… already married, (we) have two sons called (Mako and) Bolin.
They bring us no small amount of joy and…
much trouble. I believe you (formal and plural) can understand…
(I/We) hope that one day you (formal and plural) and them can (meet) each other …
On top (is) our photograph.
Notes: Chinese has two ‘you’ 你 (ni) and 您(nin). 您 is formal, similar to the German “Sie”. That their father uses it with his family can have two meanings, either it is a show of respect (in the past it was normal to address one’s parents that way) or it means they are distant, which, considering that he left after a big fight, is also a possibility. These days 、您is not used with one’s family anymore, but a show of respect to your boss, elders, your Professor or customers.
Anyone else ever wonder, had Iroh’s siege been a Fire Nation victory with them breaking through the inner wall and taking the city, how Long Feng would have explained it to the Earth King he’d kept in the dark about the war?
Like with the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom’s currency comes in denominations of bronze, silver, and gold. However, unlike the island empire, typical EK money appears to be cast into a very uniform shape and size. This mold of a round coin with a square hole in the middle is known in Chinese as fāng kǒng qián (方孔錢) or “square-holed money”. This style of coin was used in China from the 4th century BC until the 20th century AD, over 2000 years. Other currencies based on this coin include the Japanese mon, Korean mun, and Vietnamese văn. Nowadays, these coins are primarily used for good luck charms and divination.
The “round coin, square hole” design is both practical and symbolic. From a practical perspective, the holes in the coins allows them to be strung through a thin rope, making them easy to carry and spend in large quantities. Instead of counting each coin individually, a seller could simply measure the length of the the coin-rope to determine how much they were being paid. This technique was essentially the Imperial Chinese equivalent to the modern day coin wrapper.
From a symbolic and artistic perspective, the design alludes to the idea of Tian Yuan Di Fang (天圓地方) or “Round Sky, Square Earth”. As the name implies, the square hole represents the element of earth and the round coin represents the sky. The two symbols combined represent two contrasting ideas unifying to create a whole, the steady land in harmony with the ever-changing heavens. I guess the ancient Chinese conception of planet Earth was sort of like a piece of paper floating in a dome or bubble.
Anyways, considering the symbolism behind the coin design, it’s a very appropriate form of currency for the Earth Kingdom. Essentially, the square earth centered on a round sky could reflect a nationalistic belief that their country is the center of the world. Certainly, the way that Ba Sing Se is structured and ruled implicitly reflects this belief. It would also explain why the “Round Sky, Square Earth” motif shows up on other objects throughout the Earth Kingdom.
In Part 2, I’ll discuss the history behind the uniquely-shaped gold that Toph’s parents offer for her ransom. Because of course the obscenely wealthy Beifongs wouldn’t pay using mere commoner’scoins…
Avatar the Last Airbender opens with an introduction to the series’ system of magic, geography, central conflict, and mythos in a succinct title sequence. The first thing that is introduced is the four bending styles.
ALT
