Air (classical element): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|One of four primary substances in antiquity}} | {{Short description|One of four primary substances in antiquity}} | ||
{{classic element}} | {{classic element}} | ||
'''Air''' or '''Wind''' is one of the four [[classical element]]s along with [[water (classical element)|water]], [[earth (classical element)|earth]] and [[fire (classical element)|fire]] in ancient [[Greek philosophy]] and in Western [[alchemy]]. | '''Air''' or '''Wind''' is one of the four [[classical element]]s along with [[water (classical element)|water]], [[earth (classical element)|earth]] and [[fire (classical element)|fire]] in ancient [[Greek philosophy]] and in Western [[alchemy]]. | ||
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=== Alchemy === | === Alchemy === | ||
[[Image:air symbol (alchemical).svg|thumb|upright=0.4| | [[Image:air symbol (alchemical).svg|thumb|upright=0.4| 🜁, the alchemical symbol for air]] | ||
The [[alchemical symbol]] for air is an upward-pointing triangle, bisected by a horizontal line. | The [[alchemical symbol]] for air is an upward-pointing triangle, bisected by a horizontal line. | ||
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Air is not one of the traditional five [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|Chinese classical elements]]. Nevertheless, the ancient Chinese concept of ''[[Qi]]'' or ''chi'' is believed to be close to that of air. ''Qi'' is believed to be part of every living thing that exists, as a kind of "[[Vitalism|life force]]" or "[[energy (spirituality)|spiritual energy]]". It is frequently translated as "energy flow", or literally as "air" or "breath". (For example, ''tiānqì'', literally "sky breath", is the Chinese word for "[[weather]]"). The concept of qi is often [[Reification (fallacy)|reified]], however no scientific evidence supports its existence. | Air is not one of the traditional five [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|Chinese classical elements]]. Nevertheless, the ancient Chinese concept of ''[[Qi]]'' or ''chi'' is believed to be close to that of air. ''Qi'' is believed to be part of every living thing that exists, as a kind of "[[Vitalism|life force]]" or "[[energy (spirituality)|spiritual energy]]". It is frequently translated as "energy flow", or literally as "air" or "breath". (For example, ''tiānqì'', literally "sky breath", is the Chinese word for "[[weather]]"). The concept of qi is often [[Reification (fallacy)|reified]], however no scientific evidence supports its existence. | ||
Air (Sanskrit: ''vāyu'') is recognized in [[Buddhism|Buddhism]] as one of the [[mahābhūta]]. According to the ''[[Abhidhammattha Sangaha]]'': | |||
{{Blockquote | |||
|text=The air element (''vāyodhātu'') is the principle of motion and pressure. Its characteristic is distension (''vitthambana''), its function is to cause motion in the other material phenomena, and it is manifested as conveyance to other places. Its proximate cause is the other three great essentials. It is experienced as tangible pressure.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bodhi|first=Bhikkhu|date=2003|title=A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma|location=Sri Lanka|publisher=Buddhist Publication Society|page=238}}</ref> | |||
}} | |||
Some Western modern occultists equate the [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|Chinese classical element]] of [[metal (classical element)|metal]] with ''air'',<ref>Donald Michael Kraig, ''Modern Magick'', p. 115.</ref> others with [[Wood (Wu Xing)|wood]] due to the elemental association of wind and wood in the [[bagua]]. | Some Western modern occultists equate the [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|Chinese classical element]] of [[metal (classical element)|metal]] with ''air'',<ref>Donald Michael Kraig, ''Modern Magick'', p. 115.</ref> others with [[Wood (Wu Xing)|wood]] due to the elemental association of wind and wood in the [[bagua]]. | ||