Showing posts tagged season one

Fire Nation Armor

On first glance Fire Nation armor does look influenced by Japanese Samurai armor. Said style, though, does not originate in Japan, but in China’s Tang Dynasty.

The pictures I have included show Officer’s armor from the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty 618 to 907 CE is widely considered to be the most glorious, prosperous and influential time in the history of Imperial China. It’s influence stretched far and long, through trade via the Silk Road and across the ocean to Korea and Japan and can still be seen today. (See above). Many aspects of Korean and Japanese tradition -from clothes to art- originated in the fashions and style of that dynasty.

Chinese Armor Through the Dynasties (cool pictures!)

Examples of Armor

China, History of Warfare

The Tang Dynasty’s Influence on Japan p180

Discussion on the Chinese influence on Japan

Zuko’s meditation table The meditation table Zuko has in his cabin is Yuan or Ming Dynasty inspired. Compare the legs and feet of the tables. Source: Austere luminosity of Chinese classical furniture By Sarah Handler p 189-190 View high resolution

Zuko’s meditation table

The meditation table Zuko has in his cabin is Yuan or  Ming Dynasty inspired. Compare the legs and feet of the tables.

Source: Austere luminosity of Chinese classical furniture By Sarah Handler  p 189-190

More martial arts weapons from “The Avatar Returns”. Mainly from Zuko’s cabin and the fight in Sokka’s and Katara’s village. The 100 Weapons of Kungfu or, for reference Pictures from a marital arts school and the names in Chinese View high resolution

More martial arts weapons from “The Avatar Returns”. Mainly from Zuko’s cabin and the fight in Sokka’s and Katara’s village.

The 100 Weapons of Kungfu

or, for reference Pictures from a marital arts school and the names in Chinese

Clothing is folded left over right. Reverse folding indicates death, ghosts or a suicide run. … or a fucking moron… View high resolution

Clothing is folded left over right. Reverse folding indicates death, ghosts or a suicide run.

… or a fucking moron… image

Appa’s saddle strongly resembles the lotus flower on Buddha statues. “ The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristine above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of... View high resolution

Appa’s saddle strongly resembles the lotus flower on Buddha statues.

The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristine above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment.

The Airbenders: The people of the Air Nomads were, without any seen exception, all benders due to the high level of spirituality of their people.

Their enlightenment is reflected in their art, clothing etc which are heavily based on Buddhism. I will point out and provide references for that in later posts.

Uncle’s kang table shows Qing and Ming Dynasty style elements i.e. the square low form of the table (also known as kang table) and the cabriole legs. A kang is a heated platform bed/living area used in the North to keep warm during winter. More... View high resolution

Uncle’s kang table shows Qing and Ming Dynasty style elements i.e. the square low form of the table (also known as kang table) and the cabriole legs. 

A kang is a heated platform bed/living area used in the North to keep warm during winter.

More detailed furniture examples:

Austere luminosity of Chinese classical furniture By Sarah Handler 

Want your own? Got 2275 USD to spare?

And then the Fire Nation Attacked The Air Nomads - Tibet; Dalai Lama - Avatar parallel cannot be denied. Let’s compare, for one thing, the architecture and recent history in that region. “ The destruction of most of Tibet’s more than 6,000... View high resolution

And then the Fire Nation Attacked

The Air Nomads - Tibet; Dalai Lama - Avatar parallel cannot be denied. Let’s compare, for one thing, the architecture and recent history in that region.

The destruction of most of Tibet’s more than 6,000 monasteries happened between 1959 and 1961.Of the 6,259 monasteries in Tibet before the Chinese occupation, only eight remained in 1976.

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I will get more into that later, for now, let’s just take a look at the burning temple we see in the opening sequence. I am aware that that is not the exact temple, but the style and the fact that it is located on top of a mountain are not coincidental and are creating an intentional parallel between the Air Nomads and the Tibetan Monasteries.

水善 - Water (is) Benevolent 土強 - Earth (is) Strong 火烈 - Fire (is) Fierce 气和 - Air (is) Peaceful 群雄四分 - Mighty Heroes/ Powers divided into Four (Pun on the first two characters) 天下一 匡- 一匡天下 Is a Confucius quote. One suggested translation is to ‘Unite... View high resolution

水善 - Water (is) Benevolent
土強 - Earth (is) Strong
火烈  - Fire (is) Fierce
气和  - Air (is) Peaceful

群雄四分 - Mighty Heroes/ Powers divided into Four (Pun on the first two characters)

天下一 匡- 一匡天下 Is a Confucius quote. One suggested translation is to ‘Unite the World’.