[3.8] We're wrong about the Gnosis - Genshin Impact Theory

Ever since the very beginning of the game, we've believed that the Anemo Gnosis was the Queen piece of a chess set while the Geo Gnosis was a Rook. Logically, that means every other Gnosis should follow that pattern.

But what if we're wrong about that? What if the Geo Gnosis ISN'T a rook, and the Anemo Gnosis ISN'T a Queen? Does it change anything?

**Further Reading:**
This section is a combination of citations and terms/topics that came up during the video alongside their wikipedia articles (or similar related sources) which should help get you started when doing your own research.

[maxliu]

The Gnosises are basically a treasure trove of foreshadowing

[Hyopomora]

The visions wielder being the pawns would give leverage to the line Zhongli has about “power coming with a price”

[PieaterProducts]

A little extra detail about pawns 'ascending'. To reach this point, a pawn needs to move forward 6 spaces. They must ascend 6 times to reach their full potential.

[fricky]

Somewhere in the future years of playing this game. We will come back to this video to either chuckle at how clueless we are or in awe by how far we have predicted and saw. Either way, it is a great pleasure and experience to be in this ride since the very beginning. I am still very much having fun and addicted to this game ever since dragonspine was just released. Happy journey to you all, newcomers and veterans!!!

[consta]

If the games of Deep Blue vs Garry Kasparov were only 6 it makes sense for every gnosis piece to be a king piece because the Fatui have to play only 6 games since there is no need to play a game for the cryo gnosis since the Tsaritsa is their leader therefore the cryo gnosis is in their hands from the beginning right? All that in case they really are chess pieces and the chess board is not just an artistic way of saying "these guys are playing mindgames"

[antoinelelong]

In the french chess, the bishop is actually called "le fou" or in latin... A Fatuus !

[johnal]

If Genshin is an elaborate, story-driven, series of chess matches, no wonder we get a recurring theme every time the Traveler comes to a new region. They move all along the map (chess board), they get arrested and imprisoned by local law enforcement (pawns blocking enemy pawn from reaching the end of the board), you do random shiz for important figures in the region before they help you (taking over pieces) and at the end of the archon quest they eventually reach the archon's side (pawn getting promoted from a pawn to the chess piece needed the most to win the game)

[saad_]

I thought ei's gnosis only having 2 little spikes as a crown makes sense because with makoto's death she took the other 2 spikes. There were 4 but were split to 2 for each sister. When makoto died, the crown got cut in half cuz Ei only has "shared" it with Makoto.

[TBCool]

The archons are also the intended rulers of each region. Making them the "king". Venti was called the weakest due to not playing an active part in ruling his kingdom. I think the idea they're all king pieces tracks. They might just fill in for other pieces during different games, should they be involved in the match.

[BirbRawor]

This could be a strech but remember that in genshin impact, we have a chess game invented by Ningguang and she changes rules as she please. Maybe If you collect all of the different chess pieces, you may change the game enough to have absolute power on your side.

This could be also applied to real world chess. There are custom chess games that only allow specific pieces. Like one side only allowed to use pawns and one king meanwhile other player has regular chess pieces.

Fancy enough ?

[JP-jdwc]

A year later and the Pyro archon’s gnosis has a crown too (representing a king piece)! This theory that all gnoses are king pieces is probably right :D

[chronars]

I would say that the theorie is more likely then the previous ones we had all agree on. The promote talk (or ascend) with pawn goinbg to the end of the board remind me of how Vanessa who was human turn into the falcon in the manga (and seem to have reach celestia, so maybe the other end of the board ?) I wonder if the fours winds are like rook, knight, bishap and queen for Barbatos =o

[supayambaek]

I think the discrepancy in the Electrognosis's representation in the chess game featured in the winter night's lazzo and its actual shape can be explained if we think that the knight is supposed to symbolize the traveler, the honorary knight, defeating signora, the pawn. The Dendrognosis is the bishop, the Hydrognosis and/or Pyrognosis is the knight and the Cryognosis or Pyrognosisis the rook.

[TinkRomero]

I believe that the Gnoses are actually the Thrones.

The Statues of the Seven aren’t actually the Statues of Barbatos, Morax, Beelzebub, Baal, or Buer, or so on. Instead that Statues of the Gods are placed on top of the Statues of the Seven, as if they are placed on a throne.

We aren’t repairing the Statue of the Gods, but the Statue of the Seven. The Statue of the Seven’s construction depends on Oculi, after all, we use it to Worship the Statue, and Birds removed the Oculi from the Statue, causing it to break down.

When we interact with a Statue for the first time, it says that a Noble Heart is Revealed to the World (something like that, it’s been a while, sorry, it does mention a Noble Heart though, no question there.) and we all know by now that CN Gnosis means “Gods Heart”.

Gnoses and Visions (and Delusions too, I guess) are foculi of Elemental Energy. Visions are for those with an ambition, with a HEARTfelt wish, while Gnoses are, as Nahida says, the symbols of the Heavenly Principles Control over Teyvat, and all the laws.
The Control over Teyvat was always an obvious observation, but all the laws as well? … for Seven Gnoses, Seven Laws?

So, what I’m visualizing right now is
A King that Controls the Bishops
A King that Controls the Knights
A King that Controls the Rook
A King that Controls the Queen
A King that Controls the Pawns
A King that Controls the King
And for the last King …
A King that Controls the Board?
Anemo Gnosis Controls the Queen
Geo Gnosis Controls the Rook
Electro Gnosis Controls the Knight?
Dendro Gnosis Controls the Bishop?
This would leave the Pawns, King, and Board left, for the Cryo, Pyro, and Hydro Gnosis.

My personal predictions are
Cryo Gnosis Controls Pawns
Pyro Gnosis Controls the King
Hydro Gnosis Controls the Board.

Now, just to say this more clearly in case I didn’t mention it correctly.
The Gnosis Controlling a Chess Piece/Board is supposed to mean that the Gnosis is Controlling the Law of that Chess Piece/Board

[podlybolcownik]

If you stick to the theory, you could maybe give us an idea how Fontaine quest would conclude based of game 3? It would be interesting to see if you were right afterwards

[SDJHSFDH]

Liyue's gnosis not matching that of a chinese emperor can honestly be explained with that Hoyoverse wasn't very strict with the design rules and that the design team wanted the Inazuma gnosis to be more culturally inspired than they did before 😭

[cihanica]

For Liyue’s Gnosis, I think I know where its shape comes from — check out “ding.” The Chinese character is 鼎, it is a wine vessel used for rituals, a symbol of power. No wonder they made the Liyue Gnosis like this.

[sersarahmed]

I always believed that the gnosis doesn't represent the person holding it but the element and its characteristics and even its ideals
Anemo freedom
Geo contracts
Electro eternity
Dendro wisdom
Hydro justice
Pyro war
Cryo love?

[Zhonglily_]

Honestly that would answer my hesitant opinion about the chess gnosis theories. I always felt like it was a good idea but uncomplete/half wrong. I will get that in mind while patiently waiting to see the hydro gnosis

[mossblomma]

I think maybe it's both, they're the "kings" of their respective boards, but if you take them and use all on the same board they each become a non-king piece, which would represent gathering all the necessary pieces to challenge the Heavenly Principles.