The Tree of Life in Fullmetal Alchemist


I've noticed references to the Kabbalah in a couple of anime I've watched. One
of them is Fullmetal Alchemist.

Fullmetal Alchemist has the Tree of Life on the Gate:

![Tree of Life](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SMJJK.png)

So, my question is, **Is there any deeper meaning to the use of the
Kabbalistic tree of life, or is it just used because it looks cool?**




The Tree of Life is one of the most important symbolism in western alchemy.

The spiritual nature was especially highlighted among early practitioners of
alchemy, but I would say that it was more
[Hermetic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism) occultism than religious
Judaism/Christianity. (Therefore, some people might spell it
[Qabalah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetic_Qabalah) rather than
Kabbalah.)

The 10 emanations/attributes and the paths in the Tree were [associated with
the alchemical metals, elements, and
planets](http://www.lashtal.com/wiki/Tree_of_Life:Alchemy) that govern the
alchemical process. The image below shows the tree with astrological planetary
symbols associated. In alchemy, these planets were associated with various
metals and elements. Therefore, an emanation might correspond to the sun and
hence gold, and so on.

![The Tree of Life associated with planet
](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tif1U.gif)

Therefore, it is only natural that it would make an appearance in an anime
about alchemists.

For reference, you can find a giant essay here, although I haven't gone
through all of it: ["Secret Fire: The Relationship Between Kundalini,
Kabbalah, and Alchemy"](http://hermetic.com/stavish/essays/secret-fire.html)

