“tang..ting..ptang..klang…tang”
These are the sounds of my hammer striking against the metal bar. Beating the impurties from the metal. Shaping and reshaping the metal. Making it into a completely new
substance, strong and light, sharp and true, worthy of becoming the Emperor’s finest blade.
I am Sheng Wei, and I am metal. It has become time for me to finally pass on the
secrets of metal and steel to my apprentice. He has proven himself worthy these past 22
years. I have given him the discipline needed to shape his body from a weak boy into a
strong man, not unlike shaping swords from raw ore. He was rough and undisciplined when
he came to me. Unrefined and raw. Yet he thrived as he came to learn his place in life for,
he too, has become metal.
So listen well young master and learn how we earn the title “Royal Alchemist”, for we
truly have the power and knowledge to transform! “First know that there is no other element
such as “Metal” for it is the only element shaped from the hand of man and from all of the
other elements. To be honest they should have named it “Mineral” for there is no such thing
as à metal until the ore is purified and refined. Understand the ore comes from the bowels of
the earth. This is why the element rules the entrails of the body. Ore is never found on the
surface but deep with the body of the earth. Whether it be iron, copper, gold or silver; it is
still not yet metal. It is only a rock. Simple earth and not yet it’s only element. It takes fire to
release the earth from the ore, to transform it into the element of metal. Fire alone is not
sufficient for we now employ the element wood to give fire it’s strength.
Now as you know young sage, simply placing the ore in a fireplace will not melt it.
This requires just the right amount of heat. Heat can be coaxed from the elements of fire and
wood by using the power of the “lung of the dragon”. That’s right, we use the bellows and
we must pump the bellows 33 times to make the heat just right to melt the ore into a crude
metal bar. When the ore is liquid we combine ore of nickel and iron and copper, with just a
hint of silver and our most important ingredient, quicksilver in this stew of molten magic.
Quicksilver is our greatest secret, which you must now hold dear and close to your heart.
Never divulge it, to anyone other than to your apprentice when the time is right. Quicksilver
has the power to bind all these metals into a whole new substance called “steel”. Our finest
steel is what we will make the Emperor’s “Miao Dao”from. This will be the finest sword
ever crafted in the land.
So you think I have forgotten water? Water is needed to quickly cool the metal. This
is what gives steel it’s exceptional hardness. Time and again we heat the metal, beating
and folding it, then cooling it and beginning the process again. For normal blades this is
done seven times. But for the Emperor only, we do this one more time. Yes, eight times to
mirror the eight fold path. This gives our Lord and Master, the Emperor, the hardest and
brightest blade. Worthy to be wielded in battle by a divine personage.
Now my young student, now that you have become an Alchemist and have
dedicated your life to metal, you have a duty to guard these secrets. You must always
revere the command of his majesty the Emperor. Remember that it is his resources that we
shape. He commands the miners that find the ore. He commands the caravans that bring it
to our coffers. The Emperor provides us with bed, rice, wood for the fire, and even the
clothes we wear. Without him we would be lost. Could you imagine a life without purpose
and duty? Remember this when you are sad and are weak. Remember that we make the
tooth of the dragon! And be proud that you are metal!
This essay was written as an assignment for my Acupressure class while I was attending the Nevada School for Massage Therapy in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005-2006. My Teacher gave me creative liberty to fashion my narrative in a story that I felt gave life to mankind’s relationship to the only element that is not organic and natural. Metal does not exist in the western worlds four elements and in the eastern view this element symbolizes everything that is fashioned from Earth (ore from the mines) , Fire (forged in the furnace). Air (feeds the fire and is transformed into smoke and steam), Water (sweat from work and to cool the steel so it can be fashioned into a tool for our use).
Metal in Chinese medicine represents the toxicity of living in the world and its effects on our organic bodies. That is a simplification however “Metal” does represent the world we have created for good and bad.
Michael Forrest- Intuitive Mentor.
#poetry, #mythology, #oriental-medicine, #acupuncture, #spirituality, #mystic, #tarot-readings
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