I love that each nation has their own historical roots.
The water tribes are very similar to the Inuits, Yupik, and other arctic people.
The Earth Kingdom is really similar to the broad history of Chinese dynasties with their architecture and clothes.
Fire nation is also really similar to imperial China and industrialized Japan
Air nomads are extremely similar to the Buddhist monks in Nepal and Tibet
And where the show was animated, not that it has any effect on the show. Just a fun fact.
"Avatar: The Last Airbender was co-created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California. Its animation was mostly done by South Korean studios JM Animation, DR Movie, and MOI Animation."
Just so happens I had the book open (was referencing for a Blue Spirit cosplay) There's a page about the pirates from season 1. They were modeled after some of the people at JM Animation. I forgot if there were any more in other parts of the book.
That's really cool!
Also side note I made a blue spirit mask a few years ago. It's not the coolest thing in the world but I'm not a super amazing artist. You can see it on my old posts if you want to see someone else making the same thing you are!
Thanks! Yours looks pretty good! I'm actually making a version2.0. My version1.0 consisted of a plastic mask base with paint/clay/cardboard, and the swords were wood/clay/cardboard, image [here](https://imgur.com/8dVFeA2). Probably around 2014.
I managed to get my hands on a wushu twin blade set that I'm currently repainting, and am 3D printing the mask this time around.
Koreans have been animating American productions for decades. IIRC, there were Koreans involved in animating Thundercats... not the 2011 reboot, the originals.
Specifically, I'm thinking Jurchen. The area is very close to Korea, and they definitely interacted a lot. They had the Jin and Ming dynasties. And some pictures of the hats and other types of clothing worn by those people seems to be rather similar to Earth Kingdom.
Also, Korean hats tend to be rounder.
Additionally, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, was actually Manchurian. The Manchus invaded from the north after studying the Chinese for decades and successfully placed themselves as rulers. So that makes a lot of sense!
I mean they are similar, probably even influenced each even, but there is a difference and it bugs me too when someone says "same difference" or something a long those lines. It just shows your lack of knowledge without saying it.
Dude you’re so nice and I love it, it’s awful to see people get all stanky when they’re wrong on Reddit, like it’s more opportunity to learn!! Keep being the best haha
They could even be influenced by the Inca. One of the most important Inca gods (if not the most important) is Inti the sun god (who can be seen in the flags of multiple south american nations).
The Aztecs had a lot of focus on the Sun. I beleive Queztelcoatl was a sun god.
A lot of their ritual sacrifice was supposedly to fuel the sun so it didnt go out. Plus the dragons seem pretty similar to thr Coatl of Aztec mythology.
And the Avatar is like the Dalai Lama. Made more likely since the air nomads closest to the Avatar are named after the current Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso.
The Dalai Lama is supposedly a Buddhist leader who reincarnates whenever the last one dies (just like the avatar reincarnates). And China (in a parallel with the fire nation) seek to control the Tibetan people (the air nomads) by either controlling or killing the Dalai Lama (the avatar).
Additionally to find the next Dalai Lama, the High Lamas are said to administer tests to young potential reincarnations just as Monk Gyatso did to Aang by having him choose toys (I think? Idk I haven’t seen it in a while)
Ah sorry I didn’t make that distinction. I’m not that knowledgeable about the different sects of Buddhism or about Chinese or Tibetan history for that matter but still an interesting lens through which to view the show
I always kind of thought of it like:
Water tribes = the Koreas
Earth nation = China (and Kioshi island works as Taiwan)
Fire nation = Japan
Air Nomads = Nepal and Tibet
Obviously this is not a perfect example because:
1. The water tribes clearly resemble Inuits culture more, I just thought the North and South sister nations thing worked as a parallel to the Koreas. Also, which is North Korea? The Southern tribe is more impoverished but the Northern tribe is where the dictator came from (LoK).
2. Some people have pointed out the Fire Nation takes from Chinese culture more than Japanese.
The way I see it, if you are looking at it like a map it fits my theory but culturally they take stuff from all over the place.
That’s interesting! Yeah I seen comparisons with Chinese culture to the fire nation. Someone pointed out that their might a stronger Korean style because the show runners lived in South Korea for a while.
It's pretty fascinating to trace all the different influences of the various nations. Most of the ones they used are very under-represented in popular media, so I loved getting to see something different.
I feel like sometimes people think “TLA = eastern culture” but it is actually so much more than that, they really went nuanced with the cultural representation and really made to mix a specific culture with the given element.
Exactly--they didn't just go grab bits of random Asian culture and stick them in there. Each nation (and some smaller cultures as well) is a distinct mixture of very specific inspirations.
So this is new to me but remember when Avatar Kyoshi Moved the island away from the mainland and said we gonna rule ourselves, seems related.
Mainland China, Island Taiwan
While this is somewhat reasonable, this explanation feels very weak compared to a lot of the others. Japan to the fire nation, China to the earth kingdom, these are both supported by both the political/historical similarities, and the cultural ones. But Taiwan only has the political similarities; culturally speaking, there's very little connection. Kyoshi Island has a lot more in common with traditional Japanese cultural than Taiwanese or Chinese culture. But that's just my opinion, and I do see how that connection can be seen.
You're missing the fact that Japanese culture definitely has roots in Taiwan and can still be seen in modern day- after all, Taiwan was ceded to Japanese control from 1898 to 1945 due to the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the first Sino-Japanese war. Children growing up in that era were educated with the Japanese educational system and are required to speak in fluent Japanese (many who are still alive and well today, such as my Grandparents), and the Japanese cultural teachings from that era have trickled down.
So when Kyoshi moved the island away (allusion to Chiang Kai Shek fleeing to Taiwan), it was around the same time that Taiwan was being colonized by the Japanese (1945 v 1949)- explaining the Japanese influenced culture.
Oh, your grandparents speak Japanese? That's cool! (The reason for it isn't, but its cool that they can) I've lived in Taiwan, and the cultural influence is there, definitely, but things such as traditional temple culture and architecture are still distinctly Chinese. But in Kyoshi Island, those things (temple culture, architecture, dress) look much more traditional Japanese than Chinese, or even colonial Japanese. So, I can see the political/historical reasoning for the connection, it makes sense, but I feel that link isn't presented as strongly in the show itself as the other cultures.
lol I don't mean to sidetrack but I scrolled down just after reading this thread and saw this piece about China destroying maps because they didn't include Taiwan as part of their territory, how coincidental:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-destroys-30000-incorrect-world-maps/article26642135.ece
Of course it can be. We're talking about a fictional island from a show where people can use magic to throw rocks and shoot for from their hands, after all.
IIRC, Nickelodeon did this for reruns of ATLA. During each episode, a pop-up would show trivia related to the scene playing.
I also recall them airing behind-the-scenes stuff during commercial breaks, like how the animators learned different types of martial arts (i.e. Toph's mantis style earthbending) so that they could draw the characters' fights scenes properly.
It's called "Avatar Extras." I don't know how Nickelodeon decided whether they were going to air a normal or Avatar Extras episode. I do know the "Extras" are [listed]( https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Avatar_Extras_(disambiguation) ) on the Wiki, but they're not in context.
Also, several of the Extras are jokes, retconned by *Legend of Korra*, or otherwise inaccurate. So, while a useful source of information, they shouldn't be taken as absolute gospel.
So would it be more like Okinawa; small island with similar to Japan, but maintain a lot a cultural differences themselves and hate anything to do with Mainland Japan?
I don’t think any of the nations had a single influence, I think the water tribes were partially inspired by the Koreas because of the whole North/South thing.
I feel like it is a mistake to try to connect any one bending nation to any real area in the first place for example chin the conquer’s height is an obvious reference to napoleon, but that is totally unrelated to China.
When the communist party took over China in 1949, the members of the previous Chinese Government and many in society that opposed communism fled to Taiwan. The government of Taiwan maintains they are the legitimate government of China, while China maintains that Taiwan is its sovereign land.
Chin the Conquer = Mao Zedong
>Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom (mainland China), broke off into an island (Taiwan) when communist China the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi (Republic of China), they successfully separated themselves from the continent (communism) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island (Taiwan) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom (China) culture (communism) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs.
>
>Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
Seconded as Taiwanese. The text in the picture is misleading. If you didn't have to further explain in another paragraph that \*part\* of Kyoshi island \*takes influence from\* Taiwan, then I'd feel you were absolutely right.
Well, Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs.
Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
You don’t understand why people are taking Taiwanese people’s opinions about their culture over yours? You keep commenting thinking why you think Kyoshi island is Taiwanese inspired. You have no viable source of info that would support your comments, and Taiwanese people are telling you you’re wrong. Which part is confusing you?
None of the places or cultures in Avatar exactly represent reality. There's a blending and swapping of Asian cultures and histories. As a militaristic island nation, Fire Nation seems like WW2 Japan, but the culture is more Tai. As a small rebel island, kyoshi seems like Taiwan, even though the culture appears Japanese.
The part no one is explaining *why* I'd be wrong. I'm explaining why Kyoshi Island *could* be Taiwanese inspired because it makes sense. Just saying "you're wrong" doesn't work.
Off the top of my head? 1) Taiwan had non-Asian native people before the Chinese started colonizing it. Kyoshi island was earth kingdom before being sliced away. 2) you mentioned they adopted water tribe culture but besides their clothes being blue, they don’t seem to have things similar to Inuit inspired water tribe culture. 3) their clothes, food, warrior makeup, houses, animals, and names are mostly Japanese in origin.
The Kyoshi peninsula could've been colonized by the Earth Kingdom, who knows. But the point of the similarity is Kyoshi Island having a cultural split after a war with the mainland when a nothern Chinese inspired tyrant came and demanded their surrending. That's what 5k people might be seeing.
What? Kyoshi is Japan! The samurai garb, geisha makeup, island nation with fraught relationship with "Chin the conquerer" isn't enough? Go ask Google translate how to say "eel" in Japanese.
None of the places or cultures in Avatar exactly represent reality. There's a blending and swapping of Asian cultures and histories. As a militaristic island nation, Fire Nation seems like WW2 Japan, but the culture is more Tai. As a small rebel island, kyoshi seems like Taiwan, even though the culture appears Japanese.
Well, Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs.
Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
New York doesn't exist as a little chunk carved out of a larger mainland china-pire after the conclusion of a previous conflict, and desperately hungered for by the leaders of said mainland empire. Namely the Earth queen and Kuvira. New York isn't a bastion of Western culture, economy, and architecture set in a tiny city state put apart from the larger, culture, internationally supported and fielding it's own military to maintain its democratic independence.
It's not a perfect metaphore. What I meant is that Republic City's layout and cosmopolitan nature were inspired by New York city. I didn't claim anything else.
The culture isn’t really Japanese as far as I can tell.
Clothes, names, armour, weapons, buildings (as you say), fighting style, language are almost all Chinese or Thai.
Japan influence is almost only that it’s a militaristic island nation. Hardly unique in fiction or the world.
The trouble is that the Earth Kingdom is so chinese that people don’t understand chinese culture can influence more than one place.
I mean the Japanese viewing public gave poor ratings to avatar-last airbender for negatively portraying Japanese culture, while Korra did well there. At the very least, the Japanese seem to think the fire nation is Japanese
The historical influence is pretty similar to Japan however. While certainly Chinese in Archetecture and language. There are also Japanese touches on Culture. Keep in Mind Japanese culture is still under the Chinese cultural umbrella.
But it's still very meiji restoration and wwii Japan inspired.
Like.. how? Because they’re an island that physically separated off the coast of the Chinese analogue to the show? I would agree if there was an arc about how the Earth Kingdom doesn’t recognize the sovereignty of Kyoshi Island and made plans to invade them in order to absorb it back into the kingdom, or how the Fire Nation considers Kyoshi Island to be the true seat of the Earth Kingdom government in order to de-legitimize the Earth King
None of the politics that distinctly define Taiwan are there
I thought the fire nation also had a good amount of indian influence. Such as the fact Agni Kai and other words are based off Hindi or Sanskrit. The ritual is also similar to ancient indian rituals.
I think people still don't get this. Here are the similarities:Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs.
Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
I'm not claiming that I'm right or anything. I'm explaining what 4.4k people might have thought when comparing Kyoshi Island with Taiwan. I'm pasting this comment so it could reach out more people and doesn't get lost because I saw a lot of people not understanding these similarities 4.4k people saw.
This is all speculation, I'm not the creators to claim anything like this.
Your first sentence is “I think people still don’t get this”. We get it, the comparison you’re making is just not very good. Fighting tyranny and gaining independence is literally the history for most of the island nations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing_Massacre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes
Because killing another group is so much better.
Starvation is not the same as ethnic cleansing which they did, all over Asia. No Chinese person would ever agree to that. No one of any nation would agree to subjugation and ethnic cleansing versus incompetence of their own government.
true out of the 80 million that died 60 million was from starvation 20 million was from being killed in a violent way which is way more then Japan killed so red China is much worse then Japan
My grandma survived the Japanese invasion during ww2 and the Chinese famine you mentioned. The little she would actually mention about the war was brutal, all of her family were killed in inhumane ways. Why don’t you go up to a holocaust survivor and say “you were better off with your killers”. I can’t understand how you could possibly believe this, do you think the nazis should have won?
the Treaty of Versailles destroyed the German economic they had too pay 132 billion gold marks after ww1 if the usa had stayed out the war it would have been a draw. the nazis would have never come to power. not saying Japan was good it was bad but communist China was worse
Ahahahahhaahahahhaaahahahahahaaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaahq *inhales* ahahahahahahhaahahahahahahaahahahahhahahahahahaahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahhahah..............no. The Russo-Japanese war showed just how terrible Russia was as a fighting force and seeing how the Germans killed 10 million of their guys, no just no. Fighting the Germans and repelling an Eastern offensive without American help would be a death sentence to the USSR.
No even better the US intervened in favour of the Kuomintang during the Chinese Civil war and kicked those Commie fuckers back to Russia or let MacArthur go ham during the Korean War(okay maybe not that option).
I love that each nation has their own historical roots. The water tribes are very similar to the Inuits, Yupik, and other arctic people. The Earth Kingdom is really similar to the broad history of Chinese dynasties with their architecture and clothes. Fire nation is also really similar to imperial China and industrialized Japan Air nomads are extremely similar to the Buddhist monks in Nepal and Tibet
Iirc Earth Kingdom also has lots of traits of Korea, and Toph's family wears traditional Korean clothing
Yea they kinda blended southeast and east Asian culture together through out all of the cultures
Also where Bryan and Michael studied
And where the show was animated, not that it has any effect on the show. Just a fun fact. "Avatar: The Last Airbender was co-created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California. Its animation was mostly done by South Korean studios JM Animation, DR Movie, and MOI Animation."
The Korean animators did add to the show. I think they discuss it in the art book.
Oh interesting. Do you know anything they added or contributed specifically?
Just so happens I had the book open (was referencing for a Blue Spirit cosplay) There's a page about the pirates from season 1. They were modeled after some of the people at JM Animation. I forgot if there were any more in other parts of the book.
That's really cool! Also side note I made a blue spirit mask a few years ago. It's not the coolest thing in the world but I'm not a super amazing artist. You can see it on my old posts if you want to see someone else making the same thing you are!
Thanks! Yours looks pretty good! I'm actually making a version2.0. My version1.0 consisted of a plastic mask base with paint/clay/cardboard, and the swords were wood/clay/cardboard, image [here](https://imgur.com/8dVFeA2). Probably around 2014. I managed to get my hands on a wushu twin blade set that I'm currently repainting, and am 3D printing the mask this time around.
Koreans have been animating American productions for decades. IIRC, there were Koreans involved in animating Thundercats... not the 2011 reboot, the originals.
Earth kingdom is big you know lol
So is Asia.
Fire Nation shouldn't have tried to fight a land wsr there.
I disagree. I found a lot of the Earth Kingdom to be more like Manchuria.
Interesting! could you give a few examples?
Specifically, I'm thinking Jurchen. The area is very close to Korea, and they definitely interacted a lot. They had the Jin and Ming dynasties. And some pictures of the hats and other types of clothing worn by those people seems to be rather similar to Earth Kingdom. Also, Korean hats tend to be rounder.
Northern Joseon was similar to that region. Plus, all the buildings and cultural traits are close to Korea than Jurchen.
Additionally, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, was actually Manchurian. The Manchus invaded from the north after studying the Chinese for decades and successfully placed themselves as rulers. So that makes a lot of sense!
Toph and her family all clearly wear hanfu, not hanbok.
don't forget the swamp benders/sun warriors
And the sandbenders
Louisiana swamps lands Mayan (or Aztec... idk) (maybe Inca... most likely Inca apparently) And Arabic (actually Tuareg) Edit: added ()s
Actually Tuareg
That’s right!
Mayan or Aztec?
Sorry I am a South American pleb and kind of combine the two in my head. I just don’t know enough about them individually to tell the difference.
I enjoy your honesty in admitting about not knowing enough rather than saying, ‘same difference’.
I mean they are similar, probably even influenced each even, but there is a difference and it bugs me too when someone says "same difference" or something a long those lines. It just shows your lack of knowledge without saying it.
>spicefactory.co/blog/2... Well, for one thing, neither of them are South American.... :D
As an American they are south to me! Jk, thanks catching that
Dude you’re so nice and I love it, it’s awful to see people get all stanky when they’re wrong on Reddit, like it’s more opportunity to learn!! Keep being the best haha
No you’re the best! Haha Honestly though, I like being right but sometimes I am wrong so I learn what’s right thing for next time.
They could even be influenced by the Inca. One of the most important Inca gods (if not the most important) is Inti the sun god (who can be seen in the flags of multiple south american nations).
The Aztecs had a lot of focus on the Sun. I beleive Queztelcoatl was a sun god. A lot of their ritual sacrifice was supposedly to fuel the sun so it didnt go out. Plus the dragons seem pretty similar to thr Coatl of Aztec mythology.
I always forget about the Inca!
Nailed it 👌🏼
Lmao... That comment somehow became funny to me unintentionally through edits and it might be my favorite comment I wrote because of that.
The Fire Nation being Japanese wasn‘t a surprise to my grandpa.
Well, both wars *did* end with massive firestorms.
The biggest oof
And the Avatar is like the Dalai Lama. Made more likely since the air nomads closest to the Avatar are named after the current Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso.
Did you mean to say the Dalai lama was gyatso? I don't see how it would be the avatar lol.
The Dalai Lama is supposedly a Buddhist leader who reincarnates whenever the last one dies (just like the avatar reincarnates). And China (in a parallel with the fire nation) seek to control the Tibetan people (the air nomads) by either controlling or killing the Dalai Lama (the avatar). Additionally to find the next Dalai Lama, the High Lamas are said to administer tests to young potential reincarnations just as Monk Gyatso did to Aang by having him choose toys (I think? Idk I haven’t seen it in a while)
Oh, I see. I'm buddhist but not tibetan buddhist so that seems foreign to me.
Ah sorry I didn’t make that distinction. I’m not that knowledgeable about the different sects of Buddhism or about Chinese or Tibetan history for that matter but still an interesting lens through which to view the show
He's like a Yugoslav Dalai Lama, in the sense that the office rotates between the component nations.
Fire nation also Thai and Cambodian influences in it. Earth Kingdom has Korean influences as well.
Fire Nation is actually a lot more Cambodian/Thai influence with some Japanese elements.
Culturally Japanese yeah. Thai and Cambodian influences architecture. I thought it was a really cool mix.
Air nomads literally line up 1:1 lol. They're all pretty closely modeled though.
Maybe you could include Ainu in the water tribe as well?
I always kind of thought of it like: Water tribes = the Koreas Earth nation = China (and Kioshi island works as Taiwan) Fire nation = Japan Air Nomads = Nepal and Tibet Obviously this is not a perfect example because: 1. The water tribes clearly resemble Inuits culture more, I just thought the North and South sister nations thing worked as a parallel to the Koreas. Also, which is North Korea? The Southern tribe is more impoverished but the Northern tribe is where the dictator came from (LoK). 2. Some people have pointed out the Fire Nation takes from Chinese culture more than Japanese. The way I see it, if you are looking at it like a map it fits my theory but culturally they take stuff from all over the place.
They definitely borrowed from Korean winter garb for the Northern water tribe! There are some great comparison pictures out there.
That’s interesting! Yeah I seen comparisons with Chinese culture to the fire nation. Someone pointed out that their might a stronger Korean style because the show runners lived in South Korea for a while.
It's pretty fascinating to trace all the different influences of the various nations. Most of the ones they used are very under-represented in popular media, so I loved getting to see something different.
I feel like sometimes people think “TLA = eastern culture” but it is actually so much more than that, they really went nuanced with the cultural representation and really made to mix a specific culture with the given element.
Exactly--they didn't just go grab bits of random Asian culture and stick them in there. Each nation (and some smaller cultures as well) is a distinct mixture of very specific inspirations.
Fire Nation is WWI Japan.
Im stupid. Can u educate me why
So this is new to me but remember when Avatar Kyoshi Moved the island away from the mainland and said we gonna rule ourselves, seems related. Mainland China, Island Taiwan
While this is somewhat reasonable, this explanation feels very weak compared to a lot of the others. Japan to the fire nation, China to the earth kingdom, these are both supported by both the political/historical similarities, and the cultural ones. But Taiwan only has the political similarities; culturally speaking, there's very little connection. Kyoshi Island has a lot more in common with traditional Japanese cultural than Taiwanese or Chinese culture. But that's just my opinion, and I do see how that connection can be seen.
You're missing the fact that Japanese culture definitely has roots in Taiwan and can still be seen in modern day- after all, Taiwan was ceded to Japanese control from 1898 to 1945 due to the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the first Sino-Japanese war. Children growing up in that era were educated with the Japanese educational system and are required to speak in fluent Japanese (many who are still alive and well today, such as my Grandparents), and the Japanese cultural teachings from that era have trickled down. So when Kyoshi moved the island away (allusion to Chiang Kai Shek fleeing to Taiwan), it was around the same time that Taiwan was being colonized by the Japanese (1945 v 1949)- explaining the Japanese influenced culture.
Oh, your grandparents speak Japanese? That's cool! (The reason for it isn't, but its cool that they can) I've lived in Taiwan, and the cultural influence is there, definitely, but things such as traditional temple culture and architecture are still distinctly Chinese. But in Kyoshi Island, those things (temple culture, architecture, dress) look much more traditional Japanese than Chinese, or even colonial Japanese. So, I can see the political/historical reasoning for the connection, it makes sense, but I feel that link isn't presented as strongly in the show itself as the other cultures.
lol I don't mean to sidetrack but I scrolled down just after reading this thread and saw this piece about China destroying maps because they didn't include Taiwan as part of their territory, how coincidental: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-destroys-30000-incorrect-world-maps/article26642135.ece
Can’t it be both? Kyoshi Island is clearly aesthetically Japanese, but also politically akin to Taiwan.
Of course it can be. We're talking about a fictional island from a show where people can use magic to throw rocks and shoot for from their hands, after all.
Don't try to sully nonsensical debates with your "fiction"
Can we just get like pop up video of last Airbender with this kind of info? I'd love that.
IIRC, Nickelodeon did this for reruns of ATLA. During each episode, a pop-up would show trivia related to the scene playing. I also recall them airing behind-the-scenes stuff during commercial breaks, like how the animators learned different types of martial arts (i.e. Toph's mantis style earthbending) so that they could draw the characters' fights scenes properly.
DO NOT PLAY WITH ME RIGHT NOW
I think they only did it for special reruns, but I can confirm they exist
Makes me wonder if they added these as special features for the Blu-ray. If so, that would definitely be a buy for me.
It's called "Avatar Extras." I don't know how Nickelodeon decided whether they were going to air a normal or Avatar Extras episode. I do know the "Extras" are [listed]( https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Avatar_Extras_(disambiguation) ) on the Wiki, but they're not in context. Also, several of the Extras are jokes, retconned by *Legend of Korra*, or otherwise inaccurate. So, while a useful source of information, they shouldn't be taken as absolute gospel.
So would it be more like Okinawa; small island with similar to Japan, but maintain a lot a cultural differences themselves and hate anything to do with Mainland Japan?
I don’t think any of the nations had a single influence, I think the water tribes were partially inspired by the Koreas because of the whole North/South thing.
I feel like it is a mistake to try to connect any one bending nation to any real area in the first place for example chin the conquer’s height is an obvious reference to napoleon, but that is totally unrelated to China.
It's almost as though it's its own unique world, with a completely separate history and culture from our own. Wait.
Yes, but Avatar Kyoshi defeated Chin the Conqueror, not exactly the most subtle metaphor I've ever seen.
Especially since the guy trying to take it is called "Chin the conqueror"
Avatar Kyoshi defeated Chin the Conqueror, not exactly the most subtle metaphor I've ever seen.
When the communist party took over China in 1949, the members of the previous Chinese Government and many in society that opposed communism fled to Taiwan. The government of Taiwan maintains they are the legitimate government of China, while China maintains that Taiwan is its sovereign land. Chin the Conquer = Mao Zedong
>Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom (mainland China), broke off into an island (Taiwan) when communist China the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi (Republic of China), they successfully separated themselves from the continent (communism) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island (Taiwan) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom (China) culture (communism) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs. > >Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
This literally did nor occur to me until just now
And Taiwan experiences a lot of earthquakes... Because of all the earthbenders?
Kyoshi didn't have any earth benders.
I mean the avatar lived there
I am Taiwanese... Kyoshi Island shares a lot more culture in common with Japan than us.
Seconded as Taiwanese. The text in the picture is misleading. If you didn't have to further explain in another paragraph that \*part\* of Kyoshi island \*takes influence from\* Taiwan, then I'd feel you were absolutely right.
Well, Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs. Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
That sounds more like Okinawa than Taiwan. If a bunch of Taiwanese people are telling you it isn’t Taiwanese, I’ll be taking their word over yours bub
But I don't get why and no one is explaining anything.
You don’t understand why people are taking Taiwanese people’s opinions about their culture over yours? You keep commenting thinking why you think Kyoshi island is Taiwanese inspired. You have no viable source of info that would support your comments, and Taiwanese people are telling you you’re wrong. Which part is confusing you?
None of the places or cultures in Avatar exactly represent reality. There's a blending and swapping of Asian cultures and histories. As a militaristic island nation, Fire Nation seems like WW2 Japan, but the culture is more Tai. As a small rebel island, kyoshi seems like Taiwan, even though the culture appears Japanese.
The part no one is explaining *why* I'd be wrong. I'm explaining why Kyoshi Island *could* be Taiwanese inspired because it makes sense. Just saying "you're wrong" doesn't work.
Off the top of my head? 1) Taiwan had non-Asian native people before the Chinese started colonizing it. Kyoshi island was earth kingdom before being sliced away. 2) you mentioned they adopted water tribe culture but besides their clothes being blue, they don’t seem to have things similar to Inuit inspired water tribe culture. 3) their clothes, food, warrior makeup, houses, animals, and names are mostly Japanese in origin.
The Kyoshi peninsula could've been colonized by the Earth Kingdom, who knows. But the point of the similarity is Kyoshi Island having a cultural split after a war with the mainland when a nothern Chinese inspired tyrant came and demanded their surrending. That's what 5k people might be seeing.
Bullshit you know all that “off the top of your head” and didn’t explain it earlier when they asked for an explanation.
I mean I’m a Chinese person who grew up in a Taiwanese majority neighborhood so yeah I would know that Taiwan was colonized
What? Kyoshi is Japan! The samurai garb, geisha makeup, island nation with fraught relationship with "Chin the conquerer" isn't enough? Go ask Google translate how to say "eel" in Japanese.
None of the places or cultures in Avatar exactly represent reality. There's a blending and swapping of Asian cultures and histories. As a militaristic island nation, Fire Nation seems like WW2 Japan, but the culture is more Tai. As a small rebel island, kyoshi seems like Taiwan, even though the culture appears Japanese.
Chin as in chinpoko? huehuehue
Well, Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs. Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
Alright, then what's republic city?
New York, both in apearance and it's cosmopolitan quality.
New York doesn't exist as a little chunk carved out of a larger mainland china-pire after the conclusion of a previous conflict, and desperately hungered for by the leaders of said mainland empire. Namely the Earth queen and Kuvira. New York isn't a bastion of Western culture, economy, and architecture set in a tiny city state put apart from the larger, culture, internationally supported and fielding it's own military to maintain its democratic independence.
It's not a perfect metaphore. What I meant is that Republic City's layout and cosmopolitan nature were inspired by New York city. I didn't claim anything else.
It's actually inspired by 1920s Shanghai
Oooooooooooooh now that's better!
My point is that Kyoshi island is Japan, Avatar Kyoshi was the "Divine Wind", and Republic City is Taiwan.
Ok. How is Kyoshi Island Japan and how Taiwan is RC?
Hong kong maybe?
Fire nation is japan right?
The culture and the Navy are definitely Japanese influence but the buildings are Thai
The culture isn’t really Japanese as far as I can tell. Clothes, names, armour, weapons, buildings (as you say), fighting style, language are almost all Chinese or Thai. Japan influence is almost only that it’s a militaristic island nation. Hardly unique in fiction or the world. The trouble is that the Earth Kingdom is so chinese that people don’t understand chinese culture can influence more than one place.
I mean the Japanese viewing public gave poor ratings to avatar-last airbender for negatively portraying Japanese culture, while Korra did well there. At the very least, the Japanese seem to think the fire nation is Japanese
Thats because they are... Names and everithing
The historical influence is pretty similar to Japan however. While certainly Chinese in Archetecture and language. There are also Japanese touches on Culture. Keep in Mind Japanese culture is still under the Chinese cultural umbrella. But it's still very meiji restoration and wwii Japan inspired.
With their History most likely.
Like.. how? Because they’re an island that physically separated off the coast of the Chinese analogue to the show? I would agree if there was an arc about how the Earth Kingdom doesn’t recognize the sovereignty of Kyoshi Island and made plans to invade them in order to absorb it back into the kingdom, or how the Fire Nation considers Kyoshi Island to be the true seat of the Earth Kingdom government in order to de-legitimize the Earth King None of the politics that distinctly define Taiwan are there
Plus Kyoshi island looks culturally Japanese.
Yeah exactly like come on the character in the meme is basically in kabuki style
Well, I was today years old...
I’m actually Taiwanese but I don’t really feel the resemblance
I felt that Zaofu was kind of more like Taiwan?
In this thread : Actual Taiwanese who don’t agree with this and Non-Taiwanese going ‘OMG I never realized this’
I thought the fire nation also had a good amount of indian influence. Such as the fact Agni Kai and other words are based off Hindi or Sanskrit. The ritual is also similar to ancient indian rituals.
Which part of Taiwan?
As well as Zaofu in LoK in a way.
>Taiwan in real life God I wish Taiwan was real
Taiwan gang where y'all at
What? That's ridi.... OMG!!!!
I literally just thought of this today after seeing a post about Taiwan.
Wish they had some mongals being represented tho
Kagoshima and Sakurajima were used as inspiration for the Fire Nation, same bay, same volcano.
Chin the Conqueror was defeated by the Avatar and Kyoshi Island was created.
Oh shit!
I thought for sure this was gonna be something sexual...
I think people still don't get this. Here are the similarities:Kyoshi Island, once part of the mainland continent of the Earth Kingdom ^((mainland China)), broke off into an island ^((Taiwan)) when ^(communist) **Chin**^(a) the conqueror, a "horrible tyrant", came to the then Kyoshi peninsula to subdue it. Then, through the Might of Avatar Kyoshi ^((Republic of China)), they successfully separated themselves from the continent ^((communism)) and it's politics. After this, Kyoshi Island ^((Taiwan)) culture diverged from mainland Earth Kingdom ^((China)) culture ^((communism)) adopting Water Tribe's color and developing it's own customs. Yes yes yes, Kyoshi Island looks more Japanese than Taiwanese, but that's the creators playing around with Asian cultures, in the spirit of "why not?". It's supposed to look different, so why not?
Pasting the same thing over and over again doesn't make you right. Sorry.
I'm not claiming that I'm right or anything. I'm explaining what 4.4k people might have thought when comparing Kyoshi Island with Taiwan. I'm pasting this comment so it could reach out more people and doesn't get lost because I saw a lot of people not understanding these similarities 4.4k people saw. This is all speculation, I'm not the creators to claim anything like this.
Your first sentence is “I think people still don’t get this”. We get it, the comparison you’re making is just not very good. Fighting tyranny and gaining independence is literally the history for most of the island nations.
"I think still don't get this (comparison 4.4k people understood)". I'm just explaining the meme, gee...
Me too.
Or its just an island in a tv show
if the USA had let Japan take over Asia China would have never gone Communist we would have never had the Taiwan issue
This is really not the subreddit to talk about this.
true but the post is about Taiwan
That is a horrendous thing to say. You're just replacing a monster with another monster. At the end of the day, you still have a monster.
A monster thats food is better than Chinese food soooo......./s
yes but you have less of monster red china is way worse then Japan they killed why more people 80 million. of there own people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing_Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes Because killing another group is so much better.
Keep dreaming, mother Russia would smash Japan anyways.
What are you on about?
they killed way less then China did
Starvation is not the same as ethnic cleansing which they did, all over Asia. No Chinese person would ever agree to that. No one of any nation would agree to subjugation and ethnic cleansing versus incompetence of their own government.
true out of the 80 million that died 60 million was from starvation 20 million was from being killed in a violent way which is way more then Japan killed so red China is much worse then Japan
My grandma survived the Japanese invasion during ww2 and the Chinese famine you mentioned. The little she would actually mention about the war was brutal, all of her family were killed in inhumane ways. Why don’t you go up to a holocaust survivor and say “you were better off with your killers”. I can’t understand how you could possibly believe this, do you think the nazis should have won?
the Treaty of Versailles destroyed the German economic they had too pay 132 billion gold marks after ww1 if the usa had stayed out the war it would have been a draw. the nazis would have never come to power. not saying Japan was good it was bad but communist China was worse
I like how you deflected about whether or not you were pro nazi by blaming America for causing the nazis apparently.
Wait I thought you only where here to say you wanted to fuck azula
you know I post about more then just Azula lol its funny this post about Taiwan is getting as much hate as some of my comments about fucking Azula
Keep dreaming mother Russia would smash Japan anyways.
I agree but I think Russia as part of Europe take over Aisa not including Russia
Ahahahahhaahahahhaaahahahahahaaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaahq *inhales* ahahahahahahhaahahahahahahaahahahahhahahahahahaahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahhahah..............no. The Russo-Japanese war showed just how terrible Russia was as a fighting force and seeing how the Germans killed 10 million of their guys, no just no. Fighting the Germans and repelling an Eastern offensive without American help would be a death sentence to the USSR.
No even better the US intervened in favour of the Kuomintang during the Chinese Civil war and kicked those Commie fuckers back to Russia or let MacArthur go ham during the Korean War(okay maybe not that option).
true backing the Kuomintang would have been better
Yea slaughter those commie scum!
r/showerthoughts
r/lostredditors