"The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom."

— Iroh to Zuko on the nature of the Air Nomads.[1]

Air Nomads Physical information Location Mountain ranges across the globe Government Capital No overall capital Form of government Unitary directorial ecclesiocracy (formerly)

Unitary ecclesiocracy (As the Air Nation) Head of State Four Councils of Elders (formerly)

Tenzin (for the Air Nation) Religious authority Airbending masters (for the Air Nation)

Four Councils of Elders (formerly) Currency None First appearance The Boy in the Iceberg" Location on map

Air Nomads is the collective term for the monastic order of men and women who practice the discipline of airbending and their seclusive, theocratic society. One of the four major nations, the Air Nomads were wanderers by definition, but had four air temples, one at each corner of the globe, hidden away atop mountain ranges and under cliffs, in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands. Unlike the other nations, the people of the Air Nomads were, without any seen exception, all benders due to the high level of spirituality of their people.[2][3]

The Air Nomads were a peaceful race who were wiped out by the Fire Nation. They lived in large temples and traveled the world on flying bison. They were the most spiritual of all the cultures and lived in harmony with nature.[4][5] They also were fun-loving and had a strong sense of humor.[1]

The Air Nomads made up the smallest of the four nations in the world. They had a small economy, based entirely on limited agriculture. The population of the Air Nomads was small compared to even the Water Tribe and was far smaller than either of the world's two major powers, the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.

In 0 AG, the Air Nomads were the victims of genocide at the hands of the Fire Nation. Ironically, the sole known survivor of the massacre was the very person the Fire Nation sought to kill in its quest for supremacy: the twelve-year-old airbender and Avatar, Aang, who had run away from the Southern Air Temple shortly before the Hundred Year War began and became trapped in suspended animation in a globe of ice along with his lifetime friend, Appa.[6] One hundred years later, he was awakened and released by Katara and Sokka, who helped him succeed in his quest to restore balance and peace to the warring nations.

After the Hundred Year War, Aang found several flying bison and ring-tailed winged lemurs. Elsewhere, a group named the Air Acolytes was formed to carry on the teachings, culture, and traditions of the Air Nomads. Having restored the buildings to their former glory, they occupy the air temples, along with the newfound flying bison and ring-tailed winged lemurs. Forming the new Air Nation, they also had a representative on the United Republic Council, a spot held by an Air Acolyte and later Tenzin until 171 AG.[7]

In 171 AG, after the Harmonic Convergence, nonbending individuals across the world began manifesting newly acquired airbending abilities. Tenzin began to train a group of airbender volunteers into a new generation of Air Nomads, in order to fortify a still-recovering Air Nation and to perpetuate the bending traditions of its culture.[8] After the insurrection of the Red Lotus, Tenzin decided that the Air Nation would roam the world, helping people of all nations to stop corruption and disorder.[9] In 174 AG, the new Air Nation continued to prosper, as more and more people who gained airbending abilities were trained in the art on Air Temple Island.[10]

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History

Origin

In the era of Raava, ancestors of the Air Nomads received the element of air from lion turtles that granted the power through energybending. They could request the ability whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food and resources. Unlike people from other lion turtle cities, the first airbenders coexisted harmoniously with the spirits and demonstrated great respect and understanding of spiritual matters. These people eventually formed the first Air Nomads after the lion turtles renounced their roles as protectors of mankind in 9,829 BG. At this point, the ancestors of the first Air Nomads left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing temples in all four corners of the globe.

As a nation

Around 3,829 BG, Guru Laghima lived at the Northern Air Temple, before the political establishment of the four nations.[11][12] His poetry and philosophical works would remain influential in the four nations for thousands of years.[13] Forty years prior to his death, Laghima relinquished his earthly attachments and achieved the power of flight, living the rest of his life untethered from the earth. The feat would not be accomplished again in millennia.[9]

Avatar Yangchen of the Western Air Temple was considered one of the greatest Avatars in history.[14] She mediated in conflicts between humans and spirits, making peace with General Old Iron by making sure the ruins of Lady Tienhai's city would remain free of human civilization.[15], and kept the southern coast of the Earth Kingdom in peace by signing a treaty with the leader of the Fifth Nation.[16] Yangchen became revered as a holy figure in the Earth Kingdom and among the Air Nomads following her death. In remembrance of her intervention with General Old Iron, the Air Nomads continued to make yearly pilgrimages to the statue of Lady Tienhai, renaming the ritual Yangchen's Festival.[17] Over time, two statues were made of Yangchen: one in the Eastern Air Temple and one in the Western Air Temple.[18] No threats of war occurred for an entire generation after her death, ushering a prolonged period of peace across the world.[18]

Kelsang of the Southern Air Temple became a close companion to Avatar Kuruk during his lifetime, and following the Avatar's death, was dedicated to finding the Avatar's successor in the Earth Kingdom.[16] However, Kelsang was disowned by the Air Nomads for taking human life, after destroying Tulok's Fifth Nation fleet and killing many of the crew.[19]

Despite being an Earth Avatar, Kyoshi was in fact half Air Nomad. Her mother Jesa had been a nun from the Eastern Air Temple who had turned renegade, rising to become the head of the criminal Flying Opera Company.[20] Kyoshi herself was raised by Kelsang and formed a close bond with him. At the end of her struggle against Jianzhu, Kyoshi sought sanctuary at the Southern Air Temple, and requested that Kelsang's name be restored to a place of honor.[21] Before departing, Monk Jinpa joined the Avatar, acting as her secretary for the next year.[22]

Avatar Roku learned airbending at the Southern Air Temple, becoming good friends with a young monk named Gyatso.[23]

Extinction

Main article: Air Nomad Genocide

Twelve years after the passing of Avatar Roku, Fire Lord Sozin used a comet, later named Sozin's Comet, to enhance his armies' firebending abilities to eliminate the Air Nomads, the next nation in the Avatar Cycle, to achieve his goal of world domination. The high monks anticipated a war coming and the Council of Elders of the Southern Air Temple decided to reveal to Aang his identity as the Avatar prematurely at age twelve as opposed to the standard sixteen. His airbending training was subsequently intensified despite already having earned his mastery tattoos. The revelation made Aang feel his childhood was taken away from him and everyone suddenly treated him differently. When the monks attempted to separate Aang from his master and father-figure, Gyatso, to complete his airbending training at the Eastern Air Temple, Aang, having overheard the conversation, ran away on his bison, Appa. They accidentally got caught up in a storm and crashed at sea. While sinking, Aang unconsciously entered the Avatar State, freezing himself and Appa in a sphere of ice, which kept him alive for the next century. Meanwhile, the Fire Nation attacked the temples in a preemptive strike and exterminated the airbending population though failed to track down the Avatar.[6]

The Air Acolytes

Main article: Air Acolytes

A year after the war, Avatar Aang discovered a group of Earth Kingdom citizens who had built a fan club in his honor. Initially disgusted at seeing the sacred aspects of his culture mimicked, he eventually transformed them into the Air Acolytes, a community of nuns and monks dedicated to upholding Air Nomad culture.[24][25] Years later, Aang's marriage to Katara blessed him with an airbending son, Tenzin, who was extensively taught by Aang in airbending and Air Nomad culture. The population of the Air Acolytes grew, prompting Aang to spearhead the restoration of the air temples to serve as their new homes. Aang also built a fifth air temple in the newly established United Republic of Nations, which came to be known as Air Temple Island. Tenzin, who became the Air Nation's representative on the United Republic Council, came to reside on the island with his wife, Pema, and their four children, three of whom are known airbenders.[26]

Rebirth of a nation

In 171 AG, the energy shift caused by Harmonic Convergence resulted in several nonbenders obtaining airbending abilities, prompting Tenzin and Avatar Korra to travel the world to recruit volunteers to be trained in the ways of the Air Nomads. This proved to be a daunting task, as most of their new prospects rejected the idea of leaving their loved ones and worldly possessions behind. However, they discovered a group of airbenders captured by Earth Queen Hou-Ting, who was conscripting airbenders into her army to form a First Airbending Regiment. The new airbenders were rescued and when given the choice to be relocated somewhere safe or join Tenzin at the Northern Air Temple to live in peace and train as Air Nomads, they all decided to train under his tutelage. However, the two sides found it difficult to find a middle ground due to Tenzin's expectations of the volunteers to be identical to the old Air Nomads. Eventually, both parties made amends following a bison rustler attack and resumed training.

Following the insurrection of the Red Lotus and the incapacitation of Avatar Korra, the new Air Nation returned to its nomadic roots, but, unlike their predecessors' reclusive nature, they instead dedicated themselves to bringing peace and balance to the world.[9] By 174 AG, the nation's population had grown, as more new airbenders came to train in the art on Air Temple Island.[10] The Air Nation joined the fight against Kuvira when she invaded the United Republic and laid waste to Republic City.[27][28] Following Kuvira's arrest, the airbenders joined the relief effort for the homeless evacuees at the evacuation camp while another group gathered around the new spirit portal to meditate[29] and later protect it against intruders.[30] The portal and land surrounding it was eventually given to them by President Zhu Li Moon in hopes that they would continue to thrive and flourish in an area rich with spiritual energy while at the same time keeping it safe from those who wish to exploit it.[31]

Appearance

Before the era of the Avatar, the predecessors of the Air Nomads symbolized their belief, by practicing the same traditions, such as tattooing their bodies, albeit with a different design. The tattoos were more polygonal shape with a dot. The clothing that the men wore were orange cloth as a top and yellow as a bottom. Women donned different clothing; however, it included the same traditional colors.[32]

The Air Nomads wear yellow, orange, and brown clothing. Aang and other young airbenders wore orange shawls over long-sleeved yellow shirts, an orange sash, double-layered pants with brown underneath and a loose yellow layer on top, and high boots that reach just below the knees. Older monks wore long robes in shades of yellow and orange, as well as wooden necklaces with the Air Nomad insignia carved into it. Most Air Nomads have gray or brown eyes and a light complexion.

By 174 AG, the new airbenders from the restored Air Nation had taken to wearing wingsuits, colored primarily red with additional yellow and gray accents,[10] which permitted agile gliding over short distances without the need for staffs or bison.

Young boys to be trained as monks have shaven heads, while monk elders grow beards and mustaches; they had the longest and most prominent facial hair of any nation. Female airbenders do not fully shave their heads, just their foreheads so their arrow is visible.[33] Shaving one's head is voluntary, though was encouraged so the airbender could feel the air around them.[34]

Airbenders who have attained a level of mastery in the art are marked with arrow tattoos, based on the arrows of the sky bison, the first airbenders. A primary arrow tattoo is placed on their shaven head that extends down their back, along with four others, one on each limb that terminates in an arrowhead at the hands and feet. The bottom tip of the triangle on the forehead end just between the eyebrows, while the arrows on the hands aim at the middle finger.[35]

The arrows mark the paths through which chi travels through the body. Because of this, when an Air Nomad Avatar tattooed in this fashion enters the Avatar State, these tattoos are known to glow, along with the Avatar's eyes and mouth. If the body has received an injury deeper than the tattoo, that spot will no longer glow while in the Avatar State.

National emblem

The Air Nomad insignia is a stylized, swirling orb. Within the circle, coiling lines illustrate the wind. The symbol can be seen on the design of doors and surfaces in the air temples, as well as on pendants of monks' prayer beads.

The Air Nomad flag is a banner held between two wooden poles. The center of the banner is emblazoned with the Air Nomad insignia.

Geography

In the era before the Avatar, the precursors of the Air Nomads lived on top of lion turtles,[32] but with the rise of the Avatar, they left the safety of the lion turtle cities and came to live in large temples on remote mountains. There were four temples in all, one for each direction on the compass; two were run for and by males, and two were run for and by females. The young boys of the Southern Air Temple were known to travel to the Eastern Air Temple in order to choose their own personal sky bison. This was considered an important choice as the intelligent animals would be with the choosing airbenders for the rest of their lives.[33]

Culture

While other nations possess royalty and are run by hereditary monarchies, the Air Nomads were led by the senior monks and nuns of the air temples.[6] Due to the peaceful teachings of their leaders, the nature of the people was calm and tranquil. They also believed in equality for all, that people should live without divisions in society.[36] In that spirit, same-sex relationships were completely accepted in Air Nomad culture, as their generally peaceful and open-minded way of life led them to embrace all forms of consenting love. Because of this, Air Nomads had no need to "come out" about their sexual orientations.[29]

The Air Nomads were considered to be bearers of good fortune throughout the world, and people would often ask them for blessings. Having an Air Nomad say a few words of spiritual blessing over a new barn or baby was considered great luck. When monks and nuns would have to stop at villages across the world along their journeys from temple to temple, most peasants would gladly provide them hospitality in exchange for help with chores, news, and entertaining stories from other parts of the world, or a promise to relay messages to distant relatives.[37]

The Air Nomads are the only nation comprised entirely of benders[5] 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. Due to their high spirituality, the monks believed that hope was only a distraction.[38]

It has been mentioned that they had a good sense of humor, something demonstrated when Monk Gyatso employed a unique teaching method when tutoring Aang with his airbending skills, accurately blowing fruit pies onto other monks' heads as a prank. This activity was useful training and a fun game combined.[39]

The Air Nomads also revered certain events and holidays, such as Yangchen's Festival, which celebrated the Avatar's victory over a dark spirit. The holiday was marked as one of the highest on the Air Nomad calendar and, according to Aang, was also one of the funniest celebrations of their culture.[40]

The arrow tattoos adorning an Air Nomad's body signifies that he or she has mastered airbending. This is an emulation of the natural arrows on the heads of flying bison, who can naturally airbend and are the original teachers of the art, much like the badgermole is to the earthbenders. Aspiring airbenders have no tattoos[6] and in order to receive the tattoos as well as the title of a master, an airbender must pass the thirty-six levels of airbending or engineer a new technique. In actuality, Aang had only reached the thirty-fifth level before he left the Southern Air Temple, but his invention of the air scooter earned him the tattoos prematurely,[41] making him the youngest airbending master in history[42] until his granddaughter, Jinora, earned her tattoos at the age of eleven. Aang's son, Tenzin, later became the first to master the bending art following the Air Nomad Genocide. After receiving their tattoos, the airbender is anointed a master during a special ceremony.[9]

The Air Nomads also preached against the concept of revenge, viewing it as being akin to a two-headed rat-viper: by destroying your enemy, you poison yourself.[43]

A century later, under the new Air Nation, an oath of nonaggression was to be declared by a new airbender, by which they swore to adopt the more pacifistic ways of the Air Nomads by using direct combat solely as a last resort.[44]

Season

Each nation of the four nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season, in which their bending is at its peak. Autumn is the dominant season of the Air Nomad race. Airbenders are thus at their strongest in this season. More Air Nomad children were born during autumn than any other season, all retaining bending abilities.[45]

Natural resources and foods

The Air Nomads were a tranquil people who endeavored to preserve the environment around them. Any industry that they invested in, such as farming or gardening, was sustainable and powered naturally, so as to not disturb the balance of nature.

Air is the main source of power of the Air Nation, as it was for the Air Nomads. Their control over the element means they have no need for industrial machinery, combustion, or electricity, and whatever trades and crafts they engage in are fairly non-polluting. They are also able to ride on their sky bison and glide in the open air for transportation. By 170 AG, however, a radio was located on Air Temple Island for communication purposes.[46]

Due to the non-materialistic culture of the nation, the Air Nomads did not excavate the rich mineral deposits filled with iron and crystals that lay beneath their grounds.[40][11]

Believing all life to be precious, the Air Nomads were strict vegetarians,[47] though they were not against eating eggs or dairy products, as Aang was willing to eat an egg custard tart.[48] The nomads were also known for making sweet dishes such as pies, which were sold for one silver piece each with all profits given to charity.[49] This vegetarianism was continued by Tenzin and his family, with a garden located on Air Temple Island for growing vegetables.[50]

Government

Main article: Politics in the World of Avatar

Council of Elders

Government system: Ecclesiastical senate

Head of state and government: Four Councils of Elders

Most recent known head: Four Councils of Elders

Territorial divisions: Four air temples

Heads of territorial divisions: Head monks, abbots[19] (Northern and Southern Air Temple) and mothers superior (Eastern and Western Air Temple)

Capital: No overall capital

Unlike the other three nations, which were ruled by royal families and structured governments, each of the Air Nomads' temples was led by a respected Council of Elders. Composed of wise airbending masters, they were both the political and religious authority and served as counsel for their citizens and airbending instructors.

Air Nation

Government system: Unitary Pseudo-Ecclesiocracy

Head of state and government: No overall head of state; just certain respected individuals

Most recent known head: Tenzin

Territorial divisions: Five air temples

Heads of territorial divisions: Abbots and abbesses

Capital: No overall capital

To preserve the culture of the extinct Air Nomads, Avatar Aang founded the Air Acolytes, a group consisting of mostly Earth Kingdom nonbenders that would uphold Air Nomad philosophies and traditions. After the acolytes' formation, the air temples were each administered by abbots and abbesses.[51]

Following the abolition of the United Republic Council and the airbender boom in 171 AG, Tenzin, by virtue of being the world's most senior airbending master, continued to have a say in global affairs as the figurehead of the Air Nation. He continued to reside on Air Temple Island as he oversaw the growth of the nation, training an increasing number of new airbenders in their bending art.

Military

Contrary to the propaganda spread in the Fire Nation, the Air Nomads did not have any form of military, as they were firm believers in peace and non-violence.[52] Although the Air Nomads did not have any organized fighting force, they still proved to be formidable opponents, as Gyatso's skeleton was found surrounded by the remains of several comet-enhanced firebenders he had defeated when attacked. Because they were pacifists, Air Nomads led peaceful lives and avoided conflict when possible, though were willing to fight when there was no other option left to take.[39] Aang also mentioned that Fire Lord Sozin defeated the Air Nomads by ambush.[52]

Despite this and their pacifist nature, Tenzin declared, after Avatar Korra was severely physically and psychologically hurt by the Red Lotus' metal poison, that the restored Air Nation adopted the nomadic ways of their predecessors, but with the intention of becoming bringers of peace and balance. Airbender parties scoured the Earth Kingdom after the nation's fall into chaos following Earth Queen Hou-Ting's assassination at the hands of Zaheer in 171 AG.[9] In this capacity, Kai and Opal forcibly halted the escape of three bandits, who were terrorizing the capital of the Earth Kingdom state of Yi, in 174 AG. However, the Air Nation was spread too thin to cover the entirety of the large Earth Kingdom to effectively bring order and balance.[10] They also participated in the defense of Republic City when the Earth Empire invaded it[27] and later acted as guardians of Republic City's spirit portal, protecting the Spirit World from human intervention.[29]

Notable places

Notable figures

Original airbenders

This is a list of known Air Nomads and born airbenders prior to Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG.

New airbenders

This is a list of known individuals who obtained airbending abilities after Harmonic Convergence in 171 AG and volunteered to rebuild the Air Nation.

Trivia

More Air Nomads were born in autumn than in any other season. [45]

The Air Nomad culture closely resembles that of Hindu priests and Tibetan monks.

The Air Nomads are sometimes adressed as "the wandering nation".[37]

References