This is relevant to all my interests, apparently

[ultranos]

One thing I belatedly realized about Avatar's world is that, despite it being phenomenally Asian-inspired, you know what I have yet to see, midway through s2?

A damn katana.

There are hook swords and dao and jian and tessen. And since the last one on that list is very much Japanese, it proves that they're not just using classical Chinese weaponry. (Which is why the Fire Nation keeps reminding me of Tokugawa Japan mixed with Han China. I'm probably wrong with those time periods too.)

If someone was carrying a katana, I didn't get a good look at the curvature to identify it. I'm just impressed that someone decided to use other swords and weapons. Although I do not expect anyone in this series to wield a nodachi...

Er, I'm a bit of a weapons geek. And now I'm wondering all about the metalworking trade and technology of the 'verse, since with benders, you could either have really, really awesome smithing techniques (crazy sword-folding and Damascus steel-level material) or crappier ones due to more emphasis on bending.

Mm...Damascus steel dao. *drools*

Comments

[havocthecat]

*whistles innocently*

(Not that I'm a huge recognizer of katana, but, you know, there might be more info upcoming and all. At least a bit.)

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

*looks suspicious* I do not buy your innocence act!

(I don't expect this to last! But I'm rather impressed at the fact that there are *gaspshock* other weapons. I'm getting a bit sick of the fixation on katanas that a portion of the population has.)

[havocthecat]

But the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had katanas! So that means they're COOL. And the only sword that could ever exist in Asia!

...or so I presume some people think.

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

I think you hit the nail on the head. To be completely fair, I was TOTALLY GUILTY of this when I was younger. And I'm still completely fascinated by the steel-folding techniques that were used to make them. I've just learned to also drool at dao and jian.

And I have a certain fondness for nodachi, because they are completely ridiculous.

[holdouttrout.livejournal.com]

Hee. :-D

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

I am an unrepentant weapons geek. :)