Azulon’s Portrait
Azulon’s head is surrounded by the Buddhist “Flames of Wisdom”, and he is standing on a tortoise symbolizing longevity.
Now there are not just one, but two jokes hidden in that painting:
1. The longevity. Yes, Azulon did live quite a long life, if my math is correct he had to be at least 90, but then he threatened Ursa’s kid… The joke comes in when you think about how his life ended.
2. The second one is the euphemistic meaning tortoises have in Chinese swearing. The tortoise is associated with promiscuity. Calling someone a tortoise (龟) can mean “tortoise; cuckold; (old) male owner of a brothel; pimp (王八)” or “pimp (龟公)”, “son of a bitch (王八蛋 )”.
It all makes sense once you take his charming personality into account. Remember what he suggested Ozai do to Zuko? Also: Li and Lo?
