One of the central themes of Pokémon is the challenge of how one relates to nature. To this end, Pokémon's Professors are mentors to the protagonists and caretakers to Pokémon. In addition to research, Professors mentor trainers, fight villains and generally provide a positive presence in a turbulent world.
Across cultures, trees are symbols of wisdom and continuity, as well as objects of veneration, from the Baobab to the ash Yggdrasil and even the Biblical Tree of Life. In Pokémon, the symbolic significance of the tree inspiring each Professor's name sheds light on that series' themes and conflicts.
Professor(s) Oak: Perseverance, Charity
First introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue, Professor Samuel Oak of Pallet Town is depicted as aged and more than a little bit forgetful, but nevertheless a tireless champion for Pokémon. As a former trainer himself, Professor Oak illustrates Pokémon trainers’ enduring commitment to their work. Like the oak -- specifically, the white oak -- Professor Oak’s spirit is a hallmark of perseverance and wisdom.
His cousin Samson Oak, another Professor introduced in Sun and Moon, typifies the friendliness and charity associated with the golden oak, an emblem of the sun.
Professor Kukui: Enlightenment, Peace
In Hawaiian mythology, the kukui tree is a symbol of enlightenment, wisdom, energy and peace owing to the Hawaiian word kukui, or "enlightenment." In Sun and Moon, Professor Kukui has learned and teaches a wide array of special techniques to protect the Pokémon of the Alola Islands.
Professor(s) Magnolia: Love of Nature, Continuity
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Professor Magnolia is an elderly Professor nearing the end of her career. Celebrated throughout Galar for her work in Dynamax Pokémon, Professor Magnolia’s scholarly contributions illustrate the love of nature, nobility and dignity associated with the Magnolia in Chinese and Japanese culture. Meanwhile, mentoring her granddaughter Sonia Magnolia to succeed her exemplifies another symbolic value of the magnolia: continuity.
Professor Yung: Negativity, Ambivalence, Corruption
While tree symbolism is generally positive, this is not always the case. Trees are often symbols of the inherent danger knowledge presents. Yggdrasil in Norse mythology and the Biblical Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil are well-known examples of this in that the knowledge they offer might be good, bad or simply true. Pokémon illustrates this troubling duality in the villain Professor Yung from the special The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon.
In The Mastermind of Mirage, Professor Yung initially appears as another diligent and knowledgeable Professor. However, his beliefs and behavior quickly become disturbing: he denigrates Pokémon as “weak” or “flawed,” steals information to advance his research and eventually goes as far as to kill Pokémon and trainers who challenge his plans for world domination. With regard to the general positivity of Pokémon Professors and their arboreal naming conventions, Professor Yung’s disregard for the value of life contrasts sharply with other Pokémon Professors. However, this passage by famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung from the chapter "Tree of Life" of his Red Book sheds light on the roots of Professor Yung's twisted, amoral worldview:
He sees the tree of life, whose roots reach into Hell and whose top touches Heaven. He also no longer knows differences: who is right? What is holy? What is genuine? What is good? What is correct? He knows only one difference: the difference between above and below. For he sees that the tree of life grows from below to above, and that it has its crown at the top, clearly differentiated from the roots.
This somewhat esoteric connection explains Professor Yung’s ambitions and obsession with Mirage Pokémon; he lives in a world in which knowledge makes all distinctions -- including between good and evil -- meaningless. Instead, there is only a hierarchy, at the top of which he plans to place himself.
In this way, the arboreal symbolism attached to each of the Professors illustrates both the breadth and diversity of Pokémon's world, as well as its dangers.
