But there are more than two Shenmue trees. The one at Shenhua's house, the one in Bailu Village, and the one we see in the flashback so no, there are not "twin" Shenmue trees and if there were, someone in the game should have said that. We have no reason to believe that we won't encounter many more of these trees later on. I'm sorry but the tree in Ternary Spring is not shown to be significant to Ryo beyond the fact that his father trained there. The game even misses an opportunity to show this when it shows Ryo training at the dojo the night before leaving Bailu Village as Shenhua recites the poem.
Wait what? Can you link me to this scene? The tree in the flashback at the Ternary Spring is the cherry tree in the Hazuki residence that Iwao trained Ryo in front of. Where is this third Shenmue tree in a flashback you're on about?
Agreed except for the part where the tree has a special meaning to Iwao. He trained there with Sunming, which is the important part, not the tree. Again, he trained Ryo in front of the sakura tree at the Hazuki residence and buried the dragon mirror under it, that tree is shown to be much more significant between the two and if they intended for the tree in Ternary Spring to be as significant or more so, they failed at conveying that.
If your takeaway from the Ternary Spring scene is "Iwao punched a tree," then that's all that needs to be said. The game is crystal clear. You not understanding the point it's making isn't the game failing to convey the point.
Because it's possible to not even know it's a Shenmue tree and nothing is expanded upon their significance to the story beyond, as you point out, a general theme of "protection" towards Shenhua, and the fact that they're extremely old. Like, if the game is called Shenmue and we only really know that it refers to a tree, then why? I wouldn't consider expanding on that to be pointless especially because 1. S3 is starved for story points and 2. the way that the Shenmue series handles important plot information in literally every other instance.
It isn't though. The game tells you it's a Shenmue tree. It's obviously a Shenmue tree. I don't even understand your point any more. You keep flip flopping between you know it's a Shenmue tree, but somehow you feel the game doesn't tell you it's a Shenmue tree (even though it does), so therefore you need more exposition?
It's a Shenmue tree. There are two Shenmue trees in Bailu village. They protect Ryo & Shenhua and symbolise their relationship. What do you want them to expand on? Please, lay out the scene for me that you would have liked to have seen. If it's literally just Ryo or Shenhua going "that's a second Shenmue tree," in some way, then that's what I would consider pointless exposition and dog shit storytelling.
Is that what he's doing? If you pay attention to that very scene you will no doubt notice that Chen says Yuanda Zhu told him that information, and what does Yuanda Zhu say about the mirrors when we finally meet him? That they form a key to unlock treasure hidden away in order to revive the Qing Dynasty. S3 doubles down on this. The Qing Dynasty is about 2000 years younger than "Chi You" and we learn that the mirrors weren't even made until 1910 so, again, what does Lan Di think they do? Does he literally want to revive an ancient monster? Does he want money? What are the Chi You Men beyond an evil group of bad guys? We don't know.
Yes, perhaps Yu ret-conned it, or perhaps the "treasure" is in fact Chi You. Either way, we know Lan Di's motivation is to seize both mirrors and use them to get a hold of that. You said we had no idea what the Chi You Men want with the mirrors, when we clearly do.
First of all, Suzuki claimed that he wanted to do it in 4-5 games, not 6. Second of all, at the glacial pace of the story in S3, I have no faith that yet another uncertain sequel will finally start moving the plot forward. And third of all, a fourth game is barely a guarantee, never mind 6. If we have to wait until game 4/5 to find out who the bad guys are and what they want then I'm sorry but that's a poorly told story. Niao Sun isn't even named ffs. Shenmue 3 needed to do a lot more than it did especially since Bailu village is home to the shenmue tree(s), where the mirrors were made, and where the poem is from and yet none of that is expanded upon.
He's absolutely mentioned he wants to do 6 games, but could cut it down to 4-5 if needed. If the story isn't moving fast enough for you, cool, that's your problem. I really like the pace myself, and I'd prefer Yu told the story as he sees fit and doesn't rush it.
I want the game to expand on what their purpose is. So the Shenmue tree feels alive and protects people and is linked to ancient times, that's good stuff. The flashback to the ancient couple is awesome, more of that please. Perhaps Ryo could touch the tree in Ternary Spring and say something about how the tree makes him feel, or practice elbow assault in front of it at the very least. Literally anything visually engaging to expand on the whatever place these trees have in the storyline. I'm primarily interested in Shenmue for the story, I see no reason to continue the franchise for any reason other than story and S3 does not continue or expand the story enough and this is emblematic of that problem.
So Ryo touches the tree and has flashbacks of his father, right after Shenhua said she feels like it "protects her." Then literally the first words uttered after that are "Iwao." But you think Ryo touching the tree again and saying "this tree is special to me also, I also feel protected by it," is good exposition? I'm sorry, but that's awful. I'm glad the story is in Yu's hands and not the fans'.
No, the tree is significant because it's in the picture, that's why, in a town of martial arts masters, Ryo knows his father trained here specifically, under Grandmaster Feng. Since it's a Shenmue tree, so much the better, build on that. But no, all we learned is that Iwao trained there, the trees are linked to protection, and the mirrors were made in 1910. Not exactly what I waited 18 years for.
If it's not enough for you, fair enough. But your takeaway from the scene is "Iwao punched trees." There's obviously more to it than that whether you want to see it or not, and for me, it was perfect. We'll agree to disagree on how to tell Shenmue's story. I'm firmly in Yu's camp on that one.
I don't want to open this up again but following your conversation I want to add a few things.
With regards to exposition, I agree that beating you over the head is a bad thing. however, let's remember that you had previously said there was some exposition on this in the form of a dialogue with Shenhua at night. I haven't been able to find that yet but I'm curious once it does show up what exactly was said. Thing is, this scene needed SOME kind of acknowledgment and it does apparently exist.
I mean, it's a Shenmue tree. The game makes that perfectly clear, I'm honestly shocked so many people not only missed it, but are trying to argue it isn't. It's written in the damn notebook! Shenhua literally says "it protects me." It could not be more obvious without the tree growing a face, looking into the camera and going "alright mate, I'm a Shenmue tree."
Second thing, I went back and looked at the trees. They are definitely different trees. They share the same bark texture and petals but the mesh for the model is different. The tree outside Shenhua's house is much larger.
Yeah, I had a look and they are different sizes. Same texture bark and same texture petals though.
Lastly, I just want to say that I agree with iknifeu's point regarding the significance of the tree. I think this is getting lost in translation during the discussion. That is, I agree that it is obvious that the second tree is a Shenmue tree, despite some people missing that. However, your analysis that it is a twin tree guarding Ryo vs the house tree guarding Shenhua seems sparse. I re-watched the scene and I just don't see any evidence for that. I do believe that is an interpretation you have concluded but wasn't intended in the game.
Shenhua and Ryo both talk about how the Shenmue tree by Shenhua's house makes them feel. That it feels alive and they feel watched or protected by it. Then a second Shenmue tree is introduced, Shenhua says this Shenmue tree also protects her, Ryo looks at the spot where Iwao practiced on the tree and has flashbacks to his father training him. It's then revealed that Iwao and Zhao trained here often. The game is clearly drawing a connection between this tree and Iwao, and by extension Ryo. There are two Shenmue trees. There are two main characters. I don't think it's a blind leap to see that these trees are tied to Ryo and Shenhua, and protect them.