Talk:Chinese alchemy

Western alchemy
I think Chinese alchemy's similarities and differences from Western alchemy should be addressed within the text, for introductory readers. There aren't even any remarks that alchemy/spiritual gold has origins in other parts of the world.

-- how is it any different from western alchemy if the stated goals are : "the traditional view in China is that alchemy focuses mainly on longevity and the purification of one's spirit, mind and body, providing, health, longevity and wisdom, through the practice of[...]"

What are or were the goals of western alchemy ? Not to be confused with southern al-chemia, as root of chemistry. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 37.166.207.81 (talk) 20:18, 24 April 2024 (UTC)

SSBDelphiki (talk) 21:56, 7 September 2011 (UTC)


 * This is maybe better placed on the Alchemy page, unless it is shown that the Chinese is rooted in the Western. --163.119.162.241 (talk) 14:14, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

Poor sourcing and non-NPOV
This article relies heavily on outdated and fringe viewpoints and sources. Notably, the reliance on Cooper is terrible. Especially in the lead of the article. That claim about Tao Chia and Tao Chiao is a fringe minority view in modern scholarship, regarded as a anachronistic misunderstanding by Western Orientalists. See Livia Kohn and Isabelle Robinet as noteworthy scholars with specific subject expertise. --76.180.175.229 (talk) 04:37, 21 October 2015 (UTC)


 * Agreed, article is near-worthless in its current state.--163.119.162.241 (talk) 14:13, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

People
I was wondering how the subtopic Chinese Medicine relates to Alchemy. Where is the connection? Are there any known people that were influential to this topic? — Preceding unsigned comment added by SouryaMo (talk • contribs) 17:52, 19 February 2021 (UTC)

The rare substance. Voldamite.
Needed as soon as possible. Planned evacuation off this planet otherwise. 107.127.39.33 (talk) 06:16, 24 April 2022 (UTC)


 * what? Bigbrainsoldier (talk) 14:35, 4 April 2024 (UTC)

Alchemists
Ts'ui Fang, a Forgotten llth-Century alchemist. can someone write him in the article?

Ted 2607:FEA8:4A2:4100:E877:9E9D:1926:692C (talk) 09:35, 16 February 2023 (UTC)

Unreliable Article
Most of the information in this article is either flat-out incorrect or heavily debatable, yet presented without any disclaimers about reliability. For one example among many, the claims that Laozi (a pseudo-legendary figure) is one of the "creators of this tradition" sources an (also-unreliable) article wherein that claim is presented as legend. Much of the page seems to have been written by one person who had no idea what they were talking about, and much of it reads as remarkably Orientalist. Reading this article would be a net negative and leave many false impressions for anyone trying to understand the history of alchemy in China -- I honestly think it should be deleted, since there's barely enough correct information in it to be worth rewriting as-is. Ratproblems (talk) 00:31, 5 March 2024 (UTC)


 * Notably, also, the pages for Waidan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waidan and Neidan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neidan are actually reliably sourced and well-written articles on the subject. Ratproblems (talk) 00:59, 5 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Removing NPOV template. Unclear how this constitutes a neutrality issue, and is not just a drive-by "warning". Wracking  talk! 00:44, 5 May 2024 (UTC)