The Emerald Tablet - Ubamba wa Zumaridi - [Tabula Smaragdina]

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"Tabula Smaragdina" extracted from De Alchimia, Chrysogonus Polydorus, Nuremberg 1541, after Hortulain (XIV k). : original edition of The Emerald Tablet Nakili ya kwanza cha kiandiko katika kilatini . Tazama picha. ( mn. ٩٤٧ ﮪ)

"Tabula Smaragdina" extracted from De Alchimia, Chrysogonus Polydorus, Nuremberg 1541, after Hortulain (XIV k). : original edition of The Emerald Tablet

Nakili ya kwanza cha kiandiko katika kilatini . Tazama picha. ( mn. ٩٤٧ ﮪ)

Original edition of the Latin text. (Chrysogonus Polydorus, Nuremberg 1541):

Verum, sine mendacio, certum et verissimum: Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius, et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius. Et sicut res omnes fuerunt ab uno, meditatione unius, sic omnes res natae ab hac una re, adaptatione. Pater eius est Sol. Mater eius est Luna. Portavit illud Ventus in ventre suo. Nutrix eius terra est. Pater omnis telesmi* totius mundi est hic. Virtus eius integra est si versa fuerit in terram. Separabis terram ab igne, subtile ab spisso, suaviter, magno cum ingenio. Ascendit a terra in coelum, iterumque descendit in terram, et recipit vim superiorum et inferiorum. Sic habebis Gloriam totius mundi. Ideo fugiet a te omnis obscuritas. Haec est totius fortitudinis fortitudo fortis, quia vincet omnem rem subtilem, omnemque solidam penetrabit. Sic mundus creatus est. Hinc erunt adaptationes mirabiles, quarum modus est hic. Itaque vocatus sum Hermes Trismegistus, habens tres partes philosophiae totius mundi. Completum est quod dixi de operatione Solis.

Ubamba wa Zumaridi .

Ubamba wa Zumaridi , kinachoitwa pia Meza ua Kibao cha Zuwaridi ,au Tabula Smaragdina (Kilatini), au 'Siri ya Hermes' ni maandiko ya zamani sana. Inadaiwa kuwa kazi ya Hermes Trimegistus, mmojayo wa miungu ya wamisri wa kale, ambayo hufanana na Thoth. Thoth alikuwa umungu uliopendezwa sana miongoni mwa sanamu za Ejipti. Alikuwa amekwisha tajwa katika Milki ya Zamani, tangu miaka elfu nne, na alifikiriwa kuwa Uungu wa Mwezi, na kusuhubiana na Uungu wa Jua, 'Re'. Mahekalu mengi yalijengwa kusudia wema wake, na aliunganishwa sana katika fikira za matendo ya mawazo yao, na kuwa mpaji wa hekima, na kwa kuwa wa kwanza kuvumbua jinsi ya kuandika. Tena, alikuwa mganga, kiongozi wa watu waliofariki, na mwandishi katika siku ya hukumu ya kikomo. Baada ya muda, wagreki ambao walianza kuishi huko Misri ya zamani waliunganisha yeye pamoja na Hermes, na halafu,katika zamani za Urumi, alichanganywa na Mercury (Zaibak), aliyekuwa sawa na Hermes. Wakati huu,na baadaye, watu walipambanua jina la Hermes Trimegistus kutaja mtu binadamu aliyekuwa tofauti naye, na jina hilo liliwapwa kwa kawaida kwa watu wataalamu, hasa katika funzo la Kimia lililofanyikwa pamoja na juhudi na waarabu karibu tangu miaka elfu moja na mia tatu hivi.. Kiandiko hicho kilithaminiwa sana na hao waarabu wakimia, na hata wazungu waliofuata hawa, kama msingi wa elimu yao, na ya siri zilizohusiana na mapokeo ya hicho na kadhalika. Kiandiko kilitafsiriwa na kimetafsiriwa na watu wengi maarufu, na katika vilugha vyingi mbali mbali, kama nimejaribu kuonyesha hapo chini.

The Emerald Tablet - an introduction to Hermetic philosophy.

The Emerald Tablet, also known as Smaragdine Table, Tabula Smaragdina, or The Secret of Hermes, is an ancient text . It claims to be the work of Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary Egyptian god, sometimes identified with the Egyptian god Thoth. Thoth was an extremely popular deity in the Egyptian pantheon. He receives mention in the Old Kingdom (ca.2670 - 2205 BC) and was considered as the god of the Moon, and as assisting the Sun god Re. Numerous temples were dedicated to him and he was particularly associated with sacred rituals, with wisdom, and with having invented writing. He was also a healer, a guide for departed souls and a scribe on judgment day. Later, Greeks who settled in Egypt combined him with Hermes. Again, in Roman times, and subsequently, it became necessary to add the cognomen of 'Trimegistus' (although a Hermes Trimegistus apparently also existed in Egyptian times), to discern him in more earthly guise, and it became the name generally given to sages, including reputedly one whose short,cryptic work came down and was prized since mediaeval times by Arab alchemists, and later by Europeans, as the basis of their art, and of the mysteries associated with the Hermetic tradition. It has been translated and received attention from numerous well-known authorities including some examples given below.

Ubamba wa Zumaridi .

Usadikifu, bila uwongo, yakinan na hakikan. Kile kiko chini ni kama kile kiko juu, na kile kiko juu ni kama kile kiko chini, kwa kufanya miujiza cha kitu kimoja. Na kama vitu vyote vilikuwa kwa moja, wazo la moja, hivi vitu vyote vyazawa kwa hicho kimoja, kwa afikiano. Baba yake ni Jua. Mama yake ni Mwezi. Upepo ulihimiliwa ndani ya tumbo lake. Mlezi wake ni ardhi. Baba ya utando wote wa ulimwengu ni huu. Uume wake ni mzima ukawa kuwa ardhini. Farikia ardhi kwa moto, wembamba kwa unene, wanana, kwa ukuu pamoja na uwezo. Hupanda kwa ardhi samawati, na tena hutelemka ardhini, na hupokea nguvu ya juu na ya chini. Hivi hupata na utukufu wa ulimwengu wote. Hivyo, mafumbo yote yatakimbizwa na wewe. Hii ni ezi enye enzi enziwe, inayoshinda yote ya nyembamba, na inapenya yote ya nzito. Hivi ulimwengu umeumbwa. Kwa hiyo yatakuwa mafaa maajabu, ambayo mwendo ni huu . Thama, naitwa Hermes Kubwa Mara Tatu, kuwa na pande tatu za hekima ya ulimwengu wote. Ni timamu lile nimelosema la mtendo wa Jua.

Katika Kiingereza cha sasa : In modern English

True, without error, certain and most true: That which is above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as that which is above, to perform the miracles of the one thing. And as all things were from [the] one, by [means of] the meditation of [the] one, thus all things of the daughter from [the] one, by [means of] adaptation. Its father is the sun, its mother[,]the moon, the wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the earth. The father of all the looms of the whole world is here. Its power is integrating if it be turned into earth. Separate the earth from the fire, the fine from the dense, delicately, by [means of/to] the great [together] with capacity. It ascends by [means of] earth into heaven and again it descends into the earth, and retakes the power of the superior[s] and of the inferior[s]. Thus[,] you have the glory of the whole world. Therefore[,] may it drive-out by [means of] you of all the obscurity. This is the whole of the strength of the strong force, because it overcomes all fine things, and penetrates all the complete. Thus the world has been created. Hence they were wonderful adaptations, of which this is the manner. Therefore I am Hermes the Thrice Great, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. What I have said concerning the operation of the Sun has been completed.

Matafsiri mengine katika kiingereza:

Other translations :

1.Nakala iliyotafutiwa na Holmyard katika kitabu kiarabu, 'Kitab Balaniyus al-Hakim fi'l-`Ilal' ; [ كتاب بالينوس الحكيم في العلل ] - au, ' Book of Balinas the wise on the Causes' - ya Jabir ibn Hayyan. [ (? 721? 815 ; ١٠٢ - ١٩٩ﮪ جابرابن حيان ) ] Kimetafsiriwa tena katika kiingereza.:

Balinas mentions the engraving on the table in the hand of Hermes, which says:

1. Truth! Certainty! That in which there is no doubt!
2. That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above, working the miracles of one.
3. As all things were from one.
4. Its father is the Sun and its mother the Moon.
5. The Earth carried it in her belly, and the Wind nourished it in her belly,
6. as Earth which shall become Fire.
7. Feed the Earth from that which is subtle, with the greatest power.
8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven and becomes ruler over that which is above and that which is below.
9. And I have already explained the meaning of the whole of this in two of these books of mine.

[Holmyard 1923: 562.]

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2.Kitafsiri katika Kilatini cha Karne (12 K. ; ٧ ﮪ ) :Twelfth Century Latin

When I entered into the cave, I received the tablet zaradi, which was inscribed, from between the hands of Hermes, in which I discovered these words:

1. True, without falsehood, certain, most certain.
2. What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like that which is above. To make the miracle of the one thing.
3. And as all things were made from contemplation of one, so all things were born from one adaptation.
4. Its father is the Sun, its mother is the Moon.
5. The wind carried it in its womb, the earth breast fed it.
6. It is the father of all ?works of wonder' (Telesmi) in the world.
7. Its power is complete (integra).
8. If cast to (turned towards- versa fuerit) earth,
9. it will separate earth from fire, the subtile from the gross.
10. With great capacity it ascends from earth to heaven. Again it descends to earth, and takes back the power of the above and the below.
11. Thus you will receive the glory of the distinctiveness of the world. All obscurity will flee from you.
12. This is the whole most strong strength of all strength, for it overcomes all subtle things, and penetrates all solid things.
13. Thus was the world created.
14. From this comes marvelous adaptions of which this is the proceedure.
15. Therefore I am called Hermes, because I have three parts of the wisdom of the whole world.
16. And complete is what I had to say about the work of the Sun, from the book of Galieni Alfachimi.

[ Latin in Steele and Singer 1928: 492.]

3.Mtu mashuhuru wa elimu, Isaac Newton ( 1642 - 1727 K. ; karne ١١ - نيوطن ٢١ ﮪ ) alifafanua kanuni ya uzito, na aliandika kitabu maalum, 'Principia Mathematica'. Kinachofuata ni kitafsiri chake katika lugha ya kiingereza, na kilikuwamo pamoja na makaratasi yake ya kimia.

By Isaac Newton, found in his alchemical papers:

1. Tis true without lying, certain & most true.
2. That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.
3. And as all things have been & arose from one by the meditation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.
4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. The wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.
6. The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.
7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
8. Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.
9. It ascends from the earth to the heaven & again it desends to the earth and receives the force of things superior & inferior.
10. By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world & thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
11. Its force is above all force, for it vanquishes every subtle thing & penetrates every solid thing.
12. So was the world created.
13. From this are & do come admirable adaptations where of the means (or process) is here in this.
14. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
15. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished & ended.

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4.Tafsiri katika lugha ya kifaransa laFulcanelli. Fulcanelli lilikuwa jina lililobunikwa na mwandishi mmoja mtaalumu, mkimia wa siri, aliyeishi karne ya 19 ya Kristo, au karne ١٣ ya h. , huko Ufaransa.

L'interprétation française par Fulcanelli

"Il est vrai, sans mensonge, certain et très veritable : ce qui est en bas est comme ce qui est en haut, et ce qui est en haut est comme ce qui est en bas ; par ces choses se font les miracles d'une seule chose. Et comme toutes les choses sont et proviennent d'UN, par la médiation d'UN, ainsi toutes les choses sont nées de cette chose unique par adaptation. Le Soleil en est le père, et la Lune la mère. Le vent l'a porté dans son ventre. La terre est sa nourrice et son réceptacle. Le Père de tout, le Thélème du monde universe est ici. Sa force ou puissance reste entière, si elle est convertie en terre. Tu sépereras la terre du feu, le subtil de l'épais, soucement, avec grande industrie. Il monte de la terre et descend au ciel, et reçoit la force des choses supérieures et des choses inférieures. Tu auras par ce moyen la gloire du monde, et toute obscurité s'enfuira de toi. C'est la force, forte de toute force, car elle vaincra toute chose subtile et pénétrera toute chose solide. Ainsi, le monde a été créé. De cela sortiront d'admirables adaptations, dequelles le moyen est ici donné.

C'est pourquoi j'ai été appelé Hermès Trigmégiste, ayant les trois parties de la philosophie universelle. Ce que j'ai dit de l'Oeuvre solaire est complet."

Les Demeures philosophales, Pauvert - Paris, 1965, pp.247-249 :

5.Tafsiri la Msufi, Idries Shah (1924 ? 1996 K. ) [ ادريس شاه ١٣٤٤ - ١٤١٧ ﮪ].

1. The truth, certainty, truest, without untruth.
2. What is above is like what is below. What is below is like what is above. The miracle of unity is to be attained.
3. Everything is formed from the contemplation of unity, and all things come about from unity, by means of adaptation.
4. Its parents are the Sun and Moon.
5. It was borne by the wind and nurtured by the Earth.
6. Every wonder is from itand its power is complete.
7. Throw it upon earth, and earth will separate from fire. The impalbable separated from the palpable.
8. Through wisdom it rises slowly from the world to heaven. Then it descends to the world combining the power of the upper and the lower.
9. Thus you will have the illumination of all the world, and darkness will disappear.
10. This is the power of all strength- it overcomes that which is delicate and penetrates through solids.
11. This was the means of the creation of the world.
12. And in the future wonderful developements will be made, and this is the way.
13. I am Hermes the Threefold Sage, so named because I hold the three elements of all wisdom.
14. And thus ends the revelation of the work of the Sun.

(Shah 1964: ).

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6.Prof. Joseph Needham 1900 - 1995 K.[ نيدهم ; ١٣١٧ - ١٤١٦ﮪ ] ambaye aliwaza kwamba asili ya maandiko haya yalitoka Uchina, na kwa kusudi kuyaeleza vizuri zaidi alitunga hilo linalofuata katika lugha ya kiingereza. (Hypothetical Chinese Original )

1. True, true, with no room for doubt, certain, worthy of all trust.
2. See, the highest comes from the lowest, and the lowest from the highest; indeed a marvelous work of the tao.
3. See how all things originated from It by a single process.
4. The father of it (the elixir) is the sun (Yang), its mother the moon (Yin).
5. The wind bore it in its belly, and the earth nourished it.
6. This is the father of wondrous works (changes and transformations), the guardian of mysteries, perfect in its powers, the animator of lights.
7. This fire will be poured upon the earth...
8. So separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, acting prudently and with art.
9. It ascends from the earth to the heavens (and orders the lights above), then descends again to the earth; and in it is the power of the highest and the lowest.
10. Thus when you have the light of lights darkness will flee away from you.
11. With this power of powers (the elixir) you shall be able to get the mastery of every subtle thing, and be able to penetrate everything that is gross.
12. In this way was the great world itself formed.
13. Hence thus and thus marvellous operations will be acheived.

[Slightly altered from Needham 1980: 371.]

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APPENDIX ; NYONGEZO.

a. Tafsiri ya mwingereza wa zamani, Bacon [ باكن ], mjuaji wa kiarabu na vilugha vyingine, katika kiingereza chake cha kale - karne ya 15 K. au karne ١٠ ﮪ. (Translation from Roger Bacon's edition of Secretum Secretorum made c 1445)

Translation of same source, made c. 1485.

1. The trwthe is so, and that it is no dowght,
2. that lower thyngis to hyer thyng, and hyer to lower be correspondent. But the Werker of myraclis is on Godde alone, fro Home descendyth euiry meruulus werk.
3. And so alle thyngis be creat of one only substauns, be an only dysposicion,
4. of home the fadyr is the sonne, and the mone the modyr,
5. qwyche bar her be the wedyr in the wombe. The erthe is priuyd fro her-to.
6. This is clepyd or seyd the fadyr of enchauntmentis, tresur of myracclys, the yessuer of vertuys.
7. Be a lytil it is made erthe.
8. Depart that qwyche is erthly fro that qwyche is fi Fry, for that qwyche is sotel is mor wurthy han that qwyche is grose, and that rar, porous, or lyght, is mor bettyr than qwiche is thyk of substauns. This is done wyseli or dyscretly.
9. It ascendyth fro the erth in-to heuyn and fallyth fro heuyn in-to erth, and ther-of it sleth the ouyr vertu and the nedyr vertu, so it hath lorchyp in the lowe thyngis and hye thingis,
10. and thu lordschyppist vppeward and downward, and with the is the lyght of lyghtys. And for that alle derkness schal fle fro the.
11. The ovyr vetu ouircomyth alle, for euiry rar rhyng werkyth in to euiry thyk thyng.
12. And aftyr the dysposicion of the mor world rennyth thys werking.
13. And for that Hermogines is clepyd threfold in filosophye, and of the meruellys of he world.

[ Manzalaoui 1977: 174-5]

Muhammad ibn-Umail al-Tamimi, [ محمد ابن اميل التميمي ] ( mn. 900-960 K, karne ya ٤ ﮪ ) aliitwa ' الصادق, ', na aliandika vitabi vitatu juu ya mambo ya kimia.
Kitabu kinachojulikana zaidi kuliko vyingine ni ' Kitab al-ma' al-waraqi wal-ard an-najmiyah' [ كتاب الماء الورقي والارض النجمي].

HERMUS said the secret of everything and the life of everything is Water.... This water becomes in wheat, ferment; in the vine, wine; in the olive, olive oil.... The begining of the child is from water.... Regarding this spiritual water and the sanctified and thirsty earth, HERMUS the great, crowned with the glorious wisdom and the sublime sciences, said Truth it is, indubtible, certain and correct, that the High is from the Low and the Low is from the High. They bring about wonders through the one, just as things are produced from that one essence by a single preparation. Later by his statement. Its father is the Sun and its mother the Moon he meant their male and their female. They are the two birds which are linked together in the pictures given regarding the beginning of the operation, and from them the spiritual tinctures are produced. And similarly they are at the end of the operation. Later in his statement ; the subtle is more honourable than the gross, he means by the subtle the divine spiritual water; and by the gross the earthly body. As for his later statement ; with gentleness and wisdom it will ascend from the earth to the sky, and will take fire from the higher lights, he means by this the distillation and the raising of the water into the air. As for his later statement ; It will descend to the earth, containing the strength of the high and the low, he means by this the breathing in (istinshaq) of the air, and the taking of the spirit from it, and its subsequent elevation to the highest degree of heat, and it is the Fire, and the low is the body, and its content of the controlling earthly power which imparts the colours. For there lie in it those higher powers, as well as the earthly powers which were submerged in it.

The natural operation and decay causes it to be manifest, and hence the strength of the earth, and of the air, and of the higher fire passed in to it. Later he said it will overcome the high and the low because it in it is found the light of lights: and consequently the darkness will flee

[Stapleton, H.E., Lewis, G.L, Sherwood Taylor, F. "The sayings of Hermes quoted in the Ma Al-Waraqi of Ibn Umail. " Ambix, vol 3, pp 69-90, 1949.]

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