Universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world that is home to humans, fantastic animals, and
spirits. Human civilization is divided into four nations: the Air Nomads, the Water Tribes, the
Earth Kingdom, and the Fire Nation. In addition, there exists a Spirit World. Each nation has its
own natural element, on which it bases its society. Within each nation exists an order called
"Benders" who have the ability to manipulate the eponymous element of their nation, either
Waterbending, Earthbending, Firebending, or Airbending. Each Bending art has its own style of
martial arts, causing them to inherit the advantages and weaknesses of that martial art.

Each generation yields one person who is capable of Bending all four elements, the Avatar, the
spirit of the planet manifested in human form. When an Avatar dies, he is reincarnated into the
next nation in the Avatar Cycle. The Avatar Cycle parallels the seasons: autumn for the Air
Nomads, winter for the Water Tribe, spring for the Earth Kingdom and summer for the Fire
Nation.[2] Legend holds the Avatar must master each bending art in order, starting with his native
element. For the Avatar, learning to bend the element opposite his native element can be
extremely difficult because opposing Bending arts are based on opposing fighting styles and
disciplines. Firebending and Waterbending are opposites, as are Earthbending and Airbending.[3]

Four Nations
Air Nomads

The Air Nomads were a nation of wandering Airbenders. They were a monastic order of men
and women who practiced Airbending, the mystical art of aerokinesis. They did not have great
cities and towns like the other nations, but instead built four Air Temples, one at each corner of
the globe, hidden away atop mountain ranges in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote
islands.

A century before the time of the series, the Air Nomads were the victims of genocide at the
hands of the Fire Nation. The Air Nomads are now considered an extinct civilization, the only
survivor being the Avatar (Aang) himself. It is unknown what will happen when the Avatar cycle
returns to Air.

Culture

The Air Nomads could be seen wearing orange, saffron yellow, and brown clothing. Aang and
other young Airbenders wear orange shawls over long-sleeved yellow shirts, a brown belt,
yellow pants with brown on the back, and brown boots that reach the knees. Senior monks wear
longer robes in shades of yellow, orange, and brown. Air Nomads who completed their training
and became Masters of Airbending were given blue arrow tattoos on their head, back, arms and
legs, similar to the ones on flying bison. Many of the monks had beards and mustaches, and
many also wore amulets or necklaces engraved with the Air Symbol.
The Air Symbol is made of three counterclockwise spirals on top of a brown circle. In addition to
being worn on necklaces, the Air Symbol was also often found at Air Temples. It was based on a
Tibetian Origin symbol.[4]

The Air Nomads were a peaceful society that dwelled at high altitudes in temples and traveled
the world atop their flying bison. They were based on Chinese Shaolin monks and Tibetan
Buddhists. Pious and forthright, Airbenders preferred to use their Airbending, which all Air
Nomads could use, strictly for defensive purposes, striving to live in harmony with nature.[5]
Meditation was an important part of the Airbenders' daily routines; it helped them to focus their
energies and understand the potency of their element.[5] The arrow on a Master Airbender's head
is an emulation of the natural arrows on the heads of the revered Flying Bison who can naturally
Airbend and were the inspiration for the first Airbenders. In order to receive the tattoos as well as
the title of master, an Airbender needed to pass the thirty-six levels of Airbending and engineer a
new technique.[6]

The Air Nomads were an environmentally friendly nation. Because they attempted not to leave
an ecological footprint, they powered naturally all industries, including farming. All lamps were
powered by natural gas which were stored inside sealed rooms within the Air Temples.[7] They
also produced their own food, with their diet mainly consisting of fruits and vegetables due to
their vegetarian lifestyle.[5]

Air Temples

The Southern Air Temple was inhabited only by male Monks, and is located on an island close to
the Southern Water Tribe.[8][9] An "Air Ball" court and "Pai Sho" room were used for recreation.
Before the Firebender attack, a multitude of trees and plants adorned the temple. In the middle of
the Temple, accessible to only to Master Airbenders or the Avatar lay a sanctuary of statues of
past Avatars. Aang and his mentor Monk Gyatso once lived here.

The Northern Air Temple has closely resembles the Southern Air Temple and was also home to
only male Airbenders. The temple's location is near the Northern Water Tribe. Bison Polo
tournaments were once held there. This temple is currently inhabited by refugees, who are led by
The Mechanist and his son. The refugees live similar life to the monks, but have altered the
structure to provide for living space that the monks did not need.

The Eastern Air Temple was inhabited solely by female Airbenders, and is located very close to
Ba Sing Se. The Eastern and Western temples were built on three mountains, unlike the Northern
and Southern Air temples, which were built on only one mountain. The template has a wheel-like
feeding table in the middle of the temple for young Sky Bison. A waterfall, connecting ponds,
flowers and vines grow in and around the temple. Guru Pathik currently lives at the temple. The
Eastern Air Temple is the temple where Aang first met Appa.

The Western Air Temple was also inhabited solely by female Airbenders, and is located close to
the Fire Nation capital. The design is very different than the other Air temples; The structure is
built underneath a canyon wall and is upside-down. This temple contains a fountain, the world's
largest Pai Sho table, an echo chamber, and a hall of statues. The temple came under attack
during Book 3 by Combustion Man and Azula, and was partially destroyed.

Airbending

Airbenders learned their bending art from the Sky Bison who Airbend using their tail and mouth.
[10][11]
The light blue full body tattoos seen on Aang and other Airbenders are derived from the
Sky Bison's natural markings, and symbolize a person's mastery of the Airbending discipline.[12]

Airbending is based on the Ba Gua style of martial arts.[13] Ba Gua is known for its constantly
circular movements, which makes it difficult for opponents to attack directly. The practitioner
uses his own momentum as a weapon, constantly building up inertia for explosive counterattacks
that evoke the unpredictable nature and explosive force of the wind. While being the most
dynamic of the bending arts, the style lacks fatal finishing moves, being an almost entirely
defensive art.[13]

Airbenders have the ability to enhance their movements during battle. They can take giant leaps
into the air, move at high speeds, run on water and vertical surfaces, glide on air currents to slow
their descent and even spin around like a tornado to move quicker and confuse opponents. They
can also create cushions of air to soften and blunt the falls of heavy objects. Airbenders can
project powerful gusts of wind from their mouths.[14] Master Airbenders can create vortecies to
disorient opponents[15] and tornadoes to attack opponents.[16] An Avatar in the Avatar State can
generate the mighty winds of a hurricane that can affect entire landscapes and sustain flight by
surrounding themselves in spheres of air.[17][18] Airbenders are also capable of projecting
solidified constructs of air to knock an opponent off balance or to provide defense from
projectile weapons.[19]

Water Tribe

Members of the Water Tribe live mainly in one of two nation-states: the Southern Water Tribe or
the Northern Water Tribe, who inhabit the South and North Poles, respectively. A branch of the
Water Tribe exists in the Earth Kingdom swamp, called the Foggy Swamp Tribe.[21] The Water
Tribe is home to an order of men and women who practice Waterbending, the mystical art of
hydrokinesis. On the South Pole, Katara is the only water bender left, since the Fire Nation killed
or captured her fellow benders in their raids [8]. In contrast, the North Pole has a multitude of
water benders. There, Northern Water Tribe culture dictates that only men can use their bending
skills for fighting and that the women must learn to use water bending for healing. According to
Uncle Iroh, Water is the element of change; the Water Tribe embraces change and can easily
adapt to different situations, as reflected in Waterbending.

Due to relentless attacks on the Southern Water Tribe by the Fire Nation, the Northern Water
Tribe constitutes the majority of the remaining Waterbenders.[22] The Foggy Swamp Water Tribe
was hidden and forgotten and isolated until the Avatar and his friends stumbled upon it. Most of
its members are competent benders with some unique talents.[21]

Culture
Ethnically homogeneous, members of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes typically have
light or deep brown hair, blue eyes and a brown skintone. Clothing is typically a set of blue
anorak and trousers trimmed with white fur, and worn with mittens and mukluks. Men may wear
their hair long and half-up or in short ponytails, referred to by Sokka as "a warrior's wolf tail."[23]
Women plait and braid their hair in various styles, sometimes with accent beads, and many sport
"hair loopies" in various styles. In the Northern Water Tribe, males appear to wear a darker blue
than those of the Southern Water Tribe.[22]

The Water Tribe's national emblem is a circle comprising of a white waning crescent moon and
three black wavy horizontal lines representing ocean waves and is often found found in the
architecture of the Water Tribe. Like the Earth Kingdom's national emblem, it has a literal and
figurative meaning to the Water Tribe. The crescent moon and the ocean waves in the emblem
symbolize, Tui and La, the Moon and Ocean Spirits, which give their people life and strength.[24]

Each of the Four Nations is influenced by its own distinct, dominant season. The Water Tribe's
dominant season is winter. More Waterbenders are born during winter than any other season and
their powers are at their strongest during the season, due to the longer nights.[25] Because the
Water Tribe lives mostly near the poles, winter-like weather is near constant.[26]

Because they inhabit the frozen poles and ice caps near seas and oceans, the Water Tribes
inherently are dependent on the oceans for the majority of their natural resources and food. Sea
prunes are a favorite, while giant sea crabs are considered a delicious delicacy to those in the
Northern Sea. Squid and seaweed can be used to make a wide variety of dishes, including soup,
seasoning, and even bread and cookies. Skins from seals are used to create decorative tents,
while pelts from polar bears and other furry animals are used as clothing and to cover barren
surfaces. Naturally, hunters and fishermen of the Water Tribes are some of the best in the world
in their field.[27]

Military

All adult male tribe members of the Southern Water Tribe are fully trained warriors. Their
weaponry includes clubs, bladed boomerangs, spears made of bone, scimitars, and machetes
laced with whale teeth on the dull side of the blade.[8][28] Water Tribe warriors typically wear
black and white warpaint on their full face before going into battle and put on protective "lunar
wolf" armor in more dangerous situations. The dark blue body armor includes black and blue-
gray plated arm and leg guards, a silver helmet shaped into wolf's head, and a fierce moon
symbol unique to each warrior. It is designed to intimidate the enemy; when warriors charge,
they resemble a pack of wild wolves. High ranking warriors wear a black colored wolf helmet
instead of a silver one to show authority.[29][2]

In the Northern Water Tribe, there are few non-Waterbender warriors. The Waterbender warriors
must be Waterbending Masters/They wear dark hooded suits and blue face masks that cover their
mouths to give off an air of mystery and danger. They also work together in units rather than
fight alone; each Waterbender is almost always accompanied by at least one other one.[24]
The Foggy Swamp Water Tribe does not have a conventional military. When dealing with
hostile outsiders, it relies on the Swamp itself, its wildlife and fauna, and the Waterbenders who
can bend swamp vines.[21]

The ships of the Southern Tribe are cutter sailing ships, containing wooden hulls and utilizing the
wind for propulsion. The boats are shown to be operated by at least two people, one to maintain
the main sail and one to control the jib, a smaller sail at the rear.[30] The ships are designed as
transport vessels rather than for combat.

The Northern Water Tribe's most common ship is a double-hulled vessel powered by
Waterbending. Though its small, compact size enables it to be used for a variety of applications,
including transporting civilians across the canals within the city, its main purpose is to be used
for short, open ocean trips. Even though its not necessarily designed for long voyages, it is
capable of being used to travel over a thousand miles and withstanding the harshest ocean
conditions.[1] Warriors use this ship to patrol and protect the waters just outside the Northern
Water Tribe.[22]

Before the first invasion of the Fire Nation, Sokka and The Mechanist created Waterbending-
powered submarines to sneak into the Fire Nation capital's harbor. These large underwater
vehicles possess a hull composed of waterproof wood and metal equipped with watertight glass
windows that allows them to traverse deep beneath the ocean surface. They propel themselves
with flexible fins on each side and the rear while sinking or floating by means of the
Waterbenders riding inside. The submarines are also equipped with torpedoes, which are made
of frozen blasting jelly and launched via Waterbending. There was only one real flaw that the
vessels retained, that being their limited air supply, which makes it necessary to resurface
periodically for air.[1][29]

Tribes

The culture of the Water Tribe is divided into three distinct groups, largely based on their
geography and a specific affinity for their element. Before the war, while they were separated,
the Northern and Southern Water Tribes kept in contact with one another. The Northern and the
Southern Water Tribes both were heavily influenced by the Inuit tribes of North America, and
the Foggy Swamp Tribe by the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana Swamps culture.[31][32]

Southern Water Tribe

During the war, Southern Water Tribe teetered on the brink of extinction due to Fire Nation
raids. Its bending population was decimated to leaving only Katara as its sole Waterbender, due
to multiple Waterbenders, such as Hama, either dying in battle or being captured by the Fire
Nation, in their raids. Therefore, children born with Waterbending abilities had no one to teach
them how to bend.[33] Katara and Sokka's tribe is one of a handful of tribes that are scattered
across the South Pole. Before the war, their tribe was part of a beautiful and bustling city built
out of the ice by Waterbenders. But decades before the beginning of the series, the Fire Nation
destroyed their city and many others like it. With their cities gone, the tribes split apart into
smaller groups and scattered across the South Pole. In recent years, the Fire Nation leaves the
Southern Water Tribe alone for the most part, instead focusing its forces on bigger threats in the
Earth Kingdom, but conducts raids periodically to capture or kill Waterbenders.

Scattered all across the South Pole in groups due to the war separating and dwindling their
people, the Southern Water Tribe has a patriarchal tribalist system of government, as each village
has a designated leader. While initially all the leaders were male, each of the villages leaders can
now be both male or female.[34] For example, before he left to fight in the war, Hakoda led the
southernmost tribal village. But after the warriors left, the village was just populated by the
elderly, women and small children.[8] The Southern Water Tribe was defenseless during the war,
because the adult males left for the Earth Kingdom to aid in the war against the Fire Nation,
leaving behind the women, children and elderly citizens.[35]

Northern Water Tribe

The Northern Water Tribe survived the century of war largely due to the harsh terrain
surrounding the North Pole, and thus, so did its culture as did its versatile array of Waterbenders
of all skills and sexes. Adopting a siege strategy allowed the Northern Tribe to successfully
defend itself from encroachment by the Fire Nation, but conversely this also meant that the
Northern Tribe has had little impact on the War beyond its own borders. When honored guests
arrive at the North Pole, the Northern Tribe holds a feast in their honor, as well as a cultured
Waterbending performance accompanied by Water Tribe drums, that take the appearance of a
modern-day timpani.[22]

The Northern Water Tribe is a patriarchal chiefdom also containing the aspects of a tribal group's
leader as the chief of state. The Northern Water Tribe is ruled by a former warrior, Arnook, and
his counsel of chieftains, composed of Waterbending masters, warriors, healers, noblemen, and
his daughter, Princess Yue.[36][22]

The Northern Water Tribe is far more strict and patriarchal in gender-related issues, operating in
the more traditional ways. The art of Waterbending is largely cultivated, in fighting but also in
performances. This art, however, is only taught to Waterbending males. The female
Waterbenders were only allowed to learn the art of healing, a subtype of Waterbending which
uses the control of water and chi in the human body to heal diseases and wounds. This recently
changed after Katara, Aang and Sokka's visit to the Northern Water Tribe. Non-Waterbender
women serve as homemakers and cooks, while men serve as warrior, hunters and fishermen.[22]

Arranged marriages are a common practice among the Northern Water Tribe. While the man
involved apparently has a say in the matter, the woman does not. The traditional procedure
involves the man carving a betrothal necklace for his bride-to-be, after consulting the young
woman's family and asking for permission[22]

The capital city resembles an ice-made version of Venice, Italy,[37] with a complicated system of
canals and bridges for transportation. The three layers of defense within the city are heavily
guarded by the military. Large cliffs that tower over three sides of the city give it natural
protection from land attacks, while sea walls keep the city safe from enemy navies. It is unclear
if there are other cities like the capital in the North Pole, as most of the territory consists of a
frozen tundra where it is impossible to live for long periods.[38]
Foggy Swamp Tribe

The Foggy Swamp Tribe are an unusual offshoot of the Water Tribes who occupy a swamp in
the Earth Kingdom. Their ancestry lies in the Southern Water Tribe; a group migrated from the
Southern Tribe thousands of years ago and felt comfortable with the large amount of water.
However, existence of the Foggy Swamp Tribe remained unclear to either the Northern or
Southern Water Tribe.[1]

While most of its members are highly skilled benders who have discovered the unique
Waterbending talent of bending the water within plants to control plant life (e.g. Hu, who bends
vines to use for attacking as well as protecting himself, as seen when the Foggy Swamp is first
seen and during the invasion in Day of the Black Sun). The people of the Foggy Swamp Water
Tribe dress very differently than their northern and southern counterparts. They use loincloths,
armbands, hats and other materials fashioned out of plants to cover themselves. Instead of
worshiping the Moon and Ocean Spirits, they worship the Swamp itself, and the giant tree in the
center of it, believing that the Swamp is what gives them life and power.[21]

The tribe depends on the swamp and its assortment of animals; they use cat gators for
companions and eat food like squirrel fish and possum chicken. While they use plant leaves,
roots, and bark to provide their natural resources, they depend heavily on their Waterbending and
Swampbending for hunting and cooking meals.[29][21]

Waterbending

Waterbenders originally learned Waterbending from the Moon. The ancestors of the Water Tribe
noticed the push and pull effect the Moon has on the tides of the ocean. Eventually, these first
Waterbenders learned how to manipulate water themselves. Waterbending has the fish as a
spiritual animal teacher. The moon taught them how to bend and then became the spiritual koi
fish at the North Pole. It taught the people of the North Pole how to Waterbend and the other fish
of the ocean taught the other Waterbenders of the world.[24]

Waterbending is based on Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art that features slow movements and
elegant forms that evoke the feel of flowing water.[39] Waterbending's strongest asset lies within
its defensive capabilities. Unlike some other bending disciplines, Waterbending focuses on
turning an opponent's own strength against themselves, rather than direct strikes. Since water can
exist in different physical states, Waterbenders can freeze, melt, evaporate, sublimate or
condense water at will.[22] The ability to alter the physical state of water gives Waterbenders an
array of defensive, evasive and offensive techniques in battle such as encasing an opponent in
ice, hiding behind a wall of mist, surfing on bodies of water on a platform of ice, and battering
enemies with lashing whips and waves. Waterbenders can also manipulate the molecular
cohesion of water for cutting and grabbing objects or running on water. Benders are also able to
encase their arms in water allowing them to blast water from their hands. They can also pull
water into tentacles to block objects being thrown. While a bender's victory in battle is usually
based on skill and technique, a Waterbender gains a notable advantage or disadvantage over
other bending arts depending on the amount of water in their vicinity. Waterbenders have the
ability to utilize water in its various forms, enabling them to freeze (or compress) water into ice,
immobilizing enemies, and to evaporate it into steam, facilitating stealth capabilities. Skilled
Waterbenders can freeze water using their breath.[18] Waterbenders are more powerful at night
than during the day due to their spiritual connection with the Moon. Waterbenders are at their
most powerful during the Full Moon, and are powerless during a lunar eclipse or when the Moon
Spirit is in danger.[40]

Earth Kingdom

The Earth Kingdom (土国), the direct translation of which is Earth Country, is a large continent
which takes up most of the planet's eastern hemisphere. It is home to an order of men and women
who practice Earthbending, which is similar to geokinesis. Earthbenders are characterized by
their pride and strength, and often seem immovable.

The Earth Kingdom has long withstood encroachments of their borders in the Fire Nation's
imperialist war. Though the Water Tribes have aided the Earth Kingdom, the Earth Kingdom has
had to defend much of their nation by themselves, as the Water Tribes are too weak to help the
Earth Kingdom. Many citizens of the Earth Kingdom live in Ba Sing Se, a capitol city which is
entirely self-reliant.

Appearance

The Earth Kingdom is heavily influenced by the culture of Qing Dynasty China. The people of
the Earth Kingdom express wide variety in their appearances throughout the vast lands of the
empire. Those residing in the rural areas often wear clothes similar to those of peasants. Royals
and the wealthy, as illustrated by Toph Bei Fong, as well as the rest of the Upper Ring of Ba
Sing Se, usually wear robes similar to the Manchurian-Chinese Qipao, especially during parties
and events. Men may grow beards and/or mustaches; younger men may have the same style but
wear their hair down. Their skin complexion is usually fair, tan or brown, uniquely various
throughout the Kingdom, especially compared to the homogeneous appearances of the other
bending groups. They most typically express light brown, deep brown or green eyes. They
usually wear green, yellow-green, tan or brown clothing, though they have been seen wearing
outfits of other colors.

The national emblem of the Earth Kingdom is a circle inscribed within a square, at the center of
which is a much smaller square (Like a Chinese coin). The insignia symbolizes both the literal
and figurative depth of the Earth Kingdom. It represents the immeasurable layers of deep rock
and minerals which Earthbenders manipulate to maintain their great cities, as well as the depth of
the inhabitants' commitment and strive towards the effort of a peaceful and productive way of
life.[42] This emblem can be seen on the helmets of Earth Kingdom troops.

The Earth Kingdom uses coins as their currency. The coins are composed from metals such as
copper shaped into the fashion of the national emblem.[43]

Culture

From the technology-driven refugees under the "Mechanist" to the initially isolationist
inhabitants of Kyoshi Island, the culture of the Earth Kingdom is far less monolithic than those
of the other nations. The common aspect of these different cultures is their rather simplistic and
somewhat archaic nature, especially in comparison to the more industrialized Fire Nation.

The Earth Kingdom citizens have created many games and attractions. In Omashu, the game first
played by Aang and invented by King Bumi is based on the mail delivery system of Omashu,
which Bumi has referred to as "The World's Greatest Superslide."[15] In Ba Sing Se, an apparently
common game played in alleys is a form of soccer that employs Earthbending.

Rock and stone are the Earth Kingdom's greatest natural resources; Earthbending allows the
Earth Kingdom to use and manipulate it for nearly anything. While the Earth Kingdom as a
whole does not make use of fossil fuels nearly as much as the industrialized Fire Nation, coal is
mined in some villages, along with timber. An ample amount of vegetables manage to
sufficiently grow within the rich, fertile soil of the Earth Kingdom, while fruits and nut trees are
equally as abundant. Wild game and domesticated animals thrive in the forests and farmlands,
adding beef and poultry to the Earth Kingdom citizens' diet.[44]

Architecture, farming, carpentry, hunting, and mining are among many significant Earth
Kingdom industries. Its citizens have managed to develop an advanced trade and commerce
system so that almost all may benefit.[45] From the complex sewage and postal system of
Omashu,[15] to the Ba Sing Se metro transit stations,[20] and various inventions and their inventors,
such as the Mechanist, all serve as demonstration of the Earth Kingdom's sophisticated society.

Government

The Earth Kingdom is a large nation divided into provinces[46] and major cities[15] which are
subdivided into smaller townships or separate towns. The capital of the Earth Kingdom is Ba
Sing Se. While there is a central ruler of the Earth Kingdom, known as the The Earth King, who
resides in Ba Sing Se, some larger cities, such as Omashu, have kings of their own. However, the
Earth Kingdom's central form of government is a Confederate Monarchy; the Earth Kings have
continued to cede power to the governmental bureaucracies. Before the fall of Ba Sing Se, the
Earth King was little more than a figurehead.[1] Power was truly held by various advisers and
counsels such as Long Feng, the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se & Head of the Dai Li. It is also
implied that the Ba Sing Se government chooses to make use of little power beyond its own
fortified city, which perhaps explains the dire situation in much of the Earth Kingdom.[47]

The government in Ba Sing Se was very oppressive during the war. Long Feng subjected the
population to varying degrees of severe economic and social regimentation and segregation, and
various methods of eliminating dissent through brainwashing. The government of Ba Sing Se is
also incredibly bureaucratic; processing a request to meet with an official may take up to two
months[47] and proper clearance is required for posting "lost animal" fliers.[48] The Earth Kingdom
is heavily influenced by Qing Dynasty China.[49]

Military

Due to the majority of its territory being landlocked and segregated by mountainous terrain, the
Earth Kingdom is most dependent on its land-based army forces. Like the Fire Nation, the Earth
Kingdom armies consist of benders and normal foot soldiers. Soldiers, both benders and non-
benders, carry a wide variety of weapons. Nonbending soldiers are more heavily armored, and
typically wear a helmet shaped like a mix of a conical straw hat and a spinning top, along with a
neck guard underneath. Earthbenders' helmets are pointed and are decorated with the Earth
Kingdom emblem. The Benders are also barefooted, unlike the soldiers, to better harmonize
themselves with the Earth. Officers wear yellow armor in place of the regular green armor.

Earth Kingdom soldiers in various parts of the Earth Kingdom tend to wear slightly different
colored uniforms than that of others. Yellow brown,[50] light green,[17] brown tan,[51] and cream
colored uniforms have all been seen.[52]The non-bending soldiers of Omashu wear leaf-green
colors, while other non-bending soldiers across the Earth Kingdom wear a drab olive green. At
Ba Sing Se the soldiers on the walls have more diverse uniforms, with black and gold colors. The
cavalry consists of foot soldiers on Ostrich Horses, which can vertically climb short distances
and run at high speeds.[17] They are also used as civilian transports.

Earthbenders use stones shaped like the Earth Kingdom emblem as artillery and catapult
projectiles.[17] These person-sized round coins are invaluable weapons to the Earthbenders. The
coins can be lined up side by side to make a defensive mobile wall, or stacked to make an
impromptu lookout tower. Skilled Earthbenders can use these coins as a vehicle and "ride" in the
hole in the middle of the coins.

By consulting with various Earthbenders, The Mechanist was able to design Earthbending-
powered tanks which were actively used in the Fire Nation invasion. The Earth Kingdom tanks
are piloted by a crew of four Earthbenders who work to move the caterpillar-like vehicle by
pushing off the ground with their feet. The tanks are able to navigate on uneven terrain and even
climb over elevated obstacles. Hatches on the sides of the tank open and close, allowing
Earthbenders to fire stone projectiles at the enemy.[1]

The Earth Kingdom's Navy is inferior to that of the Fire Nation.[53]

Dai Li

The Dai Li are the cultural enforcers of Ba Sing Se. Prior to the fall of Ba Sing Se, they were
under the direct command of Long Feng, the culture minister, for over twenty years, and
functioned as a secret police. They arrested and re-educated anyone who speaks of the war while
in Ba Sing Se.[47] In addition to distinct uniforms, they also have stone gloves and shoes, which
can be used as weapons through Earthbending. Though they serve the Earth King, they are loyal
only to Long Feng.[38] However, after the events of the coup d'état led against the Earth Kingdom
capital, they pledged loyalty to Azula and the Fire Nation[19] and tore down the walls of Ba Sing
Se.[2] The Dai Li are seen again during Sozin's Comet, where they are summoned by Firelord
Azula. Azula, unsatisfied with their performance and fearing that they will eventually betray her,
banishes the Dai Li from the palace. They are not seen again afterward.

According to the online flash game, "Escape from the Spirit World," the Dai Li were created
several centuries before the start of the story by Avatar Kyoshi to preserve the cultural heritage
of Ba Sing Se, in response to a peasant uprising against the Earth King.[54]
The Dai Li in Avatar are modeled after the government agents of Qing Dynasty China, who were
also known as the Dai Li. The organization may also be named after Dai Li: the feared
Spymaster of Chiang Kai-Shek before and during the Second World War. (Chinese: 大内;
Pinyin: dà nèi)-- which literally means "Greater-Inner" and refers to those who serve in the
Greater Inner Sanctum of the Forbidden City.

Kyoshi Warriors

The Kyoshi Island Warriors are an all-female group of fighters led by Suki on Kyoshi Island.
Their fighting style and clothing honor that of their founder, Avatar Kyoshi, although the current
members do not implement any of the bending arts in their physical movements. Clad in ornate,
green armor and Kabuki-like makeup designed to intimidate opponents, Kyoshi Island Warriors
use metal fans as their primary weapons,[55] but it is later revealed the warriors additionally
utilize katana and wrist shields.[56] Holding the fans like extensions of their own arms, they aim
to turn the strength of their opponents against them, a principle also hinged upon in
Waterbending. Traditionally, only women are trained as Kyoshi Warriors,[1] however there have
been exceptions over the years.[57]

Although Kyoshi Island had long remained neutral in the war, this changed when the Avatar
arrived on their island. The Kyoshi Island Warriors were inspired to assist the Earth Kingdom
army in its attempts to resist the Fire Nation, serving as guards for refugee ferries to Ba Sing Se.
[51]
The warriors appeared again in "Appa's Lost Days" where they struggled to protect Appa from
capture at the hands of Princess Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee. Following the confrontation, Azula,
Mai, and Ty Lee infiltrate the city of Ba Sing Se disguised as members of the Kyoshi Warriors,
[38]
confirming the real Kyoshi Warriors' defeat. They did however succeed in saving the life of
Appa, a great aid to the Avatar.[53]

Council of Five

The Council of Five is a group of five high-ranking Earth Kingdom Generals who decide
military strategy outside the walls of Ba Sing Se.[53] In addition to this, the Council also controls
the Kings Guards, an elite force of guards who protect the Earth King. The Council of Five was
established along with the King of Ba Sing Se, and was equal in power with him until the rise of
Long Feng.[1] After Princess Azula's execution of the coup d'état against the capital, all members
of the council were taken captive by the Dai Li,[19] but were released after the Order of the White
Lotus liberated Ba Sing Se.[18]

Kings Guards

The Earthbending guards are affiliated with neither the Dai Li nor the military and instead serve
as personal protectors of the Earth King.[1] There seem to be hundreds of them guarding the
Royal Palace. The guards use specialized surface-to-surface rocks against invaders approaching
on foot, but the projectiles are displayed to be able to also serve as surface-to-air rocks against
airborne intruders.[38]

The guards wear dark green armor and feather-topped helmets, the guards have also been shown
as the gate keepers of the outer and inner walls of Ba Sing Se.[20][58]
Locations

Kyoshi Island

Kyoshi Island is an island in the South Sea which was founded by Avatar Kyoshi in an effort to
protect her people from invaders.[1][57] Because the island is predominately a fishing port,
travelers and traders favor the island as a stopping point. The denizens of Kyoshi Island's dwell
scattered amongst several small villages found all around the island. Each village has its own
leader and is served and protected by a band of female Kyoshi Island Warriors, who fight with
metal fans in the same techniques as the island's namesake Avatar.[1] The island, the birthplace of
Kyoshi, has a shrine dedicated to her.

Because it holds no significant military advantage, Kyoshi Island managed to stay out of the Fire
Nation's war for nearly a century.[57] The villagers are hostile towards outsiders, for they feared
Fire Nation spies. After the visit of Avatar Aang, the citizens adopted a more welcoming attitude.
[59]

Omashu

Omashu was the first city built in the Earth Kingdom and was founded and named for Oma and
Shu, a Romeo and Juliet pair from two warring villages who became the first Earthbenders.[60] It
sits within a mountain range, surrounded on all sides by steep canyons and an enormous gorge. It
is guarded by massive stone gates,[61] but was still captured by the Fire Nation during the war.
Omashu's main industry was producing weapons and supplies for the war effort, and so it
developed a complex and efficient mail system used to transport goods throughout the city that
employed Earthbending and gravity using extensive ramps and chutes.[1][15]

Ba Sing Se

Ba Sing Se is the capital of the Earth Kingdom. It is impenetrable and isolated from the rest of
the world. It withstood a six-hundred day siege led by the Fire Nation's General Iroh,[50]which
ended after Iroh's son, Lu Ten, died on the front lines. At Comicon 2006, Ba Sing Se was shown
as an enormous city with several rock-like monorails, similar to the ones in Omashu. The "cars"
are moved by Earthbending. Ba Sing Se's greatest secret to its staying power in the war is the
farmland behind its outer wall. These vast fields supply the entire city with food to enable them
to survive a siege of any duration, so long as the outer wall remains intact. Only on two separate
occasions has the great wall ever been penetrated. It was apparently breached during Iroh's six-
hundred day siege, however, the city survived, as the siege broke shortly thereafter. The city's
wall is nearly penetrated once again by a giant drill created by The Mechanist for the Fire
Nation. The government of Ba Sing Se was once deposed through a coup d'état by Azula.[19] The
Fire Nation was deposed by the Order of the White Lotus in the Book 3 finale.[18]

In Book 2, the city is shown to be divided into various levels based on social class, with the
ghettos of the poor and refugees being walled off from the rest of the town, mirroring the strict
societal rules of class interaction that governed ancient China. It was heavily controlled and the
war is not allowed to be mentioned inside the walls. This was supposedly meant to maintain
order and the cultural heritage of the city, making it the only remaining "utopian" society in the
world. It is eventually revealed that the Earth King was actually a figurehead with little authority.
The political leader of the city is Long Feng, the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se and the Head of
the Dai Li. He and the Dai Li maintain strict control of the people and the culture, and prefer to
pretend the war does not exist. This is most likely the result of Ba Sing Se's safety - the people of
the city consider it impenetrable, and thus feel they can delude themselves into pretending all is
fine in the rest of the Kingdom. Those who attempt to disrupt this fantasy are promptly
brainwashed by the Dai Li into believing that the war doesn't even exist.

Earthbending

Humans first learned Earthbending by observing and imitating the Badgermoles, large
subterranean creatures that use Earthbending to see and interact with the world. The first people
to learn Earthbending were two lovers (Oma and Shu) from warring villages who used the art to
meet in secret beneath the mountain that separated their people.[60]

Earthbending is generally based on the Hung Gar style of Kung Fu, which features heavily
rooted stances and strong kicks and punches. The martial art is based on the movements of
animals, among them the Tiger and the Crane. The Tiger represents Hard Power, while the crane
embodies Soft Power.[62] One notable exception comes from the blind Earthbender, Toph, who
uses a style based on Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.[63] Unlike other bending disciplines,
Earthbending stresses the aspect of neutral "jing", which involves listening and waiting for the
right moment to attack.[17] Toph uses this discipline having learned it directly from Badgermoles,
and teaches this form to Aang.This discipline also allows Toph and Aang to feel minute
vibrations in the earth when in direct contact and use these vibrations as radar.[52]

Earthbenders are known to stand their ground. More skilled Earthbenders absorb and intercept
attacks before overwhelming the opponent with superior force. Some can tunnel through the
earth to out-maneuver their foes.[64] Earthbenders have been shown to use objects to augment
their bending.[59][46] An Earthbender gains a notable advantage or disadvantage over other
bending arts depending on the amount of earth in their vicinity. Earthbending is not limited to
rock or soil, but can also use mud, slurry, sand, meteors, crystals, coal, and even metal.
Earthbenders are able to encase themselves in rock or crystals, giving them a resistance to
extreme temperatures and physical blows. When encased they are totally covered with rock or
crystal, creating a sort of suit of armor.

Fire Nation

The Fire Nation is located near the planet's equator in the western hemisphere and comprises an
archipelago of volcanic islands, drawing its inspiration from countries like China, Iceland, and
Indonesia, as well as the many volcanic Pacific islands.[66] The Fire Nation is home to an order of
men and women who practice Firebending, the pyrokinetic ability to create and control fire. The
Fire Nation armed forces had subjected much of the globe to colonization and imperialism over
the course of a century-long campaign of expansion. According to Iroh, Fire is the element of
power; its people have a energetic willpower to strive to get what they want and need and the
drive to get it, as reflected in Firebending.[3]
Influences

The Fire Nation's landscape and geologic features were based on Iceland. The creators wanted
the Fire Nation to look nothing like other locations seen earlier in Avatar, so they captured
photos of Iceland to use for the show.[67] Examples of locations from Iceland that were used as
models for places in the show include a waterfall from "Sokka's Master"[68] and the hot spring,
lava pillars, and lava sand seen in The Beach.[67] Some of the Fire Nation's background designs
also come from Korea. In the original designs, the Fire Nation was very industrialized, with its
land stripped and its cities full of factories.[68]

Culture

While all the names of people and places in the Avatar series clearly have Chinese influence, the
Fire Nation seems most similar to it. Women wear their hair in various updos, usually simple and
elegant in style and noblewomen often sport long, sharp, well-manicured nails. Men have various
hairstyles; those of importance and higher class wear a traditional bun or top-knot accompanied
by a hairpiece. Men also display prominent sideburns, some accopanied with beards or goatees.
Fashion in the Fire Nation mimics traditional Chinese elements as well. Layers of various colors,
coats, and traditional pieces of armor are common elements in their style, as in Chinese
traditional clothing. Citizens and rulers of the Fire Nation wear colors ranging from black, to
brown, to various reds, very often accented by gold lining or jewelry. Skin complexion is usually
fair or pale, however sparingly ranges to tan and darker brown. Those from the Fire Nation have
golden, amber or light gray-blue eyes.

The emblem that represents the Fire Nation is a black flame on a red flag. The flag that holds this
emblem is shown many times and in many places, from the Fire Nation itself to the cities and
towns that the Fire Nation has conquered and reside in. Unlike other nations, this emblem is not
usually worn on the army and navy uniforms, but only stays on the flags of their nation. A gold
flame hairpiece is used to signify Fire Nation royalty.

The "Fire Days Festival" is a traveling street fair in Fire Nation towns and villages, including
those situated in former Earth Kingdom territory.[1] Its participants wear stylized hand-carved
wooden masks similar to that of Kabuki theater masks, and merchants vendor a wide variety of
trinkets and local snacks. The festival's attractions include puppet shows, fireworks, Firebending
jugglers and magicians, and overall displays of individual or group bending prowess.[69] As
illustrated in its cultural festivals, the Fire Nation employs propaganda to indoctrinate a sense of
nationalism and loyalty to the Fire Lord (cult of personality) in its citizens from the earliest age
possible.[56] The Fire Nation is heavily influenced by the Han-Chinese culture.

Agni Kai

Among Firebenders conflicts and disputes of honor are settled by a challenge to an Agni Kai, or
"fire-duel," a traditional Firebender duel that is centuries old. Such a match is conducted in an
open-air arena at sunset and may be witnessed by spectators. The goal in these duels is to knock
an opponent off-balance, and incapacitate (fatally or otherwise) with a final blow. The duels have
claimed the lives of countless Firebenders, and they've been even more unforgiving to those who
show mercy on their opponents. The term 'Agni' was derived from the Sanskrit word for the fire
element.[1]

Education

The Fire Nation has a formal education system quite similar to real-life public schools. Subjects
including history, music, etiquette, warfare, and Firebending are taught to the students by various
teachers.[1] However, the educational system works also as a "mind-molding" process, causing
students to develop a strong sense of nationalism and loyalty to the Fire Lord. Teachers maintain
rigid discipline and order and refuse to teach the students the art of dance or any form of self-
expression. In addition, censorship and propaganda can be found in articles within history books
(e.g. the genocide of the Air Nomads is described as a battle with the Air Nomads' "army,"
despite the fact that they have no formal military).[70]

Military

The Fire Nation military is the strongest of the Four Nations. It is the only nation to possess a
mechanized armed force. The Fire Nation military makes active use of armored naval vessels as
well as a variety of land-based war machines and vehicles. It is also the only nation to have an air
force. They also utilize "Sozin's Comet" every one hundred years to enhance their Firebending
attacks.

The Fire Nation's army comprises non-bender foot soldiers, who normally wield spears, swords,
and shields, and Firebenders, who normally travel unarmed. The majority of Firebending soldiers
wear white faceplates shaped like abstract skulls, while ranking officers do not. Both have spiked
fire crests on the front of their helmets. Normal soldiers wear cone shaped helmets without
masks. It is a possibility that a soldier's skull mask is also used for psychological warfare due to
their frightening appearance. For practicality, the faceplates can be removed from the helmets.
Additionally, troops are shown to retain different sets of uniforms pertaining to the season or
climate of the region that they are situated in.[24] Elite Firebenders who serve as the Fire Lord's
Royal Procession wear red, highly stylized armor all over, and have three-eyed faceplates.[17]

The cavalry ride "Komodo Rhinos," a cross between a rhinoceros and a komodo dragon with
three horns and a long whip-like tail. Outfitted with heavy armor around the face, they are used
for pulling carts and carrying people, both for war and civilian purposes. Fire Nation soldiers
mount these frightening beasts to terrorize their enemies.[1] One band of Fire Nation cavalry, the
"Rough Rhinos" was led by Colonel Mongke. The Rough Rhinos comprise a variety of warriors
of varying skills, including a masked warrior who hurls explosives and a Yu Yan Archer. Riding
their trademark mounts, they act on their own free will, attacking enemies of the Fire Nation, and
claiming land and towns in the name of the Fire Lord. Both of their appearances have been
defeats, the first by Aang and company[59] and the second by Iroh and Zuko, although the latter
was more of a humiliating draw.[71] In "Lake Laogai," it was revealed that they were responsible
for the death of Jet's parents and the burning of his village. According to Iroh the Rough Rhinos
are also famed for their singing talents.
The Fire Nation also did not hesitate to sacrifice soldiers, much like the ancient Mongolians and
some Chinese warlords. During a war planning meeting, a Fire Nation general suggests
sacrificing a novice division of troops to provide a distraction.

The Yu Yan Archers are Colonel Shinu's highly skilled unit of tattooed archers, and are,
according to Zhao, "capable of pinning a fly to a tree from 100 yards (91 m) away without killing
it."[72] This statement resembles the skill of "piercing a willow leaf at one hundred paces", which
is a common occurrence in Chinese literature.[73] It also resembles the skills of a famous archer
who lived in ancient China. Records comment after being told by his archery teacher that his
vision needed to be trained until something impossibly small looked large, "Ji Chang hung a flea
from the window frame by a hair and facing south, watched it. In a couple of weeks it seemed
larger, and after three years of practice, it seemed like a cartwheel ... Then he took a bow ... and
shot [at the flea]. He hit the middle of the flea and the hair did not even break."[74] They are so
skilled that they succeeded in overwhelming and capturing Aang, the Avatar, though he
subsequently escaped from custody. A possible way to write their name is 玉眼 for "jade eye."
The Chinese believed that jade had magical properties and would prevent the decay of the body.
The word 'Shinu' (死), the colonel's name, means 'to die' in Japanese, however in Chinese, it is
pronounced "Si" with a third tone accent above the 'i'.

As a result of being an island nation and primarily situated near large bodies of water, the Fire
Nation has developed a powerful naval force. The Fire Nation's navy is composed of hundreds of
coal-powered ironclad warships. In addition to its sturdy properties, the Fire Nation's use of
metallurgy to remove impurities from the metal ensures that Earthbenders cannot damage their
ships with their powers. These vessels serve many purposes, from ferrying and disembarking
troops to providing bombardment with their catapults to creating blockades.[75]

The Fire Nation manages to acquire a refugee War Balloon, a primitive hot air balloon designed
by "The Mechanist", an Earth Kingdom inventor whom the Fire Nation had pressed into service
designing weapons and technology. With the ability to carry heavy loads and possessing the
ultimate high ground, the hot air balloon is a potent weapon.[7] Near the end of failed Fire Nation
invasion, the war balloons were effectively used in combat to close the battle. In addition,
utilizing the same technology that engineered the Mechanist's hot air balloon, the Fire Nation has
managed to develop gigantic airships that looks like zeppelins. Several times larger and more
destructive than their original counterparts, the airships are able to hold a crew of fifty, along
with numerous Firebenders, and capable of flying vast distances. In terms of firepower, the
airships are equipped with an engine that has propellers and coal burning to keep the engine
moving and a bomb bay for dropping explosives and flanked with catwalks hanging off the belly
where safely-harnessed Firebenders are able to open fire on their enemies below and a main deck
with advanced controls.

History

Originally, the Fire Sages controlled the land with the Grand Sage (Fire Lord) as the head of
state. The Fire Sages were independent to the Grand Sage for a time, but were eventually forced
to swear vows of loyalty. An absolute monarchy with a lineage of Fire Lords formed, with the
title of Fire Lord (烈火君) passing down to each generation's eldest son.[76][77] Under the
servitude of Fire Lord Ozai, few Fire Sages remained and were not consulted for any important
matter.[78]

During the time of Fire Lord Sozin, a new Firebender tradition was created. It was said that if a
Firebender tracked down, battled, and killed a dragon, then his powers would become legendary.
Though dragons had long been friends of mankind, this act turned them against man and they
fled into places of hiding. Once a Firebender killed a dragon, he was bestowed the title of
'Dragon.' The last Dragon was Crown Prince Iroh, who wore the title "Dragon of the West" to his
elder years. What he discovered from fighting the dragon was the ability known as Breath of
Fire, which he then went on to teach to his family. However, according to Iroh, the dragon that
he killed was the last one in existence. It was later discovered that he was lying in order to
protect the secret of the Sun Warriors.

The Sun Warriors were an ancient sect of powerful Firebenders. They practiced a unique version
of Firebending that focused on the pure aspect of fire as the source of life, rather than the
channeling of rage and aggression as the modern Firebenders used. To them, fire was a form of
energy, the counterpoint to the other nation's views of their own elements as states of matter:
earth is solid, water is fluid, and air is gaseous.

The Sun Warriors were said to have died out or been destroyed centuries ago, the Fire Nation
archipelago dotted with ancient Sun Warrior ruins. Zuko and Aang went to these ruins to find the
ancient source of Firebending, only to discover the last of the Sun Warriors living in seclusion
beneath the city ruins. There, they discovered that the Sun Warriors worshipped and were guided
by the ancient Firebending masters, the last two dragons in existence, Ran and Sha.

Locations

Prisons

The Fire Nation military also makes use of coal mines and prisons. The prisons are segregated
facilities in which prisoners from other nations are forced to labor. Made of metal, one such
facility can be a stationary shipyard situated in the middle of the ocean. Bisected by an enormous
wall, one side is used as the shipyard where warships are repaired and refueled, while the other
side serves as a prison for captive Earthbenders. Surrounded by the sea and miles away from
solid, earthen land, the benders are rendered powerless. However their muscular strength is not
wasted, as the wardens force them to labor away in the shipyard, building new ships for the Fire
Nation navy to be later used as aid in the conquest of their own Kingdom.

The Boiling Rock is the Fire Nation's most infamous maximum security prison, specifically built
to house the Fire Nation's most dangerous criminals and traitors. The prison is built in the crater
of a volcano and is surrounded by a lake of boiling water, which is heated by the geothermal
energy of the volcano below it. The only way to access the prison is by cable car, which is
connected to a port and war balloon landing pad on the outer edge of the volcano. The Boiling
Rock appears to be built like a conventional maximum security prison complete with cell blocks,
a central courtyard for recreation, and elevated positions for guards to keep an eye on the
prisoners. Since the majority of the prison population are Fire Nation criminals, many of them
are also skilled Firebenders. To control them, the guards enforce a ban on all Firebending.
Anybody who breaks this rule is sent to the "cooler", which is an isolated, refrigerated pod
cooled to below-freezing temperatures. However, even with these strict security measures, the
guards often have a difficult time controlling the prisoners. Prisoneres deliberately start riots for
distractions and escape attempts, though only Sokka and Zuko's had ever been successful.

Ember Island

Ember Island (餘燼島) is a highly regarded tropical resort found within the Fire Nation. Filled
with palm trees and luscious vegetation, the private beaches are surrounded by mountains and
dunes which provide a secluded atmosphere for visitors. Several vacation homes found on the
island are owned by high-ranking Fire Nation officials. The Fire Lord owns an estate on Ember
Island and used it for family summer vacations.[1]

Roku's Island

The island was a small one that housed Avatar Roku and was situated about one hundred miles
away from the Fire Nation capital. When he wasn't attending to his Avatar duties, Roku and his
wife Ta Min lived in a modest cottage here. As a result of a volcanic explosion that buried the
island village and killed Roku, the isle appears to be a barren wasteland, showing no signs of
past or present civilization.

Firebending

While the sun is the origin and inspiration for Firebending, the Dragons were the Firebenders
that taught them how to Firebend. The philosophy of Firebending from when it was first created
differs radically from that of the present-day Fire Nation. Originally representing warmth, energy
and life, the Fire Nation's is fueled by rage and anger.[10] Firebending in itself is not totally
devoted to unleashing the power of fire on opponents. In actuality, the focus is placed upon
balance. Firebending hinges on mental stability such as inner calm, discipline, emotional stability
and physical stability such as a firm balanced form, breath control and general good health.[1]
Firebenders are more powerful during the day than the night due to solar sympathy.[24]
Firebenders lose their power to bend during a solar eclipse[29] When a Comet is near, a
Firebender's power is vastly increased. This gives them the ability to fly and produce pillars of
fire and gigantic fire blasts. Sozin first used the comet to wipe out all the Air Nomads, and thus
began the war. Ozai then attempted to use it to wipe out everyone in the Earth Kingdom with it,
but he was stopped by Aang and his allies.[79]

Firebending moves are based mainly on the style of Northern Shaolin.[80] Northern Shaolin Kung
Fu features quick, successive and flamboyant attacks, making Firebending the most aggressive of
the four bending arts. Firebenders tire much easier in battle than other benders due to breath
control. Breath control is one of the first things taught to young Firebenders because without
control of breath, they are more prone to lose control of the fire they are creating or controlling.
[81]

Spirit World
The Spirit World does not exist at all in the physical world of Avatar. It is instead a secondary
location accessible only by a few select individuals; a parallel universe connected to the mortal
world. It is home to the various spirits as well as the spirits of the Avatar, who is the spirit of the
world. Some spirit creatures act as guardians of rivers, mountains, and forests.

Appearance

When a spirit is in the physical world, they are seen as a bright sky blue and are slightly
transparent.[50] A spirit choosing to reside within the physical world, such as Wan Shi Tong and
his assistants or the Moon and Ocean spirits Tui and La, however, appears fully formed and
tangible. Some such as Hei Bai exhibit the ability to freely pass or pass others between the two
realms. In the Spirit World, though solid and colored as if it was real; everything is also cast in a
darker light.

If a person crosses over to the Spirit world, he or she is still able to observe and hear the physical
world if they wish, but cannot be seen or heard themselves. Those in the natural world cannot
observe or hear the spirit world. Also, if something were to happen to a person's body while they
are in the spirit world, the spirit cannot return to the physical world. When a Bender is in the
Spirit World, he loses the ability to Bend.

Gateways

On a solstice, a natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun is at its greatest distance from the
Earth's equator, the natural world and the Spirit world grow closer together until the line between
the two is almost completely blurred. During the solstices, the spirits are able to exert incredible
power when within the natural world. This is also the ideal time for people who possess the
ability to enter the Spirit World to do so.

Notable Spirits

 Hei Bai - the spirit of a forest (a bear).[86]

 Tui and La - the Moon and Ocean spirits (fish) [24]
 Koh - a face-stealing spirit.[40]
 Wan Shi Tong - a knowledge spirit (an owl).[65]
 Knowledge Seekers - The servants of Wan Shi Tong that resemble conventional earth
foxes.[65]
 Emna - a spirit resembling a humanoid langur that resides on a mound of dirt in the
swamp of the Spirit World where he meditates. Enma or Emma is the Japanese name for
Yama, the ruler of the underworld in Buddhist and Hindu mythology. Also, the Mystical
Monkey meditating beneath a giant tree is an allusion of the Bodhi tree where Siddhartha
Gautama sat under and achieved enlightenment in becoming Buddha.
 The Painted Lady - A pale river spirit with flowing robes and black hair, as well as
mysterious red markings striped across her face and body, and the guardian of the river
town of Jang Hui, a small fishing village in the Fire Nation.

Avatars
  Avatar Roku (James Garrett) is the Avatar before Aang, who was born to the Fire
Nation on the same day as Fire Lord Sozin. They were good friends until Sozin's greed
and warmongering drove a wedge between them. Roku was eventually betrayed by him,
and left to die in a volcanic eruption, along with his dragon, Fang. Throughout the series,
Avatar Roku appears as a spirit to help Aang fulfill his duties as the Avatar. He is the
grandfather of Princess Ursa, thus making him the maternal great-grandfather of Zuko
and Azula. He is also the one who appears during the title sequence, bending all 4
elements, as well as the one who says "Previously on Avatar..." at the beginning of each
episode.
 Avatar Kyoshi (Jennifer Hale) was the Avatar before Avatar Roku. An Earth Kingdom
Avatar, her story is significant to Aang's reputation in his time. Aang is put on trial for a
murder that Kyoshi was accused of committing. It is later revealed that, although
justified, Avatar Kyoshi did in fact murder Chin the Conqueror, although not
intentionally. She was also revealed to have been the person who created the Dai Li
during a peasant uprising in her time. She is also said to be the oldest Avatar, living for
over 200 years before she died.
 Avatar Kuruk (Jim Meskimen) was the Avatar before Avatar Kyoshi. He is a Water
Tribe Avatar who tells his story to Aang towards the end of the third book. He says that
during his time, there was an unprecedented time of peace. He was an easy-going Avatar
who did not do much and he consequently lost his love to Koh the face-stealer.
 Avatar Yang Chen (Grey DeLisle) was the Avatar before Avatar Kuruk. She is the only
Avatar who manages to convince Aang that he has a greater duty to the world than to his
beliefs. As another Air Nomad Avatar, she understands Aang's situation and is there to
persuade Aang to fight the Fire Lord.

Avatar

The Avatar is the spirit of the planet reincarnated in human form whose task it is to keep balance
among the four nations. The Avatar is also a link between the physical and Spirit Worlds. When
the Avatar dies, the Avatar Spirit is reincarnated into a newborn in a specific cycle: Water, Earth,
Fire, Air, based on the passage of the four seasons. Every new Avatar is tasked with mastering
each of the four elements in the same order as the Avatar Cycle. When the new Avatar turns 16
(the typical age of maturity), his or her identity is revealed (by their bending masters) and travels
to study the other three Bending discipline from the perspective Masters. Aang is the only noted
Avatar who was revealed before the age of 16 because of the Air Nomad Masters' fear of the
upcoming war.[87][88]

The Avatar possess a defense mechanism known as the Avatar State. Even if the Avatar has not
mastered all four elements, he still can gain access to the knowledge and powers of his previous
lives. The Avatar State is an involuntary response, but can be activated at will by an experienced
Avatar. The Avatar State makes an Avatar nigh invulnerable when using it. However, if an
Avatar is killed while in the Avatar State, they will break the cycle of reincarnation.[17][19][75]

Energybending
Energybending[89]is the oldest of the bending arts and predates the Avatar, the Four Nations, and
the other bending arts. It involves testing and bending the energy within oneself. On the day of
Sozin's Comet, Aang was able to Energybend, but there is no evidence that there is a connection
between Sozin's Comet and Aang's ability to Energybend. On the eve of Sozin's Comet, a giant
Lion Turtle revealed this truth to Aang. In order to bend another person's energy, the bender's
spirit must be "unbendable" and must be completely pure. If the bender's spirit is bendable, and
they attempt to bend another's energy, they will be corrupted by the other's energy and be killed.
Aang uses this technique to defeat Fire Lord Ozai without killing him by permanently removing
Fire Lord Ozai's Firebending abilities.[18] Only Avatars can learn this technique, though few have
bothered to and even less have had to.[89]