Alchemy in India and China
by Vijaya Jayant Deshpande | 1988 | 42,318 words
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....
4. Wei Bo-yang and 鈥淐an-tong-gi鈥�
"Can-tong qi" is the earliest Chinese book on alchemy in which the author gives some consideration to the theoretical aspect of alchemy. It was written by Wei Bo-yang, a second century Chinese alchemist, who is known as the father of Chinese alchemy. 10 "Can-tong-qi" quotes the book of changes or Yi Jing and also from the Taoist canon Dao-de-jing. 11 The language of this book is obscure and the descriptions of reactions are not clear. Much importance is given to the action between the dragon and the tiger; i.e., mercury and lead. Wei Bo-yang uses sixty-four hexagrams, and four cyclical signs to denote the time and period for 8 00 0 xin bo yang EK TE BE nu xin EL 15] tong qi 10 yi jing "dao de jing 52
53 the reactions. Alchemical passages are explained in terms of the theory of Yin and Yang and that of five elements. He mentions one fundamental concept of alchemy that changes happen or substances interact if they are from similar categories. 12