化学是以炼丹术的原始形态出现的。公元前二世纪炼丹术就在我国产生了,从汉朝到唐、宋各代一直盛行着。我国炼丹家留下很多出色著作,其中公元二世纪时魏伯阳所写的“周易参同契”是世界上现存的最古的炼丹著作。所以,从近代科学来看“周易参同契”,无论对于我国化学史或世界化学史,都有很大意义。在欧洲,古老的炼金术书籍或手稿早已送进了博物馆,或是被图书馆珍藏起来。但是“周易参同契”却有所不同,它在中国有着极广泛的流传,“周易参同契”的各种版本和注解本相当多,它是受到正统的儒家的推 Chemistry is based on the original form of alchemy. The second century BC alchemy occurred in our country, from Han to Tang, Song has been prevalent in all generations. Alchemist in our country left a lot of outstanding works, including the second century AD written by Wei Boyang << Yi Yi ginseng contract >> is the world’s oldest existing Alchemy works. Therefore, from the point of view of modern science, the “Yiyi ginseng” is of great significance to both the history of chemistry in our country and the history of chemistry in the world. In Europe, ancient alchemical books or manuscripts have already been sent to museums or kept in the library. However, the “Yi Tong Zhi Tong Qi” is different, it has a very wide spread in China, “Yi Yi Tong Qi,” the various versions and comments quite a lot, it is by the orthodox Confucian push