alchemy. It also mentions the development of alchemy in various European countries during the Middle Ages. Finally, it discusses many mystical schools of thought that have emerged under the influence of alchemy, which I believe can satisfy your curiosity and thirst for knowledge about alchemy.