Post by manzai on Jul 16, 2008 20:28:45 GMT -5
I think I have come up with an answer that could serve as a fanon solution to this paradox.
I think it can be assumed that the Avatar's existence is mandated by power higher than that of mortal humans (the collective spirits, some sort of unified cosmic consciousness, what have you). Based on Roku's comments from 1-20, "[Tui and La] crossed over very near the beginning", I believe the spirits existed before the physical world was created, and some of them entered the mortal world soon after it was created. It seems likely that the Avatar's station is something like that: sort of an "office" created by the spirits soon after creation for the purpose of protecting the mortal world and linking it to the spirit world. I think that's the conception most people have of the Avatar, but correct me if i'm wrong.
Now, from episodes 119, 202, and 313, we know that the ability to bend was discovered over the course of human civilization, although probably very early. The development of bending by copying animals/nature is probably based on the legend that Shaolin martial artists developed the "Five Animals" styles by imitating the movements of animals. We also know that if a bender is chi blocked and/or restrained, she can't bend. In other words, you have to know and perform specific movements in order to bend. These movements are presumably derived from the animal the bending form was based on (badgermole, dragon).
So, genetic predisposition + knowledge of the movements + a certain correct type of philosophy (i.e. nonagression for airbending, also related to the animal) = ability to bend. Earthbending, for example, came about when Oma and Shu were able to study badgermoles and imitate their movements correctly.
My theory is that the Avatar existed from the beginning of time (or at least the physical world), but without the knowledge of how to bend until bending was developed. The avatar had the intrinsic ability to bend all 4 elements, just as normal benders were physically capable of bending before the correct movements were developed. The Avatar might have still had animals guides, connection to the spirit world, and ability to communicate with past avatars, and was supposed to try to protect the world. There's no reason why any of that would be different without bending. If evil people can't bend, why should a better form of bending be required to defeat them and maintain balance?
The avatars, when deemed ready by the spirits or whoever, might even have been told of what bending would be, but they wouldn't have been able to perform it without the precise, systemized knowledge that would be developed later by Oma & Shu, the Sun Warriors, etc. The spirits may have felt the world at large wasn't ready for the power that comes with bending yet.
I guess a problem with this theory might be that only in mastering all four elements is the Avatar capable of understanding all 4 nations in a balanced way. That's a valid concern, but assuming that we are still unable to answer the original question of which came first.
In short, I believe the Avatar came first. Thank you.
I think it can be assumed that the Avatar's existence is mandated by power higher than that of mortal humans (the collective spirits, some sort of unified cosmic consciousness, what have you). Based on Roku's comments from 1-20, "[Tui and La] crossed over very near the beginning", I believe the spirits existed before the physical world was created, and some of them entered the mortal world soon after it was created. It seems likely that the Avatar's station is something like that: sort of an "office" created by the spirits soon after creation for the purpose of protecting the mortal world and linking it to the spirit world. I think that's the conception most people have of the Avatar, but correct me if i'm wrong.
Now, from episodes 119, 202, and 313, we know that the ability to bend was discovered over the course of human civilization, although probably very early. The development of bending by copying animals/nature is probably based on the legend that Shaolin martial artists developed the "Five Animals" styles by imitating the movements of animals. We also know that if a bender is chi blocked and/or restrained, she can't bend. In other words, you have to know and perform specific movements in order to bend. These movements are presumably derived from the animal the bending form was based on (badgermole, dragon).
So, genetic predisposition + knowledge of the movements + a certain correct type of philosophy (i.e. nonagression for airbending, also related to the animal) = ability to bend. Earthbending, for example, came about when Oma and Shu were able to study badgermoles and imitate their movements correctly.
My theory is that the Avatar existed from the beginning of time (or at least the physical world), but without the knowledge of how to bend until bending was developed. The avatar had the intrinsic ability to bend all 4 elements, just as normal benders were physically capable of bending before the correct movements were developed. The Avatar might have still had animals guides, connection to the spirit world, and ability to communicate with past avatars, and was supposed to try to protect the world. There's no reason why any of that would be different without bending. If evil people can't bend, why should a better form of bending be required to defeat them and maintain balance?
The avatars, when deemed ready by the spirits or whoever, might even have been told of what bending would be, but they wouldn't have been able to perform it without the precise, systemized knowledge that would be developed later by Oma & Shu, the Sun Warriors, etc. The spirits may have felt the world at large wasn't ready for the power that comes with bending yet.
I guess a problem with this theory might be that only in mastering all four elements is the Avatar capable of understanding all 4 nations in a balanced way. That's a valid concern, but assuming that we are still unable to answer the original question of which came first.
In short, I believe the Avatar came first. Thank you.