The second Japanese set of the ninth generation of the Pokémon TCG, Triple Beat, is due to release on the 10th of March 2023. The set will continue the trend of ‘Art Rare’ cards that have featured heavily in the last 6 months of the TCG.

While most of the cards in the set will remain a secret until the official release, the Pokémon company has (as usual) provided a glimpse of a few cards we can expect. These include some new ‘ex’ cards, two separate versions of a Dendra Trainer card, and several new Art Rare cards (including Paldean Wooper, Paldean Taurus, Mismagius, and the gen-nine starters).

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Triple Beat – Art Rare Cards

The standout card at this stage, however, is the new Art Rare Magikarp. This card is unexpectedly artistic compared to the other more child-friendly and cartoonish cards in the set. The card has an abstract and dreamlike feeling, and depicts a Magikarp leaping up a waterfall on the side of a mountain, with a translucent Gyarados staring down from the shadows above.

This depiction of Magikarp and Gyarados is a reference to the Chinese mythology that inspired the design of Magikarp and Gyarados:  the Longmen myth.

According to the Longmen myth, a legendary waterfall exists at the peak of the Chinese mountains. At the top of this waterfall, a mythological gate exists. This gate is known as ‘Longmen’, which translates to ‘The Dragon’s Gate’.

Once a year, the carp in the rivers below the mountains swim upstream. The current of the rivers is powerful, and only the strongest carp are capable of reaching the top of the mountains. Once they reach the peak, the carp are met with one final challenge: to leap up the powerful waterfall and enter the Dragon’s Gate. Any carp that is strong and brave enough to successfully leap to the Dragon’s Gate will be rewarded by being immediately transformed into a powerful dragon, and will fly off into the sky. The transformation from fish into dragon occurs after the carp is struck by a bolt of lightning at the Dragon’s Gate.

The myth of the Dragon’s Gate is often used in China as a metaphor to emphasise the importance of hard work and perseverance. While carp are a common and non-valuable fish, dragons are an auspicious symbol of power, success and good fortune in Chinese culture. The lesson behind the myth is that dedication, strength and bravery will ultimately lead to reward, and that it is worth persevering even in the face of difficulty and adversity.

The design of Magikarp and Gyarados was clearly inspired by the Dragon’s Gate myth. Magikarp is a useless and weak Pokémon, and many players are tempted to immediately give up on their Magikarp. However, if the player perseveres with their Magikarp, the player will be rewarded as it will transform into one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. Like the Dragon’s Gate myth that inspired it, Gyarados therefore symbolises the importance of persevering and achieving success through hard work.

Depictions of the Longmen Myth

The Margikarp Art Rare provides a stunning representation of the Longmen myth.

We see a Magikarp leaping up a cascading waterfall along the side of a mountain. The waterfall twists and turns up the mountain, disappearing at the distant peak. It is clear that the Magikarp still has some way to go on its arduous journey.

At the top of the mountain, we see the shadowy outline of a Gyarados, surrounded by lightning and staring down towards the Magikarp from high above. The Gyarados is translucent, and has a ghostly and spirit-like appearance. Rather than existing in the tangible world, the Gyarados appears to be more of a projection of what the Magikarp will become in the future.

The ghostly and shadowy depiction of Gyarados helps to symbolise the unearthly and otherworldly nature of the dragon at the top of the mountain in the Longmen myth. The dragon, of course, does not exist in reality, but exists only as a metaphor.

It is also important to note the artistic style chosen by the artist, Shinji Kanda. Rather than a more realistic depiction, Kanda has instead chosen to adopt an abstract and dreamlike style. Kanda is not concerned with showing things from a realistic three-dimensional perspective, but instead depicts the key elements of the artwork from a more simplified and two-dimensional perspective. In this way, the artwork is able to mimic the feeling of a dream (or myth), where the rules of logic and perspective do not apply.

The dreamlike and otherworldly nature of the artwork is emphasised by the addition of numerous glistening sparkles around the Magikarp and Gyarados, and through the use of a simplified colour palette. Additionally, the rainbow undertones create a fantastical impression, which further adds to the surreal feeling of the artwork.

The Magikarp Art Rare represents an interesting intersection between Pokémon and ancient Chinese mythology. The card pays homage to the myth that inspired Magikarp and Gyarados, and presents a contemporary and Pokémon-themed reimagining of the Dragon’s Gate.