Talk:Fire Nation/@comment-122.106.191.125-20120424085500/@comment-24.6.20.29-20120425002725

I actually agree with the Anonymous Contributor. Much of Japanese culture is derived from Chinese culture. The weaponry is distinctly related to Wudangquan and Shaolin; Zuko's dual blades are clearly Chinese fashioning. The clothing of the Fire Nation also achingly resembles Han Dynasty Chinese clothing, not Japanese clothing. Why? Because the clothing is tied differently, and there are different articles. For example, the Japanese did not wear the vest-like strip of cloth tied down underneath the sash. They wore their haori OVER their obi. See Ursa's dress: that odd vest-like strip of cloth? That's Chinese. She did not wear a yukata OR a kimono. The sleeves are also cut differently. Furthermore the decorative armor of the ancient Chinese is more similar to the Fire Nation. However, both the Chinese and the Japanese used flexible bamboo armor to fight their average battles, as plate armor is cumbersome. To add to my point, the Fire Nation hairstyles are distinctly Chinese. The Japanese men shaved their heads, remember. Chinese men stilled tied their hair up, but they did not shave any part of their head (unless they were children).

Militaristically, neither GhostAgent247 nor Anon are wrong. The Fire Nation military is empowered with visions of Imperial Japan and, to an extent, Maoist China, with visions of superiority. And since when did the "West" come in here? Technically, China is to the WEST of the US as well. Japan is nestled right next to China.

The most distinctly Japanese group here are the Kyoshi warriors.

It really annoys me to no end when the Asian cultures are confused. JUST BECAUSE the West finally reopened the ports of China during Manchurian rule, upon which Earth Kingdom clothing is clearly based, does NOT mean Chinese fashion did not change. In fact, it changed very abruptly with the introduction of Manchurian style, which is what everyone assumes Chinese people ALWAYS wore. Manchurian styles reflect a more heavily Mongolian influence. Prior to Manchurian rule under the Qing dynasty, Han fashion, off of which Japanese fashion is derived, was standard. Has anyone ever watched Disney's Mulan?