Avatar:Chin Village

This article is about the village. For other similar uses, see Chin (disambiguation).

"This is by far the worst town we've ever been to."

— Sokka to Team Avatar on Chin Village.

<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Chin Village</default></title> <group> <header>Physical information</header> <label>Location</label> </group> <group> <header>Government</header> <label>Position</label> <label>Capital</label> <label>Form of government</label> <label>Head of state</label> <label>Religious authority</label> <label>Currency</label> <label>Ruler</label> <label>Owner</label> <label>Leader</label> <label>Administrator</label> <label>First appearance</label> <label>Last appearance</label> </group> <group> <header>Location on map</header> </group> <header>Image gallery (1)</header> </infobox> Chin Village is a medium-sized town located on the cliffs of the Earth Kingdom's southwestern coast. It plays host to the Avatar Day festival, a popular event that, prior to a radical change of perspective in 100 AG, was once held in retribution for Avatar Kyoshi's alleged murder of Chin the Great.

History

Founding

Chin Village was named after Chin, one of the village's leaders who launched a military conquest and fell to his death following a confrontation with Avatar Kyoshi that resulted in the formation of Kyoshi Island. Although Chin's death was a result of his stubbornness, his advocates believed that he was murdered by Kyoshi. This belief persisted for over 370 years and eventually led to the vilification of the Avatar in the village.

Encountering Avatar Aang

In the spring of 100 AG, Avatar Aang, Sokka, and Katara witnessed the start of the Avatar Day festival, initially believing that the effigies of Kyoshi, Roku, and Aang were made to honor the Avatar. However, when one of the villagers torched the effigies, Katara intervened by extinguishing the fire. Aang revealed his identity to the villagers and agreed to stand trial according to the customs of the village in order to clear his name. Because Mayor Tong refused to accept Water Tribe currency for bail, Aang was imprisoned at the Chin Village prison until the day of the trial.

While Aang bonded with his fellow inmates, Sokka and Katara investigated the crime scene of the alleged murder, where the villagers had erected a statue of Chin and a shrine to commemorate their fallen leader. After hearing Mayor Tong's description of Chin's statue and his account of Kyoshi emerging from the temple to strike the warlord down, Katara realized that Kyoshi would never have set foot on the island if the temple and statue were carved out of the same stone and the statue was built following Chin's death.

The structuring of Aang's trial the following day rendered the evidence Katara and Sokka collected ineffective, prompting them to dress Aang in Avatar Kyoshi's regalia in a final attempt to trigger some realization from Aang. Kyoshi manifested through Aang's body shortly thereafter and revealed that she indirectly caused Chin's death, as he fell into the ocean following the collapse of an unstable overhang at the end of a cliff.

Aang was found guilty in light of Kyoshi's admission, but his sentencing was delayed due to the arrival of the Rough Rhinos. Kahchi destroyed the statue of Chin before Aang subdued and blew him into the ocean. The rest of the group proceeded to destroy the town but were eventually expelled by Team Avatar. Because of this, the villagers repurposed the festival to commemorate the day that the Avatar saved the town from destruction.

Anarchy in the Earth Kingdom

Following Earth Queen Hou-Ting's death and the fragmentation of the Earth Kingdom in 171 AG, Chin Village was integrated into Kuvira's empire sometime during her three-year rule of the nation, remaining under her control until her arrest following the Earth Empire's failed attempt to annex the United Republic of Nations.

Description

The center of village.

The village was located on a small peninsula at the southwestern tip of the Earth Kingdom continent, on lush hills above a cliff with the sea at its feet. The village was circular in shape, with houses grouped in several rows around an irregular market square, and there were several trees scattered throughout the streets along with various stalls. The houses were simply built, with the lower sections made of stone and the upper sections of half-timbered buildings, some of which were clad with tiles. The ridges and edges of the houses were painted gold. The town hall, shaped like a three-story pagoda, towered over the rest of the buildings, built on a platform with stairs at the front.

Outside the city gates, on the cliff, stood a shrine in memory of Chin, who died there after falling from the cliff. In front of this shrine, parabolic steps were erected in the rock, and in front of it stood a pink granite statue that, like the statue, was destroyed by the Rough Rhinos. Trials were also held at this site. There was also a prison just outside the village, where Aang was also temporarily imprisoned awaiting trial. The cells were located outdoors, separated from the outside world by walls and bars that prevented the prisoners from escaping.

Culture

Clothing

Festive attire and everyday attire were different. Everyday attire was essentially similar to that worn by merchants elsewhere. For festivities, women wore cream-colored kimonos with a slightly greenish undergarment and an earth-colored belt. Men's attire was simpler and also featured an earth-colored belt. The sleeves of the garments were very wide. Men also wore cylindrical hats with ribbons extending down the back and a ribbon in the front.

Laws

The citizens of Chin Village stand in the village square.

Prior to Team Avatar's visit, the judicial system of the village was rather unconventional. Defendants were not given a trial and were placed in front of a gathering of villagers where their punishment would be decided. The accused were not permitted to employ defense lawyers, use evidence, or call upon witnesses to defend themselves. Instead, the village's mayor served the role of judge, jury, and executioner. Both the mayor and the defendant recount their version of the events before the mayor issues his verdict. If the defendant was found guilty, punishments were decided by the defendant spinning the Wheel of Punishment, which included community service to several methods of execution. Members of the crowd often called out their preferred type of punishment.

Avatar Day festival

Main article: Avatar Day festival

The town burned Avatar effigies to show their hatred for the Avatars.

The Avatar Day festival was a celebration unique to Chin Village that originally served to vilify the Avatar, due to Avatar Kyoshi's supposed murder of Chin. The Avatar Day festival was celebrated annually on the day of Chin's death and involved a parade with large paper floats and several vendors. The highlight of the celebration occurred when giant paper effigies of Avatars Kyoshi, Roku, and Aang were paraded to the center of the village where they were subsequently set on fire.

After 370 years of this tradition, Avatar Day was repurposed to honor the Avatar and commemorate the day that Aang saved the village from the Rough Rhinos. Raw dough in Aang's likeness was served in his honor as a reminder of the day Aang was not boiled in oil, as would have been his fate had the Rough Rhinos not attacked.

Notable figures

• Chin
• Scary prisoner
• Sensitive ruffian
• Tong

Trivia

• The men's headdress is somewhat reminiscent of the futou, a headdress reserved for officials in Imperial China.

See also

• Avatar Day festival
• Qinchao Village