Wo-Chien (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

Wo-Chien may be modeled after the {{wp|decollate snail}}, predatory land snails native to the Mediterranean whose shells are blunt and conical. Wo-Chien's shell is constructed from {{wp|Bamboo and wooden slips|slips}}, narrow strips of bamboo or wood used as writing media in China prior to the introduction of paper. Its Pokédex entry in Scarlet may be a reference to the idiom 罄竹難書 / 罄竹难书 ''qìng zhú nán shū'', referring to sins that have become so numerous that it is difficult to record them all on bamboo slips. It may also refer to the heroic deed of court chroniclers of {{wp|Qi (state)|Qi}} in the {{wp|Spring and Autumn Annals}}, where two brothers dedicated their lives to defend the integrity of the annals by recording the regicide of {{wp|Duke Zhuang II of Qi}} by usurper Cui Zhu.

Its monstrosity along with its association with the writing of history may be inspired by the creature 檮杌 / 梼杌 ''Táowù'' of Chinese mythology. Originally considered to be one of the {{wp|Four Perils}} in ancient China, it shares its name with the now-lost chronicles of the state of {{wp|Chu (state)|Chu}}. Since the 16th century, ''Taowu'' has been reimagined as a prophetic monster that records the evil deeds committed by ancient rulers and punishes wrongdoers from its vision, similar to the tablets that created Wo-Chien and its ability to cause perils. Additionally, the other members of the Treasures of Ruin may also draw inspiration from the Four Perils.