Tattoos

Tattoos have been shown to be somewhat common in the Avatar World, the most notable of them being those of the master Airbenders. It seems that this type of body modification is usually for ritual or identification purposes, rather than strictly decorative.

Airbending Masters


Once reaching Master status, Airbenders are tattooed with five light blue arrows: one extending from the base of the spine to the forehead, one for each arm pointing to the hands, and similarly for the legs. The design is in emulation of the Flying Bison's natural markings, as they were the first Airbenders. Unlike most Master Airbenders who gain their status later in life, Aang received his tattoos when he was only 12 after his invention of the Air Scooter, making him the youngest Airbending master in existence.

Air Nomad tattoos on an Avatar will glow when the Avatar enters the Avatar State. Only Air Nomads receive these tattoos upon mastering Airbending.

As seen with Aang, if the Avatar's body has received a severe injury on a tattooed area, leaving a scar deeper than the tattoo, then that particular spot will not glow in the State. It is not known if re-tattooing the area (once the injury has healed) would enable it to glow again.

It is unclear whether or not any other tattoos an Avatar might possess would glow while the Avatar is in the Avatar State, given no Avatar has been seen to possess any other sort of tattoo. However, it seems unlikely as the series' creators have stated that Air Nomad tattoos glow in the State because they run along the body's Chi paths.

Yu Yan Archers


The Yu Yan Archers bear dark red tattoos that cover their eyes and narrow over the bridge of the nose, possibly to symbolize the importance of sight in their deadly skill. Similar to those of master airbenders, the tattoos of the Yu Yan Archers identify them as part of an elite group. Because the tattoos are on their face, they are very obvious markers.

Others
As a reference to the prevalence of tattoos among prison populations, when Aang is imprisoned in Chin Village, one of the prisoners is shown with a large green serpent tattoo and states that because Aang also has tattoos he will "fit in real well". Other prisoners also have tattoos on their bodies.


 * One of the prisoners brought to the Boiling Rock with Hakoda has an elaborate black tattoo that is possibly traditional and part of a rite of passage, or simply decorative.


 * The Boulder has a tattoo of a badgermole on his back, a self-proclamation of his Earthbending prowess.


 * The third eye tattooed on Combustion Man's forehead is a channel for his chi (as it's directly over his Light chakra, allowing his energy to focus there and produce powerful explosions.


 * June, the bounty hunter has a coiled serpent tattooed on both shoulders.




 * A few pirates have tattoos.


 * Several prisoners in the prison at Chin Village have tattoos, and they joke about Aang fitting in, as he also has one.


 * The Sun Warriors like Ham Ghao have tattoos on their chin and around their ears, curving in towards their noses. Furthermore, the Sun Warrior Chief has a tattoo from his forehead to just below his eyes.


 * Smellerbee, a Freedom Fighter, has two red tattoos on each side of her face, possibly from her old tribe; however, this may just be face paint.

Connection
It can be assumed that, like traditional Chinese tattooing methods, a sharp needle-like object is soaked in some sort of ink and then repeatedly poked through the skin in order to deposit the color. This is an enormously time consuming and somewhat painful process, and is why it is seen by many cultures as a rite of passage.