Kimia
Kimia (written: کیمیا) is a feminine given name in Persian language, in which it means elixir of life, alchemy, or the philosopher’s stone. [1] In ancient Persian poetry, kimia means "rare" or "unique."
Alchemy is a philosophical and protoscientific tradition practiced throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. It aims to purify, mature, and perfect certain objects. Latin words for Chemistry are derived from the ancient word kimia.
The meaning of Kimia, in the Persian literature refers to what is behind the ‘materialistic’ conception of alchemy, and instead to the secret of the spirit’s action in nature and the Universe, the macro-cosmos. By acquiring this secular wisdom of action, alchemists aspired to discover their inner (microcosmic) reality, and transmute themselves. [2]
The word appears ubiquitously in Persian literature. Some early usages can be seen in Vis and Ramin and Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.
Other samples in verse and prose are:
که کیمیای سعادت در این جهان سخن است |
The alchemy of happiness is what counts in life, |
—Naser Khosrow |
صدهزاران کیمیا حق آفرید |
A hundred thousand alchemies created by The Truth |
—Rumi |
The word Kimia has been frequently been used in other Persian poetry, including those of Hafez Shirazi:
از کیمیای مهر تو زر گشت روی من |
By your love’s alchemy, my face became bright gold |
or
آنان که خاک را به نظر کیمیا کنند |
Those whose glance turns lead into gold, |
Notable persons[]
- Kimia Alizadeh (born 1998), Iranian Olympian athlete and taekwondo player
- Kimia Hosseini (born 2003), Iranian actress
- Pincess Kimia (Japanese fictional character), Bulbagarden
- Kimiya Yui (油井 亀美也) (born 1970), Japanese astronaut
References[]
- ^ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
- ^ Corbin, 1986, pp. 71-87, 196-208; Nasr, chapter 9
- Given names