Chin


 * This article is about the conqueror Chin the Great. For other uses, see Chin (disambiguation).

Chin the Conqueror, also known as Chin the Great, was a ruthless warlord from the northwestern Earth Kingdom born over 370 years ago, during the life of Avatar Kyoshi. He launched a largely successful war against the Earth King before being indirectly killed by Kyoshi in defense of her homeland.

History
Chin was remembered as a capable and tyrannical leader, who successfully took advantage of widespread dissatisfaction with the reign of the 46th Earth King. He used the state of political affairs to launch a military campaign from a little island in the northwestern part of the kingdom, unifying the Earth Kingdom under his control. Amassing a large and formidable army, he successfully managed to gain control of the entire continent, with the exceptions of Ba Sing Se and a small peninsula in the southwest, which Avatar Kyoshi called home. When Chin demanded that the inhabitants submit to his rule, Kyoshi defied his order. Chin then assumed an offensive position at the mouth of the peninsula because his stubborn nature did not allow him to accept failure. Kyoshi acted to defend her people by entering the Avatar State, and splitting her village from the mainland, creating Kyoshi Island.

As the land mass moved off, the ground on which Chin stood became an unstable cliff over the ocean. Chin died when this ledge gave way beneath him. Although it may appear so, he was not murdered by Kyoshi; his obstinance was the ultimate cause of his demise as he had sufficient time to move to a solid footing before his fatal fall.

Chin Village, located at the place where Kyoshi Island split from the mainland, was named in his honor. The locals still referred to Chin as a great hero, and a statue of him had been erected there.

Trivia



 * The Chinese characters carved on the lower part of the statue in ancient Seal Script read 秦帝, which means "Emperor Chin". He is named and based on Qin Shi Huangdi, the controversial first Emperor of China who united the country and from whom China gets its English name.
 * Chin's status as a great conqueror yet one who was short in height may have been a reference to Genghis Khan or a common misconception about Napoleon Bonaparte.
 * Some people in the Earth Kingdom believed that Chin suffered from Napoleon Complex, and sought to conquer the Earth Kingdom simply to make up for his short stature.
 * Seeing that it was the Avatar's duty to maintain peace and stop war, it was strange that Avatar Kyoshi did not stop Chin before their battle, and his death.
 * Including Aang's fatal injury sustained in "The Crossroads of Destiny", from which he was resurrected shortly thereafter, Chin was the third of eight to have been observed dying or being murdered in the series. In chronological order the others were Yue, Zhao, Jet, Aang, Roku, Combustion Man, and Kya.