Editing Elixir of life

{{Short description|Alchemical potion that grants immunity, eternal youth and immortality to its drinker}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
[[File:White-Rabbit-making-elixir-of-immortality.jpg|thumb|The mythological [[Moon rabbit|White Hare]] from [[Chinese mythology]], brewing the elixir of life on the [[Moon]]]]
The '''elixir of life''' ([[Medieval Latin]]: ''{{Wikt-lang|en|elixir}}'' {{Wikt-lang|la|vitae}}), also known as  '''elixir of immortality''', is a [[potion]] that supposedly grants the drinker [[Immortality|eternal life]] and/or [[eternal youth]]. This [[elixir]] was also said to [[Panacea (medicine)|cure all diseases]]. [[Alchemy|Alchemists]] in various ages and cultures sought the means of formulating the elixir.

== History ==
===Ancient Mesopotamia===

An early mention of an elixir of life is found in the [[Epic of Gilgamesh]] (from the 2nd millennium BC) in which [[Gilgamesh]] comes to fear his own declining years following the death of his beloved companion [[Enkidu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Epic of Gilgamesh: Enkidu |url=https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/Gilgamesh/character/enkidu/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=SparkNotes |language=en}}</ref>  He seeks out [[Utnapishtim]], a figure in Mesopotamian mythology known for surviving a great flood sent by the gods and being granted immortality.  Gilgamesh is directed by Utnapishtim to find a plant at the bottom of the sea, but he loses it to a serpent before he can use it himself. This legend is an archaic explanation for snakes shedding their skin, seen as mystical rejuvenation.

=== China ===
[[File:La expedición de Xu Fu, por Utagawa Kuniyoshi.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Xu Fu]]'s first expedition to the [[Mount Penglai|Mount of the immortals]]. By [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]].]]
Many rulers of ancient China sought the fabled elixir to achieve eternal life. During the [[Qin dynasty]], [[Qin Shi Huang]] sent [[Taoist]] alchemist [[Xu Fu]] to the eastern seas with 500 young men and 500 young women to find the elixir in the legendary [[Mount Penglai|Penglai Mountain]], but returned without finding it. He embarked on a second voyage with 3000 young girls and boys, but none of them ever returned (legend has it that he found [[Japan]] instead).<ref name="Liu">Liu, Hong. ''The Chinese Overseas''. Routledge Library of Modern China. Published by Taylor & Francis, [2006] (2006). {{ISBN|0-415-33859-X}}, 9780415338592.</ref>

The ancient Chinese believed that ingesting long-lasting mineral substances such as [[jade]], [[cinnabar]], or [[hematite]] would confer some of that longevity on the person who consumed them.<ref name="ASOCA">Johnson, Obed Simon. ''A Study of Chinese Alchemy''. Shanghai, Commercial Press, 1928. rpt. New York: Arno Press, 1974. page 63</ref> [[Gold]] was considered particularly potent, as it was a non-tarnishing precious metal; the idea of potable or drinkable gold is found in China by the end of the third century BC. The most famous Chinese alchemical book, ''Danjing yaojue'' ("Essential Formulas of Alchemical Classics") attributed to [[Sun Simiao]] (c. 581 – c. 682 AD),<ref>Glick, T.F., Livesey, S.J., Wallis, F. ''Medieval Science, Technology And Medicine: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge, 2005. p. 20</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/582108/Tan-chin-yao-chueh|title=Tan chin yao chueh – occultism|encyclopedia=britannica.com}}</ref> a famous medical specialist respectfully called "King of Medicine" by later generations, discusses in detail the creation of elixirs for immortality (including several toxic ingredients such as [[mercury (element)|mercury]], [[sulphur]], and [[arsenates]]), as well as those for curing certain diseases and the fabrication of precious stones.

Many of these substances, far from contributing to longevity, were actively toxic and resulted in [[Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning]]. The [[Jiajing Emperor]] in the [[Ming dynasty]] died from ingesting a lethal dosage of mercury in the supposed "Elixir of Life" conjured by alchemists.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

=== India ===

[[File:Mohini with amrit.jpg|thumb|[[Mohini]], the female form of [[Vishnu]], holding the pot of amrita, which she distributes amongst all the [[deva (Hinduism)|devas]], leaving the [[asura]]s without it. [[Darasuram]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India|alt=A stone carving of a standing woman with a pot in her left hand and lotus in right]]

[[Amrita]], the elixir of life, has been described in [[Hindu scriptures]]. In the [[Puranas]], that due to the defeat of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] at the hands of the [[asura]]s, both power-seeking races, the preserver deity [[Vishnu]] asked the devas to [[Samudra Manthana|churn the ocean of milk]], so that they may retrieve amrita to empower themselves.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaturvedi |first=B. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8m441zg_KgC&dq=churning+of+the+ocean+purana&pg=PA25 |title=Vishnu Purana |date=2006 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7182-673-5 |pages=25 |language=en}}</ref>

Mercury, which was so vital to alchemy everywhere, is first mentioned in the 4th- to 3rd-century BC [[Arthashastra]], about the same time it is encountered in China and in the West. Evidence of the idea of transmuting base metals to gold appears in 2nd- to 5th-century AD Buddhist texts, about the same time as in the West.

It is also possible that the alchemy of medicine and immortality came to China from India, or vice versa; in any case, for both cultures, gold-making appears to have been a minor concern, and medicine the major concern. But the elixir of immortality was of little importance in India (which had other avenues to immortality). The Indian elixirs were mineral remedies for specific diseases or, at the most, to promote long life.

===Islamic world===
{{main|Alchemy in the medieval Islamic world}}
{{Further|Jabir ibn Hayyan|pseudo-Geber|Khalid ibn Yazid|Emerald Tablet|Picatrix|Brethren of Purity|Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity}}

=== Europe ===
{{Main|Philosopher's stone}}
[[File:Dell' elixir vitae 1624 Donato d'Eremita Plate 1 AQ14 (1).jpg|thumb|''Dell' elixir vitae'', 1624]]
In European [[alchemical]] tradition, the elixir of life is closely related to the creation of the [[philosopher's stone]]. According to legend, certain alchemists have gained a reputation as creators of the elixir. These include [[Nicolas Flamel]] and [[St. Germain (Theosophy)|St. Germain]]. A work by [[Michael Scot]] speaks of gold as an elixir of life.<ref name="Multhauf 1953 p. ">{{cite book | last=Multhauf | first=R.P. | title=The Relationship Between Technology and Natural Philosophy, Ca. 1250-1650 as Illustrated by the Technology of the Mineral Acids | publisher=University of California | year=1953 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0GJIAQAAMAAJ&q=%22michael+scot%22+%22as+an+elixir+of+life%22 | access-date=2023-06-04 | page=}}</ref>

===Japan===
In the 8th century AD ''[[Man'yōshū]]'', {{nihongo|'waters of rejuvenation'|[[:ja:変若水|変若水]]|ochimizu}} are said to be in the possession of the moon god [[Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto|Tsukuyomi]]. Similarities have been noted with a folktale from the [[Ryukyu Islands]], in which the moon god decides to give man the water of life (''{{langx|mvi|sïlimizï}}''), and serpents the water of death (''sïnimizï''). However, the person entrusted with carrying the pails down to Earth gets tired and takes a break, and a serpent bathes in the water of life, rendering it unusable. This is said to be why serpents can rejuvenate themselves each year by shedding their skin while men are doomed to die.<ref name="Naumann2000">{{cite book|author=Nelly Naumann|title=Japanese Prehistory: The Material and Spiritual Culture of the Jōmon Period|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yrla4QyhFasC&pg=PA133|year=2000|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-04329-8|page=133}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevsky |first1=Nikolai |author-link1=Nikolai Nevsky |editor1-last=Masao |editor1-first=Oka |editor1-link=Masao Oka |title=月と不死 [Tsuki to fushi] |date=April 1971 |publisher=平凡社 |isbn=9784582801859 |url=https://docs.miko.org/index.php/%E6%9C%88%E3%81%A8%E4%B8%8D%E6%AD%BB |access-date=17 December 2018 |language=ja}}</ref>

== Names ==
The Elixir has had hundreds of names (one scholar of Chinese history reportedly found over 1,000 names for it), among them [[Kimia]], Amrit Ras or [[Amrita]], Aab-i-Hayat, Maha Ras, Aab-Haiwan, Dancing Water, Chasma-i-Kausar, Mansarover or the Pool of Nectar, [[Philosopher's stone]], and Soma Ras.  The word ''[[wikt:elixir|elixir]]'' was not used until the 7th century A.D. and derives from the Arabic name for miracle substances, "al iksir".  Some view it as a metaphor for the spirit of God (''e.g.'', Jesus's reference to "the [[Water of Life (Christianity)|Water of Life]]" or "the [[Fountain of Life]]").  "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  (John 4:14)  The [[Scottish people|Scots]] and the [[Irish people|Irish]] adopted the name for their "liquid gold": the [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] name for [[whiskey]] is [[uisce beatha]], or water of life.

“[[Kimia]]” is from Ancient Greek language and used in old Persian literature, in which it means something that transforms and brings life. ''Aab-i-Hayat'' is Persian and means "water of life".<ref>I. K. Poonawala. [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ab-ii-water-in-muslim-iranian-culture "ĀB ii. Water in Muslim Iranian culture"].  ''[[Encyclopaedia Iranica]]''. Retrieved 12 February 2012.</ref> "Chashma-i-Kausar" (not "hasma") is the "Fountain of Bounty", which Muslims believe to be located in Paradise.  As for the Indian names, "Amrit Ras" means "immortality juice", "Maha Ras" means "great juice", and "Soma Ras" means "juice of Soma".  Later, Soma came to mean the Moon.  "Ras" later came to mean "sacred mood experienced listening to poetry or music"; there are altogether nine of them. [[Mansarovar]], the "mind lake" is the [[holy lake]] at the foot of [[Mount Kailash]] in Tibet, close to the source of the Ganges.

== In popular culture ==
{{Main|Alchemy in art and entertainment}}

The elixir of life has been an inspiration, plot feature, or subject of artistic works including [[animation]], [[comics]], [[film]]s, musical compositions, [[novel]]s, and [[video games]]. Some examples are [[L. Frank Baum|L. Frank Baum's]] fantasy novel ''[[John Dough and the Cherub]]'', the science fiction series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', [[Natalie Babbitt|Natalie Babbitt's]] 1975 novel [[Tuck Everlasting]] and its [[Tuck Everlasting (2002 film)|film adaptation]], ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', ''[[House of Anubis]]'', ''[[Puppet Master (film series)|The Puppet Master]]'', the manga ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' and ''[[Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku]]'', the light novel ''[[Baccano!]]'', the movie ''[[Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva]]'' of the ''[[Professor Layton]]'' franchise, the horror film ''[[As Above, So Below (film)|As Above, So Below]]'' and the video games ''[[Touhou Project]]'' and ''[[Sims 2]]''.

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aether (mythology)]]
* [[Aether (classical element)]]
* [[Ageing]]
* [[Al Khidr]]
* [[Ambrosia]] and Nectar
* [[Amrita]]
* [[Cup of Jamshid]]
* ''[[Death Becomes Her]]''
* [[Elixir]]
* [[Fountain of Youth]]
* [[Golden apple]]
* [[Holy Grail]]
* [[Holy water]]
* [[Ichor]]
* [[Immortality]]
* [[Jintan (Japanese medicine)]]
* [[Magu (deity)]]
* [[Manna]]
* [[Panacea (medicine)|Panacea]]
* [[Peaches of Immortality]]
* [[Philosopher's stone]]
** [[Langgan]]
* [[Pill of Immortality]]
** [[Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning]]
** [[Waidan]]
* [[Potion]]
* [[Rejuvenation]]
{{div col end}}

== References==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* ''Heart of the Earth: The Elixir of Earth'', second novel in the trilogy by Richard Anderson no
* [http://khidr.org/ Al-Khidr, The Green Man]
* [http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~panopus/jeannie/alchemy%20&%20daoism.html Alchemy and Daoism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214170549/http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~panopus/jeannie/alchemy%20%26%20daoism.html |date=2020-02-14 }}
* [http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/naam/naam_amrit.htm Naam or Word, Book Three: Amrit, Nectar or Water of Life]
* [[Joseph Needham|Needham, Joseph]], Ping-Yu Ho, Gwei-Djen Lu. [https://monoskop.org/images/e/e8/Needham_Joseph_Science_and_Civilisation_in_China_Vol_5-3_Chemistry_and_Chemical_Technology_Spagyrical_Discovery_and_Invention_Historical_Survey_from_Cinnabar_Elixirs_to_Synthetic_Insulin.pdf ''Science and Civilisation in China'', Volume V, Part III] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127100351/http://monoskop.org/images/e/e8/Needham_Joseph_Science_and_Civilisation_in_China_Vol_5-3_Chemistry_and_Chemical_Technology_Spagyrical_Discovery_and_Invention_Historical_Survey_from_Cinnabar_Elixirs_to_Synthetic_Insulin.pdf |date=2014-11-27 }}. Cambridge at the University Press, 1976.
* Turner, John D. (transl.).  [https://archive.today/20120530164546/www.webcom.com/~gnosis/naghamm/intpr.html The Interpretation of Knowledge]

{{Alchemy}}

[[Category:Potions]]
[[Category:Immortality]]
[[Category:Life extension]]
[[Category:Longevity myths]]
[[Category:Mythological medicines and drugs]]
[[Category:Medieval legends]]
[[Category:Supernatural legends]]