Talk:Fire Nation/@comment-99.242.14.83-20101123025815/@comment-71.178.217.98-20110131001913

Purely from a cultural standpoint, the Fire Nation is overwhelmingly similar to Chinese culture. It's primarily Qin and Han Dynasty influenced. In fact there isn't a lot of evidence of Japanese culture in the Fire Nation. The clothing styles is largely based on the Han, and the warrior uniforms are Qin/Han inspired. The architecture is also nothing like Japan's. Earth Kingdom has a lot more buildings (wooden, Tang Dynasty-influenced) that look closer tho Japan's.

Putting imperialism and modernization aside, if anything, the Earth Kingdom's culture is more Japanese-like than the Fire Nation. There is more evidence of the Tang Dynasty (what a lot of Japanese culture is based on) in the Earth Kingdom. Whereas the Fire Nation is overwhelmingly Han/Qin. Plus, the Earth Kingdom has Kyoshi Island.

The Fire Nation is really only like Japan in its politics, military and industrialization. But that goes for Imperialist China, too. (Qin was very developed, most advanced weapons of the time. It also conquered many territories)