Daoism
Qi
One of the popular concepts in daoism is known as 'qi'. It is a chinese word which has 'no appropriate english equivalent'. According to Dong Zhongshu, a chinese scholar of the Han Dynasty, qi is "..the energy and emotions found in human beings, (which) are also found in Heaven, the workings of the universe itself [1]". Qi has been referred to by some scholars simply as 'breath'. In Daoism, qi is listed as one of the three fundamental components in life [2].
In both The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, chi is "..the metaphysical energy that flows throughout the human body [3]". Although they are spelt differently, both 'qi' and 'chi' are both correct translations of this concept.
A mannequin used to display the chi pathways throughout the body in The Last Airbender
A diagram displaying the chi pathways throughout the body. It is used for acupuncture
The primary role of chi in the Avatar universe is that it allows people to manipulate one of the four elements. Manipulating a person's chi is also the means behind several other abilities in the show, such as healing, identifying a person's location and even redirecting lightning. A person's chi can also be blocked, which will render them unable to manipluate elements, either temporarily or permanently, depending on the methodology [3].
Lao Tzu
One of the most popular texts in Daoism is called the 'Dao De Jing'. It is said to be written by Lao Tzu. However, Lao Tzu literally translates to 'Old Master'. Therefore, it may not be a real name. Lao Tzu is known for his advocation of letting go of material possessions [4].
In The Legend of Korra, there are several references made to an airbender named Guru Laghima who seems to have been influenced by Lao Tzu. For example, one of Lao Tzu's famous quotes is "New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings". In The Legend of Korra, Guru Laghima is quoted as saying "New growth cannot exist with the destruction of the old [5]."
Another one of Lao Tzu's famous quotes is "The more that laws and regulations are given prominence, the more thieves and robbers there will be [5]." This directly reflects the beliefs of Zaheer, the most vocal believer in the teachings of Guru Laghima.
A depiction of Lao Tzu
Articles/Books/Websites
1. Rainey, Lee. "CHAPTER 12: THE HAN DYNASTY 206 BCE-220 CE" n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2015. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uuwuy3tmg6ide0k/AABt2PttEMQSbCcrmPKaH_aha/Intro%2C%20Chapter%2012.docx?dl=0
2. Wang, Jianyu, M.A. & L. Stringer, Allison PhD. “The Impact of Taoism on Chinese Leisure.” World Leisure Journal, 42.3, (2000): 33-41. Web. 1 Feb 2015.
3. "Chi". Avatar Wikia. n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015. http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Chi
4. Jenson, Vernon, J. “Rhetorical Emphases of Taoism”. ProQuest, 5.3, (1987): 219-229. Web. 3 Feb 2015.
5. "Guru Laghima, Red Lotus, and Lao Tzu". Avatar Wikia. n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015. http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:1275961/
Images
http://www.teefury.com/the-two-avatars
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/f/f3/Healing.png/revision/latest?cb=20140119121846
http://www.acupokey.net/acupuncture
http://aetherforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Lao_Ce.jpg