| "I say what happened, then you say what happened, and then I decide who's right. That's why we call it justice. Because it's 'just us'!" |
| — Mayor Tong explaining Chin Village's court system and mocking Team Avatar.[1] |
Tong was the mayor of the Earth Kingdom town of Chin Village. He loved to glorify his town's former leader, Chin the Great, just as much as he loved to denounce the Avatar. He used his own brand of justice ("just-us"), which placed any defendants at a severe disadvantage as he alone acted as judge, jury, and prosecutor.
History
During an Avatar Day festival, Aang revealed himself as the Avatar, only to be arrested. While the Avatar was in his jail cell, Mayor Tong explained to him that "Avatar Day" was formed after Avatar Kyoshi killed the village's leader, Chin the Great.
Sokka and Katara searched the village and returned to Kyoshi Island to find evidence that proved Aang's innocence, but this proved useless because according to village law, the opposing sides merely recounted what they believed happened. Using only the two stories, the jury decided who was innocent and who was guilty; Mayor Tong served as both prosecution and jury, which meant that acquitting Aang would be next to impossible.
During Aang's trial, after hearing Tong's story and Aang's vague version, the Avatar was found guilty. Refusing to give up, Sokka and Katara had Aang dress up in Kyoshi's old uniform. Kyoshi manifested herself through his body, as Avatar Roku had done once before. She announced to the village that she had indeed killed Chin, referring to him as "Chin the Conqueror", but in defense of her home. Once Kyoshi's spirit disappeared, the village brought out a wheel for Aang to spin to determine his punishment. It landed on "boiled in oil", but before the sentence could be carried out, the Rough Rhinos arrived to take over the village.
Fearing for his safety, Tong quickly changed the punishment to community service and pleaded with Aang to defeat the warriors and save the village. After the Avatar and his friends succeeded in defeating the invading group, Tong, as an act of gratitude, decided that in the future, Avatars would be honored on "Avatar Day". Since Aang had not been boiled in oil on this day, the celebration would involve eating effigies of the Avatar made from unfried dough.[1]
Personality
Tong was a delusional, arrogant, and ignorant man. He took great pleasure in mocking the Avatar and in glorifying their former village leader, Chin. He exercised his own version of justice, taking the role of both judge and jury, putting all defendants at a significant disadvantage and making it impossible for them to prove their innocence. Tong was quick to change his mind in the face of conflict, however, pleading with Aang for his help against the Rough Rhinos despite previously threatening to have the Avatar boiled in oil.
Appearances
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Book Two: Earth (土)
- 205. "Avatar Day"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 O'Bryan, John (writer) & MacMullan, Lauren (director). (April 28, 2006). "Avatar Day". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 2. Episode 5. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ Basco, Dante (host), Varney, Janet (host), Sie, James (guest). (July 12, 2022). ""Avatar Day" with James Sie". Avatar: Braving the Elements. Episode 57. iHeartRadio.