Influences on the Avatar series

Avatar: The Last Airbender is conceptually influenced by the many different real-world cultures. It is primarily influenced by various eastern cultures, such as China, Japan, and Korea. However, there are also influences of Indian and Mayan cultures and even contemporary American culture.

Water Tribes
Because the Water Tribes are located in polar regions, they are primarily based on Inuit and Eskimo cultures. The architecture of the Northern Water Tribe appears to have been influenced by Venice's gondolas and canal systems.

Earth Kingdom
The architecture, clothing and culture of the Earth Kingdom seems to be primarily based on China.


 * The Earth Kingdom is extremely large and diverse, and contains different cultures within itself, much like China, which has nearly sixty ethnic groups.
 * Earth Kingdom architecture is obviously Chinese. (Earth Kingdom architecture is not Japanese. Japanese built castles, but did not build significant fortifications like those of Omashu or Ba Sing Se.)
 * Earth Kingdom cuisine is almost entirely based on Chinese cuisine. Examples of dishes that the Earth Kingdom and the Chinese share are roast duck and jook.

Ba Sing Se
Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom is based on ancient Chinese capitals such as the Hidden City, as the creators were inspired by the idea of an isolated city. It also has significant influences from Qing Dynasty China.


 * Hair queues (pigtails) are worn by most citizens of Ba Sing Se. In the real world, the Manchu rulers of Qing China forced the native Han Chinese to wear them.
 * The Royal Palace is largely based on the Forbidden City. It has similar architecture, but the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace compound is circular, not square like the Forbidden City.
 * Dai Li uniform is similar to that worn by guards of the Inner Forbidden Palace. It is also similar to that worn by the scholar officials (mandarins) of Qing China.
 * The size of Ba Sing Se can be a reference to the size and grandeur of many Chinese capitals. In the real world, capitals like Chang'an and Beijing have been the biggest cities in the world at some point in their history.
 * The Outer Wall's design and scale is based on the Great Wall of China, except that the Outer Wall is a defence ring, unlike the Great Wall, which is a line of defence.

Fire Nation
Much of the clothing and culture of the Fire Nation seems to represent a mixture of Chinese and Japanese influences. The military uniforms of the Fire Nation are clearly based on military uniforms of ancient Chinese militaries. The Fire Nation is an Archipelago, similar to Japan. In one scene, Zuko and Iroh are shown cutting off their top-knots to symbolize their seperation from their family and their Nation, a practice that occurred in ancient and feudal Japan, as well as in certain parts of China. Culturally, the Fire Nation is based off of different warrior cultures.

The Fire Nation is located on the equator, and is a highly volcanic place. Therefore, it is geographically based on places like Hawaii and Iceland.

Air Nomads
The Air Nomads are based primarily on Tibetan culture.

Waterbending
The slow, flowing movements of Tai Chi are the basis of Waterbending.

Earthbending
The firmly rooted stances and powerful strikes of Hung Gar are the basis for Earthbending.

Firebending
The fast, hard, aggressive strikes of Northern Shaolin style are used for Firebending.

Airbending
The erratic, circular movements of Airbending are derived from Ba Gua.