Full Metal Alchemist Glossary & Terms

• Alchemy: Alchemy within the Fullmetal Alchemist anime, put simply, refers to a three-step process. The steps are analysis (to understand the structure and properties of the substance that is about to be transmuted), destruction/decomposition (to break the substance down to its rudimentary properties), and reconstruction/recomposition (to rebuild the substance into another form or with different properties). In the manga, the source of alchemical power is believed by most alchemists to be the movement of tectonic plates-however, Mei Chan, an alchemist from the neighboring country of Xing has her doubts as to this; to her, the power behind Amestrian alchemy seems to involve the souls of the dead (while the Xing alchemy involves using the Earth's lifestream). However, in the anime, the energy for alchemical reactions comes from the other side of the Gate, supposedly from the deaths that occur in the world on the other side of the Gate. In both versions, rather than being a method of manipulating forms via their accidents (the basis of historical alchemy, derived from Greek philosophy), it is essentially modern chemistry without a reaction medium.
• Automail: A kind of prosthetics, made from metal and linked directly to the nerves of the body. Well-made automail can allow a range of movement and strength as good as or better than the original limb it replaces. Some forms of automail include ballistic devices or other enhancements. It appears to be a type of cybernetic technology, well ahead of real world cybernetics research. Edward typically has been seen altering his automail arm with Alchemy, refashioning it into a bladed weapon in the manga and anime. Since it is linked directly to the nerves of the body, attaching automail can be excruciatingly painful.
• Equivalent Exchange: The rule that alchemists in the series consider to be the foundation of Alchemy, or even the fundamental law of the world: to obtain, something of equal value must be lost. One of the themes of the series is examining the implications of Equivalent Exchange as a philosophy. It also investigates into whether Equivalent Exchange is a natural law, or rather, a false ideology. As an example, the two brothers frequently quote the chemicals present in the human body, in thinking that this simple chemical exchange would be all that was needed to bring back someone from the dead.
• One is All, All is One: A cryptic way of explaining the essence of alchemy, this phrase is used by Izumi Curtis to test whether the Elric brothers are worth teaching alchemy to. According to this, if a person were to die, as such there would be no material effect on the world. Since a human body is made up of certain basic elements, when a person dies, his or her body is decomposed and these elements are returned back to nature. These elements, in turn, provide nutrients to plants which, in their turn, become food for herbivores, which are then food to carnivores. This is the cycle of life, and the death of one person is insignificant while considering the whole cycle. However, without these individual deaths, the cycle cannot be maintained and hence the individuals as a whole are significant to the continuation of the cycle. Thus, the cycle of life can never be reversed. Understanding this and working with the cycle of life in order to create new things is what alchemy is about. In other words, as the Elrics put it, "the world is the all, and I am the one."
• State Alchemist: An alchemist serving in a special branch of the state military under the direct command of the Führer. State Alchemists are selected by a series of examinations, and are regarded as some of the most powerful and talented alchemists. The position of State Alchemist also holds considerable authority and influence, automatically being promoted to the rank of Major. However, State Alchemists are despised by the general public, often called 'dogs of the military' - meaning that the person sold their soul to the military in exchange for special entitlements.
• Taboo: A forbidden act in alchemy, for example, human transmutation, which usually comes with a punishment. Edward and Alphonse attempt to return their mother back to life, and are punished by losing Al's body and Ed's leg.
• Transmutation Circle: Transmutation circles act as catalysts in alchemic reactions, and are needed for any transmutation. The circle represents the constant flow of energy, and the patterns determine what effects the transmutation has. Transmutation circles can be drawn with any substance that leaves behind a trail, ranging from chalk to blood. Alchemists often draw circles on the spot for the transmutation they need, but some keep prepared circles embroidered on clothing (such as Roy Mustang's firestarting gloves) or tattooed onto their own flesh; a few alchemists (including Edward Elric) can transmute simply by shaping a circle with their hands.
• Philosopher's Stone: A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. As with all things, however, to create a Philosopher's Stone requires the expenditure of raw materials: in this case, human lives.
• Blood Seal: A special type of transmutation circle that acts as a seal to bind a person's soul to an object, such as a suit of armor. It must, as the name suggests, be written in blood; the soul is tied to the blood and an element in the blood must be bound with the object itself. This typically only works on armor as the iron in the blood binds with the armor. Thus the blood acts as an intermediary between the soul and the object. If a blood seal is destroyed, the soul will no longer be tied to the object, and the person will enter the Gate. Some translations refer to it as a "Blood Array."
• Chimera: A chimera is the fusion of two or more different species into a single being created using alchemy. These creatures are seen as monsters by the general community, because the alchemist has taken two creatures and fused them to create one. There are also cases where the alchemist has used a human in the creation of a chimera, such cases are: Shou Tucker where he created two chimeras using firstly his wife and then his daughter. These Chimeras died shortly after they where created. However other cases such as the events of that at Lab 5, were done using more experienced alchemists, and the aid of mass amounts of Red Stones. These chimeras were created using humans, however a major difference is that these chimeras took the form of humans and then gained abilities depending on the animal they were fused with.
• Gate of Alchemy (also known as the "Gate of Truth" or just "Gate" in the anime, known as the "Doors of Truth" or "The Doors" in the manga): The Gate/Doors is said to be the source for all alchemical power. In the manga, an alchemist who sees the Doors can then perform alchemy without the use of a written or tattooed circle because of the knowledge gained during the experience. In the anime it is said that the Gate swings forward each time the energy for alchemy is summoned, that there is a Gate inside everyone, and that all that is necessary to access the Gate is knowledge of how to do so. It is also said that a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit is what called the Gate - in other words, death. A baby, the anime posits, has a weak link between the body, mind, and spirit, and thus it is easy to summon the Gate using a baby. In the anime the Gate resembles Rodin's sculpture "The Gates of Hell", but in the manga it is called the Doors of Truth and is more akin to an obelisk, featuring the Kabbalahistic Tree of Life.
• Truth : The ultimate goal of every alchemist. In the anime, it was just Ed's point of view to describe what he found in the Gate. In the manga, though, it was displayed as an omnipotent god-like being that exists in the Doors, enforcing the law of Equivalent Exchange.
• Rentan Jutsu (manga only): A type of Alchemy that is used in the eastern country Xing. Its roots actually lie in medicine and transmutation circles are referred to as "purification circles" by the people of Xing. While similar to Amestris alchemy (called "Renkin Jutsu" by people from Xing), the source of energy is different. Rentan Jutsu uses the power called "Lungmei" which exists everywhere on the earth. The type of alchemy that the character Mei Chan uses is Rentan Jutsu. Scar's tattoo is a mix of Renkin Jutsu and Rentan Jutsu.
• Human Sacrifice: In the manga, it is a term that the Homunculi use to refer to alchemists who have opened the Doors and seen the Truth. Human Sacrifices are a crucial part of the Homunculi and "Father's" plan, but to what end is still unknown.
• Human Transmutation: A forbidden art in which one attempts to create a human who had died. It takes something from the person who performs it (for example, an arm, leg or organ) but, instead of creating a human, it takes the alchemist to the Gate/Doors, where he or she gains knowledge proportional to what was given up in the transmutation. In the anime, the end product of a human transmutation attempt is a Homunculus.