Alchemy, beginnings

After the fragmentary documentation surveyed in this chapter, the history of Chinese alchemy confronts us with the Taiqing scriptures. The shift is a major one, for these scriptures claim to derive their teachings and methods from divine beings, describe actual methods, give details on ritual practices, and frequently refer to each other. In other words, the proper history of Chinese alchemy begins with these texts. The next chapter introduces the heaven from which they descended and the deities who revealed them. 

Inductive learning has been the major process of acquiring chemical knowledge from the very beginnings of chemistry - or, to make the point, alchemy. Chemists have done experiments, have made measurements on the properties of their compounds, have treated them with other compounds to study their reactions, and have run reactions to make new compounds. Systematic variations in the structure of compounds, or in reaction conditions, provided results that were ordered by developing models. These models then allowed predictions to be made. 

Mahdihassan, S. The beginnings of Greek alchemy with its names Chemeia and Chumeia. HamdardMed 28, no. 4 (1985) 57-93. 

Waite, Arthur Edward. "The beginnings of alchemy." In The alchemical papers of Arthur Edward Waite, ed. J. Ray Shute. Monroe (NC) Nocalore P., 1938. 

Dubs, Homer H. The beginnings of alchemy. Isis 38, no. 1-2 (Nov 1947) 62-86. Contains meticulously annotated quotations from early historical sources, but also erroneous interpretations of broader issues... 

Haschimi, Mohammed Yahia. The beginning of Arab alchemy. Ambix 9, no. 3 (Oct 1961) 155-161. 

Mahdihassan, S. The beginning of alchemy, its first preparation and the earliest designation of the alchemist in Arabic as Sufi. Aligarh J Or Stud 4, no. 2 (1987) 123-DO. 

Gilchrist, Cherry. Alchemy, the great work a concise history of the philosophy and practice of alchemy from its beginnings to the twentieth century. Wellingborough Aquarian P, 1984. 160p. ISBN 0-85030-381-8... 

Muir, Matthew Moncrief Pattison. The story of alchemy and the beginnings of chemistry. London G. Newnes Ltd, 1902. [1], 185 p. 

Alchemy Lab The Great Work begins here Answer an Ancient Riddle Learn More about Alchemy Start Your Transformation Take a Personal Alchemy Quiz Lectures Workshops Learn about the Emerald Tablet Alchemy Home Study Programs Network... 

INTRODUCTION TO ALCHEMY The Great Work begins here What Is alchemy Origins of alchemy History of alchemy Chronology of alchemy Alchemical theory The mysterious First Matter Secret fire of the alchemists The Philosopher s Stone The Axioms of alchemy Recommended books. Pages still under construction. 

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