Arrows

[coldfireshot]

do any one think that the arrows maybe play a more roll than just rank cause how aang goes into the avatar state they all glow up like his spirit comes alive through them or someting

[kuruk - WATER LORD]

it would be cool if they grew !!!! instead of being painted !!!

[irenebusy]

they get their arrows when they become masters, and they are tatooed, they couldn't be born with it

[Teяa253]

jaysnme said:

The arrow on an Airbender's head signifies that he or she has mastered airbending. This is an emulation of the natural arrows on the heads of Flying Bison, animals revered by the Air Nomads, who can naturally Airbend and are believed to be the inspiration for the first Airbenders. In order to receive the tattoos as well as the title of a master, an Airbender must pass the thirty-six levels of airbending along with engendering a new technique. In actuality, Aang had only reached the thirty-fifth level before he left the Jongmu Temple, his invention of the Air Scooter earned him the tattoos prematurely, making him the youngest airbending master in history

there you go

*+1 Karma*
that is the best explanation ever.
~Toph~

[Kapanto]

I think they just tattoo their people. I have watched every episode at least twice and I have never encountered this airbending mastery story. I get that the master airbenders get the tattoos, but where did the level idea come from? Sounds like Wikipedia babble to me.

[Teяa253]

yep. still, I'd be an airbender just for the arrow. that'd be epic!
~Zuko~

[katara279momo]

the arrow on their head are tattooes, i think when your are a skilled airbender or a master you well get that tattooe

[Teяa253]

yeah, me too. like everyone else said.
~Sokka~

[flamethrower]

I don't think they get it when they master airbending. maybe after they learn a few tricks and can be called an airbender. in the storm, there were airbenders who look like the're 7 or 8 and they had tattoos. I doubt they were masters at that young.

[VAMartinez]

i think that the 1st airbender avatar had an arrow tattoo
and the other air nomads had painted tattoos on them so
the avatar wouldnt stand out as much. so then it became a
tradition to paint the arrow tattoo on you body when you
became a master of the element. as for aang getting his tattoos,
thats a mystery. but he has them now and its a sybol of him
being the avatar.

[Teяa253]

keep in mind that Aang has one and he's only a little kid (12 is a liitle kid in my eyes. correct me if I'm wrong)
~Iroh~

[metaknightfan]

water1 said:

it would be cool if they grew !!!! instead of being painted !!!

that would probably be an excrutiatingly painful process if i do say so myself

[mastermomo12]

The airbender gos through many trails in order to get his arrows. They are made to represent the sky bison, which are the first ones to manipulate the air to fly taught the leader of one nation to air bend, thereby when he had childen the race was born. The airbending tattoos show that someone has mastered airbending and is ready to make two key choices. Leave the temple, or stay to raise the next set of airbenders.

[mastermomo12]

Also, for the glowing when aang goes in the avatar state, The avatar state represent the avatar sending a help call to all his lives.His tattoos glow because its a cultural trait of the air nomads, so that means the tattoos represent air nomads, so they glow. Anything spiritual glows. Lets say the earth benders all engrave tattoos for the spirts. Those will glow. It just glows if it signifys the culture.

[Muhaha VI]

Interesting. What about the eyes and mouth though? Not to get off topic with that, but just curious. They aren't very spiritual, right?