- This article is about the girl Zuko went on a date with. For Mako and Bolin's grandmother, see Yin.
| "I have something for you, too. Now it's your turn to close your eyes." |
| — Jin before kissing Zuko.[1] |
Jin was a refugee of the Hundred Year War who lived in Ba Sing Se. At one point, she and her friends became entangled in the great conspiracy of the capital.[5] She also developed a crush on Zuko and asked him out on a date.
History[]
Early life[]
Jin was born in 84 AG,[2] in the village of Daying.[6] Jin's parents were Earth Kingdom citizens. Though they struggled most of their lives, Jin's parents were strong and able to provide for their family.[3] Jin's parents were killed by Fire Nation military soldiers upon the burning of Daying, leaving Jin with her grandfather Gong-gong and moving to Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring.[6] Having once worked as an expert calligrapher, Gong-gong taught his granddaughter enough so that she managed to get a scholarship for a literature academy. However, he developed a permanent sickness and condition revolving around head and leg injuries obtained during their journey to Ba Sing Se when he saved a group of travelers.[7] This left the old man at times mentally absent and confused as well as needing medicine from the Hu Yuan Apothecary in Ba Sing Se which Jin picked up for him.[7] Thus, Jin struggled to make a living and care for her grandfather, while also attending school.[5]
Sometime after, Jin met Susu upon offering to pay for an extra meal Jin needed for Gong-gong forgetting to bring his token. Susu provided a fake token and the two girls ran off together afterwards developing an especially close bond.[8] Jin found employment as a deliverywoman at Susu's family owned Wen Bakery, the owners treating her like a daughter. Jin also helped bake goods. At times Jin felt funny to take payment for her services from Susu and her family upon their unwavering support, kindness, and eating food from their bakery.[6] Jin and Susu made deliveries throughout Ba Sing Se to places such as Pao Family Tea House and Lady Liang's.
One day after work, Jin went to Hu Yuan Apothecary to pick up Gong-gong's medicine from the head of the store Doctor Jan. Upon arriving, she met Jan's son Xuan who at first was reluctant to give her the medicinal order upon Jin not having enough money to pay. Jin lost part of her money on her way to the store. Despite Jin offering to pay the debt in the future, Xuan was reluctant. She was intimidated and threatened by Xuan's associates. After Xuan turned her away, Jin was about to leave and ran into Doctor Jan. Jan knew Jin very well as a loyal and abiding customer, Jin herself also having great respect for the Doctor.[7] Jan provided the medicine to Jin who returned home to Gong-gong to provide him comfort.
That night, Susu knocked on Jin's door and together they talked on the rooftops rumblings of the Avatar's presence in Ba Sing Se and dreamed about a better future.[9] A couple of days later Jin was walking at night near Pao Family Tea House when she witnessed the fight between Zuko and Jet breaking out which concluded with Jet's ultimate arrest by the Dai Li.[10]
Sometime after Susu's father gambled away the bakery, forcing Susu take a contract job in the Upper Ring to pay her family debt. Jin was determined to help Susu which led her to become involved with the "Silver Fangs", a criminal association which was rooted in Ba Sing Se's black market. She worked with Xuan who had connections to the crime syndicate. Meanwhile, the capital's political and social situation grew increasingly fraught and tense, with Jin living a double life becoming entangled at the grander conspiracy and threats of a revolution.[5]
Date with Zuko[]
By spring 100 AG, Jin frequently visited the tea shop where Iroh and Zuko were employed for baking deliveries.[8] However, Zuko raised concerns that she knew they were from the Fire Nation. Iroh immediately contradicted Zuko's suspicions and told him that the girl had a crush on him. Jin came up to the counter to pay for her tea and to talk to him; after Zuko introduced himself as Lee, Jin finally built up the courage to ask him out on a date, to which Iroh said that Zuko "would love to". Excitedly leaving the shop, she said that she would meet Zuko there at sundown.[1]
When Zuko emerged from the shop, his hair combed and cleaned by his uncle, Jin immediately went through it to get it back to normal, before pulling him along to a restaurant in the Middle Ring of the city. Trying to make conversation during an awkward dinner, she asked some questions about Zuko and Iroh's background; not being able to tell the truth, Zuko blurted out that they traveled the world a lot as part of a traveling circus. Jin guessed that he was a juggler, to which Zuko reluctantly agreed and was forced to give a performance. After Zuko failed miserably at this, Jin took him to the Firelight Fountain, one of her favorite places in the city.[1]
Jin and Zuko spent time together at the Firelight Fountain.
Jin talked excitedly about how beautiful the fountain looked when the light of the lanterns reflected in the water, but was saddened to see that they were not lit when they arrived. Noticing her disappointment, Zuko asked Jin to close her eyes while he carefully used his firebending to light the lanterns. To thank him for lighting the lanterns, Jin turned to Zuko to give him a kiss, but Zuko interrupted her by holding a coupon for a free cup of tea in front of his face, to which she replied how sweet he was. She proceeded to say that she had something for Zuko as well for which he also needed to close his eyes. Obeying her request, Jin softly kissed Zuko on the lips; a gesture he hesitantly returned, before backing away. When she asked what was wrong, he excused himself by saying that it was "complicated" and that he had to go, leaving her standing alone.[1]
Fall of Ba Sing Se[]
Jin hid in the Pao Family Tea House as the Fire Nation military marched into Ba Sing Se.
After Princess Azula's successful Coup of Ba Sing Se, Jin was once again at Pao's tea shop watching in horror as the Fire Nation soldiers swarmed the streets of Ba Sing Se and secured the city completely.[11]
Shortly after the fall of the capital, Jin noticed Zuko walking with Mai. Addressing him as Lee, she asked who Mai was and was told that she was a friend from the circus, where she was a knife thrower. Joining the charade, Mai offered to teach Jin to throw knives and had Zuko stand in front of a fountain with a fish from a nearby market on his head. Mai explained that the trick was in the wrist, and she accurately hit the fish with an icicle. Amazed by the show of marksmanship, Jin tried as well, though when she threw the icicle, she barely missed Zuko's head, making him fall into the fountain.[12]
Personality[]
Though not aggressive or assertive, Jin was nonetheless a determined girl, pursuing her desires instead through her kind personality. She was an understanding young woman and a true romantic at heart.[1][3]
Relatives[]
Appearances[]
Avatar: The Last Airbender[]
Book Two: Earth (土)[]
- 215. "The Tales of Ba Sing Se"
Book Three: Fire (火)[]
- 301. "The Awakening" (flashback, no lines)
Avatar comics[]
Book Two: Earth (土)[]
- Iss. #13. "Going Home Again"
Avatar Legends novels[]
Trivia[]
- Jin (仁, じん) is a Japanese name meaning "gentleness", "tenderness", or "benevolence".
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Estoesta, Joann, Wahlander, Lisa, Huebner, Andrew, Scheppke, Gary, MacMullan, Lauren, Mattila, Katie, Ridge, Justin, Volpe, Giancarlo (writers) & Spaulding, Ethan (director). (September 29, 2006). "The Tales of Ba Sing Se". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 2. Episode 15. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Avatar Legends: City of Echoes. A nuanced exploration of darker themes set in the world of the popular Avatar universe.. Kirku's Reviews. Retrieved on May 23, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 From older Avatar: The Last Airbender official site, originally on Nick.com. Encyclopedia now broken, archived at The Lost Lore of Avatar Aang - Character: Jin.
- ↑ The Ultimate Pocket Guide, page 4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Avatar Legends: City of Echoes (Avatar Legends Book 1). Abrams Books. Retrieved on February 14, 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lin, Judy I. (author). (July 22, 2025). Chapter Two. City of Echoes. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lin, Judy I. (author). (July 22, 2025). Chapter Three. City of Echoes. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lin, Judy I. (author). (July 22, 2025). Chapter One. City of Echoes. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Lin, Judy I. (author). (July 22, 2025). Chapter Four. City of Echoes. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Lin, Judy I. (author). (July 22, 2025). Chapter Five. City of Echoes. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Ehasz, Aaron (writer) & Volpe, Giancarlo (director). (September 21, 2007). "The Awakening". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 1. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ Chan, May; Ehasz, Aaron; Mattila, Katie; Wilgus, Benjamin (writer), Ganter, Amy Kim (artist), Dzioba, Wes (colorist), Comicraft (letterer). "Going Home Again" (September 18, 2007), Nick Mag Presents: Avatar: The Last Airbender.