Body markings in the World of Avatar

Body markings are widely used throughout the world and are applied for a variety of purposes. Some, such as makeup and other cosmetics, are used for statements of beauty or fashion and are not unique to any one group. Other markings serve purposes of identification—usually with a specific group or nation—and carry a deeper level of cultural symbolism.
== Air Nomads ==
=== Airbending master tattoos ===
The earliest known ancestors of the Air Nomads lived on top of the air lion turtle during the era of Raava and had similar tattoos along their bodies, though the ends bore an upside down "T" with a dot beneath it and they were applied even to children. As these people only received the power to control air while out of the city, the tattoo was not associated with airbending mastery.
After the early airbenders learned more advanced techniques from the flying bisons, they changed the tattoos for airbending masters to emulate the arrow-shaped markings of the bison.The Lost Scrolls: Air, Section "Animals of the Air Nomads", in The Lost Scrolls Collection.
Upon reaching the level of master by completing all thirty-six tiers of airbending, airbenders are tattooed with five light blue arrows: one extending from the base of the spine to the forehead, one for each arm pointing to the hands, and likewise for the legs and feet (when possible). Most airbenders earn their tattoos later in life, as true mastery over airbending is difficult to learn.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 27. However, extremely skilled airbenders may earn them at a young age, with another exception being that airbenders who create a completely new technique are automatically entitled to tattoos. Avatar Aang received his tattoos when he was only twelve following his invention of the air scooter, despite only completing thirty-five tiers. This made him the youngest known airbending masterAvatar Extras for "The Boy in the Iceberg" on Nicktoons Network. until his granddaughter Jinora received her tattoos at the age of eleven in 171 AG.
Aang's Air Nomad tattoos glowed when he entered the Avatar State, except for the spot on his back where Azula had struck him down, leaving a scar on the tattoo.
The dishonored, renegade nun Jesa notably tattooed serpents over her arrows to distance herself from the Air Nomads after she began a criminal lifestyle and founded the daofei society of the Flying Opera Company.
== Water Tribe ==
=== Mark of the Brave ===
The Mark of the Brave is a crescent-shaped mark that resembles the moon and is given for "inspirational displays of courage."The Lost Scrolls: Water, page 52 of The Lost Scrolls Collection. During Sokka's rite of passage, Katara held the position of bravery as she needed to secure the boat's mainsail and thus prevail against the brutal winds. Following her successful completion of the ritual, Bato bestowed the Mark of the Brave upon her.
=== Mark of the Trusted ===
The Mark of the Trusted is a horizontal, concave arc given to outsiders who are able to prove themselves worthy of the Water Tribe's trust. For example, while ice dodging, Aang controlled the jib of his group's cutter to successfully navigate the rocky waters; this position related to trust, as without a steady hand, the whole crew would go down.
=== Mark of the Wise ===
The Mark of the Wise is an arc identical to the Mark of the Trusted though with the addition of a dot centered below it. It is given for deft decision-making and the ability to maintain leadership under pressure. This mark was received by Hakoda and, years later, by his son, Sokka, for his achievement in successfully steering a cutter sailing ship, leading Aang and Katara, through rough waters.
=== Warpaint ===
Water Tribe Warriors, elite nonbending fighters of both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, wear full-face war paint when going into battle, colored black, gray, and white. In addition to intimidating opponents, this disguise helps the warriors blend into the icy landscape of their polar homes. In the Northern Water Tribe, it is also customary for the chief to ceremonially apply three red markings to the forehead of chosen warriors departing on a dangerous mission.
== Earth Kingdom ==
=== Earth Rumble ===
During Earth Rumble VI, certain fighters were tattooed or wore body paint or make-up in the arena: The Boulder possessed a tattoo of a badgermole on his back, a self-proclamation of his earthbending prowess, and Headhunter's face was painted as part of his fighting persona.
=== Flying Opera Company ===
Hark of the Flying Opera Company wore theater facepaint, consisting of white foundation with red accents. The entire company used facepaints used for classical opera as they disguised themselves as a theater troupe while traveling around the Earth Kingdom. According to Wong, white symbolized treachery, a sinister nature, suspicion of others, and the willingness to visit evil deeds on others, while red symbolized honor, loyalty and heroism. Hark's daughter Kyoshi came to incorporate the facepaint into her signature appearance as the Avatar, and her Kyoshi Warriors later adopted the same makeup.
=== Kyoshi Warriors ===
The all-female Kyoshi Warriors have a strict garb which is worn both in battle and during training. A key feature of this uniform is facial paint, consisting of a white foundation with accents in red and black, meant to strike fear into the hearts of the warriors' opponents. Along with the armor and weapons of the uniform, this paint was designed to resemble the attire of Avatar Kyoshi.
=== Smellerbee ===
Unique among the Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee wore facial markings consisting of two red stripes on each cheek; starting below the eye they angled downward across the cheek. It is unclear if they are tattoos or warpaint as she was never seen without them.
== Fire Nation ==
=== Sun Warriors ===
The Sun Warriors are an ancient firebending civilization that predate the modern-day Fire Nation. All members of this society bear red markings, often in pairs, on their faces. The design of these markings varies slightly from person to person but typically consist of pointed lines that stretch across the cheeks, foreheads, noses, and various other spots on the face. The Sun Warrior chief bore a more elaborate marking as a sign of his status and position: He wore red war paint around his entire eye area, up into his forehead, which was bordered by a stripe of white face paint below the eyes and across the bridge of his nose.
=== Third eye ===
Combustionbenders, firebenders with the rare ability to shoot an explosive beam of energy from their forehead, have a tattoo of an eye on the spot from where their attack is released. Although this tattoo marks the bender's point of power, it also marks their weak spot; by striking this spot or continuously blocking it, the bender's flow of chi can be interrupted, preventing them from using their abilities.
Although the main feature of this tattoo is a red eye positioned vertically, other features of the design can vary; while Combustion Man and P'Li both had three pinkish, horizontal lines surrounding their third eye, his were thick and straight, while hers were more refined and curvilinear.The Legend of Korra—The Art of the Animated Series, Book Three: Change, page 58.
=== Yuyan Archers ===
The elite marksmen of the Yuyan Archers bear dark red tattoos that run as a strip across their eyes, the ends of which flare out over the forehead and cheeks while the center narrows over the bridge of the nose. The tattoos identify each archer as a current or former member of the elite group.
== Four nations ==
=== Official Avatar Aang Fan Club ===
In the Yu Dao chapter of the Official Avatar Aang Fan Club, the girls took mastering a kind of faux airbending very seriously and even began tattooing themselves in a way similar to master airbenders. However, Avatar Aang saw the tattoos as disgracing his culture, so as he began to teach the club members about his culture and renamed the fan club the "Air Acolytes", the practice of tattooing was discontinued.
=== Others ===
Other groups and individuals throughout the four nations also bear tattoos. For the most part, these appear to be purely ornamental and do not carry any significant meaning. The bounty hunter June, for instance, had a red tattoo depicting a coiled snake on each shoulder.
While not an official designation of their lifestyle, tattoos are common among criminals or people who participate in otherwise less-than-legal activities. The pirates that attacked Aang, and later Zuko, as well as the criminals imprisoned in Chin Village, sported tattoos. One of the prisoners in Chin Village even noted that tattoos would help one fit in among other criminals. Certain prisoners in the Boiling Rock had tattoos, as did Ghazan, a member of the Red Lotus.
In the Earth Kingdom, there is a cultural attitude to keep a light and clear complexion. Auntie Mui once gave Kyoshi a concealer containing crushed nacre to conceal her freckles.
Classical opera actors wear patterns of makeup that correspond with stock characters. The trickster character of the tiger-monkey spirit has a black cleft running down his orange face, while purple signifies sophistication and culture and is often used for wise-mentor types.
== Trivia ==
* The makeup worn by the Flying Opera Company, and later by Avatar Kyoshi and her followers, resembles that worn in traditional Chinese opera, including the symbolism of each color, which is consistent with their adopting it through Hark's theater lineage.
** It is also similar to the makeup worn by both kabuki actors and geisha.
* The design of the combustionbenders' tattoos was inspired by Shiva, one of the three principal gods of Hinduism, who is often depicted with a third eye in the middle of his forehead.
** It is also located right where the sixth chakra (Ajna) is, at the center of the forehead.
== References ==
es:Marcas corporales en el Mundo Avatar
fr:Marques corporelles dans le Monde d'Avatar
nl:Tatoeages
ru:Нательные рисунки
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Category:Fashion
Category:World of Avatar