Post by SAMMY on Jul 23, 2009 13:21:50 GMT -5
GENERAL/GOVERNMENT/CUSTOMS
"It is an absolute monarchy led by the Fire Lord. Geographically, the continent is located on the planet's equator in the western hemisphere, and is composed of several islands, and therefore is an archipelago. Its capital is at the Fire Nation Capital. The Fire Nation is home to almost all Firebenders. The Fire Nation is the second largest nation in the world in terms of population and area. It is second in both of these respects to the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Nation economy is the most powerful in the world, with a strong industrial sector and extensive technological developments.
The appearance of the Fire Nation is based on fire, naturally. Like the other nations, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, red. The majority of the buildings are made of stone. They also have red pagoda-style roofs favored by the Fire Nation. Fire Nation symbols are often put on important or nice buildings for decoration and inside it is common for a picture of Fire Lord Ozai to be kept in an important, visible place. Roads are well-built, neat ones, mostly straight, heading towards the destination, which suits the Fire Nation's ruler's personality - global domination and striving to do that. They hardly ever have bumps in and are made of neat stone slotted in place. Many hints suggest that the Fire Nation is based on World War II Japan. Both are volcanic countries who have tried to dominate the world, have killed many in larger conutries, and have technological advancements over their neighbours.
Children are taught that the Fire Nation is the greatest civilization that has ever existed and that the War is its way of sharing its greatness, and that Fire Lord Ozai and his family are great people who are helping the world out. This has caused a cult of personality to build up around the Fire Lord, military, and aristocracy, who are seen as bringing the benefits of Fire Nation culture to the other nations. Many names of Fire Nation citizens utilize harsh consonants and letter "Z," including Zuko, Ozai, Azula, Sozin, Zhao, Azulon, Kuzon, etc.
Fire Nation society places a great emphasis on respect and honor, especially towards the nobility and elders; the concept of the famed Agni Kai stems from these beliefs. Should one be honored enough to be in the presence of a member of the Royal Family, the person needs to prostrate themselves in respect or risk being challenged to an Agni Kai to avenge the disrespected Royal's honor. Upon coming into contact with an elder or superior, it is polite to bow down. Unlike in other parts of the world, this bow consists in placing a hand in a straight fashion with the other placed underneath it vertically. This represents the superior standing with one below him, bowing. Also when receiving an order in the Fire Nation by a superior it is common to not bow, but make the hand symbol. Bowing is required upon greeting to one, when something nice has happened, after business, and leaving. This might a reference to the practice of unquestionable respect for elders and superiors in India and China. Likely as a result of the cultural upheavals during the War, women in the Fire Nation are given more freedom than in the other Nations, and are even able (and sometimes encouraged) to join the police and Homeland Defense Force."
APPEARANCE
"Members of the Fire Nation tend to have black or brown hair, amber, gold (possibly indicating their Firebending ability), brown, or gray eyes, and pale skin, though exceptions such as Piandao, Shoji, On Ji, and Hide do exist. Older men tend to sport large beards, mustaches, and sideburns, while younger men are usually clean-shaven, or wear small mustaches and goatees. Women usually wear their hair back, though for special occasions it may be piled on top of the head, or wrapped around a support. Female members of the aristocracy also tend to have long, pointed, well-manicured finger nails. Almost all citizens wear topknots, often held by a decorative topknot piece indicating their socioeconomic rank. Nobles and politicians tend to ornament their hair with a two pronged, flame-styled piece; the Fire Lord wears a gold, five-pronged piece.
Members of the army wear red and black uniforms that may have gold trim or emblems on them. Traditional colors worn throughout the nation range from deep reds to darker browns, grays, and blacks, with occasional white, or pink. Many citizens wear shoulder spikes, the amount designating social standing (ordinary civilians wear one, nobles wear two, and the Fire Lord wears three, though there are exceptions to these rules). Their clothing and architecture seem to reflect Chinese, Indian and Japanese influences."
FIREBENDING
"Fire is the element of power, overpowering force tempered by unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires; however, the recently militaristic Fire Nation have twisted this into Firebending being fueled by rage and anger. Firebending draws its power from the sun, and the first Firebenders learned their techniques from the dragons. Firebending is notable for its intensive attacking style, and general lack of adequate defense moves, although some notable Firebenders can create defensive moves. For example; Jeong Jeong can create fire walls, and Zuko can easily block and shoot down incoming objects.
Firebending moves are based mainly on the style of Northern Shaolin kung fu, but with a few techniques from Northern Seven Star Praying Mantis. These martial arts feature quick, successive attacks that exert extreme power for just a moment (much like an explosion, called ging lik). It optimizes a strong continuous offense, sacrificing defense for greater power, the principle behind a preemptive strike. Firebenders use their internal body heat as a source of their bending to create fire. This facet of Firebending is in sharp contrast to the other bending arts, which manipulate already present representations of their element (though Firebenders can control or enhance flames nearby). Unlike other bending disciplines, Firebending has few defensive moves aside from blocking and dodging, although master Firebenders are able to create walls of fire to absorb incoming attacks or shoot down incoming projectiles.
Firebending uses concentrated barrages of fire to overwhelm opponents before striking a fatal blow. Swift, whirling kicks and punches generate diverse shapes for offensive attacks. Circular motion also seems to be a crucial element to the skill as it seems to be a precession to "power up" the Firebender's flames. When creating lightnings, the Firebenders often move their arms in slow, circular motions, a bit like Waterbenders but with more tension. As said before, whirling kicks or blows are used many times in the series to create arcs, or just to power their bending."