Fish glue: 1 definition

Introduction:

Fish glue means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: History of Science in South Asia: Making Gems in Indian Alchemical Literature

Fish Glue is a by-product of boiling fish-skin (in Sanskrit: Matsya-Tvac), which is used as an ingredient in the recipe of Matsyakajjala (“fish black”), according to the Vādakhaṇḍa section of the Rasaratnākara (lit. “jewel mine of mercury”): a 13th century alchemical work in Sanskrit written by Nityanātha.—The final ingredient of the fish black is the skin of a fat fish (sthūlamatsya-tvac), which is boiled “for a day and night” in the dye. Boiling fish skin produces two products: fish oil and fish glue, a gelatinous substance that dries crystal hard. Fish glue is a traditional wood working glue, and also has a long history as an artist’s material in Europe as well as in Asia. One of its uses was as a binding medium, holding particles of pigment together to firmly attach paint to the surface of parchment. This use was also known to the Chinese from at least the T’ang dynasty (seventh to tenth century CE), particularly for stabilizing ink on various surfaces.

Ayurveda book cover
context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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