3720


The alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist is based on a real
[alchemy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy). How similar is the alchemy in
the anime to the alchemy in real life history? When and how do they diverge?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-09T01:06:36.800
3719
2013-11-02T02:14:19.777
2013-05-09T02:20:54.550
88
88
question
fullmetal-alchemist-series
How similar is alchemy in FMA to the real alchemy?


In their concept, they are very much alike. In their implementation, they are
starkly different.

# Similarities

First, it is very important to say that there is hardly a single definition of
alchemy. Some of its first mentions are from texts hundreds of years old, but
most highlight three things: Transmutation of base metals (usually to gold),
creating a universal cure, and creating a universal solvent.

Using FMA alchemy, it is possible to transmute base metals into gold (as Ed
did in Yoki's village), and through proper use of alchemy, healing and
medicinal applications are possible. Other elemental transmutations, which
were less sought by real-life alchemy but still present in research, are also
done.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W4Yx4m.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W4Yx4.png)

Real-world alchemy was often done in the pursuit of the philosopher's stone, a
legendary substance which was believed to provide everlasting life (as it did
in _Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone_ ); the stone in FMA did this,
more or less, as well.

# Differences

This philosopher's stone was originally believed to be produced through the
[magnum opus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus_\(alchemy\)). This is
never seen (nor even mentioned) in FMA; instead, all alchemy is done through a
transmutation circle (with a few exceptions), including creation of the stone.
Transmutation circles are not strictly based on any tradition of alchemy
(though they use alchemical symbols and other similar glyphs).

The philosopher's stone ingredients differ also:

> In real life, the origin of the stone was that it was possessed by Adam, who
> had received it from God, and its ingredients were never discovered. In FMA,
> the stone is made of human life.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8plEdm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8plEd.jpg)

Similar to the circles, there is no real mention of using hands to physically
guide energy in alchemy. There were not dreams of making weapons out of the
floor or using the techniques for war. Alchemy was done mostly in a lab, using
techniques like the magnum opus to create chemicals and other such processes.
It's no surprise, then, that the believed art of alchemy was for science and
advancement of oneself, so much so that it founded today's chemistry (and
through Paracelsus—mentioned below—chemical medicine).

The sources of energy for the transmutations are also different; in FMA, they
use tectonic energy and the "Dragon's Pulse" for Alkahestry. In real life, the
energy comes from chemical bonds and thermal energy.

# Alkahestry

The universal solvent I mentioned above is called Alkahest, which is the base
of the name Alkahestry (used in the English dub).

Generally, Alkahestry is much closer to what we think of as alchemy from the
real world. Its purpose—medicinal usage—is much closer to the medical and
chemical applications that real-world alchemy sought. In the alchemical notes
that they delve into later into the series, there is a drug, "rasayana" (based
on the Indian term [_rasayana_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasayana)), which
is used for longevity and which is stated to "transform all metals to gold and
restore youth to the elderly"; in that way, this substance appears to be much
like the philosopher's stone concept seen in real life.

However, Alkahestry (like normal FMA alchemy) uses hand gestures and circles
instead of actual chemicals; also, as mentioned above, its source of energy
(the "Dragon's Pulse") is something that is not found in ancient real-world
alchemy.

# Overall

FMA's alchemy and real-life alchemy share some things:

  * The overall concept of transmuting elements, as well as transmuting to gold
  * The creation of a philosopher's stone
  * The ability to cure through alchemy
  * The pursuit of everlasting life

They also have quite a few differences:

  * The process of creating the philosopher's stone
  * The philosopher's stone ingredients
  * The transmutation circles
  * The process of doing alchemy at all (using the body rather than a lab)
  * The source of energy (tectonic energy or the "Dragon's Pulse" rather than chemical energy)
  * Their purpose (real-life alchemy pursued a goal more like Alkahestry)


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-09T02:14:41.043
3720
2013-05-12T19:40:09.703
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303
-1
274
3719
answer