Eastern Air Temple

The Eastern Air Temple is one of the four temples of the Air Nomads, and one of the two, the other being the Western Air Temple, which exclusively housed female Airbenders. However, its population was wiped out at the beginning of the War during the Air Nomad Genocide. Guru Pathik lived here for an extended period of time, where he eventually taught Avatar Aang how to use the Avatar State.

History


Along with the Western Air Temple, it exclusively housed female Airbenders and was home to Sister Iio. When Aang was to be separated from his mentor, Monk Gyatso, the elders of the Southern Air Temple had decided to send Aang to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training without Gyatso's fatherly influence. However, before they could do this, Aang overheard their plans and ran away.

This temple suffered a great amount damage by the Fire Nation after Fire Lord Sozin declared war on the other three nations 100 years ago. He used the powers of a comet to wipe out the Air Nomads residing in the temple. Out of all of the existing Air Temples, the Eastern Air Temple suffered the worst damage.

The Eastern Air Temple was where Aang chose Appa as a flying bison partner and is probably where Appa was born. In the present day, Guru Pathik has waited there for a few years awaiting the Avatar's advent, because he saw a vision of himself helping the Avatar in his future. Interestingly, the Guru wore clothes of the same color as those of the Airbenders, and claimed to have important information for Aang. The letter addressed to Aang from the Guru stated that he can teach Aang how to control the Avatar State.

The Eastern Air Temple also is the place where Avatar Kuruk learned Airbending as seen in "Escape from the Spirit World" game.

Description


Unlike the Northern and Southern Air temples, the Eastern Air temple is housed on three separate mountains, connected by bridges. Not much is known about its physical appearance, except that it was once a great temple, left desolate after the Fire Nation's attacks. It has three pagodas, one on each mountain, with green tiled roofs. The center mountain pagoda has a couple smaller buildings next to it.

Bison stables
The Eastern Air Temple was the former home to many flying bison—and since the slaying of the Air Nomads, the stables are home to many spider bats. Appa was born and raised here. In fact, he even left his mark in his stall. Appa had a flashback of when he was a baby and he saw himself biting a round metal ring. He then bit the ring and ended up coughing. He then went to a balcony and saw a figure. Thinking the figure was Aang he ran over and licked him, only to find the figure was Guru Pathik. Guru Pathik woke up and said "I know I'm not the person you were expecting. And I didn't expect to be licked by a giant tongue just now."

Customs
While other nations possess royalty and are run by monarchies, the Air Nomads are led by the monks/nuns of the Air Temples, i.e. by a theocracy.



The Air Nomads are the only nation composed entirely of benders, due to the highly spiritual nature of their lives. It is said that meditation was an important part of the Airbenders' daily routines, as it helped them to focus their energies and understand the potency of their element.

It has been mentioned that they have a good sense of humor, a fact shown when Monk Gyatso employed a unique teaching method when tutoring Aang with his Airbending skills — accurately blowing fruit pies onto other monks' heads.

The arrow on an Airbender's head signifies that he or she has mastered Airbending. This is an emulation of the natural arrows on the heads of Flying bison, animals revered by the Air Nomads who can naturally Airbend and are believed to be the inspiration for the first Airbenders. Apprentice Airbenders have no tattoos. In order to receive the tattoos as well as the title of a master, an Airbender must pass the thirty-six levels of Airbending along with engendering a new technique.

Natural resources and foods
As could be determined, air is the main and most significant power source and natural resource of the Nomads, as without it they would be rendered powerless. With the power of air channeled under their control, the Airbenders were enabled to defend and protect their homes and way of life and travel across the globe.

The Air Nomads were a tranquil and environmentally friendly race of people and did their best not to leave a mark on the land. Any industry that they engendered, such as farming and gardening, were powered naturally. They also produced their own food.

Air Nomads are also vegetarians, similar and presumably inspiration from their real world counterparts, Tibetan Monks. This is suggested by Aang's words when he first said he didn't eat meat during their first visit to Omashu and on other occasions.

Notable figures

 * Sister Iio
 * Appa
 * Mother sky bison
 * Guru Pathik

Trivia

 * This is the only Air temple that isn't the title of an episode.
 * Though the most damaged, none among the Air Temples resemble any damage from severe igneous attacks as shown in the flashback episode "The Avatar and the Fire Lord" where the temples burn immensely.