The Antiquarians were a political faction on Jasmine Island during the 100s AG. Composed of radical isolationists who blamed their homelands' ills on outside influences, they advocated for the end of economic relations with the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, reduced trade with the Southern Water Tribe, and the severe reduction of other forms of contact with foreigners. As contestants for the election of Jasmine Island's ruling council, they took a hardline position and were unwilling to compromise with other groups.[3][4]
History[]
Jasmine Island, a small, independent state, was heavily affected by the Hundred Year War, particularly by a Fire Nation invasion known as "The Devastation". The islanders were still rebuilding by the end of the war, but once the physical and economic reconstruction was largely complete, new political divisions emerged. After "The Devastation", no elections had been held and the existing council had ruled for years with the general acquiescence of the entire community. When the council members such as Yuming finally stepped down and and announced new elections, various factions across the island saw this as a chance to kickstart substantial, genuine changes in reforms. Conversely, these factions – several influenced by past events and developments across the world – could not agree with each other.[3]
The Antiquarians were one faction which emerged during this period, being organized under the leadership of Yan, described as a "visionary, historian, and merchant".[5] Pointing to the suffering caused by the Fire Nation during the Hundred Year War and the Earth Kingdom's negative influence before this conflict, the group was organized by extreme isolationists who concluded that their homeland's problems had been caused by foreign influences. Thus, they saw a solution in the shutdown of contacts with the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, while allowing continued minimal contacts with the Southern Water Tribe due to the latter's ancient links with Jasmine Island.[3][4]
To gain support, the Antiquarians used the popularity of their leader Yan who had won renown during "The Devastation", as he had used his waterbending to aid rescue efforts despite being only a teenager at the time.[5] The group also recruited those who had directly suffered at the hands of foreigners, particularly victims of "The Devastation".[6]
With the exception of the Climbing Vines, the different factions on Jasmine Island – including the Antiquarians, Autumn Leaves, and Risen Wave – bitterly feuded, causing considerable unrest.[3] The infighting eventually resulted in a political crisis in the period before the elections, especially as someone stole a bag of golden jasmine seeds from the yearly harvest, a symbolically potent and disruptive action.[3] The Jasmine Island protectors quickly started to investigate the crime, seeing the Antiquarians as potential suspects.[7]
The Antiquarians' plan to enforce Jasmine Island's isolationism ultimately failed. Instead, the small state became heavily intertwined in international trade over the next decades.[8]
Beliefs[]
The Antiquarians blamed the suffering and problems of Jasmine Island on foreign influences. They believed that their state had once enjoyed a quiet peace and egalitarianism. This status was allegedly disrupted as outsiders forged more and more connections with the island from the 3rd century BG. Accordingly, the Antiquarians were firmly convinced that cutting trade and greatly reducing diplomatic relations with the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom would ultimately heal their community, even if the transition period would be painful. The faction also allowed for some continued contacts with the Southern Water Tribe, as the latter had lasting links with Jasmine Island dating to the period before Avatar Kyoshi's era.[3][4] The Antiquarians' beliefs were strongly reflected in their headquarters which was a museum with numerous exhibits on the political, commercial, and maritime history of Jasmine Island.[7][9]
Overall, the Antiquarians thought that they could return their homeland to an idealized status which had been lost for at least 400 years, though they knew that some concessions had to be made to achieve this goal. For instance, the group admitted that it could only cut off contacts with the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom through new treaties to protect the island's planned isolationism.[4] As a result of their traditionalism, the Antiquarians were also opposed to the enlargement of the ruling council for representation purposes and intended to reduce the power of the protectors, as the security forces' status had been greatly enhanced over previous centuries.[4][10] In contrast to this official stance, at least one prominent member of the Antiquarians, Jia, argued that only a increase in defensive efforts could truly protect Jasmine Island from foreign threats.[5]