Basic Information
Biothaumaturgy1 is the branch of magic that deals with the physical shaping and manipulation of living things. Think of it as magical biotech.
This does not include mind control and the like (that would normally be part of enchantment/charm magic), and once things are dead they become the provenance of necromancy/Thanaturgy (although many systems do place these workings into the school of necromancy, or as part of healing magic and decline to create a seperate school). Chiurgy (a primitive term for surgery) is also used to describe this sort of thing … but less commonly.
In some systems, this may be a branch of alchemy.
Depending on the setting, biothaumaturgy may be used for good - allowing miraculous surgical cures to all kinds of ailments, or as a source of body horror. Sometimes it will be used for both.
Sources
- In China Miellville's Bas-Lag stories, biothaumaturgy is a source of body horror as criminals are Remade into forms that the courts decide offer poetic justice for their crimes. Values dissonance is to be expected. It is noted that in this setting, biothaumaturgy can be used to benefit the recipient, but generally isn't. Especially not in New Crobuzon.
- The Tzimice of White Wolf's old World of Darkness used the biothaumaturgy of "vissicitude" to sculpt their servants to suit their twisted aesthetics.
- J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories include several instances of magic being used to achieve fairly impressive feats of healing.
