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 6 - Transmission of Alchemical and Chemical ideas (Part 2)
31 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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161
Chinese court knew that "Ban cha zhuo" water could dissolve
iron and gold.
An oxidation of lead to litharge was achieved
with the help of Visodaka.
Rasarnava shl. 218
Rasar?avakalpa shl. 745
Elixir-syntheses using Visodaka are given in the
following verses:
Rasar?avakalpa shl. 740-743 and
Rasār?ava shl. 221, 222.
While reading about the "Poisonous water", i.e.,
Visodaka and its destroying properties, one doubt comes
to our minds, as to why the Chinese emperor would try an
elixir from a liquid called "Poisonous water".
Moreover,
when the Indian scholar described it as capable of
destroying herbs, wood, gold, iron and even human flesh.
We find the answer in the philosophy behind the
elixir-preparations, prevalent in medieval times.
An eighth century Chinese alchemist, Zhang Yin-ju,
26 in his book Zhang-zhen-Fen jin-shi-ling-sha lun (A
25张隲居
26 張眞人金石砂論
25
