#goroling

I was supposed to draw Larry too but...meh, I'll finish him another time. Maybe.

I will start all of this with some quick history of Japan, all of this start with the Nara period, where Japan and China were in really good terms, in which Japan sent a lot of people on missions using Kyushu as port to learn as much about Chinese Tang dynasty's culture and bring it to Japan, poetry, tech, Buddhism...a lot of other things, and shaped its own culture from China, then in Heian Japan, It developed its own culture but with Chinese cultural roots.

Then Yang dynasty came, and the mongol invasion of japan.

For those who don't know, in 1274 and 1281, at Yuan dynasty, Mongols used a thousands of self built ships and naval based tactics to invade japan, when a thousand (even tho they where outnumbered by china) of samurai where waiting on the board of Kyushu's ground to fight them, Japan won, mongols was seen as "barbarian" by Japan, seeing as they destroyed Chinese culture (the same culture they had copied during the Nara period.)

Then jumping to the Edo period, and Japanese isolation (Sakoku) when Japan was paranoid, scared of a revolution and wanted to keep their power, They isolated their country and forbade anyone to enter or leave. Only a small part of the country could be reached, just for trade though.

And then WWII arrived and Japan had to open their frontier, they kicked china's ass and thought they where hot shit and that they "will save Asia from the Europeans."

SO, to resume:

A long time ago, Japan and China where in complete peace, supporting each other like one big country, both of them chasing Confucian ideas (a philosophy that promotes being in perfect harmony with the sky, humanity, and nature...)

"I heard our leader Maxie and Team Aqua's leader Archie used to be on the same team..."

During the Tang's dynasty, China was the strongest and most open Asian country in the world, and most to all of it's trades and fights were naval. Plus they were in a very good relationship with other Asian countries.

Which fit Archie's personality, how open he is with the player, and how matt, and with extension the other grunts, are in complete admiration of Archie and his power, whether it's physical, or his outstanding charisma.

THEN, Mongols arrived, and their relationship completely switched to absolute hate.

This and the obsession with Japanese bosses trying to keep their power and avoiding revolution that ends with isolation, and despising other countries(?). Maxie being absolutely paranoid with Tabitha stealing his place and betraying him, and the fact that team magma cant even say they enjoy the beach too loud or Maxie will dock their pay, also knowing that Maxie is also more distant and professional with his own grunts and admins...

During WWII when Japan saw itself as superior to other Asian countries, and that they'd help Asia to defend itself against Europe? Which could explain the "Grand" Maxie thing, and the fact that Maxie has one hell of an ego.

The BRUTAL Sino-Japanese War where Japan and China were fighting like beasts until both their hate for the Soviet made them stop (and the fact they were too weak to fight?) which kinda mirrors the fight between the two entities in Kyushu that ended because some weird shit from the sky made them too weak to continue and had them retreat. (Groudon and Kyogre).

Japan and China also have a LONG history, even now, the two countries hate each other, and fight over TERRITORY.

YES, they literally fight to EXPAND THEIR TERRITORY.

Maxie and Archie are inspired by the relationship between china and japan, especially the golden age of each country respectively (Edo for Maxie, Tang for Archie) with Archie, the strong naval power, and Maxie with expanding the territory and protecting his ground.

And knowing that almost all those trades, fights, and territorial fights happen in Kyushu, the region where Hoenn is literally based, and that RSE and ORAS main message is peace and reconciliation, is a really big coincidence.

(congrats everyone! almost half way there)

Now, the other theorie, link to the first one :

This, for those who don't know, is a Masubusa (マツブサ) the plant where Maxie's Japanese name came from. (scientific name: Schisandra repanda)

This, is a Sanekazura(サネカズラ) ,they are in the same family as Matsubusas, it HEAVILY shadows them, Most of the time, when you look for Matsubusa you will be shown Sanekazura.

historically, they are heavily related, for reasons i will mention later, so for now all of you jut imagine its the same.

First : physical comparison

Sanekazuras were used in the Nara period as hair gel, that's why Maxie in both versions has his hair slicked back.

Both fruits where also used to produce alcohol, that explains why he is an alcoholic. (/hj)

Why do both Maxies wear warm clothes that cover all their bodies? Matsubusas are used to warm the body in mountain environments, used in baths for old people and children....

And the colour thing too? if it wasn't obvious (bonus with the flower of both plants being white like ORAS Maxie's eyes)

In the Edo period, beard or any type of facial hair (but eyebrows) are completely banned, Edo period high status men's fashion was to avoid being "barbaric" in any way, so they tend to be more elegant, soft with a calculating, powerful and respectful side...

That's an Aogiri (梧桐), common name: Chinese parasol tree

Physical comparison:

In the Tang period, beards, in opposition of Japan, where sign of masculinity, knowledge and power, china didn't have this "barbaric" ideology, they where proud of their manly appearance, strong and proud as the Aogiri tree (where the phoenix lays in).

Futou(幞头) was a cap that Chinese people in tang dynasty wore, it evolved directly from silk scarves that we wear to protect our hair, like a pirate...or Archie in this context.

Also, we know that, Groudon is black and red, like Maxie, meanwhile Kyogre is blue and white. why is Archie wearing black and not white then, (thing is, he IS wearing white in ORAS), so why isn't the original Archie wearing white?

The answer is in the Tang dynasty, again! Remember the Confucian ideas that the Tang dynasty and Nara period followed?

In Confucian philosophy black represent water, not blue or white!

Tang emperors wore black robes to embody water's stabilising power, contrasting with red, that represent fire.

Water and fire are opposites, representing winter vs summer and South and North.

Now, another question that came to my head, why Matsubusa? Why Aogiri? Why those plants specifically?? Why? Is it because Aogiri comes from the word blue? If so why is Matsubusa not named Sanekazura? Matsubusas aren't red, they are black. why? Is it because of the mountain thing? That's why they chose Matsubusa?

So why Aogiri, Aogiri doesn't need a lot of water, they handle dry environments pretty well, there are a ton of plants that are related to the colour blue or water at Kyushu, same thing for matsubusa.

Is there a way, we can link Matsubusa with Aogiri, to explain the why they chose those name?

Yes, there is only ONE link between Matsubusa and Aogiri

And this link appears in the Tang and Nara period

AGAIN !

Tang poetry and Waka(specifically manyoshu), the history of Matsubusa and Aogiri

You guys remember when I was talking about Japan taking a lot of inspiration, almost copying Tang dynasty, they took a lot, and part of it is poetry.

Manyoshu are small poems that Nara copied from Tang poetry, knowing that Kyushu was where Manyoshu was introduced, as well as Tang poetry for Japan, we can easily make the link between Maxie, Archie and Hoenn.

How? Easy

Waka use plants, flower and nature in general to express feelings and ideas, Japanese poets use the shape, season and physical appearance of a plant to determine their symbolism.

That's how hanakotoba appeared, and how a lot of plants, that look too similar to ones that have a lot of poetic meanings, end up inheriting those symbols

That's what happens with Matsubusa and Sanekazura, does Matsubusa appear directly in Waka? there was a botanic confusion, and since Nara was heavily relying on poetry to identify plants, both of them were referred to as さなかづら(old Sanekazura), it's so confusing even in some wikis, that's why Maxie isn't named Sanekazura, because both plants have the same symbolism and they choose the one that started with an M.

So, What do Matsubusas symbolise?

It's now time for a poetry lesson:

There is approximately ~10 Wakas with the さなかづら

Most of them are anonymous, and I will ask you personally to not make your research yet

...

All of them are love poems

Every. Single. One. Describes pure. Raw. Romantic love.

Poem 94?

"On Mimuro Mountain where jeweled combs lie scattered,the sanakazura vines—without sleeping together, will they endure until dawn? Thus I vow to my wife."

Romantic frustration, about a guy who yearn for his lover, but she isn't here, and at night he hope to see her, and like the Sanekazura, even if they are apart, his love will always be there.

3071?

"Along the Tanba road, on mighty Ōe Mountain, the sanakazura never ceases—nor does the heart that thinks of me."

Never ending love, no mater what, like the Sanekazura that grow under the thunder or rain.

3280-81-88?

"Trusting in great ship's thoughts as mooring, the sanakazura vines—ever more distant, drawn long apart"

The great ship symbolises Love and a romantic relationship, that the rope of sanakazura tries to keep close forever, but the sea tries to rip it apart and take the boat. The sanakazura, filled with determination, keeps fighting everyday, trying to keep the boat steady, even thought its meaningless, and harms the sanakazura everyday.

2269?

"On the ash-covered hills, the mountain sanakazura—until its fruit ripens red, shall I not meet my beloved? Thus I languish in love."

A man helplessly waiting on a hill for his lover, staring at the sanakazura vine until its berries turn red in fall, but wondering if the pain will ever stop without a reunion. The vine clings forever, just like those feelings you can't shake off, no matter how long you wait

That's why sanakazura's hanakotoba mean 再会(reunion).

So to resume

Sanakazura, and Matsubusa per extension, in Waka symbolise a love that we yearn for, that can't go and that brings loneliness, a long, crushing agony that stays even after years, because we can't get rid of this love, and deep down we stubbornly wish to keep it even if it hurts everyday.

...doesn't that sound like someone?

Someone, even after years of fighting, of hating, still keeps the feeling of the other close, but doesn't act on their feelings because they know this rivalry is necessary and respect the other's vision and ambition? But still, alone, keeps the great ship steady, even if it hurts?

You know what would be crazy?

It would be crazy if Aogiri had the same meaning, right? That Aogiri in Tang poetry would mean the same type of love we can only yearn for, right?

That would be a hell of a coincidence, right?

Right?

Aogiri was in the famous Tang poems "Song of Everlasting Sorrow (Chang Hen Ge)"

(tw, Chinese is really hard to translate, and I tried to understand it as much as possible, so please tell me if there is any errors)

The emperor was so enamoured by a women, but the empire judged that this obsession for her was too strong and decide to kill her when the emperor wasn't there, when he came back he couldn't find her, and grieved over her for the rest of his life, the emperor cried when rain fell on the Aogiri's leaves, the sounds it made sounded exactly like tears and murmurs.

In this poem, the concubine couldn't express her love, because she belonged to the empire and the emperor's son, the only time she could express anything was after her death, with the tears and murmurs of the Aogiri.

The Aogiri symbolises autumnal sorrow, enduring fidelity, and separation's melancholy.

....the Aogiri in tang poetry symbolise a deep, love that cannot be told, the honokotoba is 秘めた恋, secret love, a romantic feelings that is hidden in one's heart so that others don't know about it, or secret love that is avoided by the public eye, feelings that cannot be made public due to circumstances such as unrequited love, adultery, or other external circumstances preventing this love from existing (for example, homosexual love.)

...Doesn't that make you think about SOMEONE... the fact that the Aogiri represents strength but also, deep down, a deep sorrow and sadness that we hide from others??

So the Waka, that is literally just japanese tang poetry, both have one plant that represents the same type of ROMANTIC feeling in two different country that where friends but broke up because of the shift of the Mongols and that are now enemies and fight to spread their beliefs, but in the end, both of their ideas are utter bullshit and they should stop fighting and learn how to live together in harmony, ALL this in Kyushu, THE Kyushu.

...my theory ends here, I just have one thing to say:

All those years, all those hardenshipping fanarts, fanfics, cosplays... everything..

All of this was just China x Japan countryhuman ship pokemon AU