I think they're really drawing a lot from Chinese classics this gen.
The pig evolution is probably based on Zhu Bajie from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, which is interesting given that Infernape was obviously based on Sun Wukong, the monkey god and main character of said novel. That's why they share that gold symbol -- it's a reference to the circlet Sun Wukong was tricked into wearing by a monk so that the monk could control him through shrinking the circlet, thus causing him unbearable headaches. I'm hoping he turns out to be Fire/Steel, haha!
And there's Tsutajaa's evolution. Likely based on the character Green Snake from yet another Chinese classic, the Legend of Madam White Snake.
/Chinese classic nerd. :B
As for the monkeys' origin, yep, they're probably based on the Japanese legend of the three wise monkeys.
Anyway, I was shocked initially, but they've grown on me since. Can't decide between Mijimaru and Tsutajaa!
The pig evolution is probably based on Zhu Bajie from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, which is interesting given that Infernape was obviously based on Sun Wukong, the monkey god and main character of said novel. That's why they share that gold symbol -- it's a reference to the circlet Sun Wukong was tricked into wearing by a monk so that the monk could control him through shrinking the circlet, thus causing him unbearable headaches. I'm hoping he turns out to be Fire/Steel, haha!
And there's Tsutajaa's evolution. Likely based on the character Green Snake from yet another Chinese classic, the Legend of Madam White Snake.
/Chinese classic nerd. :B
As for the monkeys' origin, yep, they're probably based on the Japanese legend of the three wise monkeys.
Anyway, I was shocked initially, but they've grown on me since. Can't decide between Mijimaru and Tsutajaa!