Who taught Korra spiritbending?

Unalaq taught Korra spiritbending. In Book Two: Spirits, Korra’s uncle demonstrates the technique when a dark spirit attacks the Southern Water Tribe’s Glacier Spirits Festival. He surrounds the spirit with a controlled stream of water and changes its hostile energy, calming it until it departs peacefully.

Spiritbending is a specialized waterbending technique connected to healing and spiritual balance. Korra initially struggles with it, but Unalaq’s instruction eventually allows her to purify dark spirits herself. This becomes especially important when she uses the technique against bat-like spirits in Book Three: Change.

A common mix-up is Tenzin, who serves as Korra’s airbending teacher and spiritual guide. Tenzin helps Korra understand spirituality, but he does not teach her spiritbending. Unalaq’s expertise makes him appear to be a wise mentor, although his secret goal is to manipulate Korra and release Vaatu. His spiritual knowledge is genuine, but his motives are not.

The technique also has a darker form: Unalaq later uses spiritbending against Korra and threatens Jinora’s soul. That contrast shows how the same spiritual skill can be used for healing or harm.