Fang (alchemist)

Fang (Chinese: 方), was a Chinese scientist and alchemist who lived during the first century B.C during the Han dynasty.[1] She was the earliest recorded woman alchemist in China.

She is only known under her family name Fang. Raised in a scholarly family skilled in the alchemical arts, she studied alchemy with one of the Emperor Han Wudi's spouses and thus had access to the highest levels of society. Fang's husband was Cheng Wei (simplified Chinese: 程伟; traditional Chinese: 程偉).[2][3] She accomplished feats her husband could not.[4][5]

Fang was credited with the discovery of the method to turn mercury into silver. It was believed that she may have used the chemical technique of silver extraction from ores using mercury, where pure silver residue is left behind from the boiled mercury.

Fang eventually went insane and committed suicide. Details of Fang's life were recorded by author and alchemist Ge Hong.[1]

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b Rayner-Canham, Marelene; Rayner-Canham, Geoffrey (2001). Women in Chemistry: Their Changing Roles from Alchemical Times to the Mid-Twentieth Century (History of Modern Chemical Sciences. Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-0941901277.
  2. ^ Meschel, S. V. (September 1992). "Teacher Keng's heritage: A survey of Chinese women scientists". Journal of Chemical Education. 69 (9): 723. doi:10.1021/ed069p723. ISSN 0021-9584.
  3. ^ Maxwell-Stuart, P. G. (2008-05-15). The Chemical Choir: A History of Alchemy. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4411-4136-1.
  4. ^ Wawrytko, Sandra A.; Cleary, Thomas; Little, Stephen (July 1991). "Immortal Sisters: Secrets of Taoist Women". Philosophy East and West. 41 (3): 442. doi:10.2307/1399263. ISSN 0031-8221. JSTOR 1399263.
  5. ^ Campany, Robert Ford (May 2006). "Secrecy and Display in the Quest for Transcendence in China, ca. 220 BCE–350 CE". History of Religions. 45 (4): 291–336. doi:10.1086/507857. ISSN 0018-2710.