Unearthing the Secrets of Avatar: The Last Airbender's Magnificent Earth Kingdom

The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is richly detailed, with each nation possessing its own history and lore, even if these aspects do not directly impact the plot. This meticulous world-building creates a sense of authenticity and immersion despite its fictional nature. The show organically and gradually unveils its lore, ensuring it never feels overwhelming.

An important setting in the series is the Earth Kingdom, home to the skilled earthbenders. Besides encountering new allies here, major story events unfold within this region. These include encounters with the Kyoshi Warriors, their time spent in Omashu, and the conflict in Ba Sing Se. How did the Earth Kingdom develop into its current state in the show, and what makes it particularly significant?

How Was The Earth Kingdom Created?

Before being known as the Earth Kingdom, the early land was a part of the Spirit Wilds. The predecessors of the Earth Kingdom's inhabitants survived the challenging conditions in diverse ways. Some resided atop lion turtles, which granted them the ability to manipulate earth through energybending. Others adopted a nomadic lifestyle, wandering the lands. Eventually, a group of nomads settled and established the city of Tienhaishi. Certain cultural practices from these early times persisted until the era of ATLA, such as the construction of fortified earth strongholds.

As time passed, the citizens of the early Earth Kingdom left the lion turtles and spread out, establishing settlements throughout the land. The various states within the Earth Kingdom engaged in constant warfare, vying for dominance. Unlike the other nations, where a single culture typically prevailed, the Earth Kingdom encompassed a vast and diverse territory, managing to preserve multiple cultures within its borders, many of which drew inspiration from real-world Chinese cultures. In the northeastern region, a city formed from rocks, ultimately becoming Ba Sing Se. In the west, Oma and Shu, a pair of star-crossed lovers, learned earthbending directly from the badgermoles and founded a city called Omashu, striving to bring peace to their once-warring villages.

What Is The State Of The Earth Kingdom During Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Over time, the monarchs of Ba Sing Se gained increasing power and eventually, one ruler proclaimed themselves the first Earth Monarch, commanding authority over the entire Kingdom. Due to the vast size of the Earth Kingdom, it was impractical to establish a centralized regime, resulting in a confederate monarchy comprised of numerous semi-autonomous provinces. The era of conflict and civil war came to a halt during Avatar Kyoshi's lengthy tenure, fostering economic growth and industrialization.

The Earth Kingdom became a formidable opponent for the Fire Nation, presenting a major obstacle in their quest for global domination. This culminated in the Hundred Year War, during which the Earth Kingdom incurred significant losses, yet consistently impeded the Fire Nation's progress. In 100 AG, a Fire Nation coup led to the fall of the Earth Kingdom; however, with the assistance of Avatar Aang, they managed to overcome adversity and emerge victorious from the Hundred Year War. Consequently, the Earth Kingdom entered a period of resurgence, regaining its influence and expanding its power once more.

What's The Deal With Ba Sing Se?

In the capital city of Ba Sing Se, Aang and his companions have one of their strangest experiences. Ba Sing Se, known as the "Impenetrable City," is the largest city in the world and is surrounded by a massive wall that can only be opened through earthbending. Many refugees sought shelter in Ba Sing Se during the Hundred Year War, as the Fire Nation had not yet breached its defenses. However, Aang and his friends soon realize that something is amiss in the seemingly peaceful city, and that there may be a hidden and sinister agenda lurking beneath the surface.

Although the Earth Monarch still held formal authority, the true power in Ba Sing Se rested with the Grand Secretariat, Long Feng. As the leader of the secretive police force known as the Dai Li, Long Feng imposed strict laws throughout the city to maintain order and suppress political dissidents. His ultimate goal was to conceal knowledge of the ongoing war from the Earth King, ensuring his own continued power. Consequently, any mention of the war within Ba Sing Se was strictly prohibited, under the threat of the Dai Li apprehending those who dared to defy this rule. This is the origin of the memorable line frequently repeated throughout the series: "There is no war in Ba Sing Se."

Following his alliance with Azula to orchestrate a coup, Long Feng's regime crumbled as the Dai Li betrayed him, compelling him to relinquish control of Ba Sing Se to the Fire Nation princess. Although the war had ended, Ba Sing Se continued to shelter refugees; however, due to the government's limited resources, the quality of life witnessed a significant decline, even though corruption had decreased compared to Long Feng's era.