May Chang performing the so-called rendanshu.
Alkahestry (錬丹術 Rentanjutsu), also called Purification Arts (連弾主 Rendan-shu), refers to the variant of alchemy from Xing. While fundamentally the same in terms of its application, alkahestry differs from alchemy in both its practice and its goal.
History
Four hundred years ago, the practices which would give rise to this Xing variant of alchemy consisted of the ingestion of various materials thought to manifest certain properties (similar to the development of traditional medicine and tea drinking in eastern Asia, which Xing is loosely based off of). a In fact, it is said that three whole generations of the imperial family died from ingesting mercury because they believed that it promoted longevity. It wasn't until a mysterious figure they call "The Philosopher of the West" that supposedly came from Xerxes, who is later revealed to be Van Hohenheim, appeared in Xing with his alchemical teachings that alkahestry was born.It was created from a melding of the new teachings and the old metaphysical healing practices.
The idea of alkahestry is built on the practice of fashioning elixirs and, therefore, is mainly used for medicinal purposes. As such, the focus of the craft is the discovery of the Elixir of Life, the key to immortality and eternal vigor. This is in stark contrast to Amestrian alchemy's preoccupation with the Philosopher's Stone's alchemical augmentation properties.
Overview
Whereas Amestrian alchemy claims to have its roots in the energy of tectonic shifts and practices manipulation of matter toward scientifically practical ends, alkahestry is centered on a concept called the Dragon's Pulse which speaks of the Earth itself having a constant flow of chi (life energy) which flows metaphorically from the tops of mountains down to the land, nourishing everything it passes with that energy as does blood coursing through the veins.
Alkahestry's connection to the Dragon's Pulse makes it difficult for those who are not trained to sense chi to perform it. As a result, alkahestry is essentially exclusively used by the people of Xing, though it is implied that it is not impossible for people of other nations to learn and use alkahestry.
Using this concept, users of alkahestry are capable of a higher level of medical transmutation than Amestrian alchemists. They are able to transmit chi through the pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries, and can even project their transmutations over long distances and wide areas by accessing and guiding that current to their own means with Purification Circles and alkahestric markers, a function of which Amestrian alchemy is altogether incapable.
Applications
Alkahestry can be seen as simply a different style of the typical Amestrian alchemy commonly portrayed in the series and as a result, much of the same transmutations that can be performed with alchemy can also be performed with alkahestry.
Where alkahestry differs is mostly in the method of its performance. Amestrian alchemy is typically performed with the usage of varied and detailed transmutation circles that are unique to each transmutation, while alkahestry seems to use only a single type of Purification Circle, a pentagram shape surrounded by a circle. With this single circle design, seemingly any type of transmutation can be performed, which differs greatly from the endless types of alchemical transmutation circles. However, it appears that the activation of these circles also require the usage of five kunai at each of the points of the pentagram to activate, as well as another five at another point if one wishes to perform alkahestry at a distance.
This also leads to the second distinct advantage that alkahestry has over alchemy: the ability to perform transmutations across long distances. Alchemists are typically only able to perform within their general vicinity. As stated above, the ability to channel their energy and power amongst the flow of chi in the earth is an ability only available to those who can sense the Dragon's Pulse and use that energy to guide their transmutations. However, it is possible for users of alchemy and alkahestry to work together to perform a combined transmutation, enabling one to also perform alchemy at a distance.
May Chang is the only character shown in the series to use traditional Xing alkahestry, though Scar's alchemy uses principles of alkahestry. Whether or not the various advantages or drawbacks of alkahestry is inherent to her or not is unknown. Van Hohenheim helped create alkahestry, and has knowledge of it, but is never seen using it. Because alkahestry uses the Dragon's Pulse rather than alchemy from Father's Philosopher's Stone, Father cannot control alkahestry as he does alchemy.
Trivia
- Alkahestry uses a pentagram Purification Circle, rather than the traditional hexagrams of normal transmutation circles. This is a reference to the real-life Chinese concept of Wu Xing, a core belief of which is that there are five core elements in the world (Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, Metal) which are represented in perfect unison by a five-pointed star.
- Alkahestry is derived from the real concept of alkahest, which was believed to be a hypothetical universal solvent. Alchemists in the 16th century highly sought the mythical substance, along with real Philosopher's Stones.
- In addition to this, similar to how Van Hohenheim introduced alkahestry to the people of Xing, in reality, the renowned alchemist Paracelsus (on whom Hohenheim was based on) is credited with creating the term "alkahest".