Fang (), was a Chinese scientist and alchemist who lived during the first century B.C during the

Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

. 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 Emperor Wu of Han (156 – 29 March 87BC), formally enshrined as Emperor Wu the Filial (), born Liu Che (劉徹) and courtesy name Tong (通), was the seventh emperor of the Han dynasty of ancient China, ruling from 141 to 87 BC. His reign las ...

's spouses and thus had access to the highest levels of society. Fang's husband was Cheng Wei (). 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 Extraction may refer to: Science and technology Biology and medicine * Comedo extraction, a method of acne treatment * Dental extraction, the surgical removal of a tooth from the mouth Computing and information science * Data extraction, the pro ...

from

ore Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit.Encyclopædia Britannica. "Ore". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 April 2 ...

s 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 Ge Hong (; b. 283 – d. 343 or 364), courtesy name Zhichuan (稚川), was a Chinese linguist, Taoist practitioner, philosopher, physician, politician, and writer during the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was the author of '' Essays on Chinese Characte ...

Notes and references

{{authority control 1st-century BC Chinese women 1st-century BC Chinese people Ancient Chinese scientists Ancient women scientists Chinese alchemists Ancient alchemists