On Transfiguration

Since I'm writing about Transfiguration, I think it's necessary to organize its rules, classifications, and so on. This is mainly compiled by the author based on the original books and Wikipedia. (P.S. The Harry Potter section of Wikipedia has a Chinese version, but many parts of the Chinese version are incomplete, and there are some controversies due to translation issues, so I stubbornly chewed through the original English version...)

Some Chinese encyclopedias say that Transfiguration roughly includes four branches: transformation, vanishing, summoning, and manifestation, but this isn't actually accurate.

In the author's view, Transfiguration should be divided into these four branches--Transformation, Switching, Conjuration, and Vanishing. Strictly speaking, Switching can even be categorized under Transformation.

The following is a personal summary of the four branches and their corresponding knowledge:

Transformation (also known as Transubstantial Transfiguration):

This refers to any transformation that changes the form of a target in some way, which also includes advanced transformations, such as Trans-Species Transformation and Human Transformation.

Human Transformation includes Animagus and Metamorphmagus, and werewolves can also be included.

Additionally, Untransfiguration is the counter-spell for Transformation, used to restore transformed things to their original state.

Spells like Vera Verto are used when turning a bird into a goblet;

Switching:

Switching the properties of two objects. Hermione once thought of switching dragon teeth and wine gums, and the spell is unknown.

Because the former type of transformation changes a single object by itself, while Switching swaps the properties of two objects, the author believes they are not entirely the same;

Conjuration:

Namely, summoning items out of thin air. Here, through the interpretation of Wikipedia, it can be seen that rather than summoning, it is more like constructing a thing using magic.

Because of translation issues, it is often confused with the Summoning Charm in Chinese. In fact, Conjuration belongs to Transfiguration and is the opposite of Vanishing. Spells such as Avis, and Serpensortia;

Vanishment:

Making objects vanish into thin air, meaning they dissipate into the world. Here, many Harry Potter fans are misled by games from a certain company, thinking that Vanishing Spells can be used on people, and some even feel that their power is comparable to the Unforgivable Curses... Actually, they won't. Like most transformation spells, Vanishing Spells cannot be used on things with magic. If you ask me, using it on a person might at most make their clothes vanish (did I just discover something extraordinary?).

Spells: Evanesco, Vipera Evanesca;

Transfiguration must follow Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, which has five exceptions, and the text only mentions food.

This is actually quite easy to understand. After all, transformation spells are all supported by magic. Even if transforming food succeeds, for example, if someone eats food transformed from a stone, what happens when the magic fades and the food turns back into a stone can be imagined.

Finally, a key reminder: don't look at the magical world through the lens of science, or nothing will make sense... If bugs can be patched, the author will try my best to patch them; if the plot hole is too big, it is recommended to just grasp the spirit of it!

After all, this is unscientific, but it is very magical!

P.S. The above views are strongly subjective, and it is recommended that you use them only as a reference and not regard them as official Harry Potter canon. (Salute!)