Tenzin (The Legend of Korra)
Tenzin is a male animated television character who features in The Legend of Korra.
Contents |
Biography
Tenzin (丹增, Dān Zēng)
As the only airbender to be born in over a hundred years, Tenzin was extensively taught the traditions and customs of the Air Nomads by his father and eventually earned the traditional Air Nomad arrow tattoos, symbolizing his status as an airbending master. Tenzin inherited most of his father's mementos prior to Aang's death. As a child, Tenzin was often the victim of Bumi and Kya's teasing, who liked to play rough games with him, though the siblings still maintained a healthy relationship, and Tenzin was supportive of Kya when she revealed her sexual orientation to him.
By the mid-130s AG, Tenzin still had not earned his arrows. One day, he noticed two young vandals defacing the airbending gates on Air Temple Island with graffiti, and went after them on his glider, fighting them off at the docks of Republic City. He and the criminals were arrested by the Republic City Police and brought to Toph's office. Tenzin explained why he had done what he did, but Toph told him that he should have reported the issue instead of dealing out vigilante justice. Avatar Aang arrived at Toph's office and offered to take charge of the vandals, as the crime was on Air Nation territory. On the way back, Tenzin apologized and said that he should not have used violence or used his bending to attack people who deserved it, believing this was the reason why he had not earned his arrows yet. Aang told him that he could never be a disappointment, and that while he did not want Tenzin to bear the responsibility of carrying on the Air Nation, he trusted him with it. The two airbenders and the other kids then carried out conflict mediation in the style of the Air Nomads, with the offender and victim meeting one another before cleansing the air. Tenzin and the vandals therefore worked toward a resolution by cleaning the gates together.
In 158 AG, after Korra's identity as the new Avatar was revealed, Tenzin joined forces with Southern Chief Sokka, Fire Lord Zuko, and Korra's father, Tonraq, to prevent a kidnapping threat forged by Zaheer, Ghazan, Ming-Hua, and P'Li. They were able to defeat and apprehend the criminals and imprison them in four separate and specially-designed prisons that would neutralize their combative abilities. Because of this threat, Tenzin and Tonraq decided to move Korra to the Southern Water Tribe compound where she could safely train. Tenzin has been friends with Lin Beifong since they were children and, at one point, the two were a couple. However, their romantic relationship eventually deteriorated, partially because Tenzin wanted children while Lin did not. As their relationship was slowly falling apart, Pema approached the airbender and confessed her feelings for him, causing Tenzin to break up with Lin and start a new relationship with Pema instead. Tenzin and Pema eventually married, and by 170 AG, their family consisted of three children: two daughters, Jinora and Ikki, a son named Meelo, and a fourth child on the way. He succeeded an Air Acolyte in being the representative of the Air Nation on the United Republic Council.
After Avatar Korra successfully completed her training in the other three elements, Tenzin started her airbending training after she had followed him to Republic City. When it became time for the first lesson, Tenzin theorized that Korra's struggles to learn airbending were because the art was opposite of her hotheaded nature and he emphasized that she just needed to be patient. Both parties soon became frustrated, however, as they often clashed about the reasons for Korra's inability to airbend and about how the teenage girl should spend her free time. After Korra returned from an Equalist rally and stated how Amon had succeeded in taking away someone's bending ability, Tenzin stated that the revolution was more dangerous than ever. As a council member, Tenzin tried his best to avoid anti-nonbender measures to be taken, though he was unable to prevent Tarrlok from forming his task force to attack Amon head-on. After Korra publicly challenged Amon to a duel, Tenzin tried to dissuade her, to no avail, and afterward offered her comfort when she cried in fear of Amon.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Tenzin is a staunch traditionalist and, at times, can come across as rather inflexible and stubborn. This shows through his disdain for pro-bending, which he considers violent, irrelevant, and a perversion to more traditional forms of bending. However, after Korra joined the Fire Ferrets, he brushed up on the rules of the game and seemed better versed in the sport. In doing so, he became less antagonistic to it than before and even started cheering during one match. By doing this, he shows that he is willing to show a liking in the interests of those close to him.
Powers and abilities
As the airbender among Aang's three children during his lifetime, Tenzin has been trained extensively in all of his father's airbending knowledge and prowess. After his father's passing, he became the only airbending master in the world. Ensuring that the teachings and techniques would live on, Tenzin has since been passing on the art to his airbending.
Notes
- Tenzin was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko where he was voiced by actor J. K. Simmons and featured in the setting of the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.
Appearances
- The Legend of Korra:
External Links
This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.
